The Sun Is Shining, The Temperature Is 83, Time To Plant My Garden

I love all colors, but I think my favorite color for my deck accents is red.

Well maybe green and blue are my favorites?

In case you haven’t guessed, my garden is glass. I LOVE colored glass and enjoy using it as an easy way to add color to the yard.

This is just the beginning, but I take my time making sure each vignette is in a spot you can see and is attractive.

I’ll do a little each day until I am satisfied with my “plantings”!

I compare this to making a quilt as it takes time to put the right pieces together for an attractive whole.

Westosha Central High School Girls Softball Wins State Title

Our girls softball team brought home their first ever WIAA  Division 1 State Championship.

They beat Bradford high school 12 –1.

A fitting end to their 22-1 season.

Congratulations girls, coaches and parents – a team effort!

Nicholas’s Graduation

Friday was Nicholas’s high school graduation. Their class had only 7 fewer members than my graduating class did many years ago.

There was no limit on tickets as even though he attends a public school the graduation takes place in the largest church I have ever seen.

Here he is with his parents and siblings.

He will be attending the University Of Wisconsin – Madison in the fall.

Grandpa Koeper’s Rocker

This is the chair my Grandpa Koeper sat in ALL the time. Whenever you came to visit you found him here.

When my grandma passed away and we were emptying their house no one was going to take it. It was big, heavy and out of style.

I felt it had to be kept and treasured so we became the keepers of it.

Several years ago my son Greg said he’d like the chair. I had it refinished and reupholstered for him.

The upholstery is similar to what was on it.

It fits perfectly in their home and is a very comfortable chair.

There is nothing like a rocking chair!

My Bags Are Packed....

I'm leaving on a jet plane

don't know when I'll be back again....

oh I really do...but I love this song!

Did You Know That You Can Follow My Blog

All you have to do is go to the FOLLOWERS in the right hand column and sign up.

Then you will be notified each time I put up a new post.

It is so much easier than trying to guess when something new is posted.

I have had this feature on my blog for a long time but it was somewhat recently I made it visible.

This has doubled the amount of people who follow my posts.

You will no longer have to miss something enjoy.

Making My Own Sunshine With My Shibori Fabrics

Since Mother Nature didn’t have enough sunshine for our area today I thought I’d try and make my own.

I started with these fabrics.

Knowing how black sets off anything I added black borders.

Green is Mother Nature’s neutral so I thought I’d try it. It also is a variation of one of the colors I’ve already used.

Using both green and black is more interesting.

I am enjoying playing with the fabrics I have dyed and some of the compositions have possibilities.

Time will tell!

How Does One Turn A Man’s Suit Into Luggage?

After retirement most men find little occasion to wear the expensive suits in their wardrobe.

If we had donated them (they are a size few people wear) I knew someone would cut them up to make rugs or something.

I couldn’t bear to see that happen so I have plans to use them myself.

I bought a new computer travel case after a handler at the airport broke the wheel on mine. I travel as light as possible. The new case has room for my computer and a few changes of clothes. I know from experience I need just a little more than that. I remembered a small case I had years ago that had a bag on top that fit over the handle. I saw this gorgeous black wool gabardine suit in the closet. Perfect fabric, weight and color.

I was able to use one of the pockets on the front of the bag, the perfect spot for a boarding pass.

This is the wide “strap” on the back that slides over the computer case handle. Notice the case has very little body. I chose not to add any stiffeners so as not to add extra weight nor make it more difficult to sew and turn.

I did use the suit lining on the inside of the case.

I used two of the pant belt loops to attach a shoulder strap from another piece of luggage.

That was not successful. It was easy to attach the strap, but since it the loops were so close to the bottom (necessitated by the zipper length) the bag flipped upside down when using the strap!

Here is the computer case with the luggage “cube” on top. It measures 9” x 9” x 9”.

I think it will be the solution to being able to handle my computer and everything I need on any trip.

When I need more than this I can just ship it.

This is a close up of how it attaches to the handle.

I think this set up will work very well for me.

Of course I only used a small portion of the suit. You may see many other projects made in imported black wool gabardine!

More Black And White Shibori Possibilities

I have made on decision from my previous compositions I have shown you using my black and white shibori fabrics.

I am now trying some new things using some of the same fabrics and some new ones.

Yet another composition.

I think using color detracts from the graphic qualities of the black and white.

I don’t think I will use any of these, but they have given me ideas for another direction to go with the idea.

How Many Coffee Table Books Can One Own?

Yesterday I mentioned on Facebook I was getting rid of some of my Coffee Table books.

It started some interesting and funny conversation.

This is the first group of books I am parting with.

Ladies Who Lunch In Wisconsin

It was so good to see my friend Robbi today. We had lunch at Seibert’s Tavern, my favorite place to eat in our area.
I left a large portion of the wallpaper visible since Robbi loved it.
We haven’t see each other in several years so we had some catching up to do.

I forgot about taking food pictures until Robbi mentioned it so this is my crab cakes with a few bites gone.
This is the first time I have tried them here and they rate right up there with those I get on the coast.
I didn’t get a picture of her chicken wrap but she said it was excellent.
Not only did we have a nice lunch but Robbi was able to get my mid arm machine threaded and adjusted for me – something that was on my To Do List for this summer.
Now I can get some of those quilts quilted. Thanks Robbi.

Black And White Shibori – Even More Compositions

I am continuing experimenting with different arrangements of some of the black and white I dyed recently.

I like this one better rotated 45 degrees. A famous quilter once told me if something doesn’t work, put it on point!

I’m liking this one you saw on a previous post better with the addition of the focus square.

And now the focus square on the larger “tree” piece.

I love being able to use my digital camera and SEE what different compositions are going to look like without cutting into my fabrics.

Whether I use any of these or not, it is good to see the possibilities.

All of these shibori pieces were dyed on wet fabric. This allows me to get very distinct blacks and whites.

Black And White Shibori–6 Similar Pieces – Revisited And Revised

I have made a slight change in the composition I showed yesterday.

This was yesterday’s composition.

I am having a hard time deciding which one I like best.

I had intended to show you even more compositions but my camera battery chose this time to need recharging.

I also want to share Deborah Segaert’s article from her blog with you. Deborah is another artist from Australia.

It is about using black in quilts and I am one of the artists who’s work she showed and discussed in the article.

You can find the article here:

http://stitchonequilttoo.blogspot.com/2013/05/black-little-or-lot.html

Black And White Shibori – Six Similar Pieces

I have done enough shibori dyeing that I felt I could attempt creating 6 similar pieces.

I am pleased with the results. Now it is time to see what I can create with them.

I think this simple arrangement has possibilities.

I could add this similar but wider piece to the top.

This is the beginning of my design process. I may revert to the first layout, but I’ll probably try many different things before I decide which one to use.

One of the best tools I have when designing is my camera and this blog. By photographing possibilities I can look at them and decide if they work, without actually being influenced by just the beautiful fabrics.

What A Perfect Present!

When I had lunch with my friend Robbie in Florida she talked about phone charms and asked if I had an iPhone.

I showed her my phone with one of my quilts on the case.

This week a package arrived in the mail containing these items.

Isn’t this the most perfect charm anyone could imagine for my phone!

She also coordinated the card and the snap bag she sent it in. I know exactly what I’ll use the bag for.

Isn’t it great when your friends know you so well and are on the same wave length?

Thanks again Robbie!

Symphony In Black And White

I am revisiting the black and white fabrics I dyed this season. I love to arrange them and see how they play together.

This group also has interesting textures with closer values.

I love these textures. There is also a value gradation going on when I put these three pieces together.

Whether I choose to use these pieces in a black and white quilt or whether I add other colors I know I am going to come up with a beautiful symphony.

What Kind Of Number Is 383,383

It’s a palindromic number, but also the thousands and hundreds are identical.

Tell me you finally care about my fascination with numbers!!!!

It showed up on 5/21/3013 at 10:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Is Green!

All the snow and rain Wisconsin experienced this winter and spring has given us a lush landscape.

This tulip is always the last to bloom. It is the only one that waited for me.

The blue spruce is looking great.

No matter what the season the Japanese Maple is always beautiful.

Looks like we will have another bumper crop of peonies in about two weeks.

If I had to pick a favorite type of vegetation between Florida and Wisconsin it would be a tie!

Grandma And Grandpa Koeper

Last week I shared pictures of our “cousin” reunion in Florida.

I want to share a few pictures of our grandparents that we enjoyed looking at last weekend.

This is our grandmother Matilda Gruenwald Koeper on her confirmation day.

This is  our Grandpa Casper Koeper. It is probably the earliest one I have, although I have no idea how old he was.

This picture shows the two of them in their house in Milwaukee. None of us remember them being this young. We all remember the house and so many details from it.

Here are the three cousins – Jim, Kay and Mary.

Do you see any resemblance between us or to our grandparents?