This and That and Mary Lou's Retreat for Next Year!

How's this for inspiration? Collect those buttons, little cars and teeny toys to sew on your next textile creation...so much fun!

I couldn't agree more with Maxine on this- we had neighbors wait until we all went to bed and turned out our lights to start their fireworks... I live in a place that is surrounded by huge, dry pine trees....Glad my house is still here....they weren't so lucky across the way when a 12 year old lit some fireworks and 8 people lost their homes....scary...honestly this is no place to be lighting off fireworks and rockets...

Ran into this photo and wondered what this poor dog thought....it is creative though...and funny too

Just went to see Rock of Ages....I am with Maxine on this one...

Ran into Kellygirlquilts cow today and it totally made me smile....

I had to put this in here again because it is such a good example of what a person can do with the Flower Power book and various fabrics- Kathy Sandling did this at a retreat we attended in Tahoe and it is a fabulous quilt! What inspiration for scraps!

My cousin sent me this illustration and I think it is wonderful-great color and great invitation to creativity...,change it and make it your own so the artist doesn't even know they inspiration they gave you-this is the fun and challenge of art! I do not believe in copying anything....EVER

MORE blocks you have not ever seen....

My friends Molly and Tina deciding what the next fabric to buy will be-both these girls do great and original work...they love to invent! Inventing is FUN!

After being in Texas and Oklahoma, I am hooked on trims and what they can do for a quilt! I hope to complete two quilts I am working on using these...reds have always been my favorite!

I ran into this photo of a quilt by Eilene Hamilton for her neice...very hoochy and very fun!

This photo is one of my all time favorite's...this darling girl knows how to have fun and she got an A= in my workshop too!! MARY LOU RETREAT- ANNOUNCEMENT I have just put in for the dates for next years retreat (Post Falls, Idaho outside of Spokane,WA . We laughed because a girl from Florida said "I am sleeping in Washington and sewing in Idaho." We will come in the day before and attend Farm Chicks Show on June 2nd and start the class on June 3rd and it will end at noon on Friday of that week. if I can get those dates. They have my letter so I think I will be able to secure this again. I only take a small number of students-this year we had ten and I only take 12 MAX. If you think you are interested, write and let me know and I will give you the detaiails on a down payments to hold your spot. First come first serve. Linda B and Tina you are "IN". Sandy and Wendy I have you penciled on my list also. It will be alot of fun for sure------------- I had to share this too. I got a photo of my daughter and her husband camping-she is beautiful even without a speck of makeup and he is a muscle bound and SMART great guy ---I thought their photo looked like another couple I knew once...

I love all images of the 4th of July and I remember well being in Ashville, NC and listening to families at a picnic singing patriotic songs that I was taught as child...this to me is the true spirit of the USA and not all of this disension and politics...I have had three friends lose their homes in the last year and I am sorry to see them so sad....I want to think of our country as strong and good and honest. I am thankful for each family who represents a soldier who fights for us and who works hard and has honor and patriotism. This is what my Father taught me. He had a nervous breakdown in WWII and I will always be thankful for how patriotic he was.

I LOVE this flag that shows all of the states and wonder how a quilt would be done with those states too-embroidered? Pieced or appliqued...it would be pretty outstanding and a family keepsake for sure!

I love things that make me laugh and this filled the bill today! My husband andI laughed at this together-who thinks of these things?

Imagine these blocks all done in shades of red, white and blue and arranged in the shape of the flag..it would be pretty wonderful and fun too!

You know how you are in a room full of people and everyone is having fun and someone is there and cranky and negative and difficult? It's because they don't laugh and enjoy life enough....letting go and enjoying other people, the day and the fun of creating is a gift! Hooray, I got the gift of laughter!

These are good examples of what make me laugh!

Speaking of smiles this little boy is my Grandson and he just caught this fish...this makes me smile

My Granddaughter has learned the lesson that being goofy or silly is alot of fun with family....

Today is the 4th of July and I remember many years my family and I spent at the lake- we no longer have our cabin I grew up with nor the trailer my husband and I had when our kids were growing up...today we spent the day in the yard and then had a hamburger and beans. We both remembered times spent around the water and we hope someday we can go back there for holidays...in the meantime we have our precious memories of our family and our friends and family who are gone...

Look around it is amazing the colors that nature offers us anytime we open our eyes and look around!

Delight in those that are laughing too, even if you don't know them

Enjoy what you enjoy with others...it makes the journey all the more fun! I thought I would end with this advice-try something new, take a class, buy a book, watch someone else who does it different than you do- be positive and then see what wonderful things you come up with! Please visit my other blog for a little more advice too- Mary Lou and Whimsy Too

Flower Power and Hoochy FUN in Orofino in June

Here is the gang from Orofino and Clarkston that took my workshop. The country around orofino is just fabulously beautiful and it is no wonder that Lewis and Clark traveled through here. If you live close enough to drive there in a day, you should check out this historic part of our beautiful country. The place and the people are great. If you know someone who likes to fish or hunt or quilt, this is the place.

Here is a quilt that I did with the help of the flower power book.

I designed a buttefly fabric once and this quilt is full of the stuff...I loved how itlooked in easy piecing.

Hollyhocks anyone?

Look at the bug on the flower at the bootm with the bug eyes...isn't he cute?

I am just loving that lime green color lately!

We all had fun with fish before we ran out of time....

This is Kathleen's quilt and isn't the bird on the tree delightful? We discussed perspective and how we can break the rules in the name of creativity and she sure did a great job!

Here I am with Kathleen who took my class at Asilomar ten years ago....I can't believe I have taught for over 25 years!

Here is Sue White's story quilt...you may remember it from my retreat I held in Post Falls.Sue is an extrememly talented artist who does everything...glass, clay, colored pencils, painting..everything...and well. Sue was the one to get me to come there and to gather all of the nice people in one spot. It was a nice trip and I drove my husband's truck so I could take anything I wanted instead of worrying about airline charges on everything....

Here is lovely Lynelle who came from Clarkston. She was the lone Clarkston girl and we loved her! Don't you love her flower?

Everyone did well learning the techniques and the concepts and we all had alot of fun too!

Here I am packed and ready for the three hour ride home.... Check out Katie's blog! She took these fun photos....