Doo, doo, doo, looking out my back door

So goes the old Creedence song. And this was the view from my back porch this morning. It's still snowing, lots of schools delayed. What is a chick to do but stitch, make orange/rosemary jelly and transplant little seedlings?

Here's a peek on what I worked on yesterday. It's part of a crazy quilt I am working on.

Six words

I was watching the morning news (getting the weather forecast of a foot of snow and freezing rain mixed in) and saw a segment on "six words". There is a book out that asked people to write their memoirs in just six words. Fascinating! http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/ Here is the link.

I thought it would be difficult, but once you start thinking about it, ideas pour out. The web site has some great six worders.

Here are some that I wrote:

Manure heaped. Blooming like roses now.

Magic dreams. Creative soul. Happy woman.

Gathering interesting tidbits. Amusement value high.

Daughter, sister, wife, mother. Big shoulders.

Magic in my fingertips. Stitch. Grow.

What are your six words????

Lunar eclipse

The moon was captivating last night. It was a chilly 7 degrees, so I kept running in and out to check on the progress. The sky was completely clear and we live way out in the boonies, so the intensity of the light from the moon and stars is magnificent. Before the grand celestial event, the moon was so bright, shadows were being cast all over the garden. The start of the eclipse brought a lavender veil across the moon’s face, but as time progressed, a smoky red coursed across the moon. The brightness of the unveiled portion contrasted beautifully with the shadow and my husband remarked it seemed like the bright portion was larger than the shadowed portion. Like an acorn with its cap we decided. How shocking that the night had turned so dark after the grand illumination of just an hour earlier. No wonder eclipses are considered so magical.

This is a picture of "Moondance". I made this many years ago, but thought it would be nice to show after the lunar eclipse. I do have to say that my garden certainly wasn't in bloom last night!

Crazy Quilts by Cindy Brick

Voyageur Press asked me to review Cindy Brick's latest book, "Crazy Quilts: History - Techniques - Embroidery Motifs". It is my extreme pleasure to do so. Cindy is a colleague of mine. I met her in Omaha, Nebraska when we both taught for the Crazy Quilt Conference there. Can't remember which year it was! We both have a love for antique crazy quilts and we both lecture extensively on the subject.

Cindy's book on crazy quilts is a delight. The outstanding photography of precious antique crazy quilts is breathtaking. And as to be expected, Cindy's narrative is well researched and well presented. Although there are similarities to Penny McMorris' book on crazy quilt history, Cindy takes us in more detailed and somewhat different directions. And, as an added bonus, there are many pages devoted to constructing a crazy quilt of your own. There are also many modern crazy quilt artists represented in the book to deliver fabulous eye candy.

The artistic and cultural aspects of crazy quilting is addressed in this book - an avenue rarely explored in depth. It's fascinating to read about "The Industry Quilt" - a gorgeous wool crazy quilt completed in 1924 and used as payment for the maker's funeral in 1936. I remember excitedly driving to see this quilt on exhibit in Omaha. It is a monumental effort of artistry and will.

The ties between our Victorian foremothers is not as tenuous as one would think. Women of today are still voicing their opinions, dreams and artistry through needle and thread, just as our ancestors did. Joy, pain, longing, humor and love are evident in antique and modern creations. "Crazy Quilts" is a fascinating read for those who wish to know more about the cult of crazy. It is also a respite from a busy day. Just picking up the book and starting to thumb through, you see a gorgeous quilt, unique in its making, and pause to stare at the chenille embroidery or silk ribbon. Then, reading the blurb under the photo, your interest gets piqued about the maker and her story. An hour goes by and you realize you have become lost between the pages of a very good book.

Buy it today!

Crazy Quilts by Cindy Brick

Voyageur Press asked me to review Cindy Brick's latest book, "Crazy Quilts: History - Techniques - Embroidery Motifs". It is my extreme pleasure to do so. Cindy is a colleague of mine. I met her in Omaha, Nebraska when we both taught for the Crazy Quilt Conference there. Can't remember which year it was! We both have a love for antique crazy quilts and we both lecture extensively on the subject.

Cindy's book on crazy quilts is a delight. The outstanding photography of precious antique crazy quilts is breathtaking. And as to be expected, Cindy's narrative is well researched and well presented. Although there are similarities to Penny McMorris' book on crazy quilt history, Cindy takes us in more detailed and somewhat different directions. And, as an added bonus, there are many pages devoted to constructing a crazy quilt of your own. There are also many modern crazy quilt artists represented in the book to deliver fabulous eye candy.

The artistic and cultural aspects of crazy quilting is addressed in this book - an avenue rarely explored in depth. It's fascinating to read about "The Industry Quilt" - a gorgeous wool crazy quilt completed in 1924 and used as payment for the maker's funeral in 1936. I remember excitedly driving to see this quilt on exhibit in Omaha. It is a monumental effort of artistry and will.

The ties between our Victorian foremothers is not as tenuous as one would think. Women of today are still voicing their opinions, dreams and artistry through needle and thread, just as our ancestors did. Joy, pain, longing, humor and love are evident in antique and modern creations. "Crazy Quilts" is a fascinating read for those who wish to know more about the cult of crazy. It is also a respite from a busy day. Just picking up the book and starting to thumb through, you see a gorgeous quilt, unique in its making, and pause to stare at the chenille embroidery or silk ribbon. Then, reading the blurb under the photo, your interest gets piqued about the maker and her story. An hour goes by and you realize you have become lost between the pages of a very good book.

Buy it today!

Okay, if the links in the last post don't take you directly to my episode, type in crazy quilt in the search tool and look for Modern Crazy Quilts parts 2 and 3. Seems HGTV is being hinky with the direct link.

Simply Quilts Episode

In 2001, I was on Simply Quilts demonstrating Crazy Quilts. HGTV has just posted videos to past episodes. Here are the two links to my portion of Simply Quilts. Never mind the commercial that plays first. The quilts in the background are all mine, as is the work I am showing. To see more of my creations, look at past blog archives or go to my other website, www.BettyPillsbury.com

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_58466,00.html

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_58466,00.html

Honey Thyme Mustard Recipe

I'm a good cook. With a name like Pillsbury, there must be a law somewhere demanding that anyone with that name must be great in the kitchen. Although, I'm not related to the doughboy (at least I'm not aware of any relationship), I get all the jokes. I've been badgered to post a mustard recipe. Here's one that is good. It's not the best one I make - for that recipe, you will have to buy my cookbook when I ever get around to it!

1/4 c. dry yellow mustard
2 Tbsp mustard seeds
1/3 c. white wine
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. white wine vinegar (or thyme vinegar you made yourself)
1/4 tsp Kosher salt
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 c. cold water
2 tsp dried thyme

Put dry mustard, seeds and wine in blender and blend until well combined. Let stand for several hours so flavor develops. Then, add honey, vinegar and salt. Blend. In a small saucepan, whisk cornstarch and 1/4 cup of the cold water to make a paste. Stir in remaining water and whisk well. Add mustard mixture from blender. Cook and stir until thick. Remove from heat. Stir in thyme. Makes about 2 cups.

The Fairy Door

Sharon Boggon has issued a challenge: Take It Further. On the first of each month, she will give a few words or a few colors for inspiration. I didn't participate in January. For February, she posted colors that reminded me of tree bark and sky. I had been wanting to do a tree with a fairy door for some time...I chose a batik fabric for the tree trunk. I then sculpted the fabric by sewing in lengths of felt on the back side. This gave bumps and texture. I quilted the fabric and added some tulle in several places. Then, I sprayed it with Walnut Ink, lightly stamped it with gold fabric ink and added beads. I beaded a hand-made face and added it towards the top of the tree. I made the door from a brown taffeta, added the gold stitching for the "boards" and found a brass finding for the door arch. Next to the door is a spiral on a sign post- must be the fairies help me with my herbal business, Green Spiral Herbs! Fogloves and daisies in silk ribbon are in the garden, as well as bell flowers and little flowers made of French knots. On the left side garden are bead faces that make up a row of flowers. The roots of the tree are made of many different fibers and threads. I've also added pearls, beads, gnomes and other things to the roots. The sky has been quilted with fairy and butterfly motifs, although they are difficult to capture in a photograph. I haven't added borders yet, but may add a fairy quotation of some such.

Herb and Flower Seeds for sale

I've decided to sell some of the herb and flower seed I have collected from my gardens. We grow organically, although we are not certified as such. Currently, I have:

Angelica archangelica
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Borage (Borago officinialis)
Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutita)
Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
Echinacea (Echinacea purpureum)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Lavender peony-flowered poppy - pictured above
Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
Lunaria aka Money Plant
Marshmallow (Althea officinalis)
Motherwort (Leonorus cardiaca)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Pink Double Columbine - pictured above
St. John's Wort
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispum)
Yellow Hollyhock

Packets are 1.75 each, plus shipping in a bubble envelope mailer

Good growing!

In Memory

Today is the 20th anniversary of my mother's passing. In some ways, it seems like just yesterday she was here. In other ways, it seems like she has been gone much longer. This is a picture of Mom back in 1969 or so. She is on her way to march in the parade as part of the Fireman's Auxiliary. I miss you and love you Mom.