Tea on Tuesday

Come on over- to my new blog site!!!

                  PLEASE!!

Read about tea, fog, and pillowcases.........

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Just A Reminder

In case you haven't noticed.....................I HAVE MOVED!!!!!!

My blog has been switched over to wordpress-  to make it easier for my followers, and me!!!

I hope those of you who are following me here, will abandon ship, and come on over to wordpress!!!!!
                                               PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE !!!

                                                       I MISS YOU!!!!

                                                      You don't know what you are missing!!!
                                                                  
                                                          For one - a free drawing!!!

Please drop by, follow me on wordpress, if you haven't already - read my latest post about my daughter's new photography page on Facebook. If you like and share- you have a chance to win a free 8x10 print from her gallery of photos (ever growing....)

Contest ends Friday, December 21st - would love to see her reach at least 50 likes by then!!!!!

Just a Reminder!!!!!

                                   ARTFULLY OOGLEBLOOPS has moved!!!!

Please come on over to the other side !!!LOL

Easier posting, uploading photos, and most important of all - EASIER for you to leave COMMENTS- with no captcha, jumping hoops, or other annoyances that people seemed to find here.

Pretty new layout, several blog posts already, and some new topics coming up.

I love you all -it took a long time to find you all,  and I hope you will come follow me.....

                                  here

MOVING! MOVING! YES, I'M MOVING!

Sadly, due to increasing annoyances with blogger- I am moving BACK to WORDPRESS.

It is heart wrenching, in a way, since it took soooo long for me to accumulate followers, and I have so many posts here. They will always be here, to refer back to!

But, with people telling me it is harder to leave comments here with cyber hoop jumping, logging in, captcha, etc; issues I have when posting photos, and lots of other little things, I finally quit WHINING and am starting anew.

New look, more posts I hope, the continuing antics of Yoshi and Finnegan, more about quilting - and, yes, there will always be TEA!

I hope you liked visiting me enough to follow me - pretend I am the Pied Piper- you have no choice but to follow me....................please???

See you there....................

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Tea, Tea, and More Tea on Tuesday!!!!

                                        


                          I worked on cleaning out my pantry the other day- AGAIN!.
 
I am also weeding out teas that have been in there for more than a year!!!!

So as not to waste any, I have been drinking tea like crazy (plus, I love a cuppa hot tea when it's cold!!)

I am presently working my way through the bags of tea my dear friend Teresa has so kindly shared from her many trips overseas!

I alternate between the French, English, Italian, and Spanish hotel teas, only having to google translate the Italian, to make sure what it is I am drinking!!!

This morning, tho', it is my usual morning tea- Lady Grey, with local honey - or to be totally truthful, I have some tea WITH my honey!!!!!

I am very excited to report- that come spring, I will have bee hives on  my property!!!!
                                 
                                                            WOOHOO!!!

A couple of months ago, I met Crystal, who had recently moved here with her family from Kentucky. She sells her honey in some of the local shops. I asked if she ever put her hives in places other than their own property , and she was looking for a place!!! She and her family came out over the weekend- her husband, (the beekeeper), and two lovely children (the kids really came to see Yoshi and Finnegan!)- checked out the site, and agreed the bees will be coming here to live !!!!

The hives will be set up over the winter, the bees will arrive in the spring, and I will get some honey for letting the bees live here and pollinate to their hearts' content!!! It's a win-win!!!!

        
I can observe, photograph, and blog about the bees, and taste their honey!!! From a distance!!!! LOL

Crystal does sell her delicious honey online, and has a Facebook page - look her up!!!She has jars in all sizes- from wine bottle on down - very reasonable prices and VERY tasty!!!!

Now,  I can have my honey and tea too- along with a teacup for every day of the month to drink it in........

recent thrift store vintage cabinet score (from Cat's Meow, Broadway, Va)

                                               Am I a TEA ADDICT?????? 

                                                      Maybe, but is that so bad???????

  
                Tea, books, quilts, and more tea.....................there are worse addictions in life.........

     Please drop by anytime for tea- visit Patty and Nathalie for a list of more tea lovers today!!!

Tea on Tuesday

The steam from my tea swirls upward, misting my face, my hands wrapped in the warmth of this vintage Bavarian mug.

             I am debating moving "artfully ooglebloops" over to wordpress. 

I need to get back to posting on a regular basis, but blogger has made it difficult over the last few months.

People tell me they are unable to  leave comments,I have trouble leaving comments on others' blogs from here, my counter does not always work, I have trouble posting photos in an upright position, and it has become like jumping thru' hoops to delete and add blogs to my reading list!

           Some days it is just downright aggravating!!

I admit I am not the most computer savvy person - but it seems that blogger was sooo much simpler when I first started out.

This  has made posting on Facebook- blogger shorthand- so very appealing......

The only thing that keeps me here, is that it took soooo long to accumulate followers and readership, if not comments- and I don't want to lose that, and start from scratch!!! I am truly flattered that so many have chosen to follow me!!!

Well, my tea is cooling, I will mull this over for a while, and let you know what I decide........... If I leave, I HOPE you will follow...............

Tea on Tuesday With Sandy!

Since my computer is sketchy at best right now - and the winds are blowing 

                                            harder and harder,

 with promises of gusts to 65 mph tomorrow and a winter storm warning 'til 2pm Tuesday- I am writing this post Monday night - brief and to the point!

Happy Tea Tuesday, stay dry, and curl up with a cuppa and a friend....................

Calm in the Eye of the Storm

Night, the beloved Night, when words fade and things come alive
 When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree.

                                                                    Antoine de Saint-Exupery 


Inspired by a poem shared by Robyn Gordon the other day, in her wonder-full blog, I started thinking about how we (I) can remain calm in this ever increasingly crazy world......


I am reminded of a tree.  Tall, steadfast, seemingly unflappable.......

Always loved trees as a child, still do.

I hugged them, climbed them, grew them, pruned them, walked through woods filled with them, preserved fallen leaves from them, and strove to learn the names of all of them.

In trying to remain stress free in a stress filled world, I think I should be more like a tree.

                                                                No stress.

Nothing to worry about, except when someone approaches you with chainsaw in hand, a heavy wind rips you from the ground, or a forest fire reduces you and your forest to cinder and ash.

                            But, do trees worry about that happening? I am sure not.........

Unless, of course, one is a tree in a Christmas tree lot, whether a full bodied spruce, or a tiny Charlie Brown twig- they might have an inkling of their specific purpose in life, and what is their fate..... but, still, they live each day as it comes, not looking back, not thinking ahead, living in the moment.

A tree has nothing to do but grow skyward. Nothing to think about but absorbing the sun, loving the rain,  and growing taller.

               


          The world continues flailing wildly around them, and trees just look up. 


Trees are blissfully unaware, just lifting their arms to the sun, drinking in the rain, firmly grasping their "feet" to their little spot of earth, and going thru' the inevitable motions of the seasons.

                                           With, apparently, 'nary a care, thought, or worry. 

                                                               Oh, to be a tree..............

Tea on Tuesday...and Every Day

Even tho I have been sporadic of late, in posting Tea on Tuesdays, I am here today.

I am very busy doing some catch up quilting - online swap quilted wool PC's that need completion, charity quilts that need to be worked on and mailed off for machine quilting.

All this work, in my newly set up studio (see my previous post) , being sustained and energized by endless cups of tea !!!!

I have a pantry full of tea- and am presently working thru' bags of teas from England, France and Italy, sent to me by a wonderful traveling friend !!!

I thought I would share today, some of the photos I discovered here and there online- peaceful images of tea and it perfect companion - books!!!!  And one really cool teacup CAKE!!!!

How cool is this altered book? Wish I could give credit to the artist....

 

Several of my orphan vintage teacups repurposed into bird feeders- available at Turner Ham/Fulks Run Grocery and thru' me directly.

Yes, I know - it's really hot chocolate - but this yummy cupcake could so easily be tea!!!!

Back to sewing - enjoy your tea today - and please drop by Patty  for more links to tea fanciers.!

 And,

 if you have a post about your tea today - please feel free to leave you link in the comments below!! 

We'd love to visit you today (and every day!!!)

Frustration Mounting!!!

HELP!!!!

I am trying to unfollow some blogs in my reading list!! I used to be able to do this easily- and now cannot figure it out at all!!!!!

Maybe there have been some changes in Blogger- maybe I am just losing my mind!!!

I can't add any new blogs to my reading list - until I get rid of some of the stagnant ones.

Any help would be appreciated!!!!

Quilting Mania

Ever since I organized and held the first Mountain Meadows Quilters Retreat here in August, I have quilting on the brain!!!

Am getting myself organized to where I can begin quilting again in earnest!

My daughter just moved  into her own apartment to be nearer to her job. Bittersweet, but definitely time for her to make the move - and, in an attempt to assuage my sorrow, redirect my mind, get rid of the clutter, and ward off the effects of empty nest syndrome, I took over her basement bedroom and bath to turn into my sewing studio.

Of course, the room will always be known as "Katie's room", just like a lovely almost vintage truck we bought from a friend is always referred to as "Bill's Truck" !! We should get a license plate for it, that says Bilstrk !!!

Anyway, the room transformation is almost complete. I would like D/H to put the flooring down that was never installed (D/D preferred painted cement floor!) and put the molding up around the window frame (another incomplete project of his!)

I won't show you a "BEFORE" of the room -D/D would never approve of that (!)- but here are several stages of the "AFTER"!

Entry way (with a cute flower basket wall hanging by Karen Bush)

My older model Pfaff, sitting on a vintage refurbished barn wood farm table

   Note the Pat Sloan baskets to the left of the table, quilt top done by Pat, finished and hand quilted by me, eons ago......

Then, I had to add a cute little vintage hutch scored at a local thrift store- great storage for quilts, fabric, and my ever growing pin cushion collection

Hanging on the wall, above one of my quilts, is a custom horseshoe I had created for Mountain Meadows Quilters, by local talented artist, Deborah Sherwood. I have many of her pieces- check  out her website - it's not just for horse lovers!!!

                                      If you are on FB, please check out Deborah's FB page - Rhythm-n-Beads
                                                        or her company website


A little Featherweight, purchased at a yard sale in Waterford, Va, about 15+ years ago, has FINALLY emerged from its case, to be put into use!! After seeing the several Featherweights at Pat's workshop, I was hooked!!! It seems to be working fine!! I am amazed! The sewing machine, in case, with all the accessories, attachments, table,  and original instruction booklet was purchased for $40 !!! Even back then, not knowing all I do now about Featherweights, I knew it was something I should NOT pass up!!!

Except for possibly needing some cleaning in the inner workings - it appears to sew smoothly. Got to read the instruction manual and get busy!!!

For those of you on Facebook, I would love for you to join and follow along with Mountain Meadows Quilters - I try to post interesting links and daily info, and welcome members to post pix of their quilts- a kind of cyber show and tell!!!

For those of you not on FB, I will try to post some of the info here in the blog, so, I hope you continue to follow and share my blog with quilt-y friends.

 Facebook has become a kind of blogging shorthand for me - I have been remiss about blogging regularly here  - but promise to do better!!!

Let me leave you with one of the many cool links I find and post on MMQ FB page- if you love origami, or have even just been intrigued by the process - here is a tutorial on making a 3D origami block - reminiscent of a napkin folding technique I once made! I may just have to make one of these origami quilt blocks now !!!!

Here is my post w/link below..........

I LOVE origami - how about this tutorial for an origami quilt block!!! Found this link on the Quilting and Sewing Enthusiasts FB wall. I think I have made something similar to this before - a table napkin from a booklet on napkin folding. This makes a VERY cute 3D quilt block!
http://mypatchwork.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/block-20-origami-flower-textured-quilt-sampler/

 

beautiful origami block created by Teresa Down Under- please visit her link above for instructions and more!!

 I will end here, with an FYI- Pat Sloan will be making a return appearance and teaching another of her wonder-full workshops on August 10, 2013 at Mountain Meadows, and we are in the process of setting up a workshop with another well known quilter in the spring. Saturday Sew Ins will be happening thru out 2013 also!! Think about coming!!! We'd love to have you!!!

The Valley Gals Are At It Again!!!

Once a month, several of us artsy gals taking turns meeting at each others' houses and do some creating!

The hostess picks the activity, whether it be an area of her own expertise, or a new talent we would like to add to our artsy resumes!!!

So far, we have tackled wool felting, card making, upcycled china pedestals, hypertufas, and crazy quilting.

Meeting at Bobbi's house today, we were creating autumn themed centerpieces.

It is fun to create, commiserate, share life stories, laugh, and just be together- with lunch afterwards, of course!!!! So much talent, creativity, wisdom, and life experience around a small table..........

From left-Vicki, Bobbi (hostess this month) and Julie

Bobbi, Julie, and Susan setting up

Judy, unpacking her supplies

Decisions, decisions, Susan- will this look good?

Hard at work

Judy's finished piece

Mine's done- for my daughter's new apartment

Vicki decided to add everyone's photo to her phone list, so our lovely faces will pop up when we call her- now, I just need her cell phone number!!!! Ooops!

Everyone's working hard - except for the photographer (me) and Vicki, trying to get Bobbi's photo just right for her cell phone!!!

Julie, mulling over her gorgeous creation in a vintage box

Back side of Julie's and no, she was NOT quite done!!!!

Susan's - the art of placing a ribbon takes careful thought

Judy's is done - TA-DA!!!!

Even the box of supplies looks festively autumnal just as it is!!

Vicki's unique piece of wood, unearthed  by her artistic cowboy son, and dug out of storage, just for the occasion, is gorgeous in person

Delicious eclairs and strawberries followed and equally yummy lunch.

Somehow, I managed to miss photographing Bobbi's masterpiece centerpiece- SORRY!!


                                                Another fun get together!!!

Next month, will be at my house, where I will teach the "fine art" of making chocolate, long stemmed roses!

Just a Quick Note....

If any of you are on Facebook, please drop by and follow (or become a "member") of Mountain Meadows Quilters.

I would love to have you!

After having a VERY successful first workshop with Pat Sloan in August, the quilting ball is rolling!

Starting again next year, we will have another quilter/teacher workshop  in the spring (teacher TBA), and, hopefully, have Pat return in the fall to teach another workshop, and  schedule a Saturday Sew In every now and then!!

The Facebook page is way to keep in touch, keep people up to date, and to post interesting links, quilts we are working on, and news from the quilting world!

Here is the FB link

For those of you not on FB, I will try to post Mountain Meadows Quilters updates here, as often as I can.

Would love to see you join us at a workshop sometime!!!

Yes, It's Tuesday......

.....and I am having tea (Twinings Lady Gray) Seems apropos, since it is a dreary, stormy, and VERY gray day today......


Since my computer service is spotty - the "power tower" is shrouded in clouds, I will just briefly post this contest link, just discovered on Facebook this morning.

Hope it's not raining where you are, but, if it is, get out your favorite Twinings, and post about it!!!!

 WIN - 6 Twinings History Mugs and a years supply of your favourite Twinings tea.

TELL US: Which is your favourite Twinings tea and why?

We will announce the winner this Friday at 4pm here on Facebook.

If you would like to see these mugs close up, visit: http://bit.ly/FannyShorter

Tea on Tuesday

This 1938 photo (courtesy of somewhere in cyberspace) would seem to be the type of tea party I would have had as a child - were I "into" tea back then!!!! Of course, I was not yet a "glimmer" in my mother's mind in 1938!!! She was of the age to be having imaginary tea parties back then!!!

Who better to have as guests than animals??? Not quite a Mad Hatter's tea party - but it will do!!! A hawk, and a lobster- the lobster being quite content to be a guest and not an entree !!!!

                                                     How 'bout tea in a tree????

                           1921, Tea at the Kit-Kat Club - not sure where this club was!!!

My new Yixing clay teapot (all kinds available at Julieanna)

My very early morning tea-in my English lidded bone china mug- Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea- because it's 3am, and I am going BACK to bed!!!

Hussif, Hussif, Who's Got a HUSSIF....?????

                                        


                                    Does anyone know what a HUSSIF is?

                                           I may be in the minority, but I sure didn't!

This morning, I saw a FB post by famous doll maker extraordinaire, Patti Culea- about an intriguing "hussif" she created. Here is her link.

I love hers, having dabbled a teensy bit in doll making myself, years ago..........her creation is the best of both worlds- it's a doll, and it serves a purpose in sewing organization!

In researching what a "hussif" was,  I found this blog - a hussif  is, simply put, a needle case. Could be a roll up, could be fashioned in almost any shape to suit the sewer's needs for whatever  needs to be  stored and/or carried.

  You know how it goes - one link leads to another, then you find the wee hours have slipped away (literally- I was up at 3:50am today!) - all spent in the cyber space! This 2nd blog (link below) gave me the definition of the word HUSSIF.

Its origin is Olde English - meaning "housewife". A word that appears to be coming full circle, from the days of women's lib (when it was a bad word!) to the present, where alot of women (including myself) appear to be  embracing the back to basics and relearning the skills (and they are skills!) of housewifely "drudgery" combined with the arts of fine handiwork- sewing, knitting, spinning, weaving, etc..Altho', I must admit - I do NOT categorize washing dishes as an art!! That is still drudgery - unless I can escape to an imaginary world in my mind, while gazing out the window, and mindlessly scrubbing pots!!!LOL..... 

You can read about the definition of the word Hussif - here

Curiosity just got the best of me - I could see what it was that Patti Culea created - and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE  it- but did not know the origin of the word she used to describe it! Now, I do!

So, as always, GOOGLE to the rescue!!!!!

I also found photos - click here
 
                                                  Oh sooooo many photos!!!



I have made several needle cases over the years- and have swapped needlecases online. I have a ton of them - well, maybe not a TON- but I have alot!!! What I need to create now, is an artsy storage case of sorts, to hold all the needlecases in a semi organized way!!!

blogger decided it looked better this way! My own wool envelope- I love the teeny pewter basket pin cushion!Lined with  vintage feedsack.

(Obviously having another photo placement blogger issue again today.......sigh)

One hussif  that I do NOT have is a larger roll up style, similar to Patti's creation..

I do have several wool applique envelope styles - 2 or three of these inspired and created while in The Woolie Nuts group with Pat Sloan, Lennie, Judy, Ann Weber, Debbie, Joanne, Patty, when we did some round robins. I admit being only a sporadic member, as work and kids allowed! Now distance separates...

Woolie Nuts- late 1990's ?- from left, Judy Post , Lennie Stimpson, Pat Sloan,Ann Weber, Deb MacDougal Conway, and me (on the floor)photo probably taken by the ever elusive Patty!!!

 This is one of the needlecases - mine- from the Woolie Nuts Round robin. I think my base wool was one hand dyed by Patty.www.bitze.wordpress.com, back when she was into that sort of thing!! She created the best wool colors ever!!!

sideways pic - but you get the idea- each person in the round robin added another wool applique

back view

Others are small folder or book styles - created and swapped in an online group with Judy and several others.

this is the outside of Judy's- all recycled fabric - the outer is from her dad's old sweater, I believe - how sweet!

and the inside

a gorgeous burnt fabric method- needlecase by London artist Rosemarie McLavy for the online Art4Mail swap in 2011

After seeing Patti's wonder-full creation, I have a feeling I need to create a fantasy roll- up. Maybe borrowing the from the theme of  Pat Sloan's  recent workshop at my Mountain Meadows Quilters Retreat,  and use up the rest of my stash fabric to put together a new all encompassing hussif !

If you have made any hussifs - and I am SURE you all have - under a different name, perhaps ????- leave a comment - share a link with a picture of your creation!

                               I'd love to see them!! As would we all!!!! We can all become hussies!!!LOL

                                                   Inspiration comes from sharing!!!