Heart Quilt Top

Heart Quilt Top

Hearts are one of my favorite shapes.  (Do you have a favorite shape?)  I made my heart quilt top several years ago.  This quilt top was mostly playing with color and fabrics that I love but wouldn't usually decorate with or wear.  The hearts are 'fabric fused' on, not appliqued.  I appliqued one block and decided - no way, I will never finish this project if I try to applique on all the hearts.  I framed the finished top (so that I didn't have to quilt and bind the top), and I hang it on the wall around this time of year (Valentines Day).  The quilt dimensions are 20 inches by 28 inches.  

My Heart Quilt Top

Before I had children, I used to get quilt magazines, go to quilt shows, and actually occasionally piece and quilt.  I started far more quilts then I have finished, and some have become UFO's - UnFinished Objects that I have no desire to finish, and yet do not want to toss.  Many of my UFO's got bogged down at the quilt and bind stage of the process.  After I had children, I decided to try smaller projects, and now I have four beautiful wall quilt tops that I love but dread quilting and binding. This heart quilt is the one I will share today.

Click on the images to see them enlarged. 

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Batik Quilt

Valentine Vignette

Spring Needlework

Vintage Lace

Stockings

Spring Hutch

Mosaic Heart

Butterfly Bling

I am linking up to these memes:

French Cupboard for Handmade Valentine (I was entry 25 of 32).
Holiday Haven for Valentines Party (Entry 26 of 66+)
Common Gnd for Vintage Inspiration Fri 22 (Entry 30 of 99).

Romantic Home for Show and Tell (Entry 3 of 268).
French Country for Feather Nest Fri 19 (Entry 38 of 134).
Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (Entry 31 of 141).
Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday 27 (Entry 282 of 353)
Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (Entry 6 of 38).

Lovely Home for Lovely Crafty Weekend (Entry 28 of 49).
Sassysites for Free for All Friday (Entry 213 of 266)
Tatertots and Jello for Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 162 of 630)  
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Mon 5 (Entry 16 of 60)
DIY Showoff for DIY Project Parade 30 (Entry 71 of 281)
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 106 (Entry 90 of 327)
Mad in Crafts for Mad Skills 39 (Entry 4 of 158)
All Things for All Things Inspired 12 (Entry 38 of 41).
Today's Creative for Get Your Craft On Tues 40 (Entry 98 of 402)
All Thingz Related for Anything Related 34 (Entry 53 of 117)
Uncommon Slice for Tuesdays Treasures (Entry 37 of 53)
The Thrifty Home for Penny Pinching Party 71 (Entry 22) 
Trendy Treehouse for Creative Share Blog Hop (Entry 50 of 220.)
Sew Much Ado for We Did It Wed (Entry 83 of 321.)
My Backyard Eden for Make It Yours No. 52 (Entry 70 of 224.)

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Fri 2 (Entry 32 of 83.)

Hutch of Blue and White China

Blue and white China in my Hutch

I feel like this is my big reveal - I finally get to display my blue and white china in the china hutch I bought back in July.  After the Christmas decorations were put away, I started 'finding' my scattered collection of blue and white china.  I haven't gathered together my blue and white china and looked it over, ever.  Since I didn't have the space to display it, I kept it packed in various places, even as I added to the collection.   

This display is eclectic and disorganized, to say the least.  I will get more proficient at displaying china in my hutch as the years go on.  Right now, I guess I am using the hutch as a leisurely way to sort and catalog my china collection.  Seeing what I have, so to speak.  With four children, and a patient husband who would prefer less clutter, I have been keeping my china well out of the way (and out of sight!)  The husband can't complain about 'too much china' if it is stashed in out of the way corners of the basement.

China Hutch

The middle row has some of my favorite china, including my authentic "flow blue" china.  I'd love to be able to display an entire cabinet of flow blue, but for now I am happy to see the handful of pieces I have.  I think I will catalog (and blog?) my flow blue pieces on a different day. 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

My Collection of all Hutch Posts!

I am linking to these parties:

Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (I was entry 10 of 57).
Shabby Chic for Transformation Thur (Entry 39 of 356).

Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 98 (Entry 106 of 114+)
Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur 28 (Entry 4 of 41).
Common Gnd for Vintage Inspiration Fri 21 (Entry 30 of 90).
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (Entry 37 of 269).
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #18 (Entry 1 of 98).
Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (Entry 15 of 137).  
A La Carte for Finds Friday 12 (Entry 8 of 40). 
Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (Entry 25 of 33.)

Roses for Show off your Cottage Monday (Entry 15 of 50+)
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 105 (Entry 103 of 351).
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays 47 (Entry 161 OF 170).
House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday 36 (Entry 54)

Flow Blue Mosaic Mirror

Mosaic Mirror

I have loved china since before I picked out a china pattern as a bride many years ago.  This strange love would have me window shopping the china sections of department stores for years after I was married, enjoying the many patterns that were out of my price range, and knowing I would have a hard time choosing just one anyway.  My everyday tableware?  The versatile and hardy "Just White" by Corelle.  I used this daily, for over 20 years... 

I started collecting china at rummage sales.  I would see lone plates and buy them. (I guess I started collecting china for future china hutch displays and table scaping, which I hadn't yet heard of, but at the time I told myself - "Maybe I will use this plate for mosaics."  It gave me an excuse to collect china I liked.)  I would buy teacups and saucers, even though I don't drink tea.  I would buy broken and chipped china and glued together china also, spare saucers without a cup, etc.  After a while, I even went to some antique dealers and arranged to buy broken and chipped china that they wouldn't usually sell.  These dealers, too, had a hard time throwing out beautiful pieces of china.  I got my first pieces of flow blue china as broken plates from an antique dealer.

I made some stepping stones for outside, a couple of trivets, and then I really wanted to use my broken flow blue china, so I made the frame shown.  This mosaic frame square is 10.5" wide x 10.5" high, framing a square 3.5" x 3.5" mirror. (Does anyone else recognize this as an IKEA frame?)  Even the sides of the frame have mosaic china edging.

Mosaic Mirror

I may never have china of this caliber to work with again, which is why this is my favorite mosaic creation to date. This mirror is a delight to my eye - eye candy for the wall.

The china pieces in this mosaic frame include:

"Astoria" Flow Blue pattern (one of my favorites)

"Kelvin" Flow blue pattern

3+ different Blue Willow sources.

A Japanese version of blue onion china.

The Astoria and Kelvin china sources were cracked, chipped or damaged to the point of not being salable by the antique dealers who are my source for great china.  "Faux flow blue blue willow" patterns were also used.  (I like saying that, but my husband doesn't get why that is funny.  Is it funny to any of you blog readers?)

No historically important china pieces were harmed in the creation of this frame, which hangs in my bedroom.    :)

This type of ceramic mosiac work (using china) is sometimes called Pique Assiette, or picassiette.

Click on the images to see them enlarged. 

 

 

 

If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

Mosaic Collection - All Posts!

 

 

 

 

 

I am linking up to these memes:

Shabby Chic for Transformation Thur (I was entry 97 of 312).

Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 22 of 53).
Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 96 (Entry 25 of 101)

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur 26 (Entry 3).
Common Gnd for Vintage Inspiration Fri 20 (Entry 4 of 75).
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (Entry 76 of 234)
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #17 (Entry 41 of 95).

Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (Entry 35 of 140).  
A La Carte for Finds Friday (Entry 4 of 29). 
Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (Entry 14 of 30).

Roses for Show off your Cottage Mon (Entry 63 of 63).
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 104 (Entry 82 of 314+)

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays 46 (Entry 62 of 131+).

House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday 35 (Entry 10 of 58+)
Today's Creative Blog for Get Your Craft On 38 (Entry 396) 
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday 3 (Entry 100)
Mad in Crafts for Mad Skills 37 (Entry 147)
Sew Much Ado for We Did It Wed 18 (Entry 240)
All Things for All Things Inspired 11 (Entry 45)
All Thingz Related for Anything Related 32 (Entry 139)
Uncommon Slice for Tuesdays Treasures 18 (Entry 58)
The Thrifty Home for Penny Pinching Party 69 (Entry 125)
Someday Crafts for What Ever Goes Wed 48 (Entry 297)
Trendy Treehouse for Creative Share Blog Hop 18 (Entry 149)
Today's Creative blog for Get Your Craft On 38 (Entry 396)
My Backyard Eden for Make It Yours No. 50 (Entry 178)

Panda!

In July of 2006 my husband and I were able to take our children to see the National Zoo in Washington DC.  One of the Pandas was active and visible that day, and I got some nice photos.  

One of the Panda's even climbed a tree, went out on a limb, and slipped down under the branch.  A visitor told me we were lucky to see a panda in action, usually they are hard to see.

Panda at the National Zoo, Washington DC

Click on the images to see them enlarged. 

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Peacock

Washington DC

Bighorn Sheep

I am linking up to these memes:
This is my 11th entry to the meme Scenic Sunday (I was entry 66).
This is my 9th entry to the meme Mosaic Monday (I was entry 43).
This is my 30th entry to Outdoor Wednesday 105 (I was entry 106). 

Angel Window

Angel Stained Glass Window by Marion Grisa

Today I wanted to share my favorite Angel stained glass window.  This blue angel window measures about 16 inches by 24 inches and was created in the early 1980's by my husband's mother, Marion Grisa.   

Glass Detail

Marion Grisa (1925 - 1986), was a artist in many mediums, including fiber, stained glass, painting and sculpture.  I don't actually know how many stained glass windows she made, but she made at least nine stained glass windows for Heritage Presbyterian Church in Muskego, Wisconsin, as well as at least two other smaller windows.  The two small windows she gave as gifts, one to her mother and one to her cousin.  These small windows have traveled on as family heirlooms, one to my husband, Carl Grisa.
 

This Christmas I hung the angel window in my living room window for the Christmas season.  After the holidays are over, I think I will move the Angel window to somewhere more permanent, probably in the dining room.  I'm pretty sure I've decided that this little angel should shine on for more then just the holidays.

(How is this a Metamorphis Monday post?  This window was taken out of storage and hasn't hung in the house for years.  I was worried the children might break it.  I think that counts...)

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Heart Window

Angel Window

Madonna Window

Beveled Window

Stained Glass

Tree Pins

Chicago Xmas

Holly pins

I am linking up to these memes:

Roses for Show off your Cottage Monday (I was entry 45 of 50).
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 102 (Entry 229 of 238).

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays 44 (Entry 94 of 123).

House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday 33 (Entry 33 of 44).

Shabby Chic for Transformation Thur (I was entry 19 of 291).

Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (I was entry 6 of 40).
Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 96, (I was entry 3 of 99).

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur 26 (I was entry 3 of 37).
Common Gnd for Vintage Inspiration Fri 19 (I was entry 9 of 66).
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (I was entry 9 of 229).
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #15 (I was entry 5 of 112).

Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (I was entry 7 of ?). 
A Picture is Worth for 2nd Time Around (I was entry 7 of 10).

Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (I was entry 12 of 33).
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wed 146  (Entry 56).
Creative Country Mom for Christmas In The Country  (Entry 56).

Library of Congress

Library of Congress Interior

The Library of Congress in Washington DC, USA is housed in a spectacular building.

Library of Congress interior, Washington DC

Beautiful details are everywhere you look - in the mosiacs on the floors, the stained glass on the ceiling, and the wonderful pillars, carvings and paintings on the walls.

I enjoy stained glass windows - below is a close-up of one of the stained glass panels from the ceiling.

Stained glass window in the Library of Congress

Mosaic floors are so decorative - the floors here are incredible.

Mosaic floor in the Library of Congress, Washington DC

The Library of Congress is one of the great places to explore in Washington DC.  There are so many great sites to see in Washington DC that this building is often missed by tourists on their first visit.  If you can find the time - don't miss it. 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Elves Chasm

Las Vegas at Night

Chicago Garden

I am linking up to these memes:

This is my 11th entry to Mosaic Monday (I was entry 32)

This is my 9th entry to the meme Scenic Sunday (I was entry 50).

And in April 2013: Tablescaper: Oh the places I've been Thurs (Entry 21).