Wedding

Here are a few pictures of the beautiful wedding I attended today.  It was at my friend's gorgeous old home in New Market.

I think she liked the quilt I made her.

Doggie Scarf Quilt

I have made good progress on the doggie scarf memorial quilt. I think I'll get black for the border.  Someone told me once (Charla!) that a solid black will give a place to "rest" the eyes.

New Project

This is a special project, a type of memorial quilt.  The fabric is doggie scarves from the beloved pets of a dearly loved grandma.  She passed away this year after a short battle with cancer.  Her daughter, my friend, asked me to make it for her daughter, who was very close to the grandmother and her dogs.

Need decorating help

Every couple of years, I want to re-do the look of our bedroom.  I just can't seem to get it the way I want it.  I like lots of decorating styles, but my favorite seem to be the simpler styles with straight lines, fewer "things".  I love the style of quilt designer, Heather Peterson.  Her photos of her home are beautiful. I don't have her great mission style furniture, but what do you think?  If I paint the lamps dark (black, brown, charcoal) use shades in dark red, or green, take down the valances, put up some colorful decor above the bed, and maybe above the windows, with no window treatments other than the blinds, make some stiff shams to coordinate with the quilt, and then some solid color pillow cases in the dark red or green....will it be what I am looking for?  I want something that I can easily, and inexpensively, change with whatever quilt I want to use on the bed, but still look "decorated".  Suggestions for accessories to tie it together?? (please excuse the "nest" on hubby's side of the room.). I might even paint the room again.  If I do, I want to go with a neutral beigy/tan.  Something to contrast with the trim, but will go with more quilts.

Before

After

????????

Flowers

Hubby has always wanted marigolds in our yard.  Not sure really why, unless it reminds him of his home.  We got some today and some other flowers for the front pots and a mandevilla for the back deck.

Special Shirt Quilt

I am making this one for my friend's grandson.  It will have his daddy's and his granddaddy's shirts in it.  I think it will turn out good.  I had to add a bit to the shirts she gave me and the layout is preliminary, but I always like to lay my blocks out as I make them.  It feels so good to be back to sewing.

One more picture

This was taken by a professional photographer at the last night's event in Ireland.  I think he "smoothed" over some of our wrinkles!  Jim felt really bad, but I think it is still a good picture.

More pictures from Ireland

Our first night reception.

This is Mary.  A sweet 80 year old lady on whose property are the bee-hive huts.  Her son is a firefighter in New York City and responded on 9/11.

Home Sweet Home

We are finally home after a very long travel day (~26 hours).  We just got our "lost" piece of luggage delivered, so I am happy!  I have some beautiful pictures I'd like to share with you.  Sorry, they aren't in any order. The first is a view of our room.  It was gorgeous! Follows are some of my favorite of the pictures I took.

One of the tours we took, the Gap of Dunloe, started with a jaunting cart ride through the gap.

These were fascinating structures that dated back to 600-800 a.d. built by the monks who came to the island of Ireland.  No, the power pole isn't coming out of the structure, although it looks it!

I"ve forgotten the name of this castle like structure, but it was at the end of the Gap of Dunloe tour.  It was my favorite of the ones we took.

Gap of Dunloe and Ring of Kerry

We are having "mighty craic" here in Ireland. Took a jaunting cart ride and boat ride yesterday and today we did the Ring of Kerry bus tour. beautiful countryside. Pictures to come when we get home, unless I can figure it out sooner....

We arrived!

We are here in Killarney after a long day/night of travel. I am having a bit of trouble with the Internet so I don't know if my pictures will come across or not. I'll try...Ok, so I haven't figured out how to load them from the iPad....our view from the hotel room is unbelievable! And everything really is very green here...lol

Beautiful, busy day

Such a pretty day.  I've spent the day getting ready for our trip.  Got my clothes ready and got the house in order. We are having friends over tonight for supper, and it just seemed right to make a fresh strawberry cake.  Yummy. This picture just says "spring" with the red place-mats, and the red flowers in the back ground. I always think I need to post some kind of picture whenever I blog.