My blogging friend Terri of Terri's Notebook has decided to run a swap in the month of July. In her recent post she has described many fun ways of crafting some wonderful ornaments. I have signed up and am looking forward to making an ornament for a partner. We will mail them off by the end of July. If you're thinking of doing this swap, please check Terri's blog for the details. She was hoping to take signups only until July 4th, so time is ticking away quickly.

Calling All Roosters for the Party at Bella Vista

I am having some trouble making the link work in my side bar. So I am going to go ahead and make a post about a fun blog party. Barb of BellaVista will be having her second annual Rooster Party. I plan on signing up and will enjoy browsing many blogs to see the fine birds!

She has announced that it will be taking place on Friday August 6th. So if you have rooster art, decor, or sculptures, you may want share these delightful objects during her blog party. Last year I participated and was amazed by all the unique pieces! I had to photograph my mom's collection, because I didn't really have any of my own. This year is different. I have been keeping my eyes open for some fabulous birds when I am in gift shops and antique malls. I have 2 treasures to share so far this year!

I hope you'll be able to join up with the Rooster Party this year.

Mosaic Pottery

This is an older garden pot which I covered with pieces of mosaic glass, flat marbles, broken dishes and then grouted. It has worked out well for the aloe vera plant, since I don't need to water it that often.

I am wondering about making a special pot for my lemon and bay trees. I've been thinking about making a clay emblem with earth clay and stamping in the name of the plant and letting the clay take the curved shape of the side of the pot. Then I'd glaze and fire the clay emblem. Once out of the kiln, I was thinking it could be used as a feature piece in the mosaic work.

Does anyone have more experience at doing this sort of thing?

Rising Star Block

I have completed block 6 for the Hazel Ilene Diary Quilt Along. The title of the block is called "Rising Star". I very much like the look of the block and the way that the star is inside a star! So far it's my favorite block!


Now, I have to keep going to get caught up with the directions. I'll need to do another setting block and also complete block #7.


If you are interested, the entries from Hazel's diary are posted on the site by her daughter Shelly. There is also a flicker site where we share photos. I love how everyone's blocks are coming together.

Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks
Originally uploaded by quilterinagarden

The hollyhocks are better than ever this season. We've been getting lots of rain and the plants are large and sturdy.

Crazy Quilt Trims: Thank You to Nicki

I am so very pleased with my lovely trims sent to me by Nicki of NickiLee Ravioli Dreams. I was a winner of these crazy quilt embellishments during her 100th blog post. Do you notice how nicely the laces have been dyed the most beautiful blues and greens? And how about that cute daisy motif? I want to have that in just the right place! It will be a joy to work with these lovelies as I intend to do some crazy quilt blocks this summer.


Thank you so much NickiLee, I appreciate your generosity in sharing your wonderful dyed laces. I'll be sure to clue you in when I have a block ready for you to see.

Delicious Strawberries and the Strawberry Swap

I've been collecting some things Pixie Dust's upcoming strawberry swap. But I can't show them yet. I have been matched up with a very nice blogger in a North Eastern state. I've been busy stalking her blog and trying to understand what she may like! I already picked out a few strawberry items and have a few things set aside for a project which I will reveal later. Perhaps she may like some recipes that call for strawberries.

This photo is just a shot I took this afternoon after my trip to the Food CoOp. The berries are freshly picked from the area. They are the juiciest and sweetest I've had in a long time.

Now, to decide what I need to make with these... I've been thinking of either a frozen ice cream style torte, or some meringues with a strawberry sauce.

My Meyer Lemon Tree

A few months ago I was at my friends house working on our sewing and making tote bags. We had the tv on the home shopping channel and we were both drawn it when they began talking about the Meyer Lemon plants they had for sale.


We quickly dialed up the number and had 2 plants on order.


It took a while for the mini tree to arrive, because they ship them after the danger of frost has passed. When it arrived we were pleasantly



surprised by both the height and healthiness of the plant. We potted them up in some nice patio pots for it's summer outdoors. We plan to bring them in to survive the harsh Wisconsin winter. Perhaps the bay tree will be a good companion for the lemon this winter. It has always done well indoors for 5 months. The rosemary plant seldom ever survives a winter in the house.



It is very happy in the pot that I put it in and it seems to love the glass marbles I added to the top of the soil. I was reading the care pamphlet and it said to make a special spray in a water bottle with mostly water, a drop of liquid soap, and a drop of vegetable oil. I have been spraying it almost daily.