The Irony of Flowers at my house right now!!

I have an orchid that has been in bloom for many many weeks now.   It is pretty much right on target.   Yesterday I discovered 4 new buds on my Christmas Cactus.   Now, I usually call my Christmas Cactus my Than-Chri-Easter Cactus because once it starts budding and blooming around Thanksgiving time, it goes clear thru until Easter.   This year we moved and it was full of buds when we got here.   It immediately opened up, and I had a lovely showing for a few weeks.   All the flowers died off and no new ones came.until yesterday.   I'm happy about this because I think it means it has acclimated to its new home.......I hope!!!

Looking For The sun in WNY

This has been the working title for a quilt I started recently.   It may just end up being it's official name.  Today (sadly) seemed like the perfect day to work on it some more.

This is the quilt top as it is now.

The background is constructed ala Ricky Tims Convergence pattern.  There are 2 different (believe it or not) blue fabrics put together in the convergence technique and then I added the yellow on the diagonal.

The sun in the corner....we all know it just HAS to be out there somewhere.   Still not sure about the circle piece.   It is not permanently fused yet.   I have a nice yellow circular styled bead that will go either on the circle or in place of the circle.

We all know what this is...........the snow!   It is a patterned tulle which I think does exactly what I wanted.  It is very subtle and I plan to add white/blue/crystal beads.

Stained Glass Window to the World!

Final version of my mosaic for Kathi's class.    To me it looks like I'm looking through a stained glass window onto a landscape.   The borders suggest a landscape of waters, grasses, sky etc.   Maybe not as inventive as some, but I like it.....and it IS - my colors!!!

Cream Cheese Pumpkin bars

I love these.   I've made these for many occasions now and the other night for Kathi's birthday celebration.   They are really easy and so good!!!

1 pkg. Pumpkin Quick Bread Mix
3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons oil
2 eggs

1 8-oz pkg cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup chopped nuts


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 in. square baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine pumpkin bread mix, 3/4 cup water, oil and eggs. Mix well
Pour batter into baking pan
In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
Pour cream cheese mixture over top of batter and swirl through batter with a knife to create a marble effect.
Sprinkle nuts over top and bake for 35-40 minutes.

RAFA Show

The RAFA Arts Council Show is up and it is gorgeous (in my humble opinion).   My piece is my interpretation of a photo from Stony Brook State Park gorge last summer.  I used thread embroidery for the leaves, some painted/dyed cheesecloth and beading to represent the orange lichen.   This photo was taken by a fellow RAFA member, but it may well be the best photo I've seen of it yet!!!