Merry Go Round quilted table topper

I found this pattern in Florida along with some gorgeous purple fabric.  Slightly over 1 yard of fabrics completes this table topper.  I had great fun quilting this as it was my first project on my new sewing machine!!!   This pattern would be fun to use to change out the table topper according to seasons or holidays!!!

A new sewing machine is the best toy ever!

My old machine didn't  owe me anything. It has been a workhorse...and I do work my machines a lot.   Lately it has been giving me more grief than pleasure. So when it proceeded to act up this morning. My husband said "enough", and so we went to my favorite shop in Penn  Yan, NY and bought a new one!!!

It wasn't a total surprise as I had been looking.  While the old one was fixed and has more years of life, it now will become my "second" one which I will use for retreats, classes, traveling etc.

Visit to Mt. Dora and my purple house,

One of our trips while in the south was a lovely visit to the city of Mt. Dora, Florida.   It is a cute little place by the lake and it was a lovely day to walk around and take in all the little artisan shops.

This was in one of the shops..I want to do this in my backyard!

Eating outside in nice weather is always a treat.

The bottle brush tree that captured my attention.

Finally.....anyone who knows me, knows that this house has my name written all over it....Purple Love!!

Crystal River and Blue Run

Today's trip took us to Crystal River.  What a cute little town!  I wish we had known more and had planned to explore more.  On the way home we stopped in Dunnellon at the Blue Run River trail.  This is my favorite picture of the day.

More inspiration......more quilts than I will do....

We took a trip to beautiful Rainbow Springs!   This is another long time attraction and park falling on hard times and being run into the ground because of the mega parks like Disney!  I have seen several parks on this trip and find it very sad that natural beauty is being tossed aside for some "man made, money grubbing" mega park.     Many of my photos are closeups designed to be inspiration for future art quilts.   So you might say I could find this anywhere.   However, I believe when you allow yourself to be surrounded and taken in by the beauty of a place, you notice things you might never see on a casual walk by,,,,say....a tree stump, or some dead and drooping palm leaves. 

First some overall shots down the springs, into the water....the most beautiful clear blue water I have seen since Bermuda!

Closeup of the dead palms I mentioned,   Look at all that color and texture!

The tree stump mentioned above!

Even a row of canoes is interesting.

Finally...a waterfall while walking out of the park!

Oops,  a few more.....this is us......enjoying the time in the south....

  

Inspiration is everywhere!!!!

On vacation and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of photos later, I have much inspiration for new quilts.  Here is one from today taken at Silver Springs State Park!