Momma's got a brand new bag...

The dau and I are thrilled with these bags (Le Pliage) by Longchamp.

They come in many sizes and beau-coup colors for use in every season. Available at Nordstroms and at a number of online sites.

Bunny's Point of View

Today, I pre-ordered this lovely book at Amazon. Delivery will be soon.

Martha my dear....

If you can never get enough of Martha Stewart, try these...


http://marthamoments.com/



http://marthamoments.blogspot.com/

off to the Sunshine State

Returning soon!

Hungarian Point, Encroaching Upright Gobelin and Old Florentine

For years, I have been stitching these gorgeous samplers; each one unique as the color of the yarns are varied. Inspiration for my work is the book, Book of Needlepoint by Elaine Slater. Originally published in 1973, this book presents easy to understand text, drawings and photos that assist. I have seen it offered on ebay recently.
I finish the projects as either pillows or framed pictures for the wall.
No painted canvas is necessary. Blank canvas which is blocked off with a pencil, needle,scissors, a selection of five colors for the persian yarns and another choice for the background is all that is needed.
Makes a fabulous and well-appreciated gift for special friends and family members.

latest tunes

Turn Down Day Cyrkle
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Paul Simon
I Can’t Get You Off of my Mind Bob Dylan
Days Like This Van Morrison
Blue Money Van Morrison
Delta Lady Joe Cocker
Roundabout (acoustical version) Yes
The Henney Buggy Band Sufjan Stevens
Black Horse and a Cherry Tree KT Tunstall
Cry Me a River Joe Cocker
Everything Michael Buble
Tusk Fleetwood Mac
Suddenly I See KT Tunstall

Painted canvas, persian yarn and belt buckles

In the past few years, needlepoint has been a renewed interest for me. Here are two belts I stitched for the Colonel.

The bottom belt depicts scenes from The Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland, where he has played a number of times.


After completing all stitching on the canvas, I send them off to be finished as belts, making fabulous personally-appointed gifts for special people in my life. Palm trees and hammocks between with a little boy reading a book was made for the dau, beer bottle labels for the son.

all decked out

Lately, photos of and commentary on my diminutive, yet functional deck have appeared on the teaorwine blog. Paradise Found: Gardening in Unlikely Places, by Rebecca Cole supplies insight for those designing this sort of outdoor space. My deck would be sophomoric in contrast to those outdoor spaces created by Ms. Cole. Even so, I enjoy strolling through the pages of this book from time to time.

Fabulous, full-color photos shot by Helen Norman of garden and architectural ornaments, roof-top terraces, outdoor furnishings, watering cans, container plantings, pots made of clay, concrete, galvanized metal filled with lush perennials, shrubs and vines, pergolas, porches, lighting, decks, fences, birdbaths, stone walls, steps and stairways are evidence of Ms. Cole’s ventures, more often than not in Manhattan.

Beneficial lists offer valuable information to practicing gardeners. These include preparing containers, a formula for arranging the most pleasing number of plants placed in groups, pointers for designing plantings in containers, laying a stone walkway, how to ready plants and containers for frosty temperatures (She suggests using bubble wrap around the containers as an insulator!).

I am partial to the way RC juxtaposes aged flea market finds (aka antiques, in some circles) and plant life to create harmonious surroundings. A glass of iced tea or wine, and a heap of reading material and I may well be comfortable and content at any of her locations!

It would be worth checking this book out while the temperatures remain warm outside.