Spring Bag

I have been hauling around a spring bag that's too big for some days, and I needed something different. I remembered the fabric bundle and pattern I bought at the quilt show a few months ago and last night I made this:
See the blue bead closure? I took it right off a bracelet I had in my jewelry box! You can be a little desperate at midnight.
It only took about 3 hours, I think I started around 9:00. The rest of the fabric from that bundle will be made up into a yoga mat bag, maybe tonight!

A good present!

Background part one: There's a little "craft exchange" thing going around on Facebook where you make something for the first five friends to sign up under your name. I haven't made my five things, in fact it nearly slipped my mind in the craziness of the kitchen. Good thing you have a year to do it!

Background part two: I have a friend I met online more than a dozen years ago and who I've met in person many times. We were writing partners for a while on AOL, we share a lot of similarities in our lives, and we generally crack each other up. She is a talented watercolor artist.

Background part three: I took this picture in NH a few months ago and put it up on my Facebook page. It is not a downhill trail, but a little cut into and back out of the woods and looks like a fairytale forest, I just loved it, it was magical in there.

You've probably figured it out; my friend took the photograph from my page and did a painting of it!!




Look at that! I may have to buy a red ski jacket now! Is this not the best gift!!?? It is about 12 inches square and I can't wait to get it framed.

It is BEAUTIFUL and I have to tell you, it never even crossed my mind that she would do a painting for her exchange, that just seems like too much! My son brought the package in the house and I was puzzled at first, having forgotten about the exchange, and then when I saw the protective boards I got a little shaky, wondering aloud if she'd done a painting for me, no no, did she send me a painting? When I opened it, I burst into tears. Really, tears. What a thoughtful present, what a beautiful treasure.

I am so unaware

I was watching a movie last night and thinking to myself, "Wow, Kate Hudson looks like kind of like Goldie Hawn...."

Duh

Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen . . . more than THREE HOURS of incredible music - - 3 backup singers, 6 musicians with everything from a giant bass to a harmonica, and it was one of the BEST NIGHTS OF MY LIFE! Go stream some Leonard this morning!

Trees!

This is such a gorgeous time of year, and part of the reason is the particular shade of green that lasts for about a week before deepening. Spring green. DD thought it looked as if the trees were colored with a green highlighter. I should have photographed it last week because it's been raining for days and days and is already deeper, but I took a few yesterday.

For comparison, I took this picture about two weeks ago when things were just starting. I actually don't know why I took it, there might have been a bird that I missed or something.
Not the same spot, but just look at the differences! Green and black after a rain.

Where's the house?