Building a Lovely Space

Working backwards and starting with the little things.

[learninglifeinpieces]

Sweet little pot holders.

[learninglifeinpieces]

Last years spoil. The rhubarb is ready to be harvested for the third time this summer

[learninglifeinpieces]

For mom.

[learninglifeinpieces]

This little quilt makes no sense, but I loved all the fabric, and saved it for myself fun to work on a specific pattern. Normally I kind of make it up as I go along

[learninglifeinpieces]

Birthday quilt. Took forever because someone spilled a drink on it and I was discouraged. It's camping themed for my bestie boy.

[learninglifeinpieces]

I found this amazing upholstery fabric at Joann's last year, and finally figured out what to do with it. I'm amazed what it did for the room. I've never been a "window dressing" kind of person, but maybe they're just not making what I like...

[learninglifeinpieces]

Crazy #cottonandsteel quilt made of pretty much everything from the mesa series last year. I think that’s what it was called anyway. I spent HOURS arranging and rearranging my squares until I liked the pattern. I will say it still feels a bit busy to me, but I love the little sloths on the back, and it was the most complicated quilt I have made so far. It’s on the guest bedroom bed because we have very Hairy dogs and can’t have nice things.

[huffpost]

Underwear Company Features Double Mastectomy Breast Cancer Survivors In Empowering Photo Campaign

Each October, popular culture becomes awash in pink ribbons, pink balloons and pink shirts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The publicity of breast cancer research, treatment and survival through the pink campaign may the most well-known way to raise money and awareness, but it isn’t inclusive of everyone.

[kouturexkupcake]

White people get so angry at the phrase, “You cannot be racist towards white people.” I will never understand why. Why are you so angry that you are being treated as actual human beings? You are not reduced to caricatures, but portrayed as characters. You are treated fairly, judged not by your skin tone, but by the ways that you carry yourselves, by your actions. Why do you want to experience racism so badly? It is not fun to be mocked, dehumanized, attacked, killed, incarcerated simply for daring to exist. It is not fun to know nothing of your history or family because it was torn apart, whether through distance or death. It is not fun to hear, at every turn, comments reminding you of your lesser status as humans. Do you really want to turn on the tv, open a magazine, watch a movie, play a video game, and not see yourself? Or, even better, to only see yourself as a criminal, as a drunk, a mocking stereotype, or as someone to be killed off? Or would you rather see fleshed out, well-written characters with lives and personalities and feelings? I know which I’d rather pick. If I were a white person, the phrase, “You cannot be racist towards white people,” would be the best thing I could ever hear.

i finally put some thoughts into words // thedeathcats (via gracieteefey)

[learninglifeinpieces]

We had a real long walk in a south Seattle Japanese garden on valentines day. Then a soak and a steam at a Turkish bath. All in all a fun day. Had conversations with the husband and a friend about the things that guys freak about. Success, fathers, families, and the lack of ways they have to deal with them. It seems like our guys need more support to not implode. I'm gonna get right on that.

[frankaboutfood]

[learninglifeinpieces]

This is a simple dish with just four ingredients, that you can cook in just a few minutes. For each person: a medium sized leek or 3-4 small leeks, a handful of mushrooms (preferably oyster, but any will do), a tablespoon of chopped parsley, goats cheese. Trim and wash the leeks, slice in half if small, quarters if large, and into strips as long as your finger. Heat some olive oil over a low heat, add the leeks, cover the pan and cook slowly for 7 or 8 minutes, shaking the pan every so often. Tear the mushrooms into smallish pieces, and then add to the pan. Toss to coat with oil, and cook with a lid on for 4-5 minutes.  When they’re soft, take the lid off the pan, allow any liquid to evaporate, then stir in the parsley, and add the goats cheese. Turn off the heat and let the cheese melt into the pan. Serve with some good sourdough bread to mop it all up.

[truebluemeandyou]

DIY Easy Ping Pong Ball Lights Tutorial from Woods of Bell Trees. I’ve seen these DIY ping pong ball lights on a few blogs, but I liked the styling of these the best. All you need are cheap ping pong balls, a string of LED lights and a craft knife. The ping pong ball lights create a kind of marque light setting.

[learninglifeinpieces]

The first attempt at a quilt for my friend's baby Henry was a complete success, in my modest opinion. 

Next up, all this fabric from India that I have been dragging around with me for the last 4 years. It might be a bit industrious to take on a queen size quilt for my second project in a million years, but you know, I don't ever start small.