Mount Charleston photo collage

We took a trip to Mount Charleston a few weeks ago.  Took a turn onto a dirt bike trail.  Ended up on the top of a hill, overlooking a large expanse of desert. 

The thing about living in such a flat, dry environment is that you can see so far.  You can easily see sixty miles or more. 

There is a calm, spiritual feeling about the desert.  I spent several quiet moments just looking around me as the wind whipped my hair and clothes.

I would like to drive up there one evening for star watching.  There are no artificial lights; I bet you could even see the milky way.

Spotting my belongings in a film



You are watching a film or a TV show and suddenly you see an item that you own.  Or an actress wearing a dress you have in your closet.  It's an odd moment- and it kind of breaks down the 4th wall!

Here are two things I've recently spotted on the small screen that also hang out at my house.

The Walking Dead: The quilt on the bed in the farmhouse. 

I've had this quilt for years; my Mom gave it to me.  It's factory made, but it's a nice light weight for early spring.



And next:

The Casserole Club: drinking glasses

These were a surprise to see.  I had literally, two days before, picked up a set of about 15 of these at a yard sale.  I have way too many glasses, but the lady wanted $2 for all of them and I couldn't pass them up.  I thought maybe I'd use them for candle holders or holiday glasses.

They have no markings, so I just assumed they were modern made.

But..
The Casserole Club is set in the 1960s.. so was the prop department of the movie satisfied as long as the props looked mid century, or do I have an actual vintage set of glasses?

Bonus shot from The Casserole Club: you can see the glasses on the table, etc- but I really love all the ceramic pieces on the shelving!

Las Vegas strip collage

I rode up to North Vegas last week with my husband.  I was bored on the way home so I snapped a series of photos through the passenger's seat window of the strip, then assembled them in the janky way you see here.

Would you like a tour?  

Starting from the far left you can see the Bellagio which has a large fountain that is choreographed to spray to such tunes as Viva Las Vegas.  Next is the Aria and Vdara and many other shiny new silver buildings- these are part of City Center, a huge project that kept many a man busy working.  Then there is a pretty orange parking garage and an odd edit (ignore that).  
Now for some older guys!  Right in the middle of the collage sits the Monte Carlo (with some of the best odds on the strip, though if you really want to walk with some money, you need to go off strip).  The Monte Carlo caught on fire a few years ago, poor thing!  
And last, you can barely make out the pointy top of the Empire state building of New York, New York, the red and blue pointed tops of the castle Excalibur, and the very pointy  Luxor.  

Random afternoon out

My husband took me out to lunch and the antique store last week.  We had a lot of fun!  Going to flea markets has been a favorite past time of ours since we were dating, and it is fun to think how our tastes have changed over the years.  

The cupcakes are from a local bakery called The Cupcakery.

I wish I had bought this lovely vintage embroidery.  I love the treatment of the woman's headband, and all that stem stitching!

Block of the Month, block 3

Block of the month, block 3
Shoo fly quilt pattern

The holidays hit me hard this year!  December went by in a frantic flash and before I knew it I was celebrating the new year!...  

By baking of course!  German New's Year's pretzel anyone?

German New Year's pretzel!
Soft, slightly sweet, brushed with glaze mmm
Don't let the photo fool you, this thing was a foot wide

I baked two of these (huge) pretzels from my recipe book Cook's Country, Lost Recipes.  I also learned what mace is: the outside fuzz of a nutmeg berry (thanks wikipedia).  The pretzel is supposed to bring good luck for the new year.




But in all the rush of the holidays, my mom and I realized we forgot to do our December block!  So this week we got together and stitched up block 3! 

Mom's block

My block

This quilt pattern is called 'shoo fly'.  It came together very easily, and we both enjoyed making it.  I think the white dots in my block form an optical illusion that makes it hard to focus on the pattern though!


You can read about our block of the month project here.

Homemade holiday gifts

Here are some of the homemade gifts I made this holiday season.

Journal cover, detail

Journal cover, completed
Main fabric: linen cotton blend
Pattern by Ms. Hauser of Stitched in Color,
applique design by me

Heating pad cover, chevron pattern

Heating pad cover, detail

Brobee doll, approx 3' tall, fleece 

Coin purses,
Amy Butler's key keeper coin purse

Amy Butler's key keeper coin purse

Zakka cat pillow, linen and homespun

Zakka cat purse, detail

I love making homemade gifts.  I just have to remember to start earlier next year!