I've "discovered" a new site on the internet that is both handy and fun. The site is called Pinterest, and it's quickly gaining popularity. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can organize and save all of the recipes, tutorials, photos, and other fabulous things that you find on the internets. So, for example, I am about to embark on my first quilt, and I have only a clue as to how to go about starting. So if I do a search for "quilting tutorials" on the web at midnight, I get a lot of hits back that look interesting. But it's midnight and I don't want to read them all right now. So I can pin them to a board that I've named "Quilting" on Pinterest. This is my board and I can organize it, name it, and use it however I like. But here's the other cool thing: other people can see my boards, and I can see theirs. So I can also do a search on Pinterest for Quilting Tutorials and see what comes up there. Trust me, there is A LOT of cool stuff on Pinterest, and I've had to limit my time there (because I could easily spend all day looking at other peoples collections). I personally have 35 different boards, and I love it that I can come back to them, click on the photo, and it brings me right back to the original location where I found it. Recently, I found a crochet tutorial for making bowls. I printed out the pattern and promptly made four nesting bowls; aren't they pretty? 
Now I know that the internet is vast, and our time and attention are limited. Pinterest isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love it so much that I thought I'd better share, just in case it is yours. You can follow my boards on Pinterest, if you decide to sign up; see you in the ether!
Okay, so I was hoping to be finished with my quilt by today. Alas, the quilting bit has got me a little intimidated. Here's what I have so far: the back (which I think came out well) and the front. Plus the batting in between. It's all pinned together, and I've also basted it, but I think it needs more basting. I'm planning to bring it with me on my trip to Montana, where there are abundant, experienced quilters there who can help me. My goal is not to do a lot of dense quilting. I want the finished product to feel soft and fluffy, but I also don't want it to shift around. So "Stitch-in-the-Ditch?" Also, I'm thinking about hand-quilting; will it take too long? I didn't end up finding the stripey binding that I was hoping for, but I found a lovely little freckle-dot (white dots on an espresso brown background) that I think will look great. I'll be sure to post pictures of the final product!
I put in some fish, some sea horses, and some prints that reminded me of seaweed and beach blossoms. The one print that might be a digression is the linen strip that depicts the main characters from the fairy tale, The Owl and the Pussycat. But they're in a boat, and I love it, so there.I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. Now I have to work on the back and put it all together. I would love to bind it in a bold, high contrast stripe, (espresso brown and white?) but I don't have anything like that. We'll see what I come up with; wish me luck! Please excuse my photos for this post; the light is pretty bad right now because of all of the overcast. But you get the idea!
I just got my order of two of Heather Ross' new prints from her Far Far Away III line. I chose her pink guitars and the blue tangleweed prints because they are more condusive to smaller projects. Here I have made Tomboy wallets out of each, and I really like the way they came out. Strangely, the two fabrics are different weights: the guitars are a heavier (and more what I'm used to) linen/cotton blend. The wildflowers are a very light (almost quilting weight) linen/cotton. I love both, but I was suprised that they would be different weaves. In any case, I am very much enjoying working with them.
Today I want to tell you about a very special project being supported by our local community as a way to remember Bronwyn. Our project is called "Bronwyn's Wheelhouse," and the purpose is to help children with special needs and their families through home renovation. To read the full story behind Bronwyn's Wheelhouse project, and to get updates on our current project, visit our website: www.bronwynswheelhouse.blogspot.com Click on the tab "Bronwyn's Story" for the background information. 
You can also donate directly to the foundation. Your donations are completely tax deductable, as our local chapter of the Kiwanis Club has kindly adopted our program, and thus has given us non-profit status. To donate, you can make a check out to: "Tumwater Kiwanis Youth Foundation" and write "Bronwyn's Wheelhouse" in the subject line. Mail the check to: 
Finding my new rhythm has proven more tricky than I had thought it would. Nevertheless, I have been productive and am starting to find some structure in my day; it's a good thing. 
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