Santorini

We were up with the chickens this morning

and flew to the Greek island, Santorini.

The white buildings seem to be stacked

one on top of another as they go down the

mountainside to the sea.

The blue domed buildings are churches

and they stand out like polka dots

on the mountainsides.

Santorini has been ranked as one of the

top islands of the world.

Some suggest that Santorini was the

inspiration for Plato's Atlantis.

Sunsets over the caldera are said to be the

best in the world ~ I look forward to seeing it!

The church bells are ringing outside my

window, time to go!

I Made It To The Top!

The Acropolis

As a student of art and the classics and

mythology, I have read and studied alot

about The Acropolis, but that is nothing

like seeing it in person.  This was my first

view of it on the night I arrived in Athens.

I couldn't wait for morning to come so we

could go explore it.  We hiked up the stairs

and steep streets until we got up to The

Acropolis, and there it was ~ spread out

before me...

The Temple of Athens Nike.

Built in 426 - 421 BC to commemorate the

Athenian's victories over the Persians.

The Erechtheion

Built between 421 and 406 BC, it is situated

on the most sacred site of the Acropolis.  It is

said to be where Poseidon left his trident marks

in a rock and Athena's olive tree sprouted.

The Porch of the Caryatids

I've always called them the Headache

ladies because that's got to hurt the head!

The Acropolis

One of the most famous buildings in

the world, built from 447 to 438 BC.

I like the statue of this guy, one of the few

remaining statues in the temple, it just seems

as if he's hanging out watching the world go by.

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

Originally built in AD 161, it is still in use today.

It was superb!



Chock-A-Block Wednesday

Turkish Delight

Chock-A-Block Wednesday turned into
Chock-A-Block Thursday because I couldn't
post my blog.  But the important thing is I
was in Turkey and I ate Turkish Delight.

Fabric A: Blue Fussy Cut

1 - 4 1/2" square

Fabric B:  Orange

4 - 4 1/2" squares

2 - 3 1/4" squares - Mark

a diagonal line on back.

Fabric C:  Dark Blue

8 - 2 1/2" squares - Mark

a diagonal line on back.

4 - 2 1/2" squares

4 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles

Fabric D: White Print

2 - 3 1/4" squares

Make Outer Center Units

Place a Fabric C 2 1/2" square on

the top left corner of the Fabric B

4 1/2" square with right sides together.

Sew a thread width above the drawn

line and press seam to the corner.

Trim back 2 layers of fabric to 1/4".

Repeat process to right upper corner

as shown.  Square to 4 1/2".

Make 4.

Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair Fabric B and Fabric D 3 1/4"

squares with right sides together

and sew 1/4" away from each side

of drawn line.  Cut on drawn line,

press seam to the Fabric B. 

Square to 2 1/2".

Make Corner Units:

Layout units as shown and

sew 2 1/2" units together.

Press seam to the Fabric C.

Then sew both rectangles

together as shown.

Square to 4 1/2".

Make 4.

Assemble Block:

Layout units as shown and sew

together in 3 rows.  Press seams

in rows 1 and 3 to the inside and

seams in rows 2 to the outside.

Sew rows together and press final

seams open to reduce bulk.

Square to 12 1/2".

What is a Threadcutter?

Well, it cuts thread...

But the reason it is important is

you can bring it on the plane.

I can't sleep on planes, even that

16 hour long haul Hong Kong to

New York ~ nope, not a wink.

And If I don't have something to

do, I will not enjoy myself.  So,

I stitch.  In fact, I have a cross

stitch project that is something I

do only when I travel,  it stays in

my luggage with the TSA locks and

all the electrical adapters.

Some countries/ airlines do allow a

small rounded edged scissor but

not all of them.

When Mr. Wonderful was leaving

Thailand last year, the round-the-

world group dumped all of our excess

clothing and gift purchases on him.

We bought an extra suitcase in the

market and filled it with statues, tee

shirts and enough scarves to make

a circus tent.  But since he was going

taxi to airport to car and Korean Air

allowed 2 checked bags it was the

smarter way to get everything home.

But that cute manicure set I bought

on the beach in Pattaya no longer has

its scissor.  We stuck that in a carry on

and the scissor wasn't allowed in the

cabin.

Hence, the threadcutter.  There is a

cutting blade enclosed inside the metal

but the only thing it can cut is thread or

something small enough to fit between

those teeny indents on the edge.  It is

available in the notions department of

craft stores, I think it's under $10.

Happy Stitching & Traveling!



Elle's Kitchen: Desperation Potatoes

You Become Inventive When You're Hungry

We will be traveling in a few days so

we have been using up all the food in

the fridge and pantry.  We have dinners

planned until we leave but I didn't give

much thought to lunch.  The problem

was ~ I was hungry!

I found a leftover baked potato in the

fridge and sliced it 3/8" to 1/2" thick.

Put them in a pan with some melted butter

and browned the slices on both sides.

I topped some with goat cheese and a spoonful

of Kadota fig preserve and some with sour

cream, salsa ~ one green, one fire roasted

and sliced scallions.  Delicious!

I think I'll always make an extra

baked potato from now on...

Murphy's Farm

First Tomato Planting

I have been waiting for the tomato

plants to finally come in at my local

garden center and this weekend I

found Early Girl and Big Boy varieties.

When we were last in the garden,

I had set out these frost jackets

to warm up the soil.

There is one of the tomato plants

inside the frost jacket.  I'm eager

to see the growth when we return

home.  We've had some crazy storms

come through our area with high

winds and torrential rain, I hope the

 frost jackets survive.

And if it's Spring, there must be pansies!



Spring Blooms

Enjoying Them While They Last

I took an hour off from my crazy life today

to get out on the trail and try to take some

photos of the Spring wildflowers.  Since I'm

leaving in a few days, I'll probably miss the

peak of bloom but I'm hoping Spring in Greece

will make up for that.  Yesterday we had

torrential rains which made the blossoms fall

from many of the flowering ornamental trees.

Luckily, I got a few shots in earlier in the week

and included them here. 

Enjoy the wild world!



Building the Empire

Quilt Hangers

International Quilt Market is in late May

but with a trip to Europe & Asia for a few

weeks added to an already full calender,

it will be here in no time.

I have been trying to prepare as much as

I can before I go away so I'm not worrying

through my entire vacation.

One of the things I had to figure out was

how would I hang my quilts in a quick

and efficient manner in my booth.

I did a research trip to Market in Houston

to check out how others handled things

and really didn't come away with any great

ideas for hanging quilts.  After many years

as a Theatrical Prop Mistress, I know if you

need something and can't easily find it, get

ready to make it yourself...  Here goes.

For the rod I am using plastic plumbing

pipe, cut 2" longer than the width of the

quilt.  I used a miter saw, but if you have

a chop saw, it would cut like butter.

Place your pipe and a long metal level

on a flat surface and mark a straight

pencil line along the pipe, this will come

in handy in the next step.

Drill a hole on each end about a 1/2"

from the edge.  Be sure to drill straight

down on top of the pencil line, this

is important so your wire will allow

the rod to hang evenly.

Cut heavy duty wire (I used a 9 gauge

galvanized utility wire) in 1 foot lengths.

I needed to use a 24" bolt cutter to cut

this, it is tough stuff.  Place 1" of the wire

in a vise and bend it over forming a

right angle.

Hammer the wire near the bend to

make that angle as crisp as possible.

Tape the bent ends of the 2 wires with

your prototype, that way you will maintain

a uniform size.

Now holding the bent ends in your

left hand, place the loop of the prototype

around a pole that is similar in size to the

poles you will be hanging your quilts from.

With your right hand, bend the straight wires

around the pole, it takes some muscle.

(Note: I used the pole from an umbrella on

an old outdoor dining table to bend my wire,

it was very stable.)

These are the finished wire hangers.

Sand the edges and drilled holes on your

plastic pipe and spray paint the edges of

your pipe.  My drapery will be black, so I

used black paint, make sure to shoot the

paint into the inside of the pipe as well.

Allow paint to dry completely, then

place the shorter end of loop through

the 2 holes in the pipe,

now slide pipe over the loop and

have it come to rest like this.

Put pipe through the hanging sleeve

of your quilt, add another wire to the

other end and hang away.

This has worked perfectly, it hangs

straight, it is lightweight yet sturdy

and it looks good.

Best of all, I get to cross another

"to do" off the list.