Fun Shopping Day

I finally got to Fiber on a Whim and Nicholas Kniel today. And yes, Nicholas's shop is to die for. Ribbons, ribbons, everywhere. I had a hard time choosing. I cannot wait to go back when I have no kids with me. (Does that ever happen? Yes, but not very often.) Anyway, I got 6 different ribbons. My two year old has absconded with one of them. She is very into rainbows, and this one qualifies. So I have enough ribbon to make ten flowers to put on the Nursing Mom piece.

At Fiber on a Whim, I picked up this gorgeous piece of fabric. I don't know what I will do with it. I bought all that was left on the bolt. I have a sneaky suspicion that I bought a yard before. I'll have to look. I also got this thread to do some thread painting in Nursing Mom's hair. And this gorgeous bug to put on the piece somewhere, too.

But for now, I will get to work on the Trip Around the World. I hear Walter Reed needs quilts. So I will get this one done for them. And then maybe start another one...

Last Night at Fiber Art Fusion

Last evening, Fiber Art Fusion met at Fiber on a Whim. It was a blast. Nicholas Kniel was there. He has the most wonderful ribbon shop on the continent, I am told. I will find out later today. Anyway, he taught us to make gorgeous ribbon roses. He brought a ton of ribbons from which to choose, and we all made two roses. The one on the right was made with a plaid ribbon, which I just thought was crazy cool. Today, I am going to get some smaller ribbon and make some roses to go on my nursing mom piece. That way she can be sitting in a flower garden. He has a book that I am going to order so I can make some different flowers, too. It is back ordered right now, but I'll let you know what I think when I get it. I am also going to go to Fiber on a Whim to figure out a better way to do her hair. I think it needs to be more 3-dimensional.

Sharon Serrano Ahmed brought some of her wonderful pieces for show and tell last night. Sharon does the neatest 3-D felting things. I love her faces that she has been doing. I just love that she creates all the time. I can almost see the creativity flowing out of her. And she is so willing to share her knowledge and time with people. I really admire her.

Now, do you quilt a piece before you embellish it? Or do you quilt after you embellish? Or both? I quilted the heart before I embellished it. I did not put a back on it. I just quilted the top to the batting, and I am planning to add a back when the whole thing is done. I just thought it would look messy otherwise. My grandma and mom both taught me to have nice backs on my needlepoint and cross stitch pieces. So I am kind of in that frame of mind.

In other news, I did the Couch to 5k again this morning. I ran inside the house again. I don't even want to know how many laps around my first floor I do. I think I will have to invest in a treadmill after we replace the carpet. Otherwise I will wear out the carpet. My two year old walks with me for a good portion of the time. Sometimes I carry the baby during the walking parts. He thinks it is funny. Then he gets deposited in different area each time. Sometimes in the bouncy seat. Sometimes on his quilt. Sometimes in the excersaucer. (Thanks Rebecca!)

Dave threw me for another supper loop tonight. He agreed to meet someone after soccer practice. So salmon is on hold for another night. I think we will go with the Curry Chicken Salad tonight. It is from the In the Kitchen with Rosie cookbook by Oprah's former chef.