Cloud Beds

This is the Private Cloud rocking bed by Manuel Kloker. You can make it rock by dangling your foot over the side and swinging it. It is hard to imagine how this would feel. Cradles rock from side to side as do hammocks. Both people in a couple would have to love to rock. I love anything that rocks or swings so this bed intriques me! Maybe this Private Cloud Bed would be better if it had a motor to keep it rocking like the baby swings do.



If you get tired of rocking you can use the Flexible Feet that come with each bed. Another option is the nightstand which has a peg to prop the rocker on. You can set the bed at any tilt - with the head above or below level.
"This Cloud Bed is inspired by Ming Dynasty-era Chinese alcove beds, and the idea of the bed as a "room within a room." Here the form is updated, and the mobility provided by the casters lends itself to flexible, open-plan contemporary living spaces." <courtneyskott.com>

Tweet

Stick Insect

Do you see it there on the post? Look carefully.

I was sweeping the boardwalk that leads from our parking area to the deck. As I walked by this post I wondered how a twig could be clinging vertically. So I looked more closely and saw this insect called a Walking Stick. National Geographic's web site was very informative. These insects can range from 1/2 inch to 13 inches. This one was about 6 inches. When I went out a few minutes later he was gone.

Tweet

Magazine Craft Room versus Reality

Creating and Crafting is what I enjoy. Join the Hooked on Houses Friday blog party to see what everyone else likes!

I'm starting with a lovely photo of a craft room from Country Living, March 07. Looks too good to be true, doesn't it?

Do you think anyone who actually creates in a craft room has it looking this picture perfect?
I have shown you pictures of my craft room (cleaned up). My supplies are there and I do sometimes work there but the picture below is the REALITY.

My rocking recliner in the living room (next to hubby B's chair) is where I like to sit and sew! I can watch the news or be with B while he watches ball games. One cat sits on the back of my recliner, another at my feet and one in the chair beside me. The gas log stove is a few feet away, a glass wall is in front of me and the kitchen is only steps away so B can bring me snacks and coffee! My mother always had so much around her favorite chair we called it her nest. So now, following tradition, I have a nest!

This is my sewing "basket." Pin cushion, lace, ribbons, buttons and thread are close at hand.
This is the tray I hold in my lap to be my work surface. Scissors, beads, wire, an antique ice pick and more are there.
This is what I have to show on my latest project. On the right are the gift bags I showed you last week when I told you where I was working. On the left are the brooches I'm sewing.
This is a close up of my brooches. Each one is made of fabric, buttons, lace and other odds and ends. The materials are vintage, recycled and new.

It's time for snack. Here comes B with a bowl of strawberry shortcake and a cup of coffee for me! Do you get such great service when you create?

Tweet

Looking Closely

I like to look closely at things. It can be very surprising. There is so much more of this world to see if you get really close!
Yes, this is a tree stump. See the colors, texture and pattern. Amazing, isn't it? This is in the woods on the other side of our back lane.
This is a really close up of a portion of the stump. Isn't it lovely? See the sunlight on the top? Great colors! I wish I could do a painting that looks like this.

Tweet

Sewing and Creating

I love to sew and don't even mind doing mending. Mostly I like to come up with ideas and create my own projects. Ideas can come from anywhere. The more I create, the more ideas I have! In fact, I have so many projects going they have spilled over from my craft room and are moving into the living room. My favorite chair is a rocking recliner - the perfect place to sit and sew. I can look out the large windows into the tree tops. All around my chairs are stacks of fabric and boxes filled with lace, beads, ribbons and netting. There is always a yellow cat at my feet and one on the top of the back of my chair where I can lean my head against him. Listening to that purr is very soothing!

My son and daughter-in-law came for a visit and brought me a magazine about jewelry making. Since I have been sewing brooches and making paper beads, that set me off on a whole line of ideas about making beads. I hope to experiment with polymer clay.

These are small gift bags. Perfect for presenting a piece of jewelry, money or a gift card. Each one is lined. This patchwork bag has a casing for a ribbon drawstring that is operated by a wooden bead. The stars are buttons. Size is 3 inches by 4.
Since I like to sew by hand, the patchwork is hand stitched and quilted. These are 3 x 3 inches.
These bags are made in one piece, turned and then half is tucked in to become the lining. A casing is sewn in the top. The leaves on the bag on the left are buttons. The gold leaves on the top of the bag on the right I purchased in the jewelry section at Michael's.

I'm Hooked on Sewing! Visit the Hooked on Houses Blog party to see what others are hooked on!

Tweet

To San Diego And Back!

I'm back and it was an absolutely WONDERFUL trip! I'm back in time for the Hooked on Houses Blog Party. I'm hooked on San Diego, perfect weather, beautiful flowers and fantastic trees!

I really meant to do some posts ahead and have them automatically launch but I am not as organized as Struggler! There were too many last minute things to do. I had to leave the house tidy for hubby who was not coming on the trip. There was a detailed list of plants to water that I had to print and put on the refrigerator. And of course there were wardrobe decisions to be made. Then it all had to be squished into a carry on bag. (Who trusts the airlines to get your bag on the right plane when you have to change in Houston?)

Thank goodness my daughter (J) and her husband (T) knew all the rules about packing tiny amounts of liquids and what size plastic bag is required to hold those 3 ounce bottles. The morning of departure had us at the stores looking for plastic bags and trial sizes of toothpaste, etc. for me. The flights were the pits because in my opinion it is cruel to put humans into seats with that little space. You feel that the person in front of you is sitting in your lap!

I LOVED San Diego! Who wouldn't love a place with flowers like this everywhere? I wish bougainvillea would grow in Virginia!



It was so exciting to see my son, Kevin, onstage in three plays at the Lowell Davies Theatre in Balboa Park. J & T and I met some of his fellow actors/students who are earning their Masters Degrees in Fine Arts at the Old Globe/University of San Diego (as is Kevin). All three plays ("Twelfth Night", "Coriolanus" & "Cyrano De Bergerac") were well done and very entertaining. The actors were talented and the costumes were a treat to see. The proud mother says check out Kevin's website.


The weather was perfect with temperatures in the seventies every day and dipping into the sixties at night. And there was always a gentle breeze. We especially enjoyed seeing the different kinds of trees and flowers. Balboa Park was amazing! It is 1,200 acres of gardens, museums, restaurants, and fabulous architecture. We did enjoy one of the art museums and the Photograpy Museum which had a display of Ansel Adams photos. The San Diego Zoo is also in the park but I'll save that for another post.


This is one of the many gardens in Balboa Park and one of the arches leading into the garden. Notice the fantastic tree.
These trees are in the zoo. J, T & I together took nearly 1,000 pictures. Many of them are of trees, flowers and each other taking pictures!
The architecture in Balboa Park is Spanish and there are lots of arches. Do you love arches as much as I do!
This is the same garden as the second picture. The flowers are cosmos and lavender. With such lovely weather there were outdoor weddings in the Park on Sunday so two of the gardens were closed to the public. There seemed to be wedding groups everywhere having pictures taken. What a lovely backdrop!

Tweet