Thursday Journey #13

Yesterday was beautiful, clear and sunny with the temperature in the low 70's.  Our Thursday Journey destination was to walk along the Coronado Beach in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado.

Summer Salad

This is one of our favorite salads and it's so easy to make.

Just toss:
Grilled shrimp
Salad greens
Fresh pineapple
Fresh strawberries
Crumbled blue cheese
Thin slices of red onion
Chopped macadamia nuts

I used to make my own dressing but now I have discovered Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger salad dressing - it's perfect on this salad and on Chinese Chicken Salad too!

Solid Swap - Part 2

For the Solid Swap Challenge, I selected "Blue Vase" by Vincent van Gogh.

Irene's version is perfect, I love the flowers that she machine quilted with light, airy stitches.

My version of the Blue Vase.  When I looked at the painting, I saw triangles of flowers.

I added hand stitched flowers to my quilt.

When Irene mailed her two quilts to me, she included some beautiful fabric that she had hand dyed.  I also received some colorful thread.  Thank you Irene for being a great swap partner and for the quilts and gifts.

Solid Swap

Bumble Beans . . . 15 Minutes Play hosted a mini quilt swap.  The rules were that the quilt measure 15" square, you could only use solid fabrics and the quilt should be inspired by a work of art.  My swap partner, Irene from Michigan, selected a photograph by Andy Goldsworthy.  We each made a version to exchange.

This photo is one of a series by Andy Goldsworthy that Irene selected for our quilts.

This beautiful little quilt was made by Irene.  I love her color choices and the stitching really flows on the quilt.

Here is my version.  I was really surprised by the similarities Irene and I used in our renditions of the photograph.

When it was time to mail the quilts, I used a clean pizza box to keep everything flat.  I painted a flower on the package and posted it to Irene in Lansing, Michigan.
Tomorrow, I will share the inspirational art that I selected for our swap.

Semi-Surprise

Someone's getting a quilt for their birthday.  She has seen this fabric, but has no idea of the other 14 prints I'm using or what pattern the quilt will be.  I guess she will have to wait until October!

Aloha

This is one of our plumeria plants last March.  When you look at the bare stems, it's hard to imagine the beauty that lies ahead.

This is the same plant in July.  The fragrance floats through the air and I'm reminded of our visits to Hawaii.
ALOHA!!

Home Grown

June, itty bitty tomatoes

July, starting to ripen on the vine

One is ready to pick

Home grown on a tostado - yummo!