Sunshine and Quilt Tops and Puppydogs and...

...Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near the rain cloud disappears, dear,
And I feel so fine just to know that you are mine.

Ah, yes, the ever optimistic Lesley Gore.

But the little bead box on my windowsill does look radiant with the sun streaming through it.

I have been busy making a quilt that will be a 20th birthday present for my client's daughter. In keeping with her fascination with Japan, and thinking of traditional kimono colour schemes for a young woman, I have chosen bright floral Japanese fabrics. The blocks are quilt-as-you-go hexagons, which form the tortoiseshell pattern symbolizing long life. The reverse side is solid blocks.

I have never done a quilt-as-you-go before and am enjoying it very much. Because of my weak back I get quite exhausted maneuvering a large quilt through the machine, but with QAYG the heavy material can rest in my lap. The handstitching doesn't take too much time at all - I put together 10 blocks in 2 hours. Only 80 to go!

I caught Gracie looking coy. Moments before she was sleeping sprawled on her pillow in the completely relaxed way only puppies can manage.

This week, my nephew Andrew escaped the Olympic hubbub to come visit my brother and me and to build a theramin for his Grade 12 physics project. Here Rob and Andrew try out the new instrument.