Goofin' Off With Topiaries and a Farewell to Tink (For Now)

Spring has arrived in full swing with an occasional sunny day here in the Pacific Northwest.  We’re predicted to (possibly) get into the 70’s temperature-wise here for a few days.  It’s got my mind on spring and flowers and…all the beautiful flowers and topiaries we saw at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival a few months ago.  The festival will be wrapping up pretty quick here, but the beauty is still fresh in my mind. 

I wasn’t quite ready to let go of those memories yet, as I am waiting for more sunny skies and less gray skies to appear here.  So the other day I put together a little video slide show of all the beautiful topiaries we saw there.  So if you like gardening, flowers, topiaries, or Disney (and who doesn’t love Disney), go ahead and sit back and enjoy a few moments of spring with me.  If you like, enjoy it with your favorite beverage and maybe a little bit of chocolate…or lots of chocolate.  Maybe I'll have to go grab a Ghirardelli chocolate off my desk.  

Not only is the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival wrapping up, but I have also wrapped up my Tinkerbell projects.  I’ll miss the pretty greens, blues, and lavenders of both of these projects.  The next set of projects I’ve decided to work on, while still very Disney, will be in more blacks, browns, grays, and whites.  

Here is the finish of my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  The pattern shows the title as “Tinkerbell Flying Happily.”  I know working on her sure brought a lot of smiles to my face.  I hope once it’s framed and gifted, it can bring some smiles to someone else. 

Tinkerbell Cross Stitch Finish - April 2017

I know I posted a finish of the quilted Tink quilt on my last post, but I have finished the binding now, and here is how it came out.  I won’t be missing this one as much because I plan to keep it for myself.   

Tinkerbell Quilt Finish - April 2017

So what’s up next?  Well, for cross stitch projects, I’ve got another Disney project I started a long time ago that I just need to do the back stitching for.  I imagine that will be done very quickly.  After that, I’ve chosen another extremely large project.  When I had it narrowed down to two, I let hubby make the final choice.  He chose a project which I’ll simply call Mickey and His Pirate Pals for now.  No sneak peeks on this one.  I want you to watch it come alive as I stitch it. 

In the queue for quilting projects, as you already know, is a quilt using Marvel fabrics of Captain America (and possibly Ant Man).  I’ve previewed the Captain America fabric in a previous post, but now I’ll let you peek at the rest of the fabrics.  This will be a queen-sized quilt for our bedroom.  Then it’s time to get back to pumping out some charity quilts.  So many projects…never enough time.  

Sneak Peek - Captain America Quilt Fabric Palette

Goofin' Off Around the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival and Weekly Updates

How does one, who has a brown thumb, manage to create lovely Disney-inspired topiaries?  One doesn't.  One simply heads to Florida during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.  We have been able to attend this festival to celebrate my birthday for the past five years or so. Thankfully, our timeshare makes it all possible and affordable for us.  And, of course, how could I not snap a picture of this little pixie for my blog when all my projects right now are inspired by her?  

Before I get too ahead of myself with all the flowers and stuff, I'll go ahead and post a few updates on my projects.  The projects have been slow going as of late since my dad was in the hospital for two weeks and is just starting his second week at a rehab center.  The long visits to the hospital have tapered off, and we are just visiting every other day or so for now.  I'm starting to feel like things are getting back to "normal" [knocking on wood].  

Here are a couple of pictures of the Tinkerbell quilt.  The top is completed.  The pictures show what it looks like with both the first border and then the second border added.  It's nice to be done with this one.  

And just in case you didn't think this post was heavy enough with Tink, here is where I am at with the cross stitch piece.  Only two more sections to go before it's finished, too.  I am so excited.  

Now for a quick review and highlight photos for the 2017 Flower & Garden Festival.  What we loved:  

• Free "Garden Rocks Concert Series".  While we were there, Jon Secada, Dennis DeYoung of STYX, and The Pointer Sisters all gave live concerts.  These concerts are included in the cost of your admission.  The only concert I could convince my hubby to attend was with Dennis DeYoung.  Yes, we were welcomed to the grand illusion.  This was one of hubby's favorite bands in his teen years.  

Dennis DeYoung:  The Music of Styx

• The "Butterflies on the Go" walk through area.  Lots of beautiful butterflies flying around.  

• The "Outdoor Kitchens" kiosks with lots of great food.  There were 15 kiosks this year, and I think we tried something at each one of them.  Hmm...maybe I'll have to a blog entry with all my foodie pictures.  

Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue

• Beautiful Disney-inspired topiaries.  There were three new topiaries this year.  Here are some of my favorites this year...actually, they're all my favorites.  

Bambi, Thumper, and Flower

Andrea, Lance, and Figment

The Fab Five:  

Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy

Donald and Pluto

Goofy and His Bestie

Peter Pan Keeping an Eye On Things From Above

I've got so many more pictures to show.  But I'm thinking I'll save them for another time and post. Thanks for hanging in for as long as you have.  Until the next update...

Updates and Anticipating Food at the Flower & Garden Festival

Quilt Update

I finished the last step of the quilt I’ve been working on which basically entailed attaching the last border.  I really, really, really like how it turned out…especially the way the colors all worked together.  You can find a picture of that quilt below. 

My husband and I delivered four quilts to Project Linus on Saturday.  It was a nice way to kick off our date night.  The ladies oohed and awed over it while hubby and I checked out the sewing cabinets with the drop-in space for the sewing machine.  We’ve taken down the measurements for the cabinet, and I’m just not sure it would leave enough space in my sewing room for things like the ironing and cutting areas.  Maybe in our next house??? 

I’ve begun the planning process for the next two quilts.  I’ve had a hard time deciding on which to do next.  I’ve got a lot of stash to use up.  I really liked the colors of the last quilt, so I’ve got this Tinkerbell fabric in my stash.  I found a pattern I like that will use up some 2-1/2” strips from my stash.  Am I the only one that cuts up their remaining fabric after they finish a quilt into 10”, 5”, and 2-1/2” strips?  The quilt will be…get this…greens, blues, and maybe some purples…does that sound familiar? 

Below is a small picture of the Tinkerbell fabric. 

Stitching Update

I finished up two small sections on my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  I had taken a picture of the first update, but somehow my camera “lost” the picture.  I’m sure it couldn’t have been operator error.  Right?  You can see that update below. 

Disney Update

Hubby and I are getting excited for our next trip to Disney World.  People often associate Disney World with all the theme parks and rides.  While we do enjoy the rides, our vacations are much more relaxed these days.  We like to enjoy all the extra activities and entertainment.  Many of these things are free with your entrance ticket.  The one we’ll be enjoying this next trip is the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. 

I noticed that they’ve got the menus published for their “outdoor kitchens” (aka food kiosks) at the festival this year.  They’ve got a lot of new menu items that look tempting.  The following have caught my eye...

New this year is “The Berry Basket” outdoor kitchen.  Items of interest and making my mouth water are: 

• ·         Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique
• ·         Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Strawberry Vinaigrette, Spiced Pecans
• ·         Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepperberry Sorbet/Ice Cream

Also a new this year is the “Northern Bloom” kiosk located in Canada.  Also things that caught my eye: 

• ·         Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes, Garden Vegetables
• ·         Naomi Bar Trifle

I’ll take one for the team and try them and report back to you.  Hoping to get lots and lots of pictures of my favorite things this year (of course that includes hubby).  Have I told you yet that Disney World is just as much for adults as children?  Just take some time away from the rides and enjoy all the extras the “World” has to offer.