Farm Sweet Farm Sew Along

This is my first post about my sewing projects!  I've been participating in Lori Holt's Farm Sweet Farm Sew Along for the past few months.  (Confession--I am totally behind...)  And considering that I am a relatively new to sewing and quilting, this project was a bit daunting when I got the fabrics delivered from Fat Quarter Shop.  But after watching such helpful youtube instructions (particularly of the ones from Riley Blake that show Lori's appliqué method) and some trial and error, I finally got the hang of it!

This is my favorite block so far.  I love how little sew simple shapes came together to form her dress with apron!  (I also changed her hair color because I have dark hair and tilted the gentleman's head slightly towards the lady) 😍

But what drew me to this sew along was-- all the cute farm animals!

Read More

Mohonk Mountain House

Isn't the Mohonk Mountain House just beautiful?  It is located near a town called New Paltz, New York in Hudson Valley and on the southern tip of Catskill Mountains.  This victorian castle is surrounded by thousands of acres of nature where you can hike, ride horses, bike, swim, row, play tennis, skate, etc. They actually have a list of 150 things to do on their website!

I went during the early part of the summer so it was covered in gorgeous green.  If you check out their website now, you can see how golden it looks during the fall.  My friend visited during winter, and she said it was also magical in the snow.

My favorite parts were the hike around the Mohonk Mountain and the colorful irises in the garden.  If you have visited or plan to visit, let me know what you think!

Read More

Cranford

"And I corrected him. No woman is equal of a man-- she is his superior in every single case." 

Miss. Deborah Jenkyns. 

 

This is one of my favorite tv shows.  If I am feeling down, stressed from work, or stifled from the hustle and bustle of living in the city, I turn Cranford on.  It instantly makes me happy.

It's based on three novellas by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1858.  The two main characters, Ms. Deborah Jenkyns (Eileen Atkins) and her younger sister, Ms. Matty Jenkyns (Judi Dench), are two spinsters in a small village of Cranford.  The stories evolve around their friends and neighbors in town when changes are abound.  It's filled with gossip, propriety, and maintenance of gentility and manners while truly caring for your neighbors and friends.

Not only is the story so heart warming and the script so witty, but also the acting is superb.  How can you go wrong with multiple dames -- Dame Judi Dench and Dame Eileen Atkins-- and a sir-- Sir Michael Gambon (Professor Dumbledore)?  Jim Carter (Carson from Downton Abbey) and Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge) are, as usual, amazing.

It's available on Amazon.

Read More

Brunch at Narcissa

A few weeks ago, my friends and I had a wonderful brunch at Narcissa.  Not only was the food delicious but the decor was top notch. Of course, I didn’t expect any less from a restraurant inside the Standard Hotel in East Village. 😊

The weather was nice so we were able to sit in Narcissa’s charming garden.  I love the little bird houses and lights on the trees.  🐦

Narcissa's Garden

Read More

Welcome!

Thank you for being here!  I am starting on this journey of blogging to share happy, heart warming, or pretty things that I see.  I hope my sharing can be a sanctuary of happiness, joy, kindness, and love. 

This is a photo that I took when I was in Hudson Valley area of New York.  It was so lovely to see so many lily of the valley flowers planted under a tree. 

Read More