Vespa Bag

For my friend's birthday (one that ends in a 0, her husband bought her a cute little black Vespa.  So, I made her a bag to go with it as her birthday present.  What do you think?  Stylish, no?

I liked it so much I made one for myself so we can be twinsies except that she is tall, thin and blonde and I am short, dark and, well, let's just leave it at that.

The Jewels of Elizabeth Taylor

This weekend we made a quick trip down to Los Angeles to see the jewels of Elizabeth Taylor before they are auctioned off.  Not only was Elizabeth Taylor a beautiful woman, she was a very nice person.

This had to be one of my favorite pieces, an Art Deco brooch.



I also admired these bracelets made with old, perhaps Roman coins.



Here is the main reason we had to come.  La Peregrina.  A pearl once worn by Queen Mary I of England (Elizabeth I's older sister) who ruled England from 1552 to 1558.  You can read about it here.



All of these items and more will go on sale in December.  Some of it will be online in case anyone wants to pick up some bling or an Academy Award for their mantelpiece.  Our mom just loved jewelry and she would have loved to see Liz Taylor's jewelry but we hardly wear jewelry because we don't have anywhere to wear it.  While we were waiting around, we were chit chatting with another visitor and wondered who would be buying jewelry of this magnificence.  After all, where would someone wear it?  That time of Hollywood glamour is gone and most younger people aren't interested in it.  Christina Onassis's daughter sold off all of here mom's jewelry (to some criticism) because she isn't interested in wearing it.  All in all, we had just a wonderful time in Los Angeles and we were glad that we were able to see her jewels before they disappear from public viewing.

French Gardens baby quilt

My sister and I designed this quilt for our cousinette who is having a baby soon.  Our inspiration was the French gardens at Villandry.  Each cross represents a garden path.

Freeks and Geeks

This is the famous chicken  that lived for months without a head.  No really, someone wrote a book about it.  Just kidding.  This breed is a bearded buff laced Polish.  But, he (?) does look like his head is missing.

This guys tail feathers are missing.  He is an Araucana.



Eeee!  A naked neck chicken



It's enough to curl your feathers!  (Like these lovely Sebastopol geese).

Playing (with) Chickens

Oh, it's a good thing these two boys were in separate cages.  They were not too happy being in such close proximity to each other.

Here is a better look at this game bird.  All I call think of when I look at him is that he is descended from velociraptor.  He looks built for speed with those long legs.



And here is a beautiful Dominique rooster.  Ooh, la la.



This Silver Spangled Hamburg is also a very handsome bird.



I didn't note this fellas breed, but, I love his coloration.

And, I love the coloration on this proud and prim Welsh Harlequin duck as well (those of us with Welsh heritage have to stick together!).

Isn't he a pretty bird!

National Heirloom Exposition

They didn't just have lots of veggies at the National Heirloom Exposition, they had some handmade items for sale.  Here, a lovely pillow in stamped floursack or muslin fabric.  Quite adorable!  I should have easily been persuaded to buy some, but alas, the booth was un-manned or un-womanned.



Handmade quilts

The most lovely, lovely handpainted garden-themed dishes.

These are kind of Frieda Kahlo-ish, or someone.

I love this green plate!



Fortunately, none of these dishes were for sale at the show, or, I should be quite impoverished!  But, I am on the mailing list and only time will tell.

More squash, eek!

Here is a lovely bucolic scene from the National Heirloom Exposition.  Is bucolic the right word?  Hmm.  I grew these pumpkins a couple of years ago.  They have a vining habit so they vined my entire back yard.  Kinda like the zucchino rampicante this year.

The pumpkins went from lovely, deeply lobed pumpkins to increasing warty and crusty.

Then, they grew large and

somewhat freakish.   Note the people in the background for scale.  Apparently, after a certain time, the pumpkins must be moved to a pallet so they can be transported via a pallet jack.  Feeding the pumpkins so they wont' lose an ounce to see who will win the contest. 

Even without a scale, I'm guessing it was this guy below.  I think it even had a custom built pallet.  It reminded my of Jabba the Hut from the movie Star Wars.  I'm not sure it wasn't two pumpkins grown together from the seam.

God, I love squash!