Mini-quilt Monday!

I haven't participated in Mini-Quilt Monday in, well, ever (I don't think). I finished two mini-quilts yesterday, one I'm not terribly fond of and one I like very much. The first, which I am not terribly fond of, is this one:

I don't particularly fancy the very dark center, although if it's under a plate I won't really notice. That one measures 11" x 9.5"

The one I'm really tickled about is the little critter one, here:

This one measures 6.75" x 5.5" and may be going to live under a mug shortly.

I also finished a 45" custom lap quilt for a local school's spring auction.

And I had help while I was hanging it for the picutres:

Monday Morning Smoke Break

In case you've just joined us, the point of the Monday Morning Smoke Break is to give you a blog or shop that's worthy of a 15-20 minute browse. Smoking tobacco is so bad for you in so many ways - the only value to the smoke break is that it gives you an excuse to get up and away from your desk for a few minutes to turn your brain off and re-boot. If you can't get away from your desk, at least get away from your TPS reports for a few minutes.

Today I suggest a visit to:

Located at www.theconstantgatherer.blogspot.com, katie runnels has put together a fabulous collection of artists and products created from recycled, repurposed, and just cool techniques, materials and styles.

There's ample illustration of the work of each artist and links to their shops, because when you realize that's exactly what your cousin Regina would die for, you need to buy it now!

Monday Morning Smoke Break

Nobody I know smokes anymore - which is a good thing because they won't die at 50 like my dad did, but I think the workplace might suffer because people don't have a legitimate excuse to leave for fifteen minutes twice a day and take a social break from all those people and all that stuff.

If you can get away with it, I suggest a twenty minute virtual smoke break, with the computer as your vice.

For me, todays smoke break comes in the form of http://www.culturepushers.blogspot.com/

There you'll find some amazing reviews of active, relevant, vibrant, contemporary artists - working in a variety of mediums - from photography to sharpie on the back of a lorry.

for example:

I would like to believe permission was given and that waterbased latex paint was used; but even if it was vandalism, it's pretty darn cool.