Monday, March 31, 2014

Wow!

First off, here is my progress on my various projects.  A Parrot A Leopard A Lion first.




And here are all 11 of my Tula Pink blocks so far.



And here is my Fussy Cut Friday star, a straight copy from Temecula Quilt Co's version of this Judie Rothermel Peace and Unity fabric.


Now for the wow part of the blog.  Last night, the father type and I went to Tarrytown, NY to the Tarrytown Music Hall to see one of my favorite groups.


I have all of the Punch Brothers albums, but seeing them live is an experience all its own.  Wow!


This is  a lousy picture of the group, but you get to see the gorgeous stage they were on.


Here's a better pic of them -- all members bowing to the brilliance of the bassist during his solo.  lol!  I kept wishing the boy child were with us so he could hear this bass player perform.

What a spectacular band!  I know I'm gushing, but they really were amazing.  If you're wondering about their music, well, it's a mix of bluegrass, classical, and folk -- impossible to describe.  AND, they always throw in an arrangement of a classical piece played by their blend of instruments to perfection.  This time it was a piece by Claude Debussy.  Imagine classical being played by mandolin, banjo, guitar, violin and double bass.  So cool!  (I have a video of them playing a Bach Brandenburg Concerto that's mind blowing.)

Oh, and if you like Bach, Chris Thile, the mandolinist and sort of the leader of the group, has an album out of Bach.  All on mandolin.  Amazing!

Before the concert, the father type and I had a yummy dinner at a local restaurant in the town.  I had a salad followed by the sea scallops with butternut squash risotto


and for dessert, strawberry cheesecake (?!).  (I admit, I was wondering if they'd brought me the right thing.  But it was delicious!)


So yummy!

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week!  And that spring is here to stay!



41 comments:

Vickie said...

Oh you have done such pretty work Margaret! Glad you two had a lovely night out. My baby brother plays the mandolin. But he is not, um, amazing. ;)

Laurie in Iowa said...

Your PLL looks fabulous! Love seeing all of your Tula blocks together in one photo... you're really making progress on this quilt.
OK... which Punch Brothers album do you recommend the most for those not familiar with their music? It's time for a new CD for my truck travels. :-)
Still think the braised marrow bone and octopus would have been better dinner choices. lol :-)

Vera said...

Sounds like a great concert Margaret -- I'll have to check that group out (have never heard of them before). And the food -- I am so hungry right now. The scallop dish looks amazing. And all your stitching, quilting, etc. You have made such fabulous progress on PLL -- can't believe how quickly you are stitching that one (since it took me over a year - lol). Beautiful colors.

Cari said...

If the parrot is this beautiful, I can hardly imagine the leopard and lion. Your work is amazing Margaret. You're very, very fast too!! And the Tula Pink quilt squares are eye candy for sure. I have this book and love to page through it. I know you had such a great time seeing the Punch Brothers. Such a wonderful evening for you…music, dinner, DH…what could be better? Hugs to you and sweet Mia.

Giovanna said...

Nice going on your WIPs - Parrot is amazing. Glad you had a good time at the concert, and I wish I could encounter one of those cheesecakes someday...

Vicki said...

What a great date with your husband! Your quilt blocks are gorgeous. I really admire your color combos.

Vicki said...

What a great date with your husband! Your quilt blocks are gorgeous. I really admire your color combos.

Krista said...

Looks like a super fun time! Nice to see what the Tarrytown theater looks like. I can tell how excited you are about this band, sounds like a real eclectic group and sound. I wish you were right about Spring, but I woke up to snow... only a little bit though :) Have a great week!

cucki said...

What a sweet date with your hubby :)
Your quilt blocks are so lovely..
Big hugs x

Carol said...

So glad you had such a lovely dinner and concert, Margaret. I have never heard of the Punch Brothers, but will check them out on YouTube. Sounds like an interesting mix of instruments!

Lovely sampler and quilting projects as always! Hope spring has made an appearance in NY :)

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Lovely progress all around! Sounds like a wonderful evening for you and FT. The group sounds interesting. Yes, I thought that must have been a pic of someone else's dessert...

Melissa said...

What a lovely date you had!!! PLL looks gorgeous - thats my Wow that I see! The quilt blocks are pretty spectacular too!

Mia looks so cute and content!

Annette-California said...

You've already made beautiful progress on PLL. Great evening with your hubby. I've not heard of the Punch Bros, but will look them up. Lovely quilt blocks. Your quilt is going to look incredible. love Annette

Solstitches said...

Dare I say I have never heard of the Punch Brothers? Yes, I live under a rock :)
Oooh, that dessert looks divine. What a lovely meal you had.
Great progress on the stitching and sewing. Tula Pink blocks are gorgeous.
Margaret

Love to Stitch said...

Outstanding!!!!! Your Parrot piece is fabulous!! Did Attic do the conversion for you to tudors? Your quilt squares are super fun, love all the colors--helps make it feel like Spring!! Looks like a great date night, followed by yummy food :))

Annie said...

Gorgeous display of all your needlework... such an explosion of color!

What fun to see your favorite group in that setting. I haven't heard of them, but I certainly will look them up now with that stellar recommendation!

Linda said...

Wonderful progress and beautiful stitching Margaret.

Linda

Bev said...

you have some fabulous work, I especially love the Tula blocks I'm a newbie to quilting and they look amazing!!! x

Sharon said...

So fun you had such a great time w/ the hubby. I love making memories like that. :)
Your work is just fabulous!!! So pretty and the colors are just yummy! You are a VERY talented lady!

Mary Ann said...

Wonderful progress on your WIPs!! And, it sounds like you had a lovely evening out with DH!

Ali said...

Your night out looks brilliant, I've never heard of the band will have to a wee bit of googling. I am very impressed with how neat you have your quilt blocks and the stitching coming along a treat.

Erica said...

My goodness! You have been busy!

Great stitching progress!

I love that music hall! Keith was there just a few weeks ago to see Jefferson Starship.

I actually saw a robin yesterday, so there may be hope of spring finally!

Melody said...

It looks like you had a very pleasant night out on the town! The dessert looks interesting, I bet it was delicious!!

Your sampler is very lovely and coming right along. Also your piecing is lovely as well.

Evelyne said...

Wow your PLL look beautiful! The colours are much softer then the original, fabulous colours!
The Tula Pink blocks are great en also your stars!
What are you a quick stitcher!!

Lovely week.
Evelyne

robindefender said...

Your parrot is coming right along. Sounds like you had a wonderful evening out too.

Anonymous said...

Love your blog...always so much to see! Love the parrot...and the Tula Pink is awesome. What are you doing to do with all of those stars? I really like EVERY one of them! Concert sounds stupendous! And dinner divine!

woolwoman said...

beautiful stitching, beautiful quilting and beautiful memories of a great concert and evening with DH. hope you have a great week Mel

valerie said...

Great progress on PLL! It looks like it will be a monster project. Love the quilt blocks and fussy star too. So glad you had a fun date night with your DH. I'm gonna have to check out that band. I really like folk rock so it may be up my alley. :)

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Lovely stitching and sewing, as always Margaret. The music sounds very different, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Hi to Miss Mia from Poppy and Rosa.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

What a stunning sampler and such beautiful stitching, Margaret! You are amazing and pick theist glorious projects! Love your Tula blocks and the other star, which I've already forgotten the name of is so pretty!
I know you enjoyed the PB concert! Rob is also a huge fan and I love them too and would love to see them in concert.

krayolakris said...

Great progress on all fronts Margaret!!

Jackie's Stitches said...

PLL and your Tula quilt are progressing very nicely.

Can you believe I've never heard of Punch Brothers? I need to go check them out! It was fun to see your excitement on IG!

Chris said...

Fun! Fun! What a great evening out. Definitely my type of thing.
Lovely stitching an quilting this week.
Mia looks like she is sleeping hard.
Have a great week!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Your stitching is beautiful! Those blocks stunning! And the fussy stars....well I'm amazed at those!
And your favorite band...I actually have heard a CD of them once. They are amazing!
Those scallops looks so good, I'd love to take a big bite! And those look like some interesting strawberries ;)

Mugwump Woolies said...

Beautiful stitching...your parrot is superb! What a great night you had...those scallops look so yummy! I'll have to check out these guys...I've never heard of them but your description has me curious. Have a great week.
Robyn

Dawn said...

Happy spring to you too.
Looks like you had a wonderful date night.
Your sampler is beautiful, love all the thread colors.
Great projects.
Mia has the right idea too. Nap time!

Beth said...

The colors in the parrot...oh the carnation on the bottom right...the quilt...I' m in awe. Never heard of the Punch Brothers. I will have give them a listen. Sound like a great night out. Wonderful music and yummy food too.

Mary said...

Margaret, your parrot looks like he could stand all by himself, and yet I know there's still a lion and a leopard to come. Beautufl work!

Dontcha just love a night out with good food and live music?

Melanie said...

It's amazing how the fabric on the star block makes such a great pattern just by cutting it this way or that way. I imagine that must be tricky to cut out to get it just so.
I admit I've never heard of that band but they do sound like something I would enjoy.
Forget the cheesecake - that dessert had me at the macaron on top. (I *adore* those.) Yum yum!

Isabelle said...

What a beautiful post Margaret with so many joyful colors :)that is great to start on new day with such a post:)
Have a lovely day,

Karoline said...

PLL is stunning and you've done some gorgeous quilt blocks.
Sounds like a great night out