A Crazy Quilt Finish!!! and.......... Finished ( or not) Friday

I am calling this MY finish... but!! Its really not all mine.

A long time ago I thought I wanted to learn how to Crazy quilt. You know all that embroidery and fun stuff?  and I thought it would be cool to have a canvas to try it all on.

Then my Quilt guild had a Rummage sale - and on one of the quilters tables - was a Crazy Quilt top!!

I jumped in and bought it!

I tried two little 5 inch rows of crazy quilting, and! I promptly put it in a bag.... a canvas bag!

One thing you should know about me... Patience is not a quality I possess.

But then!!! I was searching for Forest Fabrics for our RSC this month... and I found that canvas bag.

and of course I had to open it.... and then I decided I was NOT going to put it away!! I got it ready for quilting....

 and I got binding ready!!

And now!!!

It is Quilted, Bound, Washed... and I delivered it to Pathways Hospice yesterday!!

And now there is NO proof that I didn't finish the crazy quilting haha!!

Alright!!! 

( PS - do you like my green grass? We are trying a new thing.... Artificial grass!!!!)

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And now... The Ocean!!!

 If you've been reading my vacation posts - you know that we had a few destinations in mind. But everything else was kinda suggested by locals.

We are now at one of the destinations that we really wanted to get to... that was one of our goals....that was on the vacation schedule..., and it was TOTALLY worth it!!

Is that not TOTALLY gorgeous!!!

and the area is so untouched ( so don't ask , cuz you know I won't tell where ha ha!!)

Oh PS - its going to be photo laden again!

One day my friend asked me... mountains of beach?  and I said both. He said - that doesn't exist... and so!!

The photo to prove it is SO!

The coast is just so rocky and I think it is so beautiful!

Can't you just imagine Pirates here too?

Every so often - we send our kids *Proof of Life* photos. and try to make them jealous that they have to work and go to school.   Its payback!

There was a crab shack that I really wanted to go to. WM loves fresh seafood, and I really thought he Would love it... Check out the view from the crab shack.

Want to know how the crabs get to us?   Crab Traps!!!

There was a Barrier to slow the ocean water down - and on it there were a bunch of Crab Trappers - so we took a walk. and check out this seagull - I caught it in the photo!!!!

Now I know why I don't swim there tho!!!

Poppies!!!

It was so awesome - and we ended the day with another little Wine tasting.

We still haven't mastered the selfie and filters - so love us as we are ;-)

Plaid Steppers

 I blame Angela for this one..... 

( Not really , but I had to start somewhere!)

Usually she gives a hint, or a clue about what the new color will be. And I really didn't need to know right away - but Lois had send me this bag of plaids..... oh maybe I should blame Lois too!!!!

In my minds eye - I was going to grab the plaids that matched the RSC color for May and Bam!!! Start in....

But then - I pulled plaids out and I just started cutting - because. what is a girl to do when she is surrounded by plaids. I think the plaid dust went to my head.

I am not sure how big this one will be, but I cut enough strips for 15 quilts ( right???)

Here is where I am at the moment:

Its really prettier in person - but with a lot of these prints -Its kind of muddy in color. and guess what?

I like it!!!

linking to:

Design Wall Monday

Monday Making  Midweek Makers

A 4 patch finish and ..... Finished ( or not) Friday

 Oh la la ... this week just flew by fast.... probably because of the wind....if blew me places!!!

This week I am showing you a cute little scrap quilt finish.... I have a pile of some small tops that I have worked on , on and off over the years, and it is time that they get finished..... oh!! 

The purpose of Finished ( of not) Friday - get these things moving on and out into the world to love!

and now... it is your turn to brag!!!
Brag away!!!

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After the Redwoods

 After we left the Redwoods - we followed the advice of the park ranger and checked out another cool state park.   And it was GOOD Advice!!!

PS - Just a pre warning - there may be a lot of Photos here. I mean - the place was GORGEOUS!!

We found our friends we feel that we would make good Sea Lions and seals... we would love to lay around on the beach all day!!!

if you look closely - you can see one of them waving at me.

he is telling me to be his friend, and bring him a seafood casserole

( PS - you know I am joking - these things could kill you... and they don't need humans close!)

Only the special ones are allowed here... you have to pay a fee haha!

I kept trying to see a whale in the deep waters - but no matter how I try - that was not a whale.... but I wanted it to be!

What a life right??? See the babies???

The views around this place were just incredible . Its not the same beach type place that people hang out on, and play volleyball. It was so rough a rugged - and I LOVED it!!

The Waves are just so powerful - I am guessing that they added to the natural levy to make sure the Sea Lions had a place to be that was safe?  I really don't know for sure - but I like to pretend I know it all ;-)

In my head - this is where the pirates hid, they could park their boats on the other side and sneak up to the coast and steal treasure... so I am sure there is hidden treasure in those rocks.... Maybe even Cloth from a foreign land that should be made into a quilt!

A Panoramic View

And from a different angle - you know that we can't go places without hiking somewhere.....

And of course... I found another trail.....

that you will see on another day ;-)

Churn Dash Design Wall

 Remember my little Churn Dash Tutorial for Hands 2 Help?    HERE

I did it in the computer - but I also started a new top at the same time.  I dug out some fun Hawaiian Prints and thought it would be a bright happy quilt.

I put my blocks up on the wall , and in walks my husband... he looks at them and says - I want A Hawaiian quilt... will you make that for me?

And so.... the design wall is growing....

its pretty bright! and I am not sure how big it will get. We like to use quilts on our couch - and I'm thinking it should be big enough for both of us to use, and we have to have room for our dog. Puppy likes to snuggle with me on the quilts. He claims most of them, so I should make it big enough I get some of the quilt right????

Linking to:

Design Wall Monday

Monday Making     Midweek makers

Long Haul Trucking ( okay Driving) and ..... Finished ( or not) Friday

 This week I got to pretend to be a long Haul Trucker.... only in my car! and I made it back alive!!!

You know how you have things go in Threes.... well the three this time... was not a fun one, but I tried to make it fun. The motor on my Long Arm decided to die.  you all know - this stuff happens - its all a part of using machines and technology... but... really.... its graduation season - I'm booked!!

( PS - my machine is 18 almost 19 years old!!!)

And therefore - I might have thrown a temper tantrum and then! Sucked it up and made a plan!

My husband is really good at helping me with the mechanical stuff - but he didn't have time to learn how to replace a motor - but! My Best Friends at Nolting ( I have a Nolting Pro) told me - get it here - well get you turned around and out the door

and by Golly they did! Richard is my new best friend - and not just for the day - he earned the WHOLE YEAR!!!

Oh ! and as I was getting the machine ready to load up, the check engine light in my car came on. ( on a Saturday night) so I stole  my Dads car. .... He's not getting it back - haha

I called one of my sons while I was on the road... and he said - send me pictures each time you stop - and so - I shot random ones along the way...

So! I took off Sunday Afternoon and made it to Lincoln NE ... 6 1/2 hours ish. 

Got up early Monday and drove into Hiawatha IA - it was a really pretty drive. I think there was a tornado in the Tama/Traer area last year... I vaguely remember hearing about it - and I saw barns that were just flat..... it was crazy

I got to Nolting - Richard took my machine - and we talked about it, he said I will call you when its ready.   So I headed off to lunch and then .... craft stores haha!!! I had time to shop and nothing to buy!

Check this out - Flying Tractors:

And a Pink Barn....it was raining - so you have to look close - but to be honest - I have never seem a PINK barn..... 

There is my Baby - All packed in and happy.  

He got a new motor and had a little spa experience - and now!!

He is back on his rails and ready to Rock and Roll!  I love my Nolting and I have had such a great experience with them - They are always so helpful ... I mean always - but this week - they went above and beyond in making sure I didn't have a panic attack.

And they laughed at my jokes...ya... I know... they were awesome!  1500 miles - 2 1/2 days - 2 hotels - and a LOT of real life truckers....  oh - and country music....

So that is my Finish for this week,.... It's all I have - roll with me ;-)

it's your turn!!!

Link up your finished ( or not) posts - Inspire me!!

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April Books

 Airplanes make for long good reading periods.... I got 4 read in April!!!

Are you ready???

Oh ya, I told you no super serious ones this month - I had really LONG ones last month!!\

I had a like/don't like with this one....It started out so great, but in the middle there was a little bit of a lecture to the reader.  I notice a lot of her books take on a purpose in educating you, the reader, and thats all good.... but.... 

Anyways this is what the reviews say:

"Summer Valentine has returned to Moonlight, South Carolina, a very different woman from the naive wallflower who left years before. These days she’s straightforward and savvy, determined to do right by her son, David―even if that means cashing in her struggling music career in Nashville and returning to the town that drove her away. Sure, she took a fall. But at least she now knows where she stands…

Despite her anger over the past, Summer believes David deserves a relationship with his father, Hunter ‘Hunt’ McCroy. Though Hunt’s illustrious career has faded, privilege still protects him from his worst mistakes.

Someone else is back in Moonlight too: Rhett Bryan, the golden boy of Hollywood, who’s taking stock of his own life after a tragic accident. As his rekindled friendship with Summer quickly deepens, she must reconcile the painful history that ties her to both men―one she’s finally forgiven, one she’s afraid to love―to claim healing and happiness."

I really liked this next one. Libby gets really hit hard with some life changing things, and I like how she takes charge, her humor, and the way she made it all about her. ( I can relate!)  I think the change between having a perfect life, and a life that you want to live was a great take away!

"Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-colored glasses have actually been blinding her.

With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?

From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living."

Alright - this one took me a minute to get into - but once I realized that we were going to go thru life with three different characters - and then a group chapter - it totally made sense!!  sometimes I am not the most brilliant bulb in the box!!!

It was a great novel about three friends realizing that they needed each other, and that thier friendship helped them get thru a lot of things going on it their lives.

"Grown-up life in Dublin hasn't worked out quite as planned for school friends Melissa, Steph and Eilis.

Melissa has a successful career as a journalist, but inside she's a mess of insecurities.

Stay at home Mum, Steph is lonely and lost, walking on eggshells around her philandering husband and angry teenage daughter.

And Eilis, a hardworking A&E doctor, is just going through the motions with her long-term partner Rob.

A wonderfully warm debut, about friends you can’t live without and about choosing the life you really want."

This one might have been my favorite for the month:

"Carla Sullivan’s 50th birthday is fast approaching when her whole world is turned upside down. Discovering her feckless husband is having yet another affair and following her mother’s death, she is in need of an escape. Finding an envelope addressed to her mother’s estranged sister Josette in the South of France gives Carla the perfect plan.

Seizing the moment, she packs her bags and heads to Antibes to seek out the enigma known as Tante Josette. But as the two women begin to forge a tentative relationship, family secrets start to unravel, forcing Carla to question her life as she has always known it."

It is one that I took on the plane, and I was okay with the long flight - I was totally entertained. 

There you go!! My Book reports.

Ps - When I was a kid I hated doing these - and now I get all happy that I can actually remember what I read!!!!

Homes for our Troops

 Years ago we were introduced to Homes for our Troops thru a Blue Star mom. My boys and I loved being a part of it, so imagine my delight when QOV partnered with HFOT... and we became Official!! 

There was a build in Colorado and we were invited to be a part of it - so Off I went.

It worked out that our Director Lori was able to join us!!

The Key Ceremony is where they give the Veteran getting the house his key and of course.... They all talk about how the House got built , and who provided what... Its really cool

I got to speak at the beginning... 

The Fire Department and the Patriot Guard escorted the Veteran to his house. There were a lot of Patriot Guard Flag Holders lining the driveway. Guess what?  I knew a lot of the Patriot Guard ;-)

This is out Veteran wrapped in his quilt - and guess what - Lori is kinda of hidden behind him ;-)

I snapped a quick photo while standing at the podium. I had hoped HFOT would send us photos - but.. you are stuck with my photo ;-)

This is the raising of the flag at his new house - such a beautiful place and its so cool!!!!

Now check this QOV out - Elsie pieced it and Lois Quilted it!!

Have a great one!!!