Western Table Topper

I made one of these Table Toppers for our house. Of course, when cutting it - I had the brilliant idea to make two - one for us and one to sell. Of course, it always takes longer to finish the second one right?

In this case, lets not ask exactly how long -if you don't mind!

Anyways - it is now finished. And I still like it as much as the first one!

aren't those fun prints?   I will admit - I have a rather large collection of Western/Cowboy fabrics. AND! I have a hard time cutting into them. I really am glad I cut into them this time. My table topper in on my antique table that I inherited from my Grandmother. I think it adds to its antique'ness ;-)

I enjoyed quilting it - I used a lot of back and forth lines. I thought it would make it lay flat, and be easy to wash, without taking away from the fabrics.

The Table topper is in my Etsy store - the link is over at the right.

And now... for your lovely tree shot... you were really needing another one correct? ;-)

Gettin' it Done

We had such a refreshing time on Vacation. But we came back with tons of ideas, and planning, and wanting to dig into the *stuff* that we had just been struggling with.  Of course, that is wearing out now... Real life is taking over.

How does this apply to my quilting? I decided I better finish up a few projects. For some reason this year, I am just wanting to start a lot of new things! I must have been concentrating so much on actually finishing things - I caught "Quilt Startitis"

What did I get finished?  Well a whole lot more is finished in my head that in reality, but at least I am thinking about it right?

I finished my *Sticks* quilt top.  I went with layout one, it seemed to just pop more - and more of you voted for it - so I figured if we all liked it this way.... this way it must go.  The quilt pattern can be found here:

Quilting is more fun than Housework     (don't you just love that blog name?  I can relate!)

Someone had commented that they did not have strips long enough to make this block.... notice the bottom left string? Many of mine were pieced. I REALLY wanted to use up my scraps.  And sadly - like most scraps - I a sure they have multiplied . Again!

And then because Wrangler Man said I needed to go help him set a post that the wind had snapped, I decided that this quilt was extremely important - and HAD to be worked on RIGHT then.  I sent my boys.

I am not sure how large it will become, I know that I have 4 more blocks in process on the cutting table. That may be it. Or not... or .. well?  See I am just so indecisive. Of course, I don't have a lot of purple in my stash - so this just may be it!

Mary ( or Mollie) had posted about these blocks - and she wrote up a quick pattern. I was just intrigued, and of course I have a HUGE box of 2 1/2 inch strips. I may actually have 2 boxes - but you didn't ask correct?

Framed 9 Patch  Is the pattern ( and the link) . I am actually making the 9 patches with 2 1/2 inch squares, rather that the strip that Mollie uses. The only reason? My scraps strips are smaller in length than what she used.

For more design walls head over to http://www.patchworktimes.com
For Anything Goes head over to:  http://karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com/


And now - for your lovely Tree shot.  You all need more trees in your life correct?  So here is todays:

The Pigs Arrive

Good Day all - I am Pig 1...  I came from the farm just over the hill.  I am a Crossbreed.  Farmer Boy and his Mom came to my farm first. They talk a LOT!!  Farmer Boy got in the pen with us, and we chased him. We tried to eat him. He moved way to fast.

He and his Dad came back later with a white thing, and they put me in it - and drove me to their place:

The gate was opened.... and Out I ran... Look!!! Dirt!!!  Hmmmm this could be fun. At my old house.... there wasn't any of this good stuff!!

Check out that HUGE pig!  He has a funny nose, and he keeps lookin' at me.... Glad he can't get in to MY dirt!

Good Afternoon - I am Pig 2 !  I am a Chester White pig, and I don't have to share my crate with ANYONE... it was cool!

Farmer Boy and his mom lifted my crate into another home. I was a little scared. This brown stuff didn't exist in my old house. I wonder if it is safe?

Ahhhh My house is rising.... I guess I will get out and explore.

Ahh!!! A HUGE pig!! A strange looking pig!! I am glad he can't get too close to me !!

Oh look - there is another pig in my pen. We will be great friends! And we will keep that Huge Pig out of our area. We will gang up against him!!  Look! We speak the same language.

And we will share water and food, and we will be friends.  Hey wait! He is getting more of the water than I am!!! Mooooommmmm he's drinking my water!!

Oh Look!!! Our Barn.  Pig 1 and I have a nice warm barn to be in. This is good. I hear there is more snow coming!! We pigs are anti-snow!!

Hope you all enjoyed meeting us! We are going to be great friends - I can already tell.

Pigs in Space...... or not

If you remember last year about this time my Little Bit got renamed Farmer Boy by his pig. He had such a great time raising his pig, although he wasn't so pleased with the ending.

He has decided to try his hand at raising more pigs this year, and has decided that he would like to raise two........ oh boy...

Our dear neighbors ( who REALLY helped us last year) raise pigs, and they had some baby piglets. We headed over to their farm first for a little shopping:

Oh my - were these piggies cute!! Farmer boy wanted them all!  He was allowed to choose one. 

Then we headed over to another farm. They were having a huge sale.You get to preview the pigs and you have a little cheat sheet about the pigs.  And then the fun starts. Pigs are brought into the sale ring and you bid on them.

Farmer Boy really wanted a Chester White - just like Pig.....

After the auction - we went home and had dinner ;-)

Check back tomorrow.... the Tales of the Pig .... will be back. Come meet Farmer Boys new pigs and see our lives from their point of view ;-)

Fishing

My boys all love to fish, so the last day we decided to hike into a lake. However - the big man found a stream a long the way. He LOVES stream fishing.

Being Very Very Quiet.   Not an easy task for my boys... but he found himself a comfy location....

And one found a rock to hide behind. (upper left corner - brown shirt - is the man )

While they sat still the other boy and I hiked farther in. We wanted to see if there really was a lake - or if we had just been co-erced into hiking the tough trails?   I found trees ( surprise!)  But we didn't get to a lake.

The elusive Wrangler Man. I was glad that it was warm and sunny, he might have been a little wet.

There was brush and undergrowth everywhere. It was hard to get a clear shot of any part of the stream, and hard to find a clear spot to even sit. I think that is what made it even more gorgeous.

I found a shell. I did not know that shells were out in the dryland - I always assumed they were by oceans. Anyone know for sure?

My boys goofing around. Notice anything off in this picture?

They were making Middle Bit stand in a hole!!  It made us all giggle, as two of them are now the same height!

Again - some spectacular views!!

And now we head back to reality... did I ever mention how much I like Vacation????

Arches National Park

These may be the last of the Arches National Park Photos.... until I download my second camera....

There is an Arch called the Delicate arch. They have a photo of it 60 years ago and there was less arch, more rock - so we braved it and hiked to the base of it. I hoped that more rocks wouldn't fall... but you know 60 years is a long time... it might have been ready?


First - Me and the boys! If I could just keep us all together all the time!  Well.... Maybe not, they eat a lot!

The oldest runs in the desert a lot, and he was telling us about the Cactus that jump. So I stared at this one for a while. It might have moved!   Check out those thorns though! Can you imagine hitting one of those?

Here we go - this is the Delicate Arch. The left side of it had rocks in it 60 years ago.

And then then fell on the ground.. and they make a great hiding place for a little guy!

This place is called the Fiery Furnace. Cool name. And it really looks like fire!

Just another spectacular view. We just could not believe how far you can see in this park. There is so much to see, and so many hikes. It really is gorgeous. If you like being outdoors - Moab may be the place!

Vicki - if you do go this way - call me!!! I'll meet you at the highway ;-)

Quilts of Valor 2014 - April!!

How!! How I ask you did it get to be April already?

I feel like I am still working on deciding what my News Years Resolutions should be!

We were invited to attend a special Ceremony of a Very Brave Warrior. I was really impressed, and was very glad that I had been invited to witness it. It was a Purple Heart Ceremony for one of the guys in our Battalion.

We had been trying to meet up to present him with his QOV - and each time we just passed each other. At the end of his ceremony he asked if this would be a good time, as his wife and father( a Veteran as well) would be there. I felt quite honored to be a part of his day.

 Dawna and I got to show him the quilt and tell him why we were presenting this to him. We gave him hugs from all of you too!

 And of course - you just HAVE to wrap it around them. That is my favorite part - to see them shiver with the comfort of it!  ( see his purple heart - left chest)

The smile.   That smile is worth every effort we put into these quilts - the Smile that lets us know they totally get it!   Thank you quilters!!

The winner from last weeks pattern contest is Leanne P - she blogs over at Devoted Quilter. Thank you for all the awesome comments. And thank you for all you do to love on our heroes!

More Spring Break

I told you I took a Batrillion Photos... you might get a kick out of these ;-)

When traveling with boys,you can always guess when they are starting to get hungry:

Mom - that rock looks like a Corn Dog....

Mom - do you think Rock Monsters ate up there?

Mom - you probably think that looks like an Eagle - but its really a Vulture waiting to eat us.

Mom - Look - and Elephant. I understand his hunger...

And just a pretty one - I thought it looked like chocolate....

Just so you know - not only did I pack snacks, water, and gatorade. I made sandwiches... I really wasn't trying to starve anyone... Promise!!