Hexies!

The One Flower Wednesday challenge has got me started again on a project that has been hanging around here for awhile. And when I say "for awhile" I mean many many years!

So here's the deal. My family loves to travel all over America. We drive, pulling a fifth wheel. We have been through every state, except Hawaii of course. We have also been all over Canada, and we have spent a lot of time on the AL CAN.

In the Fall of 2003, my oldest daughter and I started collecting 30's fat quarters, one from each state. We decided to use these fabrics to make Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts. Our inspiration was twofold. Firstly, there was a beautiful GFG quilt that hung outside of a little shop in Winslow, Arizona that we just loved. And secondly, hexies are easy to make while traveling.

Now, here we are almost 7 full years later, and the projects are still unfinished. Part of my problem is that I keep changing the way I want my hexies to look. I put them together and then a couple of years later I change my mind and take them apart! So this is where I am now, taking them apart again. But this is the last time. For sure. Really. The final time. Definitely.

So, I need a little advice from all of you hexie makers. If I were to fill the inside of each ring with one solid color, white for example, what is the best way to do that? Is it to fill it with hexies or is it to applique the outer ring to a solid piece? Does one way give you a better finished product?
Please help this floundering soul get her bearings!

Queen For A Day.

I had a birthday over the weekend, and it was fabulous! And actually, the celebrating started on Friday and promises to carry on through at least Thursday!! Can you believe it? Queen for a day has turned into Queen for a week. And let me just say, I like it!

I have been taken to lunch once and dinner twice. I was treated to a quilting class and a pedicure. Two red velvet cakes were baked in my honor, and my guy cooked me my favorite dinner. And, then there are several FABULOUS gifts to top it all off!

Thanks a million to every sweet one of you who blessed me on my 40th (again) birthday. I love all of you!!

Now, there was one gift that I must share with you. One that stood out in the crowd. One that was the be-all and end-all of birthday gifts. It was from my Grandpa George. And I say it was just from Grandpa George because Grandma Carol was quick to distance herself from the whole situation. (That was my first hint that things may not be all that they seem.)

It came in this "antique" box. (Hint #2)

As the box was being unwrapped there was a little hushed discussion between my guy and GG and I caught the words "treasure" and "shed". (Hint #3)

There was also a little note in the box that proclaimed this treasure to be "95% restored". (Hint #....good grief)

And inside was this:

An archaic, and broken............gopher trap. Yes, that is right. GG lovingly and meticulously cleaned and wrapped this treasure just for me! I know. I am a lucky girl.

As a side note, GG has only recently acquired this "treasure". But, when I gave it to him it was covered in rust and dirt.

I hope that all of you have a GG in your lives!

Giggles and a TTFN

Little Notions

Little Notions
June 25, 2010

I believe that I am announcing a winner today. It is lucky number 2, as decided by the random number generator. Loris, aren't you glad you entered three times!

I just love sunflowers. And sadly, I have not planted any this summer.

I am creating fun and fabulous (and maybe not so fabulous) things out of denim. And it is so much fun! You can see my little denim gallery here.

I am learning how to use my new copy machine/ fax machine/ printer/ headache. These things are so complicated. All I want to do is make color copies. But no, instead I am reading a manual and adding software and troubleshooting, and driving to staples, and calling staples.....aargh.

Outside the weather has been weird. Overcast, humid, rather dreary. The last time we had weird weather like this, I heard people calling it earthquake weather. And it was. indeed, followed by an earthquake. I think that was the San Simeon earthquake?? So, hopefully this is not a repeat of that.

In my kitchen is everything I need to make authentic Mexican tacos and margaritas for a few friends who are coming to dinner tonight. YUM!


A photo thought about slippers.

It's A Giveaway!

Would you like to have this cute little quilt top?

Well then, this is your lucky day because it's a giveaway!
This top, a couple of extra blocks that I could not fit in, and some nautical fabrics to round the whole thing out.

You can sign up in the usual ways (one entry for each):
1- Leave a comment
2-Become a follower
3-Mention this giveaway on your blog, and let me know that you did

I will draw a name next Friday.
Good Luck!!

One Flower Wednesday

This is my first Wednesday to post for the One Flower Wednesday, and I almost forgot! Good grief. Who knew it was actually Wednesday already.....

These are my first 2 little flowers. 2 of what I hope are many!

Blue Jeans and Spotted Fawns

Did you see the June Challenge over at Elephantz?

I signed up and have made a couple of things to show you. But first, let me show you what I made last summer.

Last year, our local fair added a category to the Home Arts department. It was called Recycled Item. So many wonderful things were made from everything from hubcaps to propane tanks to electricity insulators and old sweaters. But, by far, the most popular thing to recycle was blue jeans. It was very fun and inspiring. And, that is how I came to make this great purse.
Now, I have had some leftover denim that I wanted to use up, so this challenge was perfect. And, let me just say that this denim was not easy to come by. I practically had to beg my guy for a pair of his rattly old jeans. He claims that the rattier they are, the better they are, and that to ask for such a treasure for the purpose of crafting is quite unreasonable! He did come through for me though, and gave me a holey in some places, worn thin in other places, grease stained pair of "treasure" and told me that beggar's cannot be choosers when I complained that they were not exactly the pair I had in mind. So, you can see my need to use up every little piece of that denim!

Project #1, a pincushion:


Project #2, monogrammed oven mitts for me and my girls:

The project that I really wanted to make, however, is still on it's way. And, my baby brother has just generously donated several pairs of his old jeans, no begging required, so I have plenty of denim to work with and several more projects on my mind! So, stay tuned....

And to close this post: Did you know that it is fawn season? It is also baby quail and baby turkey season, but I only have fawn photos.

Little Notions

Little Notions
June 11, 2010

I believe that camping is good for you. A little R and R in the great outdoors sure can recharge a person.

I just love girlfriends! Especially the ones that you have known for years and years. The ones who have walked with you through life's peace and it's storms. The ones you raised your babies with. The ones who know your husband's quirks almost as well as you do! The ones that you can count on for anything. I just love those women.

I am creating fun projects out of denim for Jenny of Elephantz' June challenge. So far I have made several little things, which I will show you next week. But the thing that I realy want to make, well, I haven't started that yet. But I will. Soon.

I am reading "State Fair" by Earlene Fowler. I was number 2 zillion and 3 on the library waiting list, but my time has finally come! I know, I should probably just buy the book, but then it gets shoved in a closet or something and just collects dust. So, the library works for me.

I really need a mosquito management system. One that actually works! I finally have my pergola, and I am serving dinner out there, but the mosquitoes have a way of diminishing my joy! And that of my guests as well!

Outside the gopher war rages on! Apparently the cages around my tomato plants have work perfectly because now he is in my lettuce bed. Every morning I go out and see a little mound of dirt next to a half eaten head of lettuce. Speckled butter crunch lettuce. It takes him 2 days to eat each plant, so at least we are still getting some. I am adding a ultrasonic thing and an ugly spring loaded trap to my arsenal. With any luck he will be curtains by the end of the week!

A photo thought about a little pincushion I made this week

The Next Day

Have you ever noticed how mornings after an elections are always the same?
You open the paper, or turn on the news or talk radio, or what ever you do to stay informed.
And you review. It's always the same, and it goes like this.....

Are you kidding me! I cannot believe that passed.
There is no way that Prop #whatever didn't pass. What is wrong with people.
Oh thank goodness that passed, it was important.
Yes! We are finally going to see some commonsense governing.
We just elected WHO??!!

You know it is true. Whether you are a conservative or a lib, it's always the same.
Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
God Bless America and this democracy built on a government for the people and by the people!

On another political note, my guy went to the city council meeting last night. You know the one that goes on and on and on and on.....
Well anyway, last night's agenda included making our town a Whale Friendly City. Never mind what the President and the Chinese are doing, here in A Town, we support the whales.
If you are like me, you had no idea that these are the kinds of things that happen at city council meetings!

Finally, have you seen this? Oil Spill Cleanup

And that will be enough politics for today!

Civics 101

Don't forget to vote.
It's not too late to let your voice be heard!

Rainbow Around the Block

Did you notice the new icon in my sidebar?
Did you click on it to visit Anna Maria's site?
I hope you did and that you were encouraged to add your talents and prayers to the collection!
These are the 4 blocks I am sending this month. Colorful little string blocks made from some of my favorite fabrics.

It is a great little charity that could use your helping hands!
And a big thanks to Anna Maria for pulling this together.

Little Notions

Little Notions
June 4, 2010

I believe that someone needs a big "Happy Birthday" wish from her mother! Happy Birthday B....(censured nickname that I am forbidden to share on this blog), I love you.

I am inspired by Kaffe Fassett books. The quilts. The photography. The fabrics. The featured artists. The colors.

I am reading Kaffe books. Big surprise, huh?

I really want to receive a reward or award or something (a purple heart maybe) for surviving the teenage years! YeeHaw!!

Outside I have declared a war on gophers. So far 8 tomato plants have lost their lives, and 1 gopher is shouting a victory cry. 2 bombs have failed. And Grandpa George, the gopher expert is on the hunt. Today wire baskets were made for my remaining plants. So we will just see who laughs last!

In my kitchen there is a Tres Leche cake just waiting for the Birthday Girl! It is her all-time favorite.

A photo thought about baby Becca:

Scarecrow vs Scarecrow

Now, there are scarecrows, and then there are scarecrows. I have several, and they provide varying levels of protective "scariness".

First of all, I have this one. She is my favorite.

Several years ago, my guy entered the scarecrow contest at our local fair. When the time came to get one together he decided that he did not have the time. But, we had already paid the entry fee, so I decided to step up and help him out. I redressed my old frame and taped a basketball around her middle so she would look pregnant. Then I dug up another old frame and dressed it like a little girl, and even gave her a balloon. I entered them as a set.
Now, we did not win any prizes, but those two have become a family legend. When we went to the fair that year, there they were, proudly displayed with my guy's name attached to the front of them. On a very large card. Hilarious! And to top it off, all of our friends and neighbors had seen and admired his handiwork.

Now, as you may have guessed, she is not at all scary. As a matter of fact, she is the kind of scarecrow that the birds rest on between feeding frenzies!

My girls gave me a new scarecrow for Mother's Day. And, with any luck it will provide all the protection I need in my pumpkin patch.

It doesn't look like much, does it? Don't be fooled, on the "scariness" scale, it is a 10!
It is motion activated and has 10 different sensitivity settings. We have it set to 7. And, it will gettcha!
Just ask our dog. Or our cat. Or one of our poor, unsuspecting Memorial Day guests who was just coming by for a hot dog!
I LOVE it! And if you have a deer problem, I recommend that you get one for yourself. Right away!

And, to close this post, 2 photos of the yummiest lettuce I have ever grown.


Happy gardening!

May Finishes

Whew! I wasn't sure that I was going to get anything finished for the month of May.

This was a project I started last year. The pattern was from American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. It was a fun way to use up some of my retro modern scraps.

This double pinwheel is made mostly from Robin Pandolph scraps. The colors are so soft that it did not photograph well. But trust me, it is pretty cute.

This is my challenge for June. I have had these blocks for many years. They were made by my quilt group as a progressive project. And, I have no real good idea how to put them together??!! Any suggestions?