On The Move (Wills Point, TX)

We are doing a lot of miles for the next couple of weeks.  Destination:  Spokane, WA.

Since leaving Key West, we have spent almost three weeks in Central Florida getting some shopping done before moving onto the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park on the Suwanee River.  We visited this park last year, but we did not stay in the park.  The campground is one of the best for clean sites, extra large, and private.  We linked up with one of our friends and her family from our short-lived Amazon days. 

There are 97 tubular bells in this tower.  It chimes every 15 minutes and serenades visitors with music by Stephen Foster.  The sound of the chimes were very soothing and added to the overall peaceful feeling.

Our next stop was in Pensacola, FL to visit with two more traveling friends and our cats favorites (ours too).  We try to meet up with this couple whenever we are nearby.  We are not sure who enjoys the visit more - us, them, or the cats (who at this moment are spoiled beyond repair!).

Ready for 2 days of travel - Pensacola, FL

We spent one night in a Walmart parking lot in Ruston, LA.  Wow, this place was busy.  I felt like we were sitting on the side of the highway because cars were flying through the parking lot. Needless to say, we were both feeling a little sleep deprived when we woke at 5 am.  The good news is that we got a very early start on the road and made it to Wills Point, TX in time for lunch.  Traffic wasn't too bad, but we ran into heavy rains and wind.  We are east of Dallas and very lucky that we were on the edge of the damaging storm that hit the city yesterday with baseball sized hail.  The hail here was about the size of a nickel.  It certainly sounded threatening when it was hitting the roof of the motorhome.

Next stop:  Lawton, OK

On The Cutting Board

Recently, I have started a lot of new projects because my shop is almost empty....again. 

My Happy Campers have grown their own set of wings!  They are flying out of the shop as fast as I make them!  I never dreamed they would become so popular.

My cutting board is full of new Happy Campers.  The most popular has been for more aqua/red vintage trailers.  I have several of them in my WIP pile.

I have received several different requests and inquires about different mug rugs.  These requests and inquires give me new ideas for more mug rugs.  

A long time ago, my sister had asked if I could make a mug rug with a black bear.  I did not forget her request.  It is hard to come up with a design of a black bear that doesn't look like a black blob.  I'm still looking for the perfect way to represent a black bear with fabric.  In the meantime, I came across this bear profile in a tattoo website that allows people to use their designs for free, but you have to change the design.  I did this design in three different ways.  Here is a peek at the first one.

Another customer asked about mug rugs with an apple or a cat design.  The apple was easy to come up, but I'm still looking at cat designs in books and online.  I'm sure I can come up with something.

All has been put aside to work on a new Happy Camper custom order for a Southwest theme with a road runner for our Pensacola friends.  I'm so excited about this new challenge that I have already sketched out four designs!  I can't wait to get started on this one.  I have a feeling that no matter which one they pick, I will be making more of the others as well. 

As if I don't have enough projects to keep me busy, I have added more new projects to my pile below.  My time will be filled for quite awhile getting all these mug rugs ready for the shop.  What's really bad it that this is just one of my piles of new mug rugs.  I also need to get to work on some new quilts and finish my wall hangings.

I am hoping to be available for another craft show in the future.  It was rather nice to be able to talk to customers while they browsed, but it isn't going to work if I do not get moving on my projects!

 But Wait!  There's more!.....I am also trying to finish my Southwest pillow covers.

My plans were to finish four pillow covers during the winter in Key West which I am happy to say did not happen because I was too busy fulfilling customers' orders and for the two craft sales.

I did get one done.  Yep.  One down and three to go!

I should have plenty of time to finish many of my new projects on the road since we will be trying to cover a lot of miles in the next month or two.  Less distractions when I have to sit during our travel time.  I certainly cannot go for a walk during that time.  Lots of sewing time instead!
Happy Quilting!

From Gulf to Ocean (Mayport NAS, FL)

In less than two weeks, we went from the Gulf coast to the Atlantic.  During our travel east, we spent four wonderful days in the Suwannee River State Park.  The campground had good shade and plenty of space to spread out.  No complaints from the kitties!

We would have stayed longer, but this place is so popular that it is booked almost solid.  Dan was lucky to find four days in a spacious site, so we were happy to have that time.

We did a lot of walking along the park's trails.  Our favorite trail was along the Lime Sink Run that runs into the Suwannee river.  Not a very pretty name for such a beautiful spring fed river.

just hanging around getting some sun

There were plenty of turtles and squirrels to watch along trails with a few small deer.  Tall trees for deep cool shade and the trails were well marked.  

Birds were singing, but it hard to see thanks to the tall trees.  I was glimpses of a few that I have not seen before.

The Lime Sink Run is seasonal so we came at a good time.  Sunshine the whole time we were there and the spring was still running.  I could not get over how crystal clear the water looked.  

We could see the bottom most of the time unless it was too deep and in shadows.

It is too bad that it runs into the Suwanee River.  The river is almost black from decomposing vegetation.  This photo was taken at the Big Shoals State Park while walking one of the river's trails.

Largest whitewater rapids in Florida

I love my gnarly trees!  This one is more twisted than gnarly.  It leans way over the Suwannee River. I wonder how many kids wish this tree was leaning over their favorite swimming hole.  It would be perfect for tying a rope to it for swinging from this tree and into the water.

We also visited the Stephen Foster Folk Center Culture State Park.  He is the songwriter that made Suwannee River famous.  Surprise!  The man never saw the river!  The park itself was interesting with folk crafts such as jewelry, needlework, blacksmith, and wood work.  Each one had their own craft shop where they can demonstrate and show off their crafts.  There was also a small gift shop that sold a wide variety of art work.

State Park's Museum

We attracted another stray while we were staying in the park.  This guy has begging down.  I dubbed him - Oliver Twist.  He stayed outside the campsites and cried.  We watched him walk over to a recently vacated site...Meow!..they left me with no food!.....walk across the street....Meow!...oops!  dogs...onto the next site...Meow!  The camping area is a small circle so we could still hear him every once in awhile.

 "Please sir.  Can I have some more?"

About a half hour later while we were outside with our cats, he showed back up.  Giving us a pitiful meow and looking half starved.  Of course, his begging worked.  We fed him for the next few days.  We found out that he could put a lot of food away and still act hungry.  He was not happy to see us go, but we are sure he will talk another camper with a soft heart into helping him out.

Back to sea and sun!  We are staying on Mayport NAS.  This view is only a five minute walk from our site.  I love it!  I have walked barefoot on this beach everyday since we have arrived.  We are expecting some thunderstorms this weekend so I am taking advantage of the sunny days with walks and sitting outside with the cats.  I'm not getting a whole lot of sewing done right now.  Maybe while it is raining?

Happy Quilting!