Scrappy Happy Days (Sutherlin, OR)

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week filled with family and friends.  

This will be my last post before Christmas.  My next post is due on Christmas Eve, so I'm taking the day off.  I'm hoping to celebrate this holiday with our son if the weather allows him to travel.  Fingers are crossed!  In the meantime...and when my fingers are not crossed, I plan to catch up on emails, blogs, and get more quilting done.

On The Cutting Board

I went to the Craft hour at the Community Center yesterday.  It was nice to sit and sew while listening to the ladies talk.  No one else was quilting.  One lady was knitting slippers, one was making cross-stitch Christmas ornaments, and the last one was making hats using a large loop & hook.  It may have been a few years since I have been to a Project Linus session with my ol' quilting buddies, but I was able to get right back into my relaxed routine of stitching, listening, and checking out everyone's projects.

I took along a UFO to work on for my first meeting.  I have been meaning to add a penguin to this snowball quilt for a long time.

I don't know why I was procrastinating with this one.  The penguin was done in no time.  Now that the border has been added, all that is left is to do is to quilt it.  Well that and I need to find some fabric for a backing.  It's too bad I don't have more of the penguin fabric for the backing.

I have also been spending a lot of time working on the tumble blocks quilt.  I have two more rows to do, but I will be short one block.  I ran out of the two center/main prints to finish the last block.  So the last one will be a solid block and I am going to applique an elephant and lion into the plain block.

I'm still working on that scrap bag that never seems to shrink.  I'm pretty sure the scraps are multiplying when I turn my back on them.  I'm beginning to think the scraps are related to Gremlins.  Never feed or water after midnight!....They multiply!  Below, I have cut out blocks for more Crazy 8's quilts.  I like using the pattern for the random block pattern making it a quick quilt to make.  So far, I believe I have enough for two tops.  I haven't counted the squares yet.  I'm not sure I will be adding applique to the tops.  I will wait to see how they look when they are done.  They might be too busy for applique designs

This is my favorite Christmas video.  Enjoy!

If the video doesn't work here, you can click on this link:  

White Christmas by The Drifters

Happy Holidays!

Recycling Feathered Friends (Spokane, WA)

There is a tall tree right outside our motorhome's door with a nest that looks like it is made of fuzzy feathers.  For the past week, the Western Kingbird couple has been building the nest.  They have been quite entertaining while I am sitting outside with the cats.  

Western Kingbird

 Squirrels find out the hard way that the birds do not want any visitors in their tree.  I have seen them chase two squirrels away and I'm pretty sure there are no eggs yet since they are still working on perfecting their little nest.

Oh, and speaking of the nest...it is made of lint from the dryer's vent!  I found a piece of lint on the ground under the nest and thought...maybe I should get a closer look at that nest.  Sure enough!  It is lint.  This baby bird is going to have one safe and cozy nest to grow up in.

I read this quote online a while back.  I liked what she said and decided to keep it.  I just found it again in my documents.  I tried the link and it is no longer available so I will just share what I saved that day.

Birds are important because they keep systems in balance: they pollinate plants, disperse seeds, scavenge carcasses and recycle nutrients back into the earth. But they also feed our spirits, marking for us the passage of the seasons, moving us to create art and poetry, inspiring us to flight and reminding us that we are not only on, but of, this earth. ~ Melanie Driscoll, Director of bird conservation for the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Flyway

On The Cutting Board
Whoo Hoo! The "Let Freedom Ring" wall hanging sold within 24 hours!  Thank you!!!

So, I decided I wasn't quite done putting together the quilt kits.  I dragged out all my material and put together a bunch of wall hangings. I have four 4th of the July wall hangings by Nancy Halvorsen and one tea party theme by Urban Threads. Urban Threads has unique designs in machine and hand embroidery patterns. I have ordered a few and have way too many favorites!

I slipped in the snowball/penguin quilt too.  I just love the penguin material!

There is still time to vote at the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I want to thank my friends and family for voting for me.  Much appreciated! 

Okay, back to the piles of fabrics and making more wall hangings.....or mug rugs....oh, and I have to cut some more fabric from my scrap bags......

Happy Quilting!

It Ain't Hog Heaven (Patagonia, AZ)

That's for sure!  LOL!  Dan and I ran into a group of Javalina during one of our walks.  For the first time, we had one javalina confront us.  

He or she trotted down the trail pass the others while snorting at us.  We believe the javalina was not sure what it was confronting since their eyesight is not the best, but they can smell us.  I almost pulled out the air horn I have been carrying in case of a confrontation with our mountain lion.

We were at the end of the trail's loop and did not want to backtrack to a crossing trail.  So, we stood very calmly and watched the snorting javalina.  Luckily, the javalina was a little confused.  He stopped on the trail, snorted a couple of more times, turned around and trotted back down the path.....

meanwhile, the other one on the trail just sort of ignored us so I got some good profile photos while he watched the other one going up and down the trail.

I like watching their noses - down....

and up!

On The Cutting Board

You are probably beginning to think I have gone over the deep end with starting so many different projects.  There is a method to my madness.  It is hard to start a new project without making huge messes and spending a lot of time digging through my supplies.  But....once a project is put together and stored in a baggy, I can pull it out wherever and whenever I want without stress of looking for certain supplies during our travels.  I might be overdoing the preparations of too many projects, but I have so many ideas that I want to get them packaged into kits before I forget!

New Mug Rugs Hog and Lamb

The Pig and Lamb are clipart designed by Fayette Terlouw from "Born in a Barn" collection.  I think the design will make for some cute mug rugs.

Just Chillin'

 I just love this penguin designed by Laurie Furnell. This is from her clipart collect called "Penguin's Pastime". I blew up the penguin to make it into a mug rug.  I'm trying to decide if I want to make the smaller Just Chillin' into a mug rug or a small wall hanging.

So, I have put together quite a few small projects for some handwork that will keep me out of trouble during our travels this year.
Happy Quilting!