Traveling West and Project Linus

Hondo, TX to Del Rio / Laughlin AFB, TX

We are heading west today, so I need to get things packed up for our travel day.  We had a great visit with another Bluebird (motorhome) couple, not to mention, cat people!  I'm sorry to leave so soon, but I am looking forward to being back in New Mexico.

From 365Project -- Signs of Fall

Project Linus

Remember the donated Dresden Plates?

Okay, let me catch you up.  Last year when I visited my friends at Project Linus, one of them gave me a baggie filled with donated Dresden Plates.  None were sewn together.  I finally got the larger plates sewn together and onto four blocks.

I couldn't help myself.  I had to applique Something onto the blocks.  I kept it simple because the fabric and the pattern reminded me of a simpler life before all this lovely technology took over my life.  Very little technology touched this block...so far.  Of course, doing it all by hand proves to be a lot slower.  Talk about being a slow poke quilter!  It only took me over a year to finish the four blocks and I still need to add sashings.  Once we sit still for about a week, I will start working on finishing this top.

In the meantime, I have started working on the Fancy Sue blocks.  I am using the smaller Dresden plates for the skirts.  I have been wanting to make this block for the longest time.  So far, the pattern has been a lot of fun to sew.  I already sewed some skirts together so the appliqueing will go a little faster. I actually did this in one evening.   All she needs is a ribbon on her hat and a flower in her hand.

Fancy Sue

I should be able to make quite a few blocks.

Well, a lot more than a few...

I love donating quilts and both of these quilts will be going back to Project Linus.  I hope the quilts give a child the feeling of security and warmth.

From Project Linus:  our mission which is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."


To learn more, click on Project Linus.

Thinking About Our Future (Hondo, TX)

Yesterday, we left Fredericksburg and headed west to Hondo, TX.  We are starting to look at different Escapees' parks that allow members to lease a site.  Hondo is our first stop.  The park is nice and well kept.  The people have been very friendly and helpful.  But, we just don't think this will be the semi-permanent location for us.  It is a little too rural for us.

The cats did not like it much either.  Dusty had no dirt to roll in.  Aww, I was really disappointed. No dirt! Darn!  Squirrel could not find anything green to munch.  Hitch had no trees to climb and wanted to snoop all the neighbor's yards.  Max was too nervous to make a decision, but he made it unanimous once he heard their comments.

I like the porch on this one

Above is the shed (I call it a Mini House) on the lot we are renting for the next couple of nights.  The owner/leasee is traveling at the moment and while they are gone, they can allow other traveling members to rent their site.  While they are gone, they don't have to worry about their site with the park employees and neighbors keeping a watchful eye on it.

 Just a Shed, ma'am!

Some sites have just a shed

I like the idea of the shed/house for extra storage space or just a place to get out of the motorhome.  We saw the inside of one and it wasn't bad.  The larger room had a double closet and enough room to put a couch with chairs or a desk and sewing table.  Always thinking...   There was a smaller room that they were using as a workshop and storing tools.

Below are some photos of the shed/houses.  Each one might be small, but they are each individually styled to the owners' taste.  Of course, there are rules and changes have to be pre-approved which is a good idea.

I like the play on words...

some have a mini house with an enclosed porch

 The lots are big enough to give us a little elbow space.

This is my favorite one

This barn style is cute

So, why are we considering doing this?  Well, as we get older, we are sure our travels will slow down to a couple of times a year.  You know - winter in the south, summer in the north.  This would give us a guaranteed site each winter.  Plus, I do have several items sitting in my daughter's garage.  I'm sure she would like to have that space back someday.  Most of these parks have a long waiting list from 4 years to 8 years.  That's why we are looking now.  It isn't because we are getting tired of traveling.  We are just planning for our future.

A Little Shopping (Fredericksburg, TX)

We walked around Fredericksburg downtown area yesterday.  They are having a Mesquite Art Festival.  The detail and the work is amazing.  I had a hard time not touching everything.  If I had a house and won the Lottery, I know I would be buying a lot of the items.  There was a very unique sink stand, bowls, tables, fireplace mantels, and benches.  Gorgeous work! May the artists sell many items this weekend.

Upon returning, I could not wait any longer to go to the Pocketful of Poseys Quilt Shop,  I had fun talking to the ladies in the shop. They were very friendly despite the fact that they were very busy getting kits ready for a meeting.  The shop is small, but they had a great selection of fabrics.  I needed fabric to match some bunny material that I want to use in my next project.  I found more than the three below, but I think this will be enough.  What do you think? Are they a perfect match?

             

And a little reading...                   So, I have been listening to Stieg Larsson's "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest".  I finished "The Girl Who Played with Fire" awhile ago.  I am really enjoying the continuing story about Lisbeth Salande and Mikael Blomkvist.

In the second book, Lisbeth continues to fight abusive men and protect their female victims.  This time she takes on the underground sex trade and a man who doesn't seem to exist or does he?  It seems like every time someone questions the existence of this one man - they end up dead.

Now Lisbeth is on the run from the police for murdering three people and Blomkvist is out to prove her innocent of the crimes although he is not sure why he feels a need to help her.  Lisbeth is still socially intorverted and a challenge for anyone to understand.  Yet she is intriguing and I get to learn more about what makes Lisbeth tick.  As I listened to the second book, I found myself thinking of the old saying "what a tangled web we weave" as Lisbeth's background was slowly revealed.  I am half way through the last book and I don't want it to end.  I find myself wondering if Stieg Larsson had planned to continue Listbeth's story.  I guess we will never know.

By the way, did you see that a new US version of "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo" movie will be released in December?  I see Daniel Craig is playing Mikael.  Funny, I always envisioned someone with dark hair like Gerard Butler playing the part.  Don't ask me why...I certainly won't argue with Daniel Craig.  From the trailers, the actress is new to me, but she looks like she is doing a very good job of catching Lisbeth's personality, so I am very excited to see this movie.

Hey Lady! Ya got any nuts?

Two New Quilts Listed (Bridgeport, TX)

Yesterday, I listed the two quilts I have been working on for the last couple of months on Etsy.com.  I have listed both as "One Of A Kind" since I don't plan to duplicate either one of them.

 I love both quilts, but I have to admit my favorite is the Art Nouveau Garden Quilt. I had a lot of fun sewing this one together.  I am already looking back through the Art Nouveau clipart book for more ideas.  Yep, I got a few, I just got to see what is in my stash.  Oh! My fingers are already itching to get back to some more appliqué work.  More photos are in Quiltincats Fan Page.

Size: 49.75 x 40 (126.36 x 101.6 cm)

Batik Butterfly

Flower upclose

Backing and binding

Binding - doubled and cut on bias for better durability

A collage of work in progress

Southwestern Kokopeli Lap Quilt

Size: 62 x 46 (157.48 x 116.84 cm)

Smaller Kokopeli

Larger Kokopeli

Close up of the larger Kokopeli

There are a few more photos of the Southwestern Kokopeli quilt in Quiltincats Fan Page.

A collage of work in progress

Travel Day!

Today, is another travel day for us. We will be in Fredericksburg tonight and plan to stay for a few days before heading to Hondo, TX. 

Albuquerque!

For my Albuquerque friends: it looks like we will only be spending the last week of October at the base.  Depending on the weather, we might stay longer.

Good-bye Family! Hello Texas!

We will be traveling for the next couple of days.  We are heading for Fredricksburg, TX,  I love visiting this German town.  There seems to be something always going on from street art to Octoberfest.  We will be staying in a campground within walking distance of the downtown area.  And a quilt shop nearby - so close, it is on the same block.  Yep, Dan will not be seeing much of me when we are there! Just kidding, I'll spend some time with him. ;0)

A sweet hug for a very sweet dog!

Here are some more photos of our granddaughters and our daughter Misty.  They came out to the campground on Saturday.

Grandpa is a great helper

Well, the kite is up or is it?

We started by trying to fly a kite, but the wind did not want to cooperate. A gust here, a gust there, and then nothing. Oh well, she was happy with trying to fly the kite.

Big smile

a look of concentration

Big Sis did not find the kite flying all that interesting, but she did help a couple of times.

So glad I brought my cell phone

After we put up the kite, we went looking for shells along the lake's shore.  We found quite a few since the lake is very low right now.

here's a shell there's a shell

Oh is this too deep?

Of course, it was not low enough to keep one little girl from soaking her clothes.  Hmm, it's a good thing we have a washer/dryer in our motorhome.

Checking out the new shells

And the Winner Is....!

Congratulations Brenda!  You are the Winner!  

WooHoo! ConfEtTI  coNfetti ~~I'm celebrating! Yea!

Here are some photos of the drawing.  I recruited my two granddaughters to do the drawing for me while I took pictures.  I'm going to keep this post short since it is getting late and I want to send Brenda an email.


Enjoy your new My Memories Scrapbook Software!

Pick just one!

Who won? "I don't know I can't read!"

It says Brenda. "Who is Brenda?"

The Winning Ticket! Yea Brenda!

*~A big THANK YOU to all participants! ~*