A little fabric gardening...

 Finding time to actually blog these days has become difficult, but it's because every free non-family moment I have i try to spend in the studio...

When you have small children or grand children in your home, work full-time, have a ranch to work on the weekend, the time is just gone...

So...late night sewing is my routine now...and I really don't mind...but my little blog has suffered for sure...i try to make up for it over on  Instagram...it's instant gratification... I hope you will come see me here in between your visits here at the blog...

Moving on....

This was a little free sewing I started this week. I love Sweetwater fabric so...

What started out as just three strips of fabric sewn together in blocks has turned into this...

I had some rearranging to do, but I was liking how this  little flower was turning out...

I did have a finish...this was the product of some late night sewing...remember?

Well, that is it for today...but I will be back this week! What are you all working on these days?

A late night of sewing...and it feels so good..

Well, it is 1 a.m.  and I just finished quilting...binding tomorrow...goodnight.

Mixin it up

 

 I have always been a HUGE fan of Michele May and her site Raspberry Rabbits...

but I finally decided to dive in and try doing some stitching on fabric and wool.

My little grandbaby H's room is getting a little makeover.

Perfect chance to try something I created.

 

I sat down and drew something out...something very familiar.

 

 

 

I decided it didn't have to be perfect...

and I found the perfect wools and fabrics to use.

 

In a couple of hours, I had it all laid out and

began to do a little quilting...

I don't know what it is, but this has become

my favorite part!

 

I love how it is turning out!

I have decided to use the only fabric that

made sense to back this...

(not just because I collect this word...)

 

and rather than bind it with binding,

I am going to just fold it over and

"pretend" bind it.

It looked so preeeety...

 

 

 

It's fun working on things for this baby's room...

I mean seriously...he's laughing all the time!

 

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

 

 

 

 

Just plain good stuff...

 

Two years ago, my friend Patty and her sweet mama...

bought me the vinyl letters that read

Welcome to the Ranch...

This weekend...I finally worked on

getting those letters on an appropriate board...

I have to say, that was a really fun project!

Just a little unused board, a little left over paint

and a sheet of sand paper...

Wah - Lah!

 

 

MOOOO-ving on....

This is my little ranch buddy...

Chocolat...

She seriously follows me everywhere.

She was given to me by a fellow rancher last year.

She had a sister too...that I named Fudge.

They jumped the fence in another pasture

and came home only to have two little

calves last Spring.

 

***

SPOILER ALERT

***

get tissues...

I lost little Fudge last summer.

 

I cried and cried...

 

But Chocolat has raised Fudge's little baby just fine...

 

 

But now, my little MooMoos are no longer little...

 

 

 

I think they each weigh in at about 700 lbs each.

WOWZERS!

You can tell them to get out of my back yard if you want to.

NOT ME!

 

 

 

When we go to the ranch, we always end up having to

go by Lowes...My sweet man gets all the non-essential

house building things...pish posh!

Us girls know what is REALLY important!!!!

One of those Magos has a tutorial on how

to make antique WIRE BASKETS!

Yes Patty...you won't share, so I will

make my own!

(*wink*)

 

 

 

Here's some more weekend progress!

all hand sewn...WHEW!

not too shabby...hehehe

 

I am half way done with the top...just 7 more rows to go!

(and I swear the bag is just magically
refilling as I try to empty it!)

 

 

 

And...last but NO WHERE CLOSE TO BEING LEAST...

I got these lovely goodies in the mail from

Madam Samm...from !Sew WE Quilt!

 

Those fabrics are from line called

"I like you"  by Windham Fabrics...

 

those others goodies are just some wonderful

little surprises Madam Samm slipped in my

package for fun...

AGAIN.

 

WOWZERS!

 

I hope your week is off to a good start...

sew...what do you see being made

from that lovely fabric???

 

 

 

 

Back to work I go...

This week has been filled with new beginnings...

After being laid off last month i have to say i

was really disappointed. I asked the Lord

to give opportunities that would not only

fit me but would be long term.

It took three weeks...

but He did it!

I started this week and it has been such a good fit!

I am so thankful.

The time off was good as well...i was able to

finish a lot of UFOs and start a little

hand work. My scrap bag full of pre-cut

squares and i decided to just dive in!

My little quilt top is about half way done...

but oh my....i love the quiet time it allows me.

Friday and a long overdue finish!

Over a year ago, one of my family members gave me an antique quilt top to finish. It was her MIL's and was in dire need of attention and reworking. This top was over 70 years old, made of clothes fabrics and what looked to be appliqued on cheesecloth or those old flour sacks...at any rate, it was terribly delicate.

Add to that the cigarette smoke damage and finger pricked stains...well, you get the idea.
I had to take it apart and replace the old yellowed batting, make a new backing material and then quilt and bind it.

Fear is a powerful thing. I began the quilt a long time ago, and even featured it here...but when I hit a rock in the road...or should I say a kink in the quilting, I stopped...stumped at what to do next. I didn't want to take it all apart and risk damaging the top...

 

 

Forward to an email I received to prompt me back into action....that was two weeks ago.
I gathered my courage and went at it again. I did have to remove the bottom half of the quilting and rework the blocks (the material was what caused the wrinkle in the first place) and carefully put them all back together so they would line up with the top of the quilt.

 

Anyway, you again...get the idea. Some 20 hours later, I had finished the quilt and have sent it on its way....
WHEW!
This is that lovely top, all quilted and hopefully reworked for another 70 years....

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday!!!!

We have a Winner...

 

YAY!!!

 

Here is our Dare To Dresden

Wrought Iron Stand Winner!!!

 

 

#153

 

sandra         January 30, 2013 at 6:15 PM

"How sweet and so creative,

I just loved your little bunnies (the real one too).

I also liked your tablerunner/wallhanging,

it does look like a fence at the ranch."

 

Sandra,

Please send me your snail mail address

and I will mail off your stand TODAY!!!!

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

 

and....

 

THANK YOU EVERYONE

for all the sweet comments and

for entering!

 

I wish I could send one to all of you!!!

 

 



 

 

P.S.

 

My little Bunny Girl Won

TOP TWO OVERALL

in the Dare to Dresden Blog HOP!!!

 

Thanks to all of you!!!!

 

This is what I won....

 

 

 

It's called "I like you" from Windham Fabrics!

 

Madame Sam and our wonderful

cheerleader Christine did a fantastic job

and made this hop so much fun!!!

 

Happy Monday EVERYONE!!!!