The Garden is DONE!

Not an actual Garden Garden...but My Grandmothers Flower Garden (that is the name of the quilt pattern, still thinking of a name this actual quilt).  This quilt was made by hand and I started this in March of 2009 and finished it in May 2010.  So 'only' 14 months of handwork.  I do plan to hand quilt this one.  The size is 80.5 x 98.5.  I really enjoyed the time I spent making this quilt.  I'll be honest and admit that I'm arleady thinking about making another one with the same pattern but with bright colors.

This is the back side of the quilt.

This is the front of the quilt.

New Chalk Board

Fell in love with the chalk-less chalkboards. Loved the look of the 'unique' looking chalkboards. Found a mirror frame at a thrift store for 10 bucks and got rid of the mirror but refinished the frame. Got a piece of plywood and painted magnetic paint and then chalkboard paint. Originally I wanted a silver frame...but that was too difficult to meet my expectations. So I settled for a can of gray that was sitting in the paint closet. I think I'm happy with it! I wrote 'Thank You' on it to Herc...thanking him for hanging it up for me. Love you Herc!!

What's Black and White and Caa-ute all over?

I found this idea on many blogs that I frequent. I just LOVE the look! So I bought some fake pumpkins at the Dollar Store and spray painted them either Ivory or Black. In the vase with the wheat are black beans to help the wheat stand upright. Isn't this caaaauuutttee??

Let's Be Jolly!

Well, I know it isn't close to Christmas, but danggone it....Let's Be Jolly since I've completed another Christmas Quilt top, and it is soooo adorable! I'm not a fan of working with printed panels since they are printed so wonky....as this one was. I worked with it and came up with this cutie!! Now I just need to know what color I should do the binding...the green in the border? The red in the skinny border? The yellow? Or the blue? What say you? These photos were taken with my phone....soooo pardon the wonky pics.

Red Rules!!

After painting this I just could not be happy with it. I thought and thunk and ran amonk trying to think of a way to make it POW WOW in your face. Ok, that sounded weird. But anyways....I think Red Rules! And I'm quite happy with the results, thank ya very much!

You can SEE the Progress!

This is SO EXCITING!! I can actually see the progress on my Grandmothers Flower Garden. This is not the set layout....I just laid them down to see what it would look like....it WILL be re-arranged. This is gonna be one STUNNER when I am DONE! Whoo hoo!!

Orange Crush

Orange Crush was its name. This was a fun quilt to work on....not a big quilt, just a small wall quilt. Hope you can see the cool rhinestones that is on it. The binding will have to wait, other quilts I need to do first. Priorities!

All Done...'cept for touch ups

Pay NO MIND to the can of paint under the table. The paint color is Benjamin Moore 'Appalachian Brown'. Wish it was a bit more darker...but it'll do. Three photos and one little poster has made it's way into the frame....it will be filled up in due time.

BarnHill Orchard

Don't ya wanna just lay down on the grass and just breathe in the air? Don't ya wanna roll down the hill? Don't ya wanna just sit there and gaze at all that beautiful scenery...watching the clouds go by? Well....been there, done that, love it!

Manipulating Photos

I love the new look out there that some photographers have created with some of their photos. So, tried my hand at photoshop....look at how precious my little grand-nephew is!

My Boy!

Maxfield graduated from 5th grade this year. He will go to Middle School next year. He is ALMOST as tall as I am too. Here he is with his 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Freeman.

No More Barking!

This little Mandy of ours like to bark at every stinkin' leaf, bird, car, dog, insect...ANYTHING that moved outside. This is her favorite window in the house....Now...No More Barking....the house is silent again. We put up a 'lacey' looking film on the windows. I didn't want to use curtains...I like the clean look. LOVE IT!

The Easter Amazing Race

We surprised the kids with an Easter Amazing Race....they had to do 'Roadblocks' in order to move on to the next clue. I made the 'tear-away' envelopes like they have on the show. The kids had fun. This is a picture of them on the last Roadblock....

Titles

I'm stumped for a color!

Ok, so this is one of my new projects....I had bought the frame a year or so ago at a store going out of business...got it dirt cheap. I didn't really want to hang it on the wall. It is HUGE...25 x 52. So I asked Herc to help me turn it into a table top. He made this over the weekend and he did such a FANTASTIC JOB! Love you Herc!




Now, here is why I am stumped....I need to paint this. I can't stain it cause it is three different woods and the top (frame) already is painted/distressed. So....any suggestions to what color I should paint it?

Happy Birthday Lady Mandalina!

AKA 'Mandy'. She is a year old now. An absolute delight to have around. Such a happy spirit at all times. When we got her last year, Mikey wanted NOTHING to do with her for the first two weeks. Now they play something fierce everyday. Mandy loves to pulverize dog toys. I don't mind that at all, since she hasn't discovered 'Furniture' like most puppies do. Happy Birthday little one!

My First Fondant Cake!

This was a FUN thing to do! I am so hooked on Ace of Cakes on Food Network....I've learned a thing or two! So I attempted my first Fondant Cake! I used a marshmallow fondant recipe that I found online. What a chore that was. I need to try other recipes out. But what I REALLY would like to do is to be NEXT to a fondant expert and learn how to make GREAT fondant....how to roll it out...drape it on the cake....I want to do better! But I have to admit...my first cake did turn out pretty good if I might say so! I did kinda go overboard with the flowers and leaves....but hey!

Minkee Safari

I LOVE working with Minkee fabric!! I participated in a Block-of-the-Month with Patches. We were to provide our own background fabric. I decided to have fun and take the chance with Minkee. It stretches something awful if you are not careful. It helped that I ironed on the back a lightweight fusible interfacing. The fabric series is named 'Sssssilly Safari'. So 'Minkee Safari' was born!

Stump the Quilt

I finally completed my 30's quilt block exchange. I believe I participated in this exchange FOUR years ago! *shaking head* I completed it and just could NOT come up with a name for it. So, Smyly and I were 'stumped'. Hence the name of the quilt is 'Stump'.

4th of July Owie

Tree was sooo anxious to learn how to whittle. His older brother already has his own pocket knife given to him by Pappy. Tree had asked Pappy for his 'own' pocketknife and Pappy was all too happy to give him one. We spent the 4th of July weekend out at the farm. Herc taught Tree how to whittle by using fresh cut bamboo. All was well. Until....Smyly rushed into the trailer to grab Herc's car keys....I saw her rushing back with his med bag. Oh dear. I went to find out who got hurt. Herc was washing Tree's bloody hand. He had cut his middle finger on his left hand. We never got it out of him what happened, and he doesn't know what happened. So, here is a photo....you are warned!