Painting Again!

You know how you feel you have to get stuff done but you just never seem to get around to it?  And then you get all depressed because you don't get stuff done?  Well, I've been in that mind set about my painting.  Remember all my enthusiasm around Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?  And all fabulous things I was going to transform? Yeah, well....not so much.  I still love the stuff and the ease of using it.  Its just that I screwed up my shoulder a few months back and never got back 'in the groove', so to speak.  I was in the middle of painting a writing desk and  I am STILL in the middle of painting a writing desk.  Now, it just mocks me when I see it...so naturally, I avoid going in that room.

BUT NOT TODAY!! (trumpets should be blaring).  Today, I faced my 'enemy' and walked in that room. Unfortunately, I did not work on the writing desk.  But, I did make friends with it and plan to finish it soon.   I did give myself a fun little project to sort of get me back in the swing of things.  Below, is a bust that belongs to my mom.  Since all her things have ended up at my house, I put this little charmer on my baker's rack in the dining area.

She's on the shelf with the wine. Her head rests on her hand as she writes in a book.  Mom said her grandmother had one just like it and that she remembered seeing it when she was a child. Since its a replica, and since it doesn't show up very well, I decided to paint it.

I started with two coats of old white.  Then I dry brushed on old ochre. Then I took a slightly damp cloth and rubbed off some of the old ochre.  Then I applied clear wax and buffed it.  I think it turned out quite charming.  Looks like old stone to me.

So, I didn't get to the writing desk, but I feel like painting now.  So it is just a question of time, I'm sure.

By the way, here's a picture of the Bunny Tail Quilt.  The top is done. I just don't have it quilted yet.

Oh, and Lauren is on her way out West, today. Their first night is camping somewhere by Sioux Falls S. Dak. Tomorrow they will see the Badlands and camp there. Then on to the Black Hills, Mt Rushmore, and Devil's Tower.  Then further and further into Wyoming.  Hope she has a great time!!

Lauren's Gone ...Again.

Lauren left yesterday.  She returned to Beloit in preparation for her Geology field trip.  She wasn't all that thrilled about this event, but she pushed through her  misgivings (three weeks of camping, mostly). She texted me today and said that they officially leave for Wyoming next Tuesday.  And she feels much better about everything now that she is there. She is going to send us an agenda so we can see where and when they are going.  Anyway, here's hoping she has a great time and surprises herself!!

We've been plagued with nasty weather the last few weeks.  Last year we had a drought, this year we are now back to floods.  Today they closed Dubuque street in front of the Mayflower dorm because the Iowa river is over the road.  The University has closed several buildings along the river and the county has evacuated some homes.  There is a good chance the reservoir will overtop the spillway on Friday, if the rains keep up ( no reason to think they won't).


On a lighter note, below is a recipe that Lauren made while she was home.  It was a delicious no-bake strawberry pie .Click here for recipe. She belongs to a food co-op at school and someone made it for them. It is gluten and sugar free, also.

Also, this week I made a quilt for my sewing room.  The pattern is 'Mama's Spools' by Sweetwater quilts. It went together very quickly.  I even quilted it on my Bernina because I was in a toot to get it done, I guess.  It was a kit I picked up at Inspirations in Hills.  It included a charm pack, so each of the 36 spools was a different fabric. So cute. Then I used a satin stitch around each one. The fabric has a theme around quilting.

       

Guess I'm still enjoying my sewing room! I need to finish my rabbit quilt so I can get a picture of it on my blog.  So much to do, so little time... Stay cool...and dry!

Lauren's Home!!

Miss Lauren is home from Beloit!! YAY!! But only for a couple of weeks...:( Then she is off to Wyoming for  Geology Field School for 5 weeks.  In the mean time, we are 'bonding'.

Monday we went to Kalona Maple Avenue Nursery to get some plants.  It was a near perfect spring day and we got to see all sorts of horse-drawn buggies, goats, and one Mennonite lad chasing a calf that was about to enter the highway! So Kalona! None of which I have any photos of..sorry.

But, we did plant some of our plants yesterday, and I do have a shot of those..

Cactus!! Nearly indestructible we hope.  We got the old wash basin at Sister's Garden on the way down to Kalona on 218. Another favorite haunt.
We also got one tomato plant and one basil plant...don't want to flood the market, I guess.
After Kalona, we stopped at Fin and Feather and picked up a few items for the field school trip.  A sleeping bag was among the items. Here, Lauren familiarizes herself with the new bag...

It is good to 15 degrees, so she should be able to adjust if it is too warm by unzipping zippers...

Gee, that looks comfortable....

A good time was had by all!
So, we are just doing mom-daughter things and having a pretty good time doing it! Did some grocery shopping at Costco and New Pi. Made some yummy lemonade with Sarah yesterday! All the while, we are washing clothes and bedding from school...so much fun!!

Wacky Quilting 101

 Wow, talk about wacky quilts!  I bought this kit in Dubuque at the Cotton Cabin in March.  They had a sample on the wall and I thought it was really cute.  Friend Jackie said she had the book with the pattern that I could borrow, so I bought it.  Well, I got home and low and behold, I had the book because I made a Christmas tree skirt from it many years ago.  It is by Buggy Barn Quilts.  It is in the book, "Stir Crazy", Bunny Tails is the pattern.

 If you've never done one of their quilts, its quite a change of pace.  The biggest challenge is just 'letting go' and cutting against a straight edge not because you have measured anything but just because you want a straight line. So, when its time to sew the pieces together, you have to 'straighten' those edges just by putting that straight edge there,not because it has to measure any size.  Hard to explain...  As you can see by the edges of the above quilt block, everything is 'off'' and will have to be 'squared-up' to a certain size in the end. But, they give you plenty of fabric to work with so that is no problem.  In fact, that would be the biggest complaint...there is a lot of fabric waste.  But the end product is so fun, you don't care (or at least, I didn't). Of course, the best thing to do is to read the directions in the front of the book.  They explain the stacking of the fat quarters and making the pattern on freezer paper, etc.

Above is the picture from the book.  I am still working on the blocks. So I'll show you more as I get it finished.  My colors are different.  But it is coming out quite nicely, I'd say!

Another Barn Scene

Well, I've been busy in my sewing room the last several days.  Now that its all rearranged, its a joy to be down there! I'd really like to work on something of mine, now.

I've been working on a barn scene for a quilt called, Homestead by Quilters Clutter. I had made this top piece two other times for Common Threads Quilt Shop. In late January, I was 'commissioned' to do the top of the quilt again. And now I'm finally getting around to it! Its a lot of Steam-a-seam and satin stitching! The person who is having me do it will make the rest of the quilt. Here is a  shot of the piece as I was working it and then the last one is the finished product.

Sorry, it is hard to get the total picture since it is so long and I don't have a panoramic shot on my camera.

In other news, Lauren comes home this weekend...yay!! She was actually done with finals yesterday, but she and some friends are staying for Senior Week (even though they aren't..seniors, that is).I think its an excuse to hang out together with nothing to do, for a change.  Anyway, we will be glad to see her!!  She'll only be home a couple of weeks then she will be off to Wyoming for a Geology Field Course with Beloit for 5 weeks. Then back to Beloit in August.  Kind of a short summer....But we'll take what we can get.

Tulips and Quilts

Aren't these sweet? These were planted last fall after Peg's son Patrick and his fiance's wedding. They gave tulip bulbs to all their guest! I forgot all about them and was surprised to see 2 tulips in the front yard...uneaten by rabbits or deer! Thanks Kayley and Patrick!
We've had some lovely weather here the last few days.  But even as I write this, it is about 70 degrees here and a snow/rain mix in far northwest Iowa.  Tomorrow is supposed to be only in the 40s.
This last Sunday Bob and I drove to Beloit, WI to see Lauren in her Wind Ensemble Concert.  They had a guest trumpeter and it was very good.  We don't often get to her concerts, so this was nice.
She will be home in two weeks.  She will be done before that but I guess she wants to hang around on senior week. Then she is home for 2 weeks, then off to Wyoming and Beloit for 5 weeks for a Geology thing since that is her major.

I finished my Hanging Garden quilt.  I hung it this afternoon. This time, I put the sleeve a little lower from the top of the quilt.  I think it hangs nicer.  Unfortunately, I had to hand stitch the entire sleeve...ugh. But, it looks a little lighter, summerier (is that  word?) than the red quilt that was there. I had to wash the quilt before I put it on the wall. As I was sewing. I pricked my finger with the needle but didn't realize I was bleeding on the quilt!! Oh well, I like quilts that don't look perfect...

Spring...Maybe

Here's a lovely sight in our back yard!  Green things are popping up out of the ground...finally!!  We've even gotten some rains  (which is good because we are still officially in a drought, I think).

But, don't let these temperatures fool you!!  They are forecasting an ice storm for NW Iowa this evening. Rain here, hopefully.  But, the temps will fall, needless to say. I think it is supposed to get down to 28 early Thursday... BRR!!

This is a shot of the pond behind us.  Its kind of muddy because we had quite a lot of rain this  morning.  I was trying to record the sound of the tree frogs, but only had this shot.  But, the frogs get sooooo loud around here that we try not to sleep with the windows open because it is too noisy.  At first, they are sort of soothing and a sure sign that spring is here.  But then they just are annoying.... So much for Nature....

Any who, just wanted to acknowledge Spring...as fleeting as it seems to be. Enjoy it while you can!