Odds and Ends

 

Jim's Quilt

 

This is the quilt I made for my brother Jim when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He got it the day after he got home from the hospital -- probably one of the fastest quilts I have ever quilted.

 

Blocks are flannel as is the back. There is a 1"black button in the center of each large block and a 1/2" button in each smaller block on each end. Fabric is from a line that came out in 2004 or 5. It kind of looks like corduroy. I made the top to be a TV quilt for me and then decided I liked the smaller quilt I made from the scraps better so this one sat basted and ready to quilt waiting for the right moment.

 

This was it! Back has hunting dogs on it and Jim and Jolene have a similar dog "river" so it seemed fitting. The quilting design is called hibiscus and is actually an applique design. In this quilt it looks more meandering than floral.

 

Jim is home from the hospital now and still has a bit of recovering to do but so far the news has been good. 

 

Chucky the Chuker

 

This little guy has been my companion all week while Toralf is camping in Utah. Actually we think that's where he really belongs. We have seen these birds while camping in Kodachrome State Park and Bryce National Park. I think he must have gotten blown off course. He has been hanging around my deck and likes to look in my deck door window.

 

 

Last but not least our little guy Oliver at 1 1/2 years. He loves his books!

The Black Hills, SD & some New Projects

Just got back from a trip to Black Hills, SD to visit Toralf's brother and sister in law. Falls leaves were really pretty. I hadn't expected that. Third picture is from the Little Big Horn National Monument.

The trip was a good excuse to cut out a couple new paper pieced projects. I have been wanting to do this for some time. This is what I started.

 

This is the jewel shape with 1"and 2"hexagons. Jewels could also be put together with 2"diamonds. It is a different look and kind of fun. I have a jelly roll of batik for the stars. I'm using a group of tie dyes for the hexagons.

 

This one is ties. Yes I'm finally using them! Design will be tumbling blocks. I need to rethink what I am doing a little bit. I thought I could use the lining on the ends of the ties for the solid top but I don't like the quality fabric so need to find more solid ties and or use the wider solid parts. I have been glue basting the diamonds as I cut them and this stabilizes the slippery fabric. It is working well.

 

For the Birds!

We spent the first couple weeks of July camping at Bryce and Capitol Reef National Parks.This trip really was for the birds. They loved our bikes.





We were amazed by the bluebirds hovering around our campsite at Bryce. They didn't seem shy around people at all.

 These two little guys (robins) spent a day with us at Capitol Reef. The parents hovered close by and even came to the bike to feed them.

No trip to Utah would be complete without a few ravens. The sky is so hazy because there was a fire about 50 miles from here. There were fire restrictions at Bryce. No campfires this trip.

 

We did see other animals. Love this guy trotting down the path. Guess he doesn't know his signs!

Toralf and I joked about this picture taken right after a storm at Capitol Reef --

"The Money Shot"

 -oOo-

Toralf y yo acampamos en los parques nacionales de Bryce y Capitol Reef en Utah el inicio de julio. Fue un viaje de muchas pajaros. En Bryce éste "bluebird" nos visitó . El le gustaba mi bici. No parecía tímido. En Capitol Reef eran "baby robins" que nos visitaban. Los padres quedaban muy cerca y los alimitaban a los bebes a la bicicleta.

Una viaje a Utah no está completa a menos que vemos ravens. El cielo está lleno de humo porque hubiera un fuego 50 miles de allá. No podemos tener fuegos en nuestro campamiento.

Vemos otras animales tambien como éste venado. El aparentamente no puede entender la señal.

Toralf y yo bromeamos sobre éste foto -- el foto de moneda. Lo tocó despues de un tormenta y el cielo fue muy hermoso.