Alphabetized

I was lucky enough to find a water color sketch book at a yard sale for 50 cents!!! I figured that I would paint it when I had a moment, but it wasn't until I dug out my collected alphabet inchies that I did with some on line friends, that I decided to see if they would work for the cover. As it turned out, it was perfect for a set of upper and lower case letters as well as a corresponding illustration. I just love anything with the alphabet on it! As I get more settled in my new studio, I will begin to work on pages in the book. In the mean time I will be off to a retreat this weekend. Finally a time with the gals and a relaxing time to sew!

Nice Hooters!

I have been told lately that I have nice hooters! LOL I made these special little owls for Norma S. for a belated BD gift.

The fabric was the inspiration of my "taxidermy" creations. The dyed fabric was made by my friend Michelle B., which happened to match this owl fabric in coloration, so couldn't help but use it for the momma owl. This is the first project that got completed in my remodeled studio.

I also couldn't resist posting a photo I took a couple of weeks ago of an Amish buggy parked near a local grocery store and gas station. Isn't it a hoot!?! I guess one has the choice of either using gas or grass for your transportation!

A couple of days ago, two of our cats became mascots on the animal rescue site. You may have recalled awhile back a photo of the cats with the intertwined tails. While they did only a close up shot here, it was neat to see that they were mascots of the day. (Honey and "B")

If you love animals, join in helping feed the animals at the Animal Rescue site Every click counts! Also remember to spay and Neuter your pets and weird relatives!

The Under Taker

My studio is nearly finished and quite an under taking. I mudded drywall, painted walls, put down new flooring, painted furniture and spent time being an interior decorator. I still have more to do yet, but I am loving my new studio space! It wasn't that long ago that things were still strung everywhere and the walls were just white! The furniture was put in the middle of the room and covered while we painted.

Things were all piled in the bedroom.

My stepson helped me put a floating floor in.

I am loving the new floor!

I have painted furniture white until I am blue in the face! As you can see here, I have another cabinet in the foreground to paint. I also plan to put up another shelf for over the doorway on the left.

This end of the room is a bit sparce. I have more cabinets that will go along the wall in the back and the wall on the right, I shall reserve as a design wall!

I have already set up to my sewing machine and sewed a bit. It feels so good to be able to sew again! Tomorrow, I shall start working painting more cabinets before I can store any more.

Happy Father's Day!

After machine quilting for people for 11 years, would you believe that my husband now owns his very first quilt? It's like the shoe maker and his kids that didn't have any shoes! I haven't had a break between customer quilts and donation quilts until now. I got the quilt finished up in time for my husband's birthday in April, but finally finished machine quilting and binding it for him in time for Father's Day! I have yet to make one for myself though. I shall finish my studio and bedroom first. In the mean time I have one to finish for my step son and one for my niece, then just maybe, maybe, I will put one on for myself!

I only wished that I could have made one for my dad. He passed away in '97. Every Father's Day, I think about the memories of celebrating Father's Day when he was alive. Here's to you daddy, I miss you every passing year and love you very much!

What's In Your Garden?

Besides vegetables and flowers, there have been a few other critters lurking. The squirrel appears to be checking out something on the ground while Ani checks out the squirrel. Actually the the squirrel is quite dead. Boa was quite proud of his prize catch. I am glad to say that he wasn't the original hunter as rigor mortis had set in, so who knows what had sealed his fate. The cats are always bringing home prezzies just for me! Ani brought home a garden snake last week! Sends the chills up and down my spine as I am not fond of snakes no matter if they are harmless! A snake is a snake!




On the other hand, I don't mind it when a box turtle comes crossing the yard. He was awhile in crossing and I had really wondered if the turtle made it to the shadows or the shadows met the turtle!





While waiting for my sunflowers to grow, I have worked on some indoors! I made this quilt for a donation for The Pet Orphanage. I have the sleeve yet to put on it and have the binding nearly finished. We shall soon be selling raffle tickets! If anyone is interested in helping raise funds for us, it's greatly appreciated! Tickets are $1. each or 6 for $5. We are also selling tickets on an ipad drawing at $5. each. You have a chance to win one of three prizes, an ipad, an ipod or a DVD player!






Yesterday, we spent the evening at the Washboard Festival in Logan, Ohio. It's a fun street fair with good music, food and fun for all.



A rain shower dampened the evening for a short while, but then the sun appeared before it went down.



Kitana went to have a henna tattoo

The design was pretty cool!


As for my studio, I am making some progress finally! I have just finished mudding all of the walls in preparation for painting. I hate all of the dry wall dust and perhaps why I have procrastinated! Well, that and the fact that I had to have help getting some furniture moved! I am hoping the next steps will go a bit faster. It will be a race between me and the weeds growing in the garden. Stay tuned to see who wins!

I've been meaning to....

I've been meaning to blog once a week or once every 2 weeks, but life has been so busy and have been too exhausted to blog! I am taking a restful day, so thought that I would do a bit of catching up on what I have been up to the past few weeks.

Just before Memorial Day, I finished machine quilting a patriotic quilt for Joan B. I love the border and the lovely ribbon work in the main body of the quilt!




During Memorial Day weekend, my middle granddaughter, Hayley, graduated from Upper Sandusky High. She will be going to college this fall to study to be a social worker.


Her youngest sister, Kitana (with the dark hair) will soon get her permit to drive! Gosh, the years are going faster! She has already figured out that she wants to be an airline mechanic. She is the tom boy of the bunch! She loves 4 wheeling, doing paint ball and wants to go hunting. I guess she is the boy, her parents never had and she doesn't mind getting dirty!



My Iris' were lovely this spring with all of the rain. This one is one of my favorites as it is Logan's school colors.


I had a call from The Pet Orphanage to foster a stray cat. It was feared that his leg was broken, so they would use emergency funds to help the poor cat. As it turns out, it was his knee and what ever happened, it would have to heal on it's own. He had battle scars from fighting. We got him neutered and were getting him healed up before we could adopt him out. As it turns out, we found his owner, so all is well that ends well. We named him Mr. Weasley, but we later found out his name is Clarence.



I was glad the poor guy had a home, as so many cats don't. I suppose I end up with cats that no one wants or seem to be adoptable. They usually end up being the most spoiled! Here is Jack, (as in one eyed jack). Doesn't he seem to have the life? I use to have a Queen size bed, but my space is usually scooted over quite a bit! Oh yeah, he even uses my pillow!















While Jack has had the life of luxury, I have put in a garden and even helped my friend put in her garden and I have weeded flower beds, have had a yard sale and So far I STILL haven't gotten to my studio redo!

My youngest granddaughter spent a week here, so I took her to a bead making class too of which she really enjoyed!


These were the beads she did.


Of course I had to play again too and these were mine. This time I worked with layering and using the dragging tool for some really cool swirls and some transparency effects.



I did manage to do some painted coasters for a trade. We were to use a beverage of our choice and I chose to do tea.



We ended up winding down the week by helping out at the Warrior Dash event in Logan, Ohio. Volunteers from organizations would get $1000. per 25 volunteers! We worked for The Pet Orphanage benefit and had a rewarding but exhausting day. There were over 29,000 in attendance! I worked at the beer tent and they went through 150 kegs in one shift! I don't know how many kegs they finally ended up with, but 800 kegs were ordered for the event. There was good food, good music and a great time had by all! People were dressed in Scottish kilts, some in Indian costume, some were Barbaric, some dressed as Vikings, Some in camo. gear, some guys dressed in tutus and tiaras and wedding gowns. Some guys dressed in only a thong. It was all crazy good fun! In spite of the heat, the smell of smoked turkey legs and corn on the cob watered our palate!







At the end of the event, everyone threw their shoes in a pile for a charity. They got a voucher for donating their shoes so they could wear flip flops home.

.


Now that I am caught up to date, I shall now get back to quilting a quilt that I will finish tonight and then start working on my studio! It really is about time as I am going through art withdrawl!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you that are mommies! Be it to children or 4 legged critters we are mommies to them all and I feel very blessed to have a son, a daughter, a step son, 1 grand daughter, 2 step grand daughters and 14 felines!

This year I was thrilled with the blooming of the biggest bunch of azaleas! It's actually been a rarity the past few years. The deer seem to have eaten the buds before they ever got a chance to bloom. I think what has changed is that we have had plenty of food in the woods and the meadows for the deer to eat and with the abundance of rain, that they have really flourished! I planted these azaleas many years ago for my father in law in honor of my mother in law and brother in law who had passed away. When my father in law passed away, they were doing very poorly, so I transplanted them along side of our front deck in better soil. I love the brilliant color!





It's been a beautiful day so I took a few outdoor photos of the kiddos. This is Tang.


This is my handsome Honey Boy!


This is my Ani girl!



Today I spent it working putting down an underlayment on my studio floors and preparation for painting. Hubby mowed the lawn and then we went to the Old Dutch for a buffet dinner. I was in the mood for broasted chicken! Then topped off with coconut cream pie! Yummy!

My step son, granddaughter and daughter all called to wish me Happy Mother's Day. Unfortunately my son never calls, sends a card or anything. It's all so sad as I always remember him. Maybe some day when I am gone, he will realize things I did and sacrificed for him. I guess a mother's job is never done!