At The Farm

I went with my DD1 yesterday to our friend's farm.  

They have a new baby miniature donkey that is the cutest thing EVER.  

She looks like she has a fro on top of her head and her fur is all curly.  

ADORABLE!!

Here is a video of her romping around the pen (this is the first time she has run, she is 4 days old here).

Along with this adorable donkey baby there were many, many "Kids" born too. 

 The cutest were the Pygmy goat babies (kids). 

 My DD1 and 2 of her friends were at the farm holding the kids.  

They were the size of a small cat.

Here is Electra with her mom, Pearl.

All in all a great few hours at the farm!!

~XOP~

PTM and TAP's BIG Adventure

Yes you did read that right. You remember my BFF Pauline (Pauline The Magnificant) and now she has her very own blog and she calls me TAP (The Amazing Pam), LOL. Not sure if that is really true but it is what it is! So I started a week of vacation this week, and boy do I need it. I had planned on a trip to the local fabric distributor with PTM for their BIG open house celebration on Monday. I was dragging my behind after my Sunday adventures so we left at 9am instead of our usual 7am. It was better that way!

We got to Checker and checked in and got our packet and lunch tickets. Then off to the show room. Some very famous folks were there demoing their stuff. Elenor Burns was there with her new Barns book. PTM was waiting to talk to her. (That's her in the pink striped shirt)

We saw some slick new Creative Grid rulers, a piping ruler that was really slick (and I meant to go back and buy but forgot). We met Nancy Halverson too. She was talking about a new fusible product that you can run through your printer and print your applique patterns onto rather than tracing them. She even has all her patterns for Tidings on her website that you can download for a small fee to print and use. Really slick! We also met Karen Eckmeier. She does the book Happy Villages and Layered Waves. Amazing stuff. She was so very plesant to talk with and she signed my books too. Here are 2 of the quilts from her books.

Don't you just love the Halloween one?? I do! Very cool techniques, both of them.

We had preordered some stuff and I ended up with a bolt of Kona Snow and a really good deal on a 6.5 x 24 CG ruler! We saw some quilts from the Hobo book that were kind of cool.

I had a conversation with a woman about this one...

Some woman was saying how ugly it was and yet I was fascinated by it. Apparently it is supposed to be hats and scarves. I thought it looked like modern sheep! How funny is that?? What do you think??

They had a catered lunch for us with pulled pork, chicken, mac and cheese and green beans. It was awesome! (Goodbye diet, hello weight gain, but sooo worth it! Here we are in the lunch area. (well, PTM anyway!


We finally got out of there and headed home. We decided to stop in Tecumseh at the Quilt Patch. We bought a few things, on sale and headed out to the farm to see LTW and bring her her pre-ordered things too. She couldn't go and play since her boss had been away for a month and got back on Monday! Bummer!! So we played with the chickens, got some eggs, and some veggies and went on our merry way.

Today was spent doing laundry, fixing the garage door, and the fridge (leaky hose). Tomorrow we are planning on going to Berlin Ohio (heart of Amish country) just me and my DH. He had been away in Canada all last week but is now home and on vacation for this week too. We will stay at a B & B and just have some fun together for the next 2 or 3 days.

I probably won't post again until we get back, so have a wonderful few days and I will touch base when I get home.
XOXO ~P

The BIG, Scary Statler and the Brave New Quilter

You all know that I went to LTW's farm this weekend to work on the sampler quilt I made for my friend's wedding. I thought I would share some of the pictures LTW took of me learning how to use the BIG, SCARY Statler. We should have gotten some near the end where I look MUCH more confident, but it was late!
Here I am trying to figure out which buttons on the machine match the grid on the computer.

OK now you can see my very first element going in.

This is what it looked like stitching it in the sashing

Taking all my concentration to do this


My DH and DD1 were with me at the farm too but were getting bored after about 2 hours so they wanted to go home. Oddly enough, PTM called to let me know that her DH would be going back to Canada, bring their DGD home and she was staying in town. So my DD suggested I go back home with them, go and pick PTM up and go back to the farm to play! GREAT IDEA!! I called PTM and she was up for it. I got home and thought about it and asked if I could drive the red, Mustang convertible to the farm. It was a go. You should have seen PTM's face when I drove up in that car. I don't think she recognized me! So the two cool chicks left for the farm. It reminded us of Thelma and Lousie (I got to be Thelma). We made it back to the farm, with the top down and the tunes up in no time. I meant to have LTW take our picture but forgot and by the time we finished the quilt it was dark, = ( Next time I will get the picture!

Anyhoo, I managed to get the entire quilt finished!!! LTW did the outside border, and outlined a few of the stars, but I did everything else. I did manage to snap a picture of each half of the back of the quilt to show you but none of the front. (It was around 10:30pm when we got done). I have to trim the top tonight and will get some pictures then. Here is the back in each half.

I chose each element for the quilt and I showed you that previously. I chose some designs with hearts in them because this is a wedding quilt. I also learned a LOT about design choice. Would I do them all the same way again? Probably not. There is one with a straight edge that I would probably have eliminated as it really shows if your piecing is not exact. Mine was not bad but it was slightly off. I liked the designs that filled the big block squares better than those that left the corners emptier except for the feather wreath. That fit that particular block perfectly. I will try to take photos of each block tonight and explain my thought process and choices, if you want to know.I can even show you where my piecing is not exact, lol. Although you can tweak the design if you really want to, I didn't feel it was off enough to do that. You may be bored of it already, but I have a new appreciation for all the design planning that goes into a quilt like this with all this custom quilting. I chose Quilter's Dream cotton batting, the light weight one, and a light gold, 50 wt thread. It is also amazing how the thread changes color on the quilt. Some colors I hated as a spool were nice on the quilt. Go figure!

I want to let you know about a couple of other things that are going on in my life at the moment too but will save that for another post.

Picnic at the Farm

I hope everyone in the US found a way to celebrate our Independence today! Remember to thank a service man or woman for all that they have done to ensure our freedom too. We got to do BOTH of those things yesterday. We went to a picnic at the farm of LTW. Believe it or not I did not take a single photo either so this will not be too long and boring. We had 4 new chicks to bring to the farm and they were so little compared to the last group we left there. Megatron and co have grown so much! They were sad to see their "mommy" (DD1) leave too.

LTW's housemate has a son that was home from his post in Korea so they decided to have a BIG party! It was pretty awesome. I made some fruit kabobs (usually a hit), we brought some sausages, cupcakes and some diet Coke. We got there about an hour after the party had begun and lets just say, if anyone went home hungry it was their own fault! What a spread. It was an enjoyable afternoon with good food, good friends and my family. My DS even tagged along!

Then we came home and DD1's friends had gone out and bought some fireworks which might or might not have been legal in MI. DD1 had told all the neighbors ahead of time so we had quite a crowd watching. We used to do this when my kids were little too. It was a really nice way to top off the wonderful day. The best part of the night? You know those enormous bottles you can get? (we use ours for spare change) We were using it for launching the fireworks off in the street. A car was coming and we told DD and her friend E to move the stuff and E runs over to the bottle and kicks it sending it scudding across the street and breaking into a million pieces!!! I need to go out and see what we need to clean up this morning. I was cleaning the kitchen first, now on to laundry then the street.

I was visiting my friend Annemiek's blog and she had posted this fromo You Tube and I thought you might enjoy it too. Since LTW is my LAQ : Here's to you LTW!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!!

I Be Jammin'

I told you I got some other goodies from LTW's farm but I didn't say what. It was strawberries...LOTS of strawberries. She needs to clear out the freezer for the incoming chickens this weekend. I had strawberries coming out my ears, er I mean my freezer. Too many to even all fit in my little chest freezer. So what's a gal to do? When LTW gives you berries get busy and make some jam, of course. The berries were from her folks berry patch last year so luckily they were all cleaned and ready for me to work with. Ever try mashing thawed strawberries? It is not for the faint of heart, let me tell you. I decided to take out my trusty food processor and that was the BEST decision I made! I had stopped on the way home and bought some Sure Gel and and 24 of the 16oz jars. That should be enough right? Here are the humble beginnings

Next is the cooking stage. Very precise! Mr. Mama Spark was NO help at all! Men, sheesh!! As I was cooking the jam I was boiling water in the canning bath and boiling water to put the lids in too. Face facts I was "boiling" hot too, even with the A/C turned on!

I got one batch finished, yeah!!

Now I can finish using all those berries!
Sorry in advance for the "messy" pic but I was exhausted! Here are all 24 jars (yes I said 24) filled with delish strawberry jam. They are all processed and need to rest overnight. The whole thing only took 4 hours of constant work!!!

I'm not complaining though. I love me some strawberry jam!! I even tried the sugar free version so will have to let you know how that turned out. Guess what? I still have enough berries to make at least 8 more jars with. I don't have any more jars though so maybe I will start making smoothies with some of them who knows!

I received some fabric in the mail and will share that tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!!

Oh and BTW did you notice I added a new list on the left side bar? I am going to start listing tutorials that I like when I find them so I don't have to keep trying to remember where they were and I can tidy up my bookmark list too. Feel free to use them too! If you do let me know what you think.

The Process Pledge

I have been thinking about doing this for some time and finally decided that I want to join in "The Process". What is this? Well if you click the button on my side bar you will be magically transported to the blog that started it all for a fabulous explanation. Basically, people that are involved will be sharing not only their finished quilts, but the process they used to arrive at said project. We all have a process, sometimes it's not that glamorous now is it? I think we can learn a lot from each other if we share how we arrived at the finished product.

I have so much to say but I don't want to bore anyone to death so I understand if you skip ahead. I received an email from a local shop owner. She has courageously taken on the role of Arts Council President and is looking for a way to generate revenue for the Arts in the community. Since she is a quilter and a quilt shop owner that's an avenue she is familiar with. She will be putting on a quilt show for one thing, she will also be selling some fabric that individuals will use to make a 12.5" block. I think the favorites will be chosen and the person with the most will receive some (or maybe all) of the blocks. You have to use the fabric provided but can put your own with it. I think that sounds like a lot of fun don't you? I think she should keep some back and make a quilt for raffle at next year's quilt show! The thing I am the most excited about is making doll quilts for an auction. How fun would that be? I don't know the size of the quilts yet but will let you know if you think you might be interested in making one.

So I went to bed last night dreaming of doll quilts. I had drawn up some and thought I would share what I have with you. Feel free to use one if you like it. I took a trip through the Flickr Doll Quilt Swap group and got sooooo many wonderful ideas!! You guys are incredibly talented!
Here are my ideas. Now don't laugh at my drawings, I was just putting down ideas!

I.was really taken by one that was done by Small Fox In a Big World's doll quilt of a Narwhal looking up into the water. It was so amazing! I thought I might be able to do something like it but swap out the Narwhal for a Mermaid. I had a Mermaid image I had used for a t-shirt 4 years ago for my DD2's swim team. I found it on the computer and here is what she looks like (disregard the names, they would not be there!)

I would embroider her if I used her. I have 2 friends drawing for me so I may end up with a different thing altogether. Just throwing out ideas at the moment. I have so many ideas in my head sometimes it hurts me! LOL.

As I was thinking about embroidering this I was thinking about the fact that I have a couple of baby quilts to make too so I decided to try to find some vintage style embroidery patterns (free if possible). Hello Flickr! There is a wonderful group called Hoop Love Vintage Transfers and on page 37 I fell in love!! In love with the little kids there.
These are the ones:

Couldn't you just see an adorable baby quilt made up of these embroidered cuties? I guess I need to get tracing and stitching, right?? Do any of you know of any other sites for free vintage style embroidery. Oh I wouldn't mind some fantasy and/or Halloween either! LOL
I will stop for now. I need to eat dinner and then DH and I are going to make strawberry jam from the 6 million berries LTW sent home from the farm with us on Sunday. Did I mention we went to the farm to visit all the critters? OH NOOOOOO, I will save that tale for tomorrow!! (There are LOTS of pics on my Flickr account if you want to go and see). Some of the patterns and a book I ordered came too but again, more sharing tomorrow!!

Hot AND Humid

So what do you do when it is hot AND humid outside? Stay in and sew, am I right? I went to the gym yesterday and found it was just so icky outside. I thought I wanted to weed, but no, alas those weeds may be defeating me due to hot and humidity, but I will get out there eventually!

DD1 got up EARLY and went to the bird swap (again) and got LTW a new goat, named Oreo. She dropped her off at the farm and brought these treasures for me when she arrived home.


Doesn't look YUMMY??? I am going to have some of that lettuce for lunch very soon.

Funny I happened to post yesterday about 12 Days of Christmas. I went out to the store for some milk and called Cori as I was leaving. You knew I could not resist the FQ bundle now didn't you? It just so happens that a 12 Days kit found it's way home with me too. I have no idea how that happened = ) OMG it makes me purr just showing you all this 12 Days goodness. Now if you want your very own kit or some cut goods hop on over to Cori's place and order it up. (You know you want to)

I ended up at the store for the milk and when I got home there was a package on my sewing table from...yep, THE FAT QUARTER SHOP!!! I signed up for the Mystery BOM made out of...wait for it...wait for it...12 Days of Christmas fabric!!!!! You may need to join me in this fun.
The packet on the left is for the first block and on the right is the finishing kit.

So I cut out the block last night and sewed it up today. I LOVE it and the really great news? I think I may have enough of the fabric left over from the block to make a second block for (now you need to keep it quiet) LTW. I know things are tight with the farm and having 2 mortgages so I am going to try to share so she can have some 12 Days lovin' too. Here is the block.

I Was Being Baaaaaaad!

Well not me, exactly but Sunshine the goat we got for LTW's farm. LTW was on the computer and then stepped away and snapped this series of photos for our enjoyment.

"Who me? I'm not being baaaad!"

"Hmmm, now what's in here that might be tasty??"

So she is a pencil thief! I laughed so hard when LTW sent these to me. Oh naughty little Sunshine!! We all know you should not jump down with a pencil in your mouth, silly goat!!

Comic relief brought to you courtesy of LTW!!

Old McDonald??

Yep this is what occupied my day on Saturday. My DD1 went to a "bird swap" with some friends. She just happened to ask LTW if there were any critters she might *need* for her new farm. LTW said, well if you happen to find a Pygmy goat or some of those funny looking chickens with pom poms on their heads that might be cool... Famous last words!

Of course DD1 made this her mission at the swap. Which for those of you that might not know what a "bird swap" is this is what DD told me. A bunch of people drive to a field and bring critters they want to sell/trade and the swappin' begins!

Here is my DH feeding the new Pygmy goat in my kitchen. She really is adorable. She had an ear tag that got caught on the cage and ripped it off thus splitting her ear so we had to do some first aid. Neosporin, bandages and duct tape to hold the bandages in place should do nicely.


Next came the chickens (Polish chickens to be exact). The females have the "pom poms" on their heads. DD managed to get 2 mated pairs, one in blue (looks like black to me) and one in buff.

Here are the roosters. This is after we delivered them to their new home on the farm. They sure are cute! They may even have some little Polish babies!! How adorable is that?


My DD *really* wanted a Peacock. Her friend managed to get a spectacular bargain on this beautiful India Blue male that is a year old already and should come into his tail feathers within the year. As I hear it from LTW, they have already made him a pen so he can get up high, which is where they like to be and apparently he is quite loud! Next thing on the list is to get a mate for him, maybe that will keep him quieter? He will also display his feathers more if there is a female around.

Here is the goat (now named "Sunshine") with her new mom! Sunshine should be bottle fed for the rest of this week and then should be able to eat regular goat food. This was a match made in heaven!

Apparently you need to be careful when cleaning out the cupboards at the farm too, you never know what (or who) will be inside!!

I was kind of fascinated by this awesome specimen of fungus. Too cool!

Next time I go to the farm I will get some pictures of the house and the barn. I had my hands full with all the critters, DH and DD.

Sunday was spent cleaning at my house! Messy little buggers! But lots of fun. Hey ,you just never know what is going to happen at my house!!