A Little Holiday-Inspired Quilt...

"Tribute To Betsy" Quilt Pattern

 

I have a number of quilt kits that I'm sorting through. Some I will keep, and some I will make available in my shop. This is a quilt I'm going to keep and make...perhaps this weekend. This was a kit I purchase a few summers ago when Kathy and I went on one of our annual shopping days (in the Sun Prairie, WI area).

 

It's called "Tribute To Betsy" (from Em and Me Designs), and I have everything I need to complete the top, except backing, which I'll choose from my fabric room. When complete, it will measure 52" x 57", with 24 flag blocks in the design.

I can imagine this quilt placed across the back of my chair on the porch, or resting in the hammock we'll be hanging from the trees in our northern tree line. I love the simplicity of this design, and look forward to using it.

My Current Project...

Setting Up "Flax Farm" Images

 

My Tuesday was spent tracing, cutting and fusing wools for my next project...Primitive Gatherings' "Flax Farm". This will finish as a larger table/candle mat, at 28" x 19".  

I was working on it at Primitive Gatherings' offices, where a group of ladies, me included, get together once a month. The nice thing is that, if you're working on one of Lisa Bongean's patterns, she's right there to answer any questions. Of course, she's more than generous with her knowledge no matter what the design. If you're missing a piece of fabric, or other supplies, we're right next to the warehouse...or just down the road from the shop!

 

"Flax Farm" Pattern Photo

 

I'm substituting the golden barn on this mat with a rendition of our red Compass Barn, and the extra space that results from the change will leave just the right space to insert a Corgi. I mean, how can you have a herd of sheep without a Corgi to keep them close? They are a herding breed, after all.

I'll continue to cut and fuse, so I can get to the stitching very soon. I'm thinking a cold lemonade on the front porch will be the perfect place to work on it. The forecast is to have nice weather, at least for the next few days, and the lilacs are in full bloom, so it will smell heavenly out there, too. I'll have a lot of stitching time to work on "Flax Farm" right here at Hickory Hill Farm.

Tuesdays With Tag - My New Nickname...

Look What I Found!

 Hi, Everybody!

Boy, did I have an adventure last week. In fact, it was such a great adventure that I earned a new nickname.

Mom, Dad, Bella and I went outside so that we could watch Mom and Dad put up a new bluebird house in the yard. While they were takin' about 3 minutes to install the house, I got a wild hair. When they turned around, I was gooonnnnee! Zoom! Like that! They immediately started lookin' for me, but I had already skeedaddled to parts unknown.

Lots Of It!

I heard them ridin' around on Andy's four wheeler, and saw them ridin' around the neighborhood in Dad's truck, but I was way to busy to come when I was called. They told me they were worried that I might have been stoopid and gone a mile down the road to the highway. (As if!)

So, the story goes that about three hours later, while I was still on walkabout (or more accurately, "rollabout"), Mom headed up to the the house that belongs to the farmer who works part of our land. She wanted to see if I'd been spotted from his vantage point above the field. He hadn't, but there were other neighbors visitin' him who had their own cart, so they said they'd go look around, and call Mom if they found me.

Before Mom got home, they called and said I was up in the north field, (I already knew that!) , and they'd guide chase me back home. Mom got back to Hickory Hill and got on the cart to meet up with them, but before she could turn the key, there I was!! "Hi, guys! Miss me?" (Oh, boy, did they ever!)

The Inevitable Bath

I guess I smelled better than I'd even hoped for, because after Mom and Dad thanked our neighbors, and called the farmer to thank him again for his help, I got my fuzzy butt herded upstairs to the bathtub - and unceremoniously tossed in the water.

Of course, before Mom could get me good and soapy, I shook...all over everything. Mom had the same poo all over her, the bathroom walls, and on the window above the tub. Man, was I ever thorough!

I had to stay in the tub until she could get me completely cleaned. Once all my hard work was down the drain, she took me outside so I could properly shake, and then I was kenneled until I was dry. Then, she cleaned the bathroom...and took a shower to get clean herself. When she came back downstairs, she said she was exhausted. I guess she worried a lot about me while I was off on my little staycation.

Rats! Clean Again.

I bet you're wonderin' about my nickname? Well, all in all, I was gone about three hours. My new nickname is..."Gilligan". (Get it? A "three hour tour?") I'm not real fond of it, but as long as Mom has a treat when she calls me that, I'll come runnin'. 

As an aside, I haven't been allowed a private second to myself since. They're watchin' me like a hawk now. I guess I won't be takin' off for a while - or at least until they forget about this little incident. I might as well be back on house arrest. (Just kiddin'. I couldn't take that again!) I guess I'll just have to have doggie zoomies in my dreams for a while. You can't keep a roamin' corgi down!

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then...  

"Chase A Dream - Or A Squirrel".