Frogger Gets a New Look!

I became really frustrated a while back while trying to raise my hopping foot...then again to lower it back down! I couldn't get any light into the side of the machine head to see the screw in which to turn.

I decided I was going to change the left side plate out to a clear plexiglass panel.

Well, today was the day!

The local glass guy...as I like to call him...cut me out an 1/8" plexiglass plate and drilled the necessary holes and the spot for the flywheel...and now I have plenty of light to see the spots I need to get to for adjustments. I even inserted a 1/4" copper tubing into it to hold the oil wick.

I love the new makeover Frogger got!

Yurt at the Loch Lomond Quilt Show!

It all started as a vision of Linzi Upton of Scotland.

Here she is!

And the vision...A Quilted Yurt!

She enlisted the help of stunt piecers and quilters such as myself...and her dream became reality!

Not to mention numerous endless nights I am certain to make it all come together!

Linzi...I thank you for allowing me to be a small wonderful part of this very special project of yours!

I can now say..."I HAVE GONE INTERNATIONAL WITH MY QUILTING!"

Yay! That is very exciting for me.

Layout designed for Spring Swap Blocks!

I did it! With the help of my friend Shannon...I have a layout and I have designed a border to go with it for the spring block swap.

This picture is of her blocks...but, mine are very similar.

I am using 25 of these beautiful star blocks!

This fabric...is of course, going to be used in the quilt too.









Stay tuned to see how it all comes together.

Why I love where we live!

Not much traffic.

Just the school travel bus and us on the road...for 180 miles!































Wild Mustangs...a small family of 7.

We stopped and watched them for a while. They were rather playful with each other.

We saw nearly 60 mustangs on our way to Tonopah Nevada...but didn't have time to stop and take pictures. They are sure beautiful..and can fill a valley with their abundance of color...from white, brown, grey, dapple to deep black.

Track Meet in Tonopah Nevada

Today, Taylor ran the 800m and 1600m races and did exceptionally well. We are so proud of her.



She pulled a close 2nd place in the 800 and a whopping 1st in the 1600...that is one mile if you didn't know! 



Nobody around in the 1600...she blew the competition away!

Her coach was really proud too as Taylor went into a great sprint for the last 200+ meters!

This is Taylor, I just want to thank my parents who are my supporters & friends. Running long distance kills me but what keeps me going is the fact that I CAN do it. THANKS!

CORRECTION:  Taylor placed 1st in the 800m race as well. The girl that she was inches behind is an 8th grader. Taylor is in 7th...so that made her place 1st! AND...she has decided that she will run again in the 1600...it wasn't all that hard.

Little League Breakfast

How much money can be raised in 45 minutes for the Little League program??

$500...that's how much! Just send 4 kids into a convention center filled with car enthusiasts and racers...who might so happen to be hungry at 7 am tomorrow morning. Who can resist adorable kids dressed in uniform asking them to buy a ticket?

But, then I am biased..they were my kids!

Timothy School for Autism Fundraiser

My friend Carol of Patchwork In The Desert made a quilt top for the Timothy School in Berwyn PA for their annual fundraiser and asked me to quilt it and finish the binding. 

I quilted the school's logo into the center and then did an overall peacock meander for the remainder of the quilting. I added orange piping to the binding and this top was transformed into a quilt!

I used Metro embroidery thread in pale blue for top and bobbin and used Hobbs 80/20 batting. I am pleased with the results...and obviously so were the bidders...this quilt raised $250 in a silent auction for the school.

Carol...thanks for letting me be a part of this great cause.

A Siggy Swap

I wish that this was my brilliant idea...but for those who know me...know I wouldn't have the time to organize something like this!

It is a signature swap...Kona white fabric with jewel-toned fabrics. The host is Vickie...of outside of Atlanta Georgia...and I have requested to join in on the fun!

Click Jewel Tone Siggy Swap for details of the swap.

Look what we got! Mother's Day for me!

My kids found these horned lizards behind the baseball fields this past weekend. The largest one is nearly 4 inches long! Now to find ants...wonder how I will do that with 4 inches of snow on the ground!! Yes, I said SNOW!

"Nevada Kaleidoscope" Anecdote/Idea/Inspiration

Linzi asked me to write an exerpt for the yurt panel I stunt pieced and quilted. I thought I would share it here for you to read.

“ The colors of the earth and sky are amazing here in the high desert of Nevada. Snow falls from late fall into the late spring/early summer season and brings the desert to life. Water runoff from the melting snow fills the dry beds and beetles, frogs and lizards just come to life, each with their own vibrant colors. The cactus and wildflowers are beautiful when in bloom. Every shade of green and brown along with bright fuchsia, orange, yellow and red paint the desert. The rocks themselves even have fantastic color to them. Peacock copper, wonder stone, quartz, and limestone add to the beauty of the outdoors. I have named my panel ‘Nevada Kaleidoscope’ as it is as rich in color as the desert itself. The Drunkard’s Path block and layout gave me the look I wanted for the colors to really stand out..yet blend together as they do in this desert. I have a real love for the high desert so the quilted hearts is an expression of that love. “   - Kristina

Chain Piecing Froggy Blocks

I am ready for spring! How about you?
It snowed a couple of days this past week...and with ball/track season underway...the weather better start cooperating!

I decided to finish some spring blocks I had cut out a while back. They were intended for a swap...but it didn't come together. These blocks have all been chain pieced.

Aren't they neat looking all laid out on the floor! Tiny thread tails lock the entire block segments together!

Just thought I would share what I was working on. For those of you who haven't seen me piece anything before...I chain piece everything! It is the only way to go.