Christmas in July

Yes, Christmas in July!!  Why not?!!  If your summers are hot and humid, this is a way to cool off with Christmas fabric and stitching.   Debby Kratovil Quilts is leading us off with Christmas and Hanukkah ideas.

Diadem is Etsy pattern.  She will offer free patterns as she adds to her blog.

making Jelly Snowflake mystery Quilt along is on my list--I'm not using

Christmas fabrics though as my Jelly roll is spring time fabrics--using what I've on hand is

my motto!

Here is the first blocks--each Tuesday throughout July you'll find a different

designer block

July/August Reads

I’m reading faster than I thought I would!  Added to my

Stack this past week—found four of these books on

PaperBackSwap 

Never know if the swap masters will have a book

You seek—so was quite pleased to find all these

Titles except “Keeper of Lost Things”

“Three Weeks to Say Good-bye” is a used library

Book, not what I like but it is clean and unmarked so

It could go back to swap when finished. 

"The Far Empty" by J. Todd Scott is a modern western set

in Texas Border Town (all of which I know well)

"The Keeper of Lost Things" by Ruth Hogan--

He finds and keeps your lost items and now his treasures

are passed along to Laura, who is trying to find the owners of

these lost items.

"Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon--

was so happy to find this book as a swap!  Takes place in 1945

in Barcelona, Spain--a book in a book! 

"Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C J Box (known for his

Montana adventures) takes place in Denver--

"Enemy Women" by Paulette Jiles--

Paulette takes little known events in history to tell

her magical tales of courageous women during the

Civil War

Guess I'm set for reading till September maybe!

What are you reading that is exciting, adventurous, mysterious,

comical, historic....?

American Country!

couldn't decide on borders at first--on right --With borders--American Country is finished!

This is interesting pattern--mostly paper pieced, especially the

trees, From designer Charismas Corner

The pattern on the left is Simple Traditions; her first pattern to be published in a

quilting magazine!  Yay! For Charisma!

You can find this pattern in Autumn Quilter's World magazine.

I'll be looking for this for sure!

There is pumpkins on front cover--I'm sucker for that feel of fall!

Plus, Charisma's pattern has nice open spaces for quilting--since

I'm learning to long arm quilt I need big open spaces to practice with

rulers.

The Carvings of Gene Zesch

The Carvings of Gene Zesch is another outstanding exhibit

at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, TX

Hold onto your hat folks!  This is laugh out loud show!

We had to chuckle at many of the pieces--such wise sayings along 

with the carvings.  Remember, these are small caricatures--nothing

larger than 6"--  

Just unbelievable work! 

some with cigars or cigarettes in their mouth--all carved by hand!

"End of the Trail"

"Oh--that buck"

"I see by the outfit you are a cowboy"

"Can't Look"

"Now, that ought discourage rustlers"

The cow is branded all over

This is one he did especially for our time period--

" Quarantined"--beer bottles and cigarette butts galore

Museum Walks

Thanks goodness, museums are open now!

We took a visit to Kerrville, TX Museum of Western Art--

Both of these exhibits will be on display till August 1

Great exhibits for sure--special exhibits too!

You can't help but admire the paintings of G. Harvey

He gives us the bright light of night with his western paintings

This one is "Christmas Eve At the General Store"

"Christmas Ride"  I love the contrast of the horse/buggy with

'modern car'

"In HIs Footsteps" 1979

1980 painting "Mission Well"

Look how the light glows around the animals--

super exhibit!

"Second Generation"

All the paintings are on loan from L.D. Brinkman Collection.

so glad they shared!

What's on Your Bobbin?

How have you been doing with your spinning during this July 4th weekend?

Did you accomplish any goal you set?  

Did you set a goal?

No worries, if you didn't achieve what you set out to accomplish--

hopefully, you are spinning some during the Tour de Fleece--

There will be another chance when the real Tour de France takes

off later this summer.

Here are some of my bobbin efforts--all need to be wound off

and plied--

so happy to spin up the last of one braid --the far bobbin with red/gold.

the front bobbin is the tencel/merino blend--

anyway--happy treadling!

Happy July 4!