What’s up lately

Well first off we have had rain, snow, freezing, rain, snow, freezing. Very annoying as it creates wet mucky spots to have to venture through while caring for livestock. I hate it personally.

The other morning when we milked though this fabulous ice display was in one of those muck spots. The freezing had actually lifted the mud off the ground and froze it into ice sculptures with little rocks and things caught in it. Kind of neat I thought. Much more interesting if you had seen the “big” picture :-)

Next I have a few pics of my turkeys displaying in the morning. They do this every morning when I let them out to go off to the pasture their pen is connected to. They have to try and beat each other out and even though I scatter grain right there for all the birds a rapid sound of “blah blah blah” will have them both re strutting around to show off. They are very neat and I call them both Pretty Boy. Very original isn’t it? :-D

Lastly inside the house I have been working on some quilts. I have the top and back pieced for one but I am out of batting right now and need to get some. Below is a peak of the quilt because it was a very dark picture and doesn’t show it to it’s best—besides it will be so much more attractive finished.  I am also about to make myself a hat. I think. I am using another hat for the pattern and so hopefully it will come out. It is one of those ear flap hat and looks kind of like this one.
The problem has been which fabric I wanted for the outside. Hmmmm….

But I knew what would be on the inside. A very white soft curly little lamb pelt from one of our lambs almost 2 years ago. I have kept the pelt all this time knowing I would use it for a hat—but just not sure which hat. He unfortunately became ill from eating something not good for him and we found him too late to help him. Now I can remember him while he  keeps my head warm when i milk and it’s 20 outside.

Fabric wise, well I have a number of choices. But I was playing around with a bleach discharge technique and the fabric, Birdseed by Alexander Henry, came out fabulous. This fabric was a slight disappointment when it first came as it was a bit greener that I thought it would be. However bleaching it turned the green into a fabulous aqua/turquoise that does not come across in the pic quite as well as in person—though close. I love the color now and so I think it will make a fun winter hat. BTW that’s an orange sharpie in the picture with it to help understand the color if your monitor is off. OhFranson has a great segment on this with a number of examples. There are other examples out there on line too. I know this because I was searching around after mine to see other fabrics that had been done. I have done this a few times but not a lot and not for quilting. More for sewing home decorating things (pillow cases, curtains—to get that “faded/shabby” look. Tea dying included) However now I might try it some more and specifcally for quilting. Maybe :-) Definitely will for the rest of my birdseed fabric.

Anyway enjoy the pictures. See you soon