It's almost tomato time!

mid- May

2 months later

My Oh My! How our tomatoes have grown! We have fruit and it won't be long until it is ripe. We put this hoop house in to avoid the weather issues we have experienced the last few years. I am thankful we did all this work. The soil here is sandy so we amended it with aged manure; now it is like crumbly cake. We also put in drip irrigation; one strip down each side of the tomato plants. We water every other day and close the sides at night to retain the heat. The tomatoes LOVE the conditions. I also have basil, cukes, peppers and flowers at the far end. I can already taste caprese salad... yum.

Black Butte Ranch Quilt Show

I was asked to loan some of my finished quilts to the new Black Butte Ranch Quilt Show. The show is scheduled for the same weekend as the famous Sisters Quilt Show, July 9th. I pulled out a variety of quilts that I hope represent my work. All of them were machine quilted on Gene, the Machine... who is my new love.
This first quilt is called 'Nellie Jane' and is made of reproduction fabrics. I bought the pattern, by Carol Hopkins Designs. I quilted the top with fans. I love the 'old' look of this quilt.


The second quilt is from the book 'Vintage Journey' by Jo Morton. I used my stash of scraps for this top. I quilted this using a pantograph in the center and swags in the outer border.




The next quilt is from a book by Fig Tree Quilts, 'Hearth & Home Quilts.' I am very fond of basket quilts and I am liking turquoise, orange and yellow together.




The last quilt is a pattern from Primitive Pieces by Lynda called 'Auntie Bean's Stalks.' I took the pattern piece to a local glass shop, The Wright Brothers, and they cut a Plexiglas template for me. This made cutting the triangles a breeze!

Looking at these photos, it is obvious  I like scrap quilts. If you have the chance to visit the Sisters area for the quilt show, I hope you also visit Black Butte Ranch and see their display.

Bedroom before and after

before

after

after

This is my oldest daughter's bedroom in our 1942 farmhouse. Wild isn't it! As a gift for her sweet sixteen, I painted her walls and bought new bedding. (Did you see that!... I bought bedding. A quilter buying bedding! Just about broke my heart.) After college, when she officially moved out, I couldn't wait to open up a paint can and get to work. The room was converting into a guest room/ quilt storage room. I painted it a beautiful green color and moved our bedroom furniture in place. I like the new room. I am debating painting the oak furniture. I love painted furniture and I am tired of the oak color of wood. Maybe this summer, after harvest.
   This same daughter likes to sleep in this room when she is home as the bed mattress is a new memory foam type and it is VERY comfortable. And you can see, I have have not completed the window treatments. I am not sure what I want.

Cute little baby quilt

I recently made this cute and simple baby quilt for a precious newborn. Her parents went to collage with my oldest daughter. The pattern is from the Kim Brackett book 'Scrap-basket Surprises'. I love this book! The patterns use 2 1/2" strips of fabric, also known as a jelly roll. I used a collection of fat quarters for this little jewel.

A quilt for Mr. Farmer

After 27 years of marriage and numerous quilts, I realized I have never made a quilt for my husband. So I immediately went to work on a quilt. I made this last September for Mr. Farmer's 50th birthday. And since I had challenged myself to use my stash and no new fabric purchases in 2010... I gathered my collection of plaids and a manly cowboy print as my focal fabric. The pattern is called Feed Sacks from the book 'Scrap-basket Surprises' by Kim Brackett. This quilt came together quickly and I had it sandwiched and ready to machine quilt in a matter of days.

Mr. Farmer likes his quilt. I witnessed him wrapped up in the layers this past winter. And the cats enjoy napping on this quilt. Not to sure if I like kitty fur on a quilt.