Next Big Adventure

Next week Bean and I head west. I've been bragging about my years in the Colorado high country and now Bean will get a personal tour of the years we were apart. I'm excited to see many, many friends along the way. But I'm also excited to share this experience with Bean.

Additionally, I get to mark another state off my list. I've never been to Arizona, but after visiting the four corners area I won't be able to say that any longer. Wahoo!

I'm sure there will be plenty of photos to post in the coming weeks.

Blue Ribbon Quilt

This is one of the many blue ribbon quilts at the Iowa State Fair this year. After looking at the quilts submitted this year, I think I need to submit next year.

I was disappointed by how little information was listed with each quilt. I love knowing the story of each quilt's design and maker.

Bean has agreed to let me submit his birthday quilt to next year's fair. Now I just need to figure out how to submit.

Dispatch: Iowa State Fair

Bean and I had a great time at the Iowa State Fair! I wanted to see wee baby pigs, but these five week old piggies were the youngest they had on display.

I'm glad I can say that I ate nothing on a stick! We did stop by the Iowa Pork Producers for a delicious lunch and the Iowa Craft Beer tent was not to be missed.

Dispatch: Sun Studios

Dispatch: Graceland

Dispatch: Galveston

Woke up early to watch the sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico. Each breath along the coast is like drinking a glass of seawater, but this moment took my breath away.

Dispatch: Galveston

Sitting on a pier overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and getting dive bombed by gulls.

Happy Birthday

This quilt is my design using Foundation Factory and Mariner's Compass Stars. I started it several years ago, but finished it for Bean's birthday. It is easily one of the more ambitious quilts I've done and I'm very proud of it.

Bean was thrilled! First thing he did was put it on his bed and has started decorating around it.

My mom embroidered the label which I pieced into the backing before quilting. I started doing this a few years ago instead of writing on the quilt or attaching a flimsy label to the back.





Here is a close up of one of Mariner's Compass Stars. Each block takes about four hours to paper piece, but the outcome is worth it!

Dispatch: Rangers Park

Dispatch: Fort Worth

Billy Bob's Texas: The World's Largest Honky Tonk