polar bears and alligators

So the Science Museum of Va is opening up a new exhibit today. We are so excited about it, Arctic Adventure is what it is called. I saw this fabric at the quilt shop and knew my son would love a pillowcase with polar bears on it especially after going to the Arctic Adventures exhibit.
And remember my Boy's Story Quilt? The top was finished ,but I decided to add an alligator to the mote outside the castle.

Here is the bad boy floating in the mote. Does he look like he is floating on top on the water? I may need to add a little black line underneath him so it looks like her it popping out of the water.

I have also decided to have this quilt longarm quilted. I just don't think I can do it justice quilting is on my own. It is such a cute quilt.

Mini QT swap

I signed up for the 'Mini Quilt Trading Swap' on flickr. The theme was "Take Flight". The quilts are only supposed to be 6 inches to 12 inches so I figured I could handle that. My partner was chickenjulie and she made me the cutest mini quilt ever. We told each other what we liked and wanted, so she knew about our VWs. She made my beetle, Yoda May. See the YM on the license plate.

I've already hung it up on my kitchen wall under my trailer quilt. My mini measures about 6 inches X 6 inches. Written in the sky is " feel the wind in your hair" and written on the road is " flying down the road".

In the package Jules sent me was some awesome goodies. My mini quilt, the cutest mushroom and strawberry pins. Chocolate and one of my favorite "munki munki" fabrics, the VW buses.

For my end of the swap, Jules told me she wanted something for her little girl,s room. Which is pink and orange. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around 'girl'. I am so use to thinking 'boy'. I kept coming up with jets, planes, dragon, spaceships, etc. Finally, I thought of bees. I fuses the yellow bodies and blue wings on. Then uses a black marker to add the strips , stingers, and antennas.

I used white fabric paint for the eyes, then added the black dots and the mouths with the black marker again. I hand stitched " Love" in orange.

The bees are flying in a heart shape. Here is a photo of the whole mini quilt. I forgot to measure it but I think it's about 9 inches X 9 inches.

And on my sewing machine right now is a bag in the works. I am making a purse to carry at the robotics competitions this season. I'll post pictures when I'm finished.

Stitching outer space

I started with this cute drawing. A drawing my son made of outer space.

I thought is was just adorable, I had to turn it into something. I turned it into a travel pillowcase.

With cute outer space / spaceship fabric.

Here are a few closeups on the details. A meteorite and a little astronaut out side of the rocket.

This he says is Pluto and a UFO with a martian.

Here is the Earth, moon and the rocket with USA on it. I love that he put the USA on the rocket.

Here he says is Mars. And you can see the star fabric framing the stitchery. I love this fabric.

I think it would make a cute skirt. :o)
And a full shot of the whole pillow again where you can see the sweet sun.

outerspace

Some progress on 'Outerspace'. Drawing by my son, stitched by me.

January

My son drew the cutest picture of outer space. I am stitching it up...here is the moon and the sun.

The baby quilt I was working on is finished and was delivered to the mommy.

Here is the mommy, my sister-in-law opening it up. She will be having a boy the end of January.

Quilting in December

VW Buses and Beetles

We picked up our Christmas tree in "Rusty", our 1958 VW deluxe bus. This has become a family tradition of ours. This is the 4th year we've gotten our tree in the bus. I know most people think buses are cool and they are. But a lot of people 'think' they want one , but they really don't. They just don't know how hard it is owning one. First you need to be able to rebuild a VW air-cooled engine or know an inexpensive mechanic to rebuild it for you. My husband has has to rebuild or put a new engine in our 1970 "Jaws" bus at least twice this year maybe even 3 time. I loss track. They break down all the time! Sometimes it isn't even the engine, it's the gear shift coming off in your hand as your shifting down the road. It's your side sliding door falling off, or wind-sheild wipers not working. There is no defrost, so when is rains....you can't see out the windows. These buses DO NOT have power anything!! No power brakes, it is hard to stop and people pull out in front of you all the time. No power steering. No power windows. No power, so when you pull out onto ...lets say the interstate, it takes you a looonng time to get going. They don't go 65 miles/per hour. You have to stay in the slow lane. They also have no A/C or Heat. So the picture above where we go get our Christmas tree in 18 degree weather... I hold a propane heater in the back for us to stay some what warm on the trip. There is also no seat belts in the back!! They didn't put belts in the back , back then. My 7 year old son has to ride up front where there is a belt. I could just go on and on. We own 3 buses and 3 beetles and 1 thing. My husband WORKS very hard to keep the ones that are drivable running and on the road. It is like having a second job, that is how much time it takes for him to keep them running. I have people tell me about once a month that they 'want a bus so bad'. All of you teenagers and people who drive EXSTREAMLY comfortable new cars... I know you think you want a bus.....but you really don't. You just like the thought of having one. Sorry I had to rant and vent a little. I don't think my husband or other Vw owners get enought credit for the work they do keeping these awesome little guys on the road. I could say more , but I am going to shut up now. Peace!