Fall Bloggers Quilt Festival

I can't believe that it is already time for the Fall Quilt Bloggers Festival.  This is one blogging event that I always look forward to.  I am showing one of  my all time favorite quilts.  This is the first neutral quilt that I ever made.  (to me red is a neutral).  I found the pattern in one of the McCall's quilting magazines several years ago and started collecting neutrals.  The one shown in the magazine had brown stars and accent squares, but I knew that I wanted mine to be a shade of red.  This was a really, really easy quilt to make.  I am thinking about making another one and using black for the stars and accent squares.

I love my job!!!!

 I  have the best job in the entire world, where else could I work that I get to dress up like a gypsy and entertain children.  A couple of weeks ago my clerk and I decided to go all out in our media center for Halloween and story time.  We decided to create a gypsy story tellers wagon.  It took us a week to get it together, but I think it turned out pretty good.  The kids are impressed and I guess that is what is important.



I've got my gypsy on!!!





 I have a special story for each grade level that visits the wagon.  I know that it probably seems kind of hokey, but the kids are having the best time.  I even do some fortune telling at the end. 

Where else would a Cowgirl spend her weekend?

The 8th annual Cowboy Symposium was held at the Booth Western Art Museum over the weekend, DH and I have only  missed a couple of them.  The museum is wonderful, no matter when you go. Several times a year they have special exhibits, the current one is of Ansel Adams work.  It is outstanding.  All of the prints in the exhibit were actually printed by Adam's himself.  I was amazed by what he was able to accomplish with the materials that were available at the time.

Horse made from a variety of household objects.

Statue outside of the museum.

As part of the symposium, there were special exhibits set up around the museum.  There were Native American villages, along with performances by different native American groups.  There were also different cowboy areas set up along with chuck wagon cooking demonstrations.  I  was captivated by the beading demonstrations.  I can see some beads in my future.

Year of Small Projects

I am really excited about the small projects that I have been working on, inspired by  A Year Of Small Projects.  I had a great time making my new ironing board cover, and have finally started project # 2.  This is project is a Schnibbles pattern, Paganini.  I had a hard time deciding what fabric to use, which is the main reason I am late getting started.  I had been wanting to do a small Christmas project and finally decided on the Kate Spade's 12 Days of Christmas, I love the retro Christmas colors in this line.  I hope to  at  least get the top competed this week, but I don't think that it will be quilted and competed by November 1.   

Seeing how the blocks look together.

New Applique Project

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across a new applique BOM, it is from Linen Closet Quilts  I am still fairly new to applique, but I really liked the two blocks that she has posted.  One really great thing so far, is the large applique pieces.  I thought the large pieces would be better to work with since my skills aren't that great.  I made the large basket block first, although it is the second block.  I can't wait to see the next block.

Surprise from DH

My DH took a week of vacation last week to go deer hunting at our cabin.  He has wanted to do this for several years and has never been able to.  I think the anticipation was just too much for him.  The deer hunting was not successful, however; I did get a wonderful surprise out of it.  A few months ago, he made an arbor for his mom out of grapevine and parts of trees from her property.  I told him that someday I would like to have one, and in his spare time last week he made me one. I was so surprised.  It still needs just a little bit of work but I love it.  I can't wait to plant some flowers around it in the spring, and I already have plans to decorate it for Christmas. 

Treat jar

My version of the treat jar from the Fall-o-ween blog shop hop last week.  This was my first project using wool and I really enjoyed it.    I guess this  means that I now need to have a wool stash!  Oh, my!!  I filled the jar with candy corn and peanuts and brought it in to school for the office staff. 

A Year of Small Projects

 A couple of weeks ago, I discovered  A Year of Small Projects on my friend Becky's blog.  I checked it out and was hooked.  The first project was an ironing board cover, I have to admit that is something I never thought that I would make.  Why would I?  You can go to Wal-Mart or Target and get one cheap enough.  Yes, they are cheaper than making one, but how creative you can get.  I don't think that I will ever buy another one.   Below you will see my cheap blue and white stripe ironing board cover from Wal-Mart that is about two years old. 

Look at the new and improved version!!!  I love it.  I have had this fabric for years and couldn't decide what to do with it.  It was the perfect length for the ironing board cover.  I actually even enjoyed ironing last night!!!  Can't wait for the next small project. 

Out and about in Blue Ridge, GA

On Saturday while DH was out in the woods I was in the town of Blue Ridge having a wonderful time.  My first stop was Mercier's Orchards, I wanted to get there as close to the time as they opened as possible, that place is really crowed in the fall.  It was definitely a smart move, I got one of the last parking places about 15 minutes after they opened.  Look at the cute pumpkins piled up outside the door!!  I managed to get past the pumpkins and into the store for some apples, they have the best apples.  I bought, two different kinds, Granny Smith and Gala along with some fried apple pies, some candles and some Christmas ornaments.  Not for me for Christmas presents. 

After leaving Mercier's I headed into town to check out some of the antique shops.  Most of the shops in Blue Ridge really go all out for decorating.  Almost every store had a fall display outside their door, just enticing you to come in and spend your money.  I managed to contain myself and only bought things for other people, although I did seriously consider the framed quilt block below.  It was beautiful, but I am trying to be good.  If you are ever in the North Georgia area check out some of the fabulous shops.

Fall in the Mountains

Fall is definitely making its way to North Georgia.  DH and I headed up over the weekend.  I t is amazing how the  leaves have changed in just the last week.  I had been looking forward to having a long weekend, (although it would have been nice if Monday were just a regular day off and not a furlough day).   I enjoyed several long walks, just looking at all of the signs of fall.  I went in to the town of Blue Ridge on Saturday and did some Christmas shopping, there are several really neat little shops.  I always try to do some of my shopping up there and support the local merchants.  DH was excited for another reason, Saturday was the first day of muzzle loader season. oh boy.  He was out the door at 6:00 am on Saturday morning to go sit in the woods to try to kill Bambi.  Luckily I saw more deer around the cabin than he did in the woods.  He has even taken the week off and is still up there hunting away, with little luck I must add.

I never realized just how big acorns could get, or how colorful they could be.

Leaves on the dogwood trees.

Fall Festival

 Saturday was the Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School. We have been for the last several years and it is one of the better festivals around, I think. The arts and crafts are wonderful, there is music, dancing along with great food and buggy rides.



You can't get any fresher than this.



One of the quilts on display.

Blue grass music.



I met the lama that I bought yarn from.



Fall Into Fall Give Away

Today is the first day of the Fall into Fall Blog give away.  I am so excited about all of the wonderful blogs that I am discovering for the first time and for the great giveaways that you have a chance to win.  This is my first year to participate in the give away.  I first thought about doing a Halloween give away, but realized that maybe not everyone is as crazy about that holiday as I am.  I finally decided on a bundle of six fat quarters from Henry Glass, In the Pink and two one yard pieces of coordinating fabric.  These goodies came from one of my favorite local quilt shops, Little Quilts.The  colors are fall , even if one of the fabrics has flowers, it still reminded me of fall.  To enter leave a comment and if you want to be entered more than once become a follower of my blog.  ( I have had some problems with the followers showing up on my blog roll, but I can see who  you are on my dashboard, trying to get that problem fixed.)

I am so ready for fall, here in Atlanta we have had a very hot summer.  We have had about 80 days in a row of temperatures over 90 degrees, it was even in the 90's last week.  That just isn't right!  Finally in the last few days we have had some cooler weather, it was 58 this morning.  My DH and I are headed up to our cabin in North Georgia this weekend and going to the Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  We really enjoy it and have only missed it a couple of times in the last 10 years.  The arts and crafts are wonderful, all locally made and you can meet the artist.  Usually on the way up we stop at a pumpkin farm to check out the pumpkin crop.  I love watching all of the little kids trying to pick up really huge pumpkins.  I also hope to find some fresh molasses at the festival or the pumpkin patch.  One of my favorite fall things is to make Molasses cookies, they are my DH's favorite and for some reason I only make them in the fall.  I don't usually have foods that I only make at certain times of the year, these cookies are about the only ones.  Do you have a food that you only make during a certain season?