8/5/14

First August Finish

Well, I'm happy to say that I've finished quilting and binding the Happy Campers quilt. It's finished in plenty of time to hang it in our 5th wheel before we take off for Minnesota at the end of the month. This ought to brighten things up a little:


Portland artist Rachel Austin graciously gave me permission to use her original art work to make a quilt. She does the cutest stuff. You can see more of Rachel's work here in her Etsy shop. I saw Rachel's work hanging in a restaurant some time ago, and only just recently got around to making the quilt blocks I wanted to make.

These are Rachel's original pictures as I saw them:


And these are the quilt blocks I made from them. 


There is enough going on in this quilt that I didn't want to add any more design with the quilting. I used invisible thread and just stitched around the edges of the applique and the embroidered lines.


Then I stitched around the blocks.



I stitched around the lines in the fabric, outlining the trailers, doors, and awnings to give them more dimension without adding more design (if that makes sense). It's a little hard to see in these next images, but I'm hoping you can get the idea. 


You might be able to see it better in this next image.


Now, I just need to hand sew the binding. The quilt is 30 x 30 inches, and so that shouldn't take very long.

In other news: They're coming! I've picked three ripe tomatoes in the past week. When I was looking at them yesterday, I noticed a dozen or more starting to turn red. I'm thinking that within a week or so I'll have enough tomatoes to start making salsa and pasta sauce.


We had one of these on our salad last night, and it was so flavorful...and red! It's amazing how much more brightly red vine-ripened tomatoes are when compared to the ones in the grocery store. This makes me very happy because I have to finish my canning before we leave on August 31st. I've been worrying over my tomato plants, willing them to ripen a little faster, and it looks like they're going to do it.

Today I'm taking Mr. Smitty to the vet. He needs worming and he needs his vaccines brought up to date. He eats one or two little rodents every day, which makes us very happy. There is a noticeable difference in the number of gopher mounds in our field. The squirrels have all packed up and moved, but a few strays have met with Killer Smitty. He is an amazing little hunter. Mike and I have never seen anything like it. Our thinking is that he is the progeny of feral cats, and the best hunters were the ones to survive and procreate. He was a shelter cat when we got him but, no doubt, he was rescued from the wild when he was very young.

This, of course, is both good news and bad news. For one thing, all that vermin has to mean he's carrying around some parasites in his digestive tract. And he's getting worse about bringing in his kill, and so we've closed off the doors to all of his favorite rooms unless someone is there to supervise his comings and goings. Just this morning I caught him with a mouse and made him take it outside. He's a smart little bugger, and he can learn too. It is going to mean more commitment from us to keep an eye on him.

So that's it from me for today. I'm off to get going on hand-sewing my binding. What's on your agenda today?

22 comments:

ipatchandquilt said...

Your camper quilt is gorgeous and super fun!
Esther

Kathy S. said...

LOVE your camping quilt. ADORABLE!!! It's sure to brighten any spot in your 5th wheel! Have a great trip.

WoolenSails said...

That camping quilt is so fun, love how you did yours and the camper border fabric. Poor Smitty, the bad thing about being such a good hunter.

Debbie

Val's Quilting Studio said...

I've been waiting to see this finish. I absolutely love the blue map background in the blocks...don't know why I didn't notice that before. :)

Quilting Babcia said...

I'd sure love to borrow Smitty for a couple weeks to take care of our gopher population! Great camper quilt!

ana-ane said...

Smitty es un gatito muy listo y trabajados, tienes suerte.

El quilt ha quedado muy bonito
saludos

Vicki W said...

Your quilt is so cute!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

This is such a cute quilt - OK, camper decor, but do bring it into the house to enjoy once you are home. Yes, good hunters need that extra 'vetting' for the tummy bugs - mine get the yucky meds twice a year. Yup, I give it and they do not dare bite the hand that feeds them!

Judy H. said...

Yes, my vet tells me to keep an eye on my "mighty bug hunter", too. He doesn't get anything larger than a fly, but bugs can carry nasty parasites, too.

I love your camper quilt! Just the thing to add an extra homey feel to a home away from home. :)

Tami C said...

I really like how your Happy Campers wall hanging turned out! Your first tomatoes look delicious! I haven't picked anything to work on yet today, so I'd better go do that!

MalinisQuilts said...

This quilt is so adorable and precious!

Your garden tomatoes are looking great too!

Betty said...

Your campers are sew cute and the tomatoes are beautiful! Smitty sure is a hard working little fellow. I hope his trip to the vet went well!
My two younger boys were somewhat feral from a mama cat that decided our house was a good quiet place to have babies. They are excellent hunters! One tried to bring in a bird a few days ago and he just sat there looking confused because I wouldn't let him in. We don't have a kitty door because our 8 year old cat cannot go out. It's a little more work for me, but at least I can screen for critters before opening the door.

quiltzyx said...

Excellent job on the camper quilt - I think you did just enough quilting on it.

Nice of Smitty to rid the place of so many rodents. I wonder if he will learn to keep them outside? Hope his trip to the vet wasn't too traumatic.

Finally finished that transcribing - whew! Now he's asked me to do another by Thursday...I said OK if it wasn't a focus group or another excel one! lol

Michele said...

The camper quilt turned out adorable. Mr Smitty just has to learn to take the good medicine if he wants to continue to do his hunting. I'm sure he won't like it one bit but he'll survive and get over it quickly I'm sure.

gpc said...

The quilt is fantastic. And so is Smitty. You could rent him out.

quiltedfabricart said...

Not to take away from those wonderful blocks but where in the world did you find that camper fabric? Who makes it? Those tomatoes are making my mouth water - the first tomatoes of the season are so good!

Christine M said...

Your camper quilt looks great, Barbara.

Teresa in Music City said...

I just love your little Happy Campers quilt! How creative! And delightful of Rachel Austin to allow you to use her artwork to make something you will love looking at on every trip!

Kate said...

Happy Camper turned out nicely. Congrats on getting the quilting all done.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

The trailer quilt turned out cute!

JanineMarie said...

Wow, great job interpreting those pictures in fabric! I like how you quilted by following the lines in the pictures and fabric. Thanks for re-posting this.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Camping sometimes is the perfect way to enjoy the WILD!!! Campfires, smores.....love it!