A finish. Dear God... thank you.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 10:21AM Finally finally finally! Yay! Okay I know this is quilting at its worst, but I just could never get in the mood to quilt this darn thing! And so yesterday I sat down, and just plowed through it. Yes I know it’s rather sad, but not so bad that some child isn’t going to love it.
;)
;)
I for one, am just glad to have it done!
The peacock wallhanging is also up. I’ve given up on a sunny day to photograph it.
;)
As the economy worsens and the price of fuel climbs, we are finally starting to see some of the very rural/remote pieces of property come on the market. Up in the northwest section of Arkansas, around Ponca, is some of the most beautiful land in the world. The Boxley River Canyon runs through that area, and I have always wanted to own a piece of it. The problem is, none of it is ever for sale, or we can’t afford a parcel the size I want (at least 300 acres of it… yes I’m greedy)!
But there is some for sale now, in fact there is an 80 acre piece I’d love to go up and see. But it’s a long ways to any town from there… if gas becomes $5 a gallon or more as a standard, who will be able to afford to live out there?
Reader Comments (18)
The quilting is great on the quilt! We are always so critical of our own work. The peacock is stunning!!
80 acres is a nice huge chunk of property. $5 a gallon for gas, $5 for milk, $5,$5, $5.......... Can we let $5 a gallon gas keep us from our dream? I think not! Go for it. Do you like how I'm encouraging you?
Did you use a panto on quilt? It looks like you chose where to put certain designs...wonderful job. That is a nice work around for hanging the peacock.
So you get a car just for running into town that gets great mileage. Maybe even one of the new electrics that go 40 miles before kicking into using gas might help. It depends what you get used to. Here in Phoenix driving long distances is just part of life. I go 60 mile round trips to visit gal pals who live on opposite ends of the Valley. So $5 is not going to make me happy either!
love both of the quilts - the wall hanging looks great. The area you are talking of is pretty but that would be a bit of a commute for Jim wouldn't it? Be happy no matter what you decide!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Really love both of your quilts! The Peacock wall hanging look great hanging from the ribbon. What a prefect place to hang it. 300 acres would be my dream too, but for some reason I don't think I could get subdivision husband to agree.. Happy Quilting!
Both are wonderful!! Now, girl, just stand back and look at the pirate quilt--it's perfect!! Why, oh why, are we always so hard on ourselves?!? Arghhh! Now remember, I'm older than you, and I'm tellin' you, it's PERFECT!! :-)
As to the property, I think I'm more than half hermit, so a trip to town once a month or so would be okay by me. You've got the truck--stock up (we know you know how to do that!) and head for the hills. Of course there is that little thing about Jim getting to work...
I'm with Chris. A trip to town once a month would about do me. A bigger concern for me would be dependable high speed unlimited internet access.
I love your peacock!
CJ My Grandson Hugo would just love this quilt and so do I. I appreciate all the time that goes into any quilt.
Here in New Zealand we are( and have been for a long time) paying $2 a litre for fuel and I guess we have gotten used to it. I must say though that I do give thought to un-necessary trips to town.
I say go for the country acreage and privacy. I just couldn't live without it now.
Cheers for the New Year CJ
RobynK
New Zealand
p.s CJ we are paying $26 a metre/yard for quilting fabric and they tell me there is going to be shortage of cotton. Yikes!!!!!!
I love the quilting on the pirate quilt. The way you have the Peacock displayed is just perfect. I enjoy your blog your things are beautiful.
Your peacock wall hanging is beautiful.
Why stop at 300 acres? Go for the full section. I grew up on a half section surrounded by other properties with no public roads running through, and only gravel or dirt at that. Us kids could roam just about anywhere, play in the creeks, ride bikes without worrying about traffic, or just go outside without the neighbors watching. Ah, those were the days. And yeah, I'm part hermit too.
Boxley Valley is not that far from us, CJ. We were there not long ago enjoying the river, bluffs, and the views down into the valley. If you live that far out, you make lists and go to town about twice a month. It's 28 miles to a grocery store from us to the north and 35 miles to the west. East is Boxley Valley. South is Ozark or we can go over the mountain to Clarksville. We do our shopping in Fayetteville (45 miles) for the most part. We spend a lot time gardening and preserving our food. Grow a few cows for beef with no antibiotics. Had chickens, but hated being tied down with them and couldn't use all the eggs anyway. When we watch the news showing people going nuts buying groceries before a predicted storm, we don't know whether to laugh at them or cry for them. We CAN stay out here and not go to town for a month. I make bread, can use powdered mild to cook... I have DSL for the Internet and can find anything I need to quilt with online if need be. CJ, just do what your heart tells you AND enjoy!!!!
P.S. I know you already know all this because you've 'been there, done that'.
CJ, Your Pirate quilt is adorable! Great job quilting it. We are our own worst critics applies. I luv how your Peacock embroidery turned out, and the way you have decided to hang it. Lovely.
I may have missed why you have the urge to move, but where you live looks so beautiful, and you seem to have if fixed just the way you want. 300 acres---really? I would get so lonesome not seeing anyone if we lived in the middle of 300 acres. We live in the middle of five acres out in the country. It's just right, and we are on the top of a hill. We can see the main road, and a few neighbors off in the distance. I go to town about once a week. We are blessed to have lived here 50 yrs. now. I'm looking forward to seeing a new project now that these two wonderful one's are finished! You are so creative!
I've had some projects like that. The ones that seem to go on and on and on.
The Ponca area is very beautiful. Larry worked in Harrison for a few years and drove that road 2 or 3 times a week. And when you see the moose out in the fields, it is awesome.
Is Jim going to be stationed in Russellville again or will he be working here and there.
The peacock is just stunning...the shape itself is so attactive! I have no clue what you think is wrong with that adorable pirate quilt. That will make some very lucky child extremely happy!! I think you know well how to stock up and live on the frontier! Just make sure you get good internet service as we can't go too long without hearing from you!! :-)
I live in a remote part of scotland, and we pay the equivalent of $5.70 a gallon. Your quilts are beautiful.
What a great peacock!
reeter
I absolutely love your monkey quilts but this one is my all time favorite. I do have the cd of designs and am trying to work up the nerve to try it out. I'm a real newbie with machine embroidery. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions: Did you use your 830, what brand of embroidery thread do you use? I'm trying to build a collection of isacord...very expensive. The directions for the quilt said to use wash away stabilizer. Did you use washaway? I was thinking of a cutaway. Anyway, some little one is going to be so lucky to get that quilt. BTW, the quilting is fantastic!
Your quilting is beautiful!!! I always love your choice of fabric and quilting.
Peacock wall hanging....Simple ELEGANCE.