Happy Easter............

I would first like to wish each and every one of you a BLESSED and Happy Easter!  I can remember as a child coloring Easter eggs with my sister and mother, usually on Good Friday.  We would then usually have an egg hunt at church on Saturday, followed by Easter services at church on Sunday and then a huge meal prepared by family.  Then all of the cousins would hunt eggs for hours on end on Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh, those were the days!  Not a care in the world other than trying to find the most eggs, and win the egg hunt!  I usually won..........yeah, right!

I did, however, win recently!   Kelli at Seriously..I think it needs stitches. held a spectacular blog give away recently.  I love reading her blog because she is so down to earth, she's a great mom, and she makes some pretty awesome things!  Seriously, check her out!

 I won this cool 2WENTY-THR3E jelly roll courtesy of Kelli and the Fat Quarter Shop!

I can't wait to use it in a project!

Thanks for hosting such an awesome give away Kelli!

In sewing news, I was asked by one of my awesome neighbors if I would be interested in doing some sewing for her.  I was curious as to what she had in mind when she said her sons were involved with Kuk Sool Won   I said "Coo-Coo for Cocoa Puffs, WHAT?!?!?!?"

According to their website, "Kuk Sool Won is the most comprehensive martial arts system, emphasizing etiquette and education first!"  Cool!  Her boys needed some patches sewn onto their gis as they work up the belt ladder.  SURE!  I can do that!

  I feel A LOT safer knowing these boys are protecting the neighborhood!

A simple applique stitch with invisible thread was used. 

Move over Karate Kid!  Kuk Sool Won Kids are in da HOUSE!

Any guesses as to what these might be turning into?

And last, but, not least!  I HAVE to show you all ............................

Miss Bev, and Murna all decked out in their lacy Easter Bonnets!  

These crocheted doilies are courtesy of my blogging friend Loretta at 365 Days and Other Ramblings.  These gals feel SO SPECIAL now thanks to your talents Loretta!  Loretta has recently remodeled her sewing studio, so go over and check out her blog and her new space! 

Happy Easter!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

It's been a while.......

It's been a while since last I posted.........

OK, glad we got that out of the way! LOL  So sorry, I have had every intention of keeping this blog up to date, but, life steps in sometimes?  Please be aware, this post may be a little lengthy, but, I hope you enjoy the updates, and photos.

NOPE!  No gardening for me just yet!

STILL SNOWING!  We need the moisture though!  

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, or for appearing a tad too sexy in this photo, but, this is the way I roll in the garden.  Fortunately, I have a 6 foot privacy fence that prevents the masses from viewing me while working in the dirt.  Dog gone paparazzi! I do however have a faithful companion that is willing to assist in the garden besides the chickens........

GRACIE LU!!!!!!!!!!

Gracie Lu is my big, bumbling, bull-esque Boston Terrier.  She is 5 1/2 years old, and is the equivalent to a bull in a China shop.  Sort of like the lady she was named after........Gracie Lu Freebush.......remember her?  If you don't, google her!  LOL  How could you not love that face though???????  She has been known to get into things she shouldn't, like.......

when I couldn't find her, and all of a sudden I saw something moving around in some scraps.  Yep......she loves to bury herself under the covers, AND evidently my patriotic scrap box!  I think I will keep her though!  She and Sophia get along swimmingly and are a constant joy in my life.

Sadly, I have to report that my local quilt shop is going out of business! :-/  I really hate to see it go, because there are no quilt shops in my neck of the woods now.  I wish I had the business sense, knowledge, and funds to open one of my own.  The shop had a decent sale, and I took advantage of it.  I added some yardage, and met some really great people the day I went.  One wonderful lady by the name of Lynn was so kind and encouraging, and gave me a gift!

Scrap fabrics for my Quilt of Valor donation quilts!

There was a note attached however.........

it reads:   "Kevin:  There is a string attached to this bag of fabric.  Please add it to your collection to make a Quilt of Valor and I'd like to see it before you whisk it away!  Lynn"  Well, you can count on it Lynn!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!  The generosity of  quilters absolutely amazes me at times!

I was also able to go shop hopping in Columbia, Missouri, and Mexico, Missouri with some of my quilting friends I have made recently.  Quilt 4 U was my favorite shop in Columbia, and Homestead Hearth  was my favorite shop in Mexico, not to mention my favorite shop of all that day.  It was interesting to watch the way my friends shopped, and the way they looked out for me!  Like many times I heard........

  Did you see these bags of scraps?!?!?!?

Well, after I saw them, I bought them!  Just as I bought a few other things...............like.............

ALL of this.............

these............

and, all of this.  Not to mention.............

OH YES I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen.......meet, 

MISS BEV!!!!!!!!!

My new (at least to me) Singer Featherweight!

Miss Bev was purchased from my new found quilting friend Bev.  She has been very well serviced and maintained, and I can't thank Bev enough for offering her to me.  It was love at first site, and the minute I sewed the first stitch on her, I had to have her!  Miss Bev will be travelling with me now so I can sew, sew, sew on my travels!  She is much lighter than Murna Marita, and that way I can save Murna for sentimental reasons.  Thank you so much Bev!  She shall forever be your namesake!

And here are a few photos of some things I have been working on, just so you all don't think I only collect fabric and sewing machines, and don't use them! LOL

I'm in the process of color selection for Bonnie Hunter's mystery in Quilt Maker Magazine.

I'm also working on Bonnie Hunter's Geese on a String .

AND........

Hmmmmmmmmm...........I think I may keep you all guessing on this one!  

BWAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAA (Evil laugh LOL)

Anyone else going to the quilt show in Paducah, Kentucky?????

Sorry for the lengthy post, I hope you enjoyed it though?

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

It's March already.......

It's March already?  I cannot believe how quickly time flies by anymore!  I KNOW it has nothing to do with my age.......or does it?  Anyway, I have several projects in the works here.  Not just quilting projects!  I have to get some taters in the ground if ever the weather will cooperate?  Trust me, I am not complaining!  After last summer's drought, we need any and all types of precipitation we can get!  However, I haven't been able to till the garden soil just yet.  St. Patrick's Day is still 12 days away, so, hopefully there will be a day in there that I can get some things done in the garden.

Every fall I put on a nice layer of, well, there's no nice way to put it...........chicken poop on top of my garden soil.  I let it compost as much as possible between October and March.  I have had great success with this method, and don't plan to change it.  What kind of chickens do I have?

  Ameraucana Chickens

This is my niece holding one of my favorite hens, Zadie.

I have kept chickens for several years now, and have enjoyed it immensely!  I wish I had the property to have a larger flock, but, right now, my flock consists of 9 Ameraucana hens.  No roosters here!  I wish I could have a rooster, but, right now it just isn't possible.  Did you just ask if this breed is also known as the "Easter Egger?" 

Yep!  They sure are!  My hens lay mostly green eggs, but I do get some blue variations, and one pink egg!

My neighbors love receiving fresh eggs, and by the way, if you have never had a fresh egg compared to one you buy in the store, just ask my neighbors about the difference! LOL  Truly, there is no comparison in my opinion, even if you are buying organic.

I take very good care of my chickens and they take very good care of me and my gardening efforts.  They are extremely entertaining as well.  

I will keep everyone posted on my garden this year.

If you have any questions about chickens, I will do my best to answer them.

Thanks for all of the encouragement!  

Kevin the Quilter (and Chicken Keeper)