Oh - Mrs. BrownDirt

When last we visited with Mrs. BrownDirt, she was at a lodge, enjoying herself on vacation. That same vacation she had a few other adventures. Let's check in and see what she was up to on her vacation to Plain, WA.

It was a sunny and very warm day - so Mrs. BrownDirt and her people headed off for a picnic, trying to find some water - a lake, a river, an ocean - oh wait - no oceans in Plain, WA -

I love a good picnic - especially one with a cooler full of good food - and cool ice, it is very hot today and we cotton people might get wrinkled and mussed in the heat. Ahhhh comfort.

I think I'll have a look around - see what is in the woods by this river . . .

Oh noooo - a bear - run - hide. I thought this was going to be a civilized lodge vacation - not one with bears. They will eat the stuffing right out of you if you aren't careful!

It is a very big bear!!

Quick - up a tree - hope I don't fall over into that river - a girl doesn't like to get wet and messy in her good dress,.

Uh oh - I'm not such a good climber - heeeelp!

Oh dear - I forgot that bears can climb trees - now what?

I'll hide in the leaves . . .

The bear seems to be friendly - he says I should come down for lunch - I hope he doesn't mean that I am going to be lunch. I've very hungry so I will chance it - it is easier to get down out of a tree than to get up in a tree.

When I climb down - what do I see - Buddy E - waiting on a rock - is he laughing at me?

That frog - he is laughing because he ate the sandwiches while I was desperately trying to escape that ferocious bear - I bet Buddy E sent the bear after me.

No no - the frog is going to eat all the Girl Scout Cookies . . .

Go ahead frog - try and get those cookies!

Oops - did you fall into the box ? Hee Hee Heee

Oh I'm sorry frog - really I am - the cookies got all eaten up before you could get any - maybe it was that mean old bear - snicker snicker - really, I AM sorry frog.

It was a nice picnic, despite having to hide from a bear and then the frog eating the sandwiches - I think he has a tummy ache, I know I do - I mean the bear does, from eating all those cookies.

Fair Ribbons

We had such a grand time at the fair - and we won ribbons!!!

So now I have to brag just a bit!!

It would have been just as much fun without the ribbons, just seeing our displays - but the ribbons added more fun! Come along and enjoy the fun with us.

Don entered his vintage baseball gloves and got a First Place ribbon, and a Best of Division ribbon. This is the display in his den.


My WA quilt got a red ribbon. It is a quilt made of blocks that I swapped with WA internet quilting friends. We each made a block depicting something that reminded us of WA. Talented group of ladies. This was in the More Than Three People category.

The blue and white Seaside quilt got a red ribbon in the Original Design category. . .

Santa and Woodland Friends won red in Tied Comforter Division. It is partly tied and partly hand quilted . . .

Hand quilted Yellow Sampler won first place in the Hand Quilting Division . . .

Grandmother's Flower Garden won first place in English Paper Pieced, professionally quilted - thank you Julie. This one really got the compliments on the quilting!!!!

And then it won Viewers' Choice on Saturday.

Here are all the quilts I entered . . .

And here are ll the ribbons I won - and Buddy E. is "helping".

Tomorrow I'll show you some of the other great quilts at the fair.

I won! I won!

I love blog give-aways - and I love winning. Sandi, over at Crazy 'Bout Quilts had a give-away the other day and I was surprised to win. Check out her blog - they are painting and doing all sorts of fun stuff - and it is all quite interesting.

Buddy E wanted to help unwrap the package. He let me open the mailing envelope, he is afraid of scissors and worries he might cut his long, pretty dancing legs.

This ribbon is tied so tight . . .

Cute wrapping - another vintage fat quarter - and Buddy E just can't seem to get the ribbon undone . . .

There we go - all unwrapped - whew - that was a lot of work for a little frog . . .

These vintage fabrics make a perfect bed - they remind me of something - ummm - oh right, sheets!!!

Uh oh - another muddle - here I am - inside . . .

And here is Buddy E with his new friend, Paula Bear. They are trying to think up a project for me to make with the wonderful vintage fabrics. They both say - Thank You Sandi!!!!

Tea Wallets - for my friends

I wrote this post earlier this week and got it ready to go for Saturday morning (today) - after we have all gathered at the sew-in, at Anacortes, WA. The reason - because these little tea wallets are for all the ladies who will be at the sew-in today. For our potluck we are having a tea party - tiny open faced sandwiches, little sweet desserts, and of course tea.

Often at tea in England there would be gifts or crafts for those in attendance, and I thought these tea wallets would be perfect - just the thing to carry your tea bags with you so you always have your favorite tea, any place you go.

They are made like little books - with pockets inside for your teabags. I had so much fun picking out the fabrics - I got to pick two fabrics for each tea wallet.

This is the inside - cute fabric but you can't really see the pockets very well . . . I like this fabric because the bears are having tea . . .

So here is one with contrasting pockets . . . and a pretty ribbon to button it closed with


Buddy E. decided he liked the looks of one of the pockets with pretty flowers on it . . .

And then he decided he needed to help stitch the pocket - he loves the sewing machine . . . fortunately none of his arms or legs - or is it just legs on a frog - got sewn into the little tea wallets.

It was also fun picking the buttons to close the tea wallets . ..

More cute fabrics - I like the sewing machine sewing the curtains for the window . . .

And here is one filled with tea bags. As you can see, I'm a fan of decaf tea, and some would not consider that "real" tea, but I love it. What is your favorite tea? Maybe next I'll show you all my teapots - or soon anyway.

Sunday Favorites

Be sure to visit Chari to find more Sunday Favorites - re-runs of our favorite posts.

Some of you have been asking for more adventures of Buddy E. (frog) and Grampa Bear (bear, of course) - so to start off those who haven't met them - I thought I'd rerun this post on Sunday Favorites.

These two characters go most places with us. Most times we can keep them out of mischief -but you just never know what they are going to do, at any moment.

Buddy E is the frog - he has really long dancing legs, like Buddy Ebsen (remember Beverly Hillbillies?). Buddy E. loves to get into just about anything and always wants to join in, no matter what I'm doing. He cooks, cleans (well messes up while I clean), reads, sews, writes (on things he shouldn't write on) and eats.

He likes a drink of Pepsi now and then . . .

Loves the swings in the park and . . .

Gets into things in my studio. . .

He is sometimes joined by a friend or two - and then we are really in trouble. Grampa is our travelling bear. He has gone to Wisconsin on the train, shopping at Oshkosh B'Gosh in Wisconsin, on boat rides, on picnics, to Canada and often stows away and I don't notice him until we are on our way, and it is too late to turn around and leave him at home. His favorite place to ride now is in Ben's carseat in the back of our car - he can see things better from that spot.

His favorite thing is picnics - any time - any place!!! And like all good bears - Grampa likes to rummage around in the food and see what's happenin'.

And of course, like all bears - he eats too much - but is happy as can be. . .

When we went to a cabin at Silver Lake, Grampa made friends with the Blue Jays by having his friend Murray give them some peanuts. Sometimes he is nice about sharing.

At the lake Buddy E likes to have a snack of Mexican food -
and a good dose of hot sauce.

He climbed up on top of the birdhouses at my cousin's house in Oregon . . .

And sat by her flowers - he was pretty good this time - didn't pick any flowers - that I saw

And took a long ride, dangerous on her wooden whale . . .

Got dizzy on her whirling flower - urrrp . . .

And swung n the aliums in the wind!

Come back again for the the later adventures of Buddy E and Grampa!!!