Where Have I Been Lately?

At the end of January 2013 the family and I moved back to Great Falls, MT (the big city). It was a sudden move based on an experience my husband had of getting spun around in a wheat stubble field during the middle of a snow storm. It was his final straw!! Also, the 45 miles each way to work and back 5 days a week was wearing on him. The original plan was to retire in Fort Benton, MT and that may not be over but for now we are where the family is happier. My 3 teenagers didn't like the small city/living on a farm life. I must say though that I am content with either setting. I do miss my sweet lady residents in personal care there and have been visiting once or twice a month still with them. Right after the move we also had a major virus invade the old computer and went for several months without one. So glad a cousin of Fred's gifted us a new one. We are ever so thankful. Fortunately, my old employer in Great Falls had a position open and they hired me back immediately. The position is for 24 hours a week and I am working on picking up an extra shift permanently to have 32 weekly. However, there have been tons of extra shifts due to medical leave and vacations so I have been working 60 hours weekly for the past 4 weeks -- a bit overwhelming for me and the kids. Another new thing I started is volunteering at the local senior center for 3 hours on Mondays and then 4 hours on Thursdays. One of the teenagers goes with me each time and it is good for them to interact with the seniors as well as get one on one time with mom. I will close with pictures of a lion Wynston just finished making by hand with clay and then painting. He did a wonderful job on it!! Wynston is soon to be 16 years old -- can't believe it! The other pictures are of projects I have been working on with the kids in the group home where I work. The beading is new for me and the 13 year old boy there, but we have made 2 medallion "bling" pieces for him thus far. The boys like working on needlework projects just as much as the girls do in the group home.

Pillow Talk

I have been working on a few small projects -- some with new twists for me. I made this owl pillow for my daughter. She is into this character some now as we seem to find different fabrics with owls on them lately. This is done with fusible web and then machine stitching around every edge of different fabric used, even the eyelashes and nose as pictured. The next pillow was made as a surprise for an old schoolmate that I am friends with on Facebook. He drew this center as a tattoo he would like to get in the future and then put it for friends to see his artwork concept. I printed the black and white picture on the printer and then used my light box to hand copy it onto fabric. I then embroidered it and used colored pencils in some places. Quilted the front and back pieces and stuffed it. My friend Rolo (Danny) was very pleased. He has health disabilities and feels down at times. He told me that no one (not related to him) has ever done something this nice for him. It made me happy as well!!

Tourist Traps I Say NOT

On a recent visit to Little Bighorn Battlefield, we concluded our visit to the park by stopping at a "Trading Post" just outside the exit. I can remember when moving to Montana years ago it was always fun to stop by St. Ignatius, MT Trading Post when I happened to be headed to Missoula, MT for more adventures. These memories caused me to say to the kids, "let's stop here" for you to have a look see at what treasures might be inside.

My husband immediately piped in "tourist trap". I did somewhat agree with him as I remember family trips to the Smokey Mountains as a kid and my parents saying the same thing.

I found the scenery inside and out inviting at this "tourist trap" and my daughter did get to purchase a little tote bag with a zipper on it that she is using on a daily basis to hold her hand held game system. So my camera came out and I played tourist at this stop. Hope you like the views we saw that day. And me personally, I would recommend everyone stop in and take a look see if you are ever in the area.

Trying Something Crafty New

I am always trying to make a stop at Goodwill in Great Falls, MT when I go "to the big city" for errands, shopping, and supplies. I joke and tell my husband that I feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder (or at least what I think she would have felt like) when making these trips almost once a week. While at the thrift store, I usually get lost in the used book section and if you visited our home you would see the fruits of my many visits. I love the quilting, crafting, and embroidery books I find there. One recently combine applique quilting and embroidery. So I have been trying it out and also using fusible paper backed web for the first time. I think I may be hooked on this technique. Here are some photos of my first project from the book.

Here are some photos of the second wall hanging I just finished that needs to be quilted. I have three more projects in the works from this book and am somewhat surprised that I have actually used patterns and projects from the book as usually I just get ideas and then throw in my own variation - now writing that, come to think of it, the border on these are my own creation!

Avery Craft and Photos

My now 12 year old (had a b-day on 12/14) son, Avery Z, as he likes to be called decided he wanted to go outside and take some pictures of things we and our neighbor Granny have up outside. I think he did a good job in centering the photos and has an eye for it.







Avery was given an assignment to stretch his comfort zone the other day. He is a very dear sweet boy and does very well with his autism, but has challenges in self esteem and expressing himself. His job was to look at different books and come up with a picture for his aunt that he could draw and I would trace onto fabric to make something for his aunt.




He decided to trace a pattern from a stained glass pattern book and then signed it with his regular "AVERY Z". He did a wonderful job and was praised by his dad and myself. I traced it and then had him color the picture on the fabric. I know his aunt will love his efforts and let him know he has many talents.

Carolina Snowflake Craft

Early in October I signed up for one of my kids to attend a couple different 3 hour craft classes on some Saturdays in December at The County Shoppe (art shop) here in Fort Benton, MT.

My daughter attended the first one which was geared more towards younger children and did a beaded craft for her aunt in Chicago who loves homespun gifts for the holidays. I don't have a picture of her finished piece as she was allowed to put it in a gift box and wrap it during the class.



The next one ended up having my husband and our middle child (Wynston, age 14) attend as I took a couple extra shifts to help someone out with scheduling. We had no idea what Carolina snowflakes were going to be for a craft. The men in my household got a workout on following directions and using a hot glue gun for the first time. I think they did a wonderful job. Here is one of them with the other being in a package headed for a gift for the holidays.



I might just have to take the next class offered on making these snowflakes. I sure do like the natural look they have.

Playing With Dolls

Today being Saturday, I have had to time to play in my sewing room. I have been working on another king size quilt top and have another border to go, but just not quite decided on what I want to do yet.

I did embroider these dolls during my week of overnight shifts at the youth home. I actually got called in last night because the weekend person was sick giving me more hours to stitch. (Don't worry -- I do my job of bed checks every 30 minutes, house laundry, mopping floors, keeping the refrigerators clean, baking cookies/breads, cleaning out the ovens, emptying the dishwasher, records keeping, and cooking breakfast for the residents.)



These little doll characters are simply cute and I could see some little girls playing with them, putting them in their purse, or as part of gift baskets. They are headed on their way to my shoppe on Etsy.com.



Think I am in a mindset to start some crafty Christmas ornaments. The holidays will be here before we all know it!

Summer Celebration Craft Shows

I don't know where my mind has been for the past two years since we moved here, but now all of a sudden I am hearing on the radio of surrounding towns celebrating with special festivities on the weekends. We had a blast at the one in Fort Benton last weekend. It concluded with the most spectacular fireworks show I have seen since I was a young child. That is definitely one to return to next year. Unfortunately we missed going to one this weekend in Belt, MT because I accepted an extra work shift to help someone out at work. Now I have heard of one happening this coming weekend in Dutton, MT. We don't know exactly where that is but will be looking it up and maybe taking a little road trip that way.




The crafts that were for sale in Fort Benton were lovely and creative. They were something new and refreshing to see. I like seeing how people come up with some unique ideas. I love looking at painted things since I have somewhat of a fear of picking up a brush and putting it into paint for decor. Don't mind painting walls around the house just don't know about crafting with it.




My daughter, Savannah Rose, was so cute looking at booths with me. At one point she couldn't help but saying "I have found my happy place". I couldn't help being happy with her. Of course it was dolls, fairies, and lovelies as I have pictured here. The artist is Antique Annie from Kalispell, MT.




My husband, Fred, fell in love with the carved bears. He wants one in the future. I will have to keep that in mind as a gift or surprise when funds allow. I love the picture of my son with the bear - couldn't help but joke which is the bear and which is Wynston. The artist is from Victor, MT.







The most interesting items I spotted was some cement molds that looked like bird baths or lawn art made out of rhubarb leaves and sun flowers found in a couples yard. I love the colors they painted their creations. I wouldn't mind having some of those if we ever are able to settle and purchase a home down the road. The artists are from Conrad, MT.



My daughter ended up with a patch of otter fur that she found to be soft. She will probably use it with her dolls or doll house. My youngest son picked out a suede string wolf pendant necklace. I chose to try a magnet iridescent colored bracelet to share with Savannah.



We are loving getting out of the house and exploring, but as of the past 2 days we are in the 90's and things are heating up. Also, the Fort Benton festivities included a community potluck with an auction of lamps to help an organization which provides help to those in Montana with cancer. I loved this lamp pictured. We had to leave before the community pie auction took place but some went as high as $275 a piece. The total raised was $7500 on the pies. Hope they were tasty at those prices!!!