Baggo done & mailed

Finally, about a year past due, I finnished another baggo. For those who don't know, a baggo is a challenge in which people pack a gallon sized ziplock bag with fabrics & embellishments that they like, send them to a coordinater who sends back someone else's bag. You make something with the bag that you receive & it goes back to the person who put the bag together. The yahoo group, "Fiber Pirates" has some fantastic artists & I have received some great artwork from past baggos.
This is what I received:

 Here's the finished piece. I added the cream colored background. (The blue dots are magnets temporarily holding it to the steel door.)

 Close up # 1. The picture frame is 3D-only sewed down on the inner edge. Check out the gold loop trim on the edge of the quilt.

 Close up # 2 I love this vase. It was the first thing that I did. A little trapunto (extra stuffing) helps the 3D look.

 It seems that I'm not the only one who got behind on this project. Most of the other participants are not done. I can't wait to see what I'll get back.

Finished ruby ring

I just realized that I hadn't posted a picture of my finished ruby ring with its 2 little diamonds. I love it!

I've been fooling around with Listia

I've listed a few things & bid on a few. Everything is "free". It's a credit system.

Ruby ring

I'm excited! A couple of years ago, I went to a yard sale at the home of an antique dealer who has bragged about doing all kinds of tricks to hide flaws in his stock. (ie super glue in hairline cracks in glassware.) He had a bowl of costume jewelry for $.25. I found this ring, it fit & it didn't feel like costume to me, so I bought it.   I wore it off & on, but was afraid that the worn prongs would let the ruby fall out. Last month I took it to a local jeweler to see if it was worth fixing. He quoted me a price, but said that it would have to be completely redone & suggested that I might want to consider having the ruby reset in a different style. He also told me that if this ring were in new condition, it would sell for $1200.00. I took it home & told Charlie. He said that he would like to give me a new setting for Christmas.  I thought about it, made a very rough sketch of what I wanted & took it to the designer at the jewelry store. He refined my design & made a beautiful sketch of what he'll make.                                                                          

                                                                     Original ring.

Jeweler's sketch

Cat man do (love his kitties)

Charlie &, from left, Junior, Ashley & Pepper.

kitten

Our new kitten, Pepper in monster mode. Look at those big paws.

I'm ready to eat venison

1 week ago this was a beautiful bushy tomato plant with half a dozen fist sized green tomatoes. I give the deer corn & tortillas & this is the thanks I get? Yesterday I mixed up eggs, dried scotch bonnet & thai peppers & water & sprinkled it all over my plants. I dare the deer to come back for a snack!

2 baby quilts same pattern

These are 2 baby quilts that I made with the final version of the design that I dreamed up on our honeymoon. It's amazing how different they look with different fabrics.

Small town

I got to talk to Officer Tom of the Renovo police again last night. A drunk sideswiped my jeep at the grocery store. (Just a little paint off the bumper.) I didn't see it, but a store employee was waiting for me when I came out with my groceries. The young man denied it & I really don't think that he noticed as he was too busy smashing a grocery cart against the wall with the front of his truck. I might have let it go, but he pissed me off. He denied that it happened, said that it was his father's work truck, the scrape on the back of the truck had been there for a long time, he didn't even know where the papers were & if I wanted to do something about it, I should take his lic # & call the police. Then he hopped in the truck & drove off. I said to a bystander "He looks like a Coleman" Reply-"Yes, that's Steve Coleman" I did not mention alcohol to Officer Tom, but he said "He was probably drunk" & headed off to find the truck. I love living in a small town.

The wren babies have flown

On the soaker hose.

#3 ready to go.

I love his fuzzy ear tufts.

Look at that tiny tail!