Tumbleweed {Blogger's Quilt Festival}

No.   No need to rub your eyes.

Yes, this is another quilt for the

I had to show you my Tumbleweed Quilt, my favorite quilt so far this year. 

 The quilt for ME!

I have to admit. This is my absolute favorite quilt right now.   It is not at all my normal taste of fabric, but it was FREE!   I won it from another quilter on her blog!

I love the Houston Rodeo and really wanted to not lose the novelty of the prints so that I could have it out during the time it is in town.  However, I also wanted to have a bit of modern flair, so I tried something new with the tumbler pattern.

 End to end horizontally instead of vertically. (you can see the layout at the top photo).

But the reason this is my most favorite quilt and why I am sharing this quilt for the festival is the QUILTING!!!!

 Yeehaw!!! 

Cowboy hats!

 Horseshoes with loops

 More loops with....horseshoes.

Last but not least, boots....with spurs.
Cute no?

I had a TON of fun doing these freemotion all over the quilt on my longarm machine.  

I did not have enough of the free fabric for a backing so I chose this brown fabric.  

The flowers reminded me of Texas bluebonnets.

 I am pretending the roses are some sort of Texas rose too! 

Don't burst my bubble, okay?

I had enough of the scraps to do a binding, but I really liked this print when I saw it at the LQS.
It is Moda Grace Bias Stripe by 3 Sisters 

I had intended to just put the label in a random corner, but I just didn't like the way it was glaringly popping out on the brown fabric.

 I decided to piece some scraps at an angle and then needle-turned it to the center of the strip where I had a large expanse anyway.

Worked out brilliantly.

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Quilt Stats:

Measures: 54" x 63"

Pattern: Tumblers (end to end horizontally)

Fabric:  Various floral and cowboy motif fabrics from 

Moda and other high quality quilting fabric lines (fabrics were all scraps)

Quilt Pattern: Loops with Rodeo motifs by myself on my HQ Avante 18" 

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I have to laugh because as I was editing the pictures I noticed a stray thread from my EPP project on the left of the backing strip a few photos above!

Proof that I have already snuggled under this with Button!

Who has somehow managed to steal MY rodeo quilt and renamed it from my awesome name of Tumbleweed quilt to

Little Horsey's quilt.

Nothing is sacred in this house.

P.S.  Thanks for stopping by if you are from Blogger's Quilt Festival.
To return to the Festival, click on the image at the top!!!!!!!

Weekend Bits

The weekend brought little bits of time here and there.

The teen boy's birthday is approaching. He loves Mr. Boss and I's alma mater Marquette University basketball team.  Since his bedroom bedding/decorating project is at the finish line, I thought an MU pillow would be perfect for his room.  

I thought?  A foundation paper-pieced project would be cool?

Until EQ7 shut down from mulitiple errors on me!!!

So I simplified my logo.  It isn't perfect, but I hope it is close enough?   

Now I just have to sew it.

I also was really excited, because it was the first time I used my portable table out in the family room.  I bought it from Target so I don't always "rabbit hole" into my studio at nights.  It also came in handy on my scrapbook retreat.  I like to have an L formation and it helped me!  Dual purpose!!

I also cut some more hexies! 

Still have to address the 50+stars

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On Sunday, I was had a different mission while doing the laundry. Of course, it all happened AFTER the laundry and the kids went to bed!

The mission was this stack of rodeo prints that I "won".

 It was more of a contest than a giveaway by Carla at Lollyquiltz.

I was actually super excited to win the bundle because, if you have been following me, you know that we get excited about the Rodeo around here.

I was waiting for the perfect rodeo pattern to fall into my lap since last year and it never happened. 

I found a couple of cute patterns, but I was looking for simple.  The rodeo officially starts this week and I want it...well...NOW, of course!  After some thought, I remembered I have the Accuquilt Tumbler die cut.  That would be simple.  I wouldn't lose the motifs!  So I hunted down a few tumbler patterns and found these three.

Sources: Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right

Last night, after laundry, I sat and starting cutting my tumblers.

I couldn't figure out why it was taking me so long, until I realized...I cut out 100+ tumblers!!

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This morning, Button and I have been arranging the blocks. 

 I also made the decision to cut into the last two fabrics in the top right corner since I still had a handful of "background" fabric tumblers leftover (middle photo).

For now?  I am off...Button and I have a date on a wagon.

I just wonder if he is bringing his friends along with us again!

Woaaah! Chuck Wagons!

You've seen it in pictures, but you have never seen Button's live and in action... 

"Wooah"! 

He was in the middle of eating, so excuse the bib and food on his mouth.  He was so excited about the Chuck Wagon races!

I cannot get enough of my little guy!

Note: I meant to have it on yesterday's post but I couldn't upload the video from my phone.  I tried three different times, with no luck.  Who knew I just had to email it to myself and save it?

Are We Texans Yet?

"Boots, chaps and cowboy hats…. nothing else matters."

~Unknown

We have been in Houston for 8 years now and have attended the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show every single year. 

This year, we put our gear on.

Jeans and a newly designed applique onesie for Button!

  I designed from a picture of an over priced boutique outfit online.  It was done at late night so I want to work on the stitching before offering it in the Etsy Store!  I now have four or five designs that I need to get working on! 

 He also had his special rodeo quilt from last year.

Do you like?

 First thing when we arrived at Reliant Stadium?

Making a decision on what to do first!

 Livestock show it was!

Button was fascinated by the cattle, chicks hatching, goats, and sheep!  For some reason, we had bad timing and it was extremely crowded, so we made the decision to do the petting zoo next year.  He was happy enough to watch from a distance!

The older boys pretending to be annoyed for a photo shoot..

the Carnival was waiting!

As always, impossible carnival games....love these bottles though!

 Usually we are successful at the Roll-a-ball game, but no luck there.

 Thank goodness for big brothers that can play basketball.

WOW!

 WOAH! 

The older boys weren't interested in rides this year. The lines were extremely long and they were anxious to get in to see the rodeo.

But Bunny fit in a little sliding fun.

Wait! What's that?

Crazy stuff mom!!
 
Okay..time for the best entertainment ever!

The RODEO!!!!

We just adore it.  

It always begins with a rousing Star Spangled Banner.

It always amazes me what is a football stadium in the fall/winter is completely transformed into a place for Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Bronco Riding, Barrel Racing, Bullfighting, Calf Scrambling, and Mutton Bustin'.
Update:  A video of Button cheering for the Chuck Wagons here.

 We are vastly becoming fans of certain competitors.  We were excited when a rodeo record is broken, we cheer for our favorite riders, and we groan if someone gets a penalty for "breaking the barrier" or getting "bucked off" before their allotted time!

We also eat some great food!

Before you know it, a stage is brought out to the middle of the stadium.

 And we enjoyed the show.  This year?  The Band Perry!  
Considering they have only a few songs that are popular, they did a fabulous job of entertaining over 70,000 people! They had a lot of energy and have made us very interested in watching their career in the music business grow!

Oh...and to all my good friends and followers?

 I remembered to wear better shoes this year....especially after last year.  

I even received a text message from my friend who was at the rodeo herself the other day.  

 "At the Rodeo thinking of your broken shoe from last year!"

Yes, everyone, I am just here for my friends' entertainment!

What's up?

A lot!

My week and weekend ran away from me!  A night out with Mr. Boss to see my most favorite country singer, Reba at the Houston Rodeo Friday was the start of the crazy! 

  It is also Spring Break around here and I think I might go mad with not just my own boys being cooped in from the rain Friday through Monday.  But the 10 boys that were in, around, and about my house yesterday. 
 I love boys...but sometimes I need a little break from the testosterone...countdown to my next scrapbook retreat is now 16 days. 

Finished projects

Blog

Moved to my website www.buttonsandbutterflies.com.

It was an adventure.  I was nervous HERE.  I thought I was going to shake my monitor to death HERE.  And it finally all worked out HERE.  Things seem to be redirecting from blogspot, my followers say they are still here, but my traffic dropped drastically. 
"They" say it recovers if I keep on blogging.  Time will tell!

In Progress

Hartley's Quilt: I finally decided on the final design and fabric placements.  I haven't taken pictures of her cut diamonds yet.  

I really want to get her finished by the end of the week!

Butterfly Kisses: Two blankets down, two to go!!!

Cream Quilt:  I need some advice!  If you remember...the fabric has a lot of texture.

I am stuck on my quilting plan from here.  Do I stitch in the ditch? I don't want to take away from the natural texture!  Any suggestions?

I DO know that I think I am going to give it a scalloped border. It will be my first foray into it...tips/advice?


Non-quilting projects:  One involving ceiling tiles...stay tuned.

And Bunny has his very own tutorial for a duct tape project! 

This is his "you promised to not take my picture for this" look.  The battery to the camera died at the end of his session yesterday. He has a few more pictures I need to take, apparently.  He already has "mapped" out his steps!
I love this kid!

No Progress

Button's Twin Quilt

Auction Quilt (I did find a nice rubber bin for all the t-shirts so I wasn't tripping over them in my studio)

 Girl Quilt (I DID decide who is getting it!)

Christmas quilt (mocking me on the rod in my studio)

Thank You Quilt

Linking up...go visit!!!!

For now?

We are off to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show today again!
  Carnival rides, bull-riding, and the Band Perry await us!  
And Button has a new shirt!  Of course, I am going to share it later this week!