Country Living & FNWF July

 We moved to western Colorado from San Diego over 9 years ago now and needless to say it was a big change. We traded a 900 square foot 2 bedroom 1 bathroom 1 car garage 1954 house for a 2200 square foot 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom 2.5 car garage with a 1200 square foot shop (our California house would fit inside the shop!) on 2.5 acres. We went several years before I even furnished the whole place and we have completely renovated the inside. We do live in a subdivision where you can have livestock and we receive irrigation water, but it feels like suburbia.

Every now and then we get a reminder that we live in the country especially during the summer. Our neighbor's two 4-H pigs got loose the other day and were hanging out in our side yard. My hubby and I were not exactly sure what to do...They were pretty large and hard to herd and pretty much ignored our clapping and calling trying to lead them home. We also were a little leery because we have seen the movies and know that some pigs will eat humans (remember Hannibal?)!

I called my neighbor and they came to retrieve them with a big stick and they swat at their faces to get them to move along. The pigs were overheated and had done serious damage to my neighbor's place as they had been loose for awhile. They can dig 4 inch deep trenches with their snouts and chew on irrigation pipe, but they were a little too tired by the time they reached our place to do much... We learned something about pigs and admired their strength!

The other morning the crop duster began to fly overhead at 7am buzzing a nearby field. I was glad he was not here at 5:30 like sometimes.  Country living!

 Last night was Friday Night With Friends (FNWF) for July because it was the first Friday of the month. Even though it was the 4th of July, I stayed in and sewed the night away because I had a deadline. I needed to finish this sewing bag for my friend, Lindsey.

Her birthday is tomorrow and we sewed today, so I had to have it ready to bring with me. I got it done and she loved it. I used all brushed cottons from my scrap bins. I embroidered it in black perle cotton and hand quilted it with a cream perle cotton. To see what others worked on for Friday Night With Friends, go to http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com

 Since I was heading over to Lindsey's for a sewing day, I got to try out my new Stanley 3-in-1 Rolling Workshop also known as a mobile sewing center. I had seen this over at http://fabrictherapy.blogspot.com/2014/06/home-depot-to-rescue.html and she had borrowed the idea from.http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/?p=635 My celery/mint 1961 Singer Featherweight's carrying case has a cracked handle that I am afraid to use. This wheeled tool chest is available at Home Depot for $36.97. 

I bungee corded my cutting board onto the back, but it kept slipping to the ground. I think if I add a bungee cord to the top through the cutting board's handle it will stay in place.

  A few weeks ago, I saw that Pug Mom had some good ideas here http://pugmomquilts.blogspot.com/2014/06/quilting-tools-and-tip.html about what to bring with you for sewing get togethers. I am trying to have a complete set of all my tools, so all I need to do is grab and go. I am still on the lookout for a power cord plug like Pug Mom showed.

My machine fits perfectly in this bottom portion and I put a small table topper quilt around the machine for padding and then I will use it to place my machine on top of for sewing.

This is the middle container and I have loaded it with my sewing machine supplies like thread, sewing machine needles, pins, bobbins, snips, etc.

The top portion has a removable tray that I loaded with scissors, a rotary cutter, and a measuring tape.

Below the tray was a perfect place for my sewing project and my rulers. 

This worked great today and I could locate everything easily. I want to make a coordinating thread catcher, iron bag, and table topper for my mobile sewing center. I also think I need to girl up the rolling tool box with some stickers, so I will be on the lookout for some...

I am working on a couple of baby quilts and will embroider tomorrow for Slow Sunday Stitching be sure to stop over there to see what everyone is up to http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com