Twin Calves...

We are spending a lot more time over

@ the Cow Barns...

Twin Calves were born last week...

Mama Cow has decided she only wants 

the heifer calf.

She is rejecting the bull calf.

That means a lot more work for the Cow Boss.

One of us stays in the pen 

while the calves nurse...

so mama won't push the bull calf away.

Maybe in a month or so we can convince her

that she loves both babies?

This darling calf was also born last week:

This little bull calf is awful cute!

His mama likes him just fine!

I haven't spent any time 

in the Thread Shed lately...

The Camellia bush, 

just outside the Thread Shed,

 is really getting my attention...

Camellia Blooms...

I recorded the twins with the Mama cow this 

morning.....you can see the video below:

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Wild Vine ....Tutorial

I am working in my sketch book tonight.

I grabbed the camera and snapped a few

in process sketches...

you can follow along if you like:

When I am working on fabric,

I chalk out the spine of the vine...

I stitch both sides of the vine at the same time...

I begin with a swirl on the left side.

I add a long, narrow leaf on the left side.

I add a leaf on the right side.

A add a large leaf on the left side.

I add a large leaf on the right side.

I alternated sides 

as there is room to add more leaves...

I add a curled plume to the right side.

I add a large leaf to the left side.

I add a long narrow leaf to the right side.

You get the idea...

continue adding leaves to each side...

Add a curled plume to add interest...

bend and curl the leaves over each other...

continue filling the vine in 

as you move upward...

You get into a rhythm as you add leaves

to the right and to the left side...

Be sure to maintain the curve of the spine...

if you don't, your vine will loose it's shape.

Your wild vine is done!

You can also add veins to the leaves as you go.

No two wild vines look the same...

Each wild vine has its' own personality...

You can stitch a cross hatch checkerboard 

in the background...

You can stitch an orange peel 

in the background...

You can overlap and create Tangled Vines...

Draw a curvy spine and create a Rolling Vine...

Keep drawing out Wild Vines...

then stitch them onto a fabric sandwich.....FUN!

CLICK HERE to view My Online Sketch Book

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Turkey Vultures in the Cow Pasture...

It must be SPRING here in

Western Oregon...

The Turkey Vultures are back!

We were out checking on the cows and calves

 this morning...

The turkey vultures are perched 

on the fence posts...

I have been trying for years to get a close up view

of these beautiful birds...

I had my Canon 50X along today

and it zoomed in and captured the birds

having a solar bath...

They spread their wings...

it dries them out and also bakes off the bacteria

on their feathers

The zoom lens allowed me to stay far enough 

away so we observed natural behavior...

They stretch out their wings farther and farther...

Turkey Vultures are not predatory birds, they only eat dead things, they are the clean up crew for the earth.  They are peaceful and gentle birds with a huge wing span. They are so beautiful flying up in the sky on the thermals.

The Turkey Vultures will be here 

through September.

I filmed the Turkey Vultures sunning 

themselves on the fence posts....

video is below....enjoy!

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi