When the ranch is in peace, no other life is more perfect

 It was too hot this weekend to spend much quality time outside, so I stayed inside

and finally tackled a project I'd been putting off for five years.

The project began after I received this wall hanging by K.C. Willis. I loved it. It was me.

A thorough prowling-around on her website revealed that she sold kits so that one could

create a masterpiece of their own. Of course I ordered one, and it has been sitting in 

my closet ever since, waiting for the right inspiration, the right photo, the right quote,

and the right weekend with nothing better to do.

Sadly, it appears K.C. has sold her business and the kits are no longer available,

should you be inspired to make one, but it would be really easy

to pull together the materials yourself.

Anyway, my kit consisted of a half dozen pieces of vintage fabric and lace, 

all stained with tea or coffee to look sufficiently aged, some chunks of what might be

hand-crafted paper, a few sheets of photo transfer paper, and no instructions, 

which was half the fun of making this. I looked at alot of images of her work

for inspiration, then went on a scavenger hunt through my closets and garage,

looking for bits and baubles to make this piece my own.

 I knew there was a reason I'd been saving all my dead leather work gloves.

 Did you know I have a button fetish? I often replace the buttons on a brand-new shirt

with vintage silver buttons, just because. These buffalo nickel buttons came off 

a no longer brand-new shirt that was on its last days. I got the angel horse pin when Lyle died, 

and I figured I would see it more often on this wall hanging than in my jewelry box.

 More buttons from my collection.

 This ornament is from the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.

 Remember the story of the hat band and tassle made from Lyle's mane?

The tassle has found a permanent home on the new wall hanging.

And all that fringe behind it? Lovingly cut from seven smelly, dirty, dead work gloves.

 The quote I used is from Charlie Goodnight, a Texas cattleman who drove his herds

through New Mexico after the Civil War. 

(Woodrow Call's character in Lonesome Dove in loosely based on Goodnight.)

The finished piece is about 24" wide by 18" high, and it now hangs in my bedroom.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It's me – dirty, smelly glove fringe and all.