making the most of the weekend

 Means that Today....I need a rest day haha!!!

Just kidding - but It was a packed weekend. A friend of ours is building a house and he needed help putting on the siding . It is not a one person job. So we headed up to his place and got to work:

We got a lot of sheets on before it was time to head back home.  I think we will be going back, it all didn't get finished. Their place is SO beautiful. The Views are just amazing - we are so tickled for them. its fun watching them homestead and brings back memories of homesteading our place. 

Earlier last week my Nephew had called and asked what we were doing for the weekend. I kind of thought he was just being conversational as he doesn't live close.

Turns out he was going to come out and hang out with us. What a BLAST!!!  He wanted to learn how to ride a horse - so we saddled up and away we all went.

he looks pretty good on Ice man doesn't he?  Funny enough - we introduced him to Ice, and found out that that was my Nephews Nickname when he was playing water polo. Too funny!!

 He came out in a nice shirt that I didn't want him to get dirty so we found a t shirt for him. He giggled  at the shirt - but wore it proudly. It was so fun to have him, we rode all over the place and did some running in the arena. I loved it - and hope he comes back!!

We had some amazing Sunsets ^

and gorgeous Sunrises 

Sunday we rode all day and had some other riders join us for a few hours. We got steers moved into the corrals for transport Monday morning... I was going to head in and do some stitching in the evening... but my engine died (or it stalled) and I made it to the couch.... and that was the end of my productivity!!

I feel like we got so much done - its a great feeling - not quilty related at all  ..

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Prepping for a future finish! and!! Finished (or not) Friday

I am prepping for a finish this week!  You have to do that right?

This last weekend we had a 2 day shooting competition and it was a blast!! ( literally too)  But! we leave before sunrise in the morning and get back rather late each night, still have to do chores, prep for the next day - and by Sunday night - I just don't think about quilting . But Come Monday... haha!!

So this week - I got to Prep for a future finish: 

Can't wait to finish it and choose the binding and Show it off!!

I also Got Block 2 of the Alison Glass QAL done:

This is kind of fun to dig in the pile of scraps and see if I have what will work for the colors. Not sure I nailed it - but I love it... so we will take it haha

I had a craving for Chocolate , and we had vanilla ice cream, so I learned how to make Hot Fudge (ish) from scratch. My Husband decided he would marry me all over again ....

And... I made an unplanned trip to Scottsbluff NE.... about 3 hours from me, and about 4 hours from my sons Current project. That was about as * meet in the Middle* as we could get.

He had to move into an area where they didn't want dogs - so!!! I got my third Baby back!!! She's such a good little traveler - she curled up on the seat next to me, and snored the drive back home  away.   

Alright Peeps!! What did you Finish (or not) This week? Share away - tell others to join in!! and Visit away!!

Please remember to use your direct link to the SPECIFIC post ;-)

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The two most visited posts last week were :

Sew Preetis post on her Monsoon Quilt and:

Tina's Quilts from Kat and Cat Quilts

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Fall Fortnight Placemat Hop! Falling Leaves Placemat ( Free pattern)

 Good Morning!!!

I am so excited that I get to participate in the Fall Fortnight Placemat Blog hop!!

It is being hosted by Carole of From My Carolina Home 

If your new to my blog - Welcome!! It's nice to meet you!! I hope you will leave a comment so I can visit you too. And make sure you come back on Fridays - I host * Finished (or not) Fridays* - where we can all show off what we did during the last week!!

My Placemat Project is:

And of COURSE!! I used plaid on the back haha!!

I also used up a bunch of my 2 1/2 inch square scraps!!  It measures 12 in x 18 inches - which is just the perfect size for Meals on Wheels.  Carole is collecting placemats for her local Meals on Wheels - and if you choose to make a placemat or two she would LOVE to have you send them to her for her local MOW!

Alright - are you ready?

For each leaf you will need 

7  - 2 1/2 inch Squares for the *Leaf* and 

6  - 2 1/2 inch Square of Background 

on FOUR of the background squares, you will mark a line right down the Diagonal.

You will then stitch just to the outside of that line - and trim the small edge off. 

That way when you press open - you make a 2 1/2 inch Half Square.  Becuase these are so small - I threw the waste away - you are welcome to stitch another line and make teeny 1/2 squares as a bonus...

Lay your pieces out like so - and stitch. I do them like a nine patch - make three rows, Iron the seams the opposite of each other so they nest, then sew the three rows together.

After i have the block sewn - I trim it up to 6 1/2 inches - and make 5 more blocks!!

You will have a total of 6 leaves:

Lay the Leaves out like so - and stitch together/

You will notice that  a few of my leaves are scrappy - I used like values, but didn't have enough squares to finish the leaf - so I improvised,

Press it very well and quilt!

I used Pellon 80/20 batting . It lays very nice and flat. Quilt it and!! Bind!!

I'd love to see yours if you do make one! 

If you would like this as a pdf - Click here  Falling Leaves Placemat

This was a fun one to participate in. Back in 2021 I did a placemat project as part of my Rainbow Scrap challenge. Taking the finished placemats ( I think I ended up with about 100) to Meals on Wheels was very rewarding. You can take a gander at them thru this link Placemat project

******Blog Hop links *****

Carole at From My Carolina Home - Placemat Blog Hop and Charity Project

Diann at Little Penguin Quilts - Fall Fortnight Placemat Blog Hop
Mary Ellen at Quilt Mouse - A Blog Hop with Fall Fortnight 2026
Vicki at Colorways by Vicki -Placemats for a Cause
Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl - Fall Leaf Block & Placemat Tutorial
Kathy at Sewing Etc - Fall Placemats
Mary at Stitchin’ Grandma - Fall Placemat Tutorial
Kathleen McMusing - Maple Leaf Placemats
Alycia Quilts - Fall Fortnight Placemat Hop  ( thats Me!!!)

Hope to see you back on Friday!

Linking up to:

Wednesday Wait Loss at Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at Quiltery

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Fall Fortnight and Leaders and Ender Star Blocks

 Earlier this year I decided to make these star blocks for my Leader/Enders as I stitched...  

Now is the time to see how far I am - and how many blocks I need to make, and what colors I should concentrate on -you know.. all the things.

Imagine my surprise when I laid them out - and this is where I was: 

Imagine my surprise when!! I had enough!! I actually have one extra block but its white with a Blue star - what was I thinking when I did that one?

Now comes the part of adding the sashing stars: 

So now those in betweens are the leader/Enders but!! I may not take it off the design wall so I can keep track... maybe.... 

Now!! Have you heard that it is FALL FORTNIGHT???   Carole over at My Carolina Home is hosting a blog hop called FALL FORTNIGHT - and!! I am on the schedule for Wednesday - but go check it out every day... She has some AMAZING things lined up!!

Fall Fortnight BEgins

She has TWO WEEKS of amazing projects and goodies and sponsors - and wow!! what a lot of work Carole has put into thois - I hope you'll jump over each day and see whats up!!!

Linking up to:

• Design Wall Monday
• Monday Musings
• Sew n Tell

Oh and Update on the manicure - we are 10 days and still going strong. I even had a competition this weekend and saddled and unsaddled and made messes and got dirty and... they are still looking good!

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DNP QOV Finish and!! FInished (or not) Friday

Happy Friday!!!

A bit ago QOV went to Chevron and we had such fun .. this is the first Quilt created from that sew day.. and!! It is all quilted now - ready to go to it's binder.

I also have another top made - so you'll hopefully see that soon

I had that Flag and Star Panto at the ready - so thought I would use it again on this quilt... and !! You recognize the backing right?   Told you I was in love with it - and will use it a lot!!

I am loving how these quilts are turning out. So!! I had a sew day with my Pieceable Friends Quilt guild too - I cut enough for 4 quilts thru them - we got a TON of blocks done and a half quilt -  and for Chevron I cut enough for 4 quilts - 

My QOV group has a lot of stitching to do to finish up all that I cut - but we should have added 8 more quilts to our inventory. Glad my friends like to stitch the crazy things I come up with haha!!

Alright - your turn:

How did your week go? Did you have a chance to finish something or move it forward?

Share the direct link to your post for us all to visit and cheer you on!

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PS - Did you have a favorite post last week?  I decided to look at the stats - these are the Two that were the most looked at last week ( thru this link up)

I LOVED them both!!

Garden Blocks    and Stack and Whack Spinners

Have fun!!!

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FireWorks!!

 This has been the year of some amazing groups wanting to help out in our Quilts of Valor Efforts - Earlier this year I spoke at the League of Northern Colorado Quilters and! We had a sew day...

it was a blast : Read about it here.

I had tops, I had blocks... and this week!!

I got to Quilt one of the tops!!

Isn't this just fun!! I love the texture that comes out - and all the flags waving with the stars. I found a SUPER cool backing fabric - and yes... I did buy the whole bolt!!

I loved it - and I have enough QOV's to quilt  - I will probably use it all!

 ( I just realized the photo is upside down... just flip your monitor haha)

We made Three tops that day - this is 1 of the 3 - so you will see a few more!! 

Alright - it is Prime Deal Days... I have been so interested in a red light therapy thing for a long time. I don't have a lot of experience with them - but have used them at my massage place. I hear that they are good for sore muscles and healing. 

I have hit that age where my hips hurt - a lot... So I am jumping in and on deal days buying one: 

This one dropped $30 bucks for deal days: 

medisana Red Light Therapy for Body  if you have any experience let me know - I will be excited to try it and see if it really does help. Also - My Ankle/Foot is still in the healing phase ( it is SOOOO slow) maybe it will help there too?

I did get this Vibration plate last fall - and I use it a lot, it helps with the puffiness and surprisingly if you use it at low speeds , relaxes my back... ( its 20% off for deal days)

And a funny, Just in case my Grandbaby gets to come this way.. I got diapers haha!! They were on sale!! and!! if she doesn't come here, I can just pack them for when I visit.  

BTW - I walk 5-6 miles a day, I do my chores, I do stretches, any other suggestions to help with hip pain - I will take them ...

Linking up with
Wed Wait Loss at Inquiring Quilter

Put your foot down at A quiltery

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A new Panel

 My goal at the End of July was to use August as a *get er Done* Month - I wanted to at least get 4 finishes finally finished - and!! I actually did it - and I moved a lot of projects forward. 

I have tried not to let anything *new* into my Sewing area... not into the house... just the table that I sew at. ( you have to have boundaries you know 😏)

In perusing the piles at my sewing table - I see that I still have more of the QOV Block of the year. I do have more in our QOV boxes  - but for some reason these ended up on my sewing table.

What is a girl to do?

I had to start playing around!!!!   I laid this out and am sort of *Studying* it for a minute. I think I need to replace one of the red blocks on the bottom with a blue block - and then figure out how I want to build the panel up to the blocks.

Do you just love that panel?

Also I joined in on the Alison Glass Community Quilt a long - its a play on color - and I love color - so! I got the first block done:

 

I think you can join in at anytime - 

Here is the link: https://alisonglass.com/

and the last thing... I got a manicure.

I haven't had one since I was 18 and my mom made me go get pretty for a wedding haha!! So!! things have definitely changed.

The Manicurist was SO nice - but I was kind of surprised when she said this should last for 3-4 weeks.

My Question? Do they really?

I did it Friday. I rode Saturday, I saddled, unsaddled, worked in the trees and actually did dishes - so far so good - but really? Will it last 3 weeks?

What do you think? Advice?

Linking up to:

• Design Wall Monday
• Monday Musings
• Sew n Tell

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RSC Blocks and Finished ( or not) Friday!

 I did it!! I caught up on my RSC Blocks.

You know - there are not that many that I needed to make to finish the idea I have in my head, but Lawsy Mercy - did that seem to be an OBSTACLE!!!! 

Finally - I sat down and dug thru my scraps and made Piles..

I made sure I had enough pieces, grabbed a glass of water ( you must stay hydrated while working this hard) and got to work!

You might notice my little corner squares are even scrappy! I had tons of little yellow odds and ends and I thought this would be a great place to use them.

Forgot how much time that can take... Time well spent tho.. 

My stress level and heart rates went down ( right?)

Then I realized that that was AUGUSTs!! Color - and SEPTEMBER was mostly over .. so I went and looked up the September color - that is PURPLE... And I had to dig in to that color too. 

Why lose the momentum?

Now Purple is done - I am ready to start working on the next step!

How was your week - Did you get all you wanted worked on? are you prepping for fall and winter? Our garden did not produce as much this year as it did last year, so I don't have as much canning to do. Not complaining - last summer - I think I canned enough for two years!!

Link up your direct post link and let us cheer you on!!

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The last September QOV presentation

 We were also lucky to have a presentation at our Sew day on Sunday

so fun to have our Vets come see us in action and then be able to honor them.

We always have a lot of guests - but this one... Holee cow - there was hardly any room - I love that SO much!!

We had :

Navy Vietnam - and Reservist - His quilt was wrapped around him by his daughters - is was so sweet.

Airforce  Navigator : Bronze Star, Flying cross, and many others -with 3 combat tours to Vietnam.

Army Vietnam: Silver Star for extraordinary heroism in close combat. I was allowed to read his whole story from his military record. I was quite honored he allowed us to share.

Army Korean conflict and Vietnam

Army Vietnam: He was a replacement in the 25th infantry during the invasion of Cambodia. Awards include the "Cross of Gallantry " Bronze Star and the Army Commendation medal with 2 oak laves ( means it was awarded 3 times) 

Army  Vietnam - His quilt was made by his sister and she drove from the western slope to see it be awarded ( oh the pressure!!) It was so awesome to see

Navy  OEF - Three tours to Iraq and quite shy!

I love being a part of these! We are on a little break for a week or two - I only have 2 presentations in October. Which is quite good - I need to catch up on the washing and prepping of Quilts!!  haha

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Pumpkin Spice Season

 I don't drink Coffee so I am not a part of the Pumpkin Spice Latte phase... but!!

I decorated for Pumpkin spice season 

Pulled out my Orange Quilts!! I was tempted to pull the Halloween ones too - but!! I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet.

Also - I read a book!    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

"Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn's story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways."

and!!!  I posted this on my Quiltygirl FB page - and holee cow - Love that Quilting is still alive haha

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