Pillowcase Party Part 3

These are the rest of the pillowcases that have come in from our Pillowcase party! Boy - when these Heartstringers get to sewing -there is NO Stopping them!
This top photo that Blogger rotated funny is from Peggy T in NC. This gives you a totally different view of Pillowcases huh?
These 4 are from me. I made 10 that weekend and had more cut out, so I finally finished them yesterday - about time wouldn't you say?These 15 came all the way from the UK! Dianne made them and sent them over. Thanks Dianne!
These 16 are from Mary J - our fearless ring leader. She is in Minnesota... but doesn't have the MN accent yet.... just wait!
These 3 are from Marianne - they accompanied 2 quilts that she made and Mary Quilted - so you had better check back to see the quilts. After all this is a pillowcase post!These 15 are from Jackie M - She has also sent in some lovelyQuilts
These Two came in from Susan M in Massachusetts. Are you all impressed by the many locations that things come from? I certainly am!

This one is from Sue - and can you believe I forgot to write down the state - and of course have thrown away the packaging. So Sue.... if your out there - let us know where you are from. (please)

These 7 came from Betty E - again - I forgot to write down from where. But Just look at thse fabrics. I love them!

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Actually I have really loved all the fabrics. I guess you could say I have never met a fabric I didnt like! But these were fun, the boys loved checking them out too. Entertained us for days. Okay - back to playing video games with the kids. We have thought about New Years Resolutions - and the only one they all agree on is that we need to eat more chocolate and play more video games.... kind of suspicious - don't ya think??

Quilts for a Tuesday!

Beware! - your eyes are in for a great treat! Beautiful quilts!! I never get tired of looking at them - do you?

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First up I have this beautiful Pinwheel quilts in from Rebecca T. She also sent in pillowcases from our heartstring's

Pillowcase Party . I am loving this quilt - I love how the inner pinwheels are different colors than the outer pinwheel! Thanks Rebecca!

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Next up we have this lovely bargello quilts - Fresh in from Louisana! Made by Ruth B - I am thinking the pattern is probably from Bonnie at quiltville.com - her scrappy bargello. I LOVE that quilt!! I think this one turned out great in patriotics - Thanks Ruth!!

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The next two quilts hail from the western part of the United States - from Liz in Washington. She tells me they have been getting some snow this winter, and that the area is just not used to it. Not enough snow plows to keep up with the snow. That would be when I would not want to work outside the house, and stay home and quilt!!

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The first one is a dissappearing 9 patch, I really have to make on of these. I love how the fabrics get mixed up. And there is a close up of the quilting.

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This next quilt - I believe she told me it was made from a jelly roll. But I could be making stuff up - you can never tell! Isn't it just wonderful?


I love love love the border fabrics!!

Thanks so much Liz! Enjoy the snow!!

What was in the crockpot?

Chicken Cordon Bleu - from this recipe at crockpot365.com
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/08/crockpot-chicken-cordon-bleu.html
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I would love to take all the credit for it....so i will LOL! Nope - it was hers and it was good. I used an organic gluten free cream of chicken that I found in the organic section at King soopers. And I think the can was 16oz, and I should have only used 1/2 of it. The chicken was kind of floating when it was finished. But it was good. Everyone ate there's and asked for more. Thats a good sign around here!

Finished QOV's

There are days when I think - man I am one organized dudette, and then there are Mondays... well maybe it doesn't even have to be a Monday - maybe just an unorganized day pops up. Today is that day. I am no where near getting my list all done, and I keep being sidetracked by other things. Oh well, the least I can do is blog, right?
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I quilted these two quilts. The first one was made by my Mom , and I used the Wild at Heart panto by Jodi Beamish. I like how it turned out.
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The second one is made by Gail - in my quilt guild. I have Diana Phillips "Flower Power" book, and I tried to pretend I knew what I was doing and quilted this one. I think it turned out okay. http://www.heartbeatquilting.com/cozy-creations.html . You can find it at that link.

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The next two quilts were quilted by Martha S in Destin Florida. The quilts were able to take a warm vacation, while we recieved snow. Lucky dudes!!

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Anyways this first one was from the Miracles Group in Denver. http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2008/10/miracles-sewing-group.html

These ladies made 12 quilt tops and they are all wonderful.

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The next one was made by Audrey - one of the Livermore quilters. I don't know if you can tell from the photo or not, but is has a really neat pattern to it.

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If you are interested you can click on the close up and see more detail of the quilting. Martha did an awesome job. I sure appreciate the help Martha!! Enjoy the sun.!

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Alright - I am off to do more stuff on the list! I did manage to get borders on 3 quilts, now I think I need to find backings and get them ready to quilt. I also managed to get dinner in the crock pot - so no one will starve... so thats progress right?

Colorado Quilts for Soldiers

Oh boy - the Colorado Quilters sure have been busy! These first three came from Carolyn in Craig CO. And were quilted by Lin Yost. I am betting that they are experiencing some snow this weekend! Great for getting inspired to make quilts!

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This next one also came from Craig - it is from Ellen P.

I am thinking that both Carolyn and Ellen did some sewing together. I love both of the star quilts, and the colors are both so beautiful. Interesting to see how different color ways can change the look of a quilt.

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This last quilt came in from Kim in La Junta.

I haven't checked the weather there - but she in on the south eastern end of the state - and have been known to get some big snow storms. This quilt is a collaboration between Kim, her daughter Alicia, and their friend PJ. Thanks!!

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Hope you all enjoy seeing these quilts too. I think they are just lovely! I have been having a great Saturday. The kids have stuff to play with, and they have been having fun. Wrangler Man is working in his office/recreation room. He moved a gun cabinet up into his office. It was from my dad, and I had been using it for fabric storage. I cleaned it all out about a year ago, but forgot to check the bottom drawer. Today, I found a bag of fabrics in that drawer, that I had been saving to make an I Spy quilt. Since I couldn't find them, I thought I had passed them on..... oops! So now I have them by the couch to sort thru. I also finished up some odds and ends around my sewing table... and took pictures!

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Oh - and http://knotsandbolts.com/ is having a 25% off sale, and they have some FQ bundles that I have been eyeing.... I am thinking now might be the time.....

Catch up and Questions

Oops - I missed two photos of quilts that came from the Stitch Witches... I am so sorry. I sort my photos in my camera by date, and forgot to look at the next day.... the pics were there!

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I even took a close up of the quilting on one - I thought some of you long arm or hand quiters might like to see some of that detail .

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Questions:

Sometimes I get them in Comments - sometimes in emails - so I thought I would try to answer a few tonite. That way I can sit on the couch longer and make it look like I am working really really hard!

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Question Number 1:

alycia, I have a bunch of quilt tops done, but should I send them to you, or are there some long arm quilters who I could send them to instead to save you some postage? Your list of quilt tops isn't getting much shorter. I want to help out, but I can't really quilt the bigger sized quilts on my little setup. I also don't know anybody local who would quilt them for free for me.

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Well - there are a couple of ways to do this. Go ahead and send them to me, and I will get them done, or get them to some other wonderful LA'ers who will.

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Or TWO: You can contact QOVF via the website - http://www.qovf.org and request a Longarmer. You can let them know that you would like them quilted and sent on to me . They can come to me unbound as well as someone will get them bound.

**Now about that quilt list - it is getting done I promise. I have pics of quite a few, I am getting them bound and will then move them up in the finished list. Every quilt with a * next to it is either at a LA'er, pinned for my machine, or at a binder. *I promise - scouts honor*

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Question 2:

Can you use anything?

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Time ( LOL) . Seriously...Chocolate! No again - Kidding.... - So far I am doing pretty well. I am going thru the backing and batting. Those would be the biggest things. But really - you all are so amazing with all the support and quilts coming it - this is great!

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Question 3:

Is your Grammas donut Recipe a secret?

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Well I have never asked. So I will ask the cousins and get back to you. They are really very good, but if a Krispy Kreme ever moves near me, you might find me there - a lot!

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Question 4:

How many kids do you have?

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Three - want one? Just kidding - I will keep all of them. All three are boys - they are a blast. But they eat - A LOT!! There are never any leftovers, which is good. I don't like leftovers. But on that same note - my chocolate mysteriously dissappears... its rough I tell ya!

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I think that gets me up to the questions that I have recieved. I appreciate the attention! Hope you all have recovered from Christmas. Our floors are now visible, I have found the table and all is good in our house! Have a great one!

Quilts from The Stitch Witches of LA

Its Christmas Eve!! Yay - I think the kids are ready to burst. They want to open all the presents now, and they just can't wait.
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Wrangler Man is out getting some last minute foods. We eat a lot of fresh food, so it doesn't last very long. And I really don't like to shop all that much. So he volunteered... that gives him lots of points in my book! Okay - I need to re-phrase that - I don't like shopping for things that are not fun, so basically the quilt shops and I are on a first name basis. The grocery store - well the photo counter people are my new friends. They love ( I mean LOVE) to look at all my quilt pictures! But the rest of the time I am good here at home.
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These are the last photos of the quilts from The Stitch Witches. They are a busy bunch, and did such a wonderful job!! It has been such fun to take pictures of each quilt. They all have something different about them, and are just beautiful!!
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I really like all the color combinations. I have been saving Black and White fabrics for a quilt - still hidden way back in the I want to section of my mind. A few of these quilts stirred up my memory again!

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Hope you all have a wonderful Merry Christmas! My parents are on there way. My inlaws have at arrived at Wrangler Mans sisters house. So tomorrow we will all be heading over there for dinner.
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Cooking and the ER

Our little 4-H group adopted 2 families for Christmas this year. Being in a small town it is easier to coordinate things thru the police dept, and our leaders worked it all out that we could make food, and dinner and they would come pick it up to deliver for us, along with some gifts.
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So we all met to do the cooking. We were assigned the cookie baking. That's my favorite - and we thought we could do that well. We made 8 dozen chocolate chip and sugar cookies.
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Some of the kids were playing (although I am not sure I would call that playing!) and my poor middle son got his hand smashed in the door. He came running in to me just gushing blood and 2 of his fingers were flattened. I wrapped his fingers tightly in paper towels, told the kids to grab jackets, told the leaders we were leaving and headed into the emergency room. Of course - the only thing I had with me was my camera - no insurance card, no money, no cell phone.... good thing Wrangler man had his wallet.
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We spent 3 hours in the ER, had x-rays of his hand. The Docs were so surprised that his bones were not crushed, just one had a tiny fracture. But he will lose 2 fingernails - and they should grow back. They had to puncture the nail to relieve the pressure on both fingers.
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We not only had a RN nurse, a Doctor, but also an EMT. I think he was my favorite. Oh - all of them were male - my son LOVED that! The EMT has a 2 and 4 yo boy, and was so kind. So the fingers are all wrapped up in finger gauze, and he has to keep his hand elevated for 24 hours.
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Needless to say - it was an interesting night. And the boys who pushed on the door, rather than letting him out are on my worst possible list to have. But we do not need surgery.... so that is the best news!
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Since I had my camera my son and I took various pics of the ER and he said I could share this one. Note to self: Next time you are in a painful situation give son the camera. Stops the tears!!!
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Have a great day - we have a little snowcoming down, a little shopping to do, and a little ( very little) cleaning to do!

Adventures and Quilts!

Friday night we were treated to a real French Chef and his cooking team. We went to some friends' house, while my Mom watched my children. I think we got the better deal.... are you recovered yet Mom? Although they did get to watch Kitt Kittredge and I hear it was very good.

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Anyways - this chef prepared a 17 course meal as we all stood around in the kitchen and watched him cook. He answered every question that was thrown at him, and he never made a mistake. It was quite impressive. I am a pretty basic eater, and not real brave when it comes to new things. I gave it my best shot, and was pleasantly surprised. My favorite item was a Pumpkin Ravoli in a butter and Pine Nut sauce. Plus we learned a lot about wine, again not something I know about - I know how to pick a good grape juice!

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We woke up to a very cold and windy day - but the boys wanted to go Ice Fishing. So I drove them all ( Dad included) dropped them off and went shopping! I was the smart one. I got a little bit of shopping in - I found a Gluten Free store and thought I would check it out. Grabbed Burgers for them and drove back to the lake - they were frozen and starving. I was the favorite parent of the moment when I pulled the burgers out!
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Here are Three more quilts from the Group in Louisana. The Stitch Witches. They are all wonderful. The one with the orange in it is a little brighter than the photo and very cheery! The applique is just gorgeous. Since thats something haven't tackled yet I studied it!

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For those of you who guessed about the difference in the pillowcase pictures - a new couch - you were right. We have saved for 15 years for a new couch - and the time finally came. I was pretty excited!! I think they look pretty good.

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Have a great evening. The wind is howling and a storm is moving in.. so everyone stay warm.

Pillowcase Party Part 2

More wonderful pillowcases! I tell you this party was a great party!! Because - even after this post there are MORE to show you!!!
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These two patriotic ones are from Julia in Nebraska.






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These bright ones - are from Rebecca T - I think she and I have some of the same fabric tastes! I love the brights and the swirlys!








The picture that blogger did not turn, or maybe it did turn - either way its funny... those pillowcases came from Liz in Washington. She also sent two quilts with there own pillowcases , so be sure to come back to see those!




And these patriotic pillowcases came from Barb B - She has sent in some quilts previously. So I thank you all for the great support.
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Does anyone notice anything different in the pictures? This will test you observation skills.....
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Have a good one, its time to head back to the quilting machine!

Pillowcase Party

The weekend after Thanksgiving the Heartstrings group - http://www.heartstringsquiltproject.com/ had a pillowcase party. You could make pillowcases and donate them anywhere you wanted - and Quilt of Valor was a big recipient. Let me show you some of the pillowcases.... there were so many I may make 2 seperate posts!!! This was awesome!

These 2 are from Joan B in MD

These are from Carmen in CA
These are from Mary O in Florida

These are from Nancy E

These are from May S in NJ