Pillowcases, Emergency Suppies, and More Snow!

Pillowcases arrived in a huge packed box that was very very heavy to carry.... The Pride City Quilt Guild in Pueblo has been very very busy!!! Please note - this is not my backyard - mine is significantly whiter and muddier.... but I am willing to trade!!

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In another box was a great stash of fabrics from Nancy in MA... plus a little box of emergency supplies. How did she know it would arrive just in time for the Blizzard of Oct 09? Wrangler Man wanted to know what he had to do to break into some of those emergency supplies.... I handed him a rotary cutter and a ruler!

In yet another wonderful box - some pillowcases from Susan in Loveland. I wonder if she got snowed in as well. I heard that the first part of the storm was worse in the West.

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And Friday was another snow day. The blizzard left some pretty big drifts all around. I think that we could have made it to school if we had to. Since we got a call Thursday nite cancelling school we didn't even try. Instead we made snow forts and watched the snow melt. I mean MELT - it really did. The 4 ft drifts are about 18 inches now. On - what we call our lawn- the drifts are still pretty high, but I think that is because it catches everything.

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Hope you all have a good weekend planned. Probably by the time Blogger lets me add my pictures the weekend will be over - but I will keep trying! ( whoo hoo only 8 hours later...)

Snow

Is coming down in buckets and the wind is blowing directly from the north at 35-45 mph... we have a blizzard warning. School is cancelled. So what did we do? Try to play in it. Until our faces hurt. I think it took 20 minutes. Hot chocolate was beckoning!! Quickly!!!

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It has been snowing for almost 36 hours straight.
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Do you think they will cancel school again tomorrow? I am ready. We have a few DVD's to watch. We have cookies that we could make. We have 2 gallons of milk - we should be set for a day or two right?

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Wrangler Man made it home from California - so I have someone to share chores with ( or more like make him do them ALL). He is clearing the road at the moment so in the off chance we need to go someplace we can at least get out. I made it up and down the road in the pickup, but his car didn't want to go. Smart car!

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Hope you all are having fun!

Laying out our quilt tops

We borrowed the gym floor, got into our quilt groups and away the kids went... laying out the quilt designs of their blocks.
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I think they had fun, I had fun watching and listening to everyone discuss the colors and layouts, and then watching them step back and look, then go rearrange them again.
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after the class was done with laying out the quilts - the kids had to go back to class and do some serious learning! And I pinned the quilts together so they can sew them. Did you know that the ground gets farther away each time you have to get up ?
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I am sure I have mentioned this .. but I have a 5th grader this year and it is really fun watching him to. He is already a quilt maker, so I like watching him listen to everyone else, and also offer his opinion.
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I think 5th grade is a hard year for kids. They are trying to be adults, and trying to stay kids, and a lot of times aren't willing to listen to others' opinions, or figure out ways to assert their own opinion. Sometimes they assert their opinion in a not so nice way, or a name calling way. I don't like this at all. My favorite phrase that I overheard from a student - " My that is interesting, but what about....."
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So how do we teach them all to listen? Figure that out and you could have a best seller on your hands *grin*
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It was a fun morning... and the quilts are going to look good. They have a good eye for color and design. Now maybe they will share some of their tips with me!
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Have a good night - and stay out of the snow!

More Finished Quilts of Valor

I have to be honest and tell you that life with my kids right now is nuts. They are going in 42 different directions and all at the same time. I think I have seen a lot of windshield time in the last month.

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My oldest son is a Drummer in the band and the Band made it to the State competition. Which required a 5 hour practice this weekend, leaving at 4am on Monday and returning at 1am yesterday. The poor kids... I bet the bus was not a comfortable place to sleep. But they won third place - so were extremely excited! I guess all the work paid off!!

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These first two quilts on the right were made by Miracles in Denver, and quilted by Cathie and her friend in St George UT. I am so appreciative of all the Long Arm support for this project!! They did a wonderful job.

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The next two quilts were quilted by me. The Log Cabin was made by Mary M. It was a alot of fun to quilt, as she had taken one of my scrap buckets, and this was what came out if it. So as I was quilting I could remember all the fabrics! A great walk down memory lane!!

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The Next one was made by Audrey in Livermore. I really liked the color combinations that she used for this quilt. The Stars pop really nicely.

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Well I guess it is back to work - Got to go pick up those kiddos from school. Hope you all have a great one!

Scraps Winner

The weekend goes by way way to fast....

The Winner of the scraps is Joanne over at http://nappinnanaquilts.blogspot.com/ so Joanne email me your addy and I will get the scraps off to you to make something wonderful with.!

Longmont Quilt Show

Last weekend was the Longmont Quilt show at the Boulder County Fairgrounds - in Barn A - which I couldn't find until the nice man said " See that barn with an A on it?" Huh- you mean you are supposed to read signs???

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It was a very nice show - their guild had a lot of awesome quilters. And Jeananne Wright was there doing talks on Bedturning and antique quilts. She had some on display. Oh my! She said she has probably over 600 quilts. So for those you say you don't need any more - this is proof that THEY ARE WRONG!!! You always need another quilt!

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Two of the Three boys went with me, because they think I will get lost or come home with too much fabric if they don't, and Wrangler Man thinks they can keep my in line.... Just kidding! The show was kind of slow first thing in the morning - till everyone had their morning coffee. About 10 am it was a rocking and a rolling.... so what do 2 boys do until people are there?

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In the afternoon I sent my middle child out with the camera - and he got some great shots of the quilts.... and he said I could share them with you.... so here ya go:

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The first one is a watercolor quilt with applique's on it. The lady that made it sat next to us for a while. She was very very nice.

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The Stars one with the Red and White stripes is a Buggy Barn Pattern - K thought that would make a great Quilt of Valor.






This dog one was too funny - there is a corn dog, a hot dog, a bird dog! Too cute!

I am off to a science Magic show - and then football. So when we get home tonite we will draw the winner of the scraps - and spend the weekend tallying up the votes... and testing them. The scrap pile has grown quite a bit, cuz I spent more time sewing this week then quilting. Must have needed it... especially if I wanted to find my cutting table again.....

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See ya tomorrow!

From Sherrill in Texas

These quilts came all the way from Texas and didn't bring an ounce of sunshine with them!! Good thing they are bright and sunny, and will bring some sunshine to a wounded soldier!!
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Seriously - I am thinking of getting under all of them... its cold here today! And its kind of snowy -ish rainy-ish!
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Back to the quilt - aren't they impressive?
This first one was made by Sherrill. Really really neat,
The other three - 2 of them came from her church group, and one from a bee in her guild. Thanks for spreading the word Sherrill!!

Thanks for the suggestions so far on my QOV Sew Along Quilt of Valor. I really really do appreciate them. Sometimes I don't have an opinion about something ( rare I know) but I sure appreciate you taking the time to tell me yours. We are keeping track of what they say and then the boys say we will have to choose one.....

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Have a GREAT Day - don't get cold!

Chunky Churndash Tops

I rarely post Quilt tops before they are quilted - but I am in this case - because - I need an opinion, and mine at the moment may be the lazy opinion..... and you all know I am ALL about perfection and not laziness right? - If you believe that - you probably don't know me as well as you think you do!!So in order to get your honest opinion I am going to bribe you.... with scraps.... see that pile in the picture above.... give me an opinion, and on Friday I will draw a random number and send them to you - only if you want them. There are strips and odd squares in there! Who knows what fun you could have.... I have had a lot so far!!

Okay - so this (above) is my Chunky Churndash top from the QOV SEW ALONG 1. I did decide to make 2 tops with it - and this one is 54 x 64 with the little borders on it. My question - is it okay like that? Or does it need something else? What?

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The more I stare at it the more I really like it just as it is.... but.... am I being lazy? Does it need another border??? You tell me ( please) I am running low on chocolate and caffiene at this moment...

These Chunky Churndash Top's are one's my Mom made. I like the one with the flag in the center. She is getting pretty creative in her quilting - Go mom!

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Have a great one!!

Quilted by Pat

Ms. Pat - down in southern Colorado is a Longarm quilter extraordinaire! She helps with Firehouse Quilts - a group that makes quilts for the fire trucks and ambulances, she quilts for Quilts of Valor, and she is also an amazing quilt maker.

She took these two quilt tops for me and quilted them perfectly!! The one with the stars was made by my Sue. Sue wasn't a quilter for a long time, about 1 1/2 years ago she started quilting, and now she is hard to keep up with. You gotta love it. Plus she is a great fabric buyer, and sharer. (Hi Mom!!) The colors are wonderful. And the backing is flannel!

This Next quilt came all the way from the U.K. I love how you can meet people over the internet from so far away - yet they have the same hobbies. Dianne is actually from Texas, just living in the UK for like a thousand years. The quilt is adorable and will be great for a soldier.

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It is drizzley and dark around here this morning - one of those days that would be great to snuggle up to a fire and drink hot chocolate. Hope you all have a good one!

Pillowcases

Lots and Lots of Pillowcases- i LOVE it!!! And I am using them so fast!!!

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The first group of pillowcases come from Susan in Loveland CO. I met her at the Rocky Mtn Quilt Show at the Ranch in September. Boy oh boy does she work fast.... 11 pillowcases came my way!! They are wonderful.

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Then I recieved this box that was so stuffed, when I opened it ( very very carefully) it popped!! I honestly didn't believe a person could put so much into a box! 23 pillowcases from Aline in Texas. Again - they are awesome!! I love checking out all the fabrics!
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Speaking of Quilts shows ( I was! way up at the top - I promise!) I will be at the Longmont CO quilt guild second annual quilt show this weekend. It will be at the Boulder Co Fair Grounds in Barn A, from 9am to 5pm on Saturday the 17th. They are having a Quilt of Valor booth and I am going to be sitting in it. So if anyone wants to come say hi - please do - I would love to see you or meet you.

Back in the Groove

I hope! I am not sure where the last week went - I know that I did a lot of quilting, and sewing, and binding, and sewing with kids, and horse stuff, and swim stuff, and driving stuff, and homecoming games, and band practices, and homecoming dances... and now there is the laundry. Does laundry prove that we did something with our week?

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And others have been busy as well - look at these 4 wonderful Quilts of Valor from Pat at http://bellcreekquilts.blogspot.com/ I even took a picture of one of the backs... I LOVE backs like that!!

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Aren't these just beautiful?

Thank Pat for all your hard work!

~Oh - and we had SNOW!!! Who ordered the snow so early in the season?

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During the football game Friday nite - it was 20deg and 20 mph winds - then by halftime it was 15deg with the winds. So needless to say I watched the halftime show from the warmth of my pickup. I was lucky to find a spot where I could see it all and stay warm. My son was frozen. The other 2 boys stayed with me, as we had just come from swim practice. In the pool house - it was almost 85deg - a big change!!

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Have a great day... my horse shoer is driving up the road... back to work!

Far Reaching Effects

I was invited to a retirement party of a Chaplain ( and a Col. as well). I decided that I would defineatly go, but then the uncertainity came in. Every time I have been on post I have had quilts in my hand. In the rest of my life I am WM's wife, the kids' mom, the sister of G, the daughter of the R's , D-I-L of the C's and so on. So as the time came near to go to the party I got nervous.... so I made my Dad go with me. Good plan huh? That way if no one recognized me.... I had someone to make me look like I wasn't a nobody!!

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We were seated at a table with a lady who worked in Bereavement, 2 guys who worked on the behaviorial floors, and a few others. As soon as they all found out I was "the quilt lady" a few stories were leaked out. And they were good ones. The really cool thing is that these are kind of the "behind the scenes" stories that you normally wouldn't hear because they happen after the fact. And because many of the quilts get given out during the year, you never see who gets them. Which of course, is part of the plan, but a greater gift yet to hear the Effect of the Quilts.

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The lady said - "I need to tell you about a phone call I got. A Mother called me in tears trying to thank us for the Quilt of Valor that her son had recieved. The mother got a call from her son, he told her that of all of his belongings he was only concerned that the quilt get to her. He told her he was sitting wrapped up in it, and when he ended his life he wanted to make sure that she got that. The mother was able to call and get some people in there to her son, and catch the next flight to be with him. Thus saving his life."

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Well I'll tell ya - My Dad and I were a little speechless..............

Quilts of Valor

Both of these Quilts of Valor were quilted by Linda in Colorado. I met her thru QOV and then found out she didn't live to far from me. So of course, I begged, pleaded and cryed ( just kidding) and she has been Longarming lots of Quilts of Valor. She didn't need any begging - I was just teasing you.
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This top quilt was made by the Miracles group in Denver. The second quilt - I am embarrassed to admit - I can't remember who sent it in. I always pin notes to the tops and I think I had some help that day.... so the pin must not have got in. So if you made this quilt - please email me and tell me so I can get the label correct.

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It's kind of cool to see the quilt pile growing again. I wonder what I ever did with that space?
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On another note - I am learning to react better in a panic! We had a parent meeting last night for swim team, and 2 of my kids finished practice while we were in the meeting. So they were fed snacks. My middle child comes in and says C had a nut. Here's where I am proud - not only did I take off running.... I remembered my purse - with the Benadryl and Epi Pens.... Plus I didn't slam any doors, trip over anyone, or really even interrupt the meeting... I got out and ran like the wind to the pool. Stuck a benadryl tab on his tongue immediately, flushed his mouth out and voila - no epi pen needed.
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Then I sat back and thought - Wow - I should have considered being and ER doc... and then I remembered that they might have to see blood... and then I remembered why I like quilting so much...... well... the no blood thing and the hours are better!
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Hope you all have a good one!

Time Management

I have always had an issue with time management. Not so much as managing the time, as trying to do more with it! But I have had a revelation - an epiphany of sorts.... OutSourcing, Contract Labor..... or even better: FREE labor!

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You all may be aware of the many sew alongs, quilt alongs, Quilt for an hour, block drives, and exchanges on all sorts of lists and blogs. I want to do them ALL. But , alas, I cannot manage my time well enough to do them all and still get a little sleep, feed a few kids, do a little laundry and all those other "chores" that life makes us do. How come there is only 24 hours in a day... a Quilter did not plan this did they??>?

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So I have turned to FREE labor - out sourcing! ( I highly recommend it!)

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I really, really wanted to do the wonky log cabin blocks over at Quiltdad.com. So, I got all my strips and squares out..... and took them into the 5th grade!!! We are making these blocks as our practice blocks, getting used to the machine blocks, and attempting to sew a straight seam blocks.

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The coolest thing - the kids kind of automatically "wonk" them in their practice, so there is no need to "wonk" them on purpose!!!

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We will add sashing to them and voila - another Quilt of Valor for our soldiers!

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There is also a CFS class in the middle school. The 7th graders get to sew some neat projects, but they sewed too fast this last quarter. The teacher asked me what else she could teach that was quick.... umm. PILLOWCASES!!!

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Here's the cool way this worked. She had 20 students that needed something extra to do, I had a Friend that said she wasn't able to make any quilts at the time - could she buy fabrics... she bought... are you ready for this 20 yards of a patriotic fabric! So the fabric has been cut and made into pillowcases... just like that! Quite possibly this is the fastest I have EVER used fabric!

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What do you think of my outsourcing? Not a bad idea huh?

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You'll have to come back and see how our wonky log cabin turns out!

From Meredith in California

Meredith is MY kind of fabric shopper! Check out the color combinations on these Quilts of Valor! Aren't they awesome?
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Thank you Meredith for sending these our way!
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And I have to be honest - anyone who purchases fabric is my kind of shopper!
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We are starting to get some winter weather coming our way. My folks even had snow this morning. I am thinking that it may be time to turn the heater on, or add more quilts!
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