Quiltygirl Sponsored Quilts of Valor Show

Just so you know - this is almost the last post about the blocks coming in for the Big Blowout Block Drive. Any blocks that were not in my possession as of Tuesday morning will be listed on next weeks post... and then.... the drawings will begin!!!

So - we will have a block post finale on November 6th and winners will start being announced on Nov 8th... Keep checking back!!

And now a word from our Sponsor:

"That's me!!!
I purchased a long-arm machine 9 years ago (wow) and asked my children what my new business should be named.... the first suggestion was *Quiltygirl*  and so - my quilting business became *Quiltygirl*

You can find my website http://www.quiltygirl.com and you can even find some quilts for sale Here

and of course you can follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/QuiltyGirl

This has been such a fun journey, and I have learned so much over the years as my quilting skills have increased. I enjoy the process of enhancing each quilt that comes my way.

I take quilts to quilt through the mail, as well as in town. Each quilt that comes in is so much fun to work on - I love seeing the fabrics that quilters choose, and the designs they use. If you are interested in having a quilt quilted - you can always contact me through these websites. I try really hard to update the top right corner as to the times frames available.

Here is a Quilt of Valor that I just finished up - you may recognize the blocks??

 This was a fun one! I did some stars and wavy lines in the Stripes -so it gave it the look of blowing in the wind, and did more up and down lines in the blues.

 Thank you for allowing me to sponsor this block drive"


And now.... the blocks!!  ( this is a long list!!)

Liz in CO (120)
Rene in ONTARIO (35)
Wilson United Methodist Quilters in CO (21)
Sharon J in AR (40)
Cameron Quilters Senior Center (20)
Judy V in Thornton (25)
Wanda E in TX (20)
Kevin H in MO(80)   (he blogs at kevinthequilter.blogspot.com)
Bev B  in MO (100)
Mike P in MO (20)
The Fabricators in IA (80)
Maureen H in NY (1)
Margaret H in LA (5)
Barbara W in NJ (36)
Clair Y in NV (100)   ( plus she sent two boxes of color catchers... she must have known we will have a TON of quilts to wash - Thank Clair!!)

Here is the list of Sponsors again - hope you get a chance to check them all out. They have been so Generous!

Vicki Welsh Hand Dyes:     http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickiwelsh?ref=si_shop

Clothworks  :    http://clothworks.com/

Superior Threads:   http://www.superiorthreads.com/

Craftsy:  http://www.craftsy.com/

KimmyQuilt – Kim Brunner: http://www.kimmyquilt.com/

Waterpik :   http://www.waterpik.com/

Quilters Dream Batting : http://quiltersdreambatting.com/

Quiltygirl.com : http://www.quiltygirl.com

Patchwork Times: http://www.patchworktimes.com

Finished!! A Scrappy String Quilt

This is my second entry in Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival ( the first one is just below this post) AND!! it is hot off the Quilting frame, as in I took it off, trimmed it, and photographed it.  If you will remember I have wonderful friends that will bind this ;-)

I am entering it in the Scrappy Category. It is made of scrappy reds and firefighter fabrics that I used for a quilt for my dad ( A fire chief)

Here we are outside in the drizzly cold rain again. You know if I didn't want to take pictures it would have been sunny ;-)

 The good thing was the wind held the quilt against the fence... Always looking for the plus side!

A close up of the quilting - It was a lot of fun.

And the back...sometimes the back is just as much fun as the front!

 Another shot

And then the full shot on the ground in my house. It wasn't raining in here.

This quilt will be a Quilt of Valor, It is going to go to a retired fire chief, who is also a VietNam Vet. He will have it by Christmas!!

Go check out all the quilty eye candy at The Blogger Quilt Festival

BQF Two Color Quilt

Have you ever participated in Amy's Creative Side Bloggers Quilt Festival?

I haven't and thought I would try to join in this year. I have always had a lot of fun checking out everyone else's quilts.... so maybe this will make someone else smile.

I am entering this one in the Two Color Quilt Category.

I made this quilt from a Monochromatic Color Challenge issued by Patchworktimes.com. Obviously the color was yellow... and you were allowed to add one other color:

of course, I took it outside to see if I could do some *amazing* shots.... and it was raining, and overcast - so this is what you get. I like that the texture of the quilt shows up!

 Here is a little Close up of the quilting. I loved my piano key borders, I just wanted to break up the quilting in them.

And here it is laying on the floor - that way  you can see the whole quilt.

I am linking up to this page at Amys Creative Side. I think the voting starts on November 1st - so go check out all the yummy eye candy.

Design Floor Monday

I have been making these denim quilts - and they do not hang on the design wall well - they are quite heavy.

But they are also kinda fun- so here is the first one:

Someone asked me how I was making these - the first one is all 12 1/2 inch blocks, so if I had a piece of denim smaller than that I added until it was 12 1/2 inches..... the next one is a little different, but I am still in the layout phase  of it.

And on my Machine:

A string Quilt:

With my Quilters Dream Batting - so it gets a little puffy!

For more design walls head to
http://patchworktimes.com

For more Quilty Inspiration go HERE

Sunday Edition QOV show

Before I show you these GORGEOUS quilts - I have to tell you something funny... Little Bit loves to camp out, and last night he wanted to camp SO bad.... so Wrangler Man and he decided to brave the outside and camp.....   I went to take the dogs out at 6am (and also 32 degrees) and they were still OUT there.

The dogs got cold and came in, but the men did not.  The men are now sitting on the couch with almost every quilt we use on them, and the fire going, and hot chocolate.....they are crazy!!

So - On to today's Quilts!!

This first quilt was made by Elsie and Quilted by Lois Knight. I really think that Elsie is a master of using her scraps.

And of course she does use some yardage at time, but I bet she really wanted to add some scrappiness - this one is also pieced by Elsie and Quilted by Lois.

This strippy Quilt was pieced and quilted by Teresa R in CO. Teresa is a Fantabulous Quilter!!! She sees things in ways other quilters can't - I am so amazed.

 See the star and the bubbles? and the borders - oh my.....

This top was pieced by Sandra at Sew in Peace... and I forgot to write down who quilted it!! Shame on me!

 And why can't I go look you ask? It is already out for binding...... we are quick in this unit!

This quilt was pieced by Audrey of the Livermore Church Quilters. Audrey passed away a while ago, so I was glad to get the quilt back ;-)  She was a wonderful, giving woman and she LOVED to sew!!!

This one was made a quilted by Vicki Welsh  - And WOW!! Did it get a great response in our household!!

 I believe that she may be pretty darn good at this fabric Dying stuff! Don't forget she is one our our Big Blowout Block Drive Sponsors:  Here is her post!

Another one made and Quilted by Vicki - I love this one too!!

You can check out ALL that has been going on with the BIG Blowout Block Drive with this Link:
Big Blowout Block Drive

You can also come SEE me - if you are in HOUSTON - I will be in Booth 204 for festival - so come say hi to me...

Happy Sunday!!

Patchwork Times Sponsored Quilts of Valor Show

I am hoping that by now you are aware of this wonderful national recognition of Quilts of Valor - it was so cool to see, and I SO appreciate the emails that were sent to make me aware as well.

If you haven't seen it - head over there now... I'll wait ;-)

http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/21/21066936-quilts-of-valor-offers-warmth-to-wounded-soldiers

or

QOV on NBC nightly news

And now - A Word from our Sponsor - Judy at http://www.patchworktimes.com


"I want to start by thanking Alycia for all she does for the QOV program.  I know that she does it because she loves it but it is a lot of work.  So, thanks Alycia!  Thank you also to those who read my blog, participate in the QOV challenges, Quilt-Alongs and QOV mystery quilt projects.  By the way, I'm planning an intense Quilt Along for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  Details will be posted soon on my blog (http://www.patchworktimes.com).


In the early 80's, while wasting away a lunch hour, I walked into a little quilt shop in my home town (Lake Charles, Louisiana).  Having sewn all my own clothes through high school and college, I knew the basics of sewing but knew nothing about quilting.  At that time, it was all hand pieced and hand quilted.  I signed up for classes and was off and running. No one, myself included, would have guessed what a large part quilting would play in the rest of my life.

Some time between learning to hand quilt and moving to Kentucky in 1997, I began sending my tops out to be quilted by a longarmer.  There weren't so many of them back then and I had a difficult time finding a longarmer near me at our new home in Kentucky so I decided I would just get my own longarm.  I started out with a very old short arm and traded up several times and now quilt on an APQS Millennium.

With the longarming, though I no longer quilt for others, along with teaching quilting and writing three books,

Nine Patch Extravaganza,  

Weekend Quilts and

 60 Pieced Quilt Borders,

 all published by AQS, quilting has been not only a hobby but a career for me and I am so thankful to have been able to meet so many wonderful quilters and to do the things I've done through quilting.

The QOV program has afforded me the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much. Below are pictures of some of my recent QOV projects."

This one is from the New Years Day Sit and Sew- Click here for the Free Pattern

The one above is called Rolling - and Can be found here

This one is  Carpenters Star - and can be found here

Thank you SO much Judy!!!  

Judy is offering a copy of her book "60 pieced Quilt Borders"  and I have to tell you - Its awesome. She has an amazing way of making the most gorgeous borders!!!

SO.... onto the slew of blocks that came in this week:

Martha S in OK (42)

Sharon R in MD (5)

Gene B in AL (5)  Gene blogs at blog.geneblack.com  -oh my!

Barb C in OR (30)

Jean S in NE (20)

Marsha P in CA (30)

Kathleen M in MI (4)   ( ps Kathleen - they are perfect)

Lola S in NE (10)

Sally T in VA (50)  - she blogs at theobjectsofdesign.blogspot.com

Nancy S in CO (25)

Debbie B in FL (20)

Judy R in WA (30)

Lori M and Dona H in NV/CA  ( 224)

Anyone want to take a guess as to how many blocks have come in so far?

PS - Check out some of the tops that have been designed so far..

A HUGE thank you to all our sponsors.... and an even BIGGER thank you to all of you quilters!!!  

Mexican Fish

A few of you asked me what Mexican Fish is.... although Martha Stewart says that bloggers are not professionals... I will tell you what we call Mexican Fish.... and declare that I am not a cooking expert.

As a matter of fact - I am more of a cooking survivalist... I could survive on Dr pepper and chocolate, but apparently children need balanced meals... go figure;

Mexican Fish according to me:

I take about 6 pieces of a white fish – I used pike the first time as that’s what we had caught – and then another time I used tilapia, and white bass....

Lay it out in a dish, used about 1 cup of salsa and spread it over the fish

Cover with crushed tortilla chips

Sprinkle about 1 1/2 cups cheese over the top

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes

That’s it – and my kids eat it up!!

Monday Monday Monday

Boy oh boy- did Monday come TOO quick!! Or maybe I just had too much fun this weekend?

Saturday found us in Laramie at the CSU WYO game...Wrangler Man is an alum of WYO, and myself....CSU. This game is the Border War game - a big one for our Universities. However - We were to sit with the whole Wrangler Man Clan, and they said I couldn't sit with them unless I wore my WYO gear.... but I still had my CSU gear on, CLOSE to MY Heart.....

And I was not disappointed :  If  you will notice - CSU was 52.... and WYO.... was not ;-)

Here are my guys after the game....

And of course I had to get the score board with Wrangler Man in front - just to prove it at a later date...

And then on Sunday... we had a QOV Sew day... Here is what Sandi was working on:

And me... I got this whole one sewn, I just need to add some borders. Sue and I decided Polka dot would be fun.

Cowboy Bob was working on this one..

And I the others were working on Binding... I am pretty sure I counted 10 bound... Wow!!!

Today is back to the grindstone... I am working on Denim quilts for a client. They will be heavy and warm!!

For more Design Walls head over to http://www.patchworktimes.com

A Circle Quilt

First Question.... have you ever made a Circle Quilt?
Second..............have you ever quilted a Circle Quilt?

My client pieced this AMAZING Circle Quilt, and allowed me to quilt it. I was so excited, and nervous. I wanted to do it justice..... and not get dizzy at the same time.

I learned a lot about circle on this one!

 Isn't that just cool? The swirly is just so..... swirly. I quilted different colors in each swirl... so the back had a texture all of its own ;-)

Full view:

And just for Grins - this is a horse.... one of mine. She's a character! She follows you around until you give in and give her a horse cookie. She has me trained pretty well.... but I made her pose first!

for more friday finishes head to crazymomquilts.blogspot.com or confessionsofafafabricaddict.com

Quilters Dream Batting Sponsored QOV show

Quilters Dream Batting is our sponsor for today!!  I am going to show you a QOV I just quilted using their Dream Puff batting... I wanted to snuggle in it IMMEDIATELY.... but I didn't, I have self control like that!

Doesn't that just look snuggly?

A word from our Sponsor:
PS... grab a tissue... I promise you will thank me later.... seriously!!

From Kathy Thompson,
Owner of Quilters Dream Batting:

"I would like to thank Alycia for her tireless work on behalf of Quilts of Valor and for inviting Quilters Dream Batting to be a QOV sponsor and a guest blogger.  We are honored.

As guest blogger, I was originally going to write a promotional piece about all the wonderful features of Quilters Dream Batting, .... and how we really really hope you will use and love Quilters Dream Batting :))))

However ….instead... I thought I would share with you my personal story about the special meaning of receiving the gift of a quilt:

At just 32 years old, my beautiful son, Josh, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).   This cruel fatal untreatable disease has taken my kind, intelligent, athletic, hardworking son (can you tell that I ‘adore’ him?) to being totally paralyzed and unable to eat, speak, move or breathe.  Josh’s life (our lives) completely depends on life-support (mechanical ventilator, feeding tube, sheer will, and love).

To help raise awareness of ALS,  we started the annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.   The response and the generosity of quilters donating quilts for the benefit of ALS patients  has been truly amazing.   Since the Hopes & Dreams Quilts for ALS started, we have  sent thousands of quilts to desperately ill ALS patients.   Several participating quilters have called and written telling me that they would like for Josh to receive their quilt.  As touched as I have been at their kind offers,  I felt I needed to avoid any appearance of impropriety and thought it best not to give Josh a donated quilt.

Well... one day, about two years ago, UPS delivered a small package to Josh’s home. There was no return address. Inside this package was a small brown and green lap quilt.  The quilt is tied, it is not pieced.  The quilt front is a single piece of fabric with imprinted verses of religious hymns.  Attached to the quilt was this handwritten note: “Dear Josh, I am 88 years old and I wanted so much for you to have this quilt.  This quilt comes prayers of love, courage and hope… and I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.  I will think of you every day”.

 When Josh read the note – he cried.

Since receiving this special gift.... except when it is being laundered, this quilt is laying on Josh or beside him. For Josh, this sweet  ‘humble’ little quilt is the most special quilt in the world.   When his wife has gone to ‘fix’ up or refresh their room with bright new colors – no matter what she does - this little brown and green quilt along with Josh – is at the heart and center of their room –the heart of their home and our family's life.     We have no way of thanking our kind thoughtful anonymous quilter.   We can only hope she 'knows' how much her quilt has meant to Josh.

For me ... it is not only inspiring ...it is so sweet and special seeing Josh with this little quilt.   It reminds me of his heart and deeply kind sentimental disposition that is now, sadly, nearly impossible for him to share and communicate.

....So, if you are hesitant in sending in your blocks because you are not confident in your quilting, or you are concerned that the gift of your quilt or quilt block  will not be appreciated or will not make a difference  .. please keep in mind – Josh’s little quilt…. And the joy, comfort and love that your donated quilts can give and the love and care your quilt will receive by someone reminded that they are not forgotten, that they are not alone.

Please join and support Alycia in this wonderful QOV quilt block challenge. The quilts that will be created from this challenge will mean so much to the young military men and women who have served our country and sacrificed so much for our safety and freedom.

 I hope you will send your Quilts of Valor quilt blocks in today!!  "

Remember for every 5 blocks sent in, you get 1 chance to win a variety of prizes. Quilters Dream is offering 2 different prizes. the first is 3 twin size batts, and the second in 2 twin size batts. You will love them all - I promise!!

BLOCKS RECEIVED THIS WEEK:
Donna W in Vancouver WA (28)
Tuesday Quilters from Greene Co. IA (30)
Lori G Spokane WA (20)
Alison N in Cincinnati OH (15)
Diane H in Anchorage AK (50)
Andrea S in AZ (5)
Melinda in CT (51)
Ann G in MN (58)


Just wanted to show you another recipient. He lives about 6 hours from me, and our Arizona Coordinator happened to be driving through! So I met with her in this part of the state, and she met him in another part of the state!!

This is our Vet and his Daughter. He LOVED his quilt.  I was so tickled that this worked out so well!!

Please be sure to visit all our sponsors:

Vicki Welsh Hand Dyes:     http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickiwelsh?ref=si_shop

Clothworks  :    http://clothworks.com/

Superior Threads:   http://www.superiorthreads.com/

Craftsy:  http://www.craftsy.com/

KimmyQuilt – Kim Brunner: http://www.kimmyquilt.com/

Waterpik :   http://www.waterpik.com/

Quilters Dream Batting : http://quiltersdreambatting.com/

Quiltygirl.com : http://www.quiltygirl.com

Patchwork Times: http://www.patchworktimes.com

And to see how to join in the BIG BLOWOUT BLOCK DRIVE head over here:

http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/08/big-blowout-block-drive.html It has a list of all the prizes too.... and blocks turned in by October 30th are eligible - and the drawing will take place NOV 8th  - so get sewing!!