Goin' Fishin'

Some days you just need to get away and go Fishin' .....

So while they fished I checked the sky for clouds.... 

Then Little Bit caught a fish....

While they were fishing I scouted the area a bit, and went to get them.

They immediately passed me up.... and took off with out me

( I had the keys - it was all good!)

The river

The big Guy

The Middle Son

It was so nice to head home and cook fresh fish!!

They are so yummy that way.

Plus- they don't "let me" cook the fish - it's Mans Work!!

Yep!! I am all for that!

Quilts of Valor 2015

This last weekend was CRAZY!!!  BUT!!! I don't have all the photos yet, so I am waiting for those to come and then I will totally share - but the Semi Truck - was WAYYYYY cool!!

In the meantime - I hope you enjoy these Quilts of Valor!!

The first 6 Quilts are all from Meredith in AZ - and they are Quilted by Ron in NM

The cool thing about these quilts is Ron always quilts an American Symbol in the quilt.

When our soldiers pick the quilts up, I always try to point out the symbol

( I think I have more fun with that!!)

The Next three quilts come from the Wabi-Sabi Quilters

This first one was pieced by Mary and quilted by Pamela

This one was pieced by the group and quilted bu Sue and Kathy

This is a close up of the Eagle Block

Another one pieced by Wabi Sabi and quilted by Sue and Kathy

I think I told you we are covering a Women Veterans Event 

so this is a top that I found on Ebay a while ago, and

decided it should be quilted for this evert

Don't you just love how Quilts make you gather all around... and smile?

Enjoy your day!!!
Go Forth an Quilt!!!

Hiking

Here is a little sneak peek of the hike we took - it was West of Ft Collins . CO

I love the views from the top!

Of course, the climb sort of takes a while ;-)

You all Know I LOVE the Black and White Photos 

And then I thought... oh rugged...

let's work on Sepia

Enjoy!!

My Weekend

was crazy crazy crazy!!!

Bet you can't guess which one is me??

We had an awesome Rainy Day BBQ that these amazing folks put on

for our Quilts of Valor Sew Group

and the Veterans who came to be a part of our Presentation Ceremony

FFA Quilt

We live in a smaller agricultural town, that is really cool. In our Schools we have FFA ( Future Farmers of America).    It is such a great organization. Every year they have a silent auction and live auction to raise funds for the kids to pursue their projects, events, and competitions.

This year I made a Quilt for the Silent Auction..... It's also my ALYOF April goal.... the Auction is May 2nd.... No procrastinating here !!

Ready to see it?

Ta-da...  I took it to the Ag Teacher/FFA Advisor - and the kids posed for me ;-)

And this is it laying on the floor

In the small areas between the Emblems I quilted FFA

And in corners I did a Star.

As Farmers/Ranchers/Ag kids are rising Stars

( PS - if you ate tonite.... thank a farmer/rancher)

Then in the big Borders I quilted the FFA Creed

Learning to Do

Doing to Learn

Earning to Live

Living to Serve

And that is it - Ta da

It will be in the Silent Auction

the first weekend of May

Linked up to:
http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/2015/04/show.html
http://quiltstory.blogspot.com/2015/04/fabric-tuesday-come-on-over.html
http://www.conniekresin.com/2015/04/linky-tuesday_21.html
http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2015/04/lets-bee-social-69.html
http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2015/04/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-stained-glass-at.html

Collaborating with Kevin the Quilter

Once upon a time, a long time ago, in a blog far away, Kevin the Quilter left a comment on my blog. And he said he would do ranch work for free, and I responded back and said hired!

I never realized how quickly bloggers can become online friends, and become friends in reality!!

Do you know how I know that we are friends?  He cut up my scraps... yep!! That seals it right there.
AND!! He was at Houston the two times that I was there - and said hi! IN PUBLIC!!! oh ya....

Oh!!! And!!! he also sewed labels on a bajillion QOV's!!!

(PS - he passed the horse test - they accosted him - he laughed. So he is good in their book)

When he emailed and asked if I would like to collaborate on a Quilt with him - I seriously hesitated!  Why?  - well have you seen his quilt Radar?   It is winning all sorts of stuff - and he is like this "real" quilter, and knows all these important people - and well.... I quilt in the basement......

So I panicked..... and then I said - Sure..... because I mean really - he lives far away - he can't beat me up if he doesn't like it. And I live in the middle of my place - it's not like I couldn't see him coming and have time to hide ..... right????

So he bravely sent his Quilt to me ( ps - it will be a Quilt of Valor when he is done with his *speaking tour* - see I told you he was imporant)

 The quilt arrived.... and I panicked again - Oh my - I want to do a great job, but I want to get it done in this lifetime.  So I layed it out an started planning. Oh! And I watched Castle - that's always a great thought provoker .....

 I tried to remember what I am good at, and what are my strengths - circles.... I love circles.... and so..

Here is the whole quilt... Kevin is posting all the Quilt info on His blog - So don't forget to check his post out:  http://kevinthequilter.blogspot.com/2015/04/collaborating-with-alycia-quilts.html

I did these Star Motifs down the center. I thought they would be the focal point of the quilting, and since it is a QOV - I wanted it to be able to be awarded to either a female or male.

I used both Gold and Navy Threads.  I was hoping to blend in a little on the top and let the Quilt itself shine, but then on the back the quilting would have a moment of it's own.

I hope that you will go over to Kevin's blog and read all about his Quilt as well.  I am somewhat of an early bird ( chores start at 5:30am) so his may not quite be posted yet.....  Keep checking back lol

http://kevinthequilter.blogspot.com/2015/04/collaborating-with-alycia-quilts.html


Linking up with:
http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2015/04/lets-bee-social-69.html

A little Purple Scrappy

I have this pile of magazines that I have not read, and I was organizing them - I am GOING to read them some day.... I was putting them in order. It dawned on me - Why do I think I have to read the oldest one's first??? Why can I not just jump in with the current one and work my way backwards?

That is sort of how I have been feeling about getting caught up on my RSC blocks - that I really HAD to do March's first - before I Could start April.

I then I had this epiphany.... If I just jump in where we are supposed to be, I won't feel *behind* as I will have done the current color, and I can work on the one I missed at any time. AND - I will feel like part of the crowd!!!

SO!!!

I jumped in - ironed all my purple scraps and looky what I got all cut up and prepared for the next time I sit down at the machine!

PS.... You are IGNORING that yellow pile.... it is waiting for me ;-)

 

Quilts of Valor 2015

Alright.... who knew it was Wednesday and forgot to tell me????

We had a track meet yesterday  - and mostly those are on Thursday.... so today was...well.. Friday in my head!!

Some Great QOV CO news - we are covering a Women Veterans Retreat - and there are 60 women total for the year attending. We wanted to make more feminine quilts - and need them by the end of May.... As of today - 30 are completely ready!  AND!! Two of our other groups have checked in - one of them has 11 more, and the other will count Friday ( another reason why I checked my calendar lol)

I am proud of all of us quilters!!!

On to the Quilt Show:

These two were put together by the Greeley Group - and they were Quilted by Crystal in Denver.

This one is some Blocks from the MQX QOV block Drive - and put together by Carolyn. It was Quilted by Dawna in CO

These blocks were made by Lori and put into a top by Cheryl M, and Quilted by Dawna

( that there is beautiful team work my friends!!)

The next two were pieced by Darlene - this one was Quilted by Helen.

And this was one Quilted by Ann.  Ann and Helen worked with there Quilter friends and I think this is quilt 6 and 7 that they have made for this year ;-)

Then Ms Crystal ( whoquilted two at the top of the post) got together with her Sister and Deonna - and they made these 4 quilts, and Crystal Quilted them!!!   Aren't they lovely!

This last one that they put made was made in the colors that were their Dad's favorite. I LOVE that!!

And of course - a smile. The more I study this quilt .... I am tempted to dig back into my strips......

 Go forth and quilt!!!

The View

Remember I told you I took 700bajillion pictures????  I did not lie ;-)

You can see forever ..... of course you had to hike forever to get there 

I am still working on my Monthly Quilt goal

It is taking forever and there aren't any exciting photos to show....

I feel like a boring blogger

*sigh*