Another QOV presentation...

 if you are following from  yesterday - I am now in car 2 for the next presentation....

We have been working with this VFW for years  - and of course - I just love them. Sharon is the VFW Aux President and this is her last year of being it. So we wanted to go out with a bang!!!

FIFTEEN Veterans were there with their families and it was so crowded - I LOVED it.

Sharon made the mistake of telling me I was in charge when I got there -the power went to my head haha!

This VFW has been renamed the Danny Dietz VFW and it was an honor to Wrap several Navy Seals, some that were even in the service with Danny in this Presentation.  ( click to Read about Danny Here ) 

I loved getting to learn the bios of these Veterans - we had those that served in: 

• Operation Joint Force
• Operation Spartan Shield
• One who was in charge of HIMARS operations ( I googled and they confirmed - HIMARS is High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) 
• Navy Seal Officer 
• Vietnam
• Grenada
• Afghanistan
• A Computer operator
• Strategic command
• Persian gulf
• Cold war
• one that conducted night flight operations off a carrier
• A medic - who now is a command surgeon
• A machine Gunner
• an Air Force medic
• and the president of a Seal Group'

it was pretty cool!!And they were so amazed at all the beauty of the quilts they received. and were quite stunned that someone would want to honor them this way.

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QOV presentations

 Friday Afternoon found us at an Assisted Living Facility to award 3 Quilts of Valor. 

There are no photos, but it was very interesting to me. There are 14 veterans in this facility, and they do a therapy program (talk therapy).  I was allowed to sit in on it. I learned a few things, but mostly it was things that I have learned over the years of being in the units they have let me go in

The hardest part for me, was that we were in a closed room. I am kind of (okay really) Claustrophobic, and I struggle even with elevators. I was trying to center my mind, and the vet sitting next to me said - don't like small spaces eh?  Breathe with me. He was 85 - and we did some box breathing together and I was fine.

He was so very sweet, and was so fun to talk to.

( I have been in a lot of small spaces over the years with vets, but since 2020 not as much..*sigh* ) 

The Next QOV presentation was at a Breakfast!

and the latecomer ↓

This is a great group - The latecomer is not in trouble - I promise, his wife had been really sick so he was just a little late getting into the photo  but he wanted to make sure we had a photo to share.

We had a couple - she was army, he air force - so our group had 2 o the same quilts made - and I thought it would be cute to award them to them... that way they couldn't fight over whose was better. ( which I know they wouldn't - but it made everyone laugh)

I have so much fun doing these, and especially when I have gotten the chance to know the veterans personally... I might tease them a bit!!

After Breakfast, I headed back home to switch vehicles - and head to the next presentation.

(I stole my sons car so I could load all the quilts into two vehicles and not get confused!!)

Linking to:

• Design Wall Monday
• Monday Musings
• Sew and Tell

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Finished!! (or not) Friday

I have a confession to make - I did not quilt this week... I went to meet my Grandbaby, and then I went and traveled a little more to see the sights....

So Absolutely nothing got done on my list ... and I am OK with that!!

I am in catch up mode - I have 3 QOV presentations this weekend ( 1 this afternoon) and I think I am about prepped for them. That is a lot of Quilt washing !

Rexie Roo Roo says I am laying down on the job....

The girls say that I should take them out more....

These guys were just happy to be... 

How did your week go??

Was it fun? Did you make sure to drink some water?

Let us all know!!

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Many Hearts Many Hands Potato Chip Ish blocks

 Many Hearts Many Hands is having another block drive with these cute little blocks - super easy to make, and!! Surprisingly all out of my scrap bin:

Prepping!! ↑

And now - A few blocks are stitched:

↓

You all knew I had the Blue - but ... were you surprised at the orange? haha!! Ya - me neither...

These are kind of fun- got more to make, and then I  think I will hang on to them for a bit, and maybe over the month I can prep some more in the colorways she asked for...

I think the drive is going until August.

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Wed Wait Loss

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Dinosaurs, Farms and! Finished! ( or not) Friday

Alas - I do not have a finish for this week either. But!! I have a list, and a plan to get a finish sometime in the near future!

You might remember - I made a quilt top of Dinosaurs for my son for his birthday - and now!! I am making the back!!

It is dinosaur Batiks, I have the width correct - now I need to add to the top and the bottom...

This is the top I made him (just in case you haven't memorized EVERYTHING I do haha)

And the Pound Puppy - She is so fun - and she SO misses her boy. He is almost done with his project that does not allow dogs,...  I can't tell who misses who more!

And now a brag!!

My Father in Law - he is the best! He is truly one of a kind and such a hard worker. ( My Mother in law is NO slouch tho - let me tell you - she's a hand!!)

But Back to my FIL - he was the Ag teacher for 30 years, and has helped countless people in their ag endeavors ( yours truly included) 

The school he worked for started a farm for the community and the FFA and all the Ag folks - and it got named after him!! The two folks standing in the center - my inlaws!

I screen shotted the FB post that their FFA posted - We were just So tickled! He is the best and now, everyone will know. 

Alrighht!! I have bragged enough.... your turn - what did you finish? Or Not this week?

Link up your direct post - and share the link up - the more the merrier.. and then more quilts I want to see!!

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Rainbow scrap challenge update

 The colors for June are the Lights Blue, Green and Pink.... 

So I decided it was time to take stock of what I had and what direction I needed to go.

I have a plan - but I don't know how that plan will work - so its *secret* as of now.... just in case I change my mind.   It HAS been know to happen 😜

There are a lot - and I kind of have a good mix of Light and Dark Greens and Pinks, but not so many lights in the Blue department. I may go in that direction... we will see. 

There are A LOT of blocks!!!

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Potato Chip Blocks

 After I finished the Pringles - I still had pieces left over so I started on the Potato Chip Blocks. 

I had some time Sunday - and look at how they are growing!

I think they are 9 1/2 inch blocks??? I should have measured .. i will before they go into a top - I usually like to square up my blocks. But now I am just having fun mindlessly stitching them.

I tried to get caught up on my blog reading too - and I saw that Cynthia at Many Hands and Many hearts has started a new block drive - a mini potato chip ish block.

I got all excited - here was another way to use up these pieces, until my brain turned on and I saw she wants  the pieces 2 1/2 inch wide. NO WORRIES... I have a bin full of 2 1/2 inch strips = so will take some time and pull the colors she wants. 

I really like being able to help out when I can - When I first started Quilts of Valor here so many people helped us - its nice to be able to give back, even if its just a little.

Off to play in the 2 1/2 strip bin...

Oh!! 

Hopefully this works - I was making a little video for my Granddaughter ( whoa  - that feels weird to say!!) so she could hear what the horsie said... My horsies were being goofy - the one in the front is just two, and the one in the back will be one on Wednesday !

Linking Up:

Today I am going to link up  with

• Monday Musings  6/1 here  
• Design wall Monday 6/1 here
• Sew and Tell   6/1 here

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Another Memory Quilt and!! Finished ( or not) Friday!

My original goal of using FONF to help move along my projects has taken a bit of a stall due to customer Quilts. 

At the beginning of this year I had a HEAP of Start to Finish quilts commissioned, and now... I think I have finished the last one!  ( okay I know - and I don't think I will be taking any more start to finish ones this year... just Machine Quilting for clients!) 

Here is the Memory Quilt - Finished!!

it was a fun one - she wanted a lot of pieces put in it, and wanted it more mosaic like than planned - so some of the shirts take up two rows, and some are smaller. Glad I was able to do the math to make it the way she wanted.

And then!! I have the sweetest client - she is in a mode to use up a lot of her fabrics - so she keeps making the most adorable charm quilts... I get to quilt them - LOVE it!!

She brings me 6 or so at a time - I love that she is that prolific!! 

My foot is getting better - the swelling is going down, and I get to take the cast thing off as long as I am icing it... I have help tho!!

Can you see how * helpful* they are haha!

How was your week?  Did you get things moved along?  I feel like it is time to make a list of what I want to move forward now that the *STF* Client Quilts are done, Do you feel the need to *organize* after big projects?

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Enjoy!!

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Go stitch!!!

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Finished Pringles and!! Finished ( or not) Friday!

Happy Friday!!!

I have finished my 350 pringles for the swap!!! and I am 2/3 of the way finished with the other 150 we make to keep for ourselves. So! They are all in a bucket until the swap is swapped. 

I thought they were due Memorial Day - they are not, it is Labor day - so! I am ahead of the game. So proud of that!!

<<All the pretties.... Pringles - *Once you Pop, you can't stop* haha!!

But then!!! I had a pile of scraps out so I just kept cutting the scraps up - so now I have this whole cookie tray of pieces - and so!!

Any good quilter would start another project .... right???

So I started some Potato Chip blocks!!

We will see how many I can get out of this pile.  What happens if I just keep cutting scraps - How big do you think the piles would get????  

That is scary to think of!!

Also- We made Cabbage Pizza - You slice the head of cabbage into 1 inch thick rounds, and bake it for 15 minutes alone, then you put Pizza topping on and cook for another 15-20 minutes.

It was surprisingly good - and we will have it again.

Also : progress - I got taken out of the boot and now have an air cast. Jury is out on if it is easier or not, cuz I just got it. and I have to be in it for 6-8 weeks... Check up in 5 weeks....

At least I am level now haha. And maybe I can find a shoe to wear. He told me to stick with my 4wheeler Dog walking for a while  - just to keep it *rested* 

He ( the doctor) also told me no horse riding for at least 3 weeks. I think I might have cried over that. 

Your turn!!!  What did you Finish ( or not) this week?

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Orange Chunkies for May

I did it!! You would not think this was a hard thing to do - but!! May is going WAYYYY to quickly for me, and I almost forgot my Orange Blocks!!!

Snuck them in in between the client projects!! Yay me!

This *Mode * of transport has been working pretty well, until we got rain, I WANT the rain - so its all good, but being pelted by rain and trying to see the dogs wasn't pretty....

So they had a day of just hanging out with me, Today... we may get back to it. Also since it rained - I didn't want to tear up the ground at all. I only go 2 mph - but!! 

We are in pasture Preservation mode!

I am glad to have this 4 wheeler. I walk the dogs a lot - and I guess I didn't realize how much I needed it, until I was grounded. I love being outside, and apparently my brain does too... 

I am not a huge fan of tomatoes - I am getting better, I do like them in salsa, chili, etc - so was pretty excited to see K's plants growing!!

5 years ago today we Lost my Mom. She and my Dad were quite involved in Ministry to Firefighters/ Fire Chaplains, and yesterday I was invited to a lunch by one of the groups they worked very closely with ( and I continue too, although not as much as they did) It was really nice to see how the things they helped start have continued to grow, and to talk with the folks that loved the,. 

One Firefighter told me that having my dad come to his place was like seeing John Wayne walk in.. a total hero to him. Another told me about the behind the scenes work my Mom did, and how they were always amazed at how much she did for them.

That was nice. Nice to know they are both remembered so positively. 

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FInished!! ( Or NOT) Friday!

 I hope you all have some finishes ( or nots!!) for me to go visit and ohh and ahh over!!

I did not get a finish.. but! it's all good - there is a lot in progress!

I got some client Quilting done..... 

And that is always fun - I love when they pick up their quilts and just Smile... makes my day.

Oh Look - My Dogs - in the Grand Canyon of the Pyramids.

K was playing around with AI - I thought It was funny!

Show me What you've Got!!!

brag away!!

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See you Soon!!!

Pringles

I have a crazy friend - she gets me into things... This time she got me into a block swap - there are 7 of us - and we all have to make 350 blocks to swap, and then make another 150 to keep .

The idea was to use up your scraps - and I have used a lot, but I am not sure that i used them all - I kinda had fun cutting new stuff... I got them all cut and on my very very old baking sheet

and started stitching... I think I still have 90 to go - but!! that is not too bad right?

Oh wait!! Only 90 to go for the swap - I still need 150 for me to finish my quilt.... oops - but who's counting ???

Don't you just love the colors. A few of you mentioned a golf cart or a scooter to get around so I could still walk dogs - Brilliant ideas.... I live on gravel and dirt - so I took that idea... and told my husband - I want my 4 Wheeler!

He parked it at the door and off we went!! The dogs are getting pretty good running next to it. Bella - she is really interested in my boot, Last night I had it propped on the couch and she tried to chew it.  She was not impressed haha!

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Learning a New Technique

Saturday we had a workshop with Carla J, and she was amazing. She taught a new to me technique of piecing, and I really enjoyed it. 

It wasn't paper piecing, and it wasn't applique - but others in our group who had done that type of work were able to draw from that experience. I haven't done any Paper Piecing and VERY LITTLE applique - so I was the newbie

 We gathered supplies, and we were supposed to bring freeze paper... so I brought something that I thought was freezer paper - but!! Did you know that Parchment Paper and Freezer Paper are not the same thing?   I do now!!!  My Friend Cindy had extra so I was all good!

We did some Drawing and some fabric choosing... and then we got to work...

This is my FIRST Curved seam of the day - and heck fire - if it just didn't turn out so nice!! 

I then learned to match and pin - and!! Got half of my leaf done.  I kind of like it. It does take a long time though, and now I have some wonky cuts out my fabric  - but I think I will survive.

it was a long day - and when I got home... my babies needed to nap.... 

And give me grief for not being with them all day. In my defense.... K was home, and Lil Bit showed up later - so they weren't REALLY alone.... they just made me feel SOOO guilty!!

Sunday was Mothers day and lookie here - I made out like a bandit!! haha Mothers day Morning was spent in the Urgent care, someone had a little accident Thursday, and Saturday night her foot swelling had not gone down and the pain had gotten worse so her son and her spouse made her go to urgent care,

The doc in urgent care was the nicest I have ever met, He gave me a shot of tramadol (pain meds) right away and I might have fallen in love right there. I have never had that before, and I rarely take any pain meds - so it worked quite well. 

Anyways - there is a reason I was in pain... I broke my foot... so! Sometime this week I get to go to the ortho to learn about what is next - other than the pretty black boot they put me in. He did tell me that I need to expect at least 6-8 weeks to fully heal... has he not met my dogs????

We walk a good 5-7 miles a day.... how???

Ah well - Lil Bit brought me quilt magazines and he got me the one that Carole ( From My Carolina Home )   has a QOV pattern in!! I was so excited... its like he read my mind when he saw the patriotic Quilts.....

Linking Up:

Today I am going to link up  with

• Monday Musings  5/11 here
• Design wall Monday 5/11 Here
• Sew and Tell   Current one Here
• 
  
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