2014 Quilt of Valor

Good Morning!!!
Some of you are up and at em VERY early in the morning.... so I hope this post gives you some inspirations!!!

Are you ready?

This top was pieced by Harriett and Deb from our Block Drive Blocks. Deb did some embroidered blocks and they look so cool.

This one was pieced by Cheryl M - I am not sure who quilted it - but it is LOVELY!!

This one was pieced by Connie from block drive blocks and quilted by Loretta E in Colorado Springs/

This one was pieced by Althea ( I think of COlumbine Quilt guild) and quilted by Nancy O in CO. Spgs.

It is a lovely quilt!

Nancy also quilted this one, it was pieced by the Columbine QUilt guild QOV bee. They do a fantastic job!

This is another one that Connie pieced from block drive blocks. I wish I liked statistics better - I could tell you exactly how many quilts we have made from the various blocks. But I don't, so I can't!

It was quilted by Bonnie K in the springs.

I can tell you that our Quilts are SO LOVED!!  I was called in to a meeting with a Colonel - I was a little worried, you know, the big wigs and all that. There were 10 guys in the meeting, and each of them had received a QOV at some point over the last year.

Anyways, they called me in just to tell me that our quilts are SO very important to them, and they wanted me to pass on a huge HUG to all your block/quilt makers!!  So {{{{{{HUG}}}}}}

This is another quilt by Connie and quilted by Bonnie ( that rhymes!!)

Jane H in Monument quilted these next two quilts! The first is pieced by the Columbine Quilt guild.

This one was pieced by Connie.  I LOVE that center!!

What is your favorite Quilt pattern right now?  Where are you going to find your favorite patterns? Have any that would make great QOV"s that you want to share the link of?

This could start a whole 'nother bucket list for me.... but I love seeing what quilters like.

Enjoy!!

Rocky Mountains

We headed up to the mountains to see what we could see. I have my heart set on a Moose.... but the Moose don't seem to have their heart set on me..... *sigh*  

I see a few more trips in my future.

Here is what I did find:

We were up SO high , we looked down on the birds!

This little guy was out. Of course, I hollered - MOOSE to make everyone stop.

He is not a moose.... but I liked him anyways!

And then we came around the corner and I saw this and I yelled MOOSE to make everyone stop.

He is not a moose either - but boy was he awesome.

He had a whole herd of his own!

And because I called him a moose.....

he yelled at me.....

The end.

Monday.... right?

My goodness gracious it has just been a whirlwind around here!! A fun one, but crazy!!!

My design wall has not changed much at all. There is a very good reason for that.... and after I get my photos downloaded today - I will show you why tomorrow!!

I am still working on these. I think I need to find some more creams, and low browns to finish the setting - it's just a matter of looking for what I want!!

On a good note - I did finish something!!!  Remember this quilt?  I started playing in the purple and yellow scraps earlier this year ( you all!! THIS!! YEAR!!! - that;s a record!)

Wrangler Man said he wanted it - so I searched my scraps for some more manly purple and yellows ( as opposed to the florals I started with!)

I finished the top and then found the perfect purple flannel, that I forgot to take a picture of, and quilted it.

Can you see my manly quilting??  Wrangler Man is a footbal fan and a wyoming cowboy... so.....

He liked it ;-)

I leave you with your Wildlife Photo...

You see the elephant in the tree right???

Head over to http://www.patchworktimes.com  and http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/  for ore inspirations

Quilts of Valor 2014

Good Wednesday Morning!!  That three day weekend really threw me off!! How about you?  Did you do anything exciting?  Us?.... Cross country races, VFW Breakfast, and fishing!!! You have to throw some fishing in to make it a weekend!!

Last week was one of the National Quilt of Valor Conferences. Ours was in Henderson, NV. You all know what? it is HOT there!!  But we all came back inspired, and excited about all of the things that QOVF.org will be doing. And of course, all the awesome stories we already see!!

I hope that today's Quilt show inspires you, and that you think about making a Quilt of Valor. We have so many state coordinators and we all want to cover our Veterans ;-)


I had the privilege of meeting one of the Amelia Island Quilters ( from Florida!!) Over in Fort Collins!! We met at a quilt shop naturally!!

This is one of the creations she had - It was pieced by Gail N and quilted by Mary B

I just LOVE this quilting!!!

This one was pieced by Michal P - I don't remember seeing a quilter on the label ...

This one was from Fernandina Beach

And the last beauty she had was from Dell D.  I love all the random, but not really random blocks in this quilt!!

The next two quilts were given to me at a guild meeting. If you all know me, I get a little scatterbrained with so many people in one room  . So they were given to me by Jan.  I am going to assume that she pieced and quilted them!!

 Pretty nifty quilts right?

This quilt was started by Jackie S in California. I believe she meant it to be a back to another quilt... but you all - the blocks were so cool. So Ms Joan here in CO took it, and added borders and some Friendship blocks ( they were signed by the American Legion members) and TA DAAAA..... A great Quilt of Valor

 Ms Joan did the quilting AND the binding!! Impressive right?

This lovely quilt was pieced by Linda W in Greeley. Linda is such a sweet heart! She helps at our sew days, and loves teaching the new quilters. She is so gentle in teaching them the 1/4 inch seams!!!

It was quilted by Alycia ( oops thats me!)

 I always like to show a few smiles. You know that these quilts really touch the heart. We have a bare bones presentation that we like to make before awarding these quilts. It is always fun to customize it to the recipient. Love to see them smile!!

This Veteran sent us his picture to use!! i LOVE it! He got to choose from a few quilts and this is the one he chose. He went home and made his granddaughter take a picture to send to me. Isn't that sweet?

Last quilt for today... this is one of the Allegiance Mystery Quilts (pattern on free pattern page) It is made and quilted by Connie H - my go to girl!!  She is a fabulous quilter, and wonderful friend... plus she never sleeps!!

Hope you enjoyed today's show and saw soemthing that just tickled your fancy!!  Enjoy!!

Around the World Blog Hop

I was invited to Participate in the Around the World Blog hop .... such a fun concept. It gives you ways to go backwards to the people's posts about themselves and to go forward to another blogger. What a great way to get inspired and maybe even find a new blogger you click with!!

I was invited by Amy over at http://skattebo-skattebo.blogspot.com/2014/08/around-world-blog-hop.html

And will introduce you to my two invitees at the end of the blog post.

What am I working on?

Well.... that is a great question!!  I seem to have that QDD bug, and have a lot of things in process right now. Since it is also Design Wall Monday  - I will bear all and show you my design wall... ready?

This is the first half of it. I made all these crazy blocks, and now am working on the setting of them.

This is the other half... a Quilt of Valor. My goal is to always make/quilt at least 12 Quilts of Valor a year.

And the other thing I am working on - Photography. I am also a photographer. (I even have Prints for Sale )
I do family/senior photography as well. What fun that is!

How does my work differ from others of it's genre?
Alright - this one is tough for me. Remember that QDD?  Sometimes I follow along with others in their creation process, sometimes I have to take off on my own!  I am a Machine Quilter for Hire so most of my time is focused on making sure that my Clients are taken care of, so my piecing comes later. Which come to think of it, may not differ than others at all!  Hmmm.... Maybe you know how I differ?

Why do I create/write what I do?

Easy peasy - to Inspire!!!  I want everyone to know that what you create is perfect - even if it is not!  It is all all a learning process, and a creative process. Did you start a pattern and have it differ? That is called design inspiration, and its all good!!

I also want to let everyone know about this amazing philanthropy - called QUILTS OF VALOR - maybe you have heard of it ;-)  I really love this organization - and I love that the hugs that are received by a quilt can really change lives.  I try to provide patterns , block drives, finished quilt inspiration, and show you ways to jump in.... at any level!

Who am I?

I am the mom to these three knuckleheads, and wife to their daddy.

I am a machine quilter... That is always a fun one. People say oh - you knew quilters your whole life right? That's why you got your machine. And I laugh and say no... I bought the machine first, then really learned to quilt!  ( I made ONE quilt prior to my machine, and I purchased the machine to finish that one quilt... go figure)

I was looking for a photo of me, apparently I am hard to find.... but there I am - in the pink!

 Let's see - I bet you can't guess what I am doing here?

Enough about me, I am getting uncomfortable.... the bloggers that I have tagged to continue on in this Around the World Blog hop are:

Pat at http://bellcreekquilts.blogspot.com/

   Pat and I met through blogging, and I am so glad. I think we would make a lots of mess in real life!! She is a phenomenal quilter - and i LOVE seeing all that she does. I think she might like hockey a little bit too !

Bonnie at http://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/

   I also met Bonnie through blogging. She is another amazing quilter. She is a part of the QM scrap squad and has so many amazing quilts.

Both ladies are also Quilt of Valor quilters - so we have that in common!

Go check both of these bloggers out. 

Enjoy!!