Quilted by Beth

I am back with a quilt! This one was quilted by Beth over at http://bzyqltr.blogspot.com . She has a new longarm and is not afraid to use it! Beth - you did an awesome job. Thank you so much for quilting this Quilt of Valor. This pattern is called the Take 5 pattern. Nice huh?

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Tonite was my oldest sons band performance. He is in the band, and in the Jazz Band. I keep trying to get pictures of him, but am really too far away. This was the best I could do. Their band is wonderful. You can tell they work hard.
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When I picked my son up from school today he says - Mom Mr T. says we need a black shirt for tonite..... we had 20 mintues to eat and then get child 3 to Basketball practice, then had to get home to change, do chores and be back to school. I could not figure how we were going to run to town to get a shirt. ( Our town has NO clothing stores!)

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So we stopped at Kersey Pizza and in walks Mrs W. She thought her son might have a black shirt we could borrow. She gets home and realizes it is too small... so bless her heart - she called around, found a black shirt, basted it to size, and brought it to the performance. I can not thank her enough. Who knew she was going to have to dress my son tonite!!

Mom Call Home

Excuse me folks for the interruption... but Mom and Dad.... please call me at home.

Have a great day Ya;all - I'll be back tomorrow with quilts - I promise!! We had a swim weekend like no other and are finally home... I am excited to get to open the boxes that have arrived.

Puppy and Programs

Tonite was Pipsqueak 3's school program. The music teacher works with all of the students in the grade at different times and this was the big night where they put it all together. They did a wonderful job!

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We have a new addition at our house. I am babysitting my dad's dogs again ( they are someplace warm - I am jealous) and one of them had a puppy! She is a cute puppy, but did you know that a puppy is almost as much work as a human child?

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I know there are colder places right now.. but this morning when we went to do chores and walk dogs in was -20 ... that is 20 below for those of you in St Croix!! I don't think I have defrosted as of yet!

School Pictures Part 1

Every year School Picture time rolls around and we miss it. A few years ago the pictures were pretty bad, so I felt like they were a total waste. Since then - I have become the photographer. Of course, sometimes I forget. Like this year. Then Wrangler Man decided to be the photographer in the family.

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This occurred on Thanksgiving, as we were getting ready to carve the turkey. He thought we could squeeze in a little photo session. I tried to warn him, that with little bit - nothing is easy.....

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How easily he forgets.

I think this one will be good. Do you think the Grandparents will cherish this one on their refrigerators?

And just so you know - 48 pictures were taken.....no quilt was harmed in the process.

You know it is cold when...

The truck just gives you a funny look when you try to start it. And then it makes wheezing noises.
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The dogs DO NOT want to stay outside and play.
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The Dogs water bucket freezes almost as fast as you can put water in it.
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The horses have turned white on their coats. They are mostly Redheads (don't tell anyone I called them that)
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And the true test of cold.... the horse shoer calls and reschedules. He is the toughest man I know and can handle all sorts of freezing temperatures. Imagine my surprise when HE asked to reschedule. I had already been praying for that about Saturday!
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Stay Warm!!

Forward Progress

Everything is moving in fast motion, and progress is being made, and I am so ready for a sleep in day , you have NO idea!!
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Wrangler Man made it home from Texas and left snow in his wake - sorry folks. Maybe it will help you get in the mood for Christmas? But he also brought deep freezing temperatures to our area, and when the high for the day is 18, you are breaking a LOT of ice. (Even with Tank heaters!)
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So my week has been a busy one, but truthfully I wouldn't trade it. I am almost a pro at dressing to stay just warm enough when doing chores, and I can get ready in less than 5 minutes!
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Yesterday and Today we spent sewing at school. We are trying to get these tops finished up so we can move on. We got a lot done, and I forgot my camera one of the days. And because it has been so cold I left a stack of string blocks with signatures on them for the kids to design a quilt top during their recess.
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And I have another Quilt of Valor to show you that is finished! I love this pattern, and the backing is Awesome. The quilt pattern is a Bonnie Hunter original - I believe it is named the Orange Crush. The top and backing were made by Jackie M of New Jersey.

Cool huh?

Hope you all have a good evening. The oldest boy is at a basketball game, the other two are pouring over Christmas catalogs ( they think I want to buy them toys), I will be taking my Dad's dogs out for bit, then sitting down at my sewing machine - I AM EXCITED to see my machine. I think it misses me!

Quilts from the Heartstrings Quilters

I tell ya - for Christmas I want more hours in the day - and I want them to be light hours... not dark ones! We have just been busy, but having a great time.

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Saturday Wrangler Man's Sister invited us all over for chili and to play cards. There were 20 of us attacking their new house. It was great! The kids played cards, and the adults played cards and oh my - were they competitive!

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I am not sure where the rest of the days have gone, only that Wrangler Man is in Dallas, which makes perfect sense because it is supposed to snow tonite. It is truly a given - when that man is gone and I am 100% responsible for the chores, it snows! I think he and mother nature have a pact. They like to see me drag hay thru the snow and over the icy ground ( do you feel bad for me yet? - Didn't think so!)

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These Quilts of Valor came from the folks in my Heartstrings group. Just a great group that works so well together. I so Appreicate them! The first three were pieced by San and the Murphy NC Volunteers. There were quilted by the famous Mary! at http://blog.maryquilts.com/

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This beautiful Batik quilt was made by Nancy W in New York. I think you can click on the picture - the fabrics are just gorgeous! I think this quilt is called a Jewel Box pattern. Perfect for these fabrics.

Thanks all for the beautiful quilts. You guys are awesome. Soldiers will love these!

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Have a great evening!

Finishing Things

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We spent a couple of days out east of us doing a little pheasant hunting. The first day turned out to be pretty miserable - but we perservered for about 4 hours - then headed back to the hotel to SWIM!! Much warmer.

This is my Dad, Goombah #1, Goombah #2, and Wrangler Man. I, of course am behind the camera. - oh and the dog is Hagen. Emma is ready to have puppies so she was back at the hotel with Grandma and Goombah #3, who was all worn out from the day before. We walked thru a million miles of corn fields and not down the rows either - across them - lots of stepping!

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We came back in time to cook turkey for Thanksgiving day, and I even did some experimenting. I ended up making a really good rice stuffing that was competely gluten free. Everyone except middle son liked it. But he doesn't really like rice anyways. So my feeling were not hurt (grin)

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Today the boys all headed out to the WYO vs CSU football game. A boys bonding moment, that has let me take over the whole house. And I started finishing things. First I finally finished the borders on my Chunky Churndash!

http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/chunky-churndash-tops.html

Remember way back when... I asked if you all thought it was finished. The majority of votes said I needed a skinny white border and a large red border. And you know what... I LOVE it!! You all have great ideas.....

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These are the tops in progress. The Green and Black one in the back is all put together and now it needs a border, but I need to go get fabric for it. I *surprise* do NOT have any of this in my stash. My sweet Friends Charlotte and Myrna gifted me with the fabrics - and I LOVE them. Can't wait to finish it and get using it!

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The quilt in the middle is the wonky log cabin blocks that the 5th grade kids made as practice blocks. They are all set in a top and now I will work on the borders. You can see on kind of laying there on the left side.

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I know there are a few sew alongs going on around in blog world - and I think they finally inspired me to finish up some things.... so back to work!

Quilts of Colorado

Good Friday Morning!! Less than a week till Thanksgiving... and only one more day of school for us.
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This first quilt from Colorado was made by Merrie of Merrie Berrie Quilting. Such a sweet gal. Each block is quilted seperately.
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The next Colorado quilt ( sounds like a fashion show huh?) Was made by my Mom, and Donna P quilted it for me. She searched high and low for som ideas to put in the center of the quilt - and
she did a great job. She used Stars and Flags. I love it! This quilt will be going to the World War 2 Veterans as they return from the honor flight. So it won't be included in my sidebar list.
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The next quilt comes from Judy V in Thorton. She has made quite a few quilts for Quilts of Valor now - and is teaching kids at her school! See - the next generation of quilters will be bigger than ever!. The pattern for Judys quilt came from Bonnie at Quiltville.com . I also showed the back as she used some panels very creatively!





Hope you all have a great day. I am off to start assembling blocks into tops at the 5th grade.

From Denise in Colorado!!

This was a fun box to open!! I have a friend in Denver. We met a long time ago thru the internet.... and she is quite the quilter! She also has 2 of the most adorable daughters. I think if my boys play their cards right..... I'm just sayin'.....
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Denise did the Not So Top Secret 2
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/search/label/Not%20So%20Top%20Secret%20Project%202

project along with us - and used black setting triangles. I LOVE it!! She even quilted it on her domestic machine, and did an awesome job.
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Next - she sewed along with the Quilt of Valor Mystery that turned out to be Chunky Churndashes from Bonnie Hunter. (Bonnie gave me permission). She quickly decided that it would be great to make two quilts with all those blocks - and voila - here they are!
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http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/search/label/QOV%20SEW%20ALONG%201

And of course - these are quilted too! Didn't they turn out cool? Thanks Denise!