Ault Quilt Festival

A few Weekends ago there was a Quilt Festival up in Ault - Ault is A Unique Little Town... ( get it - Its on their sign). 

Anyways the lady that coordinated the Quilt show was short a few quilts, so she called me a wondered if I might have any quilts that I could let her display. They are displayed VERY safely, up high, in a secure gym, with Security. I thought this might be a good exposure for Quilts of Valor - so I chose 4 Quilts for her to display.

Apparently I was right - this was a great way to get the word out there, because when I went to pick up my Quilts of Valor - I came home with 6 more!!!

Want to see them?

These Three Star Quilts were made by Wilma O in Colorado. I believe these are the Star Struck pattern from Atkinson designs. I LOVE it!!

These Three were made by Sonje J in Colorado - Aren't they just beautiful?

Thanks Quilters for making these Quilts of Valor.

A Quilt of Valor Presentation

There is an organization called Homes for our Troops ( http://www.homesforourtroops.org/ ) and they help provide new and adapative housing for returning vets in many areas. The latest house to be built in Colorado was for Lt Cpl Hinkhouse.

Apparently he had not recieved a Quilt of Valor while he was at Walter Reed. One of the Vets Wives working on this house really wanted to remedy this - so through a few connections - she met me. And I was able to provide a QOV because of all the wonderful quilters that have helped out in making Quilts of Valor.

So here is the video clip of him recieveing his house, and if you watch in the interview, his wife is sitting with the pillowcase with the quilt in it. She did not leave it unattended.

http://cbs4denver.com/video/?id=74155%40kcnc.dayport.com

There are also more pictures of the day to be found here:
http://wickedvixphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Key-Ceremony-for-LCpl-Hinkhouse-Homes-for-Our-Troops-build/G0000O10yAAWxGk8/

I hope the links work well - it was a great day, and many happy people were all around.
Thanks to Sandy for coordinating all of these events and for getting attention for Quilts of Valor.

Quilters Accountability 9/1

Truthfully speaking - I wish there was more time in a day - there is so much *stuff* that I would like to do. I have gotten a few more blocks on my reproduction quilt done, not as many as I would like. Imay move the estimation of finishing this quilt top up to 2031. 

I am trying to mix the colors a lot. In the original quilt there were a lot of shirtings, and they were all mixed up.

My Great Aunts family - her mothers family owned a dry goods store on a corner in the town in Michigan that she grew up in. Because of this, they had great access to a variety of fabrics.

The original quilt was made around 1890, and was approx 72 x 90.

In the rest of the Quilters accountability news - our sew day went great on Sunday. We worked on some blocks, binding three Quilts of Valor, and even got one whole top put together. Of course it took a whole pound of M&M;s to get it done!!

To see what others are up to check out:

http://crossroadsquilts.wordpress.com/

Maybe you can help inspire me to get working! Tell me what you are up to - and what quilty projects you are doing.... I need to get motivated!!!

Garden of the Gods

I have to say that Colorado is one beautiful state. There are many things to see, and we are still getting to ones we haven't seen since we have been here. We got the opportunity to travel to the Garden of the Gods - and WOW - what a beautiful place. It was just spectacular. Apparently a man back east had bought this land sight unseen. Had he seen it, he would have moved to Colorado right away!

I think ( I wasn't driving, so don't pay as good of attention) that it is North of Colorado Springs. We pulled into a parking lot, and immediately were/(was) greeted by these towering rocks, and bright green colors. It is NOT green at my house right now - heat and lack of rain leave it brown....

This is the big man, and the little man. He thought that taking a ride would be easier.... it wasn't - the ride bucked!

There is a rock in the middle of the park that seemed to be the most photographed place. I had heard that lots of seniors go there for their senior pics. We are not seniors - but we took a photo anyways. Notice the kids that is getting taller than me? Terrifying ( I am 5'10")

This is me and the big guy. I sort of thought that maybe we should document what we looked like prior to the rest of the grey hair that is coming.... due to our children!!!

Don't they look like they are on the top of the world? Sort of felt like it too!!! I am not one for heights unless I am in a plane, and I like it better when I am the pilot of the plane!!!

And last but not least - still picking on dad every chance they get. I think that he had better learn to start running faster - they are getting big!!

Pillowcases and Quilts of Valor

 I am starting to feel somewhat caught up, and a tad bit organized. I know - it is probably a VERY short lived feeling, but at the moment I am riding high!!!

I am catching up on posts, and putting things where they belong,. and getting my pictures organized - it is so cool. I have missed reading my *blogs* this last week or two. I have NO idea what all my peeps are up to. ( see how cool I can be if I try LOL)

Anyways the first pillowcases at the top came from Jackie M. She sent them in when she sent her Quilts of Valor too. Thanks Jackie!!

This quilt to the right is from Maureen. She is a part of my Longarm group and is the NICEST lady. She and her friend worked ont this quilt, and Maureen did the quilting. That one will defineatly make a soldier smile!!

 These pillowcases are from an awesome group in Pueblo. The Pride City quilters. I LOVE them. They have made many many pillowcases for this Quilt of Valor project. I so appreciate them!

And last but not least - a picture of a Quilt of Valor presentation. I was so proud to get to this Air Force pilot. He was so tickled to recieve this quilt. He was sort of speechless and he made sure to give us all hugs to pass on to you wonderful people that help provide these quilts to servicemen. So HUGGS to you all!

State Competitions Day 2

Day 2 was the Archery day. And it was even hotter than the day before. My car finally cooled off to a blamy 103 degrees as I made the McDonalds Run. Probably you didn't know that at all these venues they don't have flushing toilets. And as much as I pride myself on being adaptable - the McD's was only 5 minutes away.... and I found it!!!

My oldest this day got his best score ever, so he was tickled. He had to go 2 times, and the first time he survived,. the second round it was just SO hot.

Our highlight of our trip was finding the 3 Margaritas Restaurant. If you ever need a GREAT Mexican place - that is it. And they are helpful when you have gluten problems. Yummy!

Quilters Accountability 8/25/10

All I can tell you is I am a homebody and my body has not been home, and I am tiiiiirrrrreeeeed. I have about 4 more away things in the next 4 days and then I think I am boycotting. I think I will empty the car of gas and be stranded - right?

I haven't gotten much of anything done, but have had a good time doing it!

We spent days at the State tournaments, met with my "ladies" in Denver, have been to 2 soldier graduations, and even got to a historical location. And in all that - I have gotten in a *little* sewing on my project.

These are the two blocks that are done. And at this rate I will have it finished in 2032

These are two more blocks in progress. So again my goal for the next week - finish a block or two!

On the other hand - My friend Lyn told her friend about QOV and he gave us some monies to buy backing fabrics. So I cut 2 more Quilts of Valor out for our Sew Day this weekend. I also organized my Red White and Blue String bucket - and....

are you ready for this? I was OUT of RWB strings - I love it. And no - this is NOT a request for more, this is an opportunity for me to cut up some more fabrics. I so love to cut, and it was quite theraputic to see the box get fuller. So I will take those this weekend too - and we will have 3 projects to work on. And 3 quilts to bind. And chocolate - should be good right?

Allright - the boys are hungry... So if you all want to see what else folks are working on, or even join in our little To Do lists... head over to Baris at

http://crossroadsquilts.wordpress.com/

You all have a great one, and wish me luck on my lack of home bodyness for the rest of this week. I am trying to stay happy and NOT grumpy about it *giggle*

State Competitions Day 1

My boys made it to the State Archery and State Rifle Competitions down in the Lovely town of Pueblo. The competitions were on 2 different days so we made a weekend of it.

The first competion was the .22 . It was on dirt, and on dusty dirt, and I think we had dust everyone on us, and in our clothes... but my dons did very well and had a good time.

After being out at the Dry Range, we were able to move inside to the Air Rifle range... it was air Conditioned. I liked it!  In fact, I encouraged ALL the boys to compete in Air Rifle next year.

We did not stick around long enough to hear all of the results, because we had to get to different locations for each event. But youngest had his best score of all time - 62, and earned us all a candy bar ( yes, I do admit to bribery, it was HOT that day)

Quilts of Valor from across the country

 I think that Blogger has changed some of there *things* again and I hope I have entered everything right. Or maybe I just haven't had enough caffiene yet....

These first five quilts went on quite a journey. They were made by Jennifer B and Quilted by M Gayle Wallace. She is a quilting teacher - I think I know why!!

So these quilts first started out in Louisana... then they traveled to MQS in Kansas City, then they went to HMQS in Utah ( right? - thats where HMQS is I think) and then Ms Vicki A of Machine Quilting Unlimited brought them from Utah to Colorado to me!

The Next quilt came from Iowa. Carolyn made it and April quilted it. I think it looks like it mught be the Yellow Brick Road pattern from Terry Atkinson. That has always  been one of my favorite!~

These next three quilts come from Jackie. She is a part of my Heartstrings group - and very very creative. The one on the right is a Bonnie Hunter pattern that we did as a mystery quilt way back when on this blog. I LOVE the way it turned out.

And this very last one from Jackie is a Quilt as you Go quilt out of all Cowboy fabrics. I think I drooled ( of course NOT on the quilt) Isn;t it great!?

Thanks Quilters for all your hard work in making these Quilts of Valor - they are Awesome!!

Quilters Accountability 8/18

I have a ONE TRACK mind right now. Althought sometimes it does lose track..... But my goal for last week and for the next few weeks ( alright maybe months) is to work on Bettys Reproduction Quilt.

Betty is a Great Aunt of mine. Her Husband was Capt. Doug and he was my Grandma's Cousin. He was a Capt. in the Navy, on an Aircraft carrier. When we would go to visit them I always learned something. Betty was a historian of epic proportions. I only wish she would have told me more and written things down for me!

This is as far as I have gotten.... so wish me luck that next week I have a block or two to show. For what others are up to go to http://crossroadsquilts.wordpress.com/ and do some encouraging!