Tuesday, January 16, 2024

A Quilt of Valor Presentation and another Giveaway

Saturday morning found us in very negative Temps - when we were doing chores it was -29 and I was not a fan..

We had a Quilt of Valor presentation scheduled - and I wondered if we would get any cancellations - can you believe that we did not!! Over 100 Veterans showed up to Honor these Vets ( and of course, have a warm breakfast)

I was impressed - as it was -11 when the presentation started... WHO ORDERED THAT!!!


Look at all those Smiling faces!!It was so cool to have them all arrive and they all Ohhed and aahhed appropriately over their quilts!! but the Smiles - oh lawsy mercy - the smiles - they just melt my heart!!!


This is my last giveaway this week - but... rest assured there are more. I can't think of better people( Quilters) for my excess Stash to go to!!  I will ship in the Continental US - some of you no reply bloggers need to leave me a way to contact you.... 


This is a fun stack of Flannels!! and even a plaid or two... but they are super soft!! We are supposed to get out of these negatives this week - but my flannel quilts have been pulled out... I think I might be in a permanent state of chilled haha!

I will draw at the end of tomorrow!!!! ( the 17th) so comment today!! and tell me your favorite snack while stitching .. or maybe you don't snack? 

PS - Tomorrow... the First clue of Stars Like Spaghetti comes out... you won't want to miss it!

Monday, January 15, 2024

My First Quilt of Valor ( top) for the year!!! and giveaway 5

 Go me!!!

So!! this one started out as the 20 stars for 20 years anniversary top from Quilts of Valor. I followed the first 3 steps (ish) and then.... went a little off course... BUT!!!

I think I like what it Morphed into!!


Mine will be completely different that the rest !! It ended up being 60 x 72 inches - so I think that will be perfect...

Now to get it into the quilting que.... 

I was looking back at some of my QOV posts - it seems like some years ( like 2012) I committed to 12 QOV's that year... and made all these goals. I met them - and then some!! 

I don't have a QOV goal this year - I think I will take it as it comes and see how many things I can make... maybe just a personal race for me to make as many as I can squeeze in?

I also know that I suck at statistics.. and keeping counts of things. 


Who Like Oriental fabrics? this is a bag of them!! Smaller pieces - some are 12 inch square - but enough to make that litt;e butterfly - or something else.



Today tell me if you like Applique or not... And of course- the winners will be drawn on the 17th - so make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you are the winner!


Linked up to:

Design Wall Monday

Sew and Tell

Monday Musings

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Giveaway 4 - the double Nine patch

 Todays giveaway is a little kit for a Double 9 patch quilt....

Its kind of cute!!!




So today - tell me what your favorite crock pot meal to make is!!!

I will be glad to send these to someone in the Continental us - make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger

I will draw on the 17th of January!!

Stay warm today!!

Friday, January 12, 2024

Hawaii Gingham, Giveaway 3 and!! Finished!! ( or not) Friday!!

I must be dreaming of warm and sun and beach.....or maybe I should and the wind here would die down. I have seen photos of all sorts of snow and I think it must be coming my way with these winds.... oh boy!! Even the Puppy doesn't want to play!!

but! thats okay - we got our Hawaiian Gingham Quilt done....

Finidng a place to take a photo without it blowing to Kansas... different story!!!
I quilted Hibiscus flowers on it!! Keeping with the Hawaii theme!!!  and this is the back - SUPER busy and bright!!



I wasn't really sure how I would like using that busy print - but I really like how it turned out - its a Happy Quilt!!!

(PS I listed it in my Etsy shop just in case you know anyone who'd like a happy quilt)


Giveaway...


its a cute panel with backing for a wall hanging or mini quilt. When I first looked at it - I thought pillow covering?

But - just to prove its cute... There's My Bella girl 
PS - I learned that Bella is the most popular name for dogs now cuz of a vampire movie...
NO!! My puppy is named after lake Isabella.. but saying Isabella takes to long when your trying to get her attention!

Leave me a comment telling me your favorite thing to make with LEMON!!! I'll be glad to send this out to anyone in the continental US.... and I will draw on the 17th!!


and lastly:


Hopefully January is off to a good start for you!! Show it off!

Direct links please:



***********Link up here ****************




You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
*******************the end.... go stitch the day away********************

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Give away #2

 

Now maybe you know why I was thinking of Easter yesterday....


These are up for grabs as well - I will be glad to send them to someone in the continental US 

i think they are about 1 yard each...


For this giveaway - Again winner will be drawn on the 17th - tell me What your Favorite Quilt block is - your go to .....


Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Vacation Day #1 ( and a giveaway)

This year we decided that it would be fun to do a little get away over Christmas. We booked a cabin in the mountains and packed our snowshoes.

Behind the cabin we rented was a trail to a place called the Thumb.  I guess in the summer it is a big Rock Climbing destination -  but the climb up to the base of the rock, was quite a hike!!


We climbed up to almost as high as the mountains in the Park ( I think they are in the 13-14K range)
We didn't really hike that high - but It sure felt like it!!


And you kept going up - the views were incredible!


We made it to the first clearing  they say it is about 8400 feet.  


You know - have to practice my Black and White photos !!

Then all of us at the climbing spot... it was beautiful

When we looked down we realized that we had gone about 2000 feet up, and it made our knees weak .
But so pretty!!



This was back down in town  - the elk came out to give us a parade - knowing how well we did with our hike ;-)

And now for the giveaway part - I will be glad to send this out to anyone in the continental US


The three solid colors are about 1/2 yard each, and the top one is more - maybe a yard and a 1/2

To enter the drawing for the giveaway - leave me a comment ( with your email if you are a no reply blogger)  And tell me what your Favorite Easter Candy is,

I will draw next Wednesday ( the 17th - when the FIRST CLUE FOR STARS LIKE SPAGHETTI appears) and contact the winner.



Monday, January 08, 2024

Spirals, Sloths and Stars

 I had a plethora of really fun quilts to quilt... and each quilter has some really fun ideas


This one was a spiral star, and she wanted spirals drawn without rulers... oh boy - I was a little worried about that one but it turned out pretty cool!!! Organic looking!




Another one was the CUTEST sloth Quilt, and!! she used Sloth fleece on the backside... so you just had to quilt Sloths into it!!!

This quilt reminded me of the Van Gogh Starry Night - so I had fun with swirly quilting.


I like the variety of quilts that people make- and its so fun to try to figure out how to quilt them, within the clients guidelines, use and of course... Budget ;-)

Happy Monday!!!


Friday, January 05, 2024

Grey Gingham Quilt and!!! Finished!! ( Or not) Friday!!

Happy First Friday of 2024!!! That seems so weird to say - and it seems so far into the future... but! The Future is here.

I always think that my goal for the New year should be to finish things. So this time I decided it was time to just finish the things sitting around my quilting table.... and as soon as I finished one, I looked at the pile - and decided......

To start something else. I can' even keep a goal for a week !! Oh well - at least I can entertain myself!

My finish for this week is:


My Grey Gingham Quilt!!! 

I am so excited about it - because!!! it has already been gifted and loved in its new home!

My Son ( and his Wife) are stationed in the desert - and she has decorated their house in Greys and one color. It is SO pretty!!! Instead of trying to make something that matched the color she chose, I decided to go with the Greys...

They also live outside of Joshua Tree National Park. I LOVE that park!  So I found the retro posters that they have and used it for the backing.


And then, of course!! Had to quilt cactus, Yucca and Coyotes on it. 
I was a little worried - her Grandma is a quilter, and you don't want to step on Grandmas toes - but - I got brave and decided.... they know I am a quilter too...



Imagine My Happiness when they loved the quilt - and appropriately ohhed and ahhhed without prompting!!!  Almost enough to put that kid of mine back in the will!!   ( Joking... that's a standing joke my dad used to make when we were bad!)

One down 4million to go!!!

So how did your first week go of 2024? Anything get started, finished, strike a fancy??


if you are new to us... this is where you link up your direct post
and you link back to this page so that we can all get lots of ohhs and ahhs!!

I look forward to seeing what you have been up to!








********Link up****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
***the end****

If you are interested - I am hosting a Patriotic Mystery
Intro can be found here: Stars like Spaghetti
You can also join my mystery group https://groups.io/g/MysteryQuilts4Military if you want some conversations  about it... but not too much 

Linked up to!!!

Wednesday, January 03, 2024

Stars Like Spaghetti Intro and Fabric Requirements

 





Who is ready???????
Hopefully a LOT of you!! There is still quite a need for Quilts of Valor around the States.... I know Texas is a Big military state and they could make sure your quilt makes it to a Veteran Touched by war.....

Anyways....

Stars like Spaghetti

A Patriotic Mystery

Finished Size 64 x 80 inches

 

This is a fun easy quilt, but it is designed to use your scraps, and strips. I am going to give you the yardage as best I can, but I can guarantee you will want to use scraps.

Each step will include cutting and stitching for that clue. There is not a mass cut list, you prep each group of fabric as you go. You may have leftovers from one clue that will be used on the next clue. Don’t put anything back until the end ;-)

Please remember it is a Mystery – there is not always logic when stitching these blocks out – because… I don’t want you to guess what it will look like before you finish… the *mystery* of it!!

All that!!

If you are using scraps just make a pile… you will be using :

Lights – 1 ½ inch strips, a few 2 ½ inch pieces and a few 3 ½ inch pieces  (approx 4 yards)

You need TWO contrasting Darks

Since this is intended for a Quilt of Valor I use Blue and Red – use what you would like

Red (aka Dark #1) 2 ½ inch strips, a few 1 ½ inch Pieces and a few 3 ½ inch pieces (approx 2yd)

Blue (aka Dark #2) 2 ½ inch strips, a few 1 ½ inch Pieces and a few 3 ½ inch pieces (approx 2 yards)

If you want to attempt yardage – here is what I think you will need:

Lights – Nine Different Lights (all measurements are Width of Fabric)

L1 : 4 inches                                        L6:  11 inch

L2: 12 inches                                       L7: 13 inches

L3:   7 inches                                       L8: 14 inches

L4  : 8 inches                                       L9: 15 inches

L5:   10 inches

 

Red – Seven Different Reds

R1:    6 inch                                         R5:  11 inches

R2: 6 inches                                        R6:   13 inches

R3:   8 inches                                      R7:   15 inches

R4:  8 inches

 

 

 

Blue – Seven Different Blues

 

B1:  3 inches                                       B5:  8 inches

B2:  6 inches                                       B6:  8 inches

B3:  6 inches                                       B7: 12 inches

B4:  8 inches

 

Final Border:

1 yard

 

Backing:

4 yards

 

Binding:

½ yard

 

 

 

I will be using a Companion and Easy angle for 2 steps – if you have those – yay!

If you don’t – I will show you another way, but! You may need a few bigger scraps. ( it will make sense as we go – I promise)





Enjoy!!!!






Monday, January 01, 2024

Lightening Streak # 2

and no - I am not referring to my puppy... who is a BOLT of lightening.. and a speed demon!!



You might remember - my quilt guild did a challenge quilt and the person heading it up wanted us to make blocks with a gazillion shades of a color in it. My blocks were yellow and Green.

When I had the fabrics out I just couldn't put them back away - so I made a Yellow and White Lightning streak top - and now... its on to the greens....

I found a little color app on the web and it said purples went well with greens. I agree -that is one of my most favorite combos. I headed down to the trusty stash. I  pulled some dark purples.   

and here is where I am as of today...


I believe I have enough Green 2 patches to make 90 blocks total. They measure 9 1/2 inches .
I am not sure if I will make one quilt top or two. the Jury is still out on that. 

I need to head over and check out what the Rainbow Scrap challenge color will be for January - maybe I will make these blocks for that in 2024.  ( edited to add.... I just checked and January is GREEN!!Go me!!! I'm ahead of the game!!!) 


Come back Wednesday for the Intro to Stars Like Spaghetti
Come back Friday and Link up your Finished ( or not) Friday post
But for today - go have some fun!!!! 


Linking up to:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabricatiosn



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