My Son

My design wall got no attention over the weekend.... but this guy did:

It was Prom....

He and his Date were So Much Fun!!!

Now... back to reality (which means I should pay bills ugh!!)

Spring Break Photos

My family and I headed West for spring break, and my children tried to break me.... but I showed them!!  We found some of the most gorgeous places to hike, and had such a fun time - I did take a bajillion photos - are you ready??


First we have the little yellow bird that kept saying... "Run Away...if you hide now they can't try to leave you on the trail"    But I didn't listen... I went anyways!!

We all headed out - we were joined by some of my son's roommates.  Note to self:  when they are ALL runners ( as in Distance Runners)  set some boundaries or mileage limits before the start!

This is such gorgeous Country. So different from where we live - yet still the same state!!

One of the views - we just kept climbing higher and higher.

Only you didn't realize it until you looked down!!

This one just Cracks me up!  We are in the middle of nowhere. We found some old equipment, and it had patent Numbers on it. So instead of writing the numbers down and looking them up when we get back to civilization... they pulled out their phones!!

And - yes - they did find out what it was ( I just can't remember)

We were never more grateful for a fence,

We couldn't go any farther - so alas we turned back around.

But check out what our view was on the way back!!!

We headed back to civilization and food.... lots of food.... and water.... but mostly food - food is always important!!

Just a fun one - I was trying to be all artsy ;-)

Quilts of Valor 2015

Happy Happy Wednesday!!

It's that time again!  I tell you - one of the most fun ( funnest?) things about being a Volunteer with Quilts of Valor.... is the weekly quilt show that happens in my house!  And it makes me keep the house picked up - so total win-win right?

This is an older photo - but I thought I would show you - it cracks me up. If Quilts come to me not washed, I go to town to the Duds and Suds Laundro-mat and wash them.  Jim has a bunch of racks that he pulls out for me, and we dry them on the racks.... then I come home and lay them all out one more time - to make sure they are ready to be loved on,

Crazy huh?

Alright - let's get on to the quilts!!

Thes next three Quilts were made by Marsha G in Colorado.

She made these and had them at their local quilt show, set up in a QOV booth.

This one ( the baskets) won a Ribbon. It is beautiful an the quilting.

Oh My!!

This is the third one today from Marsha

That twist is pretty cool!

We have a Freedom Quilt - Made by Kathy at Arapahoe County Quilters - LOVE it!! How about that bell?

This one was pieced by Jessica V in Colorado and Quilted by Alycia ( me - tee hee hee)

This lovely plaid quilt!!  PLAID!!! LOVE IT!! was pieced by San - who blogs over at http://gypsyquilterdesigns.blogspot.com/   It was quilted by Me .. of course, how could I send a Plaid quilt to another to quilt?  I mean seriously... plaid.....  My weakness

And now - from our prolific Columbine Quilters!!   They did this lovely Dancing 9's quilt.  ( its a free pattern at Quiltville.com)  I LOVE it!!

Here;s a little close up - I really LOVE this pattern! 

Another beauty by the Columbine Quilters

This last one from them is also a Free pattern at Maryquilts.com I love how theirs turned out!!

These are two block drive Quilts.  The first one was pieced by Cowboy Bob and Quilted by Ellen P

And Ellen didn't stop there - she quilted this one too!! It was pieced by Carolyn N

Thanks to all who help make these quilts, and work on them in any ways!  It is fun to say that your quilts were touched by many hands!!

Ready for your smiles for the day????   Check em out!

Go Forth and Quilt!!!

Q2 FAL List

It is now the Second Quarter of the Finish A Long over at On the Windy Side.

The Q1 helped me stay a little more focused - because I had Sticky notes every where!!  So.... Q2 has arrived and I need to make another list!    Quarter One List

One of my first goals ( just for a little bit! Heaven forbid that should be a long term goal!!!)

For the first quarter I did okay - I did purchase a few items.

Sticks 3 or Plaid 9 

PS ( the pattern for this one is Free in my Craftsy Shop:  Alycia Quilts Pattern Store

My RSC 2014 top

Heart pattern  is free too

And my Blue Crumb top

( it needs a name)

Wish me luck 

Tell me to stay on track !!

Alphabet Monday

Today I have a DWM and ALYOF to show you..... lots of alphbets!!

When I go on Post or am with my Military buddies they always have acronyms and I feel lost.... It's a language unto its own.  as a Quilter - I now have my own language... yep - my own acronyms and letters and I'm going to talk like that and see if they can follow......

We live in a great Rural area - with a school that pretty much is the town. The FFA is a BIG part of that school. In May we have a Livestock show and fundraiser for FFA. I was asked to make a donation ( auction quilt) and in my head - I had LOADS of time.

Then I looked at the calendar - and , well, I was wrong....

So.... My DWM ( Design wall monday) and my April ALYOF ( A Lovely Year of Finishes) will be:

To make an FFA(Future Farmers of America) Quilt.....   Wish me luck....

( PS - this is on the floor, because I refuse to take my design wall stall project down)

Linking with http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/

and http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/04/06/design-wall-april-6-2015/
and http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2015/04/monday-making.html

Finish A Long 2015 Q1 - goal 3

I joined in the Finish A long 2015 over at http://www.onthewindyside.co.nz/  in January - and now.... I get to link up all my finishes!!

So the first goal was to finish my Pink Bar Quilt - Done - posted here
the Second was: Plaid #7  - Done - Posted here

And the third goal.... sit down for this.... was to Bind Three Quilts.   Yep! I really challenged myself there!

and - Here they are:

Sticks 2 - all finished, bound, and DONE!

This little quilt ( below)

It needs a name 

The pattern was from one of Quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com

And the third quilt to be bound

Yes!!! This one!!!

So go see all the millions of finishes over at:

You will be inspired!! I promise

QOV 2015

Happy April Fool's Day!!

A long time ago I had some students in our 5th grade sewing class. They made Quilts of Valor. If you ever want to learn how to be a great quilt teacher.... teach kids - they will tell you what you need to know!!!

My Middle son was one of them, and he really likes to pitch in with QOV. So for his National Honor Society Community Service project - he set up a sew day at his high school.  He prepped all the blocks.

I will apologize ( sort of) for the blue background, but there might have been a little mess.

And me, being perfect and all..... didn't want you to see proof of that *ahem* Perfectness 

( I am nice that way!)

Here is one of the quilts that they finished.  We added some of the Block Drive blocks to it too

Pattern found here

And the backing.

It was really fun to see some of those same kids that were in 5th grade come back to join in!!


Let me show you some more Yummy Quilts -

This one came from the Rocky Mountain quilt Museum - I love 9 patches!!!

The next three are from Jeanne H. She is a member of ACQ Quilt guild.

All three are so beautiful - this middle one is SO unique!! Don;t you love it!

Here is one of our Super Heros

Don;t you love his pose???

Enjoy!!

Go Forth and Quilt!

Track Meet

Our first day of Spring Break found us up at 3:30 am driving over mountains and into valleys - to make it to a Track Meet.

We arrived just in time to see a daughter of a friend in the Hammer Throw ( or something like that - it was HUGE and heavy!)

 at first I headed to the end of the net to see if I could get a clear shot - and then when I saw what they were trhowing.... I headed back to the net..... I value my camera lenses lol

Then we headed to the track for the running events - My son is the Yellow Jersey, Red Shorts ( 2nd position)

He's the Red Short - Sunglasses guy.  I had purchased him a pair of Really Bright Track Spikes, but he ran through them, and .... he couldn't find a new pair as bright as that front runner. I may start searching for Pink!

Out of all of my track photos through - the one below is my total favorite ( sheesh!)  I couldn't believe that sign just jumped out there and got in the way of my photo!

hope you like vacations.... I might have about 700 more photos......