Thursday, January 05, 2017

First Finish of 2017

Whoot Whoot Whoot!!! I have a finishhhhh.....    I have a finishhhhh....

This is what happens when everyone is home, and it snows, and they are all manly like and do all the chores!! I just have to make cookies and quilt!!  yep!!

I want them to stay home with me forever!!!!

Oh wait!! Do you want to see my first Finish for the year????


Yay!!
I quilted it up and ta - da
It is now off of my To Do list!


This is the pantograph that I used
and I LOVED it!!!  I am going to use it again!!
(right away!!)


PS:  I am trying to declutter a little bit of fabrics that won't really work for the quilts I am making - so - I have listed some of them on Ebay - if you are interested......   Go Here

Linking to:
My Quilt Infatuation
TGI Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Ft Worth Fabric Studio
Crazy Mom quilts

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Life on the Ranch - still fencing.....

You might remember a post on our Fencing project?

( if not - here you go...  Fences

I really really thought we would be done quickly, but it turns out that real life, sports and this little thing called weather can really mess a person's plans up!!  I get laughed at a lot, although I have lived here for a really long time... those sunny days confuse me, and make me believe that winter is not coming.

I.... was.... wrong....


we went from this.... ( see the crazy boy wearing shorts in the end of November?)



to this:

Almost overnight!!


Maybe you can't tell by the snow that is blown. that the wind came with it.   And the ice!


None the less, we were brave souls - and the men continued to dig post holes, while I clipped the wires.   



You know, that every job needs an inspector right?   Kittie is making sure the poles are level. That is the MOST important part of the fence to a cow.... if it's not level, they will definitely try to break through.

My friend called her a pole cat - bwahh haa haa!  


 Here she is again, making sure the post hole is deep enough before we set the next one. She is very particular about depth - she wants all of the posts to be the Exact! Same! Height!  

I am sure that is why we pay her the big bucks!


And guess what??? We still aren't done! We are certainly getting a LOT closer to the end! 

Please..... send...... chocolate.......


Monday, January 02, 2017

EnProvence Clue 6

Oh man!!!   ( no whining here really!!)

I was all caught up - I was moving a long with the clues and I was all like.... Look at me, I rock this mystery!!!

And then! I woke up "Oh So Early" on January 1st and started reading my facebook !!


Someone posted - the Reveal is out.... and I panicked - cuz!!! I didn't have any planned sewing time till Friday...

What is a girl to do?



See - Look!!  Proof that I  waaaaaas caught up!!




What to do???? Last night - I pulled out a crockpot meal, got it defrosting in the fridge - and today!! When the Rose Parade Comes on.... I  AM STITCHING..... well at least a little bit!!

Can't wait to look at other's versions! I think Bonnie Outdid herself this time!!

Want to start in just a little late?
Here you go:   http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/en-provence-mystery.html


Enjoy!!!!

Linking to:
http://emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/2017/01/moving-it-forward.html
http://www.cookingupquilts.com/mcm-54-ive-made-progress/
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2017/01/02/design-wall-january-2-2017/
http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2017/01/monday-making.html

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Januarys UFO and One Monthly Goal Challenge

I am doing it!! I am jumping in!!! I am ready..... until 5pm tonite I am sure - but this morning!! I am pumped up - ready to go, go for the win ( ok the finish!!)

This is my January Project!

This Block!!! It is the Chimney Sweep Block and I am in love with it! I wanted to use 2 1/2 inch strips though and EVERY pattern I found was for bigger strips!! What is a girl to do?

I wrote my own!! and it is here - if you want to attempt it   Quiltygirl's Craftsy Site   ( It's free)


My Mission - should I choose to accept it!!!  Finish making the WHOLE TWELVE Blocks

And!!

Make a Quilt - I mean for real - set them, quilt it.... and the kicker.... Bind it!!

If I get to the binding you can bet there will be a reward of some kind.... A day in the mountains?  A hike someplace?  Or Wrangler Man cleans the kitchen?  hmmmmm what shall it be!!




To push me forward I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts' One Monthly Goal Challenge

AND                                     PatchworkTimes UFO Challenge


I'm also linking up with:
http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com on Oh scrap




Monday, December 26, 2016

Merry Day After Christmas!!

Oh I hop you all had a wonderful day yesterday - I know some were filled with family and others with quilting!  Ours had a little mini blizzard pass though, and leave us covered in ice!

Walking dogs this morning ( in the dark as well) was a crunchy slippery experience! Ha - but I survived.

Right before the Day - I even finished!! all of my Mystery Clues!

After the making of the Pumpkin Pies - I got them all cut out!!



After the making of the Strawberry Pretzel salad - I got them stitched
and PS
 my Mom or Mother in law always makes this salad - and I did it this year
and it was EDIBLE!!! Ha!!

and because I am actually keeping up
here's an ALL clue shot!




Wednesday was the Winter Solstice
Last year we were jut beginning our RIcky Timms Photography class - and we were told to take a photo on the solstice

This year he gave us the same assignment and I headed out to the same place.

The reason - I wanted to see how far I had come
And although I LOVE my old solstice photo - I did edit it a bit
This one - Straight out of  the camera

To me - that is a great thing, I have learned so much on how to use my camera first to set things up - so it made me happy!!


The LinkUps



Friday, December 23, 2016

2017 Blogging/Planning Party

Don't Laugh....

I am planning.... yep - me....   The fly by the seat of my Pants QDD girl...is thinking about a plan!

Alright - in reality I always have goals, but very rarely do I tell people about them....

But Quilting JetGirl is hosting a Blogging planning party, and I thought - well - let's see what I can write down....


Here we go:

  • Write 3 Mystery Quilt patterns for MysteryQuilts 4 Military : ( This is my Yahoo group - we do a mystery quilt that fits the requirements of a Quilt of Valor, with the intent that the quilt will be awarded to a Veteran - here is the link https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MysteryQuilts4Military/info  just in case you want to join in: )  and you can see some of the older ones we have done here

  • Finish 12 UFO's this year - Judy at Patchwork Times is going to host a UFO draw and I think I'll join in - I'm not sure how many UFO's I have - and I refuse to count - but I am sure I can find 12 of something to do!

  • Participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge with Angela at SuperScrappy. I have done this for 2 years, and didn't get to in 2016 - so I want to step back in for 2017

  • Quilt/Piece 12 Quilts of Valor - this is a goal I always try to do, and usually I do more - but to know I have a minimum keeps me moving ( i did 28 in 2014, and 33 in 2015, and forgot to count in 2016.... hmmmm I see a trend ha ha)

  • Continue hosting a QOV show on the blog - I am not sure if it will be weekly as it has been for the last gazillion years, or if I will change it to monthly.  My group produces a LOT of Quilts of Valor, and you all make some amazing ones..... so we will have to see about the timing


  • Continue to share my photography on the blog




  • and make time to Hike and see the state!

There you go!! I am linking up with Quilting JetGirl and hope to remember what I told you all!!
Ha ha!!






Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Free Quilt Patterns ( and more)

I know I usually do QOV shows on Wednesdays - but today I wanted to highlight a Tab on the top of my blog  - and lead you that way!!

I have a tab ( surprise) of all the Quilt patterns that I have on my blog - and I updated it!!!

( Round of applause please)

I planned at the beginning of the year to do a Scrappy Block pattern and post it, and I also had planned to do some quilt patterns - now they are all listed for you to be inspired and maybe use them to make a Quilt of Valor or Two??  ( or 12 if you are really ambitious!!)


That is the link - I hope you find something you like!
From So Cal QOV using the LCT Tutorial from Colorful Fabriholic

an easy strip pattern

Monday, December 19, 2016

Quitville Mystery Clue 4

Happy Monday!!!
Our weekend was Oh So Cold!!! and we headed out to watch my son play basketball.

Down in Denver they got way more snow than we did, but most of the roads were plowed well enough to drive - until you got to the one right by the school .  ( in the snow plow drivers defense - we were WAY early in the morning)

As we are turning onto the road - I scream (to my little car)  Don't get stuck - and Wrangler man yells at me to gun it.... and we made it - who knew you would need to go 4 wheelin' in town - ha ha!!!

On to the Mystery!!!

This is Clue #3 .... and I am going to be the first to tell you - I made a new Design Element with these - and my fingers are crossed they will be ok!!  I didn't read well - and I didn't read that you were supposed to use a light and a dark (Purple is my Navy)   and so!! They are all dark.....

We will see what happens????


and because it makes me happy - Clue 1-3


And then...... Clue 4

Remember the basketball thing?
Yep - it was ALL day


and when we got home - we had chores to do, and then it was bedtime

since I am sure you want to see my kid?


He is the one in White ;-)
( and I took that photo - I am just so happy!!!)

Alright!! The deets!!

The Quiltville Mystery can be found here:

and you can find my buddy in crime ( and quilts)
also doing his patriotic here


Friday, December 16, 2016

Last Retreat Day

The last day of the Quilt retreat was a short but sweet morning - I stitched till 9 am then headed down the mountain.


BUT!!! If you know me well, it was not a straight shot down for me... there were so very many trails to discover and , well, take a photo or three......


This block is now finished and was a test - 
Mama Sparks is going to host a Quilt A long for 2017 and I wanted to see if I could use this as a leader ender project. So it was my Leader ender for the retreat - and I finished enough to make one whole block..... so it is feasible


And then.... My Outdoor Photos!!



This mountain was right outside
I saw it every day in the windows 
my Quilting pals love me - they set me at a table facing this!!!!

And there were mountain streams to explore



And pretty trails to walk up.....


All in all - not a bad place to rejuvenate!!



Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Betty D - the QOV mystery Quilt

Good Morning!!!

I would like to introduce you to....

The Betty D



The Betty D is the latest Mystery Quilt
that we just finished over at Mystery Quilts 4 Military
( a yahoo group)

This is the 4th Mystery that I have created for the group 
and we have a lot of fun!



Why is it called the Betty D you wonder?

Betty D is the wife of a WWII Veteran who recieved a Quilt of Valor,
and she decided to start stitching for us
She is a mass producer of 9 patches!



This quilt is now in pattern form for you!
It included full instructions for both the
Scrappy Version ( above)
and the Two Color Version
(below)



you can Find this pattern at both my 
and my 


All three of these are Quilts of Valor
The top one was pieced and quilted by me
The Green and White one Sharon Tested and I quilted
and the Tan one Marilyn Tested and I quilted

Linking to:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
TGIFF hosted by Sparrow in Flight
Ft Worth Fabric Studio
Finished or Not Finished at Busy Hands