The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

When we went for our anniversary weekend, I knew I needed to find fabric for this quilt. There are 5 of us that are going to make this quilt. Each of us have a list of blocks we will be doing, and we will make 5 of each block. We keep one and everyone else gets one. This way we don't make each and every 111 blocks ourselves. Each person will make 1 block a month and it will take us almost 2 years to complete the swap. These are the ones I bought for this project. We went to Harriet's Treadle Arts in Wheat Ridge, CO where I got these civil war reproduction fat quarters and thread. I LOVE Presencia thread!!

Than there was a stop at High Country Quilts in Coloroado Sprgs where I got a yard of Jo Morton ladies head fabrics and a bundle of 15 Jo Morton fat quarters. Such yummy fabric!! I took a couple of classes with Jo 4 years ago. Her mom was with her and we had some time when we were able to sit and chat. What a sweet lady!! Her passion is for civil war era fabrics and quilts and she specialized in miniatures. What fun these are going to be to play with!!

We have a really great mechanic who has gone above and beyond a few times. I've thought of making him a wallhanging for his office area and when I saw this fabric at HCQuilts, I thought it would be perfect. The quilt will be simple so that the focus fabric pops. The lady that was cutting my fabric said they just got this in last week and have sold quite a bit of it already. Hmmm, could that be because racing season has started? Ü

I also found this beautiful birdhouse fabric! So, I picked up 4 coordinating fabrics to go with it. The quilt will be simple as I will use the birdhouses as the focus and use the colors to add accent. I have an idea of what I want to do.

There is nothing more tranquil then to give a quilter new fabric!! I have no quilt shop here within an hours drive, so when I get to a quilt shop every 6 months or so, I'm like a kid in a candy shop. LOL

Happy Spring

We just got back from a long weekend away for a little belated anniversary. Wow, 30 years!! It doesn't seem possible until I think of all that has transpired during this time span. We spent Friday evening and Saturday morning with Brandon and Amber up in Greeley. Ok, so why didn't I take any photos? No idea. Saturday we went down to Denver and did a little fabric shopping (Glen is such a dear!!!) and topped the evening off with having dinner with Joy and Jim, dear friends of mine in Arvada. Then we drove down to Colorado Springs for a few days. Sunday was Disney on Ice at the World Arena, then dinner across the road at Outback. The day was very relaxing!! Monday we spent the day with Glen's brother and wife, got back to the motel at 2:30 am! Ok, so are we thinking we are youngsters again!! Tuesday was another quilt shop, lunch at Red Top and then home. Rachel and Mike stayed at the house to take care of the animals for us. That really helped to make it possible for us to have the time away.

Now, as Easter will be here in a couple of days, I thought I would share a wallhanging I made a couple of years ago. It was a challenge piece for the Pueblo Quilt Expo. The them was "Memories", of which the word "memory" or "memories" had to be used. This is what I did with the fabric that was included. For me, my own families memories are holidays and birthdays. Since the Expo is always close to Easter, my thoughts went to Easter. This didn't win anything, but that didn't matter to me. I don't make things to win ribbons (tho they are always nice!! Ü). I make what I like, otherwise why bother. Ü

Now, will someone please tell me where the time goes? I have been very busy with quilting, so I'm certainly not going to complain!! I also hate the first of the year because it means it's time to get taxes done and I hate that. That is when having your own business bites. You would think after 27 years it wouldn't "hurt" so much. Oh well, taxes and death, you can't avoid them, and I'd rather pay the taxes than deal with death, so that is my positive thought for today! Ü

It's already the middle of January

It seems I get more involved in more things and forget to keep up with some of them, my blog included. As I sit here in my recliner, typing on my netbook, Glen is sitting in his recliner playing on his laptop. Boy, aren't we a pair. LOL

It has been a couple of busy months, but that doesn't seem like any kind of new news around here anymore. We got a family picture at Thanksgiving, but that photo is on the desktop, so I will add another blog with photo later. :-)

For Christmas, it was great to have our kids all here. We did get a special, early Christmas present December 7th when Rachel and Mike told us they are expecting!! There is only one Dr in town that is taking new OB patients but Rach can't get in to see him until January 27th, so we are still waiting for a due date. I think we are all waiting for a due date!!!!

We have had some cold temps this winter, but very little moisture. We did have a sort of White Christmas, only because there was a little snow on the ground Christmas day. Not enough to cover the ground, so it wasn't a pretty White Christmas. Our snowiest months are March and April, and hopefully we will get some moisture to get us into spring. We aren't missing the mud that comes with the moisture tho. LOL

With a baby coming, Rachel and Mike will be postponing their move for a while. We aren't going to complain! It will be nice to have a grandbaby to spoil for a while!! :-)

I was quite busy with quilting until New Years. Then I had a little break to get back into the swing of things. I always seem to need a couple of weeks to come down from all the high of the holiday activites. I have done some quilting, but mostly for me on small things. I have a customers quilt I will put on the frame in 2 days and another new customer/friend is sending me 2 to quilts from Montana. I'm very excited to quilt these for her!!

My next blog will be made from the desktop, then I can add photos!!!! LOL
Until then, Happy Quilting!!