Christmas in a month.....

Wow, let me start by saying MERRY CHRISTMAS.....the month of December is rolling by.  I have been very busy helping others give wonderful handmade gifts for Christmas....I started getting things in Mid November and have gotten everyone finished in time for Christmas. 

 This quilt was in greens and cream.....absolutely gorgeous with all the hand embroidery on it.

 With all the winter scenes with snowflakes and snowmen...I went with an over all snowflake.  I used pearl shimmery thread.  You could see the thread shimmer once in a while, like dancing snowflakes fall on the quilt top.

This quilt came in for a baby...due any day. 

I decided on teddy bears.  This is the back...on top I used a tan-brown multi-colored thread.....

 This one is a Nebraska piece of fleece and so I had to use a fairly loose quilting motif....as I was afraid the fleece may over stretch

With the last name starting with an "S"...I quilted S's throughout....it didn't over stretch or loose its shape.  I was happy with it and the customer seemed to be thrilled with the outcome.

Mater for another....This little guy is going to Texas.  Nick loves the Cars movies and his bathroom is decorated with Cars Movie so adding Mater will be a snap. 
Now I will be working on family things....embroidery machine will be busy and my DM will be getting a little workout also.  I know that the Christmas Season is my favorite Holiday and hope for the joy of Christ in your Christmas, also....

Memory Quilts

I was asked to make a few memory quilts from shirts....I met with a very sweet lady, got the story behind the shirts and the need for the memory quilts.  I was honored to take on this project and found that I really enjoyed coming up with something special for her and her family---See they lost a son and brother and wanted to have something made of his shirts, so that is when I came in and here is what I came up with:

I started with a pile of shirts--about 25 and a pair of sleep pants.  Cutting them into 5 1/2" squares...sewing them into 9 patches and then cutting them in 1/2  top to bottom and side to side.

This is 2 of the 4 blocks

This is what it looks like after you reassemble it.

Here is one of the finished throws.  I just couldn't leave it alone....I had to add a little something to the quilt for the memory of the lost family member...

I decided to embroider his name on a pocket and sew it back on the quilt for her to put a note, picture or whatever in the pocket.  These are Christmas gifts for her family, so I wanted them to be special

Close up of the quilting design.  I used flannel on the back and a multi-color homespun for the binding to bring all the colors together. 
It was fun coming up with a Christmas gift that will surely bring a smile to another person's face.  They will be able to cuddle in and remember Doug as they warm up.

Surprising My Love!!

As most of you know there have been many things happening within our family....My husband has been really stressed and I wanted to do something special for him because he is such an amazing man.  God was in on my surprise....I opened my Facebook page and a site popped up that I didn't know I belonged to and low and behold there I see someone selling Broncos tickets for the game on Sunday....Remind you that he is a die hard Broncos fan and LOVES football.  I call the guy and find out the seat are not in the noise bleed section and he is willing to negotiate the price.  I am not one to wait on a "good deal", so I jumped at the chance to spend the day with my loving husband and do something for him that he has always wanted to do.  GO TO A BRONCOS GAME!!!!  I get the tickets and get a parking pass as a bonus, who can beat such a deal???  I am saying this was God's handy work because I could not have found anything like that on my own.

We made it to and from the Broncos game in Denver without any scratches---
 We got to the field and had a parking ticket for Lot M....a beautiful walk to the stadium....Thru all the tailgates, RV's with BBQ, music and lots of friends having a great time together.

 

 

 

 

 Empty Stadium...about 2 hours prior to kickoff.

 Manning going into the tunnel

 The statues outside the Sports Authority Shopping area....It was so pretty and peaceful.  There is so much going on outside the stadium....

We had a great time...He was really surprised with the tickets and he did all the "touristy" things.  I had him take a picture with the mascot, we had our sketch done by a cartoonist, we walked all around the stadium taking in all the sites.  It was a whole lot of fun and the vibe in the stadium during the game was amazing.  There had parachute jumpers come into the stadium during the pre-game and THAT WAS FANTASTIC!!!!

The game was exciting, worth the tickets, drive and crowds....The end of the game was just as exciting. 














Whenever you get a chance to spend time with just your spouse take it, enjoy and make lasting memories.  I took tons of pictures and video....thought this was enough to give you an idea of what we saw...if you haven't been to a pro-game everyone should go. 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving for us started out a bit different this year...we had decided to postpone Thanksgiving day with our family to help out with our church families....this was the first year we wanted to serve the community a meal.  My husband and I jumped in and served, cleaned up and enjoyed the blessing we have (thankful).  We then find out that my husband's sister's life was turned upside down in a few seconds.....Her husband, Bud, was outside on a 4 wheeler and had a horrific accident.  Nobody know exactly what happen as no one saw the accident, just the aftermath.  We rushed to Casper to be with my sister in-law and family in ICU.  Things are difficult, but the power of prayer is surrounding them in comfort.  He survived the surgery that released some of the pressure on the brain...there are many things, but right now they are working on the skull fractures/brain injury.  He has a lot going on and we are blessed to know that God is in control of the situation and pray for recovery.  As of yesterday the Doctor has started to take him out of the coma (during the day) and the brain pressure monitor has been take out and a feeding tube put in.  He responded yesterday by holding his wife's hand. 
I am trying to hit the high spots as to not get too wrapped up in details, but we are asking for all the prayer warriors out there to add Linda and Dwayne (Bud) to your prayers....This Christian family knows about miracles and knows God is good!!!

Storage

Most of us know that it is vital to any sewing/quilting studio that we have A LOT of  storage.  I had a plan in mind, but was not able to find any prefabbed cabinets that fit my needs.  I was ready to give in to "whatever" I could find, just to have enclosed storage for the new area.  I mentioned it to my brother in-law and he asked what I wanted and wha la....he came up with a plan and I was thrilled.  He and my sister worked on building my cabinets and then they drive all the way down here not only to deliver, but to install the wonderful additions.....

All the cabinets are in (a corner unit and 3 double door on each side)....it is amazing.  Now that I have done everything BACKWARDS...I may not get the walls textured or painted.  I have gotten cabinets up before texture and paint have been applied.....moved the machines in and "What was I thinking"?  I am thinking about using some chalkboard paint or dry erase paint or even some cork board on a few of the door fronts, so I am able to write things down when customers call....sometimes the brain forgets what it is doing.  What a wonderful invention!!!
 I also have 3 large lights installed, 1 over the sewing machines, 1 over the quilting machine and 1 over the cutting table....with a window on the north...I think there is plenty of light...I am loving the area, but still have lots of organizing to get done.  Most of that will probably wait until after the Holidays.  I am getting backlogged with quilts needing to be done by Christmas, so organizing will have to wait.  Have a great Thanksgiving with family, friends and the blessing you have been given!!

Suzie's gift

I got in a quilt that was pieced by a lady that wanted to give it to her daughter as a wedding gift.   She needed it done by the 1st of  November and I asked her when she was getting married and she said "last year".....I loved that comment so much I had to pass it on.  How many times do we start a project that we think we can get done "on time" and then find ourselves disappointed by how long it takes????
She outdid herself....she went with a King Size and a tough pattern, but it turned out amazing and I was so thrilled to be a finishing part to this project:

Complete top.....

Close-up....of the corner

Close-up of the front and back....I used a pano graph on this....I really like this pattern of the dancing feathers.  It is a tight quilting pattern and uses a lot of thread.  I used 13 bobbins on this quilt.  I think it turned out really nice!!

Sewing Room Remodel

Some of you may have seen the post when I mentioned that I was remodeling the garage and making that the NEW quilting room.....well, let me tell you that is a whole lot of work, but it is starting to shape up.  I wanted to have the walls textured, painted and ready for when the cupboards arrived, but that did not happen.  My brother-in-law and sister made my cupboards at a very reasonable cost, so I was thrilled when they showed with the first set and INSTALLED them.  Now that is service!!!!  Home Depot, Menards, and Lowes can't beat that!!!

Before the cupboards....walls are ready to be textured, but needing to sew and quilt, so I put that on the back burner

Guess what shows up....earlier than expected?  My sister and her husband with the cupboards they made for me.  They are so fast!!!!!

Brother-in-law, Kent, the perfectionist....making sure everything is good before adding anymore screws

I love the custom cupboards....there is a corner unit and a double door cupboard on each side.  The double door cupboard opens to one large opening....I love that.  I have 4 more on order with them and they are thinking about having them done in November....Wow, faster than ordering from a store.  They are AWESOME!!!!!
I may never get the walls finished now.  I am such a procrastinator!

Back at it!

Wow, I did not realize it had been so long since my last entry.  I can honestly say I have been so busy that time flew by---I have been busy with harvest.  I am back to working at home, so I will try to keep postings updated better.
Besides working harvest....I have been doing a few smaller things for customers in the evenings:
Judy has done this quilt top with all finished 1/2 square triangles being about 1"....

This is the back of the quilt....
This quilt was done with grey and yellow.....this was a baby gift that I quilted for a customer and it was very unique in colors....LOVED this color choice.

The back of the quilt.

This is a table topper for Christmas...she wanted something done with variegated thread on the top....so I went with a subtle thread with light green/cream/pale pink in the center, but on the border I used a green/red variegated....it turned out really nice.  

Up close with the color of threads....
Well, I guess I have somewhat caught you up on what all has been happening in the area of the world, SOMEWHAT....the next posting will be of the new cupboards being installed in my sewing area.  That has become an undertaking....remodeling, setting up a new area and trying to sew/quilt.....That is a story of all its own!!!!!   Until next time ........

Civil War Collection

 The two quilts you are going to see are from 2 different customers that took the same class.  You are able to see that the same pattern looks totally different; depending upon the color choices.  This is in a Civil War Legacies collection called "Alexander's Bean Pot".  I did not quilt these two quilts with the same motif, but did feel that there are a lot of straight, hard lines and they deserved some curves to balance them. 

Another quilt from the same collection called "Stars to Freedom" was quilted with more quilting on the stars.

The back turned out just as nice as the front.  I enjoyed doing this piece....the customer was easy to work with...she allowed me the freedom to do as I felt.  That is what helps me feel like I am an artist, being free to do as I see. 
Thought these quilts are some really neat patterns and thought I would share the book information with everyone and see what other quilters come up with....I love Civil War Era fabrics and patterns and would love to  see what others are doing.  I haven't had time to piece any for myself, but have really enjoyed quilting for these ladies!!

Big Changes

Most of you know that we bought our home a little over a year ago...well, when we moved in I had decided to make one of the bedrooms a sewing room.  The room was small, but served a purpose and it worked.  I decided that we have too many people coming and going from our home to have my sewing/quilting things spread from one end of the house to the other, so we converted the garage into a wonderful sewing/quilting studio.  I do not have the walls painted, yet and have a little more work to do, but I couldn't wait any longer.  I had to get started on moving things....and LOTS of things I have!!!

The 14' quilting machine is in the middle of the room with embroidery machine, serger and sewing machine set in the "L" shape in the corner....have an organizing drawer unit that I bought from an old Hallmark store....pretty cheap, nice and stacks nicely.  On the opposite side is the cutting table large ironing board and about 20' of design wall....I think it will be nice when I get everything done.  My plan is to have enclosed cupboards on the walls above the "L" area.

My poor room is a MESS.  Now for the re-organizing and finding places for everything out in the new studio.  This is almost overwhelming to look at.  Without the cupboards on the wall in the new area, it is tough to find a spot to put all this....better get moving, so I can get more done today.  Hate to be down very long, I have to keep business going while  in reconstruction.  Once all is done it will be fantastic!

30's revisited

This is a baby quilt that was brought to me to quilt....I fell in love with the pattern, colors and layout...
She did a nice job piecing the top and I enjoyed quilting feathers throughout.

A close-up of one block and the border

The back side..
This was a really fun quilt to work on...
Every time I get a quilt to work on for someone, I like to think about what they imagine, what the new owner will think and what the quilt will be a part of....such a great imagination sometimes.  Love thinking about how quilts comfort, warm and soothe another person or family--the memories it will bring!!!

New Friends

I have told you a little bit about 2 young ladies that we met about 3 months ago.....so I thought I would introduce them to you.  Nina and Petra are 2 young ladies in their early 20's that decided to venture to America for the first time and we are lucky enough to have met them, spent time with them and enjoyed every minute we had with them.  They are full of joy, adventure and courage!!  They came here to see how things were done in the States...we learned so much from them as they did from us too....
They love animals, but really have a soft spot for horses and loved to ride....they ride English and we are Western, but they adapted well to our saddles and gear.

Nina-on the left is riding my spouse's cutting horse and Petra on the right is riding his go to horse.....Larryetta and Tiny.  They are so happy to ride and be around the horses.....
Can't wait for them to come back....I have found that I really miss their laughs, giggles, questions and conversation--not to mention the time they spent helping me feed cattle, paint the horse barn and eating ice cream!!!!

 A picture of the Girl's last ride in Nebraska....

Where does the time go????

Wow, I have realized that there is so little time to get all the things done on a person's "to do" list for one day let alone a lifetime.  Summer has come so fast and about 3 months ago I met two young ladies her visiting from Slovenia....I have grown very fond of these two young ladies and now it is time for them to go back home....I am finding that my heart is feeling sad that they are leaving.  I have enjoyed them so much, learning their culture, language and getting to know them.  They have been spending a lot of time with me feeding cattle, going to town, visiting and painting.  I am feeling very selfish because I don't want them to go home, but they don't have much choice ---- they need to get back to their own family and lives, but I am really going to miss them.  We will keep in touch via Facebook and Blogging.  Technology sure is amazing....I will introduce the girls in a day or two when I get the pictures ready....we are having them over to ride horses on Sunday.....they leave Monday, so I will keep you posted.
Besides that I have been so busy with painting, feeding cows, weeding the garden....I haven't taken time to keep in touch with anyone.  I miss visiting and seeing my friends. 
Until next time.....let God lead your heart!!!

Growing

It has been a little while since you have seen the baby chicks....here they are as "teenagers".  A few more months and they will be laying eggs....They grow so fast.  They are about to be turned out with the big chickens.

They are such fun animals to watch and they grow, produce faster than any other animal also.