Next generation....

The last 2 weeks has been just amazing...I have gotten to meet young, new quilters and they are so cute.  I had a lady bring in 3 of her grandchildren and they each brought their freshly pieced tops to be quilted.  Such joys!!!!

Matt's (age 9)...likes rodeo, horses and so I quilted rodeo themed pattern with hats, boots, saddles and bucking horses. 

Rachel's (11 years old)....She likes stars, blue and was really quiet....She wanted rope and stars quilted on her's. 

Emm ( 17 years old)...She is a girly, girl and likes pink.  Her quilt was colorful and so the quilting matched her personality. 
These kids are entering in the local fair this year, so I can't wait to see how their quilts hang and what an accomplishment for such a wonderful group of kids.  Go GRANDMA...keeping grandkids involved with the tradition....
I really want to be able to pass this tradition on to my grandchildren, so this is a goal when they are a bit older.  I hope to be able to pass on a wonderful tradition!!!

Decision, Decisions, Decisions

I got this quilt top in from a lady who made a "crown royal bag" quilt....This was her first quilt and really had a great idea.  It was made for her son as a wedding gift and I was lucky enough to be asked to quilt it.

Picture of the whole quilt after it was taken off the machine.

Close-up of a corner area

Close-up of just a clock and the sashing...
The only stipulation she had was that I could not quilt over the words and she wanted to see the thread.   I chose a variegated thread with the golds with a touch of purples in it.  I really liked how it turned out.
I don't know how many of you ever wonder if you have made the right decision.  When it comes down to "did I really want to do that?" or "should I have done that?"....I am a huge "what if" person.  I am finding that this should not be questions I am asking myself if I am a believer.  Now, why on earth do I ask myself these questions....why is it that we can not be happy with the decisions we make and know it is a good one????
I sometimes ask myself this even on simple things such as choosing fabrics to put together, quilting motifs on a quilt....I have found that lately I am so full of questions about why and what if...I think it is mid life!!! 
The only answer I have come up with is that I am taking what God has given me and asking Him a whole lot of questions that He is probably wanting me to trust...so the best advice I can give is to sit back, fasten the seat belt and enjoy His blessings.

A few pieces of eye candy

I had no idea how quickly time passes....I saw that I had not posted in a month...what happen to the time.  As most of you know I was a stay at home gal, quilting and working here...from quilts to horses, calves and errand girl.  Well, I took on a job near here doing computer work, just a little something to do to get me away from the place and a little extra income that will have some benefits(hopefully).  So with all that I am really behind in posting.  The quilting room is busy, busy, busy and I find that posting is low on the list.  I think that I will be cuting back on the outside job hours and will be quilting A LOT more.   Just a few of the 12 quilts that I have done in the last 2 months.  These are all customer quilts!!!

I really enjoy all the tops that come in...as well as the customers that have trusted me to put a finishing touch on their masterpiece.  I have a terrific job working for all of you!!!
Next a run on baby quilts....I believe there has been A LOT of babies born....I have been quilting baby quilts like crazy.

Nebraska Shop Hop

Well....now that I have been trying to download for over a month....we are going to see how an new browser helps.  I have been having trouble with Firefox in many areas, so back to the ole' standby Explorer...I haven't been able to return emails, dowload pictures onto the blog, so on and on.
I have been very busy with LOTS of projects....the machine has been over flowing with absolutely beautiful quilts.  I feel so blessed to be able to quilt for others and add to the beauty they send my way. 
This quilt was done for the Shop Hop for the Platte Valley Vac and Sew 2013 hop....There are 12 blocks, 1 for each of the shops involved in western Nebraska.  Each block was quilted in a unique way as to give each different block its very own look....

Finished and ready for binding...They did a fantastic job and it looks really cozy.  This quilt is all about NEBRASKA!!!
Thanks ladies for the privelage to quilt it for you and to respesent your shop hop!!!

Frustration!!!

Is anyone else having trouble downloading pictures???  I haven't been able to download pictures for nearly a month.  Does anyone know what I need to do???  Thinking about going to google+, but don't want to loose my followers, but they won't transfer any of you over and I don't know all of your addresses.  REALLY FRUSTRATED!!

Quick and Easy

I needed a quick baby gift....of course it needed to be a quilt.  I found really colorful fabrics, cut 10" squares...stacked them and then whacked them into funky 9 patches and sewed them back together.  Put on a border, got it bound and WHALA!!!  It's a baby quilt..

See how cute....It was so easy to sew back together and get done....I started and had it pieced and quilted in less than a day.  The second day took a few hours to bind.

I quilted butterflies on it and used flannel on the back for softness.
Try this the next time you are in a hurry for a gift.  You will love it!!

New use for the old

Most of you know that I moved my "little" sewing room from the house to a sewing studio....I have been remodeling slowly, but have been paying for the remodel as I go.  I have been about 4 months into it and decided to work on the walls.  I started with a garage and now have a pretty comfortable studio.  These are a few pictures when I started to remodel the garage...

Then my sister and brother in-law...custom made my cabinets....they are exactly what I asked for and are perfect...  He also made my tables perfectly for my height and the exact level I needed to be comfortable...I am so thankful, because my spouse would rather pay someone to do that....he is a cowboy and prefers horses and cattle.

  

As for the walls...I have taken old patterns and covered the walls...sometimes using the covers of the patterns in the design also.  I will add an antique glaze over it, but haven't gotten that far yet. 

Just some close up shots....I have really unique walls, but work really well in a sewing room/studio.  Love it!!

Time

I continue to find myself "busy"....how many of you find that time just flies by and you just loose time?   I absolutely love life, but I have found that weeks and sometimes months go by before I have time to post.  I have a goal to post at least monthly, but would like to be able to post weekly....guess God has things planned and forgot to memo me (or I ignored the memo).
I have been busy in the quilting studio...and I am so thankful for all the ladies that have trusted me with their quilt tops...I can't express the joy I get from all the ladies, THANK YOU!!!

This quilt has 30 different blocks and she asked me to quilt something different in each block....it was a challenge, but so much fun to come up with 30 designs...

A sample of 3 blocks....it was so much fun to be creative and add to her quilt.

The back ....I really like using variegated threads....I used a purple/pink/green/black on the top and used a black/grey/cream on the back....
Just reminds me that the beauty we share with each other in our quilts is a reflection of who we are....Take time to enjoy the beauty around!
 
 
 
 

Newest off the machine

Wow, the year has just began and I find myself looking back over last year and wondering "what did you do?"  Seems that the older we get the faster the years fly by.  I started off this year with a quilt from some wonderful women from Alliance....I was honored when they asked me to quilt the top they worked so hard on....

On the machine

finished look

Corner....the ribbon border is amazing

close up of a corner with ribbon border and quilting motif

I loved this quilt when I first saw it and while I was quilting fell in love with it even more....I added some soft clematis flowers with swirls to soften all the hard points of the friendship stars....I really enjoyed quilting this quilt and really like the final product.  Can't wait to see it when it is bound and ready to go...  This group did a great job!

Happy New Year!!!

When I was much younger I would have NEVER thought about living in the year 2013...wow, here we are and I am loving life!!!  My quilting has become a part of my creative life...I truly love what I do!
This last year there has been some struggles, but have survived and come out the other side a much stronger woman....It has been a life lesson for me to realize that we are not in control ...God is and if we allow Him to guide our heart, life goes much better.  As soon as I start to try to control, look out!!!
My pray for all my followers is that you find the Joy that God has given you and that you see the beauty in each day....find the blessings in everything, even the pain!
With that I am wishing you a Happy New Year and Blessed 2013!!!