At our last quilters meeting several members were interested in having a Stack and Whack class.  The owner of our fabric shop graciously agreed to teach a class and one of our members generously offered a meeting place.   Last Saturday eleven of us gathered together, fabric and machines in hand.   

I actually was taught Stack and Whack by Fellow Quilter about a year ago.  At my usual pace, I have all my blocks made but have not yet put them together.  In the meantime I purchased more fabric to make another. What is wrong with this picture???   I decided this was my chance to get with it and get my new fabric cut, new blocks made and hopefully sewn into a quilt. Besides I needed a refresher!  And... I am on Fellow Quilter's July calendar to get them quilted so the pressure is on!!!!

For those of you who have not tried Stack and Whack, it is great fun.  Cutting and pinning is  a bit of a pain--isn't it always, but putting the blocks together is so much fun.   Everyone brought their flowers and butterflies .  My fabric choice is Oxugen by Studio e---- wacky ovals, circles and hard to describe but looked like a fun fabric to work with,.  It definitely is going to be interesting and will have a contemporary look. 

I have completed several blocks and am anxious to continue.  In the meantime I am sewing Valentine orders and having fun with the hearts and flowers.  Nothing like having several projects going at the same time.   Hey, Dizzy Donna, a paper pieced Valentine  pattern.....interested?   L0L!

Hoping to hear from you quilters out there what you are working on.  What happened to all you blog hoppers?   Would love to hear from you.

Til next time.....keep on quiltin'

Annie B.

 

 

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's---all came and went in a flash.   Can it really be 2012?   Remember when the calendar was moving to 2000 and how concerned everyone was that there would be a huge implosion with computers and electronic information. WOW, That was 12 years ago and here we are, still computing away.  I was working at our local hospital in 1999 and on New Year's Eve, all department heads were required to stay at work until after midnight.   I don't know what they though we could do if  everything went kaput, but there we were, bringing in the new millennium in the most boring way possible--at work.   We decided later that the administration did not have any parties to attend so created their own.  Do you suppose??

That was the year Fellow Quilter created the fantastic patten 2000 for 2000.  Yes, it did have 2000 pieces in it and made its way into Keepsake Quilting's catalog .   In a discussion recently, Fellow Quilter mentioned that someone was going through a  family members stash and found that same quilt, only partly finished.   She contacted him to see if there was still a pattern available so she could complete the quilt.  While recently moving  into a new home, FQ found some of these patterns and almost sent them to the trash, but, on second thought, decided to keep a few.   I though that was pretty neat.  You just never know!

After a slow finish to 2011, I have made it back into my sewing room and am working on Valentine quilts.   I have a lot on my list but must remember to take one thing at a time so it doesn't feel overwhelming.

I attended the Quilter's Anonymous meeting last week.   We had a wonderful demonstration of  little snap top bags made using pieces of metal tape measure.  They are quite cute and easy to put together and will make great little gifts.  Isn't it amazing what people think of???  The group is making blocks for a patriotic quilt to give to a military veteran.  It looks like we will have enough blocks for two quilts.  I am patting myself on the back for actually  getting two blocks made a whole month before they were due!  Two potential new members joined us and we are hoping they will want to continue.  The little group is slowly but surely growing.  It is very casual, no hard, fast rules, and everyone seems pleased with just getting together once a month, learning new techniques, seeing what others are doing and just having a good time. 

As for new year's resolutions-----no new ones this year!   In 2011 I did keep my first one, cleaning out a drawer or cupboard every month.  I would have been behind the last couple of months, BUT, I did more than one during a few months so I think that made me even!  That was a resolution I must keep working on again this year.    Making one Christmas project a month---well, that one is still on the back burner.

Spring is around the corner. We have had typical Colorado weather the first of this year--near zero one day and near 60 the next. I think Mother Nature is just  teasing us again.   I was cleaning out a flower bed on one of the warm days and noticed some tulip bulbs sprouting. I sifted more soil on top of their little heads and told them to wait a while!  It's not time yet.

Will finish up Valentines and then get started on some Easter orders.   It always seems there is plenty of time, but, boy, do those holidays roll around quickly.

Hope all of  you are off to a good start this new year and am anxious to have you share some of your projets with us.

Til next time......keep on quiltin'

Annie B. 

WOW!!!   We had 117 of you check out the High Plans Quilting Blog as part of the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party.  This was our first experience participating in the Blog Hop so I would consider this to be a great success.  We got a lot of good quilting tips too!

Here are our winners of the drawing for prizes...DizzyDonna wins the Bobbin Rack, Desiree wins the Rotary Cutter and QuitlyJen wins the Omnigrid Foldaway.  Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone else who participated.

Hopefully all of you picked up the free pattern while you were on our site.

thanks again and...Keep on Quilting

AnnieB

WOW!   What great blog hop comments and tips.  Thank you, everyone,  so much for participating.  We hope you will continue to check out and enjoy our blog.   We are all bound by our love of quilting, always eager to help out a fellow quilter and excited to hear about the newest project or challenge--whatever the case may be.

I have used the free pattern offered on the blog hop more times than I can count. It is such a quick, easy and very versatile pattern.  The sky is the limit!   It was written by a dear friend of mine especially for highplainsquilting, and is a happy reminder of her whenever I use it. 

I attended the QA meeting last evening.  What a good time we had and I received instructions for the clever nine patch runner shown in Driven Quilters latest blog.  I am anxious to give it a try.

Just a quick blog today to encourage you to "stay tuned" for upcoming blogs.  Love hearing from each and every one of you.

Til next time.............keep on quiltin'
Annie B.   

It has been a while and I apologize.   If I were a magazine I am sure you would have canceled your subscription by now!  Ever hear the saying "Life is what happens while you are making plans"?  How true.  I had planned to get another blog a month ago and then life "happened".

To make a long story short, my elderly Mother became ill, was hospitalized and then I had to move her into the nursing home.  Being her primary care giver, a huge amount of my time has been taken getting all the details taken care of,  arranging for her move and spending time with her helping her adjust to her new surroundings. I think we are both going to make it through this. 

I have gotten very little quilting done the past couple of months but am finding time to at least envision some new projects that I would like to start.  I did get the wall hanging "Radiant Butterfly" (referred to in my last blog)  finished for my daughter in law in time for her to take home after Thanksgiving.  It was a fun project and turned out just as bright and cheerful as I had hoped.  D-I-L was very pleased with it and the colors were chosen to coordinate with the Grand daughters' bedroom decor.  I also got one Thanksgiving runner made.  Looks like the Christmas projects will have to wait until next year. 

Thanksgiving was here in a flash.  In addition to helping Mother move that very week, we had 13 house guests and 21 invited for Thanksgiving dinner.   When the grandkids hit the door on the 20th,  they asked "Grandma, can we sew?"  What a treat.  We made and stuffed pillows, made bags, and fleece blankets. I left the fringe for them to tie on the long drive back to Ohio.   We will see if that got done!  I may be tying knots on my next visit.  A good Grandma always keeps a special tub of fun fabrics just for the grandkids to pick and choose and use for whatever they want. I turn a large table into a craft table and bring out the box of craft supplies.  They entertain themselves for hours. A trip to the quilt shop supplied me with more fabric to make "special" pillow cases and a new shirt for "white bear".   All the Grandchildren brought their pillows from home with pillow cases I had made for them.  What fun they are for trips and sleepovers.

Thanksgiving day was a warm and beautiful day and went off with only one minor glitch. The turkey roaster shorted out and caught on fire.  Egads!  Wouldn't you know. Thankfully Hubby noticed it right away before anything more caught fire.  The turkey was moved to the oven and the ham outside to the grill and dinner was right on time!!   Whew!  Like I needed more stress.   Then, my dear husband came home with a brand new phone for me--like I need a phone that is smarter than I am!  I will say no more about that except, I am learning!!!

I was disappointed I missed the QA meeting last month. I love the runner they made and will have to get the pattern for it.  Tomorrow night is the Christmas meeting and I plan to be there.  

I was given two quilt blocks made by a friend and asked if I would finish them so she could give them to her daughters as gifts.   I have to get my thinking cap on and get busy. 

D-I-L has asked me to make a tree skirt for their tree.  Originally she wanted velvets----the reason it is not already made---but has decided cotton batiks would be nice. Her taste and decor is definitely more modern than country but that is a fun challenge for me--the original country girl.   I am in search of Christmas batiks in the traditional reds and greens and they have proven to be very hard to find this year.  I will head to the front range this week to continue the search. 

Needless to say I have may projects awaiting and am anxious to get started once again.

I wish all of you a blessed and Merry Christmas and hope you  are busy getting your Christmas projects finished  up.   Twelve more days. Yikes!!!!!

Til next time..................keep on quiltin'
Annie B.

Welcome to the High Plains Quilting Blog! This year we are participating in the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party. the Quilting gallery site is designed for people who love to read quilting blogs. There you’ll find the Quilting Bloggers Directory with more than 4,440 blogs from 71 countries. In the Quilt Shop Locator, you’ll find brick & mortar shops, online retailers, retreat facilities and long-arm quilters. In Quilter’s Market you’ll find fabulous quilting products. Coming soon, will be a world-wide geographic directory of Quilt Guilds. This site is a great resource for quilters.




Everyone who visits our site will be given the following free table runner pattern.

In addition to the free pattern, several of our gifted quilt blog readers could win one of the following items.   Bobbin Rack Olfa Ergo 45mm rotary Cutter Omnigrid Foldaway - Mini To enter the give-away: share your favorite quilting tip in the comments below. What’s the one thing you now know that you wish you knew when you first started quilting? What’s the best advice you’d give to a new quilter? Winner will be randomly chosen by December 20th. We will be giving away at least three items, we reserve the right to substitute comparable items based on availability.

 Quilters Anonymous met Nov 8.  Show and Tell featured the table runners made from the pattern shared at the October get-together.
  The basic pattern is a nine patch block.  The blocks could be nine inches and you need five or twelve inches and you used three.  Each block was layered, quilted and bound then overlapped to make a table runner.  The blocks could be stitched together or buttons placed in the overlapping corners. 
  This is a quick project and a great gift.  Seasonal or holiday fabric could be used or your stash, or novelty fabric or large prints.  It is very versatile.  Most of the quilters used the three 12 in. layout but one used three 12's and two 9's.  This runner was also reversible. 
  Stitch in the ditch was the usual quilting method.  Some used decorative threads and decorative stitches .

I had an awesome blog set up with more photos but I couldn't publish it.  I guess it was just too big.  So I have condensed it and added lots of words.

I have been getting ready for the holidays (cleaning house).  All of my children and grandchildren will be home.  So I must make room for a crib in my sewing room and delete all the clutter that accumulates when you would rather sew and quilt than clean house. 

There's a Christmas party for the local ladies group on Monday night.  QA meets on Dec 13 for a party with finger foods and fun.  The BOM pattern will be available.  We'll meet at 6:30 pm at the Bookmobile office so come join us.   

If you visit our local hospital, you will see the two quilts I am sharing hanging in the main hall. I started hanging quilts along the main hall when I worked there. Quilts of hospital employees and community members have been displayed over the years. There are always lots of close looks and questions, but, now someone else has to answer the questions.

The blocks for this sampler quilt was made at a Quilters Anonymous meeting last year. The gray/pink fabric was donated with members bringing other pink fabric to use. Many of the blocks have names to encourage and uplift, like friendship star, hugs and kisses, etc. The gray/pink fabric has words (love, hope, joy, etc) which made it a bit of a challenge to put together. We had great fun as we searched for blocks to make, cutting and sewing as a group. Some of the blocks were a team effort with one cutting and pressing and the other sewing. Lots of chatting and laughing. A few blocks were made at home to complete the project.

The blocks were laid out on the big table at the bookmobile office and moved and adjusted at another meeting, then sashed and finally a finished top. One of the members generously quilted it and added the binding.

  Quilters Anonymous has been meeting for about three years. It's a group interested in quilting and learning more about it. A steering committee plans the programs for six months to a year. Sometimes it's a demo on a new machine, method to make HST or Flying Geese, or applique, paper piecing, table runners. Show and Tell always has finished projects. The BOM or Block of the Month quilt is in its third quilt. Sometimes we sew for the community by making quilts for kids, breast cancer awareness and Ovarian cancer awareness. After the meet and share, we're welcome to stay and sew for the rest of the evening. (My machine gets packed up as well as a project to finish or start or continue.) We welcome anyone who wants to join us. Just leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

  This quilt was made assembly line style with some cutting, some laying out blocks, others sewing and others pressing.  We made most of the blocks that night.  The remaining blocks were sewn and all were put together and then quilted later.  This quilt has the teal color which is used for ovarian cancer awareness.   All materials were donated by members.

  QA met Oct 11 and, my, how time does fly.  The program was table runner construction.  The pattern offered was intriguing.  It could be as simple as you wanted or it could be varied to meet your taste.  I am looking forward to the next meet to see if anyone has a table runner for Show and Tell.

  QA meets Nov 8 where the program is Quilt as You Go projects.  There's always something to learn or share so come join in the fun.  There is no "dumb" question.  How else can you get an answer.  
   

First I want to welcome my friend and fellow blogger, Driven Quilter, to High Plains Quilting. It will be fun to have another perspective on the world of quilting here on the high plains of Colorado. I enjoyed your first two blogs and the photo of your lovely baby quilt.

I have to mention that our internet service here in our area of rural area of Colorado is limited and is more than slow at best, some days. Driven Quilter mentioned how long it takes to upload the posts. Living out here is not for the faint of heart. One must try not to get discouraged--just keep plugging away. There have been days when it has taken up to a couple of hours to get my photos downloaded to my blog before posting. I have had thoughts I would not mention to anyone but my computer!! See what dedication and persistence we country people have??? Hopefully it builds character---and there are some real characters out here!

Fellow Quilter, Fancy Stitcher and I recently took a road trip to one of our favorite shops, The Quilt Rack, in North Platte, NE. Always welcomed with a friendly smile and warm greeting by Lisa, we enjoyed our visit and got some great fabrics to add to our stash. I purchased several Halloween fabrics (she had dozens of models made up--does that sell fabric or what?) and the cutest black and white Karen Snyder-Studio panel. It features a black and white block for each month and paired with colored fabric blocks was so unique. Had to have it. Actually Fellow Quilter spotted it and all three of us purchased a panel. It will be fun to see what each of us does with it. After a couple hours of serious fabric shopping and visiting with Lisa we were off to lunch. We still had time to visit a couple of antique shops and made some purchases . Fellow Quilter got the buy of the day with the purchase of a "ferris wheel" condiment server. Right out of the 70s and so cute. Can't wait to see what he does with that! I found a antique pink sugar bowl that matched a cream pitcher that belonged to my Grandmother. It was a set -- now I have the sugar bowl and two cream pitchers. Does that mean I have to find another sugar bowl?

Received a phone call from my quilter friend Dizzy Donna a couple weeks ago and they would be coming through town and could we get together? We met up for a fun lunch together, caught up on the latest and, because she knows how much fun I have with Halloween, brought me a bag of very cute Halloween fabric. Thanks girlfriend! I am making a runner with some of it today. The time together always flies too quickly and they had to get back on the road. Dizzy Donna and I went to school together from 1st grade through 12th so we are long time buddies and always have lots to talk about. I won't even mention which class reunion is coming up in a couple of years! Yikes!!!

Who out there has heard of Beecher Island? A few miles from where I live, it is a historical site where one of the last Indian Battles was fought, in 1868, between scouts from Ft. Wallace, KS and Roman Nose and his warriers. As all battles, it didn't end well. Leiut. Fred Beecher and Roman Nose were both killed during the battle. There is no longer an island, only a small stream of water flows but the story of the battle is an interesting one for western history buffs. Each September, since 1898, a reunion has been held with lots of fun activities, re-enactments of the battle, musical performances and, of course, a quilt show! I
remembered my camera (Yea!) and have pictures of the 2011 Brand Quilt that I talked about in a recent blog as well as friendship quilts and a raffle quilt---that I did not win again this year!!! Although small, it is a lovely display of quilts, both old and new in the old one room church. Another year, another raffle ticket and maybe I will win! Hope springs eternal!

My wish for a long Indian Summer has come true this year with the temperature still in the 80's this first week of October. Although the leaves are changing colors, the flowers are giving their all in a glorious show of color before the first freeze.

I have been sewing fall quilts and filling orders for friends and have started on Halloween. My Halloween stash is overflowing so I have lots to choose from and most will be made to sell-- although I have almost finished a wall hanging for myself that I started last year!!!

I hope the beautiful fall colors are an inspiration and you are making lots of fall inspired quilts. I have to admit, it IS a challenge to stay inside on these beautiful days. Cold weather is not far away and then we can spend cozy, guilt free days in our sewing rooms.

Til next time.......keep on quiltin'

Annie B.

This is a photo of the quilt I made for Alyssa. I had the yellow and pink in my stash and needed some green to finish it. I visited one of my LQS and found some green I thought would work. It had pink and blue microdots in it which picked up the pink and green in the yellow (tiny rosebuds and leaves). The pink has darker pink microdots in it so it just worked.
Quilt shops anyone? I found two to visit while I was in Washington. After checking the Web, my SIL, DD2 and Grandbaby took me to Chehalis, WA to check out Sisters Fabrics. Located in historical downtown Chehalis, the shop boasted of 11,000 bolts of fabrics and I believe it. Fabric lines, colors, novelty fabric--they had it all or so it seemed. They also had a Precut sale so I found a fat quarter bundle that will work for my next challenge. We were going to the beach anyway so I checked out Boardwalk Quilts in Long Beach. I found fat quarters for the next QA meeting. We checked out the ocean which was rough. A storm was coming in so the waves were breaking and it was quite a sight for this flatlander. We ate at a local place, the Crab Pot, I think. Yes, I tried crab legs and fried oysters and shrimp cocktail.
Washington state is a wonderful place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. LOL Lots of trees, lots of water, and rainy. We actually had sunny days mixed in with the cloudy and/or rainy ones. Tough to leave the new grandbaby and DD2 but I came home.
I found the garden had ripened while I was gone so I picked jalapeno peppers and tomatoes and the biggest zucchini. I canned some peppers, the small ones and still want to make some Pepper Jelly. Thanks, AnnieB, for the recipe. I have adapted it for our taste so I keep Ritz crackers on hand for a quick snack.
After dealing with business and a little housework, I was able to plan three blocks for the current BOM that is ongoing at QA. QA stands for Quilters Anonymous. It's a group of quilters with varied interests and experience who meet monthly here. This BOM is a 'Bring your own Block'. It began a year ago with block patterns supplied by members. I also planned my layout because I have enough blocks completed to get a picture of how it will look.
I have been quilting my red, white, and blue baby quilt. I usually hand quilt in the evening while we (DH and me) watch TV. When I'm finished, I'll post a photo here.
My DD2's wedding quilt has the border 2/3 finished. I work on this in the mornings because it's kind of cool then.
I seem to have three or more projects going at a time. I just keep juggling. Yes, I have plenty of UFO's but I am on track to quilt DD1's wedding quilt next.