All Tied Up

Roxy's Quilt

I was recently hired at my favorite local mountain establishment as a barista (coffee maker). As usual, within due time I found myself not only a barista but a waitress, line chef, pastrychef, and early morning bartender. It is fun and I have been creating breakfast menus and doing anything else to get used to this new job. Funniest thing about it all is they hired my husband as well. Long ago, he and I met at a coffee shop we worked at. And, we actually had our wedding reception at the Stage Stop where we now serve coffee again together. I love life's little circles.
The quilt to above is one that I finished for my husband's mother. It incorporates my late father-in-laws wonderful tie collection. My husband dyed the backing and I quilted it all together with lots of love. Now Roxy can have all of us snuggle with her at once regardless of distances apart. That is one of the best things about quilts. They completely embody the love of the maker and this love is seen and felt by others. That is just way too cool don't you think?

Happy Thanksgiving

This holiday is more meaningful each year to me. It might be because I have so much to be thankful for, especially the last few years. My web of family and friends mean so much to me. Not just for their warm hearts but for the amazing support they have shown me. Sometimes, I wonder why they haven't given up on me. It is the people who love me no matter what that I am the most thankful for. Love is what makes the world go around, nothing else. Without these people I wouldn't be writing, quilting, living in my mountain paradise, or able to share all they have given me with everyone I can. That is the best thing, sharing. Whatever is given is usually returned somehow. Food, Wisdom, Laughter, Warmth, Love, Smiles, Music, Dance... the list of things to be thankful for and share is endless.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day with their friends and family. Eat, Share, and be Merry!

Preparing for the Holidays

I have been very busy lately trying to get all sorts of little things made to put on sale on my Etsy store. I have been making soaps, cards, quilts and anything with lavender in it. I wanted to share the cards I have been creating with everyone. Up here when the wind howls through the winter, I like to think of this blessing. It is something I made up and goes like this: "May your homesteads be joyous and May your hearth fires burn bright." It gets me through my winter nights and hopefully will bring warmth and joy to others around the world. I'm off to get quilting. Maybe another piece of last nights apple pie first though. May all of your creations bring you joy!

Winter Tie Dye Woes

Tie-dyeing at altitude in the winter can be quite a challenge at times. My husband woke the other morning and found his bucket of clips looking a little funny with some snow on top. When he dumped out the contents, this is what it looked like. It was pretty funny so I snapped a photo to share with you all. It is a good thing he found it early enough to thaw outside. During the nice months, he dyes outside. When winter really sets in, he will convert his bathroom into a studio. You see, he has to keep the dyes thawed. He gets great textural effects by putting the dyed products outside to freeze. The dyes run in ice channels and look really cool, kind of like a salt effect. When they come out really good, I call them "freeze-dyed". It is always fun experimenting with dye technique up here. One time, he stood about 7 feet away from the shirt he was dyeing and let the wind carry the dye to the shirt. Well, it was better than having the dye go on the ground 7 feet further than the shirt! These aren't really woes. They are challenges that keep us learning and life interesting. Laughter is always good for the soul and art work. Trust me, we laughed when we saw the frozen bucket of clips. Can you remember your last educational mishap? If not, I highly recommend having some.

Confessions of an Overquilter

This long arm quilting is the shizzle! I've been at it since March and I still can't believe how much fun it is. Most things this much fun are illegal. I can lay down hundreds of stitches per minute with great accuracy and ease. This is what is leading me to my confession. I can't stop sometimes. Even if I plan a quilt to be lightly quilted, I just keep laying down stitches. I am happy with the work, it looks good. But does a baby quilt need over 20,000 stitches? I mean really, it will hold together with less. Quilting has taught me patience, maybe it is time to learn moderation.
I have been growing my quilting service business the last few weeks. It is coming along nicely. The junk you get in your email when you advertise on craigslist is phenominal. It will be worth it though if I get a few clients through it. I lost my DSL connection for a few days there. I was completely at a loss. I never thought I would get that used to (and need) my Internet connection. It is time for me to be listing on Etsy and promoting my business. I am so glad I am hooked up again. It isn't like I truly missed anything, I just feel better knowing I can reach into cyber space when I want to.

Winter Has Arrived

Well, I had a lovely winter day here at Mountainjoy. The snow finally started falling in big, wet flakes from the grey sky. I enjoyed it immensely looking out the studio windows as I quilted. Dancing along to celtic music with my long arm sewing machine is so much fun. I made a table runner and placemats out of some gorgeous materials. They are to go on my Etsy site soon. I am trying to prep for the upcoming holiday season.
With the beautiful day I was given, I also decided to make split pea soup and fresh Challah bread for dinner tonight. I guess that truly means winter is here officially. The wood stove has been fed all day and it is going to be a cozy night.
On the wildlife scene, last weekend we had a mountain lion wake us at four in the morning. It was in our yard screaming with all its might. It circled the house and came right by the bedroom door. We listened to it shivering in our skins with all the animals up in bed with us. It went on for about ten minutes and then wondered off further into the woods. Wow, that was exciting. Have you ever heard a mountain lion's scream? I assure you, that it is an unnerving sound.

Back and In Business

This quilt was made as my brother's wedding gift. I started it at the engagement and finally managed to give it to the lovely couple just after their fifth anniversary. Talk about a labor of love. It was the first large quilt that I quilted on my Fusion long arm. All the fabrics were dyed by my husband. I love making him dye white-on-white prints-the effect is so interesting. The quilt came out so beautifully, I thought I'd show and tell it here.

My summer has been a whirlwind of activity. I started with a week of family vacation in New Hampshire at my wonderful Aunt and Uncle's house. I was home for a week in which I quilted the wedding star for my brother. Then, I was off to Washington (with quilt in luggage) to see my immediate family. My mother and I attended the Innovations Quilts Convention. We took classes for three days straight and volunteered as well. I learned so very much about how to run a long arm business, how to fix 'problem' quilts, and I even received a PhD in Threadology. I met several wonderful quilters and made contact with many good souls. I arrived home very inspired and ready to start the business I have been creating since last March.

My business plans were still on hold for a little while due seasonal work and visits from family to my home at Mountainjoy. I had a lovely visit with my husband's mother when she came for a weekend. She was very happy to see that her quilt (another long-timer) was on the long arm and being finished. I also just had a visit from my parents, it was short and full of fun as usual.

Okay, now that we are all caught up, I can move forward. My seasonal work for Long's Gardens has come to an end and I am really ready to open up for business as a long arm quilter and quilter in general. This was the plan for surviving my snowed in winters, let's make it work!

I will be adding new stuff to my Etsy site later in the week, these will be small gift type items for holiday sales. If any of my readers have enjoyed the quilts and need/want me to quilt for you, you can now contact me at Mountainjoyquilts@gmail.com for more information.

That's plenty of news for the moment. Happy creating everyone!

Fabric & Frosting Fortes

These are photos of what has been keeping busy for the last few weeks. The quilt is a gift to celebrate a friends engagement & wedding. I was so happy to be able to make this quilt and be a part of their celebration. The quilt is named Celebration Stones as they were engaged on a vacation to England.
I created the wedding desserts last weekend. Chocolate covered strawberries and mini phyllo fruit tarts complimented the cakes nicely. The cakes were white velvet with raspberry filling, marble with ganache filling, and a flourless chocolate torte. The entire cake was finished with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting.

I feel that if given fabric and/or frosting, I can create anything. Each one of us has our best medias. It is fun and important to use recycled stuff too. Does anyone have any really interesting medias they've discovered?

Hyper-Busy Summer

Has everyone become as busy as me? Summer is a wonderful time of warm weather, weddings, running around and getting stuff done. I am very caught up in the winds of summer right now. Attending weddings, making wedding cakes, making quilts for work and gifts, and shows along with my regular work have taken over my life. I look forward to a breath of air but don't know if I'd know what to with it. I am now on hyper-speed trying to get it all done and still falling behind. So with that being said, I'm going to get off the computer and get back to work. I hope everyone is enjoying the glorious weather and summer flowers as much as I am.

Summer in the Highlands

I was gifted with a most peaceful morning after weeks of life excitement. When I woke this morning, it was unusually foggy. It always reminds me of the Highlands. Anyway, I sat by the wood stove and did the blind stitching on a quilt over my morning cup of coffee. I'm telling you, there is nothing sweeter than a few moments of peaceful fireside work.
I had to share this photo. It is of my cute little cupid statue - he might be the only non-functional gift my husband has ever given me. He has a great purpose though. He oversees my little 9,100' garden. Those pansies blooming at his feet have overwintered here twice. This photo was taken just a few days after the snow finally melted this year. My pansy was ready to bloom immediately. Mountainjoy is truly a special place. Summer is in full swing here with the columbines and paintbrush vying for glory. The beautiful beard's tongue is beginning to bloom and I've got a few orchids on the property.
Happy Summer and Happy Independence Day.

Small Miracles

The beautiful columbine opened this morning. This particular flower is the Colorado state flower and one of my husband's signature tie-dye designs. It's glorious blue petals speak so much of the nature of this state. A large and delicate flower head nods to and fro in howling winds and hail. It survives because of it's unique nature. It can bend under the stress without being broken. Flexibility lends it strength. My property at Mountainjoy is literally carpeted with this wondrous native survivor. The columbines remind me to be more like them in my own life. They also teach me to be thankful for small miracles. I can't even begin to count my blessings over the last few years - there have been too many. I have been blessed with an incredibly loving, understanding, and supportive web of friends and family. This group of people and my own flexible columbine strength have seen me through a number of hail storms. The words "thankful" and "grateful" just fall short. i just have to tell the world that I am just so happy to be today and it is thanks to the people who love me. Thank you for all the miracles, both big and small. They are what makes the world go round. Happy Father's Day !!

Iris & Hummingbirds

Here are some photos from Mountainjoy this past week. Our native iris, Iris missouriensis, opened up. The many feet of snow all winter did no damage to the brown seed pods still standing upright. These flowers show us that delicate beauty can grow in harsh environments. The little humming bird has been spending the last few days perched on the bike wire. It is up on our porch and out of the rain. He is such a cute little ruby red-throat, just hanging on the sheltered porch and getting a sip from the feeder on occasion.

This has been a design week for me in my quilt world. I am working on some pantographs and a quilt for a friend's wedding. Not much has gotten done honestly. I have been choosing to spend time with my friends as they are faced with making difficult health decisions. Work is exceedingly important to me and yet so is friendship. Friendship is winning this week.

The Purple Practice Piece

This weeks quilt was a lesson in re-learning what to quilt on my husband's stars/flowers. I always try to follow the lines. Well, in tie-dye, things flow and the lines are not that clear. I had to remember to do my own thing and just go for it. My quilt lines add too and enhance his designs, creating something more than either of us could do alone. My husband has always said that my quilting turns his 'pop art' into 'fine art'. I love great collaborations!

The wildflowers have begun making their appearances this past week. The long awaited nice season is finally here! I will be sharing photos of my favorites as the bloom.

Now for my preaching of the week: Be so very thankful for your health and your friends. You never know when something could go terribly wrong. I have a dear friend that was hospitalized this week. It just made me realize (once again) how precious life, friendship, and love truly is. No matter how busy we think we are, there is always time for friends. Why not reach out to some of your friends today and tell them how they enrich your life.

Chartreuse is in Mother Nature's Pallette

The aspens at my house 'leafed out' this week. Winter was so lingering, they didn't even bother to flower this year, they just went to leaf. That means that three days ago, we woke to the most incredible color of green. The particular color of chartreuse green that new aspen leaves are is only available in Mother Nature's palette. My husband has tried to attain this color when dying things and it happens to be my mom's favorite color. It just seems like it is not to be reproduces by humans. Maybe if we figure out how to truly add pure light to things we will get it. Until then, we can all enjoy this naturally bright color as it bursts forth around us.

Week in Review

This week finally brought the melting of the snow. I had a flowing river in my backyard, now it is just swampy. That area will be carpeted by columbines in a few weeks. In fact, under the snow everything was just waiting to grow and be green. Another thing this week brought was the sound of hummingbirds buzzing about. We put out the feeder for the hungry little jewels. For me, there are several signs that spring/summer might actually be here. The hummingbirds are the final say. With their arrival, I am confident that spring is officially here. How exciting!!!
In my quilt realm, I got a lot closer to finishing a quilt & pattern that I have worked on for ohhhh, maybe 5 years. I started designing a new quilt. It will be for a friend's wedding gift, a contest entry, and is the first creative/original work I've done in a while.
I've also eaten some really good food this week. I was given some fresh organic eggs by a friend. The shells were a beautiful pale green color, like already dyed Easter eggs. They were so good!!!
Also, our local store doesn't label it's meat selection very well. You have to know what to look for and , on occasion, you can get awesome steaks really cheap. We paired the steaks with pasta and salad. My mother-in-law recently brought us salad dressing from Sabatino's Restaurant in Baltimore. This dressing makes salads worth eating!

Snake Seed of Life

This quilt was inspired by the word "Kundalini". My client used that one powerful word and this quilt was created. The Seed has black bias tape sewn down to give more of a stained glass look. The fire fabrics my husband dyed were great. Each of my quilts are a learning experience. It was after this quilt we decided to do mitered corners with this type of border in order to look really good. Also, I learned bias tape wider than 1 1/2" will not lay smooth. The snake fabric was dyed and then I prepared 2" wide bias strips. While fabric gluing in place, I discovered it would not lie flat on the inner side of the curves. My solution was to incorporate several small pleats on the inner part. This added fabulous texture and made the snakes look more realistic. I learn so much from my mistakes! The quilt was so bright, we made it reversible. The backing had a blue Seed of Life with only a touch of red/orange to tie into the front.

More Seed of Life Quilts

This is perhaps the most elegant quilt I've made to date. It was a commissioned piece a few years ago, one of several actually. The person this quilt was going to liked purple, Louisiana, and the fleur-de-lis. Given that information, this is the quilt I created. The fabrics were all dyed by my husband at my command. The Seed of Life is a prominent center piece surrounded by yards of purple knot work and dark purple Louisiana Iris. The outer knot work border was designed to look like fleur-de-lis wrought iron fence tops to further induce the feel of Louisiana. At the moment, I forget just how many yards of Celtic knot work I sewed onto this quilt (my husband thinks it was miles). Truly, I was proud of this one for coming out more beautiful than I had imagined.

Spring Snows

This is what we woke up to here at Mountainjoy. A very good morning to all us folk way up in the mountains today! Luckily, we knew this storm was on its way. It is getting late in the season though. Most of us really want the precious spring and summer to arrive. It is quite pretty out as long as I don't have to go anywhere. Driving in this stuff is awful (especially if you just took your snow tires off). Good thing my employer is wonderful and she gave me the day off. Time to catch up on a few things. I see stew, fresh bread, and quilting in my near future. I hope everyone else has a great snow day too!

Denver Quilt Show

I spent yesterday with friends down at the Denver National Quilt Festival. It was a splendid day full of visual feasts. There were plenty of vendors with all the newest stuff we love. I was attracted to the unique booths as well. These had beautiful fabrics from around the world. African Batiks, Shibori from near Thailand, and several exotic silks from different parts of Asia.
The quilts on display were many and varied. The designs and colors ranged from traditional to wild and crazy. So many quilt visions danced in my head last night as I tried to remember them all. Quilt shows are so wonderfully inspiring.

Seed of Life Quilts

The Seed of Life is an ancient and universal design. It employs sacred geometry and is said to represent all life here on this beautiful planet of ours. It was introduced to me by my first quilt client as the Flower of Life. For that quilt, I used only the center (The SEED) and did it in Mardi Gras colors. It was applique piecework and surrounded by Celtic knotwork. I have created many versions of this design. Most have the Seed in the center and Celtic knotwork around the borders. This one is the most recent version and up for sale on my Etsy site(hence the digital photo). I will be sharing the other versions also. I just need to scan them and fiddle with the sizes. The quilts are quite different from each other because of the colors and techniques employed during their construction. I learned something new with each version. I also learned how to make my husband tie-dye the design so I wouldn't have to applique it any more. That really speeds up the process.

Quilt Pics

I have set some demanding goals for myself this month. I am working on either un-impressive or as-yet-secret quilts. I will share these projects with you all in due time. Meanwhile, I thought I would share some photos of quilts I have made.

This one is the perfect example of what my husband and I create together. He tie-dyes the stars and flowers and fabrics for me. I design the Celtic knotwork and put it all together as a quilt. My husband believes that I turn his pop-art into fine art. He attended Skidmore College. We were very proud when this quilt hung at the Tang Museum of Art in Saratoga Springs, NY for the Skidmore Alumni showing.

It was made in less than a month I believe. Well, by the time he finished making the stars to his satisfaction, I had one week to apply the knotwork and quilt it. I worked on it for 16 or so hours a day. He was at least a very nice guy to cook every meal that week. This quilt is now in the personal collection of one my best fans.

The snow is starting to melt rather quickly here at Mountainjoy. I so look forward to the spring and summer up here. The carpet of columbines can always make me forget the winter's 10' drifts and howling winds.

Less is More, Sometimes

I am a hermit, I'll admit. In the winter months, it's even hard for me to leave the house to see what's new in the world. That is one of the reasons I discovered I liked the Internet. When isolated up here, my quilt designs get very complex. Massive and intricate visions of color and fabric dance in my head. They are beautiful to imagine. I have so many complicated quilts in my head, they will never all get done.
When I went to Washington state, it was an eye-opening experience. Not only was the scenery incredible, the quilt shops I saw were inspiring as well. I saw many very simple yet subtly beautiful quilts displayed. Quick and easy patterns were done in wonderful color arrangements. It taught me that not every quilt needs to be intricate and complex to be a beautiful statement.
Why not celebrate national quilt day (April 18th) with making up a quick and simple quilt in your most favorite colors?

Happy Spring!!!!

April has begun with excitement and happiness. It is one of my favorite months, mainly because spring is really returning. There will still be snow at my house for months, but I have returned to work at my beloved iris farm down in Boulder. Digging in the dirt, being warmed by the sun, and catching up with friends is what spring is for me. Spring also brings some muscles that protest loudly when asked to work again. Well, if this happens to you, the best thing to relieve sore muscles is an Epsom salt soak.
I have spent some time this week planning and practicing long arm quilting. It really is completely different than sewing on a regular machine. The motion and control in a long arm set-up are incredible! It is so much fun, I begin to wonder if it's not bad for me. You know how fun habits turn out----Addictive!
For those keeping track of the wildlife at Mountainjoy, this weeks visitor was a red fox.
We cooked up a batch of black beans this week. I have always thought that we would need a pressure cooker to get most beans to cook at 9000' elevation. I'd also read that adding salt before beans are cooked would impede the softening. Well, I soaked the black beans over night. then we boiled them away all day with salt from the beginning. We discussed when to add the salt, and we needed it in there just to get water to boil hotter than 160 degrees. The beans were fully cooked and delicious. I guess I'll try pinto beans next.
Right now, there are a few holidays going on. As I celebrate all good things in life, I encourage other to do so as well. Rejoice in the life and love that surrounds us all.
Happy Easter, Happy Spring, & Yom Tov

Spring & Coming Home to 4' of Snow

I had a safe return home. As the plane tried to touch down, a wind came up and tried to tip the wing. All I could think was I must be home. A dear friend picked me up at the airport to drive me home through all sorts of weather. My friend then turned around and drove back down the mountain. Luckily, he arrived safe. The spring snows here are fabulous. It came down at a rate of 1' per hour for a while. It is beautiful here when it snows.
I have returned from visiting my family in the midst of Washington state. Being a tree and plant lover, I was mesmerized by the moss covered trees. I had a great time hanging out with all the adults. I was lucky enough to see my older brother and my young nephews were highly entertaining. I also attended quilt camp with my mom and sister-in-law. What fun we had!
It was so inspirational too! I'm full of positive and wonderful ideas again. I feel my batteries are charged and I have a clearer perspective of what I want to achieve. I want to quilt more again. I'm also going back to work at my beloved farm job. All this is going to add up to some changes of this blog site. I am not going to be doing much more affiliate advertising. It is fun and I have learned a lot. I have decided to spend my time sewing more. I am not going away though. This blog will continue to be where I can share the creative arts of Mountainjoy. That is truly why I started this anyway. Up on my mountain in the middle of winter, it is nice to communicate with others in the world. Thank you all for visiting.
Until next time, keep quilting and cooking.

Life Marches On

I'm amazed at how quickly everything changes sometimes. I stayed home and quilted for four months and then suddenly, a whirlwind of activity hit my home. I am going on a trip to visit my family and to learn how to use a long-arm sewing machine. YEAH!!! I can all my fellow quilters share in the excitement for me.
I must apologize for the open holes on my blog these days. I made a mistake in my advertising some how. I don't have everything figured out yet and must apologize for any toes I accidentally stepped on. I just wanted to share all the fun stuff I was finding.
Anyway, I have to get to packing for my trip now. Can I get everybody to hope that the impending snow storm will let me get to the airport?

More Dragon Talk

Here is the whole quilt that was collaborated on by my family members. As I said before, my brother with the "drawing on paper" skills designed this quilt. (Can you tell I'm a little jealous to not be able to draw? Give me fabric or frosting though and watch out!)
It was my mother that did a great job piecing it. There were a few things that my mom wasn't happy with. Jake would not let her change them though. My mom's issues were the large amount of open space and she thought it should have a castle. She did just what Jake wanted though. The quilt top was nice, but I did agree with mom.
That's the difference between mom and sister. A sister will do what she wants and tends to back mom. That is exactly what I did. I honored both wishes quite well I believe. The heavy quilting textured all the open background space giving it life. On the top of the hill in the distance is embroidered/quilted in a small turreted castle. So small it could easily be missed, yet if noticed begins the questions in the viewers mind. Who could live there? What are they like? Do they know there is a dragon close by?
I think quilts should tell a story of some sort, especially pictorial quilts. I continue to share more photos and stories of this quilt. Wait until you see the backing and hear how I used it to quilt the Celtic knot work.

Discount Deals of the Day

I've been pretty busy with a few projects and some very exciting news for me. My quilting has been developing rather quickly lately. I will share all great news in due time. Right now, I just wanted to share a few discounts I've discovered for my readers.
Fabric.com is having a clearance sale. The link will take you straight to the clearance aisle and is good while supplies last. If you need anything, now is a great time to get it.
Also, Kitchen Universe has given me a code to share so you can get 5% off your purchases. The code is : KIT5 and is good until March 15th.
Enjoy shopping. I'm going back to my project. I started off doing work for others today but this one piece is in my mind. It is pestering to come to creation. It is just for me "a soul quilt" if you will. But it is time to bring it forth.
Thank you for the comments. I will be posting more photos of this quilt in detail and as a whole. Was just trying and the photo kept coming up sideways. I will keep trying though so check back. I'll even include all of the stories about quilting it. With time, all my quilts-made-by-a-series-of-mistakes are always hilarious learning lessons.

Quilting Gallery

This quilt was the one that was designed by my brother, pieced by my mother, and quilted by me. This close up shows just how, when combined all aspects add together to make a complete whole that is so much more than its components. It was already beautiful when I received it to quilt. The large open spaces begged to be filled though. Heavy quilting added dimension and depth to an already magnificent piece. I was so happy to be a part of its creation. I tend to be a "lone" quilter, yet the pieces I have created with others are some of my best.

When quilters get together, we feed off each others inspirations. I have found a web site that will feed us all. It is a fabulous resource with a quilting gallery, weekly contests, a directory of quilting stores and bloggers, and so much more. If you are a quilter, you absolutely have to click on the link to visit their web site. I did and got so wrapped up in it, I've lost half a day of work. Good thing quilt research kind of qualifies as work, huh?

My Love for Tools

It is such a joy to have just the right tool for any project I am doing. I'm the queen of making do with some creative thinking. With the right tool for the job, one can have the ease of creation with less frustration. Long ago, I described myself as "efficient due to laziness". This came about because I tend to think out how I am going to do something. I might go over it in my head several times, figuring out the quickest and easiest way to accomplish it. Usually the project goes very smoothly as a result. On occasion, I've spent more time thinking than doing. This has led me to discover a few resources. So, here are a few new tools I found to help ease and improve my life.
The first is a web site called Kitchen Universe. This site is a huge resource tool if you want to find the best shopping deals on kitchen appliances, apparel, jewelry, office supplies, home decor, toys, and flowers. They do the research and compare prices at the leading stores. This is so much easier and quicker than running all over town and you get the best price. I've set up a link so you can explore this amazing resource yourself. Have fun there.
Another great tool recently discovered is the 'Universal Yoga Mandala' poster by Yogaverse. This beautiful work of art uses Sacred Geometry and the 5 Elements in a mandala form to help deepen the understanding of yoga practice. It is useful as a meditation tool. This poster is not just a reference tool though, it's beauty will help instill peace and harmony. If you have found yoga to help bring balance to your life, you definitely want this poster. I've enclosed the link to the web site for your convenience.
Have fun creating all you do, whether it be a gourmet meal or a better you!

Quilting as a Business

My adventures as a quilter began a long time ago. As a child, I learned to sew. After my stint in college, I revisited sewing and discovered quilting. Slowly through the years, my adventures began turning into ventures. I began making some money selling my quilts and teaching classes. My hobby is quickly becoming a business with many new and exciting things on the horizon. One of the greatest marketing tools is the Internet. What a wonder that we can reach so many people! Learning how to use this tool was a challenge for this artistic girl. But once again, there is plenty of help for that.
One such book is Your Quilting Web Business. This comprehensive e-book is written by Fran Smith and Nicola Baume. These successful artists share their knowledge on how to start your own on line quilting business. you will learn how to market and sell your quilts using the Internet. They even go over how to set up your own website. For $37 with a money back guarantee and a bonus quilting resource book, this is a great investment for any one thinking of starting their own quilting business. Click on the link provided to find out more and to download your copy of this book today.

February Fabric Fantasies

Mid-February is when I start to really dream for the year. My collection of gardening and fabric catalogues rise to the surface. They end up piled next to fireplace where I sit to keep warm and dream. I have always loved the printed page and will not turn from it completely. Books and catalogues are more easily moved around the house than my PC. With My computer however, I can shop the world at a the click of a mouse.
If you have not visited Fabric.com yet, this is the perfect time. They are celebrating Kristl's birthday with 30% off select categories such as generous cuts, fast shipping, free return shipping, no hassle guarantees, and frequent shopper programs. They also have a daily deal to check out. This sale lasts until February 22, so visit them today!
Another great place to buy fabrics, notions, and patterns is my sister-in-laws web store at Ebay. It is Quilting-Whimsy and she carries a wonderful selection of Moda fabrics. I also know for fact that her service is excellent. We take quilting seriously in this family.
I'm off to sew now. I've decided to release my Celtic Block of Month pattern as a set. I've lots of polishing work to do. Not to mention different color samples. Anyone in the family want to create a few for me?

The Moose & the Maul

Our friends have become regular evening visitors here at Mountainjoy. These three moose have been traveling nibbling through our property each night now. The night these photos were taken, I was sitting by the fire trying to get warm. I looked up and out the window and there was the big moose. She was standing so still, for a moment my brain just accepted it as natural, "oh, there is the moose." Followed by "Oh my gosh, it's as big as the Scouts!!!" Okay, maybe not as wide, but the moose are taller.

As we watched and photographed them, my husband began to realize where our wood-splitting maul went. You see, his favorite maul went missing a few days earlier. He'd looked around in the newly fallen snow but did not find it on the ground. We watched as the moose licked everything he had recently touched. They licked the cars, nibbled on dead aspen leaves, and really spent a good deal of time by the wood splitting station licking our other maul. When we saw this. My husband claimed the moose had taken his maul as a chew toy. I didn't really believe at first, I figured he just left laying down. Truth be told though, the moose did take the maul. We figure it was the big mama one because she really liked the second maul. She didn't go very far with it at least. We found it down in the meadow and are happily chopping wood again. We are careful about putting them up at dusk now though when we expect our friends to visit.

It is wonderful to be seeing moose in person as they have been a part of my life for quite a while. I'll tell you now how they tie in with my quilting and cooking apsects of life. A few years ago, I traded a quilt with moose motifs on it for a cord of wood. We were pretty broke, but as usual, quilts kept us warm in more ways than one. My first introduction to moose was Chocolate Mousse of course. As a little girl, I learned a very simple way to make an unsophisticated chocolate mousse. You just mix up some chocolate pudding and whipped cream in even ratios, put in individual dishes, top with whipped cream, and eat. There are many much more sublime versions of mousse out there, but this is a great quick fix.

Honesty in Marketing

I have been looking for a job since October. It gets depressing fairly quickly. Recently, I ventured forth again, searching with renewed gusto. I had a great lead off of Craigslist for an office position. After getting my hopes again and spending a good deal of time at applying, I find out it is bogus company and there are other hopeful girls like me that were ensnared. After a little thought, I decided it was an affiliate marketing scam.

Being an affiliate marketer myself, I find this practice abhorrent! These people were wasting time of others who are working hard to find work. That is just pitiful. I am truly disgusted by the way people prey on one another. The lies and deceitfulness has become increasingly tricky. I am an advertiser. My integrity demands that I only promote products or companies that I agree with. It also demands that I be completely honest, which is not a great trait for the marketing field. I believe that if the products are exceptional, there is no need to make anything up. I simply let people know my favorite new things and links to get there. I do receive commission on sales. Marketing is not my money-maker though. I just started because winters are really hard up here and this is a fun way to learn computer skills. I also get to talk to the world on this blog site. So, I'll leave today by telling the world about the incredibly delicious looking Valentine's Day collections that Vosges Chocolates have put together this year. They are featuring: The Sweet Coquette collection - an aphrodisiac truffle collection

The Love Tower - full of exotic truffles and caramel toffee

Bapchis's Caramel Toffee Heart - caramel toffee tucked into a purple heart (my favorite!)

Le Chocolate & Rose Truffles - dark chocolate champagne truffles rolled in a rose bud poudre The Gatsby Collection - an elegant collection of truffles swirled with champagne and topped with red rose petals

So, follow the link for fabulous chocolates to send to your loved ones this Valentine's Day.

Enjoy the day, spread the love, and always be honest.

CAT-ITUDE

Catitude is a word I (and maybe others as well) made up to describe some of the personalities of cats. Their aloofness and independence are well known. I took this word a little further last night when my cat, Shadow, suddenly infected me with Catitude. I walked into the room he was in and he stretched and yawned and cast that spell. Immediately, I was yawning and stretching myself. All I wanted to do was curl up and take a good nap. You see, my animals try to tell me all the time not to worry.
They continually tell me, "Take a lesson from me. Relax. You don't see me worrying do you? Just spend a minute and love me. All will be well. Maybe you want play instead?"
Animals are the best at reminding us to try to enjoy life. A dog's life is a good life, especially for my spoiled sultan of dog. Listen to your animals on occasion and go for that walk, toss the ball, curl up and take quick nap. Your spirit will feel better for it and that is what brings health!

Love and Chocolate

I love how I can tell what season it is by what candy is being sold in the grocery stores. Looking around, I see Saint Valentine's day is coming up soon. I always love a good romance and whichever of the many stories to believe, St. Valentine was a romantic. There were three saints of the Valentine name and all three were martyred. We are not even sure if this day celebrates one of the saints, all three, or if it is just another adaption of older pagan holidays.

Anyway, according to the tales, Saint Valentine performed marriages in secret, against the laws of the time. He either married Christians or soldiers, neither of which were allowed then. He was imprisoned and died for his efforts. (That is how one becomes a martyr you know.) According to one tale, while imprisoned, he wrote a love letter to a woman. Possibly she was the jailer's daughter. It was signed "Your Valentine", and became the first valentine card in history.

It certainly was not the last though. Sending loved ones a token of our affection on this day has become increasingly popular. Cards, flowers, and chocolate get sent around the world. All sorts of delicious chocolates go on sale to tempt our hearts.

Chocolate.com is ready for this holiday. They have marvelous boxed chocolate collections and with the attached code, you can get 10 percent off your purchase. Visit their site and pick something perfect for those you love. They will be happy to help make Valentine's Day special.

Hope in the New Year

It is coming up on mid-January. This is when I get really geared up for the next year. I don't really make resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking etc. These are things that are part of life if you want to keep living it. The decisions I make are more like: "I will finish that wedding quilt for my brother before they have their 3rd child." And maybe, "I will gain financial ground this year." One not to be forgotten is, "I will hold on to hope."
Hope is such an important thing to hold on to. We can lose just about everything else but if we have hope, we will continue onwards. It is just something we do as adaptable humans. We almost all possess a strive to do something, to leave an impression, to have a purpose. It dosen't have to be a huge purpose. We all want world peace and an end to hunger. As a teenager, I realized I could not accomplish those things. So, I simply try to make the world around me a more beautiful place. I try to enrich the lives of those around me with artwork, peaceful gardens, fabulous foods, and lots of laughter. This is my interpretation of 'Think Globally, Act Locally'. It is one of the ways I refill my well of hope. That's a funny thing about hope, whenever I think it's gone, some little miracle reminds me. May we all pay attention to those little signs and never, ever lose hope completely.

Visitors

This past week, Mountainjoy saw several unexpected visitors. Four of them were dear friends that appeared earlier than we thought. It was wonderful to get to be with our friends. When you live way off the beaten track, it takes friends a great deal of effort to find you. We are so happy when they do. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to hold on to my friends.

Some new friends that came by were three huge moose! Some people don't realize or believe that we have moose here in Colorado, but we do. These three came through the yard the other day while I was dancing in my living room. Halfway through a spin, I came around to see a big moose butt bounding off right in front of the window. He was the small, young one. The two much larger ones were not far off. They might have been mom and dad moose. The largest did have a nice rack and I could not see the third all that clearly. I grabbed my camera and ran out into the blizzard to take some photos for proof. I know better than to get off my porch when filming moose, bears, mountain lions, etc. So please, forgive the fact that this is not a great picture, just proof that moose were in my yard.

Reflecting on Those I Love

The new year always makes me so very reminiscent and thankful. I go over the past year and count my blessings. Each one has a name, and each one has helped pull me through some very difficult times recently. To all my friends and family, I can never thank you enough. For my best friend, I make biscuits.
He's my dog, Bo, and he loves me faithfully. I never thought my best friend would be a dog. Of course, I never considered a lot of things in my life. If you have a faithful companion, you can make them these biscuits. They are quite simple, tasty, nutritious, and Bo waits by the oven (playing dead) the whole time their cooking. My husband likes the taste too. Bo's favorite are the peanut butter, but you could substitute chicken or beef bouillon as well. If you are at sea level, use 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

Bogie's Mommy Biscuits
1 3/4 cup flour ( I use 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat)
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup peanut butter (original recipe says creamy, Bo & I prefer crunchy)
2 Tbs Vegetable Oil
2 Tbs Honey (original recipe called for more, but I don't think dogs need too many sugars)
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 cup water (if using bouillon, melt in water first)

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Much hotter, and the honey will burn.
2) In large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, oats, wheat germ, honey, peanut butter, oil, and baking powder.
3) Add 3/4 cup water and mix to form a thick paste. (This is where peanut butter really gets mixed in instead of being lumps which don't cook well.)
4) Mix in Remaining 3/4 cup flour to make soft dough. Knead a few minutes to bring together.
5) Roll out dough on floured cutting board to 1/4 inch thick. Using dog bone cookie cutters or such, cut all dough and place on baking trays. Re-roll and cut until all used. Note: I usually just cut mine into squares. It is quicker & I don't think Bo really cares about the shape.
6) Bake for 20-40 minutes. Check regularly for burning. I usually flip part way through. You are wanting them to dry out and harden mostly. If you use sugar instead of honey, no worries about burning and you can cook at higher temperature.
I hope your furry, four legged friends enjoy these. Like all my cooking, not an exact science but always well worth the effort. I'm going to go make Bo some now. Have fun, go for a hike, and Happy New Year to All