Quilted Wallhangings and Wildlife

 I have been long-arming so many quilts and having escapades and computer/social adventures, that I have neglected this blog site  sorely.  My apologies.
I will try to earn your love again by sharing all that I can. 

Macaw for Client

I have been growing in so many directions lately:  personally, creatively, and educationally.  I have been quilting for clients and sometimes finding the time to quilt from my creative streak.  The Macaw is a wonderful example of what long arm quilting can do to lend form to a piece.  It was a very abstract top when my client gave it to me.  I studied photos of Macaws (via Pinterest and Google) for several days.  I have been discovering that taking the extra planning time really does make a better quilt.  I have even taken to marking quilt tops!

Quilts for Paws Project:  Merlin

  The Quilts for Paws project is a slow success.  I have not had an outrageous demand, but I have managed to get Shadow his surgery.  He is the happiest he has ever been in life.  It is quite nice to see.  I will continue this project as I do believe it is a good cause.  I did not begin is it just to help my animal and I would still like to help other animals get the veterinary care they need.
  Spring has finally come the Rockies.  We have had lots of rain so everything is really green and gorgeous.  This particular moose has been roaming the neighborhood.  We named him Mickey because his antlers kind of look like Mickey Mouse ears in the this photo. 

Mickey the Moose

Some of my focus lately has been developing my other social media sites.  It has become quite a long list actually.  Let's see, www.mountainjoyquiltndye.Etsy.com and this blog were my first social sites.  Now, I have added:  www.mountainjoyquilts.com, www.facebook.com/mountainjoyquilts,
I am so addicted to my Pinterest for great inspirations and a place to share my work,
a not so active linked in profile,
and personal FB   --Whehh! It takes 2 cups of coffee in the mornings just to check them all for comments.  I love getting comments! 
I promise to write and share more often again!  Keep quilting and creating!

Open Studio

Here is my gorgeous, sunlit studio going back together again.  I am so happy when I walk into my studio now, it is like walking into dripping golden honey without getting sticky.  My husband did such a good job and learned enough about laying flooring to do the back half of the house sometime.  A friend gave us some great oak flooring that was reclaimed from either a church or school in Kansas.  That is a project for another time though.
I am readying the studio for the 1st Annual Gilpin County Artist Open Studio Tour which is this next weekend.  I am very excited about opening my studio and sharing my love of quilting with anyone who wants to take a drive into the mountains to catch the aspens changing and some great artwork.  There are 17 people on the tour and I am quite honored to have been invited to participate.
If you live locally and would like a map, contact me for one.  I will gladly respond to all serious inquiries.
I have never looked forward to winter before like I am this year.  We have lots of firewood and I have a good deal of quilt work to get me through.  Not to mention, I get to work in the space above with the wood-stove blazing and the snow falling outside.  The dogs and I will have a lot of fun snow-shoeing too!

May Showers Bring Hummingbirds

Like everywhere else in the world, our weather here in Colorado has been wacky. There was no snow in March when we normally get the most snow. April brought us a good deal of snow in the high country and May brought even more moisture into the area in the form of rain and snow. This moisture was desperately needed as we were already many experiencing forest fires back in March. People that live are used to playing in glorious outside weather 360 days a year. People around here are tired of the winter and weather. As for me, I know it is the weather and Mother Nature and I have a special relationship. She does what she wants and I put up with it or enjoy it.
The hummingbirds returned to the high country. I heard them yesterday and quickly got out the feeder. There is still snow on lots of the ground and these little jewels of birds must be hungry. So, I quickly found, filled, and put out the feeder for these harbingers of the imminent summer season. I truly enjoy the hummingbirds as they buzz around and I am delighted they are back.
I realize that I have been neglecting my cooking aspect of this blog. I do have a fairly decent reason - I have not been cooking lately. I used to do a lot of it by myself or with my husband. For quite a while now, he hasn't been working (goes back to mountain bike accident in which he broke his neck 4 years ago). That means he has been doing all the cooking and cleaning. And I have not thought about food (other than to consume). Life is changing again though. Sid has been working recently so I am sure will divide up the housework again. I hope to be sharing recipes and good food thoughts again soon.
I have been working on getting my long arm quilting business going. I plan to be pulling my hair out soon as I create my own website as well. Actually, I don't think it will be all that difficult and frustrating. Technology has come a long way and so have my skills. I just have to keep telling myself, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can".
Time to catch up on all sorts of other neglected duties, projects, and phone calls.
Keep quilting, crafting, and smiling.