September Snow!

Over last weekend I took a few pictures of the fall colors on the mountain side - I love this time of year! I'm so glad I got to take them because today it's snowing, and most of the leaves will probably be gone. These pics have a date stamp on them - I don't know how to take them off of the little camera :(
We are having spaghetti and homemade bread for dinner! The perfect finish for a cold day :)

I hope you are warm and loved where you are~
Amy

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Natalie's Quilt -- Finished!

Well taking a picture outside, with only little helpers, wasn't working today. It's very windy - so I found the best indoor spot and snapped a quick pic of most of the quilt! Then moved to the kitchen where I have lots of good light for the rest.

To see all of it - check this post out.

I worked through a couple of options for quilting, but came back to a quick stipple. I managed to quilt it in just a few hours :)

We used a couple of coordinating Kona cottons to back it - do you see them peeking out?

I love dots for bindings!

I used the alphabet on my machine to make a label this morning too.

I love the color palette and the simplicity of the design - now I just have to send it off to my sister! I know it will be well loved!


Time for me to get the rest of the laundry done - hope you are having a good afternoon.

Blessings~
Amy
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Blogger's Quilt Festival - FAQ

I've gotten a few questions, just a few, but thought I would clarify here for everyone. The Quilt Festival begins October 9. With my post on October 9 everyone will have the chance to join in the fun!

• May I join in, please? :) Of course! Everyone is welcome to join!
• You'll be posting the directions of what to do again, won't you? Absolutely! Everything will be clear October 9, but if you would like to see the spring festival for an idea of what to expect - go visit the spring post.
  
• Help! I can't ever make buttons work. See the box of html below the button? Put your cursor in there, press control+A, then control+C to copy ALL the code. Then go to your blog, add a html gadget and press control+V to paste the code. Save and you should have a nifty little button! You can also paste it into a blog post :) This is for blogger - I have no idea how the other platforms work - sorry!
  
• Are the signups going to be different? Nope! See the spring festival if you would like to know what to expect.
  
• Please send me details on how to get on board. Sorry - I'm having a hard time keeping up with everyone, if your question isn't answered here, let me know. Everyone is welcome to participate beginning October 9 :)
  
• The button takes you to the page of information. Is that what you want? Yes! Right now I need your help spreading the information to as many quilting bloggers as possible - we don't want them to miss out, do we!? On October 9 I will change the code to go directly to the Quilt Festival post.
  

<br /><center><a href="http://parkcitygirl.blogspot.com"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3949050962_a9f84dcacd_o.gif" /></a></center><br />

I will update this post as needed - thanks for all your interest! It is going to be so fun!!

Amy
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Blogger's Quilt Festival - 13 days and counting

Hi Friends! With just under two weeks left until Blogger's Quilt Festival I'm excited to get things started!

The Blogger's Quilt Festival is for quilters of any genre, or skill level - no matter your style we want to see your work!! The Blogger's Quilt Festival is timed around Quilt Market especially for those of us not able to make that pilgrimage to Houston, but if you go to market you are still welcome too :)

So pick a quilt to showcase, just one, and be thinking about the story that goes with it. What did you learn, what did that project help you through, or to overcome. Did you make it for someone special, or to raffle off at an important event?

And there are lots of prizes to win too! I have a great group of generous sponsors, all happy to inspire and give fabulous bundles! (If you are interested in joining the ranks of sponsors - Email me - I will get details to you right away!)

While you are deciding which quilt to showcase, I need a little help! Grab a button and help me spread the word --

<br /><center><a href="http://parkcitygirl.blogspot.com"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3949050962_a9f84dcacd_o.gif" /></a></center><br />

(You will have to click over from your reader to get the code!)

Tell all your friends and be ready for a quilt overload from your computer chair. I'm excited to see what everyone has to share this time around!

Happy weekend~
Amy


Graphic design by my sweet friend Amy - Thanks Amy!!
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Blog Tips

My disclaimer :: I am by no means an expert in coding or web design, but I am capable of making the changes that I want to my blog and thought I would share a couple of great resources!

First - Three Column Blogger has been super helpful in learning the html changes to make for three columns. I typically look through templates every six months, (google "free blogger templates") I always come back to minima. I love the simplicity of it - just me!

Second - Web Page Analyzer is a great tool to see how long your page needs to load, and it shows you each item on your page and the number of bytes it consumes. I use this to see what little extras are eating up too much space, and make sure that it loads quickly for all of you! I've noticed using this site that photos posted using html from flickr, are usually a bit larger than if I upload straight to blogger. Apparently blogger compresses the image for me - nifty! Even still I usually upload once, be it blogger or flickr and then use html as needed.

Do you all know how to paste html into your blog post from flickr?
Go to the picture you would like to use in your flickr stream. Click the "all sizes" button above the photo. Next click the size you would like to use (I use medium), then look below the photo for the html. Copy, then paste it straight into your composer box. It will remain html, until you preview or publish your post.

What do you think of my new layout? I think I'm happy with it! I've got a bit more organizing to do in the sidebars but I'm mostly there. How is it loading for you?


Meanwhile, these two are keep me busy as a referee. Being 2 years apart is a challenge! Owen doesn't understand the problem, and Sophia is all mommy, and smothers Owen. On occasion they play nice together, but usually one is taking away from the other and a war is induced.
One day at a time is the best I can do :)

I'm getting ready for the Quilt Festival! New logo/button coming soon! If you haven't subscribed already, you can get my posts in your inbox (see the box on the right) or add me to your reader - don't miss out! I'm excited :)

I hope this post was helpful to you, let me know if you have a question -
Amy
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SewConnected & A Notion or Two

While not fully well, I do feel much better than I did last night when I wrote my last post. Thanks for the get well wishes! We woke to frost this morning, just as the calendar says it is fall - overnight! Time to hide the shorts from the kids, so they don't freeze and take stock of the pants and long sleeves, to plan a shopping trip. Not the worst thing in the world :)


SewConnected Block for AmandaJean
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Have you seen this quilt? Or the beginning over here? It's such a fun group project, I had a blast making this block! AmandaJean sent us the white and asked that we use scraps for the tiny house.


A Notion or Two Block for Lolly

Lolly and her mom have been working together for the bee blocks this year, and so Lolly's quilt will be her mom's really, but there's lots of Lolly in it! The center square is a spoonflower print that Lolly created, and then she asked that we applique a pear to the log cabin block as well.

I'm looking forward to seeing both of these quilts come together!

Right now I need to clean up a bit around here and hopefully I will be well enough to get some quilting done tomorrow :)

Blessings ~
Amy

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Please Excuse Me -

While I quickly recover from a case of the sniffles. It seems to happen easily this time of year around here - the daily temperatures flux from 70 and 80 to 30 and 40 on a daily basis, and the body just has a hard time keeping up!

Ella and I stayed on the couch as much as possible, entertained with a good book, cartoons, and the regular antics of the kiddos. I've gotten good about excusing my kids from school, and should do the same for myself and my responsibilities. Thankfully the laundry is mostly caught up!

Hopefully I have the stamina to quilt soon, she's basted and waiting for me :)

Amy

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Sew-n-Tell

I can hardly believe that it's Friday again - this week has been fast and slow all at the same time! Sew-n-tell is organized by ms. Amylouwho and all are invited to participate - yes even YOU :)

Remember those Panache fabrics? Last Friday I cut them up, and started putting them back together -- the end result -- a quilt top for my sister!



A peek at the details -



And my helpers -



Looks nice and sunny out, but just a few hours later we had this - he's pointing at the lightening he just saw, and was about to run into my lap for the thunder. Poor boy - still gets to him.

However by bedtime (for the kids) we were rewarded with this beautiful sunset.
Really pretty, and more beautiful in person. I hope you have a great weekend! We are having friends over tonight, and I hope to baste this quilt top, probably tomorrow, and get started on finishing it.

Blessings -
Amy
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Doll Quilt Received!

I've had the best round with Doll Quilt Swap! I love making little quilts for people and of course the payoff is a new quilt for me. For those that don't know, DQS is a secret swap, you never know who is sending a quilt your way! The fun is watching all the beautiful quilts added to the pool over the course of the 2 months. Some finish fast and others are still sewing at the deadline, so there is always something new to see! I love to leave comments as adorable quilts are posted, but rarely allow myself to believe that it could be for me.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I opened the mailbox and found a package from Australia, containing this gem --



Nicole of Craftapalooza, has been stalking around here getting to know me, and made this just for me! Each petal of the flower is about 3/4" across, and the flowers are not quite 2 1/2" total. Adorable, little details in each flower too! And this is something that I have yet to even try for myself. Joe thinks I'm a little strange carrying it around and running my hand over the flowers - they are just too beautiful!



She included some great little extras too! Thanks again Nicole - I love it :) Just what I needed yesterday too - I was going on little sleep and feeling a bit down after spending the afternoon cleaning. Thankfully Emmalie has been 24+ hours without incident and at kindergarten this morning!!

Blessings -
Amy

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Clearing my Head

Hi Friends~

I feel like it's been a while! A bunch of randomness that I need to put down --

After posting on Monday, I proceeded to not sew, but clean instead. "Operation Clean Floors" was a huge success, for about an hour, then, well you know! Kids - gotta love the messes that come with them :)

Yesterday I pulled out the machine during nap time to sew up that stack, and have just now ironed them! I will pin again and hope for a chance to sew later this evening.

Emmalie has missed kindergarten this week, so far, with a touch of the flu bug :( And so, I now need to bleach the house again, and pray that it passes quickly!

My doll quilt was received by Emma! She loves it, had commented and added it as a favorite on flickr when I originally posted it there, so fun to have a vocal (dqs) partner!

I got a new sketch book - can you believe I have filled 2 up in the last year!? I hardly can. Usually I buy them at the grocery store (my second home) but they changed the sketch book that they carried, so I turned to Amazon. I am very happy with my purchase, and plan on filling it up soon too! Do you use a sketch book at all? Mine are full of quilt ideas, blocks for the quilting bees, embroidery, and quilting doodles - I like to practice a little on paper before getting started.

I also have a color wheel project churning in my brain - more on that when I have a little something to show.

Have you noticed the countdown to Fall Quilt Festival? Three weeks from this Friday and the Festival begins! I have details (sponsors, buttons, graphics, prizes) all coming together! Do you have a quilt to share? I'm really excited to see it all come together. Are you a shop? Interested in being a sponsor? Email me and I will get details to you!

So I've cleared my head - anything you need to get out? I'd love to hear what you are working on!

My next post will have pictures - I promise -

Amy

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Quality Time

With my sewing machine - yay! I managed to find a few minutes here and there over the weekend to work on my sisters quilt.
I'm hoping to have a quilt top to show you really soon! I hope you are well -
Amy
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Here We Are

This mama is a little emotional! The first day of kindergarten is exciting and new, and a little bit hard. Sophia's first sentence this morning was "I'm 5 now too." She wanted to go with her sisters and not be the one left at home. We all sat on the kitchen floor for a few minutes explaining how fast the hours would go (it's 2.5 hrs!) and that we would get Emmalie as soon as she is done, and then go back for Ella, of course.

I was reminded of when Ella went to kindergarten, Sophia was 3 months old, and Emmalie was 20 months. Thankfully Joe was a Pastor at the time, and worked from a home office. But still, it was a lot! It was also the first time that Emmalie reacted to having a new baby in the house - she wouldn't sleep, didn't want to be left alone in her crib - and so forth. It took us a week to put together all the clues she was giving us, change is hard no matter how old you are :) So glad that I have constant support in Christ! There is no way I could do it on my own.
These are the fabrics that my sister and I selected for a new quilt for her! What do you think Natalie!? I'm excited to get started - hopefully later today.

I have nothing sewn this week to show you - but sew-n-tell is happening over at Amy's blog if you do :)

Have a great weekend~
Amy

PS - THANK YOU to everyone that signed the Flea Market Fancy Petition and voted! You guys really are the BEST!
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Flea Market Fancy

Just a quick note!

The Flea Market Fancy petition is gaining in number (nearly 500), if you haven't been over there yet - go! Denyse Schmidt actually signed it recently too! Also, there is a poll giving you a voice as to color WHEN the line goes to be printed again - I'm just trusting and hoping :)

Pretty please - go sign the petition.

Thanks - you all are the BEST!

Amy

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Back to School

Going back to school is not only emotional for mom - it's hectic! In the last couple of years I have developed routines with Ella to make sure we get out the door on time. And now getting ready for Kindergarten, Emmalie is getting in on the action!

Much like the chore list, I make checklists for the girls of everything that they need to do before going to school. This may seem really basic, but I have found giving them the checklist eliminates the need for me to constantly question/nag, and gives them a little control. Who doesn't love to be in charge of them self!? Also, Ella makes her own lunch - this helps to ensure she actually eats it, as she made the selections and put it together herself.
For Em I used pictures of items as she is not quite reading - a simple solution! Just in case you are wondering - backpacks are packed the night before, as homework is done.

One other thing that has made a big difference is outfit options. My girls love to dress themselves, but the result is sometimes crazy! For school, I put outfits together on hangers, with clean underwear, and allow them to choose from the hangers. It is easiest to do as I fold laundry, and I have thought a hanging sweater organizer would work well too.

We have found giving our kids a few decisions to be made, in a controlled environment, helps with making other decisions too - a good thing in our book!

Do you have routines for getting your kids out the door? What works for you?

I'm always looking for more ideas :)

Amy

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Our Weekend

It's been busy here! My sister came to visit with a friend and stayed at a hotel in Park City - that means pool time for the kiddos! And Joe took the long weekend off to go backpacking up in the Uinta Mountains. Now that we have settled down again - back to our routines - I can tell you about it :)

This is my favorite picture that Joe brought back - so much beauty up there! He went with his Dad and brother Zach (who spends a lot of the weekends here) so the three of them enjoyed hiking and being in the great outdoors.


Some fun shots of the girls at the park with Aunt Natalie --
and lounging around here at the house.

Owen is very serious with new people - we were glad when he decided to play, even just a little.

Sophia getting hugs and tickles from Aunt Natalie :)
Look out!!

Aside from playing at the park and trips to the swimming pool, Natalie brought a quilt to repair. In pointing out the many spots needing patches, Natalie decided that she should put it away, and buy fabric for me to make her a new quilt! And that is just what we did :) She ordered some Panache and a few solids for the back - hopefully I will have a big stack to show you later this week!

That's it for now! I'm off to fold more laundry and get the floors cleaned again :)

Blessings -
Amy

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Sew-n-Tell

I've been working to finish up my doll quilt all week. It needs to get in the mail Monday! But I think I will admire it until then :)


I've titled this quilt "Flowers for . . . " I will have to update you with who the flowers are for once it is received. Now I just need to wait and see what arrives in my mailbox! That's the best part! Getting a quilt just for you that you had no part in creating :)


Here's a detail shot - I added a few beads to give the flowers in the center some sparkle, and hand-quilted the entire thing. I don't know how some of you only hand-quilt, my fingers hurt!

If you have something to sew-n-tell head over to Amy's blog and link up!

Have a great weekend~
Amy
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Homemade Tomato Sauce

After Joe and I married, we both decided we didn't like our moms spaghetti sauce very much. One used a jar of sauce and added fresh bits, and Italian sausage, and the other used canned tomatoes with browned hamburger. Neither was bad, but we figured that their must be better! This sent us on a journey of trying and tweaking many recipes.

Ingredients
1 head of garlic
1/4 C Olive Oil
2 large onions
3-4 T dried basil (1 bunch of fresh, chopped)
1 T dried oregano
1 T salt (to taste)
1/2 T black pepper
1/2 - 1 tsp chili pepper flakes - this will add more heat as it simmers
1 tsp fennel seeds - crushed
2 T balsamic vinegar
10# can stewed tomatoes (if using fresh, blanch, peel, core and de-seed)

1. Roast garlic in oven at 350 for 1 hour.
   
2. Warm olive oil in large dutch oven, over medium/low heat. Finely chop onion, add to oil. Slowly saute and caramelize. Be patient here for a mellow sweet flavor :)
3. Peel and chop/smash garlic. It is a gooey mess after roasting.
4. When onions are translucent and slightly brown, add garlic through balsamic vinegar. Cook the vinegar into all the vegetables for 1 minute. (If using fresh herbs wait to add after tomatoes)
   
5. Add tomatoes and cover.
   
6. Stir occasionally while cooking over low heat. I like to keep the lid slightly ajar to allow the sauce to thicken.
   

If your sauce happens to be too thick add chicken/vegetable stock 1 cup at a time to reach desired consistency. This sauce can be canned or frozen in portions as needed. We love to simmer Italian sausage (after boiling) in it the day it will be eaten - the longer it stews the more tender the sausage becomes (the acid levels in the sauce - break it down). This sauce is also amazing in lasagna or on pizza!

Let me know if you make it and what you think~
Amy

I also whipped up a pdf of this post so you can easily print the recipe for later! Enjoy
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SewConnected - August & A Little More

I know - it's already September, I was slow to take the time to figure out paper piecing. I've read a few tutorials, but until I sit down to do something for the first time - it is still an unknown. In the end I had a lot of fun making these for Amy -

• Over last weekend I took the time to make tomato sauce for the winter. It was an experiment. I love to make my thick and hearty sauce, but usually use canned tomatoes from the store. So I bought up 30 fresh, locally grown tomatoes at the farmer's market - after all the simmering I was left with 2.5 quarts! I was/am a little disappointed :( It's not cost effective, I can purchase a 10# can at Costco for less than $3 - and it renders enough sauce for a months worth of dinners. The fresh tomato sauce tastes so good - but I can't tell the difference. What would you do? Anyone care for a recipe?

• My sister is on her way to visit over the long weekend :) It's been almost two years since her last visit - I'm looking forward to our weekend together!

• I've been a bit quiet here this week as we have started school, and working out new routines. Ella is in 4th grade - I cannot believe it! Time seems to keep flying by. Emmalie will start Kindergarten next week after all the assessments have been done and teachers assigned - watch for more tears then. The first day of the school year always makes me misty eyed - all the hope and promise of a new school year. Learning, growing, becoming more independent - of course this is what I want for them - I am brimming with pride.

• My DQS7 quilt is near completion - I'm hoping to share it tomorrow for Sew-N-Tell :)

Many Blessings ~
Amy

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Color Wheel Inspiration

Hi there! With all our trips to the library - I have exhausted the quilting books of interest. So with our last visit I brought home a design book! I've been checking out more home design type mag's too when looking for inspiration - I find myself more and more challenged to make my own quilts instead of a pattern.

The photography in Design! is stimulating and the text is worth reading. I found myself drawn to Chapter 3 - Visual Elements and his section on Color, and felt the inspiration coming on :)Love that color wheel! And so I started looking for quilt inspiration on flickr, this is just a taste of what you find when searching "color wheel".


1. Oh, 2. inspiration day one, 3. 10-08 crazy color wheel, 4. DQS#7 Top Finished. Clockwise?, 5. FQ Stack for Color Wheel Quilt, 6. Black Color Wheel quilt top done!, 7. Full view of DQS7 quilt, 8. color wheel, 9. The front

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Being the individual that I am, I cannot copy any of these beautiful creations, but I know that I will have to create a quilt reminiscent of a color wheel in the near future! I need to go organize my chest of fabric and see what scraps I can pull together :)

Also in my color wheel hunt I found a couple of great articles --
Purl Bee - Thinking in Color
All People Quilt - Choose Fabric with Confidence

Be Inspired and Enjoy the process!
Amy

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