A Quick Fix

Nothing like exploring a inviting, friendly quilt shop when you are tired of sitting in the car.

We traveled to the cabin this week for a little fall color, some hiking and then closing the cabin for the winter. It is a long ride! Both my husband and I needed to stretch our legs when we hit Cortez, CO and I remembered seeing a quilt shop on the main street.  So hubby took a long stroll and I went in for some retail therapy.

Cortez Quilt Company, located at 40 West Main Street.  

You can visit their website here.

I loved the quilt that greeted me at the door.

Kits are available!

They had a lovely wall of batiks,

a nice selection of civil war era fabrics,

and 

inspiring displays.

The staff was helpful and friendly; and Karen, the owner, was teaching a Bernina Class in the back of the shop. 

I left with a nice package of goodies and a smile on my face.

Now, a few updates.

The AMB license plate quilt is pieced and off to the quilter.

See my block in the upper, left portion of the quilt.

I love the way it turned out. 

And finally,

Penny Garland is all stitched down...yes, one wool piece is missing; but I did not bring any wool with me to the cabin, so I will place it when I get home.
The weather is gorgeous, so up the trail I go to get pictures of the Aspen turning.

AMB Blog Tour Giveaway--Welcome to Arizona!

Welcome to Day 24 of the AMB blog tour. I am Cheryl, your tour guide for the Grand Canyon State, ARIZONA. I hope you have been following along and know that each of the 50 bloggers have designed a license plate block for a quilt that will be displayed at the Fall Quilt Market in Houston. At each stop of the tour, you have had a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the vibrant solids used to make the blocks, in addition to learning about the states themselves.  So buckle you seat belts and bring your sunblock...let's visit my state!

My block is very similar to an actual license plate design used here in AZ.  I love the out-of-doors and our moderate winter climate makes Arizona the perfect state for tons of outdoor activities. 

In addition to posting a free pattern for my block and a tutorial on how I made the Saguaro Cactus, I will be giving away 2 prizes.  The first prize is a fat quarter bundle of some of the colorful AMB solids, sponsored by Clothworks.  The second prize is a bundle of the solids made up from my left over AMB fabrics, and includes some 'made in Arizona' products.

I live in the southern half of the state in the Valley of the Sun, which is mostly desert. This Sonoran Desert is one of the hottest  in the U.S. and the only place on earth where the Saguaro cactus grows in the wild. The highest temperature ever recorded was 129 degrees F (53 degrees C,) but everyone knows...it is a dry heat! The Saguaro cactus, the largest cactus found in the U.S., can grow as high as a five-story building and hold up to 9 tons of water. I love the pale yellow flowers that cover the cactus in late spring.

Arizona is also known as the Grand Canyon State.

The canyon is 1 mile deep, 277 miles long and the Colorado River runs through it.  Two of the most popular activities in the Grand Canyon are hiking from either rim down to the river or taking a river rafting tour.  Our family took a river rafting tour when the kids were in middle school and they still declare it as their favorite trip ever!

One of my favorite places to visit is Sedona.

The red rock formations are truly spectacular to see. And if you hike to the top of Cathedral Mountain, you might experience a vortex! I did...but I don't know if it was a vortex or an endorphin high from the exertion.

Before the Europeans came to this continent, Arizona was the home of the Apache and Navajo Indians...my husband is a 1/4 breed Apache, but the kids with their blonde hair have trouble convincing anyone of that fact!  Today it has the largest percentage of its land designated as Indian lands or 'reservations.' Some of the best Anasazi ruins can be found in Canyon De Chelly in the northeastern corner of the state. 

 If you go, take a jeep tour with a native Navajo!  Several Navajo families still live in the canyon in much the same manner they have for many years. Navajo National Monument has a wonderful cliff dwelling and Wutpaki National Monument has ruins that are on the plateau.

Although Arizona has its share of big cities and museums, I have tried to share with you the places I like best. It is a little known fact that Arizona has more parks and national monuments that any other state, more mountains than Switzerland and of course, more golf courses than Scotland. It is not a wonder that it is a very popular destination for families over Spring Break! 

***To win either of the 2 prizes, just leave me a comment and tell me what part of my Arizona tour you would like to visit most.  

***If you are a no reply commenter, please leave me an email address where I can contact you if you win!

***You must have a mailing address in the US to enter.

I will select the 2 winners after comments close on Monday the 23rd at midnight.  I'll be back on June 24th to announce the winners; provide a downloadable pattern for the applique and give you a tutorial for the Saguaro cactus.  

Now drive on over to Dora Quilts for your tour of New Mexico!  

Several Road Trips!

Two distractions have kept me from achieving my monthly goals...new inspiration and lots of road trips. Besides travelling to Napa to help my Mom move, I have been to Nevada for a baby shower and now I am headed to Missouri for a family wedding.  My granddaughter will be a flower girl and I cannot wait to see how that will turn out!  

The AMB road trip is on a roll. Here are my collages of the recent blocks.  

Such variety and creativity.  Here are the links for the bloggers:

Kentucky is at Simply Sandy and she has some Jim Beam in her prize package!

Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict designed Tennessee.

Heather of Olive and Ollie  made the Ohio star block.

Mary of Fleur de Lis Quilts designed the Louisiana block.

Sarah of No Hats in the House got creative when she made the Indiana block.

Julia made several versions of her Mississippi block before the final design, which can be found at Life as a Quilter.

Connecticut can be found at Jump Cut Arts.

Finally, Missouri was designed by Jenifer over at 42 Quilts.

You can see the Maine block with a great lobster at Quilts of Love and the Illinois block with its prairie points at the Sentimental Quilter.

Since I will be away for awhile, these are my last collages of the blocks.  You can find a list of the bloggers over at the AMB site.

Oh, and that new inspiration...better known as distraction!

Kim Diehl's new book, Simple Appeal, has made it into my collection and I have started both 'Lunch Box Social' and 'Penny Garland.'  Nothing better than a new project.  I'll post pictures when I have made more progress.  One is a pieced project and the other is all wool applique (a take along project for travelling!)

A Guided Tour

I am playing a little catch up after being in Napa all weekend. My mom is all moved in to her darling little apartment! So here is a guided tour of recent posts on the AMB blog tour.

New York, by Marsha over at Quilts from My Crayon Box.

North Carolina, by Patty at A Stitch in Time. 

Patty made a second block and incorporated it into a darling table runner. 

Rhode Island, by Tina over at Seaside Stitches. 

Tina's blog header is a beautiful hexie quilt.

Vermont, by Marsha, the Quilter in Motion, who literally quilts on the road in her RV.

Check each of them out to learn more about their states and enter the giveaways.  

It is fun to see some of the special products they have found made in their states.

I wonder if Arizona has a unique product made here???

Have to check back in June to find out.

First thing on my list this week is to go get some hugs from my granddaughter and then make a second AZ block.  I was so inspired by Patty's table runner that I have to come up with something too.

Cruising Along

We are on Day 5 of our AMB road trip and so far I am very impressed with the creativity of the bloggers I have met on my tour. 

Alabama is brought to you by Julia of Green Quilts. Julia is the author of the Hexie Blog I am following and has a very creative monthly hexie block to share.

The symbolic Pilgrim hat depicting Massachusetts is designed by Jen over at A Quilting Jewel.

The Maryland block was designed by Dawn of Spring Water Designs.

The South Carolina block is from Kristin over at The Crafty Quilter's Closet. Kristin has 3 giveaways, including a kit for her block.

The Virginia block is brought to you by the 'Voice of Quilting,' Pat Sloan. Her tutorial gives you three block designs to choose from.  I like the one with 3 Dogwood blooms.
The New Hampshire block has not posted yet, but you can check out what Victoria came up with over at  Parkhill Farm.

What have I been up to?
I have been helping my quilty friend, Cindy, accomplish her mission of making 100 quilts to gift to her stepson's Army Brigade when they disband this summer.  They are currently deployed in Kuwait.
We used a fun, fast, no fuss string quilt pattern to make the quilts.

These are two of the quilts made by Kathy and Cindy.
The blocks were made from strip sets that were the full width of the fabric, giving them a more consistent look.

Marilyn and I collaborated on this one.
These strip sets were made from fat quarters of fabric and therefore, it is very scrappy.
Interested in the technique?
Find the tutorial here.

Kathy and I used a different technique to make this one.
I saw the tutorial over at Butterfly Threads Quilting.
A little more effort, but I love the results!

We made a total of 8 quilt tops for Cindy.
I wish I had pictures to share of the red, white and blue beauties Bobbie made and a striking cheddar and teal rendition that Susan made from left over civil war fabrics.

Now I am off to help my Mother move from her home of 35 years into independent living.
Such an emotional weekend ahead.
Everyone have a safe Memorial Day weekend!

Road Trip

The AMB blog tour is off to a great start.

I love the first four blocks!

The darling Delaware block can be found at the
Blue Striped Room Blog.

The patriotic Pennsylvania block can be found at
Cheryl Lynch Quilts.

That peach of a block from Georgia is over at
Butterfly Threads Quilting.

And the spudacular block from Idaho is at
Taffy Talk.


Exciting news...
at the end of the tour, the blocks will be set into a quilt with all 50 states and will hang adjacent to the AMB Farm to Fabric Challenge exhibit at Houston Quilt Market and Festival!
YAY!
I may be visiting some friends I know in Houston!

The full list of bloggers can be found here.
Hop on over for your chance to win a fat quarter bundle of these beautiful, made in America fabrics!
I will be back on Jun. 19th with my Arizona block.