Snowmobiling in Wyoming

Tom and I have been married now for 20 years.  For our 10th and 15th anniversary’s, we went snowmobiling in Wyoming.   We decided it was worth a third trip.  Our first two trips were to Togwotee Mountain Lodge.  Which is a great place.  This time we stayed at a guest ranch in Moran, Turpin Meadow Ranch.  It may not be a big as Togwotee, but it was much more intimate.

The staff actually got to know our names.  They were very accommodating.  With the time difference of two hours, Tom and I were up before most of the staff arrived at the main lodge.  They usually serve breakfast at 8:00 am.  They would serve us whenever we got in.  Which was usually 6:30 am.  Which was actually late by our internal time clocks.  But they were very understanding.

Our first day there was spend riding the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail System.  They had not gotten enough snow in some of the areas, so they were unable to groom all the trails.  But we had 80 miles worth of fun.  Of course I found a really deep spot right of the bat.  Yup, I got stuck.  While I waited for Tom and Luke (our guide) to come dig me out, I took pictures.  The snow was up past my thighs.  You don’t realize the altitude difference until you have to dig a snowmobile out of 3 feet of snow.  You get winded very easily.  But Luke got the sled out and we were on our way.

The second day was spent in Yellowstone National Park.  Our guide was Casey.  You cannot ride in Yellowstone without a certified guide.  We did what is called the Loop Tour.  We stopped to take pictures of a herd of bison resting along Yellowstone Lake.  From there we rode up to the Lower Falls viewing area.  We saw coyote along the way.  Our last stop was Old Faithful.  The whole loop is approximately 150 miles.  It was a great ride, with spectacular scenery.  Unfortunately it was overcast and/or snowing most of the time so the pictures are not a good as they could have been.  But it’s defiantly a must see.

Our third and last day was spent riding the CD trail system.  They had more snow and more of the trails were groomed.  We did some powder riding.  This time I didn’t get stuck.  We saw a couple of bull moose.  We didn’t think they were going to get off the trail at first.   But they eventually moved.  You need to give them the right of way.  They are just to big to mess with.

The weather would go from bright sun to snow.  As we headed back to the ranch at the end of the day, the snow really started coming down.  I could hardly see  10 – 15 feet ahead of me.   In Wyoming, they use long poles to mark the trails.  I was driving from pole to pole.   I was glad I was on a snowmobile and not in a car.   On top of the poor visibility, the light was flat.  That means you cannot see the condition of the terrain.  I noticed a couple of dips a little to late.  But that’s snowmobiling in Wyoming.  I would do it again and again and again.

The snow they got was wetter than they usually get.  This gave some of the staff the opportunity to make a snowman.  Or should I say a snow cowboy.   It was a nice way to end our trip.

We did about 350 miles worth of riding in 3 days.  Great area, wonderful people.  Would I recommend snowmobiling in Wyoming?  Most definitely.  Would I recommend staying at Turpin Meadow Ranch?  Whole heartedly.

Thanks guys for a great time.

C

Click Here for a slide show our our trip

What to Do with Colorful Tee Shirts

I have a customer whose father passed away.  She has asked me to make a quilt from the t-shirts he used to wear.  Most tee-shirt quilts are made from tees that have some sort of design on them.  Like the ones purchased while on vacation, or from some event, or sports teams, etc.  This is not the case with these tees.  There are 33 shirts of at least 17 different colors.

As you can see, they are very colorful.  I welcome the challenge to make a quilt that is both special and beautiful.

For the last few weeks I have been mulling over various designs.  I do not want too simple of a design but it can not be too complex.  The tees will just not work with intricate designs.  But a quilt of just plain blocks would be boring.  My thought is to use a few simple blocks and make a scrappy quilt.

Using EQ5, I started to put my thoughts into pictures.  EQ5 is a quilt design software.

First attempt. I stopped coloring this one in. I thought it was to busy and uneven.

Second attempt. I don't know. It just didn't look right.

Third attempt. I thought stars might make it look more organized.

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The other day, while sitting at the guild raffle quilt at the Gathering quilt show in Nashua, I was talking to my friend, Nancy Bell.  While discussing my options with her, I had a thought,  put the cool colors with the warm colors within the blocks.  Today, while I was looking for a book that had a pattern I thought would work, I came across a pattern I used for my sister Ruthie’s quilt.   The center is made up of half-square triangles and four patches. Off to EQ 5 to figure this out.

I stayed with the half-square triangles and four patches but added nine patch and fence rail blocks.  I rotated the blocks to get a different effect.  This is what I came up with.

I didn’t finish putting the colors in but you can get an idea of what it will look like.  The purple plaid in the border is fabric from curtains he had in his room.  I’m not sure the plaid will work once the quilt top is done.  But I will deal with that later.  I have a design.  Now off to work.  Deconstruct all the shirts.  Then stabilize them with interfacing.   Then cut – sew – press.

I am excited about this quilt.  It should be fun.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

C

Patchwork Pals Raffle Quilt

Raffle Quilt

Back in April, I received the Raffle Quilt for the Dracut, MA guild,  Patchwork Pals.

It gave me the opportunity to try some new found designs.

I was not sure which designs I wanted to use in the center so I started with the borders.  The outermost border  is wider on the top and bottom than on the sides.  I needed to use a design that would not emphasize the difference in width.  I talked with my friend Katie, to bounce some idea off of her.  Sometimes it helps to have a sounding board.

Border treatments

I decided upon using a technique from a class I took with Deloa Jones.  She has a new border book out.  In that book, she has some designs that you use in mirror image.  I used one of her designs singly down the sides and as a mirror image on the top and bottom outer borders.

In the two smaller borders (1st and 3rd), I quilted a simple leaf vine.   In the 2nd border, I used another design from Deloa’s book.  She has a braided feather border.  I had seen it on a website selling digital design for computerized longarms.  I do not have a computerized system.  I was excited when I saw Deloa had included that design in the book. The braided feather has a simple yet elegant way of turning the corners with a swirl.

Corner of quilt center

Once I had completed the borders I started on the center.  All I knew I wanted to do was to outline and echo the appliques.   I also copied the smaller applique and repeated an outline of design in the  background.  Next I used a swirl leaf motif as a background fill.  I truly liked the way this quilt was coming out.

Now all that was left was the dark sections of the log cabin blocks.  I first tried to create a nice curving spine on which to quilt a feather.  I just could not create a spine that was pleasing.  It was either to deep or not even.  I ended up taking the quilt off the frame to lay it out so I could examine the quilt and work out a spine that would be pleasing.  Again, I turned to my friend Katie.  She has a couple of tools that would assist me in drawing a nice spine.

With tools in hand I laid the quilt out to start drawing.  With chalk, mind you.  Just plain ordinary white school chalk is a great way to mark a quilt.  It comes right off with the use of a red lint brush.

Anyway, I was looking at the quilt trying to decide upon how to make the spine, when it hit me.  Just use the edge of the logs as spines.  Now why couldn’t I have thought about that sooner.  I know what your thinking.  “Doesn’t she plan out her quilting before she puts the quilt on the frame?”  The answer is not always.  My brain doesn’t always work that way. I have found that some of the designs I have planed out just don’t work with the quilt.  Then I have to change mid-stream.  I really thought I wanted to do a nice swirling feather on this quilt.  But the quilt told me otherwise.

Feathered Logs

I ended up quilting in two nesting feathers along the logs of the blocks.  It was what the quilt called for.  For those of you who have done something similar, you understand.  No matter what you think might look good on a quilt, sometimes it tells you you’re wrong.   Always listen to the quilt,  it knows.   I know that sounds strange but sometimes it just happens that way.  So if you are stuck on a design, stand back and review everything you have done so far.  The quilt will let you know what it needs.  Just make sure you listen.  Sometimes it whispers.

The quilt will be viewed by the guild this Sunday.  I am positive everyone will like it.  I love the way is came out.

If you want to purchase raffle tickets, e-mail me or check out the guild website.  I’m sure they would love to sell you a ticket or two or more.

C

Where’s the Squirrel

I love my dogs but sometimes they are just plain goofy.  Once the squirrels come out for the season, they go from tree to tree chasing them.  They will sit for hours under the trees watching and waiting for the squirrels to come down.

My next door neighbor once wondered if  they get stiff necks.  My sister, Ruthie, came over once and asked where they were.  I told her they were outside.  She said they couldn’t be because they didn’t run to greet her.  I told her they must have a squirrel up in the tree.  Sure enough,  they were staring up at the tree.

These two are hunting dogs.  I guess they don’t understand they are bird dogs, not squirrel dogs.  What I can’t figure out is why the squirrels even come back.  Sport and Maggie do this every year.   If they are in the house and see a squirrel out the window, they go crazy.  They will jump and whine until you let them out.  Then they race out the door jumping down off the deck.  Mind you we have six steps coming off the deck.  They jump over all of them.

When I first  saw the add for the movie “UP” with the dog with the talking collar, I just laughed.  That is my two.  They will be going along then “SQUIRREL”.  Just don’t get in there way or they are liable to run you over.

They keep Tom and I smiling.  They are such a joy to have around.

I love my Sport and Maggie.

C

Inspired by Peggy’s Quilt

I  finished a quilting a quilt for a customer.  It is just a crazy style log cabin/courthouse step block.    It would be very simple to make.   A great way to use up some scraps or fat quarters.  You could make it any size you want by changing the block size or adding more blocks.  You could even make the sashing larger or smaller.  You could add corner stones to the sashing.

Peggy has very different taste than I do.  She likes the style of fabric by Free Spirit and Amy Butler.   That stuff reminds me to much of the 70’s style.  I just can’t get into the coloring of those fabrics.  But Peggy likes them.   That is all that matters.

I inspired her to make the Blooming 9-patch quilt after she saw the one I did.  Her’s came out gorgeous.  I don’t think I have seen many of the Blooming 9-Patch that I haven’t liked.  Would you believe I can’t find a picture of mine.  It’s hanging at a Mann’s  Orchard at the moment.  I try to get a picture tomorrow.

I met Peggy through Quilts of Valor.  Quilts of Valor is an all volunteer organization where they match up people who make quilt tops with long arm quilters.  The resulting quilts are then given to the wounded soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq.  Peggy’s quilt was one of the first couple of quilts I quilted for QOV.   She has since become a very good customer.

I’m glad she brought me this last one.  She has inspired me to make a similar log cabin style quilt.  I will put that on my to do list.

Thanks Peggy.

C