Well there is nothing like getting quilting inspiration when you are on vacation. I wasn’t quilting but I was thinking about it, I guess it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Many quilters suffer from the same condition of seeing quilt blocks wherever they go, they have what I call, “quilting on the brain.” I am no exception! For example, this Keystone logo in Colorado; that I have seen for years, this time I notice the star block in the center because I am now a quilter. Due to the angles I’m  having a rough time reproducing it as a block but I’m working on it!

It was a bucket list item to go to the National Western Stock Show in Denver, this show is full of cattle, cows and bulls, sheered goats and sheep, some horses and lots of cowboys. We even saw a rodeo. This quilt below featuring ranch brands, was auctioned off as a fundraiser for Colorado Cattle Women and displayed at the exhibition center.

Here are some (random) ranch brand samples.

The view of Dillon Lake Reservoir and mountain peaks from the top of Dercum Mountain was spectacular.

While at the Museum of Natural History in Denver, among other things, we observed the gem stone carvings of Russian artist, Vasily Konovalenko (koh-noh-vuh-len-koh). He uses quartz, onyx, sapphire, petrified wood, and so many other stones. It was amazing. This was my favorite the “Laundress.” I guess I could relate to the whole “washing clothes” aspect of folk life depicted in his works.

The new whale exhibit was interesting, the folklore stories are enjoyable, but the references to evolution and whales walking on land frustrate me.  “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I just dropped off my first quilt with a long arm quilter, Jeanne Bergeron from QuiltPlay. She had some great ideas for quilting it, and called it “your baby” assuring me that she would take care of it in my absence, although I was worry free. I am very excited to see it finished! All I can show you are these fabrics that I used to make the quilt! Cherry Christmas by Aneela Hoey

I have also started on my Valentine’s quilt pattern, hope to share that very soon.

Do you have any quilting inspirations?