Snow

Believe it or not we are supposed to get snow tonight and tomorrow.  Christmas it was 65 degrees and perfect weather.  We are having a blow out sale at the shop and on-line.  On-line is http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/.  Everything in the shop and on-line is 30% off, 40% off Christmas and 50% off Halloween.  So shop til you drop.  

SALE SALE AND MORE SALE

We started an After Christmas sale 12/26.  All patterns, notions, books and fabric are 30%, except the 40% table is 40%, Christmas is 40% and Halloween is 50%.  Come by and see us at 344 E. 4th Street, Benson, AZ or shop on-line at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/.  http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/.

Home

Home with a cold, body aches and such.  It is a beautiful sunny day here.  This is a wonderful place to live, especially so in the winter when everyone else is fighting the snow, ice and cold.  It has been in the mid 70s for the last couple of weeks.  The horses still grow a winter coat, but they at least don't look like Mongollian war ponies and we don't have to blanket them.  That is such a hassle.  Things at the shop have been slow.  I think people who have Christmas gifts to make have already gotten their supplies, if they haven't they better get on the stick. 

Christmas on Main Street in Benson has come and gone.  There was a good crowd. 

Has anybody discovered Pandora Radio Internet?  I did.  I love the classical Christmas music.  After Christmas I'll have to find something else.

Christmas on Main Street

Today was Christmas on Main Street in Benson, Az.  This is a small town event.  There were 47 vendors, mostly crafts.  Bob (my husband) and the Director of the Chamber of Commerce in Benson dressed up like an elf.  Here is a picture of him and Frannie our shop dog.  It was 75 degrees and sunny.  Perfect winter weather.

Wild Rags

I spent this morning making buckaroo wild rags for Big Sky Gifts here in town.  If you have a favorite cowboy or cowgirl these are great for many things.  There are several videos on YouTube on how to wear and tie them.  You can wear them or tie them or use them in many ways.  They are 36 x 36".  They also make a great shawl.  If you are interested in a custom made wild rag, I can make them from any fabric from our website http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/.  They are $20.00.  They are 100% cotton and have a rolled hem.  I'm giving my horse trainer one for Christmas (his looked kind of worn out). 

I've been working on my roping (which sucks).  I can rope objects that don't move, i.e. a rock or a post.  Hopefully my roping will improve, as I will have to do it in the ranch horse versatility events.  I rode my buckskin mare early this morning.  We have a lot of work to do. 

It is 76 degrees here today and sunny.  It is a perfect day.   I love Arizona winters  (very little snow). 

NCHA Futurity

We left Thursday for the NCHA futurity in Fort Worth.  It was a great time.  We watched the World Championship Finals and the Celebrity Cutting.  We also went to one of the sales, but my husband kept repeating "you are not buying another horse, you are not buying another horse".  Looked but didn't buy.  Nice horses though.  I did buy my horse some turquoise splint boots and a twisted wire snaffle as she is still a young un.   I will have to take some pictures of her as she has grown up some.

Things at the store went on without me with Mom running the store.  So life goes on as they say.  This is a new fabric from the Happy Line.  It is happy.

Wind, wind and more wind

What a nasty windy day.  Glad we decided not to do anything but stay inside today.  The wind gusts are at least 60 miles per hour.  It keeps blowing the small dogs over when they go outside to potty.

We are having a 20% off everything sale at the shop and on-line this week.  Shop at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/. 

We also have  a new collection from Moda called Java.  There is also a download on their site for a tablerunner and a small wallhanging.  For you coffee fiends this is for you.  Good coffee bean prints and coffee cup prints.  Have fun with this.  Laura

Happy

We have received fabric from a new collection from Moda called Happy.  It is a Happy collection.  It is by Me and My Sister Designs. 

Back at it

It's been a while since I have blogged, facebooked or twittered.  We had the shop hop which kept us really busy and then last week was just getting things put back to normal.  We have gotten in some new fabric called Happy by Me and My Sisters.  We have the jelly rolls from this collection and also some bright cute pieces. 

As far as my horse world is going, my filly is riding pretty well.  I would like to try her in a ranch horse versatility show in February, or at least that is my goal.  We will see what happens with that.

Shop Hop

I haven't blogged in about a week.  We had our Great Fabric Roundup last week and it was busy.  We had about 400 people through the shop in a week and we were tired at the end of each day.  We just went home and crashed.  Today I have spent the day putting the shop back together and also my office (my office is always a disaster).  We finished our boot quilt for the shop hop and I will post pictures of it when I can find my USB cord to download my pictures (in my office somewhere). 

We went yesterday to a ranch horse versatility clinic in Tucson.  It was a lot of fun to watch.  Kind of nice to see horses used for more than one specialized event.  I think I will try this with Lou (my buckskin).  They will be having a clinic again sometime in February in Safford.  I think I will go try it anyway.  She can probably do pretty good in some of the events.  I can't rope, but I can at least practice for a few months and maybe rope something stationary. 
Well that is about it for today. 

I will be putting on some more sale fabrics this week and you can see these in the sale  section of the website at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/.

Laura

Trail Cards

We only have 7 trail cards left for the shop hop.  So if you are local you need to get in before Saturday and pick them up.  The Squirrel's Nest is also out of cards.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the shop hop and looking forward to meeting new people. 

We have a new collection of fabric called Sierra Trail.  This is by Whistler Studios and is from Windham.  This is selling fast.  It has a couple of nice horse prints and some really nice pots, so if you are interested you can order it on-line at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts/ or you can come by the shop.  Laura

Cattle Drive

Saturday morning we left the house at 5:30 a.m. and hauled the horses over to the Young Ranch outside of Tombstone.  It is 42,000 acres and we were looking for cows.  We found about 125.  I found my own little herd of about 15.  We drove them to a windmill.  (The windmill was my landmark, so I wouldn't get lost).  We ended up with about 125 cows.  I ended up riding drag (trailing) at the rear, when we moved the larger herd.  I need to make a wild rag, so I don't eat so much dust.  Anyway it was great fun.  My horse Twainers had a good time. 

As far as shop news goes, remember the Southern Arizona Shop Hop begins Saturday (November 6) and goes through Sunday (November 13).  Proceeds from the sale of the shop hop pattern (Hoppin Boots) will go to our local food bank.  Come on out and shop.  Laura

Beautiful Day

It is a beautiful day in Arizona.  We got a trunk show yesterday from Eleanor Burn's.  It is Christmas at Bear's Paw Ranch.  This is an older book but there are lots of good Christmas projects in it.  I think I might make Frannie (the shop dog) a red Christmas coat to wear.  It shouldn't take much fabric as she is pretty small.  The book is available at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ in the store under books.

Classes

Check out some of our classes that are coming up.  We have It's Never Too Late to be a Cowgirl on Nov 4 and 11.  This is a two part class.  The price is 35.00 for both classes.  Let me know if you are interested.

Another Day

It seems like I go to the shop with this list of things in my mind to do and I don't get any of it done.  Today seemed to be one of those days.  We did work on the front windows, that is something that needed to be done.  I also spent time filing and cleaning up my office.  It always looks like something blew up in there and I'm not always sure what it was.  Running a quilt shop there are so many catalogs and samples and I don't know what to do with them.  If you throw them out you need them, same with the samples. Oh well, tomorrow is another day, I just can't remember what I have planned.

Shop Hop

We will be plugging the shop hop for the next couple of weeks.  It is November 6-13, 2010.  There will be a Laura Ashley Brother Limited Edition Sewing Machine.  There will be 9  $200.00 gift baskets, one from each shop.  We will have numerous door prizes at the shop.  Lots of fat quarter bundles, patterns, etc.  The shop hop pattern designed by Cactus Quilt Shop in Tucson is a cowboy boot quilt.  The proceeds from these patterns will go to the local food banks.  Hope to see you there.  The name of my quilt will be Mrs. Barney's boots.  Mrs. Barney is one of my customers who wears very bright cowboy boots in the winter.  We love them.

Today

Today was a busy day in the shop. We had open sewing which brought people from Tucson. One lady was making a wallhanging from vintage handkerchiefs and needed ideas on how to finish it. Another lady had fabric from a block of the month in Anchorage. She wanted to set them on point, but needed to have them all one size. Another lady wanted to learn to do a TN Waltz Star. This is using an Eleonor Burns Triangle in a Square Ruler. My husband made a wonder ful buttermilk pie for us to eat for lunch (a healthy lunch if you ask me), included the dairy group. We are making a cowboy boot quilt for the shop hop. Each shop is making their own quilt. My quilt has pink, yellow and lime green cowboy boots. I will post a picture later. The Southern Arizona Shop Hop will be November 6-13, 2010. Remember panels are 20% off this week at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ or at the store.

Beautiful Day

This morning was really cool, down in the low 40s. We decided that we couldn't get home soon enough to ride our horses before dark, so we decided to ride this morning. It was a perfect morning. Of course, the horses thought it was too early. I don't think they really appreciated the fact that we got them out so early. I love these cool nights and cool mornings. Things are still slow at the shop. I guess it is the economy and maybe the upcoming elections. I'll be glad when the elections are over. I really don't follow the political scene all that closely and since we don't have a television to watch the news on, I really don't keep up with everything and everybody. Anyway that is way too taxing for me.

This week at the shop the panels are 20%. We have some neat panels. The Christmas and Halloween panels are getting pretty thin, so order quickly at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/

Catching Up

This past week has been busy and I haven't had a chance to post anything. My mother arrived last Sunday. Then we left Thursday for the High Plains Quilt Show in Portales, New Mexico. There were some awesome quilts there. I am always amazed at other people's talent. We also went to the Western Shootout in Clovis on Saturday night. It was a Cowboy (Cowgirl) Mounted Shooting and the women won out. Today it was meeting with a fabric rep and unloading the cargo trailer. Long day. Tomorrow morning I will get up early and ride my horse. At the shop this week panels will be on sale at 20% off. Go to http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ and look under the panel section. Laura

Banners

Just finished making banners for the Pony Express riders who will be carrying the mail from Benson to the Dragoon Post Office for Butterfield Stage Coach Days. They will be carrying specially marked post cards. The grandkids like getting the post cards from us at this time of year. Come out for Butterfield Days in Benson, AZ this weekend. It starts Friday night with movies in the park which are free and sponsored by Cox Communications. There will be music in the park tomorrow, vendors and a quilt show. The car show will be Sunday.

See you there.

Batiks 25% off

The batiks are 25% off this week, including the Bali Pops. You can call the store at 520-586-1616 or e-mail me at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ or order on-line. I rode my fill this morning for the first time in a week and a half. I think she is coming along fine, I wonder about myself. My trainer is good. He's good in the fact that he repeats himself and I really need someone who will do that. Maybe eventually my horse will become a reined cowhorse or a ranch versatility horse. We both have a ways to go. Picture of Enchanted Journey batik by Avlyn.

Shop Hop

Don't forget the Southern Arizona Shop Hop November 6-13, 2010. Get together with friends and visit the shops included on the shop hop and eat lunch somewhere different with your friends and of course don't forget to come to Cowgirl-Up Quilts in downtown Benson. Also this weekend October 9th and 10th is Butterfield Overland Stage Days.

Weekend

Saturday we helped a friend move cattle into another pasture. The ranch is 42,000 acres outside of Tombstone. We had great fun. My horse was awesome. He is a great trail horse anyway and he went up and down hills, through water and moved cows. We have a family of roadrunners out front under a pine tree. They are pretty neat. Pattern Western Pieces by Arlene Walsh is available at the store, www.cowgirl-upquilts.com.

Can't Believe

I can't believe it is the 1st day of October. Where has the year gone? Being from east TN I miss the brilliant oranges and reds of fall. Here in the desert it is mostly yellows. I love the cool morning and the cool evenings. The horses sure love the cool mornings. As soon as you open the gate they run for the pasture. Here is a picture of some fall fabric, since fall is here. As always you can order at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ or come by the store at 344 E. 4th Street, Benson, Az 85602

Frannie

Frannie is our shop dog. She is a 13 month old Maltese. She loves to have the customers come in and scratch her belly. She is utterly shameless.

Southern Arizona Shop Hop

The Southern Arizona Shop Hop will be November 6-13. There will be 9 shops participating. Trail cards are available at the shops for 5.00. Grand prize will be a sewing machine. Each shop will give away a $200.00 retail gift basket. We are looking forward to seeing everybody.

More new fabric

Some more fabric from Free Spirit has arrived. It is listed in the new category at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/. It has been a quiet morning here at the shop. We have a meeting in Tucson for the Southern Arizona Shop Hop which will be November 6-13. Look forward to seeing everybody then.

Classes and new fabric

We have several new classes that are coming up in October, November and December. There is a BOM class using the book Hop To It, fused applique classes, classes in piecing, borders, etc. You can see a copy of the schedule in the on-line newsletter or pick up a copy at the shop. We also have some new florals coming in and more fabric being added to the sale table.

Moda black and white

Or Moda white and black. Got in some new Moda that is black and white and also white and black. Lots of people seem to be collecting black and white right now for quilts. Someday I would like a black, white and red quilt. I would also like to do a Double Wedding Ring with a black background and primary colors. Oh how I wish for more time. Things have been slow here in the store. We will be doing the Rocky Mtn Quilt Festival in a couple of weeks, so that will help out. I'm definitely looking forward to fall and it being busier.

Enchanted Journey

The first shipment of Enchanted Journey has arrived. It is a collection of southwest batiks designed by Patricia Lueker and Southwest Decoratives Designs. There are some really pretty

southwest batiks. Look under the new tab at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/

On another note we got an 1-1/2 of rain last night. The frogs in the pond were so happy and also so loud.

Sale Fabric

Today I added more fabric to the sale table. These were landscape fabrics of the ocean by Robert Kaufman. I am also cutting fat quarter bundles for the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival. We will be vendors there. These fat quarter bundles are from the Harvest Rooster Collection by Debbie Mumm.

We've had some good monsoon rains, but it has really been humid. It is more like South Carolina in the summertime. The humidity is around 94%.

Take a look at the sales fabric or the Harvest Rooster Collection. The store is www.cowgirl-upquilts.com.

Laura

What's New Club

Tomorrow will be the first What's New Club. We will meet in the shop from 10-12n. Ruith will

be showing a project from the new fabric that has arrived. We will have cookies and coffee and a show and tell, so bring your projects. Everything new will be 20% off just for Saturday in the shop and the on-line sale will be 20% off. Look at http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ and look under the new category. Laura

Finally

Finally have got the new Christmas, fall and Halloween fabrics out. I've cut fat bundle quarters of the collections and will have new shop samples to put up in a few weeks, will post them then.

We are finally getting our monsoon rain. Two heavy rains in two days. It was really getting dry. I'm looking forward to fall. Summer has been too hot and too humid. You'd think we were living in east Tennessee. Laura

Halloween Fabric

I've spent all day cutting up fat quarters of the Happy Haunters Collection by Red Rooster. We will be going to Loveland, CO to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival and hope to take our new holiday fabric with us. Go to the store http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/ and to the new section for the holiday fabric. Sunday morning we spent riding. It finally rained Sunday afternoon. That was a wonderful feeling. Laura

Christmas Fabric

We just got in the entire collection of The Old Fashioned Santa Claus by

Red Rooster at www.cowgirl-upquilts.com. We have settled into our new location just two doors down from the old shop. Summer has been slow in the shop, but our life has definitely not been slow. We spent a week in East Tennessee with the kids and grandkids. Three days of this were spent at Watauga Lake at a cabin. The kids swam and fished and we rested. I'm also starting my 3-year-old quarter horse filly Lou. She rides like a drunken sailor. This will improve. Check out our new fabric.

Christmas Fabric