Welcome to my ramblings!

Welcome! I am Melissa and I am a cowgirl (although this is a debatable point depending upon your definition of cowgirl).  I do not currently own any horses, but I grew up surrounded by them and I would ride as often as I could.  I caught the crafting bug from an early age.  My mom was always, sewing, crocheting, or making something crafty.  It must have been no surprise to her that I wanted to enter every event at the 4-H Achievement Days.  For weeks I would prepare wood crafts, sewing projects, elaborate displays, and quite often a last minute poster or two.  But every year mom would help me load up the car and go to town to enter all my projects.  All that creativity stayed with me through school and in college I decided to try quilting on my own.  I had made quilts in the past with others in my Family & Consumer Sciences classes (that's Home Ec for all the mature readers out there) at school and for fundraisers, but I had never attempted one on my own.  It didn't take long and I was stung by that quilting bee, as well.  I did however, find that I didn't like to always follow a pattern and so most of what I create is of my own design or interpretation.  Well, after college I ran off to California and married a US Navy Sailor (ironically from my own home town, but that is another story) and have been traveling the country with him ever since.  A couple years ago I became best friends with another military wife by teaching her how to quilt.  When I decided to start labeling my projects with the "Quilted Cowgirl" she said that it was the perfect definition of who I am.  Thanks Jennifer :) I have had a couple people ask me for patterns and have taught some crochet along the way, too.  So, now I am beginning a new adventure with this blog.  My hope is that you will read along, learn some new skills, find some inspiration, and share some of your creativity with me.  Happy crafting!