sew & tell: an improv bee block

I'm pretty sure that's what it is called when you don't have a plan...

This my last block for 2009 A Notion or Two virtual quilting bee.  I really hope Dana likes it.

I was really stressing out over this.  I took it with me on my trip and have been mulling it over all month.  In addition to the fabric she sent me, I picked out the polka dot and the stripe to go with it.  I had visions of 9 patches, pinwheels, etc and nothing really seemed to flow.

So when I realized I didn't have anything to share today, I thought, "Self, you'd better just do something!" So I pulled out the fabrics and decided to frame that bird print - it's my favorite!  And it just sort of went from there.  Improv is fun!

I just have one more assignment from our bee to finish up - it's for my friend Allyn, who I assume is forgiving of my tardiness since we've known each other for a while.  Right, Allyn?  I'm going to work on hers this weekend.  Promise.

One nice thing about being away from my stuff all month is that I'm really motivated to get some projects finished!  Just knock them out!  I hope to have lots of fun things to show you - and not just bags and pillows, although I do have a lot of those to get going on too.  My little vacation was great - re-entry to regular life has not been so easy.  Give me another week.

What did you finish this week?
(Following the rules will ensure a good time for all!)
1. Link to your specific post (email me if you have questions about that.)
2. Please mention us here and link back to this post so everyone can join in.  (You can mention Sew & Tell in your post and have the button on your sidebar or blog, that works too. )
3. Pat each other on the backs in the comments!

snooping around my mom's house

My mom always has some new treasures when I come to visit.  These first two things she got at her quilt guild's yearly auction.

This adorable little water bottle apron, with it's little pocket about killed me with cuteness.  These were the favors!  I know there are 40 people in her group - so someone was busy with all that bias tape.  Now I want one.

She bought this quilt during the auction and I just love the colors.  And who doesn't love a cute Mary Englebreit anything?

I ♥ the border fabric.  And the stripe. And all the little squares.

And the back, it's all just cute! (Why didn't I stuff it in my suitcase at the last minute????)

This next quilt is one of my favorites.  Dare I call it her masterpiece?  It's my favorite anyway.  It's a New York Beauty, and I can't wait until it's finished!

These pictures are actually from while ago, but I didn't remember to get it out again to photograph it this last trip.  It has the red borders on and is waiting for a beautiful red and yellow floral-y striped border to go on it.

and just look at those points!  I think this was paper-pieced (mom, correct me if I'm wrong.)  I can't remember the name of the fabric line, but it's a Moda from several years ago.

Wouldn't you all love to see it finished too?  (hint hint) Maybe, I'll share it for sew & tell one of these weeks.

back to life. . .

Back to reality.... (am I dating myself here?)

Back to cooking.
Back to laundry.
Back to the cold.
Back to schedules.
Back to cleaning.
Back to grocery shopping.

On the bright side:
Back to sewing!
Back to blogging!

Bye California.  We'll miss you and your wonderful January sunshine!

sew & tell - the party's almost over

Well, I'm leaving Utah today.  No more cute quilt shops, bloggy meetups or waffles.  :(  But I do get to spend a few more days in San Diego before returning home!  And the rain is supposed to let up for the weekend -   Yay for us!  I have some more fun things from my trip to write about, but realistically, it won't happen until next week.

How about we get to Sew & Tell already?!

I told you that I met Natalia of Piece-N-Quilt this week, right?  She agreed to let me feature her newest Moda Bakeshop Tutorial today!

Isn't that adorable?  I have a soft spot in my heart for Valentine's Quilts (pun sort of intended).   Sadly I didn't get to see this in person the day we met.  But I am in love.  Too bad I don't have enough time to make one before this year's holiday.

You can see her whole post here, and the tutorial here.  She is very talented and super fun - go have fun visiting her blog!  Leave her some love, tell her I sent you!

I promise, I'm really going to try and have something of my own to share for next week!

Your turn!  Can't wait to see what all you crafty peeps have been up to this week.

(Following the rules will ensure a good time for all!)
1. Link to your specific post (email me if you have questions about that.)
2. Please mention us here and link back to this post so everyone can join in.  (You can mention Sew & Tell in your post and have the button on your sidebar or blog, that works too. )
3. Pat each other on the backs in the comments!

more bloggy friends and another quilt shop

Oh I feel like I have so many things to tell you!  But again, it's late and I don't have a lot of energy....

First off, my bag sold on CraftHope's etsy shop in less than 24 hours!  That makes me feel good and, Nanci, thanks so much for helping out such a great cause. 

Besides meeting Nicole last week, I have had the pleasure of meeting 4 other bloggers that were imaginary friends. Now they are bona fide real life friends!  I have to say - it's so fun to make a connection online with someone you have a lot in common with, but then to add real live face time to the mix is so great!

I had lunch with Amy and Natalia on Tuesday and it was so fun!  Natalia does some great quilting on her long arm.  You'll be seeing more of her work tomorrow.  And Amy is so darn creative, productive and persistent!  She showed us many of the projects she's been working on and Wow!  Just wow.  You'll be seeing a lot more from her later.  I'm kicking myself for forgetting to get a picture of all of us together!

Yesterday, I was able stop by American Quilting and meet (yet another) Amy who blogs at Diary of a Quilter.  She is as darling in person as she is on her blog!  See:

And the shop she works in is totally cute.

Great fabrics:

I'm sort of crushing on Nicey Jane these days.

Original patterns:

I just might have to buy this pattern to make for my little guy - what little boy doesn't need a puppy dog quilt?

Will someone just make this for me please, I don't have time!  I ♥ it!

and a place I wouldn't mind spending some cash and free time.  Too bad I don't live here.

vacation, all i ever wanted!

Edited to add:  Here is the listing for my bag if you are interested in helping Craft Hope's Haiti efforts.  Please note that the earliest I will be able to ship is Jan. 27.  Thanks!!

I've been feeling a little wordy lately - can you tell?  I hope my longer posts aren't boring you - I just have felt like telling some stories lately.

I lived here in Utah for about 10 years as I went to school and then worked.  So it's a little like coming home, to my second home.  I have lots of friends to catch up with and lots of food to eat!  (Cafe Rio, Haggerman's Deli, See's candy. . . it's a good thing I'm pregnant!)

I spent 18 months as a missionary in Belgium and France.  It was on many levels a life-changing experience. Not to diminish the spiritual and personal growth that went on there - my appreciation for good food was definitely sparked!

Yesterday I met up with a friend with whom I served and we went to this awesome place!

Run by a Belge who makes authentic Gaufres de Liege - or Belgian Waffles!  I haven't had one in years, and they are still SO tasty.  I mean, just look at them!

I had to put down my fork and take a picture of them before they were devoured by me and my two kids.  It's hard to describe them, but they are made with a dense yeasty dough with sugar pearls in it.  So they are heavier than what you might be thinking and the sugar pearls melt and almost glaze the waffle.  I like them straight up - my friend got strawberries and creme fraiche - yum!!

The fries are great too - but I didn't take a picture and I'm too tired to explain why they are so good.  It has something to do with the fact that they are fried twice. Once for prep and the second time when you order.  And the sauces.... oh..... trust me.

*****
My brother and his wife were missionaries in Haiti about 20 years ago.  They have seen first hand the way people live there and love that country and the people will all their hearts.  I feel connected through them and I'm so happy to have found a tangible way to help.

As you have probably seen, Craft Hope has opened an Etsy Shop with the proceeds going to benefit the Doctors without Borders effort in Haiti.  I donated this bag (I'm not sure it's listed yet) and hope that someone buys it not just because they like it, but so they can help.

sew & tell and a bloggy meetup

So I hope you weren't getting too excited about seeing that little bag finished for which I bought the supplies this week....  because, well, it's hard to squeeze in sewing time on vacation.  Maybe I can get it done for next week, but I also have a couple quilt blocks that I need to finish too.....

I wanted to show you something for Sew & Tell that my friend Nicole made for me.

Here we are!  It's interesting how you think your maternity clothes are cute until you see them in a photo.  I love that scarf - but not sure it's doing much besides keeping me warm!

But first a little background.

If you read my guest post at Natalia's yesterday, you may have seen a mention to my friend Allyn, with whom I credit for bringing me back into the world of sewing.  When my daughter was born, it was her doctor husband who saved my life by getting me to the ER when my BP got so high (and then slowly tried to kill me a couple of weeks ago by giving me a double decker Five Guys burger with grilled onions and jalepenos, but that's another story).

Allyn has 5 sisters (lucky!)!  Her sister Nicole and I have gotten to be bloggy friends over the last year or so, commenting and emailing and for me, admiring her work (I'm secretly lobbying for the title of sister #7).   She lives in Utah, where I am currently visiting my mom.  So we decided to meet up and do what?  Go fabric shopping!

I LOVE Nadine's shop - Material Girls Quilts.  I blogged about them last year when I went for the first time.  I love meeting my "imaginary" friends!  We had a great time gabbing, looking at fabric, eating lunch and hanging out.

So back to sew & tell....
Nicole makes car seat blankets.  I was looking forward to ordering one from her and then she showed up with one she wanted to give me!! How sweet is that!?  Kindred spirits for sure. And the one she gave me is made from Amy Butler.  Awwwww.

She's designed hers to have elastic around the head part of the seat so your blanket won't drag on the ground.  Smart girl.

And it's reversible!

and I love this detail on the handle straps.

She linked up last week with her amazing wedding ring quilt she made, so go see it if you missed it!  SO beautiful and inspiring.

Oh, and be prepared to laugh when you read her blog.  I'm just sayin'.

What do you have to share today?  Here's the guidelines:
1. Link to your specific post (email me if you have questions about that.)
2. Please mention us here and link back to this post so everyone can join in.  (You can mention Sew & Tell in your post and have the button on your sidebar or blog, that works too. )
3. Pat each other on the backs in the comments!

had enough of me yet?

If not you can head over to Natalia's blog where she asked me to guest post today!

Thanks again Natalia!

i've been a little busy . . .

I've been pretty busy vacationing and all.  It's been rough.

Feet in the sand.

Seal watching.

Pelican gazing.

Soaking up the salt water spray.

and that was just last Saturday at La Jolla cove!

Now that I'm in cold and gray Utah it's time to brighten up the days with some fabric shopping!!

My daughter spied a sample bag at the shop and wouldn't let it go.  I finally convinced her that it wasn't for sale and I bought the pattern:

it's interfacing printed with the pattern and instructions on it - I'll let you know how it goes!

and she picked out these fabrics! 

Are you surprised?  I'm in love with LOVE.

I bought enough to back and bind the baby quilt I'm going to make with the LOVE fat quarters I won from the very shop we visited today!  Material Girls is one of my favorite stops when I come to Utah.

I also picked up this darling skirt pattern!  I can't wait to make one!

I have more to share about my visit today - but that will have to wait until Sew & Tell!

sew & tell: secret gift edition

Are you ready?  We've had a few weeks off from Sew & Tell and I hope you are excited to catch up!
I thought today would be a fun day to link to your after-holiday posts sharing some of the gifts you may have made that you couldn't share before.  If you are linking to a post that you wrote in the last few weeks - please add a little note about Sew & Tell somewhere, thanks!  And of course, you can share anything else you have been working on!

I actually didn't make any gifts for Christmas, that I haven't already shared.  But I did get the little dress made for my daughter.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out and now I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be making more little dresses.  I like a nice quick project.

New Look 6926

I liked some of the techniques they used in this pattern.  The neck and armholes are finished off with single-fold bias tape.  Much easier and better looking than those annoying facings that you usually have to do!

No one was around to take a picture of the two of us, so you get another mirror shot.

Look at my belly!  I had to take out all the seams I took in when I initially wore this dress back in November.  Ahhh, the woes of pregnancy.

I'm pretty sure she likes it.

Here's a little New Year's refresher of the Sew & Tell guidelines. (Irrelevant or non-following posts will be deleted.)
1. Link to your specific post (email me if you have questions about that.)
2. Please mention us here and link back to this post so everyone can join in.
3. Pat each other on the backs in the comments!

happenstance (alternate title: hooray for blogging friends!)

I've said many times how I've so enjoyed meeting my 'imaginary' friends here in the blogging community.  You are all my outlet to a social world while a slave to housework and nap schedules.  I have a slight addiction to people and friends!  I love meeting them, talking to them, getting to know them.  I think that's part of my blogging addiction!  You all are so interesting!

So here's a funny story for you. 

I'm in sunny San Diego right now.  The weather is amazing!  I used to live here, but I must have forgotten.

We went to the beach yesterday, it was awesome - but that's not the funny story.  I just wanted everyone to be sure they knew that San Diego was sunny and 75 on January 5th.

The first morning we were here we went to the little breakfast they have here at the hotel.  My husband had already left for work and I was helping the kids finish up their breakfast. 

I mentioned earlier about me liking to talk to and meet people right?  I can't help myself sometimes, I just start talking!  So there was this guy there - he had on Marine issue boots, but no camos.  I asked him if he was with the Marines and he asked me about my kids.  He told me he had two at home that were only 15 months apart.  I told him my husband was stationed at Quantico, he told me they lived one county over.  We were like, cool!  a fellow Virginian!  Then he left for work, and I went back to my room with the kids to get ready for the rest of the day.

When I opened up my laptop I had several emails from my blogging friend, Karen.  She lives not too far from me and we have been trying to get together for a while, but both of us having little ones and busy schedules, it just hasn't happened.  She's awesome though, and I feel like I've known her for a long time!  (See I really do love my 'imaginary' friends!)

This is what her first email said:

OK this is weird -

my husband is still out in California -

this morning in his hotel he meets a lady - i guess in the restaurant - who has two little ones with her - a little girl and a little boy - the woman is pregnant -

Then he finds out she is from Stafford, her husband is with the Marine Corps and works from Quantico - are you in CA?

2nd email:

are you in VA? or are you traveling?

3rd email:

Subject:  THAT WAS MY HUSBAND.

I can't believe it!

That man you were talking to this morning at your hotel who was asking you about your kids IS MY HUSBAND!

What are the chances? I CANT BELIEVE IT!

CALL ME

So of course I called her immediately and we woahed, and oohed and ahhed about the likliehood of this happening.  She is one smart cookie for figuring it out - We are both still incredulous about the whole thing.  But isn't that SO cool!!! 

I'm really not making it up, I have proof:

and kindly ignore the tired, I just landed yesterday and it's 3 hours later to my body than it is here and I'm tired and pregnant look.

You can read her account here.  She's much funnier than I am.  But seriously, can you believe it!?  All I can say is that we are for sure getting together and I think we will be friends for life.  I can't think this was really just a coincidence.

So in case you were wondering what you are doing blogging and emailing people you've never met, you just have to know that there are real people on the other end who appreciate your friendship, in real life or virtually, and I'm one of those people!  Thanks everyone!!!

it's over - whew!

Things that are over.

1. December.
We have an absolutely crazy month with 2 birthdays and all the holiday prep and celebrating. To be quite honest, by the time New Year's rolls around, I just want to go to bed early and sleep. My busy-ness has not afforded me the time to sew or blog as often as I would like.  Which also means I've been terrible about replying to comments and emails.  And for that matter, keeping up with everyone's blogs!  I'm hoping the slower pace of the new year will help remedy that.

2.  2009.
It's been an interesting year.  I've been reading everyone's year-end posts and I just don't think I have it in me to do a full on post.  But here are a few major things that happened this year.  My husband spent 4 months in Afghanistan this summer, I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child (a girl), I was able to brighten up my house with some color!, and I participated in my first virtual quilting bee!  I have 2 more blocks to catch up on, but I did complete these two little gems on Thursday (when I should have been cleaning and packing, more on that in a minute.)


For Amber:
Adorable wonky stars, with a Heather Ross VW bus in pink and brown.  Love this fabric.

see the cute bus there on the left?

For Lolly:
A log cabin made out of her self-designed spoonflower pear print.

She asked for an appliqued pear on the block.  This was fun to do!

The quilting bee has been loads of fun, and I hope to continue on this next year!

3. A cross-country flight with 2 toddlers.

We left this morning to come to California with my husband for work.  We are going to be gone for 3 weeks and it should be a lot of fun!  The flight was good - my kids were good, and I even got to sleep and read!  I was stressing big time about flying with them, but having my husband along made all the difference. He and I haven't flown together in years.

I'm taking a side-trip to Utah as well, so I'm excited about all the fabric shop visiting and bloggy meet-ups.  So hopefully I won't be totally devoid of interesting sewing things to talk about!  But my response times for emails, probably won't get better until we get back.

I do have the dress I made for mini-me to share on Friday's Sew & Tell! Get ready to link up to gifts you kept secret over the holidays (older posts from this Christmas) are fine - and you can share new stuff too if you have it!

Hope everyone had a great holiday and is looking towards this fresh new year with optimism, hope and peace.  My goal for the year is to have more peace - during long flights, prepping for a move and a new baby, and the settling into a new home.  Not to mention the peace I am always looking to establish in my home and with my family.

New Year's kisses to the lot of ya!