Scrappy dresden mini quilt

Hey! I finished something! And I made up a new word! (as far as I know!) I got found my sew-jo and got some real sewmentum going this week! (haha - see what I did there?)  I got together TWICE this week with friends for sewing fun!  Definitely helps in the motivation department!

I started this little mini-dresden last year before we moved.  Emily Herrick sent a little bundle of her Technicolor fabric line to me to play with!  Karie (instagram @karietkq) and I bonded over our love of turquoise and orange, I knew a mini-quilt with these fabrics would be really fun!

Karie also loves texty prints and I found this awesome one in the FQ bin at Hancock's of all places!

And then it sat. And sat.  And moved to our new home. Until Karie came to visit and I knew I needed to quilt it up and give it to her while she was here!

I used some turquoise 50wt aurifil for the loop-de-loops and some orange 50wt for the flower center.

I was originally planning an all orange border but decided scrappy would be more fun.  And yes, I think it is!

I quilted it on Monday during a little sewing meet up at Becky's house and finished binding it in the parking lot at Wegman's on Tuesday where we all met for lunch!

Apart from Kim (@gogokim), who I met in line at Costco, Becky (@sarcasticquilter), Karie, and  I both met online.  It's so fun to have quilty internet friends to connect with throughout the day.  It's even better to have them close enough that you can meet up and sew, chat, eat and fabric shop together!

L-R Becky, Karie, Me and Kim

I'm so blessed to have such great friends! It was so nice to just be our weird fabric-loving selves together! I highly reccomend getting out from behind our screens and really see each other! It's a valuable connection that can't be replaced by our devices.

I'm linking up today with Kim's new Saturday sewing linky!! So fun!  Go check it out. Always a great way to get motivated and motivate others!

one more bloggy meet-up, last one!

I know, are you tired of me talking about all the blogging friends I met while I was in Utah?  I promise this will be the last vacation related post (well, maybe....)

I found Vanessa's awesome blog, V. and Co., sometime this past spring/summer while my husband was deployed.  I can't even remember how I stumbled upon it but I'm so glad I did!  She is funny, creative, crafty (just check out her tutorials), SO nice, etc. etc.  Her husband had been deployed the year earlier and she was a big support to me while mine was gone.  I was elated when she was able to work it out to come up and see me while I was in Utah.

She drove THREE AND A HALF HOURS (after having a 24 hour flu bug!!) to come see me.  See what I mean?? TOTALLY NICE.

We had tons of fun shopping, eating, chatting.  Did I say already how nice it is to meet my friends in person?  I'm telling you, this blogging community is awesome!

We met at Joann's, then ate at Cafe Rio - delish!  Then we went to a place called Tai Pan Trading.  It's like a warehouse full of home decor stuff.  I'd heard a lot about it but had never been.  I told myself I wasn't going to buy anything because I already had to ship some stuff home.... but I couldn't resist.  I bought 3 of these (the other 2 are different colors).

They are ceramic decorative balls.  I know!  What am I supposed to do with them?  V. suggested a hurricane or something to put them in, probably like this.  I'm trying to be hip.  We'll see how it goes.

We then went back to one of our favorite shops, The Material Girls.  I love that place.  She bought me some Nicey Jane!!  I KNOW!  I said she was totally nice.

Okay, so she bought it for me to make something for her.  But still!  I'm excited to work with this fun fabric!

And then, just because we were feeling dangerous we headed over to IKEA.  Man, I really love that place.  I like the idea of dreaming that my house will one day be so clean and organized.  Or something.

As we were saying good-bye, we realized we hadn't taken any pictures.  So here's a lame-o photoshopped self-portrait, with the flash too close in a dark warehouse store.  Captions added a la Vanessa.

I could go on and on about all the cool stuff on her blog.  But really just go check it out for yourself.  And a bonus? She's updating her Etsy shop today at 11:00 a.m. MST.  Awesome patterns and even some things made by her!

One thing I found out is that we share a common love for bright, fresh spring green.  It's her favorite.  It's my #2 (and goes so well with all the lt. blue, baby blue, turquoise of which I can't seem to get enough.)   So I had to snap this picture of this bench I saw on the porch of a new home for sale.

I thought about taking it, but I didn't know how I would get it home.  Plus, I didn't think larceny would look good on my record.  But it would look so great with my dresser.

Thanks again, Vanessa for making the trip up!  Next time I'm coming to the middle of nowhere to see you!

P.S. - Oh, one last shot.

I love their slogan.  I love their chocolates even more.  Especially the dark chocolate raspberry cremes.  Mmmmmmmmm.

P.P.S.  Woah sew & tell-ers!! 40 people this week!  Awesome - I'm working through them all!  Sorry I've been slow on the commenting! I do ♥ every last one of you!  Thanks for making each week so fun and motivating!!

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.

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!

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!!!

homeward bound

So much to blog about, so little time.

Life has been a whirlwind since Thanksgiving! We've had holidays, birthdays, transcontinental flights, inaugurations, and a quilting bee all in the space of about 8 weeks! I barely got my house put back together from Christmas when I decided to fly across the country with my 2 small kids, BY MYSELF. Slightly crazy if you ask me. I will be glad to get home and back into our normal routine.

I've spent the last two weeks in Utah visiting my family. This is what it looked like from the airplane when we were getting ready to land.

That's right. Cold. Snowy. White. And yet, we haven't had one snowstorm the whole time I've been here. Lame.

We've had a great time visiting and letting my kids spend time with cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandma Suzie, that we don't get to see very often. Not to mention the dear friends I've been able to catch up with. There's never enough time to see everyone either...

Two very exciting things have been going on in my crafty life. My quilting bee group, A Notion or Two, has left me speechless with the blocks that have been made for me so far. I keep checking back constantly to see if new pictures have been posted. I can't wait to get home and get the mail and then start to put this beauty together!

I also got to have my first bloggy meet-up! With one of the Blogging Amys! Amy from Park City Girl was able to meet me at my favorite local quilt shop to check out the 1$ bargain fat quarters and an excellent selection of other fabrics.

(I'll have to take a picture of the fabric I bought to post later.) We had a great time getting to talk and get to know each other better in person. We had five kids between us so it was definitely an adventure! We laughed about understanding why we shop for fabric online! It's so much easier. I just love how I have made some great friends in the blogging community who have the same interests as me. It makes it fun to share with people who understand! So to meet face to face with a 'virtual' friend was really a treat! Thanks, Amy!

Amy wrote about our meet-up here.

Tomorrow will be spent packing up and getting the last snuggles and hugs in with grandma. Wish us luck on the flight home!