February Happenings

You would think that nothing has happened during the first two months of 2015.  I just don't get around to actually writing a blog very often.  But since I make a yearly book of my blog to have a yearly diary, I really should pay more attention to it. 
  
The last time I visited, we had celebrated the New Year with DGDs, apple juice, and champagne.  School  went back in session before we knew it with me going back to Wednesday volunteering with Jessica Inwood at EBI. 
 
Before I knew it, it was time for my annual trip to Southern California for Road to California.  This year was extra special because my good friend, Mary Moore Payne, came all the way out from snowy MD to attend the show with me.  We had great fun catching up and enjoying our love of art and quilting.

Mary Moore who can't believe that flowers bloom in January

Fringe Flower Class with Jodi Barrows 

Once I got home.......beginning of a wall-hanging idea

        Jacquie Gehring project from last year not yet quilted but new ideas for what to do

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend Linda Kussoy also joined us and we enjoyed dinners out and a side trip to Huntington Gardens in San Marino.  Mary Moore really liked the American Art Gallery and all the blooming flowers.  

 

February brought Makayla's birthday.  She is now officially "double digit".....10 years old.  She is such a thoughtful, caring and loving child.  She's a reader, a writer, a swimmer, and a friend to all. Her parents have struggled with school for next year and have made the decision to keep her at EBI for now.  Middle school will be here before we know it. 

Daring to go higher.  Rock Climbing was the theme of the party.

Happiness in accomplishment

Happy Birthday Makayla!

I seemed to find lots of time this month to quilt and sew.  Here are a few pics of projects. 

Community quilt

Looong time project finally finished.....It was a good practice piece along the way.

On-going paper piecing project that I take to groups to work on.

Community quilt in progress.

Jon's Christmas/Birthday quilt.  It is now finished (except for a label).

This last week, I began teaching a beginning hand-piecing class to four eager first graders at EBI.  What fun that was.  I'll be taking pictures along the way and I'll blog about it.  This class is through the 4-H program that EBI is now a part of.  After this class, I'll go to the San Pablo Campus to teach another 4 week class to 2nd and 3rd graders.  I love getting a new generation of sewers ready to enjoy the fun of quilting. 

And lastly, a cute pillow.  In 2010, I made a quilt that we use as a wall-hanging above our bed.  I played around with all the scraps from that quilt and eventually made a pillow top.  Of course, it sat around waiting to be quilted and made in to an actual pillow.  Finished it yesterday!  and here it is: 

I used what I had learned in Jacquie Gehring's class to do the quilting.  It is pretty easy with straight stitches and the walking foot but it is a lot of sewing.  I'm pretty happy with it.