Carpinteria - Becoming an April Tradition

Once again, the DGDs Spring Break came at just the right time for a trip to Carpinteria and the Cottage on Fifth.  DDIL had to stay in Los Angeles to deal with family matters, so Aunty Cheryl drove the girls up to join me for 3 days. The weather co-operated and we had a lovely time just hanging out. 

The other objective of the trip to the beach was to relax and sew.  DGD #1 began a new project but other interests kept her busy so she didn't get much done.  I, on the other hand, got borders on a quilt top and got it ready for quilting.  Then I played around with a lesson from Craftsy and made a few blocks.  Sudoku took up a lot of my time along with walks around town and at the beach. 

Already thinking about next year.

A Few Current Projects

A few pictures of a few sewing related projects.  

Raffle block for quild -  boohoo, I didn't win

Hole in the Wall is finished.  Whoo Hoo!

Funky Bird blocks for charity quilt to be made by MD Loosie Group

Practice FM quilting squares turned in to HumBags.

Very wavy but done.  Piece from a Snippets class 2 years ago at R2CA.

Spring in Utah

We just got back from a trip to Salt Lake City, UT.  It is one of the cleanest cities I have ever seen.  How have they managed to train everyone who lives there to not throw trash on the ground?  How have they managed to not have graffiti?  They are building everywhere in the downtown area. Must be lots of new businesses moving in.

Of course we were there to do genealogical work.  This was the week of DH's CGS group research tour to SLC.  It was the first time I have accompanied him.  Last time I had been to SLC, was 10 years ago.  I immediately noticed that the FHL was full of way more computers than they had last time.  Family Search is in the process of digitizing all the books.  Before you know it, there will be nothing but computer stations.

When not ensconced at a table in the FHL, I enjoyed walking around the downtown area.  There is a relatively new indoor/outdoor mall called City Creek.  It was flanked by a Nordstroms and a Macys.  Most of the stores were in the high end category including a Tiffany's and a Porsche Design store.  We had incredible warm spring weather the whole week so being outside was wonderful.  Besides the creek that ran through the mall, there were fountains that put on a musical fountain show every hour.

On Thursday, DH and I went to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse. Of course, we cut across the Temple Square almost every day so I had to take a picture along the way.

It was a good week but we had few new discoveries.  I found a book that tied a Dunmire part of my family to a Dormeyer family.  Seems they are the same people but somewhere along the line, they anglicized the name a bit.  It gave me another link back to the Alsace region of Germany.

Happy Birthday Jon

Jon, my first born has turned 39.  That means next year he will be 40!  Why is it that when I think about him, I see him as a 16 year old?  Now he is a husband and a dad of 2 darling girls........a family man. Proud of him always,  a good kid, a supportive brother, a loving husband, an involved father.....besides his "day job" as an analytical Chemist/Software Engineer, etc.  Love you first son....even if you do pick out Ethiopian Restaurants for your birthday dinner.

Five Years Ago

Five Years ago I sat and watched you as you slept....
fitfully, struggling, tossing.
I sat beside you......
praying, meditating, watching
God nudged me to get up....
go and get something to eat.  You need some nourishment
I went as directed.
I sent Jim off to get himself something to eat
I went back in to the room...........
While I was gone, you left for heaven.
It was your time.
I think I knew all along that this was the day we would say.....
Good-bye.

Today I still miss you.  I'll love you forever,
forever you'll be,
a child of my heart.  

Love, Mom

The Best Birthday Party Ever

     Ah February!  Finally rain for a few days but now it has gone and we are back to cool and mild and blue skies.  The little bit of rain helped but we could use more.
     The big event for February was Makayla's 9th birthday.  She chose a Downton Abbey Tea Party theme.  It was great fun with little girls all dressed up in party dresses, tiaras, and gloves.  They played parlor games and did sewing crafts.  We took pictures of everyone against a backdrop and they made jeweled frames for the pictures.  We would have moved outside to play croquet but the rain prevented that.  Instead, they played an invigorating game of musical chairs.  All the while they snacked on lemonade, strawberries, tea sandwiches, scones and muffins.  It was a great party.

Table ready for "tea"

A stop at the studio for a portrait

Parlor games to begin the afternoon

Auntie Cheryl provided pearls, gloves and tiaras for everyone.

Activity station for jeweled frames and embroidered hankies

Dad played the butler

Home From The R2CA

     What a treat to be able to make it to Road to California Quilt Show this year.  I was on a roll going every January with my good friend, Linda until last year's broken wrist episode.  But we are back on the plan again.  
     This year I took 2 classes.  Both had a sewing machine available.  We used Baby Locks and they were great but I was not enticed to give up my Berninas to buy a new one.  My Eleanor Burns class had a kit to use. Everything was measured and cut and ready to go for $68.  If you didn't like her color choices, you  were stuck but she offered two different color-ways.  
     First up was the Hole in The Wall with Eleanor Burns.  I've done a couple of El's QinADay patterns so I was basically familiar with her technique.  It worked up fast and I managed to complete 9 15" blocks in class.  Since I was feeling enthused, I finished up the last 3 blocks in my hotel room.  Today I finished sewing it all together with the sashing strips so it is ready for a backing.  It finished up at about 56" X 72". 

     Next up was a class on Modern Improvised Log-Cabin blocks.  It was taught by Jackie Gehring.  It was a really fun class that got me out of my box.  I decided to give a try to several different block styles using the same fabrics.  With some additional sewing back in the hotel room, I got 7 blocks done.  I'm still thinking about what to do with them.  The original idea is to use a grid and place them in a pleasing manner.  Then you finish out the blocks with sashing and put the quilt top together.  I really like the fabric colors in these blocks but I'm not sure I'd like a modern quilt.  We'll see.  The ideas need to percolate.