QuiltBLISS Quilt Retreat

Hello All My Quilty Friends!!

I am really excited to share with you about a retreat I am helping to host through the Utah County Modern Quilt Group.  Its called QuiltBLISS and it is going to be next January 30th - February 2nd, 2014 in Heber Utah!! We have an amazing weekend planned with class, swaps, lectures and much more. Tickets for the event go on sale tomorrow: Wednesday, June 12th at 8:00am so hurry and get your ticket. Click here to register at Eventbrite.

For more information about the retreat visit: QuiltBLISS we have the weekend schedule listed, descriptions of all 7 classes and teachers and more about our special lectures with Sarah from Sarah Jane Studios and Sherri from A Quilting Life. 

I hope you all can make it. It is going to be an amazing weekend!!

Last Day of School

Last Thursday, was the last day of school. Ahhhhh!  I can breathe a sigh of relief that there is no more homework, lunches and carpool. After 9 months of school, Mom needs a break too!

We have a fun summer planned. I think the key to staying happy is staying busy. I've been pinning lots of fun kid activities on Pinterest ~ lets see how many we actually get to.

I've also been quilting up a storm. Well, what I would consider a storm... keeping my 2 yo out of trouble is a full time job and my 9 month old is extremely clinging, so quilting up a storm for me is a few hours a week. Ha!

I've been working really hard on my HST quilt form the UCMQG. The group is so inspiring and challenges me to continually quilt out of my comfort zone. I loved working on this HST quilt, I was always afraid of triangles and bias quilts, but with risk comes great reward.

I've spent  40 + hours already on this quilt and I haven't even started hand binding it yet. The bindings on, but I have yet to sit down and finish it. Once I get going, I remember how much I love to just sit with a thimble, needle and stitch. Simplicity!



I got my design idea from Katie of Sewkatiedid while seeing her progress on Instagram. She makes the loveliest quilts, her creativity is through the roof.  It was a real challenge to see a quilt and just go for it with no pattern and no tangible quilt to reference. Although the design is simple, looks were deceiving and this one and took an extreme amount of brain power. Maybe now that school is out...I can sit at the park and finish the binding. Happy Summer Vacation.

At last...its spring!

After a really cold, long winter I feel like the worst of it is over. Yay!!! My garden is showing signs of life and most days I can run to my mailbox barefooted. I have been quilting up a storm and enjoying snuggling at night under the covers.

 

 I have been most excited about learning how to paper piece. My strawberry is from Sew-Ichigo, they have great patterns and I want to make all of them. I was always so intimidated by all the "paper-ness" but it is really amazingly easy. I had a great teacher who walked my step by step through the process and I can't wait to do even more.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Sew Shabby Quilting

Right before I had Mr. A, I was contacted by Melissa of Sew Shabby Quilting about machine quilting. Since I had just finished a quilt for Mr. A, I was excited for the opportunity to have it quilted. Nothing brings me more pleasure than to "hand off" my quilt top, batting and back and say "Work your Magic". Melissa is a lovely quilter. We instantly clicked and she really knew her stuff. Which made it only that much easier to hand over my quilt. We discussed a few patterns and styles and she was confident the cute star pattern I chose would look great.



I love how the machine quilting turned out! Melissa did a great job and it only took about a week. I think I picked up the quilt 2 days before I went into labor. It felt so good to know I had little A's quilt back and ready for him to use and enjoy. I have been so pleased with the quilting I am anxious to finish another quilt (maybe my 30's granny squares!) and drop it off. Her pricing is affordable and her studio is clean and pet free. Subscribe to her newsletter and you'll be conected to all sales and specials.

Check out the cute little pendants I made for the center block and the star pattern machine quilting. Looks perfect! I am a firm believer that machine quilting should only enhance your quilt not distract from it.

Here is a shot of the whole quilt. I am in love with granny squares at the moment and can't get enough of them! The boarder is my favorite,  "Reunion" by Sweetwater for Moda.

Right now Sew Shabby Quilting is running a pre-Christmas special where your get 20% off OR you can tell Melissa I sent you over: "Pamela from Frenchknots" for 20% off your quilting charge. Either way, now is the time to get your quilts finished and check some Christmas presents off your list. Whatcha waiting for? Hurry up!

A Much Needed Break

(dresdens)

(baby binding)
 

My baby is a month old. How on earth? Why does a month in pregnancy seem to literally take an eternity but once the baby is here life seem to flash forward? My husband's out of town on business and he called me this morning to tell me he had a dream we had a FIFTH boy! Oi!

Because he is out of town, I got a baby sitter last night and got away with a long time friend, Kristin, and we spent the evening quilting. Kristin helps runs the Utah County Modern Quilt Guild of which I am a member.  If your local, and want to join a "quilt group" the UCMQG is fantastic and so worth it.

I didn't realize until I was sitting there sewing away on my machine how desperate I was of a much needed break, doing something I love, without the distractions of husband and kids. (Of, course I had cute little Andrew, but he just slept and was easy peasy!) It was great to just visit and work on a few projects.

Leaving my house last night I was highly ambitious on what I would get done. Ha, Ha. I thought I'd work on some 30's granny squares, put a binding on my baby's quilt and make a dent in my Dresdens. Double Ha, Ha. I got 2 out of 3 accomplished and I felt leaving so energized, I resolved to steal bit of time each day (realistic, no?)  and do something "quilty". I am sure some days it just won't be in the cards, but sometimes is better than never. Right?


Happy Friday!

The Fourth Arrival

Wow! I can't believe I've done this FOUR times now. We brought home little Andrew one week ago today. He is such a delight and everyone is enjoying him immensely included Mr. H. He loves and loves on him with an occasional jealous outburst (tantrum) but I think two older brothers really help keep him happy and busy.

Labor and delivery were (of course) in the middle of the night, but I love the still of it all and the rush of the day isn't there to distract us. Andrew was born at 6:14 AM right as the sun was coming up over the mountains and it was a great way to start the day. He weigh 9 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. We were a bit shocked when we first saw him. He has lots and lots of dark hair. Who knew my husband and I had the "DNA" for a little dark haired wonder, but after going back thru my baby pictures ~ yes it is possible.

me and my daddy!

The Waiting Game

Today is my "Due Date". I feel a great sense of accomplishment making it to my due date, but that is just personal. I feel like now that its been 40 weeks I'm out of the woods and can have this sweet baby. I always go a week over and if this baby doesn't come until after the 21st no one won't be more surprised them me.

A little over 20 months ago I had Mr H. and needless to say I am having a bit of dejavu this go around. When I hit my due date with him, I also wrote a blog post and I knew I would be remissed if I didn't this time as well. Since I am not a "heavy writer" in my blog posts it is really fun to go back and read my thoughts about "where my head was at" last time around.

I have loved every stage my family has been through since H. birth. I feel like as a family we have gotten into a good groove, minimal rough patches and much smoother sailing. It been so rewarding to watch my two older boys and see how they have loved and looked after Henry as he has moved thru being a baby then infant and is now a toddler. It will be even more exciting to go through those stages with this new baby.

In May, we had family pictures taken. Close friends and family thought I was crazy to take family photos 6.5 months pregnant, but our family was at such a cute stage, even if I didn't look my best I still wanted to capture how I felt.  Kimberly our photographer was amazing, if you live in Utah or ever visit look her up! You won't be sorry.



From here on out its a Waiting Game. The boys were funny this morning: "Mom, isn't today your due date?" ME: Yes. Boys: "So the baby could come any day now???" Me: Yes! Boys: Wahoo!!! You forget how long the 9 month wait really is in the lives of a 7 and 10 year old and how patiently and lovingly they wait for little brother to arrive.