Stop staring and start sewing!

One for you and one for me (a give away!)

I'm finally back to working on my quilt and just got it basted.  I'm used a combination of spray basting with a few pins in it just in case.  We'll see how it goes.  This one is taking longer than the last one partially because of all the interruptions my life has right now and partly because I can tell I'm not as crazy about this one as the last one.  I like it and I love the pattern but I definitely like the fabric combination on the other one better.

Don't look too close.  My cats have been sleeping on it and wrestling under it and it's pretty hairy right now.  Ugh.

I took two kids to the doctor this week and almost squealed when I saw this magazine with this gorgeous little dress on it.  That's one of my favorite prints from Jennifer Paganelli's Bell Bottom collection.  I learned after the first kid that buying a dress with white down the front was a recipe for disaster (and lots of stain remover) but it's a cute dress and I tracked down the manufacturer here to see what else they had (more cute stuff!).

The UPS and FedEx trucks have paid us a lot of visits this week as the kids school books start rolling in.  I was shocked when it turned out one of the packages was for me.  Last year Megan at Accord Publishing asked permission to use my ironing board cover tutorial in the 2011 Sewing Calendar and here it is!  There are more than 100 projects from various crafty blogs in it and it's really nicely put together.  I was so happy they sent me two copies (especially since I wasn't even expecting one at all) and I knew the other one would be a very nice give away. 

So just leave a comment and I'll use random.org's site to pick a winner.  If you don't win be sure to check your local bookstore for this calendar (I got last year's calendar at Costco!).

Keep on sewing and enjoy your weekend (one week until school starts for us)!

Fabulous fun with fabric friends

On my last night in Portland I got to enjoy the vacation icing on the cake.  I met up with a bunch of gals who were together for the Portland Modern Quilt Guild gathering.  Lucky me!  Here's the part where you get to see my selfish side:  I told Joey that we could all go to the Old Spaghetti Factory together but I was going to eat upstairs with my friends while he ate downstairs with all 5 kids.  Yes, it's true.  We had promised the kids we'd go there so this was a way to make everyone happy (except maybe Joey).  He's very nice to me.

You know what I love about fabric people?  They all love getting together with other fabric people.  So much fun and giggling and picture taking.  I got to see some old friends and meet some new friends (some I knew only online before).

Here are Tammy Gilley, Monica Solario-Snow (yes, The Happy Zombie herself!), and myself.  I'm bummed that I only got to spend these few minutes with Monica but I would've been in a deep dark depression if I hadn't gotten to see her at all.

I'll start with the front row here (I hope I get this right!): Terri, Mo, Violet, Traci.  Back row: Me, Heather, Joan, Monica, Tammy.  So much fun and so much fabric was changing hands and Heather was showing us her lovely hexies (she has a beautiful obsession).  The perfect finish to a perfect vacation.

Look at Tammy's bag!!  If you want to see some cute purses you need to get together with fabric people.  You'll always see the cutest bags.  Isn't Tammy so pretty?!

We left the next morning for the long drive home.  23 hours total (7 people stuffed in a mini van with a lot more luggage than we came with)!

I was so inspired by the Portland Modern Quilt Guild that I thought it would be fun to start one up here in Phoenix.  I googled it and realized there already was a Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild.  And I was a member!  I forgot that I had joined the group in the spring and then just forgotten about it.  The former leader had bowed out and I was glad that she was willing to hand the reins over to me.  I asked my BFF (best fabric friend!) Jamie if she would co-lead with me and she said yes (I knew she would!).  So if you're in the Phoenix area you can join us here on Facebook and here at the current site.  I'm going to start a blog and get rid of the old site but it's a place to meet for now.  Yay!

We'll meet at cool places like this:  The Coffee Shop, which is owned our local gals who won Cupcake Wars last month.  This is my belated birthday breakfast from Jamie.  I got her the same thing on her birthday (which is 4 days before mine).  We've started a tradition.

And here's my birthday gift from Jamie...these gorgeous coasters!  I swear if someone even sets a cup next to them I'll break their fingers.  Just sayin'.  Aren't they cute??

Anyway, the big sale is still going on at Fabritopia (5 more days) and we'll have some new stuff going on real soon.  We're trying to "diversify" (and figure out what that looks like in a little fabric store)!  I hope you're having a great week!

Oh the people you meet.....

We left the kids behind and spent a fun day shopping and eating in Portland.  Some of the places I visited in the Pearl District last time are gone now but this fun Chinese import shop called Cargo made up for it.  It was kind of spendy but it's in a high rent district so that's to be expected I guess.  We did leave with some fun stuff and brought the kids back a few days later since we knew they would have a blast here.

Rejuvenation is a must-visit store.  It has original old house parts in the back (which is how it got started) and reproduction parts and furniture in the front.  This is such a dreamy place.

This wedding dress made me swoon.  That's all.

Joey found a terrific yarn shop and the gals couldn't have been nicer (we have a crabby store locally and it really irks us).  Yarn Garden had an amazing selection (3 large rooms!) and they ship.

I couldn't wait to take Joey to Bolt and my heart dropped when I saw a "closed" sign in the door.  Well then we looked in the window and saw none other than Elinor Peace Bailey and Laura Gunn in there shopping!  So I banged on the window and yelled "Laura!!  Let me in!!" (because I'm pushy that way apparently). 

It was so much fun to catch up with them a little bit and yes, Laura is working on another collection (Yay!).  I left with a yard of some luscious Liberty of London fabric and I can't wait to play with it.

I hope everyone is having a great week! It's very warm here (over 110!) but we are hoping for rain. Keep on sewing!!

The sights

Just a quick note:  All fabric at Fabritopia is 35% off and patterns 50% off through July 31st!  Just use coupon code "supersummer10".  :)

We really did a couple of whirlwind days with the kids while in Oregon and I'm, once again, in awe at all that beauty crammed into one place.

A day at the beach.  Way too toasty for my taste (the sand was feet-burning hot).  I prefer rainy walks on the beach but the kids sure had fun and got a little sun-burnt.

A beautiful drive along the scenic highway up to Crown Point.  This building is gorgeous and a real treasure.

Even the bathrooms are beautiful.  Marble everywhere.

This is the view from up there.  The Columbia river.  Picture Lewis and Clark rowing down that river.  Picture Sacajawea guiding and rowing and translating for them (with a baby on her back!).  She was not afraid to ask for directions.

Multnomah Falls.  Stunning.  Yes, it was in the first Twilight movie.  And it's nowhere near Forks in real life (sorry to burst anyone's bubble).  It's a beautiful hike up to the top but we have a 4 year old who said "I want to fly!" when we were on the bridge so there's no way we were going any higher with him.

Then we ran down to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the boys really liked it here.  The girls liked it too but not nearly as much as the boys.  When I was a kid they had a 2 headed lamb on display at OMSI.  That's what I remember most.

We hit the International Rose Test Gardens on the same day. 

Joey and I spent a lot of time here back before we had kids.  See (dang he looks good after more than 20 years)!

We hit Voodoo Doughnuts twice.  We brought the kids the second time.

They were happy.  Check out that fritter!  It's bigger than Asher's head!  I love this place but I'm actually glad we don't have it in Arizona.  I don't need that kind of temptation nearby.

After our doughnuts Joey took the big girls shopping downtown and I took the smaller kids down to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.  This area used to be a freeway but Tom McCall (best Oregon governor ever) had the freeway moved and replaced with this gorgeous park that stretches the length of downtown Portland.  We spent a lot of time water skiing on this river when I was young.

We took a wonderful ride on my parents boat up the Columbia River too.  We always had at least one boat while growing up, so we spent a lot of our summers here with our friends (many of whom still live there in housboats).  See Mt. Hood?  Gorgeous.

And then there's this.  It's not Oregon without something slimy moving across your path.  I'm just glad I didn't step on this guy (*crunch*).

It was such a joy to bring all 5 kids on a beautiful Oregon tour.  I recently found out my ancestors were among the first 50 families to arrive on the Oregon Trail and I want my children to know where they come from.  But honestly, we were thrilled to turn the corner onto our street in Arizona after the long drive.  Home.

A small slice of Paradise

We had a family reunion in my sister's backyard last week.  Her yard belongs on the cover of a magazine but this will have to do for now.  She and my brother in law have worked for years on it and it's a great hang-out for kids and adults.  I'm just going to share the pictures with no captions (none needed really).

We start the drive home tomorrow morning and I have so much more to share.  But I thought this would be pretty for now.   

There is no backdoor, ha!  Back soon!

Time flies.....

Two family reunions, one class reunion, and countless miles on the van....

We got here last week at the same time a heat wave arrived (coincidence?).  We went to the beach the next day and I think 1/2 the state of Oregon took the day off to go there too.  I've never seen so many people at the Oregon Coast.  We spent a few fun hours on the beach digging and trenching and just having fun.  This was Skate's first time at this beach and he got salty, sandy, and soppy (and loved it).

Our snacks got a little sandy too but that's okay.

We bought some great sand digging supplies from Dollar Tree (the same bucket/shovel combo was 2.75 at the beach!).  They served us very well as we made our castles and dug a moat.

On our way off the beach and into town (Cannon Beach) we stopped into this gem of a quilt shop.  It's the Center Diamond shop and it couldn't have been a nicer store.  The gals were so cheerful and chatty and their fabric selection was impeccable.  They had all the latest, coolest books and patterns too.

A lot of big towns don't have fabric shops this nice so the folks around here are lucky to have this little treasure.  Sorry for the blur (I was using my iPhone). 

This is my favorite shop in downtown Cannon Beach.  It's called Josephine's and I found out the owner is actually named Josephine (how lucky to have such a cute name!).

Get a load of this!!  With 3 teenage daughters I need that sparkly sign.

From eye candy to real candy!  I always grab oodles of salt water taffy here at Bruce's Candy Kitchen.  You can fill your own bags with your favorites and just pay by the pound.  Here are Peety and Joey making all the important decisions.

By this time Skate was over-heated and worn out so he was like a kid in a candy shop....if kids in candy shops are cranky.

I hope everyone is doing great and getting some fun summer sewing done!  I have a couple fun things planned for when I get home but right now I'm just enjoying the greenery and clouds.