Three Years Ago Today

Three years ago we were asked to take these two darling girls into our home. We thought it would be for a short time but it turned out to be forever. 

These first pictures are from my retirement dinner.  I left work at 130 PM and we had them by 330 PM.  My good friends had a dinner planned for me and we took the  girls with us. This is Little Bit. 

This is Bigger Bit.  We went to the 

Spaghetti Factory and we took the Light Rail to the restaurant. 

Here I am at my retirement dinner with my lovely Retired pin. I went right from work to being a Stay At Home Mom. Not what I had planned.  Heaven Father had a different plan, I am so glad I accepted it. The day before this dinner our former sister in law called me on my cell and left me a message, asking me to take her grand-babies. They had been with her best friend for three weeks but her friend couldn't care for them any longer. So I called Mr. B and asked if he had spoken to Nancy and he had.  We walked about what to do.  I had that feeling in my heart, deep down, when you know this is a cross road in your life. I knew I needed to do this and it was important and I had better not pass up important.  

This is Little Bit in the new dress I purchased for her so she could have a dress for Sunday. I need to take a picture in it now, to see how short it is on her, 

This is Bigger Bit in her new Sunday dress.  It was long her then I bet it will be just right now.  

 This is a close up of Bigger Bit now.  She is so lovely and helpful.  She is a born organized person and I love to watch her just get things done.  The opposite of me and Little Bit. 

 She always wants to stand on her toes to be as tall as I am. 

Here is Little Bit hasn't she grown?!?!?!?  She is catching up with her sister.  She is very creative and not into details. 

 These girls are as opposite as day and night. The night they moved in Little Bit took my face in her hand and told me I was just perfect.  Just melted my heart.  She still does and she can drive me crazy just as fast.

It sure hasn't been easy, I have never doubted this was the right thing to do.  It isn't easy that is for sure.  I sure gets lots of hugs and kisses and that helps make it worth while. 

They accuse me of getting cranky sometimes at bedtime when they won't settle down.  I remind them, "When you get cranky putting your kids down, and you are twenty something or thirty something, just remember I was sixty something."

Here I am with Mr. B up at Snowbowl AZ. He is also a part of this endeavor. I think he feels left out a lot. 

Happy 3rd Anniversary to new kids and retirement!

In Addition...

In addition to my accomplishments in the last post I have been doing some teaching.  It feels good to have full classes

and excited students.  My Twister class went very well.  I

learned a few things that will make the next class go smoother. 

My next class I will do the same wreath pattern but with flag fabric.  I saw one done on Pinterest but the pattern was a little different.  I didn't realize that until mine was almost done.  No matter, I am going to make it work. 

 

 

Here it is with a border preview.  I am going with the flag fabric.  I am also thinking of doing the waste border before this final border but I need to finish constructing the center and than make the waste border before I decide.  The tan border does nothing for the center.  I saw the same wreath pattern done in Halloween fabric but I think for a fall class I will do the Witch's Hat I did a couple of years ago.  The wreath pattern is a nice size because the center is done when class is done.  The teacher needs some variety.  

You can see that Witch's hat here.

 

My other class that was full was a Beginner's EQ7 Class.  Another bunch of excited ladies but they were on brain overload by the time I finished with the 3 hour class.  They are so excited about learning more about EQ7 they want my Beyond the Basics Class in May. 

I teach at a LQS, A Quilter's Oasis.

 

On February 7th I went to the AQS Quilt Show that was in Phoenix.  I went with my lovely friend Lorene, we meet through our blogs and when we realized we were both local we meet and became friends.  We had a lovely time.  It was a nice show but I get a little overwhelmed with the masterful art quilt and the fancy quilting.  The truth is I will never be that kind of quilter.  I just wished in shows they had another category for professional quilters but not the super professional quilters if you know what I mean. 

 

There were some fun vendors and I picked up a few new tools.  I have plenty of fabric and I am trying to buy for projects only and I don't need any more books or patterns.  Well I did buy one pattern. 

 

The first tool is called The Strip Stick.  It helps press those seams that are close together.  I used it on my new pattern and I was very pleased with it.  Short narrow strips, 1" wide.  Here it is in action.

 

 

Here I pressed the seams open but you can do them closed also.  Here is the back of the project I used it on.  It worked very well for this.  I used it on a bigger project, the center of the flag twister but I wasn't as comfortable with it in that size project.  I am sure I need a little practice with it.  This product is reasonably priced compared to others I have seen.  I purchased the middle size.

 

 

 I also purchased their Seams Sew Fast - Quilt Strip Piecing Guide.  It didn't work well with the 4" x 1" strips I was working with but I will try it when I do wider strips.  I like the concept.  The other tool I haven't used yet but I will review it when I use it. 

 

So the pattern kit I purchased is called Baby Steps from

The Red Button Company.  They have some really cute patterns, and many are kits.  There was a generous amount of fabric, I have left over sashing and squares. And the tiny buttons are just so cute!

 

So here it is.  I have started the embroidery. 

Those squares are 1/2" square.  I haven't worked with anything this small in a while.  I did the mini Square strips about a week after the show.  This week I constructed the rest and started the embroidery.  I had to brush up on my embroidery stitches.  I am only doing the chain stitch and a daisy stitch.  It is so cute.  I can see this done in 30's fabric.  I have enjoyed doing the handwork at night while watching TV with Mr. B. 

 

Well I think that makes up to date. I hope all is well with you and yours. 

 

Yesterday the 13th we celebrated our 22nd Wedding Anniversary! 

Here is a post I wrote on our 17th Anniversary part 1 and part 2.

And let me tell you the adventure continues.  There will be

some big news later this year but I will keep it under raps

for a little longer. We had a quite celebration of left overs and balloons and flowers.

 

 

I love the Maxine balloon.

CHOCOLATE

is a woman's reward for putting up with men.

Mr. B. knows I love my chocolate. 

 

Sweet and Simple!

 

Happy Stitching, Scrapbooking and just plan old living!

 

Way too Late

to be writing a blog post. So this will be quick.
We had a wonderful vacation in Miami Florida to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.  Here is a shot of one of my favorite places in Miami.

Key Biscayne Lighthouse.

We decided to remove the popcorn ceiling in our four bedrooms and replace the carpet, which is over 20 years old.  It was in the house when we purchased it and we have been here 19 years.  One of those four bedrooms is my sewing room.  Most of the stuff is going out into the garage, but I didn't want my fabric in the garage.

Fabric bins in the family room

Here is most of the fabric bins behind my husbands recliner in the family room.  They can't be seen from the front room but the rest of them may end up in the front room, it isn't forever.

While on vacation I took my fabric to make more Yo-Yos for the quilt by the same name.  Tonight I made the last big center Yo-Yo.  So 81 centers are completed and tacked down to all the backgorund blocks. Seeing how my sewing machine is packed this will be a wonderful hand project to work on.

All Center Yo-Yos are tacked on!

I also managed to teach two EQ 7 classes, one in Miami to my friend Linda and a few of her friends.  One here to several of my quilting buddies.  I do keep busy don't I.

So that is the latest and greatest from my house, I hope all is well at your house!!

Blogiversary

It was two years ago today that I started my blog.  That year November 27th was Thanksgiving Day.  It has been a fun adventure.  I have made new friends, have had a lot of fun, learn a few things and have been a real ham showing off all my quilts and projects. 



Give away Wall hanging 2010



I have decided to repeat my quilt give away again this year.  It took me awhile to decide on what I was going to make.  Of course just like last year it is not made yet, it isn't even started.  But I feel ready good because  yesterday afternoon I finally decided what I would make.  I have been thinking of things and shooting them down as fast as I could think them up.  I had settled on one idea but it just didn't feel right. 

Yesterday I was looking at this pattern to make for myself and thought, this is what I should make for my blog give away.  The best part is I have enough of the special fabric for the moon and the night sky background to make two.  One for a lucky winner and one for me.  After all I did buy the pattern to make for me. Like I need another Christmas quilt like I need a hole in the head but I just love Christmas quilts.

Anyway, here are the rules:

Look at the list of give away activities below and decide how many activities you want to do. Then add up the points after you've done them, and then email me the information below to enter this give away. Your name is entered for leaving a comment and for each  point you earn I'll place your name in the drawing for the little quilt. That gives you up to four chances to win.

Copy & Paste this information in your email to enter this giveaway.

Then send your email to me at mebowden at cox dot net.


My Name is:

My Email is:

My Blog Address is:
I completed the following requirements:
I have _______ points.


Point Actives:


One point for leaving a comment on this post. So even if you don't have a blog you can do this, but you will need a Google account to leave a comment.
One point for creating a post on your blog and linking to my giveaway.
One point for being or becoming a follower on my blog or if you are one.
Giving you a total of 3 points, for each point earned you have a chance to win the wall hanging. 
So may the best person win.
The give away will END on Saturday, December 11th at Midnight.
I will then pick a WINNER on Sunday December 12th in the early afternoon.

Anniversary Give Away

Here is an updated picture of the Give Away Quilt, as you can see I have made some progress on the quilt. I have also re-posted the rules here for new views to find more easily. There are only four more days to win.

So here are the rules:
Look at the list of give away activities below and decide how many activities you want to do. Then add up the points after you've done them, and then email me the information below to enter this give away. Your name is entered for leaving a comment and for each five points you earn I'll place your name in the drawing for the little quilt. That gives you up to four chances to win.

Copy & Paste this information in your email to enter this giveaway.
Then send your email to me at mebowden at cox dot net.

My Name is:
My Email is:
My Blog Address is:
I completed the following requirements:
I have _______ points.


Point Actives:
1 point for leaving a comment on this post. So even if you don't have a blog you can do this, but you will need a Google account to leave a comment.
5 points if you want to add me to the blog list on your sidebar or if I am on your blog list.
5 point for creating a post on your blog and linking to my giveaway.
5 points for being or becoming a follower on my blog or if you are one.

The giveaway will END on Saturday, December 5th at Midnight.
I will then pick a WINNER on Sunday December 6th in the early afternoon.

Sunday Quilting Upate

First I have a funny story for you. I made my Christmas valences and curtains in 2006 because we had a floor in the house and the floors were not done until the week before Christmas, so to help dress up the house I made valance and curtains. Yesterday while ironing the one for the living room I noticed something. I'm sure the picture will help you see what I finally noticed on the 4th Christmas I have used them. The other three sets are fine. Luckily this one hangs over the Christmas tree and no one will notice. Heck it took me four years to notice and I made them. I guess I focused on making sure all three panel went the same direction, that I didn't notice which end I put the top rod pocket.


I don't know about you but sometimes I get a little ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder. Or is it RQS Restless Quilt Syndrome. It's not like I don't have enough things to work on that I need to work on now. Like Krystal's Horse for Christmas, the Give Away wall hanging, my DJ Christmas Quilt. But last night I had the urge to do some mindless work. I did the prep work for two parts of my Washington Medallion Quilt. I just did the sewing on the triangle on a roll paper. I didn't feel like cutting them or making the blocks but just sewing on the lines. So I did both parts. At least now I don't feel so far behind.


My Dear Jane Christmas Quilt has four side borders to quilt. I finished quilting from top to bottom and had turned the quilt to do the side borders. I finished the side triangles and started one of the borders and my machine started to make a lot of noise. That was Friday night. I thought well it's time to quit for today and I'll clean it, re-thread it, oil it and try again in the morning. No improvement in the noise. So I took the quilt off the frame, the one pole off and the machine off and took it to the machine hospital. I hope to have it back by the end of the week. I was so ready to be done with the quilting on that thing. Here it is just before I turned it.

I also made 3 nine inch blocks as a surprise for a friend, its a group surprise. I can't say anymore. I don't want to spill the beans.


Here is the picture you are waiting for, the center of the Anniversary Give-away quilt. It isn't finished yet, but close. I just need to cut some triangles and join those top two rows together. I'm liking how it looks I hope you do also. Be sure to see the post from Nov 26th to see how this could be yours.

Night for now, take care.

Anniversary Give Away

A few weeks ago I mentioned a Give away to celebrate the one year anniversary of my blog. I was originally thinking I would buy something and give it away but that feels so impersonal. So instead I have decided to make a small wall hanging for Christmas. I just decided this yesterday so it isn't ready yet. I have drafted it in EQ6 so you can have an idea. If you think it looks a lot like my Dear Jane Christmas Quilt you are right. I even have some of that lovely border fabric left. I'll mail it to the lucky winner as soon as it is finished.


Here it is as of 11.29.09, well on it's way. I will update the picture as it is completed.

So here are the rules:
Look at the list of give away activities below and decide how many activities you want to do. Then add up the points after you've done them, and then email me the information below to enter this give away. Your name is entered for leaving a comment and for each five points you earn I'll place your name in the drawing for the little quilt. That gives you up to four chances to win.

Copy & Paste this information in your email to enter this giveaway.
Then send your email to me at mebowden at cox dot net.

My Name is:
My Email is:
My Blog Address is:
I completed the following requirements:
I have _______ points.


Point Actives:
1 point for leaving a comment on this post. So even if you don't have a blog you can do this, but you will need a Google account to leave a comment.
5 points if you want to add me to the blog list on your sidebar or if I am on your blog list.
5 point for creating a post on your blog and linking to my giveaway.
5 points for being or becoming a follower on my blog or if you are one.

The giveaway will END on Saturday, December 5th at Midnight.
I will then pick a WINNER on Sunday December 6th in the early afternoon.

Now to go make my spread sheet to keep track of all your points. I better print those paper piecing patterns for those blocks also and get sewing.
Well Good Luck and Have Fun!

Our 17th Wedding Anniversary part 2

Here is my other favorite wedding picture. The kids are Kierra age 11, Klint age 10 & Kinsen age 7. Aren't they just so cute?

Our 17th Wedding Anniversary

Friday the 13th of March 1992, 17 years ago we were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple. So today is also Friday the 13, we always think it is special when our anniversary lands on a Friday. I had plans to post a couple of our wedding pictures and one of us today. Here is one of my favorite ones of us. I also have this picture in a little heart shaped frame I keep on my desk. She how much younger we were. I was 44 & Richard was 37. I know, I robbed the cradle.

The other favorite one I have is at work in a frame hanging on my cubical wall. I thought I had another copy of it here but I can't find it. My other favorite picture is of us with Richard's kids at our open house (reception). They were so cute. I'll add it Monday after work.

We were going to go out to dinner to celebrate but I had a cold all week and Richard now has it and was miserable by this evening. So we stayed home and had Chinese take out. Works for me. So no now pictures.

That first year was so stressful for me, can you imagine being single for so long and then to have 4 other people move into my space! It was a challenge and fun. The kids moved in about 5 months after we had been married. We lived in a two bedroom town house, a big 920 sq feet. The boys sleep in the hide away bed in the living room. Kierra had the small bedroom and I gave her my tall dresser for her cloths and put my cloths from the dresser in a file cabinet I took from her room and put it in my closet. The boys have fun memories of going to sleep while I studied for a national Oncology Nursing certification on the computer.
The next February we moved into the house we are in now. It seemed so large after that town house.

It has been an adventure, my husband told me before we married he would add adventure to my life, he sure did! I would do it all over again! He is a keeper and a good guy.

Happy Anniversary Honey!
Love,