I Think I am Still Alive...

My, it has been a while, hasn't it.  So sorry for that, life just gets in the way of the Blog World sometimes and you just have to do what you have to do.

The girl's had a two-week spring break in March!  We drove home to Idaho and stayed with Grandma and the Papa's and visited with some friends that we dearly miss.  While there we celebrated EVERYTHING!!  It has been hard since we moved back to AZ and don't have my parental units close by to celebrate, so we did it in one fell swoop.  It was great!

We celebrated Halloween with pumpkin carving,

meet Jack, complete with the ultra scary heart nose,

spooky,

jack-o-lantern cheeseburgers,

and costumes.

Bee Block Report: February!

For the Bee-Stitched group, Sarah decided she was going for clean line improv blocks, focusing on Erin Michael's "Lush" fabric.  Those are the pieces with the color dots and the paint by number look to them.  Her inspiration came from this quilt by Tallgrass Prairie Studio.  I am hoping they will be well received.

Next up are Rene's blocks for the 1 Year, 12 Quilts group.  She wanted crosses, as she collects them and wanted a quilt for her family to snuggle under.  She let us have free rein with only two rules: 1.  Red, which we could enhance with our stash, and cream, only what was generously provided. 2. Had to look like a cross, not a plus sign.  Fun!  The first cross is made of half square triangles with a simple red border.  And yes, it is slightly askew.  Hopefully, it is not too wonky. 

This second cross is a paper pieced braid that I designed.  It was a LOT of fun to make!  I actually did most of it while watching Vertigo, which made for a rather entertaining night!

And this is my quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap over on flickr.  I hope my stalkee partner likes it. And no, that is not a black square.  Well it is, but it is actually a huge magnet covering up the part that would totally give away whom I have been stalking watching.

Happy Birthday, To You!

Railie's sixth birthday, in pictures...

Barbie clothes, I love her reaction!

Strawberry cake with chocolate frosting.

Making a wish and blowing!

January Block Swaps

This was my first time paper piecing.  I am totally hooked now!  Loved it and it was so much easier than I had originally thought.  Whoot!!!

This block is called Twirling Star and is block #26 in the Quiltmaker 100 Block publication.  Holy cow that thing is full of cool stuff!  This is the block that Donna at Allz I'm Sewing is... chose this month.

And who doesn't love geese?  I love their simplicity of the pattern and the complex prints and soothing solid Heidi chose here.

It is the Dutchman's Puzzle from Modify Tradition.  That Heidi chose for her January block.  

These were both a ton of fun to piece.  Can't wait for February!

A Quilter's Blessing

May your bobbins always be full
Your batting always be plenty

May your pins stay off the floor
So not to drive the cat nutty

May your seams be the perfect quarter
Your points a pretty penny

(I am not sure where I found this, it is written on an envelope I found the other day, and it seems to be missing a line.)

I wish you much quilty happiness in the new year!