Quilts for Kids quilt

For any quilter (or anyone familiar with a sewing maching , for that matter) that may be interested in participating in something wonderful, let me introduce you to: Quilts for Kids!

It is a wonderful program that provides quilts to children in need during their stay in hospitals around the country.  These quilts are theirs to keep and provide comfort during a stressful time in their young lives. 

Quilts for Kids will send you fabric that is mostly pre-cut and requires minimal prep.  You need only follow the directions provided and you are finished!  The trickiest part is machine-stitching the binding, but it was fun to try something new.   
It warms my heart to be part of such an organization/movement.  Please look into it and donate some of your time, materials, and money (for postage, batting, and binding) and help out some sweet child. 

(Behind the quilt, you'll find my youngest Gabriela.  For her, rainboots are more than an accessory, they are an attitude.  Just sayin'.)

When you finish, you just send it back with the informational materials (so that they may use them again.)

 

Road to California Quilt Show

Wow!   How's that for a summary of the quilts that I saw?   There were so many unbelievably spectacular quilts on display.  I had such a great time with Linda and Carrie.  I wish I had taken more photos, but to be honest, the camera was the last thing on my mind.  I was just overwhelmed at the talent!
Take a look at a small sampling of quilts that caught my eye for one reason or another. 
Be sure to click it to enlarge so that you can see details!

Old Primrose Inn Quilt for Sonia

I finally finished the quilt that I made for René's mom, Sonia.  For Christmas, I asked her to choose some fabric that I could use to make a quilt they could have.  She chose Old Primrose Inn by Moda Fabrics.  It wasn't a favorite of mine, but I really like the way that it turned out.  I decided to piece the fabric together in a rail fence fashion and actually went together pretty quickly.  I used free motion quilting to create a stipple pattern.  I also appliqued a flower at the bottom right to cover a small hole where I got a little crazy with the seam ripper.  (oops!)   

Belated good-bye

Well, the Colonel has put away his ornaments.

The Christmas cards have all been filed away.

Traffic has returned to normal in Bethlehem.

Christmas 2009 is nothing but a memory. (A really, really nice one, by the way!)

A shot that I took of our tree attempting the bokeh effect. :)

Happy birthday, Elvis!

*sigh*

It makes me sad to think of how much he (we) missed.

Happy birthday, Elvis!

hey there, 2010!

We had the best New Year's Eve over at my dearest friend Karol's house. This is the same backyard where René and I were married, so it is a favorite spot of ours. <3
Tom pulled out all of the stops and had sparklers and fireworks for the kids. Big fun! The only thing missing was Jake. He spent the night with his dad. :(



On New Year's Day, we went down to our favorite beach to enjoy the first sunset of 2010. Beautiful!

Merry Christmas

After a perfect Christmas Eve sunset...


We left treats for the Big guy, along with notes from the kiddos. We even left some carrots, spinach, and water for the reindeer.


We trimmed the tree with all of our favorite decorations.


and....
Look what Santa left us in return!


Thanks, Santa!

Santa.... *tsk* *tsk*

Always the last-minute shopper!

This REALLY makes me giggle. Enjoy.

Rudolph....

isn't the only red-nosed reindeer, ya' know?

A fabulous family weekend away...

to Idyllwild. I think we have a new favorite cabin. Of all the cabins I have stayed in over the years, this is by far my fave. The kids had "snow" much fun and I finally finished the Christmas lap quilt on which I have been working. Woot. I love my family. Just adore them. Okay, let's be honest...I love my life.

*hmph*

My kitty, Pepper, loves the quilt that I am currently sewing.
She does not, however, love that I have to actually move it.

These officially mark...

The end of Thanksgiving 2009. They are the turkey pot pies made from the left over turkey. By the way, the kids like to call these turkey pies. Whatever gets the job done. Either way, they are pretty yummy (and almost all gone.) Woot!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled "catching up"...

to post something from the present!

One of my good friends recently quit teaching to pursue her photography business. When she and I were teaching together, in 2002, I was one of her first paying customers. She has wanted to have a chance to do more recent pictures and we finally found the time to do it.

Please take a peek!


Renee Hindman Photography / Sneak Peek of our Family photos

Here is one shot from the shoot. This one captures the kids' personalities so well!

Guess what?

Chicken butt! Know why? Chicken thigh!

Ehhhh, the real surprise is that we had ANOTHER Student of the Month. Jacob Llewellyn Cooper was awarded Student of the Month for the month of January! Way to go, Baby Jake. I love you with all of my heart! (I know you hate for me to call you that, but you will always be my Baby Jake!)

*sigh* pretend this was posted December 2008

Why am I so horrible about posting? I guess it is good that I am busy living life and not so busy posting about it. (Nice justification, huh?)

Alright, well I am going to try to do some mad catching up for some of the biggies in our little family.

I will begin with the Student of the Month for the month of December. (Yes, 2008.)

It is the one and only Daniel Shea Ortega.
Congratulations, Shea-Shea! We love you so much!





He looks like he has a bit of stage-fright in the last photo. :)