First Day of Spring Celebration

March 20, 1976

First Day of Spring

Jeff and Debbie get married!!

Jeff and I celebrated our 34 year anniversary last Saturday!!

WOW.....Instead of saying we look older now...I am going to say we looked younger then!!!  

A day with Addison and a trip to the zoo was on the calendar for us last week also!!

We loaded up the wagon and packed some snacks and off we went....to see the elephants, lions, tigers, bears, and giraffe's!! It was perfect spring weather and the animals were happy and active!!!

The elephants were my favorite, the giraffes were Addisons favorite and the polar bears were Jeff's!!

After returning home and downloading my pictures and reviewing them.....I realized the shots I got of the baby elephant reminded me of a recent accident I had at home....

I was walking along minding my own business.....

next thing I know I am on the floor!!!!

I missed the last step coming down our stairs and took a tumble down onto my knee!!

There I was a bit stunned, in a little pain lying on the floor in the dark house as Jeff was on his way home from work. 

This is a picture of what I looked like trying to get to my feet.....

Until Jeff got home and gave me a hand....

it's always good to have a friend around to help pick you up when you are down!!!

Thanks Jeff for always being there for me!!

As for my knee....lots of pain.....doctor visit....xray....but the good news is that it is not a break just a brusied bone....but it sure is painful.....getting a bit better each day!!

Our zoo trip ended with a trip around the zoo on the zoo train!!

Recently during the Wooly Wednesday Class that I teach at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe

 we made cute little wool bunnies and wool carrots!!

Our class is overflowing so we added a Wooly Wednesday Class in the evening also!!

Brian even joined us and made such a cute bunny!!! Good job Brian!!

What a treat Sunday afternoon was!! Jan Hill the owner of Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe had a special day for her employees!!! She invited me to come and teach some wooly projects to everyone and we had SEEEWWWW much fun!!! We made tomato pincushions and needle keepers....had some wonderful food.....lots of fun....and everyone sure felt appreciated by Jan!!!

Tomorrow is baby day....I will be off to Amy's in the morning and help with the girls giving them lots of kisses and hugs....and I will take some pictures of course.....so I can share them with you!!!
Until then.....enjoy SPRING!!!

Little Signs of Spring...

Spring Chicks

You've got mail...........

This week in the mail I received from France:

Quiltmania

http://www.quiltmania.com/

Issue #75

Quiltmania is a Beautiful Quilt Magazine which is printed in France and I am honored to have one of my pattern designs featured in their latest issue.

Each issue includes wonderful articles and many beautiful free patterns inside each issue.

My next mail delivery was from North Carolina:

A special friend of mine Sharon Stewart has introduced me to a friend of hers, Evette (whom we have only spoken over the phone on occasion).....and she sent me such a lovely package!!

I was recently admiring some little pincushions she made which were pictured on Sharon's blog and next thing I know I received one in the mail along with directions on how to make them and all the supplies!!! Thank you Evette!! It was so kind of you!!

Spring is springing!!!
It's been a busy month and Spring is on it's way!!

My favorite spring thing has to be daffodils!! I just can't wait for them to bloom!! We planted some bulbs last fall and because of the beautiful recent weather there are signs of them making their way up through the ground here and there and everywhere!!!

This past week there were signs of Spring

at the Wool Wednesday Class at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!!

Twenty three wonderfully fun "CHICKS" came to make these cute little wooly Spring Chicks!! Each month the ladies come not knowing what we will make and trust me for a project and I guarantee you that they ALWAYS make it fun!! I personally look forward to it every time!!!

This months project was a sweet chick pattern that Sharon Stewart of Liberty Rose Patterns sent to me for use.....after a few little changes these are the chicks we came up with!!

Candy, Susan, Nicolle, Ruth
(some of my original Wooly Wednesday Ladies)

Betty....

was the first "CHICK" to complete her wooly chick....so she won an additional chick kit!!

Barb, Doreen, Betty, Tammy, Joyce

Barb

Donna and Teri
Check out Teri's blog

Dixie, Julie, Marilyn

Debbie, Tracy, Dianne, Judy, Susan, Karen, Nancy
(I know I got your names out of order!! I'm working on it!!)

Susan & Nancy

And I have to give a SPECIAL thank you to my friend Susan for letting us laugh until our sides hurt.....you see after working so hard on her little chick... she sewed the little chicks beak on top of his head!!

Chicken Little

Thank you Susan, your the best!!

I loved having you back in class!!!

In most of my extra time this month I have been at the dye pots....
My stack so far is 1 yard high!!
Gotta say I love dying wool!! It's one of my new favorite things to do!!!

The rest of my time is spent with my family....my 4 beautiful granddaughters....and I am busy getting ready to have new patterns at International Quilt Market in Minneapolis, MN in May.

Happy February......

Busy Busy January!!!

January has been so full of family, friends, and fun I hate to see it almost over!!

Starting the new year with lots of time on baby duty......I have to say that even being the night owl that I am I have been a bit tired.....guess that's why we have kids when we are younger so we can keep up!!! It sure has been fun getting to see them grow, change, and watch their personalitites shine through!!

The last couple of weeks Jeff and I spent down in southern California looking for the sun.

We left on Monday January 11th, and as I stitched last minute projects and Jeff drove us with all of our booth props and supplies south to Ontaria, CA to participate as a vendor in Road 2 California Quilt Show the rain followed us.

There was not much sunshine to be found and the lead story on the CA evening news was the rain....I came down with a terrible cold........
but no worries....
we did manage to have a GREAT time together!!!

Getting ready for a show is usually a pretty crazy event in itself with lots of preperation and last minute things to get done......with the addition of the triplets this year I fould to be a bit more challenging to find time....and was not sure how I could do it.....but with the help and support of family and friends it all came together and we had a fun and successful show!!

The best part of what I get to do is meet so many wonderfully kind and supportive people who encourage me with lots of kind words,hugs, and support.....I count each of them as a blessing in my life.....they are what keeps me going!!
I had the privilege to teach several classes while we were in CA. The first was my Pincushion Party Class at Road on Thursday evening!! I have been looking forward to it all year and want to thank everyone who took the class.....I had a blast with you and have very special memories from being there!!
And...I did not take any pictures!!
Hoping to get some from Tammy, my VIQ who was a great help to me!!
Thanks Tammy!!

The next class was on Monday at Stars and Scraps Quilt shop in Corona, CA!!! It was a last minute planned event and was attended by 15 wonderful women who brought lots of wonderful food and fun and laughter!! Thank you for your hospitality!!!
We continued to drive south still hoping to find the sun.....visiting some wonderful quilt shops along the way....The Quilted Horse, Temecula Quilt Co., Country Loft, and Quilter's Coop. Still no sun.....so we decided to head north towards home!!

The last little class I thought was a very spur of the moment event.....this is how it happened.....we were driving north towards home.....it was our last leg of the trip and we stopped in Cottonwood, CA at Quilts in the Attic which is just south of Redding, CA. While we were shopping and visiting it was brought to our attention that all roads north had been closed due to snow over the pass.....and NO ONE WAS GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON!!! Semis were backing up on the freeway along with all other traffic....it was now a 6 hour delay with small groups being escorted over the pass!! As we were visiting a group of women started gathering in the class room to meet and stitch....WOOL!! It was their montly wool goup!!! WOW!!! I love to stitch with wool.....I have a suitcase full of wool in the car....with a special little project in it.....so I asked if I could interrupt their stitching and provide a small wool project for them to make.....WHAT FUN WE HAD!! Everyone made a cute little heart needle keeper while we were stranded on the road!!! Thank you ladies for all the fun and helping us pass the time.....

After leaving we decided to take Hwy 36 west over to the coast and up 101 instead of waiting to go north. The road was long, winding and covered with snow and I think we were the only car traveling on it in either direction!! Even through the road had been plowed it was a bit worrisome in places....149 miles took us 4 hours!!! After our safe arrival to 101 we ended that day watching a beautiful sunset in Crescent City, CA. Our last day we drove into Oregon stopping in Springfield, OR at wonderfully fun and full quilt shop called Something to Crow About!! Thanks Kenette for the visit!!
Home Sweet Home....There's no place like home!! My kids cleaned my house while I was gone and the babies grew!!! We are unpacked and getting organized.....
hugging the granddaughters......
and
counting our blessings for our safe travels and wonderful family and friends!!
A big thank you to everyone you came to Road 2 California!!
Hope to see you again next year!!

Today I got to teach my own Wooly Wednesday class at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in West Linn, Oregon and see some special friends I have been missing!! I am so excited for this year and am looking forward to the months ahead!! My next show is International Quilt Market in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May!! I better get busy...it will be here in no time!!!