Tuesday, March 29, 2011

TOOsday is TOO fun CELEBRATING retreats.....the GIVEAWAY continues!


Come and sink your teeth into my giveaway fun and you may win this present!!!!!!


What do you think...adding wonky flying geese around this giveaway prize that may be yours after next week's drawing....well, back to the sewing room but couldn't wait to share the progress...
I am having so much fun with it and busting the stash!!!!!!!!  



Did you foresee the Baby Quilt from Sunday was for QUADRUPLETS?....Yep, 4 lucky ladies enjoying GIRLFRIEND time...a retreat of sorts...

They seem so content in their cubicles or are they telephone booths or....
Girlfriend time!  Look how fun these little women pictured above are having together as they bring their puppies, purses and own style to the RETREAT!  From trendy to beautiful to OOH LA LA!!!! 



I opened this photo and suddenly had goose bumps and a little tear in my eye as I email Jacque a THANK YOU for sharing a very intimate photograph.  I cannot put into words why I was moved...but I am....The CELEBRATION of women CONTINUES! 

Win a fat quarter for naming the date of the post that was giveaway for CELEBRATION of WOMEN and refer to a comment that moved you or reminded you of a woman in your own life...

Giveaway within THE Giveaway....Just as in the pic of Jacque and her daughter...within our children are pieces of us..and then I think of the saying, "Her father will GIVE her away when she marries..." or a sensitive conversation at my job as I process an adolescent struggling with having been adopted, "given away is how it is often described"... and that the birth parents willingness to want more for the child is THE giveaway to a couple or individual who have dreamt of having a child of their own.....How does giving away a fat quarter lead to the heartache and miraculousness of adoption...a child or a pet or a new lifestyle..

(If you are new to my blog please do not be frightened by the tangents....It is a large part of how I work in my mind and heart and please take away what touches you and know that my intention is one of free verse and exploring the spectrum of emotion and spirituality.)

Our language and its nuances and inferences is AMAZING and can be so tangential!!..




Andi and Jeanne at a retreat.....how fun are these 9 patch blocks with the curves..HOW FUN!!!, Andi!!!  Andi, you rock for the photos...Ladies, get out your pics and submit them- LOOK HOW FUN to share in other's retreat fun!!!!


Andi and her long arm quilter friend, Barbara at a quilting retreat.  Can't you smell the yummy nature? and hear the squeak of the swing...and the glass of wine, YUMMY!!!!!!

I am having so much fun with your visits, pictures and comments for this week's giveaway celebrating GIRLFRIEND time, RETREATS, Yummy foods...please visit yesterday's post for details if you are new to the giveaway today...and of course check out the prizes... 

And now to add a little ditty to this RETREAT giveaway.....This past weekend I alluded to my going to a retreat with my mom and sis and it dawned on me....."Em, do friends on the blog realize it was not a formal retreat but hang out time at Mom's house? "

Why do I bring this up....WELL FOR ALL YOU WONDERFUL LADIES WHO SAY YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A RETREAT.....

They can happen often..... a moment of blogging and sharing comments or emails....quilting class....sitting at the coffee shop with friends talking of the latest fun projects...Sitting in your sewing room chatting with someone on  the phone as you bind or applique...

RETREATS....how about the noun...a place where one is enveloped by a sense of wellbeing, a reprieve from daily stressors..A TREAT!

MY OFFICE is a retreat...Enjoy my home away from home...Do you see ditties that you have sent to me?

This morning I had a moment I will not forget...dark and in the driveup line at Starbucks.  Went to find my wallet and found instead...."A NOTE FROM Mr. Dave H. Parker"....

Grandpa died 18 months ago and I miss him so much....he and I had a moment of tears this morning as I wondered what was invisibly written on the above note card I have placed in my office....

"Em, I love you and I miss you.  Please give my love to Sean and Noah and SP. Love, Grandpa"


As many of you know I am a napper.....in a parking lot with my car doors locked, in the wilderness for a quick 30 minute power nap, in my bed with sweet Kevin the Cat.... or my office...

When lying down on the floor this is how I view my office walls....


Family home that Sean and I owned for many years before our move to Southern Utah...Complete gutting and where I brought newborn Noah home to.....A favorite painting I commissioned years ago and the memories.....like being in a fishbowl.  The painting is in my office to remind me of the night Sean knocked on the front door asking me out on a blind date....




Urine fridge adorned with pics of Kaffe Fassett quilts from his books...


My love wall and as I posted this photo, Mimi, you popped up on my computer...THANKS FOR POSING FOR THE PHOTO!

And so....on this TOOsday, may you have TOO much wonderfulness in your moments today or have one simple moment where you are stopped in your tracks and only silence is the candidate to BE with you for the reverie...

Post on this post for entry to the giveaway....

New prize added, THE QUADS and Baby Quilt...were up to 3 prizes...Looking promising for you all!!!

and a 4th...a fat quarter for a type of scavenger hunt...

Love, Em

21 comments:

Jenny said...

he walked right up to your door and asked you out on a blind date?? definitely the man for you!
happy tuesday!

Needled Mom said...

Finding a piece of paper like that would definitely stop you in your tracks.

I love the picture of the house. What wonderful memories you have!

Judi said...

Wow a blind date started it all! Amazing

Kim said...

You are too funny....I love all the sweetness you surround yourself with......a nest of loving memories! Thanks for making me smile Em....I'm sending warm hugs ans wishing for a retreat with you! Come by and enter my little giveaway too from Jaybirdquilts.

Happy Sewing

♥Duff said...

RE: TREAT

I do not have any photos, only memories of staying up until 5 am, dancing to disco music trying to stay awake. We laugh, sing, dance, eat, and celebrate each other's creativity!

p.s. love the new pics of springy flowers, crazy kids, and furry snouts!! Sean's new gal pal sure is a sweetheart! I wonder how she'll feel about your cat hat...

Mama Pea said...

That is just great. I love your off-kilter photos. I love the idea of wonky flying geese on that quilt top you are working on. Have fun!

Char said...

I love the new quilts you've put on the side bar.

That fabric with the teeth is wonderful!

quiltzyx said...

Spending time with my eldest sister this past Christmastime - she is a Painter, and talks once in a while of making a quilt again. We spent half a day just driving around the countryside, stopping to take photos. I scared her when I slammed on the brakes & started backing up on one 2-lane back road....because there were 2 deer just next to the road! They didn't get their portraits taken as there was no place to pull the car off the road, and from the road they were a bit hidden by bushes. But we got to see them...and they got to see us! It was a gorgeous clear day, a jewel of a day between rainy days.

Tangos Treasures said...

WOW!!

Tangos Treasures said...

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011

Unknown said...

I don't think that your tangents scare me... they mostly confuse me. LOL But I just have to go back a few posts to get the whole thing. :)

CharlotteP said...

Your tangents are fun! Power naps are great...my best ideas come to me when I'm asleep...where (who?) from? It's good to look at things other ways up...both your own world and the things people do...things can seem so much better! I think you must be so right about what your grandpa wrote...I just had a moment of tears too as I thought about my own Gramps...long gone now, but his love is still here!

Anonymous said...

Since I'm new to your blog, I don't know the date of the post you mentioned, but even if I don't win a FQ, I'm a winner, cos I am so enjoying your blog. I love the little quilt, and think the flying geese border (wonky, of course!) would be perfect. It is moving to see the lovely pictures of women who are celebrating life and the joyousness of being together and creating beauty! Thanks so much for your blog post!
Jacque in SC
quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

Gill said...

Hi Em
15th February 2011
At the moment my thoughts are with my beloved sister who has recently been widowed
Gill
PS I love your wonky geese - How do you make them????

mary e said...

my mom was a napper and quilter (all by hand). maybe that's the secret ingredient i'm seem to be missing. i have all of her beautiful quilts to inspire me daily, just need to learn the magic of power nap. thanks for the lovely post. our fore-quilters paved a great path and without a rotary cutter!!! :>)

LisaT said...

Youre a trip! I hadnt read your entire blog before posting and sending off my pic which by the way I am very honored and touched that youd display it here. Wish I had the quilting buddies that you have. Also think how much further skilled I'd be if I had an Aunt or Grandma who sewed. Over the summer when visiting sis I turned her onto quilting and now she's a fabric junkie! but so very far away. The applique is awesome, havent mastered that skill. PS, thought I was the only one that hopped in my car for a nap. I drive over to the Kohl's parking lot, lock my door and kick my seat back too! Nice...

Terri. said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the quilts on your sidebar!!!

Sandra Henderson said...

Fun, fun, fun!! Sorry i missed this!

Janet said...

Em you are a sweetheart. I wish I could have a sewing time with you....

Patty said...

Hi Em, thanks for a wonderful post. Your office wall is so perfect...it is a snapshot of years ago and people in your life. Awesome!

Magpie Sue said...

Thanks for the reminder that a retreat can be anything from a moment to a conversation to a full blown get together with friends or family. I was beginning to feel rather sad over the fact that I can no longer go on retreats or to classes (for health reasons). Then I came to your comment about a retreat being a small and simple as friends communing (or blog commenting). Whew! I do have a picture I'd like to share with you. It's digital; I'll have to look for your email address...