Saturday, April 30, 2011

Golly "G"...Generation


I giggled out loud while reading Mark Lipinski's current mag....We are a "G" Generation...

GENEROUSITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could not agree more as i CELEBRATE blog friends and of course...GOD

I love my laundry room for being a fun place off the kitchen to dress up with quilts, crosses and the newest fabric from Char is the perfect CHERRY ON THE TOP!  Can you imagine how tickled I was to receive this amazing fabric line with Saints, this TRINITY photographed above, Lady of Guadalupe and complimentary fabrics...and the stamp, CELEBRATE...I love it and love Char! 



 Michele....A woman that I will always think of when seeing Robin eggs, smile big when I remember a morning of GODWINKS weeks ago and the winner of the Mini Quilts Book winner who CELEBRATED the MINI...by creating a piece for me!  What a surprise and look at the details of the beading..I LOVE SPIRALS!!!! and the little beads remind me of Robin eggs..Do you think she planned this?


And finally, humor me please as I excitedly unveil my project for the week, Roxy and I have spent 10 of hours quilting this colorful piece....AND ITS DONE!!!!!! I hope you enjoy the up-close shots of my quilting...The stitch length is not perfect but it is fun to be trying out new ideas and using the old standbys..



Paisleys and feathers are my new favorites and I am feeling more confident about them...Much more practice to go but WAHOO!  I am no longer scared of them!










I share all of these photos because I can't believe I finished it and....

If you are frustrated with trying to quilt on your machine and seem to always rely on meandering.....GO FOR IT and be OK if it isn't perfect because FORMING MUSCLE MEMORY works! 

I miss not posting more often and have had an emotional week with work and having an ill student and worrying for him, supporting the staff and reassuring mom as many steps were taken to find out what ails him.....He and I had a moment yesterday before he was wheeled to the OR as I took a photo of him to text to his mom and then she texted one back...

Love, Em





Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What began as an atv ride to get phone reception became a moment that inspired a tear....

Before reading the story that narrates this photo....What do you imagine these brothers talking about?.....


This past weekend my assistant was on vacation and so I made many trips to the top of a nearby sandhill to check my phone for messages and schedule satellite calls with my staff teams for updates on ill kids...True wilderness nursing and what an amazing thing technology is.....

I arrived a few minutes before noon on Easter and was sitting quietly in the Rhino thinking about the morning and then spied these 2 young boys approach the overlook.  As the older boy put his arm around his brother he asked, "Do you remember when we came here together when you were little?" 

I will never know the intimacies of this sweet duo but the love that this young man had and the reverie in his throat....I wonder what their story is. 

All because I wanted to be a few minutes early for a phone call....

TOO touching on this TOOsday...


love, Em

Monday, April 25, 2011

Erin had a fun idea...and now the moment is here.....ah heck, let's turn it into a giveaway!

This....



started as this......


Dearest Vesuviusmama, aka Erin,  sent me this gorgeous floral a few months back with the fun idea of me making my interp of a quilt using it as a focus and she would do the same with her interp and then we would share with one another.....Well, I was bowled over by some perfect fabrics  at my neighbor quiltshop and thought...yep, It's time to play with Erin!  Tonight I begin a little playing and what it will be I have no idea but the lineup is looking yummy! 

When Erin sent me this fabric and idea I immediately thought of  arelatively recent  quilt book that is fabulous!......You name the book with this concept of 2 people using the same fabrics and blindly creating pieces and you will win the book....Did I do it again, ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!!!!!  To keep it somewhat interesting and fair...

Please email me the answer to the riddle and not put in comments so that others cannot see...and I will run it through the night of Woodsy Wednesday this week.  If you have the book already, still enter and if you a winner you can choose from my other books or gift it to someone else....

Monday's Mantra....Little sprinkle of this and stitch of that.....


This morning I awoke early and was excited to stitch a piece to COMMEMORATE this past weekend's memorable Easter.....

If you did not have a chance to read last night's post.....this piece will make more sense why there is a novelty BUNNY in the corner when you read it.... he he he he!  And the JUMP FOR JOY in the text fabric.......
Keep in mind that as you double click on photo to see up close....all of these scraps were in one bag....MY DESERT BAG...Godwinks throughout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can this count as WONKY BARGELLO?  The sandstone mountains of our camping backdrop were folded and so I attempted to mimick with this sandstone bargello.... The "2"- twins first Easter..."LOVE YOUR FAMILY"- my whole trip and what I will remember....

Petroglyphs.....Bananas that Aimee gifted to Porsche as a peace offering....Verdant field of wildflowers...

And of course....the EASTER BUNNY parade.....

I am thinking of a fun little quilt idea.....what if this year I create these little blocks for special times and then peek at the end of the year....HMMMMMMMM?  Thank you Victoria for teaching me to use scraps and "MAKE FABRIC"...that makes memories....that reminds me the scraps of our past are our FUTURE stories,,giggles,,,,moments of reverie..............

Love to you all! Em

Sunday, April 24, 2011

CELEBRATION of the unexpected, family time and Service with Roxy


An Easter bouquet for you this evening...Roxy is giggling with me as we play with golden thread.

In the middle of the desert in Nevada......YEP....this is the story of my life!  I would daresay I was more excited than the kids when Mr. Easter Bunny came by for some fun and children squeals!


Look how big Noah is getting as he helps the little ones find eggs amidst the cactus and dirt.


An Easter that Sean and I will forever treasure.....The joys of a fifth wheel toy hauler- You can have a big slumber party with family and CELEBRATE an Easter of brothers together and the twins' first visit with the Easter Bunny.  Beyond wonderful to have Kevin and Amanda and the boys with us for the weekend...shortly they will move back to Ohio and I get a little sting in my nose as I type this....



How many of you can relate?  I sure missed this guy while we were away...


The master bedroom of the trailer became my sewing room and the bed was perfect for laying out the quilt top while I created primitive stems and leaves to adorn this project begun last fall.....and ROXY could not be having more fun this evening!


Simple outlining to accentuate this flower....if you think you cannot do anything but meander with your free motion foot....I have a secret.....Use fabrics such as florals that allow you to easily outline and embellish and it helps to build confidence and is so much fun! 


the BOOTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  had to take a photo of this of course!


Isn't this plant fascinating?

Just one beautiful photo of the desert in bloom.  While travelling through the country in the Rhino....the fragrance was breathtaking!  It was fun to be working on a floral quilt while loving all of the blossoms of my camp area.

Throughtout this day of fun and silliness and family memories.....I was missing being at church for the annual outdoors Easter Service.  Tonight as I stitch with Roxy, she and I are having our own service and believe it or not....Porsche, Kevin, Harley, Izzy, Ewok 1,2,3 and Patch 4 and 5 are being very reverent.  They are such good sports to humor my orations....

My busy season of work is upon me......If I do not post as often in the next couple of months know that I am missing you but also preventing being overwhelmed by it all.....Today I was playing Apples to Apples with the family and the word SKILL was the challenge word...Jugging won the hand....ANd with that...Spring is the juggling skill I revisit!

Love, Em

Friday, April 22, 2011





I am headed to the desert this weekend and am so excited to play with some small applique ideas using my blossoming desert as my template.....Hmmmmmm.....








Scruffy, feathery, eggy,,,,,


Scruffy is such a good sport as mama Lisa takes a photo for boot-scootin' fun! 


Easter love to you all as we Celebrate!  Thanks be to God!

Love, Em

Thursday, April 21, 2011

OOOOOOOOOOOh..........Drum roll plesae........


i LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing all these little girls wrapped around prizes excited to RETREAT to the winners' homes to CELEBRATE the OOOOOOOOh la las of BOOTS!

Once again, I am amazed and grateful for the fun and creativity that you have posted in response to this week's giveaway and CELEBRATION. 


Have you been a little scrappy and barely haning on to the thought that you may be announced?



My newest WIP...Lady has been having fun wrapping presents with me...



And may the luck of the upside down horse shoe be yours as you scroll down....




Without further A-DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..This "NURSE LADY" announces...

in no particular order or indication of what you are winning....Will keep you toe tapping with delight and curiousity as you visit your mailbox each day to see what you won...

LynCC
KrouseGirl
Sallie
Marcia Wright
Cassie
QuiltZYX..

I wish that I could giveaway to you all as you know but......GOOD NEWS....new giveaways always happening. 

CONGRATS WINNERS!  Please email me your addresses and fun is on its way!!!!!

Love, Em

ps.......One last winner to announce....first person to send me photo of boots and a person or creatively places. or.......and a story will win a prize.....I just can't say good-bye to this fun yet!













Tuesday, April 19, 2011

OOOOO, it's TOOsday....lOOT in the bOOT....Come play!


Go-Go boots....(I am not making this up) and I love love love it!!!:

Go-Go is derived from the French Expression..a' go go..meaning in ABUNDANCE, GALORE which is in turn derived from the ancient French word la gogue...meaning JOY, HAPPINESS..




Curious what the lOOt in the bOOt is?  Well, one way to find out....leave a comment about BOOTS and you will be entered to win the book, fabric, goodies not listed and will remain a surprise until mailed...I love anticipation!.......

Giveaway goes through tomorrow night when I arrive out of the field after med visits...Have fun with this and make sure to leave your boot size when you leave your comment, let's see what size we average in blogland.....Big feet big heart....tiny print large impact...Ahhhhhh you get the idea!

These boots are made for walking.....Try walking in my BOOTS shoes...Boots for my car....Given the boot...Bootlegger....Puss 'N Boots....Pirate BOOTy...Froggy newborn boots telling Sean he was a dad once more.....Anniversary boots with sunflowers.....BOOTaneir...Mom, you don't need another pair of boots......Where on earth did you get that pair of boots?.........When Em wears those boots to work she is all business!.......You are going to wear those with that?..........Mom, did you leave a tip for our server to buy a pair of boots....Riding boots.....shake you BOOTy....

I could go on and on but this is not about me as much  YOOOOOO
you!


i LOVE LOVE LOVE BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And many of you are saying...."Em, we know!"... 

what are you thinking about as you begin to read this post....?  Look around today, how many different boots do you notice, are you wearing a pair of rain boots, do you have a fav memory of boots.....Do you dream of buying that pair of boots in the magazine or shop window...do you have your name on a reserved list at the local thrift store for size 9B?....Did you take a pic of your 2 year old wearing grandpa's boots....Are you giggling at a bumper sticker......Do you have your GO-GO boots in storage....
TELL ME TELL ME AND you may just win.....

the lOOt in the bOOt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Cowboy boots made for President Harry S. Truman


A bumper sticker on a co-workers water bottle...Hiking boots!


Ancient Greece boots


fabric......


very feminine.........


Noah can now wear my boots...how does this happen?!


My favorites!!!!!! Angel wings and Peace hearts, this was a very good Mother's Day gift!



If you enjoy this quilt.....this can be yours....when leaving a comment for an entry designate you want to be in this drawing...


My hot and bothered board boots....


cattle driving winter 2009....



Hmmm...Harley how did you get the same pair of boots that Noah was wearing above 7 years ago....

And to this day I still remember when I was in 3rd grade and didn't get the pair of white boots that Heather Bentley was given for Christmas. We both had them on our Santa's list...

Hmmmmmm, never too late to get that fav boots on the wish list....

Have fun with me and good luck!

Love, Em