2nd round of editing.Celebrating RaeAnna having just bought all her sewing necessities and about to begin her first quilt. Join if you would like!!!!

Finished pinwheel sweetie, let's begin!!!

To begin, fold your fabric matching the selvages which are the finished edges of the fabric. Match the selvages and if the edge of the fabric is not even, we will even it up.

If your left edge is not even as it is folded, cut 8 1/2" strip. Then turn the strip so that your newly cut edge is on the 8 inch line and cut which will make your strip an even 8" strip.

Unfold your eight strip. Cut off the edge of the strip because it is selvage and usually has an odd lock. Then using your ruler cut two 8 inch squares.

You need two of these 8 inch squares for each pinwheel block

This fabric is used as the larger triangle in the pinwheel so you cut in half yielding 2 triangles from the square. DO the same with the 2nd 8 inch square so that you have 4 triangles for each pinwheel block.

Lay out your triangles to envision the pinwheel :).

Now for the smaller inner triangles that make up the remainder of the pinwheel. Repeat above steps to get 8 inch strip of fabric.

Layout strip of fabric

Cut one 8 inch square that will become 4 triangles for this pinwheel block.

Becoming smaller................... corner to corner like you did the the brown square.

Then cut from other corner to corner yielding 4 small triangle. Can also pretend that you are creating a fabric railroad crossing sign :)

triangles after being cut.

repeat steps earlier with brown and white fabric for the final triangles. 8 inch strip.

Unfold 8 inch strip

Cut one 8 inch square.

Corner to corner and then other corner to corner to make 4 small triangles.

Creating the railroad crossing sign...

Put them together and voila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do this process 3 more times to yield 4 pinwheel blocks.

Sewing them together is next....................................Let me know RaeAnna when you are ready.

They are waiting for the unveiling.. ..

Lee Webb blessed us all with another phenomenal photo capturing 3 beautiful horses. With me reading The Shack, of course you can imagine what I envision. the Trinity is all its splendor....

If you remember the beautiful star quilt that I posted a while ago done by my wonderful sis, another awesom creation is coming your way soon. The horses are excited and so am I!!!!! I spoke with Judi this morning who was tickled with how the quilting was coming along. I just checked her greenfairy quilt blog but it isn't posted yet. I can't wait to CELEBRATE Sharon's talent and Judi's art!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonky- British term meaning Crazy or Dizzy....I celebrate no rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I hang these quilts I am wondering if the shop quilt posted older than this will seem like a more inviting class for people. As I was waiting for photos to upload, I read an exerpt in the "The Shack" that fits wonky to a tee.

"It was chaos in color. His eyes tried unsuccessfully to find some order in this blatant disregard for certainty. Dazzling sprays of flowers were blasted through patches of randomly planted vegetables and herbs, vegetation the likes of which Mack had never seen. It was confusing, stunning and incredible beautiful." Describing wonky quilting, human nature, garden, first time parenting...

Quilted Works mailer arrived yesterday and it's official.....

It's official, I am going to teach my first quilt class this April at a local fabulous shop, Quilted Works. I am excited because this is the quilt we are using to showcase the "wonky concept". My hope is to get some St. George wonky quilter converts by introducing the style done without a pattern and no paper piecing. I struggle with the fabric and definitely do not think one of my better projects but happy enough with it. I am going to hang some of my more favorite quilts with it so that people are not scared off with the muted colors :).......I would like your honest opinion if you would come and play with me. May be a fun vacation for you all to come and play with me in person instead of just through cyberspace.

Majestic, mysteious......The mustang

I was gifted this photo from Lee Webb yesterday. He took it 2 days ago in the upper field area. This mustang is a favorite of mine and travels with his wife and child few hundred yards from pavement. My first blessed sighting of him was 3 summers ago. I find this photo breathtaking and a reminder that the wild is still present in our world. Happy Friday!

Lady Ga Ga Celebrates the Bible.......a funny little story

If you are not familiar with who Lady Ga Ga is, Google her so you have a frame of reference. The following story will be that much more entertaining and endearing.......

Gorgeous afternoon in Southern Utah and little bursts of energy from people's hearts are flooding my soul! I picked up my Noah from school today and he put on his favorite CD by Lady Ga Ga. As we are gyrating and singing, he turns down the volume and looks me in the eyes, "It sounds like Lady Ga Ga is singing about the Bible, 'Bad Romans' even though we know it is 'Bad Romance'." I smiled and gave thanks to God that even techno-modern dance music can remind a 7 year old of the Bible and its teachings.

Knock, Knock....who's there.........

Celebrating the joy of hokey jokes that young children love to say!!!!!!!!!! Interestingly, when a 6 year old tells the joke .....the "bu-dum-bum-bum" is funny!

How do you have a party in outer space?

You "plan-et".

What a day, thanks to you all, Friends. My cheeks hurt from laughing so much!!!!!!

Hello, friends! What another wonderful day, thank you for your fun company! My cheeks hurt from all of the laughing and silliness!!!! This morning we started in an artsy-community, Kayenta, and enjoyed the meditative labrynth and java at Xetava. Arlette, Judi and Jenny, I was drinking coffee when you wrote. Don't you love the stained glass creations? My favorite is the women in the circle and i think this will be our symbol for our Wednesday travels!!!!!

And then off we headed to the red rock, sandstone and wildlife. Last WEdnesday we began with a golden eagle and today's red-tailed hawk was just as majestic. He had a sense of humor because as I was photographing him, he would hop from fence post to post....

Arlette, when I received a 2nd email it was at the time of the deer crossing, they are "mini mooses"- close as I will get to a moose in Southern Utah :).

Linz , Jenny, Tango and Bri, how about your timing with your email to me giving love to Lisa. I was in the tent with the adolescent girls giggling about made up Ice Cream that Ben and Jerry doesn't market. I'll skip the names but you can guess with them being of adolescent origin!!!!!!!!!! I love the girls with their funny humors and stinky feet! The orthodontia is sometimes a mini science experiment!!!

Tara and Ria, The final leg of my journey was hanging with funny adol boys who are coming into young adulthood. I was winding through the red rock areas picture and the reservoir when you wrote. The boys had their bows and rocks and were "busting fires". As one boy was passing he mentioned without a break, "Isn't she beautiful." I simply looked at the staff and tried to not giggle. Oh, young boys!!!!!!!!!!! and learning social cues. Began to downpour on us so we ran into a tent and the boys were being hilarious with all of the drips from the ceiling. I find them so amusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as I wind up our tour for today, I thank you for joining me and sharing snacks and coffee. Jenny, hope you feel rejuventated.

And....a little game to finish up this raucous fun- looking through the pictures and knowing me, Where did we eat our picnic lunch? First person to get it wins!

Do you have your water bottle and snacks, because off we go!!!!!!!!!!!!

For all my friends that joined me last Wednesday on the wilderness safari, tomorrow has arrived and off we go to new and gorgeous areas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to see where we visit "together" and share the beauty of my "office". Shoot me an email tomorrow and I will take the photo and post tomorrow night. And if you find someone needing a vacation....have them jump on and join us all. The more the merrier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And....no asking "how much longer" or "are we there yet"............... Get good rest because there will be some deer dodging and hiking in red rock. Sorry, no smores due to no campfires allowed in this area.

Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!! Celebrating girl time with Linz, Kim and my ponytail

Hello friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did it and am so tickled with the big fat ponytail that is going to some super special person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While this donation means so much to me, your support and cheering made the travels such a wonderful time and a celebration the whole way!!!!!!!!!!!!! Linz, a girlfriend, went with me for moral support and had a riot taking pictures. She will join us for our dinner party and post the pictures. Just got out the stuffed mushrooms, shrimp and bacon wrapped cream cheese jalapeno poppers. Can you smell them? Menu will be country ribs, salad for the vegans, sour cream potates and almond butter beans. I am so excited for us all to hang out in name of "just for fun"! And Arlette, gotta share the dessert, SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DInner at my house tonight to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all of you sending me your love and inspiration, today at 2 Utah time I will say good-bye to my braids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL became today, Tuesday, when my Kym was not working yesterday. Couldn't trust this event to just anyone...
Let's have a dinner party tonight, I will provide photos and yummy food and you provide the company. A cyber get together. Also, reminder that tomorrow the fun bus leaves at 9 AM Utah time to a gorgeous spectacular corner of Utah. I leased a larger bus for tomorrow since last week was such a success. Bring a friend and off we go. Let's do the same again, you send me comments tomorrow and I will take the picture so you know where we were at that moment....I love this life with you all, thank you for sharing your precious time with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is LOL- play a game with me?

Celebrating Monday!- a night early because I love opening the game gates early for those who are "early birds" or insomniacs....

After 12 years of waiting for this day, it is arriving tomorrow. We know what LOL normally stands for, but tomorrow, for me, it means something so important.

un"lock" the mystery and win a prize.... Be the first to note what the letters stand for. I will announce the correct answer tuesday morning. Don't let one person's answer sway you from adding your idea.

Gotta "wild hair" in my brain, and it's not so wild but so very humbling and exciting...."I heart" tomorrow and "I heart" giving clues.... this may be up there with mensa's quizzes.... have fun with it!!!!!!!!!

Look at my profile picture for a clue.... I can't imagine whining about this being fair, but if you are tempted, "cut" it out! :)

Em

Just what the doctor ordered...Immodium for creative constipation...

I was beginning to feel frustrated with not getting an inspiration for this quilt....and then....What do you think? I am so excited that now I can't step away wanting to finish it and get it to the quilter. I am hoping that the wonky geese with the light blue lightened and tightened the overall impression. Took the advice of Penny at Sewtakeahike and have thrown in scrappy blue prints from seasonal to baby to traditional, love the quilterhood that blogs provide!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The craft project of the day....Lego mania and rockin' out live.

As I post, Noah is singing Pink on Lego Rockband game system. What a hoot!!!!

Below is such a beautiful simple quote...Enjoy

"There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddely releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules. And unlike illness, it is largely a corporate rather than individual experience. One can almost hear a unified sigh rise from the nearby city and surrounding countryside where Nature has intervened to give respite to the weary humans slogging it out within her purview. Everyone understands and shares in this singular justification and the sudden alleviation of the pressure to produce makes the heart merry. Even if it's harldy more than a day or two, somehow each person feels like the master of his or her own world, simply because those little droplets of water freeze as they hit the ground." "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young.

A pocket full of sunshine for all you people riddled with snow!

The desert is full of sunshine and a part of me is envious of all of you, friends, who awoke to the coziness of being snowed in. When I lived in Salt Lake I always enjoyed watching the birds flit on the snow covered trees while snow-shoeing. Hence wanting to post a favorite nature quilt- love the line!... it's coming to a special someone to CELEBRATE our nature adventures together! And for those of you that are wishing for sunshine, how about an ampitheatre of dancing and hoola hooping- I love Zions National Park...anyone been there and share in the love?

The peace of Christmas lives on...an ANGEL napping!

How can my day go anything but INCREDIBLE when I awaken to this photo on my phone from my friend, Ed. I had such a wonderful time creating the quilt design last spring for Sarah. It is based on a Kaffe Fassett design but I decided to have fun making up each line and seeing if it could turn out straight. Dick and Jane was chosen since they have a boy and girl now. What a lucky girl to be born into this family!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Judi, I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I awoke this morning to some very fun notes from friends- thanks to you all for the compliments on my "napkin". Hard to send it off today....and not a more wonderful person then my sister to receive and love it!

How fun, I was looking at Green Fairy Quilt blog this morning and saw so many of you friends that had beat me to her latest masterpiece! Are we not so fortunate to know her and be blessed with her artistry on our quilts? She is the quilter of my "napkin" and so many more of my "older posts" quilts. I have some coming up in the line at her house and I am ECSTATIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Farewell, my "napkin", may you weather the snow well in Ohio!!!

I am so excited, I got my my Freddy Moran "napkin" art quilt bound today and is headed to Ohio to my sister. She is patiently waiting for her Christmas present. I am attaching the photo of the snowy cattle round up I took last year in the field. Today was 60's here in St. George and my sister announced that they are snowed in in Columbus. Wanted to begin to acclimate the "napkin" to the climate change much like you do when buying fish from the petstore for your pond or tank :). Can't wait to make another napkin!