Art is everywhere.......pedicures, God's nature canvas, family, cakes, great grandmother....Thanks be to God!

...."there should be no unity in art, never, that perfection embalms it, there has to be some tearing, a fraturing, like a Persian carpet with a wrongly tied knot, for that is what makes life interesting........Colum McCann exerpt from book, "Dancer".

Celebrating the UFO! they need a home......

I awoke this morning thinking of all of my UFO's. They are adding up and I didn't used to have them.....so..... these 2 wonky wacky wall hangings need a home. They are only the quilt tops and if you would like them or know of someone that would give them lots of love, they are yours. I would love to have a story behind why you enjoy the one you choose if you are willing to share. I love hearing what art inspires in others because why I created it may, MOST LIKELY, not be what you think/feel when looking at it. Enjoy your day, the last day of 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Celebrating Mayhem.........................in the dressing room, on a drive and at the quiltshop!

I was driving this morning and saw a truck with a huge sticker on the side announcing, "MAYHEM". I was curious what the story is behind it....

While trying on a pair of pants at Buckle this afternoon a woman exclaimed, "Celebrate!"


So.....Today I "CELEBRATE MAYHEM!" I did so by oohing and aahing at Lazy Daisy's new shipment of awesom fabric lines. RIght when I think I have enough fabric in the stash. I had to celebrate of course..............! And I had so fun shopping for Tango and mailing her giveaway gifts.... yeah for silly celebrations of mayhem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is definitely the true essence of my blog photo!

11 years of marriage, CELEBRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blogless wins the 1 game, anyone celebrating 11 years?.....for the runner up prize?!

CELEBRATING a fairy tale................ they really do exist....
Sean and I celebrated our 11th year of marriage yesterday. Sean giggled and said, "I have thought it was our 11th year for the past 3 anniversaries." Some may be cynical and say, "I've said that before" but fortunately I feel blessed to know that Sean and I have something wonderful! Sean and I love flying pigs because we both thought marriage for us was when "pigs fly". Here's to the blind date that started it all!

The style of this pig is of a street craft in Africa made by Beadworx. It is beyond adorable and I wanted to share with you all. It was meant for a Christmas present from my brother in law but how fun that it arrived on our anniversary.

The sweet card is from our near-8 year old, Noah. A style of art that I have not seen him do before.

If you celebrated an 11 year anniversary this past month, December 2009 or know of a couple that has, please let me know and they win a prize.....Just can't resist celebrating with someone else!!!!!!!!!!!!

And... if you met your special person on a blind date and are the first to respond, ah, you win too!!! Email me the story so I can have my own "chick flick" via cyberspace.

I love Christmas and the love of family and friends...

What better treat for me then my oldest returning home for the holidays and my sis and her family visiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This evening friends came for dinner and I had started a Mary Lou Weidman project with funny women and it turned into a bag for Lindsey. Was a riot to make and I can't wait to play around more with ML's concept of story people. Anthony, a friend who joined us the evening and brought his sewing machine just in case but instead worked on a scrap booking page. Roberto brought his paints but instaed helped plan a trip to Costa Rica with Anthony. Nerf war raged for a while before pie...I love a house full of family and crafting guests! May it be a wonderful year of blogs laughs, tears, and CELEBRATIONS! Em

Merry Christmas Eve to you all!!!!!!!!!!!

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrr, the sweetest pirate, Hudson, and all of us send you love on this eve of Christ's birth. Makes me think of the anticipation for my own baby nearly 8 years ago and the night of walking off contractions....

Just because I love surprises and to CELEBRATE!!!!! we opened a present this morning in honor of my Grandpa Dave who died this past summer and who is greatly missed! He worked for the train company for years and hence a Lego train is being built in his honor and will be tradition for years to come!

Love, Em and her house full of sweet babes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another celebration...why not... it's almost Christmas!!!

What a huge day for me and my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sis and her husband and 2 adorable babes arrived this afternoon from Ohio and I consider Santa having come early and brought them! I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And when I can't see it getting any more delightful....

Crystie calls and lets me know the stained glass project I commissioned is done and VOILA!!!!! Here's to Crystie's talent with glass!!!! The story behind this piece she created is for my pseudo siter-in-law who thinks of her mother when seeing the blue speckled camping tin eating ware. Crystie came up with this interp for her. Kailani, her daughter, is pictured with the piece.

I love the world of crafting and quilting and the friendships that derive from the creative process!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Em Celebrates Analiese's amazing "gift"...her talent!

I remember going into a scrapbook store last year and thinking, "this is quilting using paper......!"

Analiese, a wonderful friend at work, has outdone herself and given me some gifts I wanted to celebrate with you! The time that has gone into these are amazing and to think that I am only one of many lucky recipients that she created for. Very humbling!!!

A fun story behind these cards.... A month ago I hit a large deer while doing medical visits in the field for my job and did a lot of damage to the company truck. The following week, Analiese was my driver to the different groups for the med visits. She created these cards while waiting for me in her truck in the middle of nowhere and fresh snow blessing the beauty! She and I were laughing at one time because we were driving on an untread area thinking that it was a road simply because it didn't have bushes or trees. What a job and so adventurous!!!!!!!!!!

I love you Analiese and celebrate your giving and awesomness!!!!!!!!!!!! Em

Mary Lou Weidman's "Whimsies and Whynots" is.....an inspiration!

It came two nights ago- Mary Lou Weidman's book, "Whimsies and Whynots"and I was ecstatic......and of course woke up in the middle of the night inspired with a funky story quilt! I get crazy excited when I read her blog, books, you get it!

So, I have attached some photos of us being silly with our sticky mustaches and the fabric I just picked up at Quilted Works and my shopping has changed forever after reading this how-to quilt book by ML. Today I went in and could see eyes, eyebrows, handle bar mustaches, and lips in so many fabrics that once were florals or paisleys..........

So...play with these fabrics I have attached and go out and buy Weidman's book. You'll see the body part possibilities in fabrics you would have never noticed before! and if you have attended or made a story quilt with Mary Lou, pls send me a photo, I would love to see them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you see the lips in the upper left hand corner rose?

Blood shot eyeballs in the dots fabric from too many sleepless nights worried about a loved one, crying newborn/ puppy or night of partying and few too many beers?

Marbles will be sweet little beady eyes....?

And some light tones for fair skinned individuals. WIth my love for chocolate brown fabric and blacks, I have plenty for the darker toned skin.

Can't wait to try out this exercise, never have done this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ta ta for now. NOah is in the spirit also so will be fun to post his 7 year old invention....

"Cross my heart...." how many can you find?

In the spirit of Christmas, let's play a game. Submit how many crosses you find in the posts and you will win a rotary blade. I am not counting any crosses in quilts except for the obvious ones in the Muertos. You must come within 2 of the correct answer to participate in the drawing. The game will take place through Dec. 23rd when my sister arrives at my home for the holidays around 4:00 Utah time. All correct people answers will go into a bag and my nephew, Hudson, will pick out a name. Merry Christmas and have fun! Em

What a "Fresh day" it was as Noah predicted 12 hours ago....

Since I love to celebrate the littles and bigs of life, today's worship service was HUGE wonderfulness about Grace. Thought my UFO of my Mary's would be nice to add to this post. While listening and singing, I could not help but wish I could ask God how he was able to know of his son's death and the pain. It is not fathomable to me who is a mother of 2 boys. A father's sacrifice I will never fathom but always be humbled by.

And after a celebration of the true Christianity of this time of year, bags galore were mine to tackle. I think they are way too fun to make, so thank you, for all being willing to accept my selfish excuse to make them. More to come tomorrow, but pictured are the current ones.

Notice the Chicken line of fabric, found yesterday and am so nuts with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO many hilarious quotes and funky chicken expressions! I have eggs and chicken wire left over from last year's Easter time and can't wait to make a huge wonky silly hen thing!

HOpe your day was fresh in your own chosen way!!!!!!!!!!!

Em aka Bag Lady for today.

Noah announced, "Mom, today is another fresh day!"

This morning Noah and I spent time in the quilt room because of his icky cough and congestion. Fortunately he fell back asleep. When he awoke he quietly said, "Mom, today is another fresh day." And so it is, CELEBRATE!

I am so excited by all who visited my site last night and got excited about the bags and mustang. Awoke this morning at 4:30 with the next idea, and I am SO EXCITED! Keep stopping by and it will be announced shortly. I'll give you a hint, treasure hunt throughout the states.

I'm off to make some bags.....................

My quilting companion is laughing with me.....

As Judi, the green fairy, and I text back and forth tonight, my lovely statue friend is giggling at us and also having fun reading the comments on the giveaway bag. The quilt on this guest room/ quilt zen room is Serape using Kaffe Fassett fabrics. The crucifix is a favorite piece of mine that was created by a local artist, Roy. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Between Christ and my lady friend, I'm in good hands as I travel on this quilting journey!

Just say "no" to wrapping paper and "YES" to this bag!....

Thank you for all of your fun compliments on this bag and for participating in my giveaway. Looking forward to posting the next giveaway soon! Thanks to Judi for sending you all my way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes in life you find someone extra wonderful.....

I awoke this morning at 4:15 AM wishing I was in Salt Lake with my mom for a day of shop hopping, but instead was derailed from my plan by my own forgetfulness....SO...to make things OK, I am going to visit a favorite shop of mine, Quilted Works, and drop off 3 baby quilts to get Kaitlyn's special touch. Kaitlyn is a woman who you instantly smile when you think of her and she is about to embark on a new adventure and will no longer be quilting my stuff. Best to her! And as for today, I hope she is there at the store!!!!

A super fun quickie!

Christmas is right around the corner..... Peace to all.

Nothing Wonky about this beautiful quilt!...

This beautiful star quilt is pieced by my sister and was recently hung as the focus piece in her front room. The precision of the triangles and combination of fabrics are amazing to me! Nice work, Shars!

Early spring for those who have cabin fever with the snow....

Sharon, my sis, also sent this whimsical wonky daisy quilt and I simply love the bright colors and style! Amazing the spectrum that her 2 quilts, Star (pictured below this blog entry) and this Daisy, span with one being so precise and the other having caution thrown to the wind! No wonder quilting never gets boring....too many patterns/ fabric and not enough time!

Before.......

After..................

My mom is not an ordinary mom....or quilter! Enjoy..

Most recent photo is of my mom's wonky beach houses and is a favorite of mine! I am sorry about the fuzzy quality of the photo, but the beauty of her APPLIQUE cannot be tainted, She is AMAZING!

The Dots quilt is created by my wonderful spicy mom known as "gritz" or Marian if you prefer. When with her, you can't help but giggle or be silly or just get all jazzy. Her energy is as vibrant as this colorful masterpiece! All of the fabric is dots and was quilted by Judi at Green Fairy Quilts, of course....

I just got the picture from her as it hangs in her front room, and although the lighting is not professional, the QUILT IS!!!!! And don't you love the VW plastic bug in the lower right corner. Had to add the photo of her bug with her cruising with my son after seeing the replica near the quilt.

A Freddy Moran inspired wall hanging, that is closer to a table runner....

Earlier I posted the Freddy Moran inspired "napkin". This is a larger size wall hanging of the similar idea of wonky stars and erratic sashing. I have included all of the different photos of Judi's quilting from her blog, greenfairyquilts.com. Hope you enjoy! Hung it up in my office today and was distracted by the quilting when I should have been more excited to print medication labels.