Thursday I am THINKING of.....My Aunt Maureen's masterpieces!

Aunt Maureen, LOVE YOU!!!  Please join me in CELEBRATING AN AMAZING AUNT of mine!!

Above applique is spectactular and mind boggling in person...little teen individual hand appliqued blocks...her daughter, Laura, is the lucky owner of this piece of art....If I remember correctly, each block is 5 inches.... A miniature of the below Grand Masterpiece!  There is that favorite word of mine...MINI!

Today I CELEBRATE my Aunt Maureen!  As I sit down to pay tribute to her, I have tears in my eyes...Grateful for the time I spent with her last weekend exchanging stories, tears, and memories...While spending time talking with her...I would have a conversation in my mind, "I love this lady so much!" and began to recant the memories of  her from my growing-up years...

While growing up, we never lived near Aunt Maureen and so her visits for weekends were a treat... 

I remember the anticipation of when Aunt Maureen would be arriving for a weekend visit knowing that Mom would have lift in her spirits and that quilting and crafting would fill the house along with sisters laughing and chatting....

She graciously taught me to drive stick in her Suzuki jeep.. 

would invite us in to her sewing room overflowing with fabric and MASH on the little TV....

road trip to Denver for a quilt exhibit a week after I tragically found a student suicided and her presence as I was confused, grieving, traumatizd, she was a comfort...I never thanked her........

was the first to introduce me to cooking shows on television....

And joined our family for the epic trek from Utah to Boston and back when I was being picked up from summer camp at Harvard......"See Boston and Die..THE RUTS....Michigan,we aren't supposed to be in MICHIGAN...Some people will laugh at anything...." the stories are still recanted to this day...

These are just a few.....

And last weekend I feel like our reuniting and connecting is a springboard for more and more exchanges in the coming years....She now knits and is remarkable...So much talent and...

I CELEBRATE her Love for GOD and dedication to her faith....Yep!!!

Aunt Maureen showcasing her quilt that her mother, Eileen, made for her wedding.  I promise to post whole pic soon..Gotta keep you hungry for more...!!!!!

SHE'S THE WHOLE PACKAGE!!!!!

Last weekend as I began to photograph her quilts at my mom's house...the stories began and I was struck with gratitude and humility for the talent and history of quilting through the generations in my family....

AN HONOR TO BE CARRYING ON THE TRADITION!

CELEBRATING YOU AUNT MAUREEN!

She loves RED!!!!!!

Do you have a loved one you would like to CELEBRATE?!!!!!!  Please leave a comment and even better send a pic....

Love, Em

WonderFULL Wednesday! Blog friends are just that...friendly!

In the spirit of my current life of kitties and more kitties and love for GOLDen hues in fabric and threads, Helen has surprised and delighted me with a gift.  THESE colors are SCREAMING for  being cut into as soon as possible!!!!!  THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Helen... more than this fabric, I am grateful for the interchange she and I have enjoyed in February as we CELEBRATED her aunt!

WOnky row 2 added...

Little Miss is Napping under a gorgeous homemade card from Sue and these awesom fun BUTTONS that will make fabulous embellishments.  CELEBRATE LOVE.....How fun, Sue, that you would send these to me and I am tickled to be thought of.....

Off to play in the woods....Keep up the entries for the current giveaway detailed on MOnday's post.  Love to all and the shenanigans of my home and all the pets will be a great post tomorrow....Nothing easy about marrying them all and yet I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF THEM!!!!

Love, Em

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

Ice Cream Social all day all week! Come and play and enter the giveaway!

Who loves GIRLFRIEND time, Yummy TREATS, a venue to REGROUP....I could go on and on as you know  how I can be...so let's get down to business of GIVEAWAY details!

This week I'd love to CELEBRATE retreats

(retreats do not have to be formal and can be a quilt class, getting together with a friend or 2 or more...), GIRL TIME, your favorite desert or indulgence...pretty much anything that the below fabrics and the past weekends posts have and currently inspire. 

Please leave a comment on this post, link on your blog if you would like, and for double entry send me a photo from a retreat/ quilt class, girlie group photo.....and all this week I will post and the giveaway will close in a week, next Monday will announce the winners...plenty of time to enter as often as you like....

The prizes....OF COURSE THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE!

Below fabrics for the first prize

Collaborative Quilting Again by Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran for the second prize

Hand-in-Hand....Friendship, reTREATS, REFRESHments, RENEW..

Fabric that I purchased while shop hopping with Mom and Shars this past Saturday as part of our RETREAT festivities....Seemed so fitting for CELEBRATING the fun weekend of GIRL time and quilting...

How fabulous is the word fabric piece...Grow, Sprout, Renew, Sunshine....

Have fun with this...LIKE A SHOW AND TELL and RETREAT all on its OWN!

Love, Em

After admiring Penny's triangle baby quilt for months....

It has been too long since I made a baby quilt and tonight this wonky triangle quilt was so much fun to piece.  The original inspiration for this quilt was on Penny's blog and I instantly fell in love with hers...I had no idea when I arrived home this evening from Salt Lake that this would be the end product...and to think I went in to de-clutter the sewing room...

Closeup of my favorite block.

I so love the Dr. Seuss fabric line and will be sad the day my stash runs out...

Love and CELEBRATIONS to you on this Sunday Eve!

Em

CELEBRATING "VINCENT"....at the reTREAT

Thank you so much for writing to me today with the REfreshing RE-words for my REtreat with mom and Shars....And the fun I had with mom's stash....

As many of you know, I am working on a quilt this year to celebrate a children's book...

STARRY STARRY Night was today's reTREAT project...and it was so yummy making it!

Sorry the photo is blurry but I wanted to lay out these 4 and share with you for a feel...

CELEBRATING Georgie's arrival from Mary at http://fiberliscious.blogspot.com/.  Mary's cat representing Georgia O' Keefe is so amazing...How fun to receive this kitty in the mail! Aren't the pinks of POPPY yummy?

Closeup of "Vincent"....

The illustration from VINCENT VAN GOGH'S CAT children's book...so fun interpreting with fabric!

Vincent Van Gogh is a fascinating artist who suffered from Bipolar Disorder, was not accepted by his family and not recognized as a talented artist until after his death from suicide.  Don Maclean's amazing tribute, "Vincent", is a CELEBRATION of this man.  Please enjoy the You-Tube video in the post below depicting Van Gogh's art pieces to the lyrics of the ballad.

And my little secret...Sean's birthday continued days after the 21st...Portia Douglas is our newest member of our family...She is a 6 month old sweetheart that has stolen our hearts!  She is a miracle that came into our lives with no forewarning...Something so fun about saying, "WHY NOT? It's your birthday!"  Sean is like a little boy because he has dreamt of raising a German Shepherd since his childhood....All because he went into a tile store for a quick moment....

Treats and more treats....Dog Treats, reTreats, Trick-or-Treat, my Treat...

Love, Em

Starry Starry Night

reTREAT.....retreAT.......have you ever noticed the deliciousness in the word that CELEBRATES wonderful times....

Pure.........

"A memory without blot or contamination must be, an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment..."

-Charlotte Bronte

Free from discordant qualities...

Monophthungal- Ooooooooooooooooooo!

Gathering.......bringing our own style....

Love notes.....Sharing stories in person at the retreat and then returning home to CELEBRATE on blogs and when the UFO is completed and label applied...

(notice the dates of the progress of this quilt's creation....) Wait until I post the quilt.....Created by my Aunt Maureen...

My great grandmother's quilt....double click on the photo and sit and imagine....This is not what it appears at first glance...

Mom's wonky quilt of colorful fun CELEBRATING boxcutters....birthday candles in a box....extra long-necked turtles....Lipsticks tipped over when my 2 year old nephew escaped in Walgreen's.....

CELEBRATING a family reunion with my sibs and mom in Salt Lake City this weekend.....Today's quilt retreat with mom and Shars includes shop hopping and quilting up a storm....Like so many of you who loved playing with Victoria's scraps at her recent retreat...Mom's is all mine today and I cannot wait..

retreats....are TREATS......and continue to be delicious long after we arrive back home...

And the yumminess of the memories REmind us to REpeat another REtreat..

Love, Em

Desigual.....Finally found a doctor coat......Clothing as a therapeutic tool

Ooh la la....look at these fun flowers...My favorite to broderie perse....

Circumpunct....bullseye!

"White Coat Syndrome".....

Are you familiar with this phrase?  

....If so, this jacket turns the original meaning into an oxymoron....

unless your blood pressure elevates secondary to delicious colors and possibilities for applique...

when adding a splash of color, a circumpunct and the mystery of 3 girlie pumps...hmmmm..

A labcoat that is great for conducting social experiments!

Do you have a favorite wardrobe embellishment or piece of clothing that is a conversation piece or brings a skip in your step for the day and only you notice?

or....

better yet....That item that you are saving for or putting on your Santa list for Christmas 2011?

When I return to school for my Nurse Practitioner.....My dissertation will be on clothing as a therapeutic tool. More to come on this idea..but for now....

What are you wearing today? How come you chose what you are wearing?  Do you put thought into your day's costume or simply grateful you got dressed or that you GET to hang in your jammies for the day while quilting....

CELEBRATING Judi getting to wear her sneakers to work yesterday instead of walking boot related to recent surgery.....

So many stories weaved into our garb!

Grandbabies have their first Kiddie Kandid photo session...

Let me begin by saying...NEVER SAY NEVER....Sean and I never even considered getting a cat.....let alone envisioning having 7 cats.....And this is what I have learned....The unexpected miracles of saying "YES!" are amazing..... Below are the miracles....

My grandbabies Kiddie Candid Photo session...Is this not just precious?!!!!!

The first preshy to be named, EWOK.

Last night was so entertaining....Izzy moved each babe from their box to Noah's bed and hid them under his comforter....Amazing watching nature......Noah's bed is Izzy's favorite place to be and where the babies were born.  Izzy is the ultimate embodiment of "SCAREDY CAT" and yet when she is with Noah or on his bed, she is calm and loving.....She and Noah have a special bond and is so wonderful to see him glow as he talks about her loving his bed...

Its Wilderness Wednesday....last week's adventure was THE GIFT...what does today have in store?

Good morning, my quick mini quilt interp of Kaffe Fassett's THE GIFT quilt in his Country Garden book.  Charlotte, this GIFT from the giveaway along with the book is yours for joining us at Sean's Birthday party Monday eve.  

Have you ever used a charm pack?  That is my secret to laying this out in a mere 20 minutes before heading to work...I needed my fix :).  

This quilt is fun for me to share with Charlotte because of her support and enthusiasm of my projects and blog and the charm pack was gifted to me from my sis for my birthday this year...So many gifts within this gift.

May your Wednesday be wonderFULL!!!  And if I get stuck....well I may just need to drop by the magazine store on the way to work and buy the newest QUILTERS NEWSLETTER...have you seen the adorable flower quilt?  Its at the top of my list to make in near future....

What LITTLE wonderFULLness do you notice today?

Love, Em

TOO much fun giving prizes on this TOOsday! Giveaway winners announced

Good morning.  A MINI quilt to accompany the MINI QUILT book headed Mimi's way....She is the giveaway winner that has been happening the past week.  It was fun to review the comments left as entries for the giveaway and then interp using fabric for the piece...Reminded me how wonderful you all are as you leave comments of support and fun and the precious time you spend to compose a comment that could otherwise be spent on quilting or reading or sipping tea or....

THANK YOU for sharing your time with me and others who read this blog.  

Mimi wrote that she is going to sip tea as she reads the book when it arrives.....I was so excited to find a scrap of Mary Engelbreit material that says......Meant to be, Mimi.

Enjoy, Mimi.....A pic to wet your appetite and build the anticipation.  Congrats!!!!!!!!!

I enjoyed seeing this layout template for Kaffe Fassett's THE GIFT quilt because it depicts the mini squares inside building the one big gift...

If you are rule follower, ENLARGE this 200% and you will find the name of...

CHARLOTTE P who is the winner of the CELEBRATION of Sean's birthday party giveaway!  Congrats, Charlotte.  You are the winner of the book that this quilt, THE GIFT is hiding in.....A hint....KF's Country Garden Quilts...Seemed fitting to CELEBRATE a birthday party with a GIFT! and tonight after the field, i have an idea to accompany it....hmmmmm.

Charlotte pls email me your address and a little love for you and your mailbox will be on its way!

Thank you to all for playing and next giveaway coming up soon!

Love, Em

The Party has gotten started! There's giveaway if you come to the party!

Voila, birthday cake by Noah....He is taking on Sean's tradition of fun birthday cakes...FUN!

Wahoo!!!! Sean is CELEBRATING 43 years young and The party has arrived!...

I awoke this morning thinking about UNDER AUSTRIALIAN SUN....and it didn't seem like my style....so a little embellishment here and some party people and VOILA....now it's EM. 

And of course I had to include me and my jumprope CELEBRATION! 

Which party-goer are you?  Leave a comment for a fun giveaway tonight at the party...Along with the winner of the MINI quilt book announced.

Love, Em

What a wonderful day!!!!

To see Sean's face when he came home from golfing and saw this project...."Em, you have had a developmental burst!"....oh my sweet supporting Sean.  This may be one of my favorite pieces I have made to date....The colors are so much more true and beautiful in person.  I love the stark contrast between the white hot air and parched tree with the land that is thriving underneath. 

"Moon and Stars...you are the one."

And tomorrow, the BIG mini Giveaway!  Good luck to all entrants..

Love, Em

Making the cut with Cuthbertson....All because of a selvage

Sowing seeds of Sepia...

Patchwork of Aussie land plowed, watered, and sprouting.....True colors will unveil when quilt is complete...Hopefully this eve...But until then...

Below is the story sequence of sir sepia...

Do you recall me writiing a couple months back that when I awoke early for work, this picture with a love note from Sean was lying on my computer...I awoke this morning thinking of Australia....

Please enjoy this famous poem on this Sultry Sunday morn...

THE AUSTRALIAN SUNRISE

by James Cuthbertson

The Morning Star paled slowly, the Cross hung low to the sea

And down the shadowy reaches the tide came swirling free.


The lustrous purple blackness of the soft Australian night


Waned in the grey awakening that heralded the light;


Still in the dying darkness, still in the forest dim


The pearly dew of the dawning clung to each giant limb,


Till the sun came up from ocean, red with the cold sea mist,


And smote on the limestone ridges, and the shining tree-tops kissed;


Then the fiery Scorpion vanished, the magpie's note was heard,


And the wind in the sheoak wavered and the honeysuckles stirred;


The airy golden vapour rose from the river breast,


The kingfisher came darting out of his crannied nest,


And the bulrushes and reed-beds put off their sallow grey


And burnt with cloudy crimson at the dawning of the day.

Do you see the CAME connecting the patchwork of garden and earth on the pic at top of Post?  (Wondering what CAME is?) Last night's post...

Last eve I was excited to share this stained glass piece created by a local artist and the CAME is the metal framework....Last night I fell to sleep wanting to make a stained glass project today using fabric....

The lineup..."PICK ME PICK ME PICKE ME!" can't you hear the imploring me?

"UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN SUN"....Title from a little MINI statement of a selvage...

and today's project....I am so excited!!!!!!!!

CELEBRATING the First Cut....

Solarized first strip of Earth....

or...

I am wanting to keep the true piece hidden until the end....This is fun playing with my new camera......

Thank you for joining me in CELEBRATING the continent Down Under...Come visit me later to see how my interp of honoring this land turns out...

Love, Em