Joy!

I couldn't stay away friends!  Sean created a vacation that we will never forget and the people I am meeting are incredible, their stories are so fun!

JOY is my Friday!!!

If you see this little red felt bag when at Starbucks, very fun to decorate with your own wonky festive spirit!  Can't wait to gift to my assistant with a little art piece that I need to quilt while traveling home on Monday.  Love to you all!  And don't you find the little Christmas lights hanging from the roof so darn cute!?

Noah loved collecting kelp scultpures on the San Diego beach and seemed wonderful to turn into our family Christmas portrait.  I love the Shaman quality of their earthy shape.

And to see Noah's face when Sean let him know that we had field side tickets to his fav football team, San Diego Chargers.....A moment I will never forget as  he was speechless...I loved the Charger girls of course!  And to be there in person to CELEBRATE the spanking of the 49ers was incredible!

Such symbolism of parent child relationship, Dad carries the surfboard and Noah has it connected to his ankle....Noah's first day surfing in the ocean and he rode wave after wave....A gifted surfer, guess his dad passed down the gene and I was screaming and dancing over and over as I watched him riding the waves!!

Tomorrow......I can't wait to share photos, I am in the land of magic tonight!

Love, Em

Isn't it fun to cut loose?!

A giggle as I say Bon Voyage until next Monday when I return to Blogland! 
Love to you and I will miss you! 

Love, EM

"TOO"sday...

Sean's tiny Day of the Dead gift for a dear friend!  TOO cute!  And last night Noah and I made pillows for his friends who loved his at a sleepover.  So much fun creating with my boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so fun going with Sean to craft store on Sunday to buy the little box and charms for adornment.  While there I saw things that reminded me over and over of friends.  Love and Laugh charms in honor of Beth at Laugh,Love,Quilt....Jenny and her Frogs project at Cut.Sew.Iron.Repeat, V's Fleur project as I was admist the silk Poinsettias and the WHOLE store when thinking of all of Vesuviusmama's projects with her boys!

And if you are familiar with Lazy Gal's collection, this gift reminds me of her!  So fun to enjoy the date and being reminded of some of the creative people in my life.

Sean creates the skull then puts on his grandpa glasses and paints this teeny face...

May your TOOsday be filled TOO fun/ love/ relaxing/ TOO much of whatever you choose!

Love, Em

My mind takes flight.......Whirling and spinning towards.......

?

"Today starts a very fun week!"..Monday's Mantra!

I am like a little girl in a candy store.....Sean in his coy little playful manner whispered to me last night, "Tomorrow starts a very fun week!"....he has planned a trip for our family and I have no idea where we are going...BUT FOR 5 DAYS I WILL BE AWAY FROM WORK- FREEDOM!!!!! and immersed in my son and husband.  We leave on Wednesday and Noah still does not know..Sean has fabulous taste in traveling so I am wondering....Will I be playing on a beach with sea gulls or.......

CELEBRATING Surprises and Freedom today! 

Anyone finish a gift today and eat lots of cookie dough?

Sean and I giggled at one another at one point when he and I were feverishly working on our gifts and humming to bluesy Christmas songs on the radio.  Sean looked at me with his Santa glasses on edge of nose and said, "We have got to learn how to relax..."  My prince is still makes my heart skip a beat and I love the holidays!!! 

I am excited to write that I have finished Thing 1's quilt and I hope you enjoy the simple quilting design that seemed to follow theme of quilt.  I took the idea from Judi at Green Fairy who did the same around the flags on my circus quilt.  Thing 2 begins tomorrow.  And Sean's Jack Skellington, how cute is he?

Love, Em

Do you have a ritual when sitting down for a creative moment at the sewing machine?

When Roxy and I are about to have a sewing date, I love to choose music on Pandora Radio that matches my mood, A warm cup of coffee and....I admit I have never gathered a train, drum or litle owl... Coulson may be on to something this morning as he sews with my sis! 

Can you relate? Are you listening for the whispers amidst this busy season?

May "fmaily, hope LOVE, and strength" be at the root of your day and the days to come!

Love, Em

"S"...ome-thing about Mary....oaring wine....eussical tar....

Sean is back in the creative saddle and made a little clay creation and box to CELEBRATE a favorite symbol of our marriage..

.WHEN PIGS FLY! 

Never thought that a man could be so wonderful and then one blind date my view of marriage all changed! We have collected these pigs ever since!

...."YES!"

Mary Engelbreit, Mary Lou Weidman, Mary of Nazareth, "Marry me?", "Merry Christmas!" 

"YES!" there is something about Mary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have done it, I have put away the piecing projects and am quilting the Seussical Stars....Roxy is rusty but that is the beauty of WONKY, mistakes can appear planned :).

And yep, I have used my letters from Tonya's International Holiday project into the back for Timothy's Seussical Star Christmas quilt......

and now the night is here....

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH......"

"1-2-3-4, Let's have a thumb war!"

"1-2-3-4...Let's have a thumb war!" 

I love how Horton is hoping for some juicy news as he quietly listens.....

I have always enjoyed the waves and smiles of crossing guards at Elementary schools.  While creating this schoolhouse for the 7 Dwarves, I think of all the waves I have CELEBRATED and the dedication of individuals in the early hours and cold mornings that keep our children safe! 

What are you CELEBRATING today?

Love, Em

A Special Gift is Kindness.....Includes everything...AND the kitchen sink!

We started the day together CELEBRATING "TH"oughtful acts for "TH"ursday and I was so inclined to create a little house to CELEBRATE today. Tonight I sing you a lullaby by Sharon Steed...

(KINDness begins in the home)

"A special gift is kindness, Such happiness it brings.  When I am kind to others, My heart sings!" How fun that I can remember my Primary song from 10's of years back!  Sean and I had giggle over this memory.

Love, Em

"Practice Random acts of Kindness"......It's "TH"oughtful "TH"ursday!

The pic placement is RANDOM and I am going with it! 

This photo of an inspiring painting was on top of my computer this morning when I awoke.  I went to bed early last night and Sean had placed the picture on my computer for me to find if I awoke in the middle of the night to work on a project...He knows me so well :).  And the love note attached, ..." 'TH'ought you might like this little piece of inspiration.  Love ya"......Noah and Sean tease me that I say "this could be turned into a quilt" about so many things I see around me......And this painting has that quote written all over it!  I think the flowers may need to be Kaffe Fassett flowers though :)!

CELEBRATE and leave a comment of how someone's thoughtfulness  blessed your life today or how you secretly said, "I love you" to someone dear or a total stranger! 

Love, Em

Star LIght Star Bright,,,

An early piece that is still not quilted.. but seemed a fun way to CELEBRATE this season.

Now the stars would be wonky....

Celebrating Plaid!

When wearing my plaid for med visits to the field, I think of you all who love thrift shops and the treasures you celebrate on your blog!  If you feel so inclined, CELEBRATE by leaving a comment of your favorite plaid item!  And snow seems kind of Christmasy!

Char from ClothStitched graciously sent me a photo of her favorite purse and I love that she titiled the jpg as "special".  Goes so nicely with my jacket!   

Anyone else giggle to see what the purse is sitting on as it poses for photo-shoot!  I can always tell a "dyed-in-the-wool" quilter when the blue cutting board is a part of the photo!!!

Keep the photos coming of your plaid fun-ness! 

When God Made You, send this to someone that you love in your life!

LOVE is my WOW for Wedneday and when I found this song it spoke to me.  Although it alludes to a man and woman falling in love, the message is so much bigger.  Who do you think of, send them a copy!

I am not ready for the CELEBRATION to be over....

When I think of Blogland I think of "LOVE".  Whether I am happy, sad, anxious or experiencing strong grief, I feel a sense of comfort and support and love at this little avenue of mine and as I visit other's "homes".  Last evening Tonya posted a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the LOVE and posted a block that was my initial inspiration for the LOVE letters in my above wonky miniature.  Seemed like a fun way to prolong the TONYA celebration.

Wednesday's Winner and what is your WOW for today?

Jenny's "JOY" is giggling as I whisper that Judi from http://karatequilter.blogspot.com/ is the winner of the final giveaway prize, WORD PLAY QUILTS book.  Congrats, Judi!!! 
I appreciate all the fun I had playing with you all this past week as we counted down the book release for Tonya and look forward to another giveaway in the near future...And last but not least....

In the late hour of Tuesday night, Magpie Sue sent me an email that her block on the cover of the book was "PLAY".  How fun that we gave it such honor over the past week with fun photos and then to have the artist reveal herself at the witching hour.  Visit her at http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com/ and CELEBRATE her quilts and personality.  I visit her blog and get inspired over  and over by each quilt and cheer her on about her cute wonky house block, it is adorable!!!!  And her yellow star quilt, breathtaking.and.......YOU GET THE IDEA!

One Thing.....to say........

.....CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it amazing how you turn two words around and they take on completely new meaning.  THING ONE is complete for the twin's Christmas quilt but wanted rearrange the order and place with new fabric for a final post to say good night to all on this amazing International Tonya Holiday!!

Tomorrow morning the 3rd book winner will be announced before I head to the woods to find mustangs and assess stinky feet :>).

Love, Em

"W"......Winner Winner.....This party is rockin! And one book still to be given away!!!!

After a great group of ladies trying their hand at the party game......and submitting some fab guesses....

Lauren and Sara have the winner....Envelope please!......

In case you want to guess one more time in your competitive heart.... The word I posted as a WIP belonged to the Wonky Seuss quilt for Raiden and this Seuss quilt will have same word but different number for Timothy....."THIN"......Have a guess with this clue?  (The giveaway hint is that they are my twin nephews and this is their 1st Christmas if you are new to my blog)

And the winner of Tonya's book is......

"J"eepers, Shannon, You are the new owner of Tonya's book for guessing "THING" and even knew the last of 1 and Thing 2....Nice game playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 winners announced, 1 to go! 

The giveaway is open until midnight tonight and the 3rd winner will be announced tomorrow morning or the middle of the night if I wake up with creative inspiration.  The original giveaway is submitting a photo of a word block or word quilt or a picture that depicts a word block on the cover of Tonya's new book and you will be put in a drawing.  Put a link on your blog and tell me and you get an additional chance.  Keep the pics coming and enjoy the older posts of others who have played in the giveaway this weekend! 

Michele submits a fabulous entry that exemplifies the game...

"KISS"

What is your entry?

Love, Em

What's a party without a game! Play and you could win Tonya's book!!!!

The pic is as wonky as the project and hence a little more challenging for the party game!!!  So....  In honor of Tonya, What word am I creating for this project? 

First person to guess wins a copy of WORD PLAY QUILTS!  GO!!!!!

And guess what.....I called in sick so that I could sew these words on National Tonya Day!!! How is that for a fancy virus!

Love and good luck, Em