Bunnies and Trees

Good evening!

I wanted to stop by and leave a few pictures. In addition to quilting and baking, I have a sick husband. A sick husband that has to go back to work tomorrow night. I'm bummed, he's bummed and the children were full of tantrums tonight.

Since this is a quilting blog, I will start with a Giving Tree teaser...

I did this odd lighting and angle because I wanted the gold flecks in the material to shine. And I'm not too good at photography. I love working on this quilt. It is very similar to the quilt I made, while pregnant with my son, for my son. It stirs all sorts of happy pregnancy emotions up for me. Plus, I eat chocolate for two while working on it.

The quilt is based on a Super 9 block with appliqued trees and birds. I SITD and FMQ for this particular quilt. I have already gotten my SITDing done and hope to get the free motion done tomorrow. I haven't picked out a binding yet. I love making binding. It is so freeing to break loose from premade binding. If I have a chance, I will take you all through making your own continuous bias binding and how to finish it off, perfectly.

This quilt is backed in one of my favorite fabrics of all time. Oddly enough, I got it at Ikea. You will have to wait for those pictures, when the quilt is finished.

Besides caring for the sick and quilting, I did a little baking....

At the request of Emma, I made 18 bunny cupcakes for her school birthday celebration. Her birthday is over the summer but the school encourages celebrating summer birthdays at some other time, during the school year. I love seeing what I can create with a little cake and frosting, so there is no request I haven't tackled. For her 4th birthday, I did a 3 tier, 3-D Lightening McQueen. I have no clue how I am going to top that this year. YIKES! I have to admit, it is so much fun. I get to pretend for a moment that I am Cake Boss.

Here is my first attempt to get a picture of her with her cupcakes:

Here is my 10th attempt:

And I must say, the two less than pretty cupcakes tasted great!


Two last things, Joann shoppers and iPhone users there is now a Joann's app!! I had noticed that I didn't receive any in store coupons via email in a month. Last week, I received an email that there was an app and the app has COUPONS!! I tested it out earlier this week and my purchase went smoothly. I used a circular coupon and phone coupon with no problem.

Right now, Joann's is having their winter sale. I made out like a bandit earlier this week and plan on going again this weekend.

Get to shopping!!

Namaste
~SLBY

Very busy week ahead....

Good evening!

I have finished the appliqued blocks for The Giving Tree quilt. I hope to have that pieced by tomorrow and binded by the end of the week. If I get a chance tomorrow, I will tease you all with a few pictures.

Emma will be celebrating her half birthday at school on Thursday. The school encourages kids with summer birthdays to celebrate them during the school year. So, at her request, we will be make chocolate bunny cupcakes.

I'm also gearing up for my first show in April. I am a bit nervous. Fortunately, I am too excited to be concerned about my nervousness. Lots of planning is involved. And *LOTS* of fabric shopping. I truly believe I quilt, as an excuse to buy fabric. Nothing makes me as giddy as fabric. Well nothing besides lists. I *LOVE* making lists. Which is good because I need to make some lists in preparation for the show. I love buying list making supplies. White dry erase boards, colorful Sharpies, post it notes, and on and on and on.

What is it about office supplies that is so fun and comforting? I remember when I worked, before becoming a SAHM, and we would receive our shipment of supplies. It was like freaking Christmas. Or a pack of hungry wolves being thrown a fresh lamb. Depending on your office environment. And there was always a gate keeper to the supplies, who took their gatekeeping job just a tad too seriously. It was as if their entire life built to this moment of deciding who was going to get *the* purple pad of Post-it Notes and who was stuck with the regular yellow ones. I will admit to kissing a rear or two for those damned purple notes. Pride doesn't make me quite as happy as bright, cheery purple Post-it Notes.



I digress...


Which will happen a lot around here....


Between my planning, list making, mad shopping frenzies, cupcakes and regular life, I might be scarce until the end of the week. I will try to continue fitting in blog time a little each night.


I wanted to end today with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.:

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

This quotes reminds me to stay grounded to my beliefs, regardless of the challenges and controversy I may face. And more importantly, to teach my kids to do the same.


Namaste,

~SLBY