a special invitation

My Aunt Susan invited her sisters and their daughters to a Quilting Retreat.  Aunt Susan has been involved with many quilting groups and wanted to share something she loved with us.  Me, a beginner was excited to learn a new skill. 

The invitation included a whole bunch of delightful things:

a light dinner

a make and take (with all the supplies in cute gift bags)

quilt project instructions

all night quilting fun

breakfast the next morning

and lunch

I learned all sorts of new things...how to stitch in the ditch, cathedral windows, how to safely use a rotary cutter, plus had great conversations with some wonderful women.

We started the night with this fun make and take - snap bags.  A tape measure is cut apart and sewed into the top edge to give the bag a fun "snap" closure. 

Then onto the big project - a pieced rag quilt. 

I opted to make my project into a table runner. 

My first task was to cut out a bagillion 137 of these petal thingies

and 60 squares.  Aunt Susan had some helpful tips to get it done faster, thank goodness!

Next was sewing the squares together.  This is where you found out how "square" your cutting was.

 We pressed our seams and got the top laid out over the batting and back.

Then we pinned a row of petals in place. 

Our cozy sewing room. 

 Then onto sewing the petals in place.  You have a continuous figure 8 stitch all the way down each row to attach the petals on both sides.  Then you turn the project the other direction and repeat sewing rows of petals so that all four sides of each square has a "cathedral window" around it. 

This project took me a total of 10 hours to complete - just enough to mark off a personal progress goal!

After it is washed you get the rag effect.

Ta-Da!  Not too shabby for my first quilt.  - Thanks to a great teacher!

Let's do it again!

a {SNEAK} Peak

I have had an itch.  An itch for something new.  This always happens after Christmas decor gets put away and the house just seems blah.  I anticipate Spring and get tired of "hibernating" day after day in my old spaces of my house.  This time the itch was worse than years past.  Then it hit me.  I was truly BORED.  Bored of my house completely.  I realized this was the longest time we have stayed put in one place since we where married 13 1/2 years ago.  6 years in one place really isn't a long time is it? 

When we bought our current house we never intended to stay very long. We thought we would have moved on by now.  However, things change and life happens.  For the time being we are staying put and not going anywhere anytime soon.  So how to relieve the itch?  Redecorate!

I was tired of the old so down came everything!  Every wall was bare, every cabinet top cleared and it was quite refreshing.  It made the space look so clean and new.  I had a blank canvas for a week as I contemplated what I wanted to do. 

I knew I wanted to remove all the dark decor and brighten things up, adding a splash of color.  I knew I did not want to paint my living room and kitchen/dining. So I asked for some help.  Isn't it good to have fabulous friends?  Katie, the interior decor enthusiast and previous owner of my home recently started her own decorating blog.  Check out all her fabulous ideas.  Laura, owns Lemon Tree Interior Design and luckily moved in behind me. 

Katie helped with great tips to brighten a space with accessories.  I learned from Laura to just buy things I like and then figure out how to put all the pieces together.  Also, don't shop for something to go in a specific place.  So with that in mind I really enjoyed my recent shopping trips.  The first trip I brought everything home and decided I didn't like any of it - so back to the store it went.  My next store visits went dreamily.  Ahhh... the treasures I found!

I am still waiting on my special order fabric to come in from JoAnn Fabrics to make my box pleat valances and throw pillows.  I am still saving my pennies for the new rug and art work but I am giddy with delight over the progress that has been made so far!

The end table will be painted cream and I am also debating painting the black chairs and table legs too. 

Working with some old pieces I moved my entry table to be used as my new side table.  I love having the lighter colors incorporated with my black sofas.

 I am still letting everything settle before I officially decide on the final look. Therefore, price tags are still attached. 

I replaced the empty space in my entry with this re purposed dresser.  I was happy to be able to incorporate some of my Valentine decor too.

While I wait for my fabric to arrive I am moving on to the bedroom.  Now to decide on the perfect blue to replace my red walls. 

Jazz date

Ryan scored some super great seats (22nd row) to the Jazz game against the Cavaliers.  He had 4 tickets and I was lucky enough to be one of the people he chose to join him. 
It was a fun game to watch in person and the Jazz killed the Cavaliers, which I guess isn't saying much but hey it was a win.

 Ryan and Nick went and talked to Thurl Bailey during half time.  Nick had promised Thurl he would bring him some old school pictures of him.  Melanie and I watch the half time show where a lady rode a 15 ft. unicycle while tossing bowls onto her head with her feet.  She ended up catching all 15 bowls it was amazing!   Here Ryan is telling us all about touching Thurl Bailey's nipple.  (ask Ryan for more details)

Here is a baby Gee for my niece Lucy's collection.

Our Diva

Ready for church.  (please ignore the bottle, we are working on that).

Pey has a love of makeup.  She is always getting into my bathroom drawers and experimenting.  Wow! 
what a beauty!

This girl definately has attitude.  The other day we were in a store being followed by another shopping cart and Peyton didn't like it.  She kept yelling at them, saying "No!, No!"

Eating Competition

The top pear was eaten by Stockton

The bottom pear (yes, that was a pear) was eaten by Peyton.

I think we have a clear winner.

~Ringing in 2011~

We celebrated the last night of 2010 at Travis' 80's party. 

 

Looking back over this past year here is our families year in review:
We learned to be more frugal

Peyton turned ONE
Returned to Ryan's stomping grounds

Family week long staycation in Park City

I lost both my Bartholomew grandparents within 12 days of each other.
Hiked White Pine
Made it to the top of Inspiration Point
Ethan lost his first tooth
We began "dog-sitting" for a year

Ethan started 2nd Grade

Stockton started his last year of Preschool

Ethan and Stockton were soccer stars

Ryan had his wrist reconstructed

Visited the Uintas

Had an adventure with neighbors at the City of Rocks
Enjoyed Hunting/Fishing and Girls Get-a-ways
Mandi left Cubscouts and joined Young Women's
Experienced a Flood

Here's to 2011!

{five} Frogs

Grandma Lewis was ambitious this year and made everyone a special gift.  Most got hats and scarves but my family got slippers - these cute frog slippers. 

I guess it was the "Green" name that said this was the perfect gift for us.  We love them.  Thanks Grandma!

Christmas Morning {2010}

The kids were so tired from Christmas Eve activities we had to wake them up at 8 am to open presents.  I always remember the anticipation of Santa coming when I was younger and the excitement continues for me. 

Santa had brought surprises for all!

The boys got remote control trick cars, games, goggles, basketballs and treats.  Peyton got a baby and stroller, some headbands, a ballerina outfit and treats. 

The presents seemed never ending and they kids loved EVERYTHING!  Ethan said it was the "Best Christmas EVER!"  The boys really like their diji and leapster explorer game systems and Peyton loves trying on all of her dress-up clothes complete with shoes and tiaras. 

Ryan got his D. Will T-shirt that involved a trip to Salt Lake to get the right one (why don't the local stores sell jazz apparel?).  He was thrilled to have it!  I was surprised by a new jacket and perfume.

Grandma made Ethan a new blanket and surprised him with his favorite book.

Stockton got a new movie and cars.

Ryan wasn't so thrilled about getting beat up even more by the kids since the Karate Kid brings out their inner ninjas. 

Who knew they made these anymore?  Peyton loves her jack in the box.

Grandma Bartholomew had a tradition of giving each of her great-grandchildren a copy of the Book of Mormon with her and Grandpa's picture and testimony inside.  Jess didn't think she would get a copy for Kaitlyn since she was born after Grandma died.  But Grandma was prepared and had the book set aside for her before she died.  Dad brought it home from Grandma's house just before Christmas and it was a special present under the tree.  It was the present that brought us all to tears this year. 

                                

As always we are spoiled on Christmas.  We love our families and all they do for us.  We are truly blessed!

Chrismas Eve

Christmas Eve was actually relaxing this year.  Maybe because it was a Saturday, maybe because I got my shopping done so early.  Ryan went ice fishing in Idaho so I took the kids to finish up a last minute gift.  We were coming home from Logan and were driving near the temple.  The boys begged to go to their favorite playground.  Luckily for them it wasn't a "White Christmas" -  sure it seems more like Christmas with snow on the ground but sometimes you have to look on the positive side of things.    They had a great time running around.  They finally came back to the car when their hands got too cold to stand it any more.

We got ready for the family Christmas Eve party at Ryan's parent's house and the kiddos got to open up their "one" present - new jammies!

The party was full of yummy food and fun games.  We did a little program of the navity story with Grandma playing the accordian and Ryan and I playing our Violins.  Tabatha played us a song that she just learned on her violin and Kelby and Makady sang a song too.  The kids got good and tired and were ready for Santa to visit. 

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