Scraps, Chickens, Cherries and Checks

Plenty of you know that my sis, Amber,
has some serious quilting skills,

and whips quilts out like nobody's business. 

 So you might imagine how I felt when she came in town for six days

and told me to get ready to quilt! 

I was ecstatic!

I had an in-home tutor for the better part of the week,

and it was just what a newbie-quilter like me needed. 

I was able to finish my Americana Quilt topper less the final border, (pics later)

 like I had planned, and then suddenly,

 I was hit with this:

Amber found my baby bib scraps.

And what's a serious quilter do with scraps?

Make blocks!

She cut the largest sized blocks she could from all these different fabrics.

I believe they are 3 1/2 in. blocks, and she was able to cut

a significant amount, like 150! 

Then she talked me into spacing them with white blocks to give the quilt

a modern feel.  I like that it gives all the

funky patterns and colors room to breathe.

As you can see, this is something to be very proud of!

Using up scraps empowers a woman. 

I chose this fabric to use as the binding,

and I plan to use Amber's sweet little

binding tutorial on her blog. 

She was going to help me prepare the binding...

but we ran out of time.  I feel a fiasco coming on...

but I'm going to pray for good results.

I tend to get a wee bit frazzled when it comes to cutting fabric. 

So who knew that when you're a visitor

you must come bearing beautiful gifts?

Apparently Amber does!

I had a feeling about these cute roosters

when I spotted them on her blog a couple days before her visit,

and even told Husband that I may be in for a surprise...

but then I felt so rude to feel entitled, because she does have a lot of friends...

But low and behold, there was this with my name on it.

She heard me say last time I saw her that I like roosters.

I especially love these colors!  Light yellow, red, black and white.

I just love the applique.  The detail is amazing,

and it is all so darn cute!

Can you see the intricate quilting?

"Chickens, Cherries and Checks."

I can't wait to hang it in our new home!

I love my sis.  We deserve to live near each other! 

It has been far too long.

Can you imagine what sort of projects we could conquer?

Sister Adventures

My Sis and I are heading out for a day of

shopping!

With no little ones!

I have two goals before I embark on this special occasion:

1) Only buy what I can't live without

2) Get some good deals!

I'm sure these are the goals of most shoppers, but I am no expert shopper. Mainly because I have very little time to do it, and especially to do so toddler-free! I'll be sure to let you know if I have success!

An Intervention

About six months ago, I was in a rut.

A hair rut.

Having had long hair for most of my life,

the possibilities may seem endless to some,

but for me,

it was the same old thing.

Then, by a chance series of events,
I met a hair whisperer.
Then there was an intervention--

a serious intervention.

In fact, I have been so pleased with the results that I wrote

this

after my first intervention.

Yes, some things are news worthy.

And I keep going back for more,
because I can't get enough.

Here is the most recent transformation while under the scissors:

BEFORE

AFTER

Here is a shot taken the day of.

This one was taken almost a week later.

This one, too.

Bonnie wanted to rid of the picture with the stop sign and instead added my little girl. Because every girl wants their picture taken, right?!

If you need an intervention, and are in or around Vancouver, Washington, visit Salon Reifine! You'll be happy you did. That's a fact.

Last three photos courtesy of Salon Reifine

A Giveaway!

About a month ago, I won a giveaway through a sweet and entertaining blogger named Alexis from I need to confess. She had some great prizes! Among them was this beautiful book of works by Jane Austen. And you know when I am presented with the possibility of a new book, my mouth practically waters. So, yes, I chose the book . Isn't it a beauty?

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Can you believe I hadn't yet owned anything by Jane Austen? Or that I haven't read Pride & Prejudice? I am slightly embarrassed to admit this since I have a degree in English, and well, it is practically basic reading in the literature world. Now that I think of it, I do recall Sense & Sensibility to be a required reading in one of my online courses. Did you put that together? Recall. Online course. Yeah, for me "distance learning" equaled "hardly learning."

Thanks again, Alexis for the beautiful book! I can't wait to bury my nose into the crisp, golden-edged pages.

While I have you here, aren't these just gorgeous? They are on my wish-list, and would be a lovely addition to my new book!

penguin books

Now for you, my dear readers!

I have been thinking of you so for some time, and am delighted to say that I have finally put the pieces together for my first giveaway!

But before I give the giveaway info, I'd like to say

Thank You!

Thank you for coming by, reading, lending advice, offering support, or even just doing the silent lurk. Thanks for being a part of what has become a special haven for me over the last year and a half. I am continuously inspired by your words and encouragement!

To show my gratitude, the winner of this giveaway will win

one of these three bookmarks.

~your choice~

They are one-of-a-kind and hand-crafted by Yours Truly. You will be able to find more of them in my Etsy shop if and when I decide to take take the plunge to create more. Any thoughts on this venture?

Here is the giveaway info:

Giveaway ends Wednesday, April 28, 11:59pm.

There are 3 ways to get an entry:

1) Leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

2) Link this giveaway on your blog (leave me a comment telling me you did so, so I can count it).

3) Become a follower. I LOVE to see your faces...and lurkers I'd love to know who you are already! I've been in the dark far too long! Plus, you'll stay informed of the next giveaways...like POST 200! But I will not lie. I am thrilled with my followers! Facebook counts. Let me know. If you are already a follower, leave a comment and you will get another entry.

Good luck on the giveaway!

Redemption Writing

Two weeks ago, I made a conscious decision to slow down, take a breather, and stop straining to fit everything into my schedule--hence the reason you haven't heard from me in a bit. Although I feel I thrive most when I am ambitious and fill my life with ALL the things I love, there comes a point when too much is too much, and either a) not a lot is getting accomplished anymore or b) things that shouldn't be on the back burner are there-- simmering.

How nice it has been to relax and not get down on myself for not being able to do it all, 100%, because really, I can't. However, my life continues in its fullness, but not in vain, instead, quite the opposite.

Last Saturday, I attended a memoir writing workshop at a little place called Writers' Dojo, in Portland, Or. It is a cozy open place to meet with other writers, and where writers come to share their ideas on the craft. There is also another building where writers can rent a space to use as a writing office. It makes for a nice little community.

I signed up for the workshop, because after having attended Wordstock, I realized that workshops are invaluable. There is nothing like attending a workshop to re-fuel the fire. I was especially interested in this workshop's writer, Kerry Cohen, a Portland based writer, and author of the memoir, Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity, and two other young adult novels.

Maybe I haven't quite relayed what I've been up to yet, but I am in the beginning stages of writing a memoir book proposal that I hope to have finished and into the hands of an agent before the Spring. When I found this workshop and saw that Cohen would be teaching, she struck me as a valuable teacher, as her work is geared toward the audience that I, too, have in mind while I write. And like her memoir, mine takes place during the same teenage years, and rings a similar tune of unraveling much too young. I know, I'm being vague?

Anyway, the workshop went well. It began with each of us writing a secret that we've never shared. Then she had us read them aloud! "This is what writing a memoir is like," she said. Initially, as I shared, I was shaking in my hands and in my voice, but by the end of the three hour workshop, I was steady and confident.

Memoir writing is therapeutic, and is a large part of why I am writing what I write. The other part of why I am writing such intimate recollections is that while I was young and as life happened, I didn't understand any of it, so I write with hopes that I can lend some direction and experience to those who are enduring a similar experience, and sadly, there are many.

At the end of the workshop, I spoke with Kerry for a moment to thank her for the class and asked if I could email her in the future. She told me that she was interested in my story and offered to be a mentor to me during my writing process. "Yes! Yes!" I said. "I would love and appreciate that!"

I left the workshop ecstatic that I'd been offered a mentorship, and with a woman who very much knows and relates with stories like mine. I knew that I couldn't pass up her class, and now I know more why. I have a feeling that she just might be an integral part in me bringing my raw truth to the page, and finding redemption in an experience that has held me captive over the years.

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My Big News...

Quick! They're asleep!...

One sad day, almost two and a half years ago, as I had sat down in my rocking chair to feed Brooklynn her first bottle of the morning, I looked down to see that my wedding ring of only a mere 16 months or so was gone. off my finger. gone. disappeared. vanished.

And I mean VANISHED!! I am not one to lose things. After tearing our small 600 sq. foot house + basement apart with the help of my Hubby, the pit in my stomach grew. I knew that it was gone; I would not find it.

As the days wore past, and after many glances down at an empty left-finger, the reality set in that I had really lost my wedding ring--the ring I failed to get insurance on; the ring that my husband chose for me and proposed with the night before my birthday; the one he couldn't wait for my birthday to give, because I was sad that night and he wanted to make it better; the only ring I ever planned to wear; the one he always said looked great on me and the one that he was proud to have given me--like he had somehow staken his claim with that very jewel.

For the next year I switched it up a little with fake bands. I say switched it up--because two of those rings turned my finger green. It was embarrassing to be at the jewelry counter and be shopping for my left ring-finger. I insisted on replacing my loss with a little something nice, as it was the least that I could do for myself as a ring-widow. It was also very awkward for me. I didn't like to appear unmarried with a toddler in my stroller and a growing belly, and because I was paranoid that some of the sales ladies didn't even believe that I was married...just that I wanted to be. I also felt cheap. I hated feeling that way especially since I knew I had lost such a beautiful wedding ring. Uhh...it really made me feel self-conscious.

After the first year of wearing fakes, Nate surprised me on our anniversary with another ring. Happy and surprised, I thanked him. My heart ached a little though, as my new ring was much different from the one that I used to have that was SO me.

Since the loss two and half years ago, we've moved three times. Each time, we've packed and looked carefully to find the missing ring. Nate and my brother-in-law searched high and low as they tore our tiny basement apart during the remodel of that house. The great mystery remained.

Last Tuesday, Brooklynn and her friend played dress-up in some of her baby clothes. Funny that that box of clothes was even in my house, as all the other boxes of too-small clothes of her's are in the garage in storage. When I finally got to cleaning up the mess on Wednesday, I sat down to fold and organize the clothes into stacks. About half-way through the pile, I felt a little something in the footsie of one of the one-piece outfits. I did a double-feel and right then, I knew exactly what I had felt.

There it was--a little dirty, but with the same glorious beauty--

My long-lost, long-loved, original wedding ring!!!!!!!!!!!!

I jumped up breathless, yelling GET-OUT!s and hightailed it to my phone to send Nate a message.

Remember this? No Way! I wrote next to the picture.

A short time later he returned my call and he couldn't believe it. While he looked at my picture-text he was asking his business partner--"Is that my house?" He couldn't believe that I had found the ring.

And neither can I. The ring is now on my finger, sized correctly, and symbolizes a lot of love and history for us.

This is what I could not wait to share! I hope none of you is let-down by my news. Who knows, maybe you were hoping I'd won a bunch of airline tickets and that I'd take you to NYC with me or to Vegas for a crazy weekend? Maybe you were thinking I had baby news, or that I had a great give-away?

In fact, I like the sound of that last thought--Give Away--since I am totally feeling the love. I'll see what I can come up with and let you know what & how you can win. Keep those eyes peeled! I've been known to bake up some serious goodness and dabble in quite a bit of crafting.

Asher's been screaming at me from his crib for a few minutes now, so I better run...

Have a GREAT night!

~C

A Girl & Her Boots

First, I'd like to say thank you for all the Birthday wishes! It was a lovely week (and day), indeed. Although I did not make it to the bookstore on my own or did I make to the lake for an early morning run like I hoped--(a run at the lake is special not just because it is at the lake, but because I get to go without toting the kiddos), I did enjoy all of the rest that was on my list:

Received my order from Powell's Books

Had some great writing sessions with lots of progress made...

Indulged in the best cupcake I have ever enjoyed from St.Cupcake

Rocked out at my bowling party

and...

Almost dropped dead when I met these beauties face-to-face!

Friends, these boots are SERIOUS! And just in time for the fall!

Actually, there is a funny story that accompanies these boots. Thursday night, two nights before my Birthday, I was standing in my room with my laptop, reading some comments left on my Birthday post and started laughing. My sis, Amber said something to the effect of--"now you go get those boots..." So, I had to ask the husband where we stood on these boots? I mean come on--I don't hint at gift ideas, well, really ever, so when he smiled the other week at my blatant want-of-a-gift, I figured we were good. Also, I must add that I DO trust his taste in picking out awesomeness as he has picked out sunglasses, my wedding ring, and the other cowboy boots that I love--so yes, I figured he'd do the job and pick out some killer boots.

So, when I asked about the boots...I received a so-so response, the kind that you know that nothing has been done about. Laughing and feeling a bit embarrassed, I told him that we were definitely in a pickle since I had posted on my blog that I was hoping for some boots--which, it's not like this was new-news or anything, right? and people have commented on me getting those boots and asked for a peak when they arrive...

Again, he laughed. Not because he was hiding a surprise, but because this blog was going to help me get those boots, dang-it.

And they sure did.

Right then and there, we began the search for the perfect boots. Husband had Laccheses in mind, and after an hour or so of searching, I laid eyes on them, and it was then that I knew that I knew what knowing-when-you-see-it is all about.

truly

A match made in cyber-space.

And even matchy-er match when they arrived on my doorstep.

And even more so, when I jerked them onto my foot--
because this is what you have to do when you put on boots that need to desperately be broken in.

I still smile when I think about them. I know. I know. Just material things--but sometimes it's a look at something so beautifully intricate that makes your day.

I know that Husband is happy that I helped him pull through, too! I had the biggest grin on my face, UNTIL...

BIG NEWS UP NEXT!

A few favorite moments from this week

Brooklynn said to me the other day,

"Mommy? Do you know what's simple?"
"What?" I asked.
"I love you," she said.

Image via boubouteatime

Tuesday morning while reading through my morning blogroll and email, I came across a much unexpected email from an author I quoted in a May blog of mine. Timothy Perrin, who wrote Ray Bradbury's Children, published in the Writer's Digest and later in Just Open a Vein, sent me some kind words of advice, encouragement, and inspiration for this writing life. As I was reading, all I could say out loud was "Shut up!" "Shut up!" or it may have been "No way!" "No way!" I can't remember. I was awe-struck and in inspirational heaven. More on this later...

An afternoon at the Camas farmers market, a huge bouquet of jewel-toned flowers, shopping at Pier 1, and an exchange with a favorite blogger of mine. Of course! I would love to be pen pals!

And how about you?

What's your favorite moment(s) of this week so far?

xoxo, C