So much to do so little time

I have been bad in not keeping up with the blog, but so much to do so little time. As the year slowly comes to a end my hands have been busy getting present mapped out, meals planned and schedules to maintain. William is about to start his finals and complete his first semester of college, he has gotten the driving part down and little by little he creeps closer to driving further out of his comfort zone (the freeway). I made my first big girl quilt for my niece a Day of the Dead theme which I gave her November 4th though it had lots of issues she did love it. I also finally got around to making my first pair of PJ's which are comfortable so now it is back to Joann's for more fabric so everyone in the family can be twinkies. This year is a handmade Christmas so I will be living in my craft room until then.

Here is a pic of the quilt and PJ's

A place I would love to go someday

In the early part of the year my hubby was supposed to get his passport for work so that if he had to travel he would be ready. He got everything together to go do it when my car and his truck got broken into, in his truck was all his paperwork, (i.e. social, birth certificate, wallet etc.) needless to say it was crazy for a time. We live in a place where it is not uncommon to not lock doors so the kids that did this hit alot of cars that night the next day they where picked up but they had ditch most of the stuff. So we had to wait 2 months to get his birth certificate since he was born in California, but once it came in they need him to get his passport quick he was heading to Scotland for two weeks. The week before he was to leave we bought my son his first car (a stick) which he didn't know how to drive only to have a few days to teach a left handed, Aspergerian 18 year old who hadn't driven in a year..believe me it didn't go so well. My son was to start his first day of college the Monday after hubby left on his trip thanks to my sister we found a way for him to get to school and I am proud to say after a month his driving has improved now we are down to one stall a month.

Hubby left for Scotland on August 22 to return home on the 4th of September it was the longest two weeks. He hadn't been to Europe since he was stationed in Germany in the late 80's. Though he was there for business he had one weekend to see Scotland so I asked him to pick up a camera to take pictures of a place I had long to see, but my fear of flying and finances have made it impossible to see. So I am sharing with you the pictures he took with a disposable camera as he spent the weekend touring around Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Scotland

Dates to remember

I am sorry for being a bad blogger, but life catches up with you and this month I had my hubby go out of country, had a bout with the seasonal blues and projects.

Today would have been my father’s 80th birthday with my mother’s following in two weeks I miss them dearly. I wish I would have said it more while you both where here how much I loved you, that you taught me the most important lessons about what true love means, to have a work ethic and above all truth in all things you do. I never appreciated those lesson until I lost you both, but everyday I hear your voices in mine, see your truth in my son and the love you gave in the family. So thank you both and Happy Birthday to you both I miss you.

Heading down the highway

So today was a momentous occasion in our home, my son got his first car. We promised him we would get him one for graduation and my hubby took the week off to check out cars. Now my hubby is notorious for his careful ways when purchasing a car, he knows what to look for since he has worked on cars most of his life along with working at a paint and body shop in his youth. He is also notorious for purchasing the first car he test drives which in this case became my son's first car, problem is it is a manual which neither my son or I can drive but we will be getting a crash course in this. He theory was since my son like me has a way to go to another planet sometimes that a manual will make sure he has to concentrate on what he is doing, plus it is something everyone needs to know how to do. Last month my son started to complain of extreme pain in his abdomen long story short after Cat Scans, blood work and a few doctor visits we have an appointment to see a gastrointornigist next week to see if it is Colitis, Crones or ulcer, this on the heels of him starting college classes. I am blessed with my family, they are the puzzle piece that completes me everyday I see the hand of God walking with them.

Through the Looking Glass

I can't draw this is a fact I have come to accept, my mother's artistic gene left me high and dry. I can doodle weird block head creatures, a wooley bugger or flowers yet true life drawing evade me. There is one thing I could always do as a child that was trace and color. I would spend hours with my coloring books, I had to have 96 crayons because 24 was just not enough (this is still true today)even as an adult I love to grab a coloring book and go to town. Then one day I was surfing the craft blogs to find a article about using watercolor pencils, watercolor paper and tracing to make a colorful piece of art. So I decide to give it a try my first one is still a secret because it is for someone special, but I will share with you the two I did for my niece. She is a great artist she inspires me when we talk everyday on the phone while heading to work, she is a talent not only in art but a beautiful poet and writer. So I did Alice and The Mad Hatter I got the art from Urban Threads for embroidery yet I had to do this for her. She is a lot like Alice in her search for herself. So here you go Amanda when you see your mom they will be there. I love you.

The story of the quilt

Saturday was the triplets 1st birthday it was the first time I had seen them since they had come home from the hospital. Boy had they grown so much they are the most adorable babies full of looks of wonderment. I have to say they are some of the most content children I have seen they enjoyed being surrounded by people. In my previous update I posted the pictures for the girls quilts which unbeknown to me I did in their colors (Gods work on that one, but I also decided I would tackle a sundress. Now I am still a novice at sewing, but I thought how hard could it be to make a simple sundress I soon learned. I spent a weekend making them only to mess them up I gave up hope that they could be saved until I spoke with my sister. With the help of my sister who taught me the importance of not sewing everything up until you make a facing (which was something new to me), snaps, zipper and such. We spent Friday working on fixing them and I hope they fit them if not I will try again this time with the knowledge my yoda has given me. Friday I also finished their son's quilt and have every intention of making him a matching space ship I had started on it but in my rush on Saturday it became clear it was not to be, but I will complete it in time for the holidays. I was able to make the girls a sock doll each with the color each of their hair again without known I did it in their colors. I wrapped the dresses in the quilt laid the dolls on top and tied it with a ribbon. I hope that it holds a special place for them as they grow older. I am finding my style in that I love making toys and quilts when the fabric speaks to me it tells a story of what I hope to give to someone. I have some Dick and Jane fabric that spoke to me telling the tale of a childhood full of innocence and to hand that tale to someone else is a true gift.

Here are the photos I took of their presents sorry so blurry I was in a rush.

Look What I Did

OK I am so happy it came out right. Friends of mine have triplets and it is their first birthday coming up so I decided to try my hand at making them each a quilt along with other stuff. I have made both the girls a doll quilt and will be making the boys tomorrow and will have additional photos of the finished project. It has been so much fun getting back to sewing after my hiatus. So without further ado.....

Front of quilt:


Back of quilt:


Front of other quilt:


Back of other quilt:


I am also getting to the TUTU's soon