Jelly Roll Race

We have this fun event we host at ETC. called a Jelly Roll Race.  We've had a new one each calendar and each time a new quilt has evolved for it. Alot of you have seen the original one we did a couple years ago as it's all over the place but new patterns evolve and we race to a new one each time so they are totally new quilts! Patterns for all the different ones we've done are in the works so you'll see those soon.   The jelly rolls for our next one are ready and so are we!  I've been working on our version at work the last couple days and it's now ready to be quilted.  When you come you'll get to pick one of the kinds of jelly rolls, one is batik...on the right...the other is fun bright cottons.  For this pattern you'll also get a piece of an alternate fabric that you will choose the color on.  We have you do some prep for a while, I think we've invited everyone to bring a snack to share before the race begins.  Soon you'll hear the sound of the start of the Kentucky derby music and then it's off.......the machines are zooming.  March 26th is the date.  The winner gets their quilt machine quilted and there is always lots of laughter and fun.  Julie is back in Ireland, she won the last 2 races so unless she's making a magical appearance someone else will have a fighting chance.  We always wondered about that converter box for the power on her machine!!! :-) right Julie! So get your machines oiled up, bobbins wound, it really is possible to get a quilt top whipped out in a day, join us for the Jelly Roll Race!!!!

Mystery Quilt Class at ETC

We have a great Mystery Quilt class coming up at ETC.  It's in April , a 2 part class so I got started on mine.  The price will include the 2 classes and all your fabrics for your top, you choose from whatever you like at ETC.  I decided to do mine with a light I had, a medium I bought and then the darks I had are going to be scrappy.  It's been fun to work on, Mystery quilts are fun if you have never done one, you'll enjoy it.  I'll show you my quilt once the class is over since then it wouldn't be a "mystery", until then, this is your little sneak peek of my fabrics.  

New/old ( sorta) job

So I"m adding another little position to my life.  ETC offered to have me work the floor again so I'll be there now each Monday starting in Feb.  When I first started there 2 1/2 years ago I worked the floor helping people, cutting fabric and point of sale, then I had a design day and teaching days.  When we got so busy with classes then they pulled me to keep me in the classroom.  So now we've arranged all classes on Tuesday thru Thursday so I can go back on the floor too. Crazy thing is that they've acquired a whole new computer system this year which I barely muddle thru to check my class rosters.  So I've spent some time in the last week learning the whole system... so glad I know lots about everything else....or at least I fake it....Soooooo here we go brain, figure it out! I'll enjoy seeing all the people on Mondays so come see me!

It's a MONKEY!

Here's our fun little Monkey all ready for class at ETC.  The class is Baby Oh Baby....our once a quarter baby quilt class, so you can stash a baby quilt here and there so you are ready when you need them!

Feb 12 and 26 - a 2 part class, come see how fun this guy is to make! You should see the back, it's got soft minkie on it with monkeys of course! 

Pies and Party Prep

That fun we had this past weekend, Amy asked if we could help with party prep and pie baking for Aiden's birthday party!  So after a busy morning of visiting, pinewood derby race we went to their house and all pitched in to get ready for a big 9th birthday party the next day!  Amy and I started out on pies while Ken and Chris got to chores of cleaning and outside cleanup.

 Aiden requested Apple pies instead of birthday cake so as replys to come enjoy a celebration came in so did the pie number.  I love baking pies so it was fun to do it together!

 Ken got in on the chopping as the pies were in the oven, we moved on to several mexican food recipes so all would be ready the next day.  Home made chicken taquito's, a mexican shredded chicken. We started dinner prep, Chris was grilling a flank steak.

 All ready to go.....boy did they smell good!

Pinewood Derby

Well it's been YEARS since we attended a pinewood derby race. We got to enjoy Aiden's Boyscout Pack's official Race!  All the cars weighed in and ready to race.

 If you've never been to one, it's quite the event, all computerized...the screen in the front had the race participants as each one came up for each of their 4 races.....cute with the checkered flags!

 Aiden's car on the right....orange!  he won one of his races!

 Each boy sat "in the pitt" to watch their car.  Who was next was always at the bottom of the screen.

 Amy and Garrett, they had just come from 2 basketball games...

 Ethan was excited about the sour patch kids candies we found in my purse!

 And Aiden with his car!  Their den did great with one of the boys winning the race overall!

Our Evening with the little "B's"

Ken and I got to spend an evening this week with our little B Grandsons.  MB had to teach, Chris was on a trip so we got to pick them up at day care.  Bode came running out so excited, in fact Miss Robin said he'd been telling her all that week that we were picking him up!  So off we went to McDonalds for some fun....Ken with little Brock...he loved those strings on Ken's jacket, amazing how he can grab them now and yes...put them in his mouth!

 Sorry for the rough photo's, Bode is hard to catch with an iphone camera!

 Brock you are a beautiful baby boy!

 This was one of our ice cold days, so bundled up we left!

 Off to their house for playing.  Mommy would be home by bedtime so we just played and had a great time!  Brock is sitting so great now, still tips over here and there but he has such a strong straight back now.

 Reaching for toys, not overly coordinated with those hands yet but most things go right to the mouth!

 Rides on Papa's back, time to play with a race car, books to read, ice cream to eat, we had fun!

The 4 K's in AZ

What a great morning yesterday, Ken and I drove by a few homes to deliver fruit and then to his parents house to see our Niece and her family here from Washington State.  This was our first time to meet little Keaton and it was so fun to get to visit and play for a bit!

 Grandpa the Great and Keaton...

 Kiana...chewing on her bottom lip....still a doll!

  Kevin, Kristin, Kiana and Keaton we are so glad you came to visit! Beautiful children!

Thornberries quilt meeting in Jan.

We had a very relaxing meeting with friends this month for my Thornberry quilt group.  Sue made a pot of soup, perfect on a very cold day.  We had egg salad and yummy bread, 2 salads and Lorene made a smores cake!  gotta have that recipe!  

Sue has the center of our churn dashes together, we did all these blocks together in a swap. mine are in a baggie of course!

 Lorene is working on this fabulous quilt in her redwork group...

 And another swap is being discussed, we are all enjoying using our fabrics and trading all kinds of things to use them up.  Right now we are thinking of trading the center 9 patch and just the corner pieces for the outside triangles so everyone can use what they like for the light.  Always something to keep your mind being creative!  Thanks gals for the fun relaxing time!

Zoo Lights!

We made it!  Finally after the 3rd attempt we got there!  Pizza and a starbucks treat and we had a blast!It's always fun to see what is new each  year!Thanks for treating us to a fun evening 

Amy and Chris!  

New Years day at Amy's

What fun on New Years evening to get invited to Amy's house for Cheese fondue supper and a dip in the new spa!

 All kinds of yummies for everyone to try, from fruit to sausages to potatoes and veggies! Yummy!

 Then we did this craziness, but oh did it feel good!  We literally ran out to the heated spa 102 degrees, you can see the steam!  How fun, all 7 of us.  Ethan wasn't above water to much but to catch a breath!  Trying out his new Christmas swim goggles and dive toys!  Hard to get everyone to sit still, but this shot shows the fun!  We rotated all 7 of us around the jets trying each one.  We didn't overflow the water to bad but there sure wasn't as much in there after we all got out!

 We went inside then to play a game and decided to whip up some chocolate fondue to try since we had a few goodies we could dip!  There wasn't any left when we finished! What a fun time!

Class Mate Class

If you want a handy little tote, this one is for you!  We taught this last quarter at ETC but of course we've made some changes, added a pocket or 2! Now there is a new open and zipper pocket on the back and extra pen pockets on the inside!

 Here's the inside, all ready to be Loaded up!  Tues. Jan 22nd.  We've got finishing kits for you if you want, vinyl all cut to size, zippers and the hardware.  Ready for all your handwork or art supplies!