Scrappy Hearts

Hugs and Kisses

Chocolate Hugs and Kisses that is. 

The mystery quilt was called X’s and O’s which I translated to mean hugs and kisses. I named this quilt Chocolate Hugs and Kisses just because of the preponderance of the color brown in the fabrics I selected. I generally tend to select brighter colors. Okay, who am I kidding, I generally tend to select fabrics that are blue and white. Period. For this quilt, I stepped outside my box. 

This photo is of two rows pinned together. By tomorrow evening I should have all five rows sewn together. By the end of the weekend, the three borders on and the quilt top ready to go out to the quilter. Good thing too, I have other quilts that are calling my name!

Happy

Tonight I spent a little time with Jason, car hunting and then a quick dinner. During the time while we were driving around we spoke about my upcoming wedding. You see, I would love for my son to walk me down the aisle. Well, it’s not really an aisle more of a winding path along side the bed and breakfast. In any case, I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject so I just casually mentioned it while we were driving and he seemed more than happy to do it and this made my day.

I also broke the news to him that he would be responsible for holding onto our wedding bands - this he agreed to reluctantly. When he realized that it would be for just a short period of time - he acquiesced. I am thinking that too long would have been just a wee bit too much responsibility for mom’s big day.

Really looking forward to our wedding and time to spend with Mark as well as my children. Planning has been really low key, trying to keep it as stress-free as possible. I am grateful to family and friends that understand our need to keep it simple, understanding that we have just this little bit of time together before Easter Sunday finds us back in the airport heading to two different houses. Hoping that we find a way to be together soon.

Lucky

"This is true love. Do you think this happens everyday?"

Quote from the Princess Bride

Quilt Show

I love attending quilt shows. I just love to see what people create and the way they use color. One of our local quilt guilds held their bi-annual quilt show this weekend and I was up bright and early to be one of the first through the door. 

Star blocks are one of my favorites. I found this quilt which just happens to be the Mystery Quilt that I am currently working on in my class at The Little Shop. The star blocks are very subtle in this version.

I love the colors this quilter chose and although I know that I will love my version of the quilt, I am now tempted to try making it in brighter colors. I purchased fabric to make the same quilt in batiks so I think I will be busy for quite a while.

Dear Jane is a project that I have been tempted to undertake since I first saw the book in my local shop. I purchased the book thinking that I would use my reproduction prints and work on one quilt block at a time, slowly completing the entire project. My life has not slowed down enough for me to do that just yet, but someday. I had never seen the entire quilt completed until yesterday. 

I thought the Dear Jane quilt would be an easy project to work on block by block, then I saw the number of blocks and I thought, “not so much." The blocks are smaller and involve not only piecing, but also applique. Seems daunting, but perhaps once I start it will seem more manageable. 

One of my favorite quilts from this show was this bargello quilt.

I love the movement of the colors. The way everything seems to swirl. Beautifully done.

As I mentioned earlier, the star block is one of my favorite patterns. I loved this shabby chic quilt that was created using four large star blocks. I have some of this style fabric in my stash, perhaps a quilt like this should be put on my agenda.

I am always inspired by the eye candy provided by the quilt gallery. I leave with lots of ideas running through my head. Too bad I don’t have the time to sit and follow through with all of those ideas. No wonder I have a constant headache!

Pennies for Patients

This year our school participated in the Pennies for Patients campaign sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The campaign in our building lasted two weeks and ended on March 25th. Our students raised over $4,000 by bringing in pennies and spare change. What a great lesson in the value of community, everyone contributes and the impact is big.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has always been one of my chosen charities. When I was very small, a young boy in our neighborhood was diagnosed with leukemia. Unfortunately, in 1965 there were not very many treatment options. This young man passed away when he was only 6. To this day, I remember him, vividly. 

The students in my class raised over $250, which they proudly counted Thursday afternoon. Mostly coins, mostly their own money. Do you know how much $250 in coins weighs?

They had fun, learned a great deal and made a difference. A great opportunity.

Night Out

I do not consider myself a social being, really. I tend to shy away from groups, most times preferring to be alone. So, when Robin told me that I needed to keep Friday night open, I was worried. But, Robin does know me and well, she and my friends from work planned a perfect evening out. Just us girls!

We had wine, delicious food and a great time relaxing and catching up with each other.

 I had such a good time. Ate too much. Drank too much. Giggled just enough! Really enjoyed spending time with these special ladies, away from work!

Time to Create

Around here, the weeks fly by, fast and furious. As much as I try to limit my outside commitments, it always seems that I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off. This year, for whatever reason, it seems so much worse.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are the absolute worst in terms of my schedule. Wednesdays I work until 4 then there’s professional development until 6 and then a quilt class from 7 - 9. Thursday - work until 4 and then tutoring for just about 3 hours. By the time Thursday evening finds me at home - I am exhausted. But tonight I am inspired to continue on. Yes, my mystery quilt has been revealed. The blocks are gorgeous and now that I can see light at the end of the tunnel, I want to finish the quilt, NOW. 

Won’t it be great? My absolute favorite quilt block is the star and this star, in the corner, with the blue and light brown fabric, really pops. This quilt calls for three borders and depending on the colors I choose for the two inner borders, I think the quilt will really be striking.

The Venue

We sat on the porch enjoying the beautiful spring day that was Saturday. A wide, pleasant porch that will serve as the venue for our wedding ceremony, one month from today.

Really, we had never been to the Rosemary House. This was our first visit! We chose it as the location for our wedding based on the fact that it was the only bed and breakfast in downtown Pittsboro. We love Pittsboro so it just seemed right. 

We sat with Karen, our lay minister that will perform the ceremony. We shared with Karen the history of our relationship and practiced our vows. Everything felt “right."

Jason will walk me down the gravel path that leads from the garden to the front porch. The wedding will take place on the wrap-around part of the porch on the right hand side as you look at the house. We will be staying at the Rosemary House on Friday night after the wedding and Saturday night before we both need to head back to work and our different states on Sunday. 

I am not very traditional. We will have a small wedding, maybe a total of six guests including my children. After which we will stroll across the street to have dinner at the General Store Cafe. Another one of our favorite places. Low key, low stress, easy, just the way we like things to be. 

Hoping to end up at the Carolina Brewery where we will enjoy some local ales with anyone that cares to join us. I am thinking this will be perfect! 

Together

That’s right, Mark and I were together for a weekend, and it was good fun. We are a silly couple!

Super Moon

Yup, a self portrait in the light of the Super Moon. I really love the hokey self-portraits!

A blessing that the clouds moved to allow us this very special glimpse of a very special full moon.