Quarterly Housing Update

 We are slowly crossing off the projects on our super long list. Thanks to a visit from Grandma and Grandpa, we were able to complete some difficult ones while they entertained the grandkids! Can't thank you enough for that, Bob and Carol.

New tile layout. All cut and labelled.

Layout looking the other direction.

Hard-working tile cutter, covered in tile dust!

Tile grouted and face trim added.

Half the foundation painted. All finished now, but no photo to share.

Fruit trees in blossom.

Tulips against new foundation paint.

Ornamentals in bloom. Pear (white) and almond (pink).

Quarterly Kid Update!

The boy having a tea party

Smoothie mustache

Two smoothie mustaches

Easter fun

Concentration required: Making a train track while working on potty training.

Pioneer Park in Pendleton

Pioneer Park as well

Rummikub with Grandma

Alphabet train puzzle with Grandpa

Painting together

Don't interrupt the artist for pictures when she is working on an abstract painting!

All about the sunglasses!

Quarterly Quilt Update

Things are busy in the world of quilting. First up is a commissioned quilt I made for the daughter of some friends. This quilt stretched my quilting abilities as it was neither a color choice I would have chosen, nor a friendly size to wrestle through my machine. In the end, all parties were super excited about the finished product, especially its 13 year old recipient!

Beautiful B&W print by Alexander Henry

 A second quilt I finished was a collaborative effort with Emily for our mutual friend's new baby. The rainbow side is mine. Em and I weren't going for matchy-matchy, but we did want the two sides to look nice together. Apparently we are good quilting team because there was surprisingly little need to haggle over any of the decisions. I did the quilting and the binding and Em got to check it out in person when she visited the baby.

Kona Solids and Birdie Spokes by Jay-Cyn for Birch Fabrics

 

 The final finish thus far is a birthday quilt for Sarah. What older sister doesn't deserve a nice birthday quilt? Don't tell the other sibs, but I am going to try to make one for each of them this year! And hopefully one for Dad as well, since Mom got one last year. After months of prompting Sarah for her favorite color and color combinations, this color combinations for this quilt were conceived. The inspiration for this quilt was a sampler of Amy Butler's Midwest Modern in Ohio Sky palette. I added some Kona solids, a couple bird prints from Joel Dewberry, and an Anna Maria Horner print. I love the way the dark pluses pop out, but all the fabrics work so well together.

More projects to come!

 Some completed projects that have kept me pretty busy the past few months:

New oven mitt for Kyle

Oven mitt and apron for Eve

Oven mitt for Lisa

Eve's birthday apron.

Ferguson oven mitts

Baby quilt back

Baby Quilt front

Gift bag for one of Clare's friends.

For the preschool

Close up

Apron for Gretchen

Another view

New Cat in the Hat pajama bottoms!

Stockings for Kids

I'm not sure where I saw it first, but as soon as I saw Purple Panda Quilts' request for individuals to make stockings for kids in foster care situations, I knew I had to make one...or two. I knew I could do it since I made stockings for us last year. It was just a matter of buying some appropriate fabric and getting to work.

I sure hope these stockings can help brighten the holidays for a couple kids who deserve a smile or two!

End of Summer, Early Fall

Somehow, summer has come and gone and we are now left with leaves changing color, cooler temperature, and two little munchkins with birthdays fast approaching. We logged a lot of miles at the end of August with a trip to Petty Creek, Gig Harbor, and Bend. We saw all the grandparents, some aunts and uncles, Flathead Lake, the Missoula County Fair, stayed in a hotel with a POOL, went to the zoo, played in another pool (Juniper Rec Center in Bend - Awesome!) with a water slide, and drove, and drove, and drove, and drove some more.

Finn golfing

Bubble girl

Feeding the goats at Point Defiance Zoo

Carol, Clare, and Bob

Where the boy likes to watch PBS Kids

Mr. Picture Face

We are waiting for more leaves to fall so Clare can rake them into a big pile for more jumping fun! Maybe Finn will slow down long enough for me to get a non-blurry picture of him. Maybe.