[ cotton blossoms dainty ]

I started this table runner way back in May when I got this Layer Cake at the fabric shop in Ritzville.

I love the fabric - but I can't wait to make this pattern again now that I know what I'm doing! I had lots of firsts with this runner. First applique. First binding with ric rack. First layer cake.

Fabric: Cotton Blossoms by Bonnie & Camille
Stitch in the Ditch quilted by me
Pattern: Dainty by Camille (Thimbleblossoms)

[ gobble gobble ]

I whipped up (ha!) this fall table runner last week. I got in on the table by October 1st, which was my goal. I love this fabric because it's fall-ish fabric without having a whole lotta pumpkins, witches, and Halloween stuff on it!

Gobble Gobble by Sandy Gervais fabric

Stitch in the Ditch by me

Pattern is Camille's Table Runner for Moda Bake Shop

[ quilt festival ]

How fun is this?! The International Quilt Market is happening right now in Houston and for those of us who can't attend (I'd love to at some point in my life - wouldn't that fun?!), Amy at Park City Girl is hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival. Click on the logo for the link!

So, the deal is - you're supposed to blog about a quilt, post on her blog, link your blog to her blog, and wha-la! You're part of the Blogger's Quilt Festival. How can I resist?!

I'm sharing with you, for a second time, my favorite quilt that I've made so far.

I love this quilt. It's Camille's Jelly Filled pattern with Aviary fabric. I think it's prettier in person. I'm so very proud of it!

I made the blocks while I was home from work this past April helping my Mom recover from open-heart surgery, so I think this quilt will always hold a special place in my heart. That was an interesting time in my life and quilting helped me center myself each day and reflect on what was going on in my life.

This is one quilt that will not be living at another house. :) It's all mine!!

Ok - now on over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival and check out all the inspiration there!!!

[ long weekend ]

Ok - here's the quick run through this past weekend.

To begin, the CHS Eagles got a win on Friday night over Moscow, ID whom we'd lost to last year. It was a fun victory!

Dad, Mom, Samson, & I went to Priest Lake on Saturday to close the house for the winter. As a neighbor there said, "It's the saddest day of the year." I'd never been there this late in the year and I loved it! It was quiet, cool, and cozy. The wind blew so hard while we were there and the water was full of white caps. Due to a mishap, a piece of the siding blew into the lake and guess who got to fish it out?! The water temperature is not as pleasant in October as it is in August. Life lesson. :)

On Sunday, we got back in time for Mom and I to go to the movie downtown. We saw "The Time Traveller's Wife." I wasn't that impressed. It was quite confusing to me with all the time back and forth. I'm very time oriented and this didn't suit me. I did buy the book on Monday, so hopefully that will help me understand it more.

I worked on Monday, went to practice, and then headed to Spokane. I had a counselor workshop on Tuesday at Gonzaga, so I went up Monday evening and had an absolutely enjoyable evening! I stopped at River Park Square, shopped at Nordstrom (new shoes!), Williams and Sonoma, and Pottery Barn. I went to Northtown, shopped at Nordstrom Rack, got some Starbucks Chai, a few magazines, and enjoyed some time in Barnes and Noble. I loved the whole evening - it made me feel like I was in college again! :)

Amber was nice enough to let me stay with her and her fun roommates, so I got to enjoy some time with them! On Tuesday, I went to the workshop, saw my friend Lisa that I interned for in grad school, and learned some new things about the PSAT, SAT, and AP tests. I got my nails done (I'll have to take a picture - I went for the unexpected and got a cool grey/purple polish), and met my cousin Craig for a delicious sushi lunch. I experienced sushi for the first time this summer and LOVE it! Love it!
My favorite part of the day was spending time with my dear friend Jody and her sweet children. I've talked about Jody on my blog before, but to refresh your memory, she's my friend that I met in grad school. I told her the other day - she's the best thing that came out of Whitworth grad school. Her and Jen. :) and my job. :)
I love being in Jody's company. Her house is so cozy and inviting. Her children are the cutest and sweetest kids. I love talking with Jody. I value her opinion and moral compass. She is a constant in my life and I appreciate that. I never have to guess where I stand with her. I always learn a lot from her example. Love love love her!

All right - I think you're caught up now on my fun weekend. I still have some quilting projects to share, but that'll have to wait. :)

Here's my favorite dog...he needs a haircut terribly bad, but isn't he cute?!

[ so much to share...so little time ]

I have tons of stuff to share with my faithful blog readers, but for today, I'll only share the most important.

Today is 6 months since my Mom's emergency surgery.

It blows my mind how amazing our bodies are.

Six months ago, I was hearing things from the doctors that scared the crap out of me.

We weren't sure what our reality was going to be when she was taken out of coma.

Thanks to the prayers and support of family and friends as well as the expertise and care of the doctors, she has made a full recovery.

Life is a little different: Mom has to monitor her blood pressure and take a palm full of pills each day, but compared to what the worst case scenario was that we were hearing...that's nothing!

We are grateful for everyday. We value life more.

After my Dad's accident, I never thought I'd take life for granted. Time passes and life flies by and we begin to forget and we begin to take things for granted. Then something like Mom's experience occurs and I am reminded again how precious life is.

God is good.

I was in the car yesterday driving to Connell from Spokane....I did that drive twice a week for over 5 years and I miss that time to myself. I get my best thinking done in the car and I get to sing at the top of my lungs and convince myself that I'm a super duper talented singer. :)

Anyway, I heard this song yesterday called "He is With You" by Mandisa. I love the lyrics:

There’s a time to live And a time to die

There’s a time to laugh And a time to cry

There’s a time for war And a time for peace

There’s a hand to hold In the worst of these

He is with you when your faith is dead And you can’t even get out of bed

Or your husband doesn’t kiss you anymore

He is with you when your baby’s gone And your house is still,

And your heart’s a stone Cryin’ God, what’d You do that for He is with you

There’s a time for yes And a time for no

There’s a time to be angry And a time to let it go

There is a time to run And a time to face it

There is love to see you Through all of this

He is with you in the conference room When the world is coming down on you

And your wife and kids don’t know you anymore

He is with you in the ICU When the doctors don’t know what to do

And it scares you to the core He is with you

We may weep for a time But joy will come in the morning The morning light

He is with you when your kids are grown When there’s too much space

And you feel alone And you’re worried if you got it right or wrong

Yes He is with you when you’ve given up on ever finding your true love

Someone who feels like home He is with you

When nothing else is left And you take your final breath

He is with you

I feel like this part speaks just to me:

He is with you in the ICU When the doctors don’t know what to do

And it scares you to the core

He is with you We may weep for a time

But joy will come in the morning

I have lived that...twice...

God is good.

He has opened doors and provided us with so much more than I could've ever imagined.

I was devasted about our family's loss of livelihood in the fire. I mourned for the loss of Dad's shop. It really affected me. I knew that was our family's main source of income and cried to Jesus about how we were going to survive. He has a funny sense of humor, doesn't he?!

He's provided my Dad with amazing opportunities in a realm of the world that he would've never considered otherwise. I love that Dad is contributing to society as a commissioner. The experiences he's had and the people he's met are so cool.

What an amazing God we serve.

[ eden ]

Ya'll know how I love a great giveaway:

You can enter too! http://lilatuellerdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-was-just-thinkingits-time-for.html

This giveaway is for Lila Tueller's new fabric line EDEN in a jelly roll and a layer cake. I LOVE jelly rolls because I LOVE this quilt pattern:

I can't wait to make it again.

[ meeting Frances ]

My cousin Lisa and her baby Frances are here visiting from Virginia for a few weeks. Little Miss Frances is almost five months old and I just got to meet her today! We couldn't get enough of her and took picture after picture of her! She is a sweet baby and let us ooh and ahh over her all afternoon!

The "great" aunt and uncle:

Grandma Great and Frances Lind

Lisa, Amber, Frances, and I

Frances meeting Uncle Kevin

Kevin: "Her hands are so small..."

Lisa: "It'd be weird if they weren't!"

Great Aunt Connie and Frances...I think Frances liked the bag that her gift came in better than the actual gift!!

She's getting her Heider influence early...she loved this bottle of Kokanee! Cracked us up for at least 15 minutes! She loved hearing her voice echo in the empty bottle. We were all reminiscing that there are similar pictures of us as babies and toddlers!

[ sick ]

In case you're wondering what has happened to me...

I am sick.

I went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with bronchitis.

I have missed 4 days of work.

I feel crummy.

My favorite things right now are my pillow, my cable knit throw blanket, HGTV and Banana Popcicles.

My Mom said she told someone that she knows that I am sick because I haven't been downstairs to the craft room in a week.

I agree. I am ready to feel 100% better and get back to quilting!

[ winner winner ]

Remember this post?

Guess what? I won!

Like I said, just what I need...another bag. It's just so cute! I can't wait for it to arrive!

[ SAVE THE DATE...I mean it! ]

Announcing:

Save the dates! Registration will be open soon!