Family Vacation

So this last week was amazing!!!   We were so incredibly blessed to get away from the cold and snow, and take a little family vacation to Maui, Hawaii.   We were there for a week and I already want to go back.  It was just a slice of heaven :)

The kids are getting older and so that makes traveling so much easier and more enjoyable.   We knew this was going to be our last family vacation (with everyone there)  for a while because Spencer has just turned 18 and he plans to serve a 2 year mission for our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's)  as soon as he graduates and then head off to college.   So of course, we tried to make this last one super memorable.   We had planned a cruise last summer and after it was cancelled tried over Christmas, but of course, it was cancelled as well.  So Hawaii it was, and boy did we have fun!!!

Of course, we did a whole lot of beach time!!  We visited 5 different beaches and the kids had so much fun in the sand and the surf.  They even tried snorkeling and saw fish and some turtles ;)  We also hiked a lot along cliffs, to a blow hole, and some natural pools.  I have to say, I was falling asleep at 8 each night, as they were so happy to just keep doing more and wore me out each day ;) 

And our big adventure of the trip was a Zip Line tour through the jungle.   And oh my, it was fun!!!  This kids are so adventurous, they were going off the platforms, spinning,  backwards, and even upside down.  It was a favorite for everyone.   And as you can see, there are two extra's in this picture.  Those are my parents and I am so happy they came along with us.   My dad was in Maui for a summer when he was 18 picking pineapples and hadn't been back since.   It was so fun to watch him relive so many memories and share them with my kids!!!!  

What a wonderful trip!!   And now we are back, and after doing a mountain of laundry yesterday, I am pretty much all caught up.  Which is good, because today is another Celebration!!!   Today is my Sweetheart's birthday and I am making his favorite pecan pies ;)    Happy Birthday Jacob!!!

Oh, and one last high note from our trip, which actually happened on the way back.   Remember how I said my son is getting ready to serve a mission, well somewhere over the ocean, he got his call.  He had checked his email before we left Hawaii and nothing.  Then he checked it when we landed at our layover in San Francisco and he had that email we have all been waiting for :)   We found a semi-quiet spot in the airport, zoomed in our family and friends, and opened the email.   He will be serving in the Frankfurt Germany mission, and starts his training in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on July 14th.   Just wow!!!   We are so proud of his decision to serve and know he will be a wonderful missionary.     So ya, so glad to get that last family vacation in (we already had a summer one planned with friends on July 15th, to funny!!!) before he goes.  

So I am off to see if I can do a little sewing before the birthday celebrations begin.

Thanks all for popping in and sharing a more family oriented post with me :)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day on Wednesday!!

    It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Cider Jelly Roll  from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .   Number #805  . . . Congrats quiltbaker!  I have messaged you :)  

       

 

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Green Fairy Quilts.  Green Fairy Quilts is your home for pre-cut goodness and they always have amazing sales going on every weekend on a selected pre-cut or notion!!!   And did you know that Green Fairy Quilts has a Deal of The Day, I just love these!!!    And right now, Green Fairy has an amazing Yardage Sale, with 30-50% off all yardage, including Bella Solids and Wide Backs!!  Time to stock up ;)  

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway, Green Fairy Quilts will be giving one lucky reader this adorable Hello Sunshine Jelly Roll!!    Oh, this would just make the cutest quilt!!!  

You have two entry chances here on the blog, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.   Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me what you like better, Summer Sun or Winter Snow :)

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Green Fairy Quilts love.   You can Sign up for their Newsletter which I highly recommend as it will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales!!  You can follow them on Instagram or Facebook,  or you can visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Green Fairy Quilt Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, February 23rd, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Terrific. . . Wait for it :)

 Terrific Tuesday will be on Wednesday this week :). See ya tomorrow!

Twinkle Toes Start

 So you might recall, I was trying to decide whether to make a quilt or a table runner from December Sew Sampler fabrics . . . well, I decided on a quilt and got to cutting!!! I had 42 squares total between the two Lori Holt Petite Bundles, and managed to cut some 5 extra 2 1/2" squares from each 10" square as well.   Double bonus :)  I will have to add a border on the quilt to make it lap size, but that's fun and quick.   

And when I finished cutting the Lori Holt squares,  I remembered I had planned to used my Red Barn Christmas scraps from the quilt I shared Friday to make a Christmas Table Runner.   So, yup, more cutting!!!   And again, more bonus 2 1/2" scrap squares.   

And I had so much fun cutting, I just couldn't stop.   So I grabbed my Sparkle Star Foundation Paper and whipped up the first 4 blocks.   These will be for the 4 corners.  I didn't have time to sew more, but  I was just so happy to see how fun and cute these first 4 blocks were.

I am hoping it won't be long before I am sharing some Sparkle Star and Twinkle Toes finishes :)   And yippee for more paper piecing practice!!

How about you . . . do you feel confident paper piecing or like me, are you looking for a little practice??  I still plan on working on this Paper Piecing quilt (although not as Leader/Enders)  as well, which are also not to difficult and will be some great practice ;)

Let the paper piecing fun commence!!!  

Starlite Sampler Quilt!!

 I have one more secret sewing project to share this week that I made for my good friends at Moda Fabrics ;)   And this was one of those super fun ones where the turn around is super fast (like fabric arrives on Monday Evening and quilt is mailed back on Thursday Evening :)   And it's Christmas!!!   I think my favorite Christmas Designer is Sweetwater, (I just love how they always incorporate black!!)  so I was super excited to get to make their Starlite Sampler Quilt using their newest Christmas line, Red Barn Christmas!!!  

And at first glance, this quilt looks like it is oh so much piecing, but never fear, all of those red and green adorable blocks are part of a panel!!!   So really it's just some fussy cutting fun and then some Applique blocks!!!   And you all know how I just love Applique ;)    I finished these with machine stitching in black, and I just love how it adds to the charm of this quilt!!!  Isn't it just so fun!!! 

And when it came time to quilt it, I went all out!!!  I stitched echoed paisley's in the border, wishbones in the sashing, and pebbles in the background of the applique blocks.   Then on the panel blocks, I did some super fun custom quilting!!!   Each block is quilted differently.   I took inspiration from the shapes in the blocks and then just let the quilting take it away.  Yup, the quilting took me longer than the piecing, but it was oh so worth it.    It turned out so cute and I just love it!!  

These are a few of my favorites.   It didn't photograph well on the white, but you can see the design in the red and green.   So fun!!! 

And now, it is off to visit quilt shops so they can get pics and share all about this awesome quilt!!!       And if you love this quilt just as much as I do, you guessed it . . .  Fat Quarter Shop has a Kit already listed for it.   (and that's my quilt in the picture :)    It will be a bit of a wait as the fabric won't be available until June but you can add your email to be notified when it is available.  And then you will be all set for Christmas in July!!!!  

And that is the Starlite Sampler quilt!!!!  I am just thrilled with it and can't wait to add it to my collection of Christmas quilts when it comes back someday ;)     Oh, and I had some scraps from the kit, and am planning a Christmas table runner as well . . . more on that soon.     Truly, I could just sew with Christmas fabrics all year round, they just make me smile!!!  

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!!