Christmas Time is Family Time

We had such a wonderful weekend!!!  Our family traveled up to Salt Lake City for our annual Extended Powell Family Christmas Party and our Immediate Powell Family Christmas Party.   I am so grateful that we don't live across the country anymore, so that we can be home with our families for the Holidays.

At the Extended Powell Family Christmas Party I was able to give my Grandparent's their new quilt that I shared on Friday.    Yup, I think it is safe to say that Grandma was quite surprised ;)

This is my Grandma's you shouldn't have look ;)  I love it when I get it because it means she loves it!!!!

Yup, it was a winner all around.  I can't begin to explain how grateful I am for these 2 people.  I am so happy that they loved their quilt.  Really, this is the part of quilting I love the best!!!

The next day was the Immediate Powell Family Christmas Party.  Sadly, I forgot to take any pictures until the end of the day and it was packed.  We normally sled, but as there was no snow, we played ball at the gym and then swam and swam.  Then we had a "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" party for the kids, a huge and amazing dinner, and then we ended the evening with a trip downtown to see the lights at Temple Square.

We decided to take the Trax down so we wouldn't have to fight the traffic.  Best idea ever!!!  The kids had so much fun on the train ;)  And that gal that looks just like me, it's not me,  its my twin sister ;)

I can't begin to explain how much I love these people.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing family!!!     And we managed not to lose any of them in all of the huge crowds of people.  Bonus ;)

And all the above is because these 2 fell in love.   My cute Mom and Dad ;)  Love ya!!!

The kids loved the lights.  The whole night was filled with "look at those", and "Oh, those are my favorite".   it was such a reminder of my own childhood that filled my heart with joy.

I have gone downtown to Temple Square to see the lights since I was a little girl and I am so very grateful to be able to pass this special tradition and the special spirit of this place on to my children.

Truly, it was an amazing weekend filled with lots of Family and lots of Love!!!  We missed my little sister and her adorable family but maybe next year they will get to visit.  Then we can all be "Home for Christmas".

Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Quilting Kind of Day!!

Happy Trails

It's Done!!!  And with 24 hours to spare ;)  I am so excited to share with you Happy Trails!!!   Back in September, I asked the gals from the Bees Knees group if they could make me Outdoor inspired blocks to make a quilt for my Grandparents new Motor Home.  My Grandparents love to camp and when I saw the not so inspiring bedspread in their motor home, I knew just what needed to be done.

The group had no guidelines on size or design.  Just think outdoors and create.   I am blown away with their amazing blocks and was so excited to put them all together.   Excited and a bit nervous.  Bringing all those blocks together all improv style is a bit out of my comfort zone.  I kept wanting to sketch it out on graph paper.  But Barbara kept encouraging me and I managed to get the top put together without having to draw it out.  Yippee for trying new things!!!   I wanted all the blocks to stay obe on the actual bed, and not hanging over the sides of it, so once they were all pieced the quilt was a little long and skinny.  So I added some skinny borders on the top and bottom and some wide borders on the sides to make it queen size.

Not surprisingly, it was a little hard for my little symmetrical mind to be okay with different size borders. I always have to push myself to do things Asymmetrical.  But I kept reminding myself that I did it for a reason and it was going to be okay.   And when it came time to quilt, I decided I needed to take advantage of those extra wide background space :)  So I made some templates, traced them in my disappearing marker, and quilted my Grandparents Names into their sides of the bed ;)  And suddenly, I wasn't so stressed about the different size borders, I loved it!!!

And speaking of quilting . . . I really had some fun with this one.  I used my favorite 402 Pearl So Fine Thread by Superior Threads on the whole thing.  Isn't it awesome how it creates such a perfect compliment to the background and totally blends in with the blocks ;)  For the background, I really got into this one and had so much fun.  I think this might qualify as "quilt grafatti".  There are swirls, paisleys, leaves, pebbles, curly cues, and tendrils.

And on the blocks, I used arches in all of the squares and triangles, and then some basic meandering and outlining to highlight the character blocks.

I used ribbon candy and just simple back and forths in the blocks made of strips.   I just love the way it creates so much movement in the blocks.  

I could seriously show you every block in this quilt . . . they are all so awesome.  But I will finish with this one and not make this the longest post ever ;)   I made sure this winded up in the center of the quilt, because it just summed up my Grandparents so perfectly.  Love it!!

I can't wait to give this quilt to my Grandparents tonight :)  Thank you a million times over to all of the amazing gals in the Bees Knees group.  You gals are the best and I so appreciate your amazing creativity.  The quilt is exactly what I hoped it would be thanks to each of you ;)

Linking this finish up to Sarah's and Amanda's :)

Almost Done

So, do you remember my Bees Knees WIP for my Grandparents . . . well, it's almost done!!!  Which is good, considering they will be receiving it at our family Christmas party that just happens to be tomorrow night :)  Sounds normal, right ;)  The beginning of the week was improv piecing, and then Tuesday I started quilting up a storm.

I am having so much fun with combining designs for backgrounds.  I don't know if this qualifies as "quilt graffiti" but it sure is fun.  I just love how it is constantly changing so I never get bored of doing the same thing over and over ;)

Now, all that is left is to bind it ;)  That's on the list for nap time and then hopefully, a full reveal tomorrow ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Snapshots Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop

I am getting so excited for the Snapshots Quilt Along in 2015!!  I can't wait to sew along with Fat Quarter Shop and today they are sharing their Introduction Video, the first video in a year long series of Snapshots Quilt Along Videos ;)

On the 15th of each month Kimberly will release a new free block pattern along with a how-to video.  These blocks are so adorable and each represent candid moments in life that makes us happy.  To benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Fat Quarter Shop is asking that you make a $5 donation each time you download a block pattern.  You can make Donations Here ;)    And at the end of the Quilt Along, Fat Quarter Shop & Moda Fabrics will each match up to $10,000.00!!!!  

Ive got my Daysail Fat Quarter Bundle all ready to go!!!  I loved working with this line when I made the Bonnie's Smooth Sailing Quilt for Market, so I am super excited to be playing with it again!!    If you want to Quilt Along using Daysail as well, Fat Quarter Shop has Quilt Kits and Baking Kits available that will ship out in February ;)  

You can see more detailed information about the Quilt Along at the Snapshots Page on Jolly Jabber or you can check out the Jolly Jabber Intro Post that went live today ;)    If you are Quilting Along, be sure to share your progress on your favorite social media using the hashtag #fqssnapshots.  And you can also follow along with some favorite bloggers that will be sharing their progress on the 15th of each month, so there will be lots of Snapshots Eye Candy along the way ;)  

Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms
Bonnie Olaveson of Cotton Way
Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting

Thelma Childers of Cupcakes N' Daisies

Pam Viera-McGinnis of Pam Kitty Morning

Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
Stephanie Kendron of The Modern Sewciety

Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
Greg Jones of Grey Dogwood Studios
Jessie Fincham of Messy Jesse

I am so honored to have been asked to be a part of such an amazing cause.  Won't you join us this year and with small donations and stitches of love, we can make the world to children battling against cancer.  Check out the video and come Quilt Along.  

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day . . . let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the $30.00 Gift Certificate to Shabby Fabrics  is . . .   Number 192. . . Congrats Jeanie!!   I have emailed you :)

    

    

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Discover Fabric!!   You will find a wonderful selection of fabrics from a large variety of manufactures at Discover Fabric :)

   

And the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Discover Fabric!!!   One lucky reader is going to get a Christmas Shopping Spree!!!  

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, 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 one of your quilting discoveries this year.  What new thing did you try :)   

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Discover Fabric love. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.  You can Sign up for the Discover Fabric Newsletter (middle of the page) ,  or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Discover Fabric Love!!!

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

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!