Celebrating is good for the soul....

Celebrating is good for the soul....this is my reflection on my May birthday trip!  I turned 59 ...... (sigh)  next year is another milestone,  my thoughts have been on what is most important and what values and goals I would like to achieve.   It has been a very enlightening and meaningful experience.   Life can pull us along like a strong current but a choosen path with a purpose brings peace and direction!

My birthday trip turned into a tri-fecta event::   First up was to scoot over to Eugene and pick up my mother have a delicious dinner and head up to Seattle the next morning.   We talked about all the places we could stop along the way,  girls talking about choices, well maybe this should have been done the night before.  We finally decided to stop in Des Moines, WA,  at Carriage Country Quilts!!!   Yes that is basically in Seattle!!

We always love this Quilt Shop,  I muse the Jo fabrics looking for old and new alike for my stash!!  We found some fun items but alas no pictures!!

The next morning we drove to Leavenworth, WA for a much anticipated class with Gail Pan offered by Lynn Reppas, proprietor of  Leavenworth Quilt Company.   This is a delightful store.  We enjoyed the selections of fabrics, wool, kits and a very friendly staff!  

Our class with Gail Pan  was so much fun, it started with an evening event where Gail shared many of her wonderful embroidered and quilted projects.  She is a delight to listen too and such a fun sense of humor!  Her story and journey into an international quilt designer, author and teacher was entertaining and left you admiring a special lady who loves sharing her "darling" embroidery style!    If you have an opportunity to attend a class with Gail do and enjoy!

We started off embroidering a journal,  Gail had the pattern printed on our fabric so we could just get into the fun stuff....

  

All printed and ready to go, she brought lollies.....yum!!  Gail loves sharing her love for embroidery,  so helpful with tips....

  

Thanks Gail we loved our time with you!!  You can fin Gail's designs  here!

The city of Leavenworth is set close to the mountains and celebrates Bavarian culture,  we enjoyed there May celebrations and wonderful shops and restaurants.  It is a very friendly and charming town, which was so appreciated!  We will visit again!

We drove back to Seattle Sunday for Mother's Day!  We enjoyed a special dinner with my sisters family with mom!  It was a special day.

Monday was spent in Seattle touring the Pacific Science Center, Pompeii Exhibit.  The exhibit was fascinating!!  

Then a lighthearted tour of  Theo Chocolate factory!    Yummy samples and hot!!!  I would find it a huge challenge working in the heat inside the factory!!  But I enjoyed the one hour tour,  and was impressed to see their efforts to be non-GMO and eco-friendly!!    Seattle has so much to offer and it was enjoyable seeing new places this visit!  Thanks Christie for a very fun celebration.

I will share my Oregon Coast retreats next......and some cute toes!

Heartfelt Blessings,

Carrie

It's time to....

It's time to catch up and keep up for sure!!!   Right?   You would think this was difficult, challenging yes but not difficult.

Sooooo this year has past the first quarter already!!  Amazing!

I am very happy to see this nice spring weather for sure, not that we had a real winter.  But the days were short and the nights cold.  I just call it the un-winter of 2014.  That is in the west anyway, I know the eastern half of our great country had the opposite. 

So what I did this winter was help my mother move out of her home, preparing to put it on the market this spring.   It was bittersweet for sure since Dad and Mom built this home and developed the land from scratch.  It is an amazing place,  30 acres of woods, wildlife including elk, deer, bear, turkeys.  Chantrelle mushrooms, lady slippers, and many other wild flowers.  A pond all the grandkids caught salamanders in and floated hand-made sail boats.

I would ask mom if she was feeling any regret each time I was there and she said No Way!!   When you know you are doing the right thing there is Peace!   Very worth noting and remembering!

Late January we moved mom into her temporary home in Eugene.  She loves it and will thrive there.   Thriving is what I believe we are meant to do, not just be!!

I did some quilting on some projects that I made before my days at Subway.  I love this wallhanging I did with Farmhouse Woolens.

A couple of Woolie mats, this Bunny is a Buttermilk Basin that I finished for Easter.

This second is a Primitive Gatherings kit I have had for some time and love having it finished.

So this is my April catch up in June!! :)     Next up my fun May birthday trip!   

Spring Blessings, 

Carrie

A Little Fun

Since we were in Eugene to visit with a Real Estate Agent mom and I took the opportunity to do some shopping!  Shamrock Flowers and Gifts was so much fun with all their cute decorations.  It has been many years since I was their and they didn't disappoint!

Mom and I bought gifts for each other,  this is the snowman she bought me, except with a red scarf.  There were so many cute ones it was dilema!

I loved the one with the striped scarf!

Oh theres Mom looking real tempted.....

Isn't this an awesome display for ribbons, love it too!

We stopped in at Pottery Barn and founds towels on sale 30% off for the day,  had to get some for the guest bathroom.  And we loved these pillows.  Mom chose a little pillow for her gift!  Its adorable on her bed.....it has embroidered" And to All a Good Night"   Darn it, I didn't take a picture!

       We thought this pillow would be fun to make!   We had a car like this when I was a little girl.

Are you enjoying the holiday blog hops,  I have been following Staceys " Primitive Christmas Blog Hop"   at  Buttermilk Basin.  You can follow along by going to the link.  Have you made any of the cute projects? 

I have been stitching one up and its so fun!

Christmas Blessings to all of you, thanks for stopping by!

Carrie

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

We are smack dab in the middle of the Holiday season so I better get posting something.....right?   Thank you to my blog friends that nudge me along,  I appreciate all the wonderful friends in blogland.   I have decided that when we travel,  meeting up with bloggers is at the top of my list.  We are planning some fun adventures in the next couple years so Mr. Cricketwood is on-board with meeting up too!   I  love that!!

This favorite quilt is off to the quilters and I am so excited about this....

I will get it back in the middle of the month and sew on the binding,  so excited to hang it this year!  This is a quilt from a Need'l love book,  I started it so many years ago and have redone the applique and wools pieces so many times, so thankful to have it finished...almost!

I spent the Thanksgiving Holiday at my mothers home.  She is selling her home of 30plus years, which is a 30 acre tree farm as well.  Whew!  What a job packing your life up at 84.  My mom is amazing, it has been  seven years since my dad passed and she is ready to be in town and have neighbors.   We packed, met with a perspective realtor, shopped and had a fabulous 5 days together.

My daughter came for dinner and brought us gorgeous Poinsettias...

Mine is pictured in one of the crocks mom gave me.  I am so far behind on getting down the pumpkins and decorating for Christmas.  I will be doing some cleaning/decorating this week along with my month-end bookkeeping!    

God bless you in all your Holiday preperations and parties,  I will be back soon with some fun quilty highlights from the long no-post year!!!   :))

Primitive Blessings,

Carrie

Courageous in 2014

Happy New Year!   This year has started off with some unseasonally warm weather.  I have enjoyed the opportunity by visiting my mother in the valley with clear driving conditions.   My mother stayed home this winter from her usual trip to Arizona.  It has been so nice to spend time with her over the holidays and in January.

We went to a favorite quilt shop "Something To Crow About", in Springfield.  They are a small shop but full of my favorite things, and they had some finished quilts that are on my "list".     

This first quilt is from Primitive Gatherings,  I have this kit, but it is the first version which was a smaller scale.  

This next quilt is a summer freebie from Primitive Gatherings,  so cute!

Live Simply from Buttermilk Basin,  I can say I did not buy this pattern set but Love it!!

Primitive Gathering Block of the week for 2013!   I love this one, also on my "List".    I love the theme of this Quilt, and will not start it until many other  quilts get finished....

But this block:  "Courage" I may do because this is my word for 2014!     My oldest grandson, Tylor, enlisted in the Marine Corp and graduated from Boot Camp in December.  We were honored to attend the graduation and share  in his success and hard work.  I am so proud of Tylor,  he is a wonderful person and the most kind-hearted young man.  He was absolutely committed to achieving the highest position possible in his unit.  He was successful and received a meritorious promotion, and was chosen to carry the Marine Corp flag during the ceremony.     I am so very proud of him!  These times are very scary for me and I have been very worried about his decision.   Listening to all the Drill Sargents and Officers at graduation ceremonies I heard them sa, "Courage does not mean you are fearless!  It is what you do in spite of  fear etc."  So I embrace Tylor's life choice and will be on my own path to "Courage"  this year!

Oh how we enjoyed the 70 degree weather,  it was below zero when we left Oregon for San Diego!

  

Watching your grandchildren grow up is a wonderful experience and I am so glad I had so much time to spend with Tylor in his  youth.   I miss him everyday but my heart is full!  I am looking forward to growing in Courage in 2014!

Baskets of Courage!

Carrie

Visit with Mom and Quilt Show

Well I was so excited to go out to lunch yesterday I did not look at my post very closely.  Oops…..I didn’t upload any of the quilt show pictures.     Lol….guess that gives me a good reason to come back today!!

Like I mentioned, the weather was quite rainy, 1.89 inches in twelve hours.

Here is the rain pouring off the patio,  the best thing is mom had no leaks.   Mom did some updates to her park model in Yuma, it is the perfect size now for her and guests when we come to visit. 

We were going to go up to Tucson for a couple days but changed our plans because of the weather.    We did find a local quilt guilds quilt show with a nice vendor attendance.   These first two quilts were the viewers choice winners from the previous year.

quilting detail.

I love this one!!

 

These next two had the same maker and were hand quilted.  So beautiful.  I chose this first one as my viewers choice favorite.

 

If I had to choose a favorite, or which one would I want for my home this one would be my choice,  I loved the colors and the raw edge quilts are so cuddly.     And I just had to keep my sister in the picture.  :))

We enjoyed the vendors attending the show.    My goodness I was mesmerized by Liberty Homesteads booth.  They had been to the Road to California show and are attending some small shows on there way home to Kansas.   I have never seen there quilts in person and fell in love immediately.  We purchased some of their dyed muslins.    Books or pictures never do justice for the real item do they.  They asked for us to not take pictures of there booth so sorry no pic’s.

One day we ate lunch at this bakery/deli restaurant that I can not remember the name of to save my life.   But….here are some pictures of their desserts of which we did not indulge.     I would today if I could have a take back.    Do you make desserts like this?

These strawberries are so big!

OK enough of that stuff, yum!!  

It’s super bowl Sunday this weekend,  are you watching the game, having a party or celebrating at your local quilt shop.   We haven’t been real big football fans the last few years but I am sure we will watch some.    We are going to make some homemade Pizza.   I will share the recipe and pictures. 

Prim Blessings,

Carrie

Here I am!!

Happy 2010 dear blogging friends.   It has been a very long time since I posted and I appreciate hearing from you letting me know I’m missed, MIA and receiving your encouragement.

We, like most of you, had family visit us over the holidays.  It was wonderful and very fun.  We were so pleased to have Joe’s whole family with us over New Years.     My house was filled to the brim,  Joe and I still talk about how fun it was to have everyone in our home.

Last month my sister treated me to a trip to Yuma to visit our mother.   We were really looking forward to some warm sunny weather.    LOL…….how about some sun and lots of rain, wind and  a fun time anyway.    As it goes, the day we drove to Phoenix to catch our plane it was sunny and getting warm.    

It was sunny on this day, we were in Old Town Yuma for the Lettuce Festival.   We purchased some fresh fruit and Asparagus for dinner.    It was so windy we didn’t spend to much time but opted for a nice warm restaurant for lunch.

We looked up quilt shops and while visiting one learned about a quilt show.    We went and I took some pictures:

 

This week we have a friend staying for the weekend.  Meka is staying while her owner is off  to Sun Valley Idaho.    

It’s a bit crazy here with our 5 lovable GWP’s,  my daily conversation’s go like this…..”put that down” , “give me that”, “that’s not yours”, “take that out of your mouth”, “Hey! Bring that back “,  “Off the table”, “Off the washer” and “Where did you find that?”      And that is just with Casey!  Joe calls him our demon dog, but really, he is just the youngest and is still in the VERY busy, nosey, destructive stages of puppyhood!!

Casey, Pepper, Meka, Slide

Casey,Meka,Slide,Pepper and Jake

 

Daisy Mae,  its just impossible to get them all in one picture.

This weekend we will take a few walk abouts, maybe a couple will get a haircut.    Pepper needs one,  but don’t ask her and Meka, well you just don’t come stay with Carrie and not get some grooming.   Poor thing,  she always thinks she is in trouble.   I will take some pictures because I know you are dying to see more pictures of my dogs.  LOL……..

I have been finishing up details on my BOM blocks getting ready to set them together,   they have been so much fun.   I love all the wool, never never get tired of working with wool.   So pictures of that too coming up.

This year I have really resisted joining a multitude of wonderful projects and will focus on finishing my BOM first.    One thing I will keep up with is my Jo’s Little Women group at Sew Many Quilts.         Then late spring I am going to sew along with the Wool Crazy girls.   If you visit this link today you are in for a real treat.    I’m so looking forward to this project.   I have the wool  that’s for sure,  are you Wool Crazy too?     I have been following the posts and wow, they are looking wonderful.

Well my DH is here now and he is taking me out for lunch!!!    It’s Thursday and  Baldy’s has Baby Back Rib special every Thursday.   Yummo!!!   There the best ever!! 

God bless each of you and have a wonderful week.

Prim Blessings,

Carrie

JLW Quilts Fall Outing

I haven’t shared  my JLW meet up last month.  After taking the summer off we got together.    Many of the members got their Holiday Inn quilts put together,  they were so fun to see, even if there not completed its fun to see them.    

We all made 4 inch baskets  for Gail our leader, she was so surprised with them, and very touched I think.   

It was a fun time together,  I am glad I joined a local group.  I had been participating in one by mail, and I will say Carriage Country Quilts is fabulous, they have many fabrics and have wonderful kits for their projects.

But like I said I am very pleased attending a local group, meeting together with women, making new friends and  old friends too!!    For me the personal touch makes all the difference. 

Here is my quilt, unfinished but I am enjoying the process of Holiday Inn.   The medallion style  is a fun one.   I have admired Round Robins and it also reminds me of them.

Last weekend I spent time with my family in Cottage Grove.    My father passed away 2 years ago and we met on Friday,  which would have been his 82 birthday.      We interned his ashes next to his parents.   It was very bittersweet,   lets say for me its a work in progress living without a parent.   It was a beautiful day and the view of the surrounding valley with the turning colors was peaceful.    We spent the afternoon at my mothers visiting with family that gathered.    Then we all started  working on the handrails of her new deck that she built last year.    Many hands make light work it really took shape and got some weather treatment too. 

Saturday we went up to Junction City to a century farm,  Thistledown Farm,   a wonderful family owned  and operated farm.    I got a box of apples, squash, huge sweet onions, filberts and small cute pumpkins.    We  got some sweet corn for dinner that was delicious. 

Mom took a picture of this cute bench,  the painting has alot of detail.  It was a cute bench,  hmm, hint hint!!

We headed in to Junction City to visit Buttermilk Junction,  I did not get pictures there, naughty me,  the store has recently moved into a space with a quilt shop,   it was a nice arrangement.    It is a prim shop with many wonderful items to decorate your home.  I did get a couple things,  a batter operated candle and stand,  that I put on my mantel with my pumpkins.

Next we went to 5th Street Market in Eugene,  they had a very cool truck their so I snapped a shot of my sister and mom. 

Then we headed to Mindy’s,  where you have to hide your pocketbook from yourself.   Mindy has everything you would want and more for needlework, she hand paints her own needlepoint designs too.     She has many different types of embroidery thread, all  beautifully displayed. 

This display of thread is my favorite.  It is antique from a Post Office in Portland.

 

She carries Blackbird Designs patterns,   I purchased their pattern May Flowers, Three Stockings for May and Maggie’s Needlecase by Maggie Bonanomi,   you know I love her!!!     Embroidery threads for the patterns from Weeks Dye Works,  The Gentle Art and some 30 ct. linen.    They had Crescent Colours coming in this week so I will get those threads when they arrive.    And one piece of textured green wool.    

I’m sure you read Alma’s blog  its wonderful to get all the peeks of their artwork.   I always  like their little stockings, so now I can stitch up a pretty cross-stitch!

I made up a new concoction for dinner,  my sister gave me the idea, I will share it soon.

Fall blessings,

Carrie