Headed to Copenhagen, Denmark for Christmas

Excitement is mounting as my family prepares for a Christmas trip to Copenhagen.  This is extra special for a number of reasons.

This will be the first trip of this kind we will take together.

The group includes my husband, Dennis, both of our daughters - 

Alison & Natalie, my sister, Nola, and my sister-in-law, Dee.

These special pictures are of my Grandma, Dorthea Erbs.

She traveled to America from Denmark - arriving through Ellis Island.

We always spent Christmas Eve with her as a family growing up.

She was widowed very young and made a living taking in alterations 

and renting rooms in her three story house in Spencer, Iowa.

Every Christmas she made hot rolls 

and spritz cookies.

She also made flannel nightgowns with cotton eyelet lace for all of the grandchildren.

Here are two of the special pictures with her over the years.

My grandma,

Alison,

myself and

my mother.

My sister, Austin, Alison, myself & my grandma.

My grandmother passed away at the age of 99

at Christmas time many years ago.  

The minister compared her trip to America from Denmark to that of Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.

My mother made several trips to Denmark and 

I know she will be watching out for us 

on our travels this Christmas. 

We will have memories of her 

in our hearts as well. 

Alison is our trip planner this time.

She has also been to Copenhagen and made all of the arrangements for our trip.

It feels good to be back on my blog again.

I have been away too long.

Stay tuned for pictures  from Copenhagen!

It is due to be a very special trip!

One Year Later

I have been very absent from my blog and have no excuses.

And it is hard to believe it has been a year since my mother passed away.

And, yes, the quilt auction was a BIG success 

and a very emotional time for my family.

The quilt in my mother's memory brought $800 

to the Lutheran Camp at Lake Okoboji in NW Iowa.

I am happy to report the quilt is safely in family hands.

I also made smaller versions of the quilt for my sister and her granddaughter.

I donated two additional quilts of mine to the camp auction and was most excited that this batik quilt brought $2000 to the camp.

I am taking a look at several quilts to donate this summer

but have almost completed a t-shirt quilt for the auction

featuring several camp shirts from over the years.

My friend, Trish Maxwell, has a great t-shirt business and came up

with this mosaic design.  The quilt is all t-shirt knits except for the outer border.

I used fronts, backs and even sleeves of the t-shirts to complete this one!

Can't wait to send it for the auction this summer!!

It seems I have fish quilts still on my mind.

Here is a recent project for Michael Miller fabrics.

Gotta' love my tocsin the picture!!

Next post - a year in our house in Oklahoma!

Now, that is something to talk about!!

A Quilting Tribute - Only One You

Many of you know my mother passed away in January of this year.

She enjoyed a love of quilting - mastering paper piecing and scrap quilts.

She enjoyed many quilting retreats with friends and our quilting project this summer came about because of these many friends.

We gathered On June 21st at Ingham Lutheran Bible Camp 

on West Lake Okoboji in NW Iowa during a week of family camp

to make a quilt in my mom's memory.

My mother was a lifelong member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer, Iowa.

Her mother cooked in the kitchen at this camp for many summers

and my older sister, Nola, attended summer camp here as well.

This is the 91st year of this camp.

The quilt was based on this book.

Only One You by Linda Kranz.

I designed fish blocks for the quilt

with Kaffe Fassett fabrics donated by Westminster Fabrics.

We participated during arts & crafts at camp and many campers came by 

during a two day period to make fish blocks.

When I returned home, I completed the quilt top, 

with a design I had come up with.

A big shout out and thanks to the gal who quilted this for me - 

Lisa Strobel.

I had never worked on a quilt with Lisa before, and when I went to pick it up,

she would not accept payment.  She wanted to donate her time.

A wonderful added touch to this special project.

I added two quilt labels to the back of the quilt.

OOOPs!  My MAC is not cooperating with me on this photo

so enjoy a sideways view of the label listing all of the campers, family and quilting friends who made blocks for this wonderful quilt.

As you can see, I am delighted with the outcome of this special project

and thank all who participated.

The best part of this story is that this quilt 

will be part of the Annual Quilt Auction 

at the Lutheran Camp on Saturday, August 1st.

This is the main fund raiser for this ministry 

and my mother had donated her quilts to this cause in the past.

Several family members - myself, my husband, my sister and sister-in-law 

as well as quilting friends of my mother's will be in attendance.

I know my mother is shocked by this but very pleased!!

I know this project has been very healing for many.

Thanks to all who contributed memorial money towards this project.

Let's hope the quilt brings lots of cash for the camp!!

A Road Trip to SANTA FE

My husband and I took a road trip to Santa Fe recently.

We stayed in a great hotel in the downtown walking area.

awesome!!!

Lots of art everywhere and great food.

We had lunch at The Shed the first day.

Modern Mexican Cuisine

We also tried the Blue Corn Cafe.

More Modern Mexican but also a craft beer brewery.

Inspiration on the steps…..

Art everywhere - ceiling in the living room area of our hotel.

Sweet dolls in flight in a shop window.

Reflection in the window of the building across the street.

And a stop at Trader Joe's since there are none in OKC.

A case of wine for the road.

Cute box, too!

Ahhhh…..enjoying retirement!

A Sunny Day in My Sewing Studio

Ahhh!!  A beautiful sunny day, at last!!

I am up in my sewing studio, still organizing some, 

but starting to work on a memorial quilt project for my mom!

I will tell you more about that in a later post.

Now for the pictures!!

For those of you who were regulars in my last sewing studio,

you will definitely see some my same favorites!!

My sewing studio is in the upstairs bonus room so up we go!

Carpet is a very cool pattern - hard to see in the picture.

A little nook before making a left turn into the room.

Right side of the room.

Very cool built-in area at the windows.

I am not the best photographer with all of the natural light.

Definitely love the light though and the desk!!

My Pfaff sewing machine has a great spot on the left.

You can see the partial room divider wall - just right for my very

special piece of furniture full of my fabric basics!!

Two more nice windows to the left.

Back corner with my cutting table, TV, Janome 

and 2 beautiful closets - full of fabric, quilts and yarn!!

And to think I sold $2000 worth of my fabrics before I moved!!

I feel more at home in my studio everyday

and know that I am a very lucky girl.

I can't wait until new and old quilting friends begin to stop by!

Will it be YOU???

Ronald McDonald House Day!

I started volunteering at the Ronald Mc Donald House 

in Oklahoma City in January.

This is the second house here 

and it is serves 14 families for a 2 week stay.

It is connected to OU Childrens Hospital.

Everything is new having just opened at the end of last year.

The original Ronald Mc Donald House is about 2 blocks from here

and it is for a 30 day stay.

I help out at the front desk and then head to the kitchen

 to bake for the families.  So ME!!

One of the mothers I met today has twin girls in the NICU.

The real surprising thing is that she has 4 daughters at home!!

Made me think of you, Kate - identical twin girls and 1 big sister at home!!

There are my cookies - ready to go into the oven.

I made Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip today.

Common areas are great for families to come together for an evening meal.

Another volunteer option is for a group to come in for guest chef night

and cook a meal for the families.

If you are in the OKC Area,

checkout the volunteer needs on their website.

www.rmhcokc.org

What a great community to be a part of!!

What should I bake next week??

Tote Bag Two

My second tote bag is finished and I am headed to FEDEX.

This features fabrics from Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics.

True Colors

I have always been a fan of primary colors so I really like it!!

 

Inside view.

This is a FREE downloadable pattern at

www.veryshannon.com

REVERSIBLE BOX TOTE

This sample is headed to Free Spirit for a photo shoot.

Make one!!