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!!

Snow Day Sew Day

We have a light dusting of snow this morning.

I think it will be a good day to spend in my sewing room!!

I received a box of fabric this morning from Free Spirit to make a tote.

True Colors by Tula Pink.

I tried the tote I am going to make 

in some fabric from my stash over the weekend.

I think it will be great for my knitting projects.

It is so great when the fabric does the work.

Yes, this is one fabric from Kaffe Fasset.

Stay tuned for the next tote!!

Outdoor Spaces

So, you have already seen the great swing on my front porch.

This is fast becoming my favorite morning coffee spot!!

Sewing room is the 3 windows upstairs.

Front bedroom on the far left - study in the middle.

Here is our back patio!

Covered patio is connected to the 3 car detached garage.

Plans to add an outdoor kitchen and bar.

Little nook around the corner - just past the porte-chache as you drive in!!

Windows to eating area - right side window to family room.

3 fun outdoor spots to enjoy the beautiful 70 degree temps today!!

1533 Town Square Parkway!!!!!

At last - I have some pictures of our new home to share with you!!!

We started our move-in on January 30th!!

It is great to have all of our possessions to of storage.

let the true downsizing begin!!

Sweet swing on the front porch - facing east!

Please come in!!  I even have my RED shoes on!!!

Looking in the front door - custom rug from FLOR squares to accommodate both the front door and the doors to the right 

- access to the porte-cochere.

Big D's study is to the left - no pictures yet!!

Then you see the mud bench on the left.

Dining table straight ahead!!

Onto the KITCHEN!!!

Three different shots - and a nifty island runner from FLOR!!

A peek into the laundry room -

Right off the kitchen - and it is not a walk-through!!  YAY!!

Must keep you waiting for more pictures!!

My sewing room is still a work in progress 

but will have outside shots posted soon!! 

Love it!!!

On Becoming an OKC Foodie

One of my goals for 2015 

is to try a lot of the variety of restaurants in OKC.

A friend tipped me off to make a Food Passport.

 I bought a sweet little moleskin book.

And it even has an "M" on it.

I wrote 

Food Passport

OKC

 inside the front cover. 

And personalized it with our name.

I can just carry it in my purse

and check off restaurants as we go.

So each page has the name of two restaurants.

And a small box for a check mark.

Sometimes I list the address 

and type of restaurant.

And then I rate it 1 - 5 stars.

We tried an OKC landmark in the downtown area - 

La Luna Mexican Cafe.

Interesting art, very cold beers and hot salsa!!

So glad we went, as this longtime OKC restaurant in closing at the end of April.

But the good news is, they have a food truck!!

Last Sunday 

we went to brunch at

Cafe Kacao

a Guatemalan Restaurant.

I can never decide whether to order -

sweet or savory.

Dennis always gets savory and most of the options on the menu

were savory.  But could not resist one of the sweet options. 

Loved the food presentation.

Loved the french toast even more!!

Definitely a "go to"  place when the girls visit in February!!

Ten More Days

Exciting times!

We close on our new house next Friday!! 

 A lot is going on out there!

A couple of teasers.......

This is the built in desk area in my new sewing room.  Yehaw!!

Now it is painted white.  I will bring the color.

Take a look at this POP of color.....

This is the mud bench - waiting for the hardware.

I will bring the pillows.

Main bathroom is coming together....

Searching for some fun baskets for the open bottom.

A peek at the kitchen.....

a calming gray - ready for some wine bottles.

Tile work in progress - can't wait!!