Bee Vintage :: May Block #2

I'm running late - but here's the second block for May for Bee Vintage. This block is for Jodee and is made using this tutorial: quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/Antique-Tile-Qui...  It was an easy block to assemble and I think this will be a pretty quilt.

Gray & White Chevron Quilt

My gray and white chevron quilt is complete! This is made with the same fabrics as my Gray Patchwork Quilt. I love these neutrals! This one is larger - it measures about 40x53" and is the perfect size for a couch blanket to snuggle under when your husband turns the air conditioning too low (or is that just me?!). I love that the shades of gray would compliment pretty much any home decor and looks pretty fabulous with all the blues in my house. 

 The quilting emphasizes the chevron pattern with repeating zig zags in the white fabric. 

 The backing is B&W. 

This quilt is for sale - please contact me if you'd like it for your home!

Last Day of School

 Today is the last day of school! Here are my "babies" and their transformations. It amazes me how much they grow and change during one school year. We loved all of their teachers and really did have a wonderful year of preschool and 1st grade. And now... it's time to dig in on that Summer List!

We do traditional first- and last-day of school pictures, but I always try to have them wear the same clothes so we can really see the comparison. 

 My son's school has a lot of teachers and this year the parents pooled their money to give them a few little gifts and gift cards. Nothing homemade... but maybe next year? 

But for my daughter's teacher, I made this little customized canvas bag. I think it will be pretty handy and I love the floral fabric my daughter chose for the letters. 

Happy Summer! 

Ten

Last weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. A decade! Time flies. We headed to Morro Bay for four days, just the two of us. It was restful (I took a three hour nap one afternoon!!) and romantic and fun. Here are a few pictures... 

Near Cayucos, CA... 

 Sunset at Montana de Oro State Beach...

 We went on a whale watching boat trip, but sadly didn't see any whales. We did see lots of other cute faces... 

 And a little comparison... ten years, two kids, six houses, and a lot of laughs...

 Happy anniversary to the best husband I've ever had!  ;)

Summertime List

The school year is coming to a close and I feel a mixture of emotions, as I think most moms do this time of year.

On one hand, I'm thankful to have some time to rest from the daily "grind" of busy school schedules. I'm feeling frazzled after months of getting kids ready, packing lunches and snacks, and driving children to and from and to and from and to and from school (have I mentioned my kids don't attend the same school or have the same schedules?). 

On the other hand, the idea of weeks and weeks of being home with the kids without a schedule is also pretty scary. I have very busy, very active children. Keeping them entertained without destroying the house (and my sanity) isn't always easy. 

Last year, I made a Summertime List. This isn't a "must-do" or a checklist or anything with pressure or expectations. It's a list of things we would like to do or already enjoy doing. Last Summer, it was a great go-to for me on days when we didn't have anything planned and I wondered how exactly we would fill the long hours of the day. 

Some of the activities are simple ("read") and some require some effort. Most are things to do at home, some will require a little travel (bummer, right?).  ; )  You can find more details about a lot of these on my "For The Kids" board on Pinterest. Or you are welcome to email or comment here on the blog if you're wondering what on earth some of these mean. 

This year, I thought I'd share my list with  my blog readers and on Pinterest. Some of these may not work for your location or life or the age of your children (mine are 7 and 3½), but I hope it sparks some ideas and helps save your sanity this Summer, too.  

(Click to enlarge and save - this can be printed on a 8.5x11" sheet of paper). 

Happy Summertime!

Red, White, & Blue

 This has been on my list since last July. I really wanted a patriotic wall hanging to decorate our "mantle" (we don't have a mantle, this is a little chicken wire bulletin board I use as an alternate). This table and "mantle" are located in between our kitchen and living room and is the perfect high traffic area to use for holiday displays. And Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to display a little (or a lot!) of red, white, and blue. 

 The little quilt is made with 2½" squares of red and blue scraps. It's very similar to the pillow that I made for my mother-in-law for Christmas.

Not easy to see, but it is stipple-quilted with blue and red thread. 

The bunting was completed next - they are 4" triangles of red, white, and blue fabric that is included in the quilt. I love how festive it makes the quilt look.

 I'm happy with how these two quick projects came out and even more happy we now have a fun display at home to honor Memorial Day, Independence Day, Election Day, Veteran's Day, and any other day we just want to show our pride in the USA. 

P.S. The chicken wire bulletin board was purchased at Marshalls. The owl was a find at Michaels, and the photo books are from Costco.

Gray Patchwork Child's Quilt - For Sale!

This quilt is for sale - please contact me if you'd like details! 

I finished this super sweet gray patchwork quilt today. It's super soft and I love the neutral grays and whites. So soothing!

 I quilted this one like similar to the Baby Boy Patchwork and Baby Girl Patchwork Quilts I made last month. I like this quilting so much better than the stitch in the ditch I've done before - I think it really frames each block. 

 The back of this quilt is a super cute blue and gray print and the binding is made with a soft blue bubble fabric. I love blue and gray together. 

 The fabrics came from all over the place. I've been collecting different gray prints for a while now, with a couple of quilts in mind. (Stay tuned.......).

 The quilt is about 34x38" - just the perfect size for a toddler bed or for an older child to snuggle up with to read a book or watch a movie. 

This quilt is for sale, so if you know a baby or child who needs a quilt, please contact me. I am a firm believer that children sleep better when they are tucked in underneath a quilt (my kids are good sleepers, afterall!).  

Mother's Day at Morro Bay

Remember my "carry-on bag" and wishing I had a trip to test it out with? I got my chance. Over Mother's Day weekend, we escaped record-breaking heat (102°!) and visited Morro Bay, California. It's about three hours from us and a nice little coastal town to explore. On Saturday, we took the kids to play at the beach near Morro Rock. My son was a little hesitant for the first few minutes, but I didn't mind him being extra snuggly. 

Soon enough, they were both happily playing in the sand and water and watching the otters and sea lions go by. We found a great spot and enjoyed the sheltered area where I didn't have to worry about them getting knocked down by a wave. It was a little chilly, but that certainly didn't stop them! 

 On Sunday we enjoyed a delicious brunch right on the water and were treated to lovely red roses in honor of Mother's Day. 

 Then we headed back to the beach to fulfill my Mother's Day wish - family pictures on the beach! We found a nice little spot just North of Morro Rock. 

 Love these little faces and love that I get to be their mommy. 

 I was also happy to grab some updated portraits with my mother-in-law, too. 

 And of course our little family of four. 

 My daughter is this amazing, creative little firecracker. She is already a true artist. She is sensitive and smart and so so so funny. Every day she gets better and better. I'm forever grateful to her for being the one that made me a mommy. I never knew I could adore someone as much as this.

This crazy boy has my heart. He is sweet and spunky and loves me like no one else ever has. Mama's boy indeed! He is logical and mechanically inclined and wildly affectionate. He tells me 20 times a day that he loves me and often appears beside me for a few minutes of cuddles. He is funny and clever and such a boy! 

 My husband snapped this picture while I was taking the solo shots of Matthew. I imagine this is what my kids think of when they remember me on vacations.  ; )

There aren't words to accurately describe what an honor it is to be a mother. My kids drive me crazy and make me proud and overwhelm me in such amazing ways. I am definitely blessed beyond measure. 

We had a lovely weekend at the coast and a Happy Mother's Day! It's not an easy job, but it's the best I've ever had. Happy Mother's Day!

Secret Sister

The mother's group I am in organizes a secret sister gift exchange. Our big "reveal" was today, so I can show the gifts I had made for my secret sister this year. I don't think she's a blog reader (?), but just in case I hadn't posted any of these as to not spoil the surprise. 

First was a little ceramic sign. I actually somehow didn't get a picture of the finished one, but here's almost finished. Their last name + the year they were married. 

Homemade sugar scrub. Super easy to make - just use white and brown sugar, mix in olive or coconut oil and add a fragrance you like. I used lavender. Scrub your hands, rinse with water, and enjoy the inexpensive, homemade manicure.  : )

 And lastly, a knitted scarf. Kind of silly in this area since we are at the beginning of a good 4+ months of heat, but maybe she will go to the coast or somewhere and be able to use it.  

I don't remember the brand of yarn I used, but it was from Michaels. I love the turquoise color with just a little bit of purple to make it interesting. 

To wrap it up, I rolled the scarf into a ball and tied it with another short piece of yard. Pretty!

Traveling: Carry-On Bag

We travel quite a bit. Between camping, visiting family, and mini-vacations, we are on-the-go quite frequently (and we love it!). I feel like I've gotten the packing thing down to an art form (although I still have room to improve on the quantity of "stuff" it takes for our family to be away from home... another story for another day!). One of my favorite bags to bring along is what I've always called my "carry-on bag." Granted, 99% of our travels do not involve flying, but the name has stuck anyway.

I made this bag yesterday to use as my new carry-on bag for our road trips. It's about 15"x13" and is reversible. 

The straps are about ¾" wide. 

 My carry on bag is my stuff to do in the car. Magazines, books, ipad, and knitting. This bag is just the perfect size.

 It came together in less than an hour and feels pretty durable. Now I just need a little trip to "test it out..."  : )