Aboriginal Inspired Fabric

Isn't this fabric  amazing? 
 I absolutely love the colors and the details on this aboriginal inspired print.

   I bought this fabric on my last trip to Arizona. One of the great things about Tucson is all of the terrific fabric and quilting stores.  I always bring a fairly empty suitcase and fill it up with fabric.  

Okay but really the greatest thing about Tucson is my daughter, son in law and new grand baby.  

Here he is ready for his first job interview!  

And here he is stretching out on the quilt I made for him.  

Anyway, back to the fabric...  

My good friend is from Australia and I wanted to make her a bag, she used the last bag I made her until it completely wore out.  Her being an Aussie and a teacher of Australian Art, I thought this fabric would make the perfect tote for her.  

I love the inside of the bag. (The picture doesn't really do it justice...)   I added lots of pockets and the yellow polka dot material that I lined the bag with is one of my favorites. 

I can't wait to give this bag to her!  

And I can't wait to go back to that quilt store in Tucson and pick up a few more yards of aboriginal inspired fabric...  

Summer Clean-Up...

Summer is finally here and I would love to just put my feet up and read a book but looking around at my house I just can't do it for very long. The piles pull at me- to uncover them, put things away, throw things out, and just get rid of the clutter.  So up to my bedroom I go to get a book to read when I spot it the chair closet.    

Anyone else out there have one of these? 

Unfortunately, at busy times of the school year I resort to this.  I can't stand it but things get busy and in the midst of all of the school work things at home start to slip...  That explains the chair closet.  So today, I thought I can do it, I can get rid of the chair closet so I opened my closet, the real one and, 
yikes anyone else have clothes that have had more birthdays than you can count?  

I have a hard time getting rid of my clothes but determination set in (how I wish I would have taken a before picture of the  closet).  I cleaned the closet, tried on old clothes, filled donation bags and I feel a little bit more organized, just a little bit...

Cleaner Closet- Still needs another round of purging 

Bedroom Floor

Bag #1 for GoodWill

Now, I have some sewing projects that are ready to go.  Tomorrow I sew!   

Creative Fun!

I love this video- because it's fun, because it's creative and just because I love jelly beans...  Enjoy! 

Worth the Wait!

I have been in Arizona with my favorite grandson, Arlo!  (He is the only grand baby I have right now...) What an amazing way to spend Mother's Day.  Everyone who kept telling me being a grandparent is the very best thing ever, well you are absolutely right!  To hold this little angel in my arms was pure heaven...  He is such a sweet bundle of precious.  Here are a few pics of his first week.  

Here is a picture of his nursery.  My daughter made the adorable bird mobile.  

This quilt is the quilt I made for Arlo.  I love the fabrics and the half triangles.  I brought it up to the hospital so my daughter could be wrapped in love during her hospital stay... 

I love this picture of Katie and Arlo.  It is that moment that you wish you could just hold on to forever...  Such sweetness...  

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

May Day in Hawaii is an Aloha kind of event!  Flowery aloha wear, the smell of tropical flowers, Hawaiian music, hula dances and happiness describe this beautiful day.  This year my students performed a dance to the Molokai Slide.  My teaching partner choreographed the moves and it was fun for everyone.  It definitely conveyed the message of warmth, love and happiness. 

My school is a special place with beautiful lush landscaping, surrounded by the emerald green mountains and views of the ocean.  It is not unusual to spot rainbows in the distance and waterfalls cascading down the mountainsides.  

Somedays I literally pinch myself and think --  How did this happen to me? 

I spent many days teaching in a cramped room with no windows and having yard duty on a playground that was asphalt.  So I consider myself one lucky girl!

Hope you had a Happy May Day! 

And if you didn't celebrate May Day this year, put on some slippahs, a flowery shirt, maybe grab a mai tai or at least some guava juice and take yourself to Molokai! Click on the Molokai Slide link and start your May Day Celebration!

 

 

 

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

I am waiting, waiting, waiting for the birth of my first grandbaby!  Can't wait to meet him... 

Upcycled Pillows

Upcycled Pillows 

I made these large over sized pillows for my new sewing room.  I had an old white shower curtain that had a hole where the grommet had torn off.  I washed the shower curtain and then covered 2 and a half large pillows with the nubby white curtain.  Just perfect for relaxing on the floor and watching Downton Abbey or Game of Thrones. 

I am on spring break and just finished two good books.  If you want to read about Turkey during World War 1 and the fate of the Armenians check out this book.  It was  a little hard to read because of the brutal history but it was well written.  I also learned about the history of Turkey which I have been fascinated with since my trip to Istanbul.  

Another quick read is the book Left to Tell.  This is a book that is hard to put down.  It is hard to imagine Rwanda's genocide and neighbors turning against each other and hunting each other down... A million people lost their lives during this time.  It made me think of the movie Hotel Rwanda.  

 Immaculee survives for 3 months in a small bathroom with other Tutsi women.  Read about her amazing spirit of forgiveness and how God answered her prayers for survival.  Her ability to forgive and devote her life to helping others is inspirational! 

There is lots of rain happening in Hawaii right now but I have been able to catch the sun when it makes its appearance.  Yesterday I made it to the pool to begin my training for the North Shore Swim in August.  Today more time for reading and even a little spring cleaning...  

Sewing Room Makeover

I absolutely LOVE my new sewing space.  It had a complete makeover and I love the new look.  It is incredibly functional and looks neat and tidy.  

Take a look... 

We took out a trundle bed and set up a new cutting station with tons of storage.  

The white cabinets are from the hardware store and the cubby set up is from Target.  My husband bought a long white board for the counter top.  The brown baskets are full of my old Aloha shirts just ready to be upcycled. I made the new curtains from two shower curtains that I found at Target.  I have lots of room for cutting and ironing and  can even set a few fabrics out to keep me inspired.  

Check out the oh so cute elephant fabric, I can't wait to stitch something special for my new grand baby!  

I had enough fabric left to  make a cover for my sewing machine. 

Side Pocket

 Side Pocket

I found the pattern on Notes From The Patch.  The tutorial was super easy to follow with great pictures.  I think it turned out great!  I did a Hip Hip Hooray when I tossed my old towel cover into the goodwill pile!  

Can't wait to stitch away in my new sewing space!  

Binding Love!

I am almost done with this quilt.  I love hand sewing binding on, I find it so relaxing, mindless and I know that I am almost done.  I love the binding fabric, little dragonflies in red, blue and gold.  More pictures to come when I am done.  

I am in the process of revamping my sewing room.  I have a large guest trundle bed in there right now and it takes up way too much space.  We are going to take it out and put in a counter top with cupboard storage.  Here is a picture of my cutting space right now.  Yikes, I end up with just an itty bitty space to cut and fabric laying all over the place!  Can't wait for the redo!  I am off to exercise this morning.  

Jelly Roll Quilt Complete!

Yipee!  The quilt I made as a wedding gift for Zach and Sara is finally done!  I had this quilt all finished except for the binding and then when Zach and Sara asked me to just hold onto it for them until they returned to the U.S. I lost the steam to finish it.  In my quest to clean up my impossibly messy sewing room I decided to bind this baby and get it off my to do list.  I love how it turned out and I can't wait to give it to them when they return from South Korea.  

The bride and groom in Spain   

The back of the quilt

Next up, I have a baby quilt in the making! 

Memories from our trip to Istanbul-

A visit to Antique Alley to see some real antiques  

Anyone for pomegranate juice?  

Stained Glass in the Topkapi Palace