'A Hero is Born'

One of my little brothers is having his first son! AHHH, so exciting!!

I LOVE BABIES!!

Naturally, he would just need a quilt from yours truly *huge grin*.

Thus, 'A Hero is Born' was made!

I liked the block design of the pattern 'At the Crossroads' in April 2010 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine, so I just changed up the sashing and border a bit. I've never made a quilt from a magazine before, but it was pretty fun.

This is summer guys, there is not much designing going on in these parts with quilting, so I was relying on a good, easy, and quick pattern. This one came through for sure!

Here's the back.

I actually bought the print fabric like 4 years ago because it just screamed to me that I needed to make something for this brother out of it (it has fire trucks, helicopters, ambulances, and police cars).

You see, he is a volunteer fire fighter & EMT and I am a very proud big sister! He just so happened to get mixed up with another crazy fire fighter & EMT and fell in love!! (Again, so proud)

Since they are both All-American Heroes in my eyes, I am just going on a hunch here that yet another hero will be born.

His name is Mason. *huge grin, with tears*

Of course, he needed a matching bib!

Through this experience I realized that I LOVE making baby quilts for people!!!

10th Anniversary National Conference 2013

So, in my spare time I sell Thirty One products. Yes, I love them and I love what I do.

With that being said, I went to my first National Conference and it just so happened to be Thirty One's 10th Anniversary!! SO FUN!

My husband and I decided to fly out a day early to do some tourist-y stuff. It was the first time my husband and I flew anywhere together (in 8 years...). Apparently we're more home bodies than I thought.

There were so many people at conference... a little overwhelming at times. Can you find my husband??

We went to The World of Coca-Cola. My husband loves soda, and well I'm all about some Cherry Coke, so this was up our alley.

This place was very cool, lots and lots of eye candy!!

We also tried tons of different kinds of soda. The best one I tried was from Japan and had carrots in the photo, and the worst was one called 'Beverly' from Italy (SO GROSS).

I was soda-d out after trying so many flavors!

I also finished another preemie blanket my first day there. Nothing better than finishing a knitting project on vacation! There will be a pattern coming soon, it was super easy. Notice how it looks like another quilt block (similar to my 4 Square Preemie Knitted Blanket)? The thought has crossed my mind to do a whole bunch of 18inch knitted blocks that look like traditional quilt blocks. What do you think?

(Back to conference)

One of the best parts about conference was meeting some of the ladies I met while I was there!! New friends are the best!

Did you know that in Atlanta the fire hydrants are silver?? Yea, that's right, Silver!

We got back home this past Sunday, and all week we've been busy! I love summer and all the fun things I get to do with my family.

Just two nights ago my baby boy and I went out picking green beans, which was fantastic on it's own, but as I was handing them to him to put in the bowl he said 'thank you' just about every time. It was such an awesome experience!

Wow, sorry that was such a rambled up jumble of things, but that's kinda how this summer feels! I do have a few projects to share, and some goal setting to do, so hopefully there will be a little more time for blogging this week.

Happy trails!

Atlanta Bound with a New Boxie

I'm pretty excited, my husband and I are headed to Atlanta!

Today we're driving to my Dad's to drop off the kids (oh yea!), and tomorrow morning we're flying out. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever been on a plane with my husband, not that that's a big deal or anything, just a thought. (and a run on sentence, geez....)

Either way, I love going new places!!

We're traveling out there because it's Thirty One's National Conference, and it's the first one I'm going to. So very excited! I didn't go last year because I was only with the company for about 2 months and couldn't really justify it at that point. But this year it was almost a MUST!

And, what's a little traveling without some new digs??

I made this beauty to house my knitting project (I can't travel without a project - or 2).

Followed the (No Guts) Boxie Pouch Tutorial, and I loved it! I did make a few adjustments:
1) I used woven interfacing instead of lightweight. I like pouches with a little more umph. 
2) I cut the pieces for the tabs at 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches instead of 1 by 3. I wanted my tabs a little longer.

Did I mention that it's the perfect size for my knitting project!

I absolutely love it, and am most definitely making lots more. My oldest daughter has already made a request (requirement is more like it) that I make her one as well.

Most favorite part of this tutorial is that the inside is completely finished - NO unfinished seams!! The inside is so cute, I'm tempted to turn the whole thing inside out and take a picture.

We pulled these fabrics, they'd make some really cute Boxies don't you think?!

Oh July...

... you are so awesome!

Happy Fourth Everyone!!

Yes, today is the 4th of July so bring on the hot dogs and fireworks!

We've already been swimming today, and my dear husband has taken all the 'big' kids to see Despicable Me 2 at the 'movie fee-ater'. Bless him!

So, what am I doing you ask?? (Besides keeping the tv remotes and batteries away from the baby of course).

Well, I've finished doing the prep work for dinner, and now I'm off to work on my Lovely Year of Finishes goal for this month.

This month I am determined to finish piecing the top for my mystery quilt I started last summer with my guild.

Right now I'm calling it my mint chocolate chip quilt. I know there's some pink in there, but every time I see it I think of that flavor ice cream (and sadly I don't even really like that flavor. oh well).

Early this morning I pressed those 96 half square triangle blocks. Yes, 96. I got through them 12 at a time, baby steps, baby steps.

Aside from this goal I have another baby shower the end of this month that I need to whip something really awesome up for! I'm gonna be an aunt again!! I'm so excited for my baby brother to be having his first boy!

What are you working on now?? Anything for a special little baby?