Snow and Pumpkins...Must be Spring!

Well, with almost a foot of snow outside, and no signs of stopping, i decided to work on Becca's extra Halloween block. The Birthday Block Swap, that you have read about in previous posts, had some drop-outs...so the rest of us volunteered to help make blocks for those that came up short. The first block i made becca had WAY to many pieces in it, so i went for something a little simpler this time, but with fun fabric. I love her Halloween theme...i see one in my future :) Hope she likes it. In the meantime, the little one just went down for a nap, so i think ill try to get some more crafting done~
May your day be filled with Joy!
cheers~
lisajo

Goodies from the UK

A wonderful package arrived in the mail today from Lynda. She had a giveaway for her 50th blog entry, and i was the winner. The interesting thing is, she was the first person to leave a comment on my blog, and since then, we have enjoyed stopping by each others site to say hi, send words of encouragement, etc. Inside this bag, was a nice selection of novelty prints, some quilt scrap squares, a variety of blue beads, some coins for a coin belt (yes, we both enjoy belly dancing as a hobby)...and a mysterious gold package with Jordyn's name on it.

We opened the package to find this lovely spring bag (no doubt, made by Lynda) and inside the bag was some delicious Cadbury white chocolate. I have never met a more giving bunch of people, than i have in the quilting world! How sweet of you to think of my little one Lynda...I am thrilled that we are blogmates :) You made our day! We woke up to a snowy morning, so the colorful spring bag brought a lot of cheer to us both! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
Here is a shot of jordyn enjoying the yummies that were in her beautiful new bag!

cheers~
lisajo

Easter Monday...

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter with family and friends! This year we celebrated up at the Black Bear, and Jordyn had a blast! She found lots of goodies sitting out for her when she woke up, including this lovely pink bunny from her Great Godmother (my Godmom Sandy). The Easter Bunny left her a plush doll house with cloth furniture and a bunny family, stickers, bubbles, books, and of course a giant egg filled with candy. (which she is stuffing into her face here :) After she opened all her goodies, we watched James and the Giant Peach (again)! I picked it up for her last week and she is obsessed with that movie...she LOVES it!!! Every time we sit down to watch a movie, she starts saying, "Peach...Peach..." heheheh

Anyways, while she enjoyed her movie, i made this cake for dinner (well, dessert actually, but to take to dinner). I dont bake often, i dont really like dessert...but i thought it would be fun to make this cake since i havent made it in years. However, i had a few issues with it...part of the cake collapsed, and the home made whipped cream never seemed to get thick enough for me, but i filled in the hole with more frosting, and covered up the bare spots with fruit, and whala! Issues Gone! :)
Once the cake was finished we could get on to more important things...

The egg hunt! Justin snuck out and hid all the eggs along the meadow and the path up to his moms house, so when we headed up there for dinner we got to watch Jordyn collect eggs. Once she "discovered" the second egg, she had the whole game figured out and was quickly walking along the yard in search of eggs. With a little prodding she was able to find them all!

It was a lot colder out than it looks in these photos...so she is probably a little under dressed, but i couldnt pass up dressing her in the lovely Easter dress that Grandma Barbara sent, so we adorned the outfit with snow boots and sweatshirt to keep her warm!
Once we got to Grandma and Grandpas house, there were more eggs hidden inside, so the hunt continued. As far as sugar is concerned...Jordyn made out like a dentist! :) Looks like daddy's gonna have to help her with all that candy. Dinner was delicious, and even with its flaws, the dessert was a hit too! We finished the evening off with a movie and then went home to bed. What fun!

More quilt blocks

Here is the final quilt square for Jordyn's Great Grandmas quilt. As i mentioned before several family members made blocks for her 90th bday, and i was just awaiting this last block so that i could start assembling the quilt. Yes, i was waiting on myself :) I made it for her daughter, who doesnt quilt, and its supposed to look like their mountain home. Anyways, she is excited to take all the squares with her on a family gathering over Easter, so when she gets back we'll decide how to arrange them. She wants the squares to be on the front and back, and she wants it to be a wall hanging. (she plans to flip it over ever couple weeks or so). I suggested a quilt for her bed...twin sized, so it would be perfect...but she said she wants to be able to look at it, and if she puts it on her bed it would be covered up by the bedspread. Well, i didnt feel like arguing that it could become the bed cover, so i guess we'll just design it how she wants it. Besides, its her quilt :)

Since i had a little extra time, i made this pink and brown square for Kathi (Miss December)for the Bday block swap on about.com. Its a yearlong commitment, and we had some folks drop out, so people still awaiting their month are getting cheated a few squares. Therefore, those of us die hards, decided to help out each other by creating the extra blocks that folks are missing. I was impressed with the number of extra blocks the women are making. Quilters truly are a generous bunch! In fact, i almost lost out on making an extra block because they all jumped in so quickly.

It was cold and windy today, but Jordyn and i still had a chance to adventure outside. I sure hope Spring is around the corner...Im ready for it!

Cheers~
lisajo

wearin' of the green!

Well, i havent had much to show in the way of quilting lately...ive been doing a lot of embroidery on this. When i complete more, i'll post another photo. I really enjoy sewing by hand while watching a movie...a perfect end to the day! Especially when i havent had a chance to craft at all during the day. I have also been busy working on my website. I do a lot of digital art and photography...something ive been neglecting lately...so i want to get that site rolling to inspire me. When it gets uploaded ill share the link, so stay tuned! Lots going on up here at the Black Bear Cabin...but im sure ill take the time to drink a green beer!
Happy St. Patty's Day!
lisajo

National Quilting Day

Today is National Quilting Day...and though i may not get to do any actual quilting today, i thought i would share a photo of the very first quilt i ever made. It was made for my nephew, Jacob, and its called, "Jacobs Quilt" (catchy huh!). It is pieced and quilted entirely by hand (didnt have a sewing machine back then), and it was completed and mailed to Jake in 1997, and i believe he still uses it :) The photo isnt the best, but it gives you an idea. I am completely self taught, so this was definitely a learning experience for me. Anyways, Happy Quilting Day :)
cheers~
lisajo

Happy Trails Cousin!

Last weekend we went to Denver to see my cousin Christy off in style! She is moving to Washington (the first time she has moved away from home), so her mom and the old neighborhood decided to have a fabulous going away party for her and her husband. It was a blast...even my sister Denise, flew in from Los Angeles to join in on the fun. We all had WAYYYY to much fun, and the hangover to prove it! I havent tied one on like that in years! Shots of tequila...whos idea was that?
Anyways, Christy is my best friend so i was sad to see her go. Her home was always my place of sanity when i needed to get off the mountain...in need of a city fix...or just needed a fabulous place to sit,drink coffee, and enjoy Mexican take-out with my best friend! I will miss that :( Of course, i am excited for her adventure...and everyone should move away from home at least once in their life, so this will be great for them...just sad for me :(
Christy took this photo of Denise and i hanging out at their house as the movers were packing up their things. We sat out in the front yard, enjoying the unusually nice weather, sharing stories, having laughs, and savoring our last moments together before they headed off.
We will miss you guys, but i know you will visit often!
Happy Trails~
lisajo

Miss March

Yet another block for the Bday block of the month swap on about.com. Miss March's block (aka Bonnie)...wanted super bright colored stars with a black background. She asked that the stars be roughly 10 inches, and then to add enough black to make it 12 1/2". This way they appear to float when sewn with other blocks :) Hope she likes it! Wow...I cant believe there are only two more months left. Kate is planning to do another one when this one ends. I wasnt planning on participating, as i would like to concentrate on the many unfinished projects i already have...but i find myself thinking of theme ideas for the next one, so most likely i will join again :) Ive also decided to finally try my hand at free-pieced quilting and have signed up for Tonya's Lazy Gals Summer Class Come join the fun if you havent already :)
Cheers~
lisajo

ahhh.....Naptime

There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson