Can you guess?

My husband is the talented photographer, but when there are important things to document, I can grab a camera too.

This is the first of many portraits that I will be taking. This is a photo I have dreamt of for many years. I am so full of joy and love I can hardly focus. Can you guess????

Our adorable Jill and her equally adorable husband Jonathan are going to be parents! Yep...that makes US Grandparents and we couldn't be happier!!!!

Munich our Grandpuppy is going to be a big sister. The kids worry a bit about how crowded things may seem in their home, but I say a home filled to capacity with love is a very lovely home to live in. Don't you agree????

So I ordered this darling quilt book to add to my collection.....let the sewing begin!!!! I have heard that being a Grandmother is one of life's best gifts. I am already so in love with our Grandchild.

Thank you God for this blessing and my prayer is that You watch over Jill and Jonathan in this incredible journey that they are taking. May there be much joy, and may He watch over you today and all the days that follow.

And when is this precious baby due....early Spring. I can hardly wait!!!!

Charming Girl finishes for August.....

Did I get these done in time? It was a very bumpy month and although I didn't get three projects completed, I am pretty happy I did finish two!!!!

This one was for a friend of my Son and his wife Jill....a cute baby girl quilt that they will gift the cute couple with.

This was my second Moda Bakeshop quilt....and I HEART this one very much!!!! My favorite SWEET fabrics just made it a joy to sew on.

....and a closeup of the quilting with a flower design and a BIG circle at the center so I didn't have to go thru the pinwheel "bump". Here is hoping that life is a bit more settled this next month and I can finish ALL the quilts that I post.

In all things....

....search for blessings. It has been a difficult time. Dustin's Dad passed away....on Dustin's birthday and the day the kids were to move into their new home. It seemed to much to bear. Our home was full to capacity with our Dutch family visiting and with plans for a family reunion that would gather 30 family members to share and reminisce. At times it seemed to overwhelm. But there was much to be grateful for .....

....for my Uncle Piet who gave us all a joyous concert and brought back sweet memories of my Grandfather who also lived for his music.

For the sweetest visitors who are grateful for everything they get to see and do and who add to the joy of our home.

We have enjoyed summer meals in the garden.....

and found that quilts are great for keeping us warm.

The girls have found the joy of California shopping....

and my Grandpuppy came to give me kisses and nibbles....

My cousin and her husband came to our reunion too, and it was especially nice to be able to catch up on our lives. But there are more blessings.

The kids would be coming home to a huge task of moving their things into their new home and starting back to their teaching all in the same week. But with the kindest and most generous heart, Liz ( their friend and realtor) has arranged to have a moving company come in and do the move for them. So while this week is hard at many times, there is much to be grateful for.

We will be leaving in a day to be with Dustin's family. We hope we can comfort them at this very hard time. I hope they too can feel the blessings of all who are praying for them. I thank you for your sweet notes and love....I will be sure to convey all of your goodness when we see the kids.

If you would....

This was to be a week of happy celebrations..... Dustin's birthday and the kids were moving into their new home. Sadly the plans have changed. Dustin's Dad is back in the hospital. His cancer has progressed and the kids have gone back to be with the family.

Meghan has said to me that "God is in control". I am grateful that this family has a relationship with God that will strengthen them in these hard times. I do ask you to pray....for the Drs. wisdom, for Don's comfort, and for this family to be sheltered by the love of God in these difficult days that lie ahead.

I know the family would appreciate that very much.

Bag Lady.....

I often share how much I LOVE my job, made even more special by my very delightful students. On Wednesday nights I have the HONOR of teaching Kim.....but the truth is Kim can teach me lots!!!

She owns one of my favorite quilt shops ( Starry Night Hollow in Encinitas) and when she came to class carrying a new bag she had designed I begged her to have a class so I could come be HER student. She kindly said yes and I now have another darling bag that I love!!!

I wasn't alone in my "bag" love. Meghan said she would LOVE me to make her exactly the same bag for her "teacher" tote, so needless to say I was thrilled to make her one too! Not wanting to make it exactly the same, I added a front pocket to hers......

....and deeper inside pockets too. I measured them to fit all of the classroom papers she will come home with. It was lots of fun to make, and I hope it lets my favorite teacher know how special she is to me.

So...the week ahead looks to be plenty busy. The kids will sign the papers on their new home and are still busily packing. Our next group of Dutch relatives arrives this week too...but my biggest hope is we can still put aside some time for a "girls" movie night. This one just looks to sweet to miss!!!! Happy week everyone. XXX

Charming Girl finishes for August.....

I am going to be very ambitious this time and hope to finish three projects. The first is a Moda Bakeshop pattern that I LOVE!!!! I have all the pieces ready to go....now I need to find some time in the sewing room.

The second is the same Moda Bakeshop pattern that I have finished the top...and well, you know the rest. So hope to get this one quilted and bound.

My last project is one that I have had hanging sadly in my closet just wishing I would quilt and bind this one too. I have such an easy time starting projects....finishing is NOT so easy!! Thanks Charming Girls club for the motivation and gentle push.

So it is best I spend less time HERE and more time with my friend Ms. Elna. Happy finishing fellow club members!!!

I don't mean to complain BUT.....

.......my job is VERY difficult. I have to walk past all of this lovely fabric each work day, and gaze at all of those beautiful quilts. Yesterday was my "All Day" class. Twelve hours of quilting with an amazing group of students/friends.

My students come from near and far....and this group is mostly FAR!!! I love that they come each time, adding a joyfulness to our day. Sharon thinks we can't see her....but we can!!!

I pack the house with smiling faces. Julie is such a sweetie and Gail is our excellent organizer of ALL things fun. Laurie isn't smiling because she is to busy sewing. We call her FAST Laurie because.....

She makes more quilts than anyone I know. How cute is this????

The girls take over each bit of space creating wonderful quilts and projects. Can you see Chris giving out hugs....she is just the sweetest girl EVER!!!!

Anastasia is my international student....she comes from Russia. She makes the most incredible quilts and would you believe she is making THREE of these seaside quilts???? Her husband is an author and has written a book about how they met and fell in love. We ALL love Anastasia for her sweet smile and kind heart.

This is Laurel....a retired flight attendant. She has the face of an angel but watch out!!! She can tell a joke like NO ONE else I know and has the award for causing me to fall to the floor laughing at one of her stories. I always look forward to Laurel being in class because I know it will be such fun!

OK, aren't they seriously just the sweetest! This is Kate and Rose and they are Aunt and Niece. Not just quilters.....Rose is a "Lactation Specialist" ( yep there really is such a thing) and our very smart Katie works a very important position in a nuclear power plant!!! How amazing are they????

This is Allison. I love that Allison has been a part of my life a LONG time. When my kids weren't at our house, they were enjoying the Fellar's family home. I joke that my kids turned out so well because I co-parented with the Fellar's family. Allison is a HUGE blessing in my life.

Mary Lou and Marla are two of my newest students...and they fit in just perfectly!!! Marla wasn't sure she could quilt, but she is making quilts fast and furious. Mary Lou has a daughter that works at Marie Callendars...which means a pie each week at Thursday quilting. Yep, I LOVE Thursdays!

Amie is our machine quilter par excellence!!! This quilt is for Eleanor's granddaughter "little Ellie". Isn't it just precious?

Mary sat next to me at class. Yep, I got to sew too!!! Mary has the perfect name because no one is merrier ( or sweeter) than she. Makes the cutest quilts too.

Then there is Juanice....what can I say other than I "heart" Juanice very much. Not only the sweetest and the cutest, but can you see that bitty streak of blue hair that she dyed for her birthday? You have to love a girl who has hair that matches her quilt!!!!

Did I mention that we have TWO potlucks at our All Day class. Take a peek at those shrimp!!! Yep, we quilt all day, we eat gourmet meals and I get to shop AND catch up on the lives of my students/dear friends.

So did you want to know what the HARD part of my job is? Well....it is picking up my paycheck with a straight face (G)!!!! I should be paying them for the joy that this day brings. But in a way I guess I do, because it mostly just converts into buying more fabric that goes into my stash.

So that was my day....thanks girls for the joy you add to my lives. It was Sew much fun!