Remembering Memorial Day

It is the VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.


It is the VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag,

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

May God Bless them all!!!

Will You ?

My family grew a little more today. Gino and Brie are home on vacation and today, at the Wishing Well inside Disneyland, he asked Brie to be his wife! She said YES! Welcome to the family Brie! We all love you!

Grandparents Day @ MCA

Yesterday Arianna's school honored the Grandparents of their students. Each grade level, kindergarden - 6th grade had a presentation. The grandparents were supposed to sit near the classes, but I couldn't imediatly find Arianna's class and ended up on the wrong side of the sanctuary. I found her as they lined up. I could see her looking for me in the audience. I kept sending mind messages to her ~ look this way, look this way. Finally she saw me and we both waved at each other!!

Each of the children made something special for their grandparents and they were all displayed in the Fellowship Hall. This is my lovely presentation!

Here is Arianna and I in the Fellowship Hall. After school, Arianna and I went across the street and grabbed a Sonic slushy! What a fun afternoon!

Which of these things doesn't belong?

The Gumby you say? They are all dog toys! We had to go get dog food tonight and we picked up a few toys. That puggle needs extra stimulation. Patrick said I bought the Gumby for myself. LOL I told him if it had been for me, I would have bought the Pokey as well!! (I may be making another trip to the pet store real soon!!)

Welcome Home Son

Gino is home on leave. He is here and there for a copule of weeks and man have they packed a lot ofliving in for those two weeks. Bree is in town attending a seminar for her job and Gino was able to arrange leave during this time. Arianna made these lovely welcome home signs that I posted on Gino's door. Amara helped with some of the coloring. I think they did a fabulous job!! These signs were under top sercet until Gino saw them on Friday night. Not even with their top secret clearances, where they able to find out what Arianna's secret mission was.

Quilt Craft and Sewing Festival

I took Friday off and Kari & I drove down to Del Mar (Kari drove - I rode) for the Quilt Craft and Sewing Festival. I am glad we went together as we had a great day! There weren't a ton of venders, but boy could I have dropped a chunk of cash. I was really good, I only bought one charm pack (little 5 inch squares of fabrice) - the Frolic line by Moda, a 5 pack of fabric and some buttons that I couldn't find anywhere else. But there was so much more that I saw that I liked. I have regrets that I didn't pick up a few patterns that I looked at. Now to find the time to finish what I have started and then get busy on more!!

After the quilt show and since we were down that far, we decided to stop in at Everafter Scrapbook Store. Good thing Kari knew they had moved or I would have directed us to the wrong place! It was nice seeing a different store as I usually go to the Oasis. Every store seems to carry slightly different stuff. Kari hung out at the house for a time when she brought me home. We went though patterns that I had and jsut sat and gabbed. It was a really fun day! Thanks for sharing the day with me Kari!!

Picture of a Family

This is what family looks like today - four generations of a blended family. It is not often that we are able to get the entire family together so this day was special indeed. We were missing Mandre Sr. as he is a hard working daddy, but he was able to make it later that evening (and Kristen's family - but that is a story for a another novel). I had to bribe everyone with desert (homemade chocolate ice box pie and fresh coconut cake - both longtime family recipes) in order to get everyone in the photo!!

Quilt block #3

Here is my 3rd block in the series. I am not real good at my cutting skills, but I think the block looks good. 3 blocks down, 6 to go!

Family and Chocolate Cake

This layout is from when Gino was home on leave a few years back. What the scan is not good a showing is all the layering and glitter work on here. It is one sparkley layout! The layout is losely based on the same sketch as below from Pencil Lines. I used a left over Basic Grey Boxer sticker sheet, a Tim Holtz Adore ticket, some assorted trimm patterned paper from one of the Die Cuts with a View Stacks, assorted cardstock Prima swirl, Ranger Champagne stickles, Thickers - Darling style and the die cut is from Jill DZ Fancy Shapes Keyhole 2.

Adorable Princess

Look at these beauties with Sleeping Beauty! The happen to be the fairest of granddaughters!! That is Princes Rylee on the left and Princes Amara on the right.

This layout layout is based on sketch 185 from Pencil Lines and I used the Imaginisce Fairest of Them All line, Bazzill cardstock, Creative Imaginations Signature Collection - Sleeping Beauty and the die was cut on my Cricut using Jill DZ Fancy Shapes Keyhole 1!

1st Haircut

Here is my adorable grandson and his 1st Haircut! Do you see that nice shaped die I used to highlight my grandson's final picture? It is a design by Jill DZ Fancy Shapes, the Crvy 5.

The layout is based on a sketch over at Pagemaps. I also used 1st Haircut 3 Bugs In A Rug Animal Stackers, Basic Grey Beckham letter stickers, Crate Paper Paper Doll Collection, Assorted Martha Stewart and EK Success border punches, some Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels and the Be Happy for This Moment stamp found in Unity's December Kit of the Month 2009 to complete the layout.

Thou shall not covet . . .

But I would really like Lola (the beautiful red bag shown in the picture here) to come to me! I found her at http://www.epiphaniebags.com/ and she is just the most fabulous camera bag on the face of the planet! I just know she would love to come live with me and my Sony a700!!

Quilt Block 2

This is my 2nd block from the quilt class I am taking every Tuesday evening at The Quilt Cupboard. It is coming along nicely and I had a special lesson on ruler reading and placement. It is the little things I tell ya!

Kelly Gorre's Class at Reflections

Kelly Gorre's class was a layout class sponsored by Basic Grey. I loved each of the layouts she presented and her style of teaching was fabulous! I have a fondness for Basic Grey patterned papers, but often have difficulty in using it.Karen and Susan came around during the class with a glass of California Sunshine! It was like a liquid creme-sicle!
This is meant to be viewed as a two-page layout. (who has the cutest grandchildren? Me I tell you)
There was one other layout in Kelly's class that I have half-finished. I still need to find a picture for it.

More on Reflections

More posts on the Reflections event I attended last weekend! These are pictures of a few of the Make-n-Takes done on Friday night at the Isle Carnival.
This layout was Suzy Plantamura's addition.
This was a cute 6x12 layout who still needs a picture.
Nicole from The Scrapbook Garden created this page and I had the perfect picture!
The uber talented Nora and her sweet husband taught these 3 super cards. Nora had the pieces all packaged up in a stamped paper bag. We received the tree punch from Fiskear's as one of our special prizes.One last card.

There were many other make-n-takes offered that I didn't get to. The Tattered Angels ladies sponsored a lovely kit that I didn't finish as I wasn't in love with the way they had it put together and I will use the pieces in another project. We also made a rose using Ranger inks and grunge paper. Also at the Isle Carnival were many vendors. I didn't buy, but I was tempted!

Reflections "Life" Mini Album

Here are the pictures of the Life mini album that Danielle Flanders presented at Reflections. The framework for the album is an embroidery hoop. I couldn't post until today as I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day.
And this is what my tabletop looks like after an afternoon of creating!

Quilting Class

So I signed up for a quilt class at the Quilt Cupboard. While I know how to sew (basically), and I have put together a few things, I wanted to learn correct quilting techniques! I have picked up quite a few things from the internet and various books, I find I really learn best with hands on experience. That said, this is my first quilt block. We will be making 9 blocks total and then sashing them together. (There are two other ladies in my class.) I decided to step out of my box and go with some bright colors! I usually lean towards more mute, softer, monochromatic color scheme. I thought these colors were bright and springy! This block uses 4 of the 5 fabrics I chose.

So what did I learn last night you ask? I learned the evils of JoAnn's fabric. I learned that I need a new iron. I learned that my 10-15 year old ruler needs to be replaced. And I learned that I need a rolling tote for my heavy sewing machine. Oh - you mean what did I learn about quilting? A tip about how to sew then cut the triangle blocks you see here. Pretty nifty huh!

Reflections 2010 Pt 1

I attended Reflections 2010 this past weekend. This is the goodies I received for attending. Fiskers was such an amazing sponsor. They gave us a scalloped punch and the stamps that fit inside it. And the large tree punch. Wescott gave us a pair of 3 inch pair of scissors. We were told you could take these scissors on the airplane. Cosmo Cricket supplied a blackboard photo box. There was Sasafrass, Thickers, Pink Paslie, Maya Road and to top it off, a lady was commissioned to sew a over the shoulder tote bag! This doesn't even begin to go into the generous class kits (which I will describe in another email).

One of the techniques we learned this weekend was how to create flowers. Flowers out of grunge paper. Flowers out of fabric. Flowers our of patterned paper. And flowers out of felt! What a fun technique and one I have a feeling I will be duplicating again and again! Here are a few of the flowers I created.

(edited to add - I keep finding things as I am putting them away. We were also give a 6x6 package of Sassafras Apple Jack paper and an idea book. Who know what other goodies I will uncover as I continue to unpack!)

What a whirlwind weekend!

Thursday was my anniversary, Patrick and Friday was the 1st day of the 3-day Reflections Event (more on that to follow). Sunday afternoon, Ryan, Darleen, Rylee and Dane came over for a visit. It had been two months since we had seen the family and it was so much fun catching up. We then went to one of Patrick's favorite Italian restaurant, Mam Cosa's for dinner. Everyone had a great dinner. I think Ryan and Darleen have found a new favorite place as well!