Another Quilt Done

This quilt has been years in the making. And I mean, years.
Maman started this quilt maybe 20 years ago? More?
Liberty fabrics only. Liberty all over, all the time.
Something like 3 years ago Maman gave me all she had already made for it and it was up to me to finish it.

I started piecing and blocking when we were in Seattle doing Pinocchio in early 2014. 

Took my good ol' time to get it all together,

Sometime in the Fall of 2014 we went to Britex in San Francisco and picked out a Liberty fabric for the back! The ladies in the store were very excited to see this all-Liberty project. I think that's when Jason felt proud and thought quilting was cool for the first time. :o)

Got some batting and went to town! Quilted like a chess board around the squares.

Then 2015 was a blur, for obvious reasons. I hadn't finished the quilt for Olive's birth, and didn't feel like pulling it back out. 

But the Fall and the Winter showed up again, and projects are fun, and out it came!

Binding times.

More binding times.

Ta-da!

Boom. Done. Come one, little sister, it's ready for you!

Anniversaries

We got through the anniversaries. A year went by.

Our perfectly perfect Olive June would have turned one on December 13th.
Happy Birthday my baby girl.

Portland, OR

After a few days in Boise, I took the tiniest plane to Portland, OR to meet up with Papa & Maman and Susan and Dennis!

Susan and Dennis renovated their entire house and it is a studio / art-making heaven. 

With puppies!

We visited and browsed, 

We shopped, 

And hung out, 

And shopped some more! It was lovely.

Boise, ID

Took a little trip to Boise. It was time to hang out with Leah, finally.

Got to see Tilly,

And Rafferty,

And meet their new pets! This is Benjamin, the 12 week old kitten, 

And Julian, the sweetest pup.

Halloween!! Sock monkey with Willy Wonka and Violet Beauregard. 

I've been pretty cat-crazy lately. I think it's the want for a little soft being with a heart beat, close to me. I'm very allergic, but I couldn't resist the soft cuddles.

Napping on the bump.

Even though the trip was short, it was perfect. Got to be with Leah and sit around and talk, like we've been wanting to. Got to see some other people too, and remember friends from a past life. I knew them in the "before" and now they are with me in the "after."

Day 24

Chamberlain, SD - Minneapolis, MN
Miles Driven - Approx 370 Miles.

Last day!
Driving home.

Thank you Best Western, for the all the clean remotes.

Breakfast!

We figure this is our consolation prize for Wall Drug being closed.

Antiquing.

Mitchell, SD. Home of the Corn Palace!

But what is the Corn Palace?

A GYM?? We had no idea.

Under a lot of construction, too.

Fine, we'll just do some more antiquing.

Lunch!

Married hand with free peanuts.

Last Sinclair of the trip.

Home state.

 Minnesota sunset.

 :o)

Day 23

Rapid City, SD - Chamberlain, SD

Miles Driven: Approx 280 Miles

Rapid City is cool.

 Art Alley.

And then.

 Dinosaurs!

Jason's Photos. Titled "Patriotic Dino"

And Mount Rushmore!
Our parking pass is good until the end of the year!

 Married hand at binoculars.

My new band name.
And yes. I bought a metal map of the US for all our state magnets.

Washington's profile.

 Crazy Horse!

 It took quite a few tries to get it all in the frame.

 What it's going to look like one day.

Cool gate.

 Winery, in South Dakota?

 We tried the wine, and bought some. Olives, too.

Wall Drug was closed. Sad face.
But we could still see their dino from the freeway. Happy face.

Late night gas station milk shake. 

And it was good.