SLMQG

Guys....last night was so wonderful!!!! I finally got to go to a Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild meeting and I must say it was one of the best things I've done so far here in Utah! It was a little sketchy at first, but after the nervous jitters were gone and I started talking to all the wonderful people there its was just magic! There were so many amazing quilters and designers it kind of blew my mind. Not to mention I was a little star struck (and I'm gonna name drop) when I saw Katie from the blue chair sitting inches from me. My insides were all like sqeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Justin even knew who she was LOL!!! And I don't mean to get all dorky but to finally meet someone who, to you, has been so influential and inspiring it kind of calls for a little jumping up and down!

Its official!!!!!!!

But seriously, the inspiration was everywhere. I left feeling so excited and delighted to jump in front of my sewing machine and get down to business. I feel like this is the first set. And hopefully if my work schedule cooperates, I can make it to as many meetings/events as I can so I get hang out with all of these amazingly talented and wonderful people!!!! I don't know too many names yet, but I'm sure in time I'll get to know each and everyone them!

The Riley Blake Challenge

 

Thank you to everyone that participated in Show and Tell it was awesome. I hope you all feel as inspired as I do!

An Update and a Resolution

Happy 2014 everyone!!! I hope 2013 was a good one for all of you! For me it was full of ups and downs, but mostly ups which is a good thing. Many of you may or may not know, I moved in 2013 all the way across the country to Utah! As a result I took a bit of a hiatus from blogging to focus on my life and to get everything back to normal. Well 2 months later we're back to semi-normal and with the New Year I thought I would make a resolution and sort of promise to get back to blogging. Not only for all of you out there still interested in my crafty shenanigans, but for me. I enjoy blogging and hopefully will be doing more of it soon!

So where to begin.....Well we made it! Home sweet home. Moving is definitely not fun, but when its to your first house its kind of super exciting. I finally have a place I can call my own and I don't need to be rich to enjoy the amazing views! Its funny though. If you would have asked me a year ago if I thought I would be in Utah now I would have thought you were crazy. Utah was definitely not on the radar, but after visiting a few times we kind of fell in love. Such a change from New Jersey.

The house is slowly coming together. The first week we were here there was a lot of spending :/ New couch, new mattress, a washer and dryer, etc. We still don't have a dining room table, but its fine because the space is great for quilty projects! :D

Don't judge.

 Speaking of crafty spaces I finally have one!!! My very own sewing room!!! Its super messy and disorganized right now, but hopefully I can get it together soon and make it my own little sanctuary. For now I make due with the rest of the house though. And I kind of find it more enjoyable as I can sew and hang out with my honey while he watches TV.

Guess its just as messy!

 During Christmas I was very busy! I actually found time to make a tree skirt, finish a WIP from 2013, make family and friends little ornaments and gifts, and even start another project. I'm still working on binding my monstrous Swoon quilt and dreading quilting my Spanish Tiles quilt. But I cant wait to add more to the pile! I love that I can finally have the quilts out and in use! Makes it even more homey!

 

Ignore the laundry basket.

I'll leave you with my latest finish, its a quilt for the newest soon to be member of my boyfriend's family. His niece is having a baby in April so I figure I would get a jump on it! So here's to a productive and bloggy New Year!!! May you all have a happy, healthy and productive 2014!!!!

O what fun......

I was even productive on the plane!

So didn't think later in the week would mean the following week...sheesh...Anyway, here is a recap of our stupendous trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. We had loads of fun visiting our friend and got into plenty of shenanigans while he was at work.  Hehehehe!

So on the first day we got there we were pretty beat but decided we should make the most of the little time we had. Our first stop was In and Out Burger....of course. We discovered them on our expedition west this summer. What a delicious find.

Insert Homer, Mmmmmm......grilled cheese....*lippy smacky noises*

Next stop: Temple

Mind you I am not a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints but by all means was I seeing that enormous church. Interestingly enough all the roads in SLC lead to Temple. The Church of Latter Day Saints is located at the very heart of the city and all streets are named, rather numbered, by its proximity to Temple. If you live on 2700 South that means you are 27 blocks south of Temple. This made the city extremely easy to navigate.

Saturday we went skiing. Best snow on earth. I tried snowboarding for the first time....fun but hurt. Alot.

Sunday.....we went to the public library and to our surprise there was a craft show !!!! Some of Utah's finest were exhibiting their wears and accoutrements at the appropriately named Craft Sabbath. I of course bought some really neat swag.

 
From left to right counter-clockwise:

The Emperor's Tea booth was great! They gave free samples and smiles all day long! What wonderful people! Wish I got their names :/ The tea was super delicious especially the Raspy Raspberry, Black Christmas and Pepperminty! They pride themselves on being super local and super all natural. You can check out their story and products here and here.

My next stop was bykali. Kali makes wonderful wearable and hanging artwork from all sorts of found objects. She had some very beautiful earrings and necklaces containing things like aspen leaves, nails, bolts and interesting graphics. I could have spent a fortune here, simply wonderful and super creative! You can own one of your very own by visiting her etsy site here.

Last but not least there was Spotted Hippo Soap. I actually went to this booth first. The wonderful smell of the handmade soaps drew me in. I was sniffing everything! Finally settled on the Beer Soap, she uses actual beer in the process! Think mine is a lager but I'm not a drinker so who knows, either way it smells amazing can't wait to use it. You can follow Spotted Hippo Soap here and here.

Shop local first! Support your local artists!

And finally the grand finale .......Piper' Quilts & Comforts. As a quilter traveling to quilt mecca, ie Utah, it was only customary that I find, gawk, and buy something from a local quilt shop. Luckily there was one very close to our friends and off I went with 3 men to a quilting/knitting shop. In the midst of fabric overload my boyfriend's friend came up with a brilliant plan. I should collect fabric from all the states I travel too and make a "states" quilt from all the findings! This is my first from Utah.

It was a really adorable shop. They had all sorts of wonderful things on the walls. They specialized in children's wears and had a ton of really cute knitted hats and clothes. They have great tutorials on their blog and fabric selection here. I definitely want to try this soon. I bought an awl today just in case I get the urge to try it. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of pictures since in the same moment we went to Piper's I conveniently "lost" my camera. It was in my luggage :/ So enjoy the pictures my boyfriend so begrudgingly happily let me take with his phone.

All in all it was an amazing trip and I need to get back west ASAP. My heart belongs in the mountains.