Flea Market Fancy Quilt

I have been a fan of Denyse Schmidt's quilt designs for quite some time now.  I remember seeing one of her quilt design books in college, or just after, and being amazed at the uniqueness of her quilts.  I remember telling my mom that if ever I started quilting, I would want to do something like that.  Despite this fact, I didn't really pay attention to her fabric lines until after the original Flea Market Fancy was out of production.  When I found out that a re-release was going to happen, I was so excited.  I called Strawberry Patches to find out when the store would be carrying the line and anxiously awaited its arrival.  While anticipating this new line of fabric, I started combing Flickr and Pinterest for quilt ideas.  I finally found the quilt below as inspiration(Echino, which is another favorite fabric collection, is what is used on the inspiration quilt).  I loved the conceptual juxtaposition of the vintage inspired Flea Market Fancy with the modern quilt design.  I also wanted to try quilting with Essex Linen.  I thought the texture would bring something different to the quilt.

'

I showed the inspiration photo to my mom and she and I set about trying to figure out the math for each block.  This is the part of quilting that is most challenging for me.  I guess I could always just buy ready made patterns to circumvent this step, but what's the fun in that?

This summer, I finally got around to piecing the blocks together.  I made one major mistake when I was putting the blocks together; I sewed all the vertical strips to the blocks without realizing that their was a directionality to each column of blocks.  I ruefully pulled each block apart and set about making a complete layout on my make shift design wall (i.e. a vinyl table cloth hung on the wall).

I tried many different layouts and color combos before coming up with the top I finally sewed together. I then had to come up with a back that I liked.

I thought it would be really fun to make the back of the quilt look like one gigantic quilt block.  I actually had to do algebra to get the dimensions right on this.  I never thought I would have to do that again after high school.  

I used irregular straight line quilting and am really pleased with the results.  The Essex Linen makes the quilt heavier than normal, but I really like how it looks.

The back is one of my favorite parts.  

The best part is that I still have a lot of Flea Market Fancy left over.  

Jack's Tubes, round 2

Jack, for as long as I can remember, has had ear infections.  They have always been chronic and frustrating.  He's had them so much that he even stopped complaining if his ears hurt.  He would just act really grouchy and finally it would dawn on us that it was another ear infection.  Jack had his first round of tubes put in when he was 18 months old.  They helped tremendously.  They fell out last November on our trip to Portland.  A few days after they fell out while on our trip, Jack got an ear infection and the whole chronic cycle started again.  This summer, we worked with our pediatrician to try different allergy medicines to try and stop the drainage and control the ear infections to no avail.  Finally in August, our doctor sent us to the House Ear Clinic in L.A.  The doctor recommended tubes and possibly an adenoidectomy.  We decided to go back to Dr. Zerlin for our surgery so we wouldn't have to travel out of town and have to stay in a hotel.  We also decided to have the adenoidectomy.  Jack felt so bad all summer and all through September he was miserable.  We read through the literature about the side effects and what to watch for with the surgeries and I was a little worried about how he would feel and how long it would take to recover since it wasn't just tubes.  

Jack was a trooper for his surgery.

He cried a little when he came out of anesthesia, but once he figured out where he was, he was so happy.  He was even asking to eat on the way home from the surgery!  We weren't supposed to let him have anything except soft, cold, foods, but he was begging for chicken nuggets (we made him wait).  He has felt great ever since having his surgery and I never noticed what a snorty little sleeper he was, but since he had the adenoidectomy, he is so quiet when he sleeps.  I'm so glad he feels better!

And this is just because he's so cute when he sleeps.

Pumpkin Patch(es)

This year, we got the chance to go to two pumpkin patches. The first Pumpkin Patch was called Hillcrest and it was just outside Reedley.  Our friends, Seth and Amy, invited us to join them.  The coolest part of this place is that it had a half scale narrow gauge steam train the kids could ride on.  Apparently, it also runs during Christmas when the farm functions as a Christmas tree farm.  I would love to go back and check it out.  

Anyway, Jack was showing off  his awesome "cheese" face for these family pictures.  Pretty great.

The day was also great because the weather was actually cool.  

The boys were absolutely mesmerized when the train pulled into the little station.  It was very cool.

Jack, Ryan, and Liam, were three peas in a pod.  And how could they not be when their dads have been best friends forever!

I have no idea what Jack was doing in this picture, but it cracked me up.

Our second pumpkin patch trip was to Banducci's.  We love going to this pumpkin patch.  Our Sunday school class planned an event there, which made it even more fun since we were with so many of our friends.  A new addition this year was the pony rides.  Jack was in heaven!  He is such an animal lover. 

Ryan had a great time too.  

After we got all our pumpkins, we went to Dewar's for ice cream.  All the kids in our Sunday school class were sugared up and bouncing around the patio.  It was pretty funny.  And loud.  After teaching all day and then pumpkin patching that night, I was pretty tired (or maybe just my ears were) so we headed home.  I think our class should remember to do this again next year.  

Ryan's 6th Birthday

Better late than never, right?  Life has been going by at the speed of light ever since school started this year.  I kept meaning to post lots of things, but never got around to it.  

Anyway, for Ryan's 6th birthday (Can you believe it?!?! Six already?!?!?), he wanted to have a Lego birthday.  He actually went back and forth between Angry Birds and Legos, but finally settled on Legos.  He also couldn't make up his mind as to what kind of dessert he wanted.  At first he just wanted cookies and ice cream since cake has never been a favorite.  I was fine with that, but, he tasted Phil's chocolate sheet cake (which Phil refers to as just 'birthday cake')  at Phil's birthday and decided that he liked that too.  I looked at tons of pins on Pinterest to figure out what to do for Ryan's cake and finally thought of a green Lego board.  It was simple and I liked how it looked.  I used M&M's for the pegs and real Legos to write his name.   

For the sugar cookies, I rolled out my dough, measured 2x3 squares, and cut the dough with my pizza cutter.  I dyed the frosting to match the M&M's, then used M&M's for the pegs.  They don't look perfect, but they tasted good.

Ryan had all his buddies there.  I so enjoyed watching him play with all his friends.  

Ryan and Phil also built all the table decorations.  I'm sorry that I didn't take pictures of all his creations because they were really cute.  

Ryan got tons of new toys to play with, which still occupy a lot of his time.  He loved every single thing he got.

This look just cracks me up.

Both great grandma's were also in attendance, which I'm so thankful for.

Ryan also had a lot of help with his candles.  It was a great party and a lot of fun.  We had so much fun celebrating our boy.

Kidnapped for my Birthday

This past weekend, I had made plans to celebrate my birthday at the Padre with some girlfriends.  We were going to go out on Sunday evening that way most of us would not need to have baby sitters since the dads where going to be at home.  I had plans to work on Cubbies stuff at church, have a lazy Sunday afternoon, then go out in the evening.  After the kids (including Ryan's friend Madelyn, who was spending the night) went to bed on Saturday night, Phil very seriously said, "I have something I need to tell you." I sat down and listened.  He said, "Something is happening tomorrow morning.  I can't tell you what, but Lorie is going to be here at 7 AM and you need to be ready to go."  My mind started racing.  I always like to know what is coming next and this time I had no answers.   Of course I asked, "What should I wear?" Followed by, "Who will do my Cubbies stuff?" "Who will do Madelyn's hair?"  "Where am I going?!?!" "Why on earth is Lorie getting up and getting me so early?!?!"

Phil assured me he had it all under control.  I texted Lorie asking if she would really be here at 7 AM and what should I wear.  She confirmed the 7 AM and told me to wear something cute, casual, and cool (as in, it would be hot).  I picked something out and Phil confirmed it would be okay.

The next morning, Lorie was right on time, if not a little early.  We hopped in the car and went straight to Starbucks.  Lorie would not tell me where we were going.  We got on the I-5 and headed South.  Still, I didn't know what was going on since I knew that if we were going to L.A., nothing would be open yet.  I was really confused, but excited.  After a while, Lorie got a text and asked me to read it to her.  It was from her mom who said, "Have fun at the Rose Bowl."  I read it and Lorie screamed, "NO!" since I wasn't supposed to know yet.  I asked her what was at the Rose Bowl and she told me the Flea Market.  I squealed and got really excited.

We had a great drive down.  When we got to the Rose Bowl, we opened the car door only to feel that the air was already very warm and muggy.  We got our tickets and headed in.  And seriously, aren't these tickets the best?

Me at the entrance

 Lorie at the entrance

One of the first vendors we went to had these amazing pillows.  The fabric was unique and was quilted with thick embroidery floss in a chunky running stitch.  They had really squishy down inserts and felt and looked heavenly.  I wanted one.  Or three.  Finally after drooling over several, I asked the price.  $60 for the small pillows, $120 for the big.  Yikes!  I sadly left the booth empty handed.

I found a couple of things that I was interested in, but I had such a hard time making up my mind because the flea market was so large with so many treasures.  Lorie found a lot of things right off the bat.  Pretty soon, she was in need of a bag lady cart, so we went back to a vendor at the entrance of the flea market and she got one.  I also got us some waters as the temperature was stifling.  

There were so many amazing things to see and buy.  One could spend a lot of money in a hurry.  At one point, I noticed that a cotter pin was on the ground at one of the booths where we had stopped.  I thought about picking it up, thinking it might have been part of our cart, but I thought our cart still looked fine.  I left it there.  After while, I noticed both wheels were going wonky and that our cart was doomed.  I wished I had picked up the cotter pins.  We hobbled and dragged the cart back to the seller for an exchange.  We were quite a sight.  When we got back to the seller, Lorie's particular cart had been sold out, but they repaired it for us and we were back on our way.  I picked up another round of waters for us and we continued on.

I finally went back to one of the vendors and bought the little fabric wall hanging thing that is hanging over my arm.  It had some sort of log cabin design in the center done with Japanese silks, then the outside was stitched with a Japanese embroidery style.  I love it and am glad it was still there when I went back.  

Next we went to lunch at a fantastic restaurant in South Pasedena called Mike and Anne's.  Lorie had a burger and I had a turkey avocado sandwich with lots of olive oil and garlic.  We shared some sweet potato fries.  It was heavenly.  

Next, was Anthro.  Strangely, I didn't buy anything.

And we ended the day with a quick stop in Valencia for Starbucks and headed home.  

After getting home, I had a little time to shower and change, then it was time for the Padre.  I had a great time with the girls and a fantastic day.  I felt very loved and celebrated.  Lorie, thanks for the great trip.  Phil, thanks for letting me go and watching the kids.  Girls, thanks for hanging out with me and making my night special.  Happy Birthday to me!  

Ryan's Thoughts On Kindergarten

Phil: How was your day at school?
Ryan: It was good, but the sad thing is, they have all these tubs of toys and they never let kids play with them!
Phil: Really?
Ryan: Ever!  They have all these toys and they never let kids play.
Phil: Is that because you're trying to learn?
Ryan: Yes.  They're just trying to make us do songs and papers and isn't that not so fun?!

 Ryan: We just have to sit in chairs and do all the work.

Ryan: Did you know Mrs. Thomas is nice?

Phil: What did you learn at school today?
Ryan: I learned Jack be nimble, Jack  be quick, Jack jump over the candle stick.  Jack would really like to jump over my candle stick.  If my candle was real and Jack jumped over it, he would burn his butt off.

(They later played Jack jump over the candle stick and Jack promptly smashed Ryan's candle.  There were lots of tears, but we repaired it.)

Ryan: We just have to sit in chairs and do all the work.

Day 2

Ryan: There is this girl in my class that cries all day and says, "I want my mom." This boy David said, "Stop sniffling." The teacher said, "No, David!" with her finger, just like the book!

Ryan: Guess what? Some of the kids say, "Help that smart guy."  
Phil: And who's the smart guy?
Ryan: They call me the smart guy.
Phil: Really?
Ryan: It's because I'm taller than them.  If you're taller, you're smarter.

Ryan: How come all the people at my school have weird names? I mean, there's a Mrs. Pazookie (Szcuzucki) and a Mr. Bowl (Boles) and a girl name Giselle?!?  Have you ever heard that name before?

Teacher outfit for fall... And an update

This evening, to de-stress, I turned to one of my other hobbies; online virtual shopping.  Tonight, I decided to make fun outfits on Polyvore, which lead to this creation, and me inadvertently posting it on my blog.  Ahhh, the wonders of technology.  

Teacher outfit for fall by bobbinsandboys featuring a pencil skirt

Boyfriend cardigan
shopping.aol.com

Halogen pencil skirt
nordstrom.com

Old navy
oldnavy.gap.com

BP. leather boots
nordstrom.com

Fossil handbag
fossil.com

SALE - Baby Orange - Big Size Smooth Bubble Statement Necklace - Gold...
etsy.com



Anyway, my mind has been turned into a logistical nightmare of trying to figure out who is taking and picking up my kids from school and preschool while I will be working full time next week with my TWENTY-SEVEN first graders.  I am freaking out over Ryan going to kindergarten even though he is totally ready.  It's like he told everyone last year when he we didn't let him start kindergarten, "My mom's not ready yet."  I'm so excited for his school adventure to start, but I am and never have been good with uncertainties and not knowing what will come next.  I guess its also been hard because as a teacher, I DO have a choice of where to send my kid and I have struggled with knowing if sending him to our neighborhood school is best or taking him to my school is best.  There really is no answer to this question at this point.  And Jack.  Well, Ryan's preschool that I dearly loved closed at the end of the school year so Jack is starting preschool (already!) at a new place.  I don't know the people there like I did at Ryan's preschool.  I don't know the people at his elementary school like I do the people at my school.  We don't know the people in our neighborhood so this is new for our family.  My class is all new with more first graders than I've ever had before.  So I'm freaking out.  And Phil is being patient with me.  I know God has his hand on this even though this is so minor in the grand scheme of things.  I am struggling and I am distracting myself with silly things like looking at pretty clothes online.  

At least my inadvertent post turned into an update on my blog after a really long time, so there is that.  Maybe after our life gets into the new swing of things, I will have a moment to tell you all more about summer and the projects that I completed.  Here's hoping.  ;)