Tula, Stash and Therapy

today is the day that I travel to Walla Walla - the town so nice they named it twice. hahaha. no I did not come up with that one.

you might be wondering what is in Walla Walla that would take me there.  well it would be none other then

that's right.  Tula Pink is going to be there.  I know crazy right?  just a short 2 hour drive for me and I will be among greatness in the quilting world.

I stumbled upon this event/workshop awhile back when I was out on Facebook one day.  I totally freaked out.  how many towns are named Walla Walla?  I dug deeper, holding my breath and then I cheered.  its the Walla Walla in Washington.  I called Stash, the shop hosting the event right away and signed up.  I didn't even know of this great little quilt shop so close to me.

since I wasn't able to make it to Sisters this year this trip to Walla Walla sort of makes up for it.  I said 'sort of'.

this evening is a meet and greet with Miss Pink herself as well as a book signing.  my book is already signed but I am taking a friends to have signed and I am sure I will be doing a bit of shopping as well.

tomorrow is the class with Tula.  we will be making her Stacks quilt from her book.  Stash did up kits for the quilt.  option one same fabric as the quilt in the book.  option two a combination of Nightshade and The Birds & The Bees.  hmmmmm.  me being me wanted to do the quilt out of just The Birds & The Bees.

so, I called Stash and they sent me fat quarters of the line.  I picked what I wanted to use for the quilt and went hunting for a background fabric.  I must confess I had a little help making the final choice.  thanks Tula - she is so cool like that.  those that know me know I am not a fan of setting things in light colored fabric.  so this is what i ended up with. 

i have my fabric all cut up and ready to go and my car is packed.  a little highway therapy.  a little retail therapy.  a little sewing therapy.  some time with Tula.  who could ask for anything more?

I've Bee Sewing

I have been back at my machine sewing.  getting caught up on some bee blocks.  this one dang near sent me over the edge.  after what seemed like a gazillions hst's and some trimming.

a block began to form and take shape.

let's just say this was a challenge for me.  I am always saying 'make sure and read the directions'.  I read them.  I read them again.  and again.  maybe after about the 10th time through I was comfortable in sewing this together.  something about the color of the fabric and it being someone elses fabric had me on edge.

now that its done I love the block.  i think.......

thanks Bailey for letting me play with your fabric and for getting my brain back into the sewing world.

I am still here........

I am still here.......

I think.

its been over a month since I last posted here on my blog.  time really does fly by.  I would love to tell you all that during my absence I have been sewing up a storm, but that isn't the case.  it has only been the past few days that I have gotten back to my machine.  somehow life decided to take over and change my plans.

on July 2nd my grandfather passed away.  he was 98 and had an amazing life that impacted not only his family but his community and everyone around him.  he will be forever missed and never forgotten.

we said goodbye to him on July 9th and later that day I caught a flight followed by a couple more and ended up in Orlando, FL.  a work trip but a little bit of play was added in as well.  while I was there I got to celebrate my birthday with a great group of people.  I came home a week later and I am just now feeling somewhat normal again.

the past few weeks have taken its toll on me.  I am extremely thankful for my close friends as well as Superman who have been there for me through it all.  they have given me strength as well as a shoulder to lean on.

Many Thanks go out to them.

I am now hoping to return to our regularly scheduled program.....  sewing.  like I said above I have been back at my machine and I will be sharing soon what I have been up to.

also, my machine and I are taking a trip this weekend to go spend some time with Tula Pink.  I know I am sort of still freaking out about it.