Folk Flower Quilt

 I started a quilt for Jackson and Amber. I usually don't give recipients much say in what they get, just because if it's colors I don't enjoy, I'll never finish it. Jack said he didn't care about color, he just wanted to have a quilt long enough to cover his feet. He's tall.

I decided to use Anna Maria Horner's Folk Flower Quilt pattern. It is great for using scraps, but does require quite a bit of background neutrals. After cutting a large square, you slice it on the diagonal. Then piece in the 1/2"strip. Appliqué the flower and leaves using your favorite method.

It turned out almost 110" square. A monster. I've seen versions with dark backgrounds that I absolutely love. I will definitely use this pattern again.

Mission Papers

 We are trying to finish our mission paperwork which includes a couple's picture. So on our way into the temple, we thought we'd catch someone to take our portrait. The first person to come by was President Olson. He was happy to take the shot and though I wasn't thrilled with my hair, we are one step closer.

The requirements for submitting papers to be senior missionaries include doctor's visits, dentist's approval, and vaccinations. To serve in a foreign country, it is required to get a colonoscopy and for me, a mammogram. Sometimes it takes months to get these items all collected. Seniors can submit these papers up to 9 months before their availability date. We chose October 1st as our availability date, so we have plenty of time to complete the forms.

Katie's Birthday

 We enjoyed a birthday party at Katie's house. She even made her own cake. This is not a surprise as she has two qualities perfect for the occasion: 1. Fearlessness and 2. Spontaneity. We love her and all her qualities. She is a beautiful daughter, mother, and wife. I also love Jim in the forefront of this picture.

My Own Millefiori

 After three years, I finally finished my New Hexagon Millefiori. I probably wouldn't have finished it if I hadn't had Cathy encouraging me. The more I saw millefioris being finished, the more determined I was.

On July 17, 2018 I finished piecing the top. Paul was driving and we were traveling over Snoqualmie Pass when I slipped the last stitch. 

At this stage, I began thinking of a border. I didn't like any of the borders I had seen thus far. In a Facebook post, I saw a spiky border that was inspiring. I sketched out a paper piece pattern that would work. The corners were the trickiest. I cheated on the sides by making a larger black triangle in the center of each to make the math work.

Marnie and Eric's Wedding

 We were in for a rainy and windy day at the temple. There was no point getting you hair just right. At some point, we all started laughing. Eric's parents are from Fresno, so they were freezing cold. I felt terrible for taking so many pictures outside. Wakana did a fabulous job. 

I wanted Marnie to have this temple shawl for pictures. Pam wore this shawl a few years ago for her winter wedding. He was happy to carry it for her.

After the wedding, we went to Teriyaki and More for a wedding luncheon. It's the food everyone wants.

The kids are conspiring. Always.

I asked them to pose for a record album cover and they obliged. How I love them.

I absolutely love this photo of my daughters- and sons-in-law. They are each very different, just as my children are. They love with their whole hearts.

Marnie's Reception

 We drove to the Turners to use their gazebo for a reception announcement reminder. It was raining, but not snowing, so that was good. Grandma and Grandpa Beck offered us their home for an open house. I made a bunch of treats and of course Tauni had plenty of goodies. It was wonderful to see so many friends and family come visit and share their love. 

Tailoring

 I don't have great tailoring skills. I prefer two dimensional sewing, not 3-D. A few weeks ago I picked up a dress form on Craigslist to help me alter Marnie's wedding dress. It was really helpful while she was in Rexburg. The last bit was the zipper. Once she returned home, I did a fitting and finally sewed the zipper in. When I took this picture, I was feeling triumphant.

I had matched the ribbon, the top edge, the bottom. It was all perfect. Until she put it on. And it broke. We were on our way to the temple for our regular shift and she was supposed to go get bridal photos. I felt so bad and Marnie was disappointed. But she trusted that I could get it done the next day. On the way to Bellevue, I did some research and found out I was not supposed to use an invisible zipper for a heavy garment. We stopped by JoAnns and grabbed a long white heavy duty zipper. And the next morning I sewed it up, no problem. When she tried it on, she just beamed. She will be a beautiful bride.