Lucie's Legacy

The surprise quilt was made for one of my beloved co-workers. Lucie, after 40 years at Primary Children's Medical Center, decided to retire!. She started as a student nurse, transitioning to an RN and helping start the Diabetes Program over 35 years ago. She was one of the main reasons we have such a strong Diabetes Program at PCMC. Lucie then was our nurse manager for a time. She earned her Master's of Science in Nursing and became our Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is an amazing nurse, educator, leader, and friend. I believe she will be greatly missed...and leaving some BIG shoes to fill.

Lucie's career is inspiring, demonstrating incredible work ethic and dedication (I'm sure it wasn't always easy). I hope one day my career will be as filling and inspiring. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, encouragement, inspiration, and friendship for the relatively short time I was privledged to work with you, Lucie! Happy Retirement!!!!

Lucie and Mary. A scholarship fund was created in Lucie's name for the continuing education of Certified Diabetes Educators.

The center has her name, PCMC, and 1970-2010 embroidered.

Lucie LOVES snowmen

Just showing details: sparkles :)

Lucie, CNS extraordinaire

We didn't have the right angle to catch her facial expression...I did get a hug right through the quilt!



Lots of people love and will miss Lucie!



A very happy man...Lucie's husband. He's ready for her to travel with him.

Santa is Coming...

Usually on long weekends, I camp out in my sewing/craft room and create (especially if it is snowing). It snowed ALL day long...it never stopped so we haven't shoveled, yet... However, I didn't do any crafting today. After finishing the bag last night, I decided (well, Steve decided) we would get the Christmas decorations out. He didn't even do our normal relax Sunday morning routine...he came downstairs dressed, ready for the day and immediately started to the basement to bring up the Chirstmas decorations! No rest for the weary...

Seems like every year I do a little something different with the decor and don't always get everything out. If I do get it ALL out, it's because we are hosting the Holiday festivities. I'll go all out with 2 trees and decorating the entire "grand staircase" in addition to chair covers (made by yours truly), center peices, and replacing all our shelf decor with Christmas decor.

I must admit, each year I get happier and happier with my tree. I love Tai Pan Trading, they have purple and sparkles every year!  The tree is getting less and less bulbs and more and more "special" ornaments. That's why we will have 2 trees: a traditional one and my purple/silver tree (imagine that...purple and sparkles in my house). The tree is beautiful though...

I love the theme of "Believe," so it's throughout the house this time of year. I bought this sign from one of my favorite stores a few years ago (after Christmas, so a GREAT deal).

Steve was absolutely an angel. He hauled in the over sized, heavy, cumbersome ladder to climb up to our entrance chandelier. He then climbed the ladder and placed each bulb where I asked. Each bulb says "Believe" (told you I like it).

And of course there are Christmas quilts all around! I actually have 2 or 3 more wall hanging quilts, but have run out of room to put them up...not really appropriate to put up a dowel for a quilt only at Christmas time (or is it?).  :)

See the quilt on the chair?



Secret Santa

I had request to make this bag for a friend. My mother bought the material and button, then I had to get to work. Well, it turns out I missed the birthday deadline, so it will be a "Secret Santa" gift (apparently the two don't exchange Christmas gifts now). So when the other quilt in progress was finished (the surprise quilt), I got to work on this. Fortunately, it only took a little time. The recipient is quite the crafter as well and says "All projects should have at least 1 mistake. It reminds you you're not perfect." Well, there is a mistake in this bag. I think the "mistakes" resemble character and humility of a beautiful hand made object. I included some detail pictures below to show the sparkles (I love sparkles).

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have much to be thankful for including my loving husband, my adorable dog, and my incredible family. I'm blessed to have a great extended family and work with terrific people. Thank you to all!

Stuffed turkey cupcakes!! All edible: caramel, Grape Nuts, pretzel sticks, and frosting. Not the easiest things to decorate; Steve tried to help too. Making 5 was enough, one for each of the kids that will  be at Aunt Kathy's tonight. Well, the "little" kids. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!

Winter Wonderland

The first real storm of this year. It's be horribly windy the last several days (reminding me of home)...kind of glad to see the snow and the wind to stop. The perfect weather to stay indoors, cuddling with your loved one, next to the fire...

I do have a quilt in the works...but it's a great surprise. Hope the recipient likes it!

It Sang to Me!

My favorite part of quilting is picking out the material for a pattern. I love looking at the colors, finding matches and creating a work of art. Rarely, do I buy a "kit." Kits include the pattern and the material for the top, borders, and binding. They tend to be a little more expensive, but there is little wasted material because the cuts are just enough. One day I was in Elaine's Quilt Block (a local quilting store) and saw this kit. The colors, pattern, material, everything was singing: "Buy Me, Buy Me, Buy Me; you love my colors." It's true, I loved the colors, the pattern, the borders...I bought the kit. Good news: I had a material card full so I got a fairly decent discount on the kit.

Piecing the top wasn't too difficult. Once the blocks were complete, the quilt went together fairly quickly. I added the borders and mitered the corners to add a little difficulty. I figured the material for the border would flow better with mitered corners anyway. The time-consuming aspect of this quilt was the quilting. I used stencils on nearly every block. I'm not the greatest at free-hand quilting so stencils are a great option. Each stencil has to be drawn onto the quilt, then quilt following the pattern. With so many blocks and a different pattern for each "type" of block, it took some time. One of my more "fru-fru" or traditional floral pattern quilts. I spent so much time on the quilting and it doesn't show well in the pictures. Oh, well...I still love the quilt!

Happy Halloween!

The second Halloween for us! Halloween on a Sunday doesn't bode well in this state. We had most of the trick or treaters last night before we left for the party. A handful have been by tonight...I still have goodies left!

The 2nd Halloween Party was terrific and we had a great time. Steve P. made "grog," a wonderfully apple cider like warm long island tea (there are that many types of alcohol in it). The beverage is sweet and goes down a little too easy. Good thing I stopped when I did--haha, I was the DD so didn't drink! There was lots of good food too. Most people came in costume including the "Ghostbusters" who went to the theater in the basement and watched Ghostbusters. Steve and I looked great as Shrek and Fiona (if I do say so myself)! The cupcakes were a hit too! I didn't have to bring any home. Late night though, bedtime was like 1:30 AM!

Shrek and Fiona, a little blurry...what do you expect for "tipsy" photographers?

My Shrek!

I'm very proud of my team; tough game yesterday! Air Force played hard and the entire game...quite the 4th quarter comeback! Utah is up to #5 in the BCS Poll...soon to change I'm sure. TCU is an even tougher team and unfortunately, one of us has to lose. Too bad the BCS is so wrong, biased, and crooked. Even if Boise State or TCU or Utah is the ONLY undefeated team in the nation, the BCS will still come up with some excuse to keep them from playing in the National Championship. Seems to happen every year! In the meantime, GO UTES!!!!!