A few things I am thankful for:

My beautiful, amazing, sweet and loving daughter. She has taught me what true love really is. She has taught me to love from the deepest part of my soul and with my whole heart.

My parents for their constant love and support, even when I am struggling, you are there cheering me on, even if it is silent, I know you are there.

My family…for being just that…my family

Friends…the true friends in my life that are there for me (no matter how much time has passed). The ones that are there at all times, not just when it is convenient, but through good times and bad. They are there when I am happy and more importantly when times are sad or there are struggles that need just a little help getting through. They don’t change their pattern when the wind blows a different way. They don’t walk away when there is a disagreement, sometimes time is what is needed and when we are both ready we talk and work it out. Friendship is a two way street, each person giving of themselves, not always being on the receiving end.

Even for the acquaintances, because you are there for a specific reason … makes me think of the saying “Friends come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you go, it makes the true friends shine more brightly and brings a new appreciation to them. Sometimes, I am fooled by ones “sincerity”, but eventually I figure it out…I am learning to be more cautious of my surroundings…

For our home…before Emma it was a house and I enjoyed the quiet. It is now a home because of Emma. Her shrieks of laughter as I chase her down the hall, the step ladder in the kitchen as she “helps”, the little art projects we do together…she makes it all worthwhile!

For my talent…even though its hard to admit this one. I was blessed with a talent. My mom taught me the skills when I was young, and I have taken it to a whole new level. I can create things with fabric, purses, quilts…memories that bring smiles to the recipients and a sense of accomplishment to myself.

Patience…this one is definitely new acquired. Emma has taught me patience, some things take a little longer but so worth the wait (From May 25^th, 2009…until June 2…this was the biggest waiting game) and let me tell you…it was worth every second!! Baking and crafting just aren’t the same when Emma isn’t there to “help” even though dinner may be 45 minutes behind schedule, the time that it takes to make it together is priceless!

Amazing how fast time goes...this was Emma's first Thanksgiving!  She is what I am truly most thankful for.

What are you most thankful for????

Xoxo, Emma's mom

Happy Birthday Mom! I know, you will probably strangle me for writing about you again on my blog, but you know what…that’s okay. I think you need to hear/read these words. You are an amazing individual with a heart the size of Montana (actually bigger but you know what I mean). I am so fortunate to be your daughter, and that you are Emma’s nana. You have provided me with all the wonderful characteristics that you possess, you taught me right from wrong, you taught me how to love, to forgive (I still have a ways to go on that one), to believe good things will happen and to look for the best in people.

When we were at the Wine & Chocolate Festival a couple weeks ago, we were walking to the restroom and passed a man sitting on the bench, he said “excuse me, is that your daughter?” and you replied yes and what he said next surprised me…”He said she is beautiful because of you”. I saw the tears well up in your eyes, because a complete stranger gave you such a compliment, I laughed because I thought you drunk fool. I shouldn’t have laughed, because I took a compliment away from you that you rightly deserve. He was correct, you gave me all your best qualities…unfortunately, I picked up the bad qualities on my own..hehe!

You have been a great role model in my life and for that I am grateful. You have always been there for me whenever I needed a soft place to land, an ear to hear all my thoughts as crazy and random as they might be, a safe place to vent when things just need to come out…you are that ear so I don’t say things to people that I might regret and hurt someone’s feelings. You are always there to support me in whatever adventure I choose, from the smallest of adventures to even my biggest one to date…Emma! Need I say it one more time, she is so lucky to grow up with you and dad, to develop the bond that you have with her and be such an important part of her daily life and upbringing. When we do something fun or for the 1^st time, she always says “call Nana & Papa” so she can share it with you as well.

So mom, we extend the happiest of birthday wishes to you. I hope your day is filled with all of your favorite things! We love you to the moon and back!!! Happy Birthday Mom!!

Xoxo, Emma’s mom

Tis’ the Season….

It’s fall and that means we are heading up to Bishop Ranch Pumpkin Patch again in the very near future.  Mickie, who has been like a mom to me for the past 20+ years…OMG…that makes me sounds old…ugh! and her amazing husband Craig (who I have learned I don’t win any kind of argument with, I thought I was stubborn…hmm, he has me beat)  invited us up last year to the Pumpkin Patch.  It was a great time and I decided this needs to be part of Emma’s fall tradition…so we will all pile in the car…Emma, Mommy, Nana & Papa too! 

They have a petting zoo, a train ride, pony rides (Emma wasn’t too keen on that, but we tried), and pumpkins, huge pumpkins in the patch…it was great.  It will be interesting to see Emma’s reaction to the experience this year.  She is much more sure of herself this time around, look out animals, here we come.  I’m sure she will be climbing on the pumpkins instead of being sat on top and posing for mommy…this year, I will have to be fast J

We had such a great time, I decided the day needed to be preserved and presented to Craig and Mickie in the way I best know how…photos and a quilt.  I had to make all my Christmas gifts last year and when I was going through my stash, I came across this adorable fabric that seemed like a project was already started but certainly not finished (how did that happen?????) and decided this would make the perfect gift!

Mickie and Craig loved receiving it as much as I enjoyed making it…its memories that we will all cherish for a long time to come.   I am so blessed to be Emma’s mom!!!

We are looking forward to our trip in a couple weeks…I haven’t told Emma yet, because she would be asking is it time yet?  Can we go to the patch now?  For now, we will leave it as a surprise!!

Xoxo, Emma’s mom

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday today to a very dear friend of mine, Dawn!  Life would not be the same without you and I hope you know just how much you mean to Emma and me.  Even though we don’t see or talk to each other every day, I know that our friendship works this way.   When we see each other, it is as if no time has passed and I appreciate that aspect of our relationship.

You are such an amazing individual to me…where do I begin.  You have overcome so many obstacles or I should life choices and you share your experiences freely, not many people could or would do that.  You love unconditionally and you help those who need you even if it means giving up another piece of yourself.  Those characteristics are not present in a whole lot of people and you my dear friend possess them.  Thank you!  You were there for me on my biggest day…ready, willing and able!  You were there when Emma blessed us with her presence and that is something I will never forget!  However, you could have spent a lil’ more time talking to me, I had to remind you a few times that I was there…even though I knew with my insides exposed you couldn’t possibly forget I was there…hehe!  But seriously, thank you!!!  There are not words to express my gratitude for your love and support!

I hope today is a day of relaxing (I know, probably not an option), but at least maybe doing something you enjoy, for you!!  I hope all your wishes, hopes and dreams all come true…you deserve them…the sun, the moon and the stars…and a call from Kev!  Have a fantabulous day and enjoy each moment.  We love you!!

Xoxo, Emma and Emma’s mom 

Farmers Market & Manners...do they go together? :)

I am going for Round 2 at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market this Saturday, Sept. 10^th. It was a great time 2 weeks ago, I think Emma enjoyed it the most. She stood on the box right at the table and greeted all the people passing by. “Hi Lady”, “Thank you coming”, “Have good day” were just a few of the greetings Emma threw out there, what a character I heard, or how polite she is. At 2 years old, I love hearing people saying how polite my daughter is! She doesn’t even need to be prompted to say please and thank you or your welcome most days, of course, she is just 2 and there are days that gentle reminders are planted, but she is just 2!

I did okay the 1^st market, was totally excited and caught up in the day that I plum forgot to take photos of my booth set up….duh! The only one I do have is from my cell phone, so it is not the best….but here it is.

My mind is constantly working to think of different ways to display product. One thing for sure is that the burlap table cover needs to say “Dragonfly Stitches and Birdie Wishes” so you all know who we are! That’s on my list of things to do…and hmmm, purses, hard thing to display…any ideas out there? I am open to hearing them.

The Green Valley market has been a great opening experience to getting exposure, I am very glad that I tried it and took the chance. www.gvagconservancy.org They are extending the market to October 22 instead of October 1 being the last day. Hope I can maybe make one more date at the market before they close for the season!

Back to being polite and being proud of my daughter, I was once told that you don’t need to say please and thank you, it is all in how you ask for something. WRONG!!!! Hate to say it but I strongly disagree with this statement. I was raised with manners and I have every intention on raising Emma in the same fashion. It is quite obvious to me this is a lost art, manners that is. The reason I say that is because so many times I hear what a polite little girl she is and people seem utterly amazed. I think it shows a good upbringing, while some may think its old school I feel it is how children should be raised, with respect for themselves and towards others. (“Respect” now that’s a whole different blog post for me and someday I will get there but not today). Kids these days are just not the same as when I was growing up, not sure why that is, maybe parents just don’t have the time or take the time to discipline, not really sure. I do know that if you give someone an inch, they will take a mile, children especially. I know that Emma will try to push the limit with me and I just pull her right back in. She TRIES to be very demanding, “I want my bottle now!” hmm, and then she will say it again in the same way…I wait a good 30 seconds, and then say “ Is that how you ask for something, please try again.” Guess what I get…”May I have a bottle please?” It takes patience, love, understanding and more patience. What may work at one house, may not necessarily work at another home…it is not too early to start teaching this and believe it or not, Emma already knows. That’s why it changes to “May I have a bottle please?”. One of the things I strive for in raising Emma is for family and friends to look forward to Emma & I coming, not saying oh no, here they come. I think thus far I have been successful, and it is a learning experience each day for both of us…together I think we can accomplish great things! Patience, love and understanding go a long way!

Until next time…Xoxo, Emma’s mom

"The Help"

It’s been awhile since I have posted…I have no excuse other than life happens!  I am really excited to say that I am participating this weekend in the Green Valley “Totally Local” farmers market.  I have a collection of purses, bags, aprons, pincushions, etc and I am ready to start selling my wares!  Thank you Jeri  Sue for turning me onto this venue and encouraging me to give it a try.  We all need a little encouragement at times and with that said…hehe…we need to pick a date and sit down and write your pattern for your table runner!  You are talented and your talent needs to be recognized and credited, so mark my words, it might take a little time to convince you but we are going to do this.  My friend, you are also going to teach a class!!  Woo hoo…if I can do it so can you!!! 

I am also going to participate in the Wine and Chocolate Festival at the Suisun Waterfront on Saturday, October 1^st!  So feel free to come on out and visit!

I read on Little Miss Momma’s blog that you need to be real and honest so that your readers can connect with you…that’s hard to do. I often times want to use my blog as a journal, but feel so vulnerable and feel I may be criticized for my thoughts and feelings, but I have chosen to work on that.  I know I don’t have any followers (not yet anyway) but I hope to in the future.  I also know that I need to be more committed to my writing, so I thought I would share a little something.

I tell Emma on a daily basis that she is a strong, independent and beautiful little girl!  Seriously, I tell her daily and even when she is staying at her father’s house, I talk to her in spirit and I tell her that to stay strong.  I send her “angel kisses” and she knows it.  Recently I saw the movie The Help.  I loved the scene where Aibileen was telling the little girl “You are kind, you are smart, you are important”.  I have since added that to Emma’s little saying and now…she says it back to me.  Just the other day, Emma and I were driving to nana’s house before I went to work and I heard Emma talking to herself…”I am kind, I am portant, I am pendant”  Those simple little words were monumental and music to my ears!!  Even when you think your child is not listening to you or they don’t get it…this is proof they do listen!  When we lay down at night for bedtime we say those words, both of us and now she will say to me, “again mommy, again”. 

I developed this saying a few years back when my wedding was called off just 2 weeks before the big day.  Everything was set, in fact just the day before we picked up our wedding bands in San Francisco, and the day before that we finalized our wedding ceremony with the priest, we were ready!  Not really I guess because that Friday night the wedding was canceled…he didn’t love me!  I had two choices that night after I called the wedding party to let them know it was canceled.  I sit there and cry and be an angry bitter woman, or I pick myself up and move on!  I chose to pick myself up, there were tears along the way and not a lot of good feelings about myself, but if I couldn’t love myself who else would.  So I had post it notes in places around the house as a reminder that said “You are a strong, beautiful, independent woman!”  In time I started to believe it, most days it is just 2 out of 3, but there are those rare and special days when we are 3 for 3. 

I want Emma to grow up with a strong sense of who she is and be proud to be Emma!  There are some not so nice people in the world, whether it be strangers, kids at school when she starts to go to school, and unfortunately, there may even be members of her very own family that may try to put negative thoughts in her head, but if I start now with the positive, maybe it will help her develop a thicker skin and not let those negative thoughts and words into her heart so easily.  My job as a mom is to teach, love, nurture and protect her on a daily basis…it is never too early to start.  If I help instill a strong self esteem in her now at an early age, she is 5 steps ahead of the game and maybe when the negative words come at her, she can deflect instead of taking them in!

Be strong my sweet girl!
Xoxo, Emma's mom

Tattered and worn:

That’s how I feel some days, tattered and worn…mostly from emotional struggles that sometimes come with the day. But this time, it wasn’t me that was feeling this way, instead it was a quilt. A quilt in need of some serious TLC!!! It has been a challenge, but I am one border away from returning these precious memories to its rightful owner. This quilt has been shown some serious love and has been used until the fabric is wearing thin, which is great, I can only hope that quilts I have given to people get as much use out of them as this quilt has. When I picked it up, the whole quilt was together minus the borders, which the owner patiently sat and picked out all the stitches for me, so I would just be able to add the new pieces on to give it new life. I was extremely intimidated by the quilt, funny….it is just fabric, but I know it was very important to the family that I was fixing it for. I sat and looked at it for a couple days(only because I was finishing a couple other projects I needed to complete) and finally I dove in. Hmm, I am a perfectionist most times and therefore, this is a little difficult for me. My stitches are not matching up with the old stitches and it drove me crazy…I took it to work Saturday and it was put to me this way when I was feeling very insecure about my job. Dawn said, “Princess you are saving a life!” She equated it to open heart surgery, the scars may not look pretty but you are still alive. Great analogy for me, it put things in perspective and allowed me to let go just a little bit and just repair the quilt! So tonight….the last border and the binding will go on!!

 

Until next time...xoxo, Emma's mom

Do you ever wonder when you meet someone what makes your personalities either click or clash?  A chance meeting, what makes you stop and talk to someone?  Is it their smile, the look in their eyes, the cute shoes they are wearing…

I met Diana completely by chance several months ago.  Dawn passed Diana’s name onto me because she was looking for someone to make two quilts, one for each of her boys out of their old sports t-shirts and jerseys.  I have to admit I kind of snickered to myself, two t-shirt quilts, really…so I asked Dawn again just to be sure and she was confident this is what Diana wanted.  So I called Diana and we agreed to meet the next morning.  I am so happy I made that phone call, I met such an amazing and caring woman who wanted to do something special for her boys…I suppose I should say grown young men.  The boy’s father passed away unexpectedly (they were no longer married—which I think her doing this for the boys and the sentiment behind it makes me hold Diana in such high regard, I truly hope to be the kind of person she is in my future-I am working on that by the way…daily).  Diana had been holding onto the shirts from their childhood days, and now she knew just what to do with them…she wanted a quilt.  That’s where I came in…

We spent some time together one Saturday morning going through the shirts, which ones to use, the whole shirt or just pieces, what color to bring out to make the actual quilt, because I didn’t want to just sew a bunch of squares together, it needed a story, each shirt needed to be separated from the next…I chuckled to myself, because they both had pink shirts…bright pink shirts (my favorite color) and she wanted both front & back used from that specific shirt (so guys when you wonder why the pink shirt, while I was delighted as it put a little of my personality into the quilt, it was your mom that wanted it not once but twice!!) and to top it all off most of them were from Tamarack Dental and my M-F is a dental office…it was meant for me to make these quilts! 

The prep work of the t-shirts takes the longest (& it’s a little scary cutting up something that isn’t yours and you can’t run to the fabric store if you screw it up).  I got the first few blocks together and emailed a picture to Diana so she didn’t think I forgot about her, and then I was on a roll.  The first quilt was completed so we needed to choose a backing, so we met at the quilt store again…do you know what touched me the most (well besides the warm and caring nature of this woman that I had just met- we hugged on our first visit-love that!).  She went around the quilt and touched each and every block and it almost looked as if she relived a small fleeting moment of their childhood and happy times as she touched each one.  Tears were rolling down my face the same time they were welling up in hers (yes, I am wiping them away as I write this as well, I just feel truly impacted and inspired by this woman after just a few brief meetings). She seemed very pleased with my work and so the second quilt was started and made just the same as the first with a slightly different border fabric so they wouldn’t be exact.  When she saw the 2^nd completed quilt, she touched each and every block again the same feeling as the first!

After a little more time passed than I promised, I am happy to say that I am meeting with Diana to give her both completed quilts this Saturday, I am so excited.    

So Diana, thank you from the bottom of my heart for adding to my journey of becoming a better person, you are one of the most selfless and caring mothers a child could have, your boys are lucky to have a mom like you (but I am certain I don’t need to tell them that).  I hope our journey doesn’t end here, besides maybe when the grandkids come I can have the honor of making their first quilt!  Enjoy the quilts and can’t wait to hear the boy’s reaction to their gift!

Xoxo, Emma’s mom

A Special Gift....

I finally added a profile photo to my facebook page after quite a bit of poking and prodding from all my lovelies out there, I know, I know...a photographer with no photo (but that isn't profession #1 right now, so thats my excuse!).  So along with my photo of my sweet little Emma and I wearing our matching birdie shirts from her 2nd birthday party (more to come later, but gotta go through the photos first)...so I wrote Miracles do happen and I believe in them.

Funny, my first thought for the miracle was I actually put a photo up cause I have received some grief about my little gray box..., but I have also been working on myself as an individual, to be a better person, to let stupid things not affect me and only worry about the big things or those that I can control..and I have a little help with that and thank you because those that have helped know just who you are!...but I think the biggest miracle came later that evening when my phone rang.  I didn't answer because I thought it was a mistake, after all, it had been almost 4 years...so I waited...no message was left on the machine, so I debated in my head what to do, a whole conversation played in my mind, some positive, some negative...okay, mostly negative but I am supposed to be working on that, duh!  So I sent a text asking if it was a mistake to dial my number and imagine my shock, and honestly...UTTER DISBELIEF to hear the call was intentional.  It was a phone call mixed with so many emotions and feelings I didn't know where to begin, so I was a little speechless...end result of the call, good emotions and a positive outcome!  So that day, I posted a simple statement and it became huge...and in a funny little way, it was a miracle.

A couple days later, Emma and I were the recipients of this little gift.  This little white box was filled with so much meaning....and of course, a little yummy goodness!  With this box comes the rekindling of what I hope to be a beautiful lifelong friendship, each of us in a very different place in our lives, both much better and more positive. 

So with that I say thank you from the bottom of my heart (and my tummy) for making that first step that was so huge....xoxo, Emma's mom

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  I would like to say a very special Mother's Day to my mom, who has been an amazing rock in my life for the past 37 almost 38 years, especially the last two years since I have become a mom.  She has shown me such love, compassion, strength, courage and a belief in myself I didn't know was there!  I know this time of year is hard on my mom, especially since she has lost her mom...my Grandma Angel!  Yesterday my parents, Emma and I spent a great day at the zoo and on our way home I decided even though mom said it was ok...I decided we were going to stop and take some flowers to Grandma Angel.  Thats just what we did...here's a picture of us throwing flowers out to my grandma...wish this could have been a 4 generation photo, but unfortunately Emma was not able to meet her Great-Grandmother's, so she will know them both in spirit.  My mom is going to hate that I put a picture of her here, but mom, I love you and please know that I did it to tell the story.  The last picture we have here is the 3 of us when Emma was about a month old introducing her to Grandma Angel.  Emma has been such a huge blessing in my life, she has given me such great joy and a love I never thought possible.  She makes me laugh, there were times she made me cry too...but she has been the greatest gift in my life.  She makes me want to be a better person, to teach her all the things my mom has taught me, most importantly to grow and be a strong, independent beautiful woman.  I want to teach her to never, never, never give up even when things might seem tough for her, keep going the reward will be amazing and she will be so proud of her accomplishment.  I will continue to teach her right from wrong, and how to treat others in her life the same way she would like to be treated.  These are things you can't learn in a book, these are things that are taught from the heart!  So Emma, thank you for teaching mommy some of these things as well...and mom, thank you for loving me...loving us!  You are an amazing woman and I am proud to have you as my mom!
Xoxo, Emma's mom

Yay!  Yippee!  Yahoo!  My mom and I worked our tails off on Saturday in the garage to organize my 5, yes I did say 5 cabinets of fabric…we started at 7 am, took a little break for lunch and to pick up some supplies for the t-shirt quilt and finished at 8:45 that evening, the last hour with my little Emma under foot.  I had to give her some of her own fabric, so that she would stay out the completed cabinets…she likes to help (which consists of pulling it out, unfolding, throwing on the floor then jamming it back into the cupboard and goes uh oh when it doesn’t fit).  But the goal was to get all my “quilt” store fabric together and color coded and keep purchased projects together instead of little bits here and there and we accomplished that goal!  I admit, there are still two cabinets full or “other” fabric that needs to be tended to, but taking Emma for a walk sounded much more fun and she appreciated it as well.  It looks great and now if I am looking for a piece of fabric at 3 am I know exactly where to go and don’t have to open 5 sets of doors to find it and come up empty handed.  It was almost like Christmas, finding pieces that I haven’t seen in forever…loved it!  Inspired lots of new projects in my head but I need to finish the ones that are already started…at least I know the fabric and the ideas are there when I am ready!  Here are a few before, during and tadaaaa….the finished product!  Thanks mom for all your help, I couldn’t have completed it that quickly without you.  I know you slept well that night!

Xoxo, Emma's mom

Ugh…I have been so negligent with my blog, I set a goal and I failed…miserably!!!  So I will try again with May just beginning.  I don’t feel like I have accomplished much, but I know I have been diligently working.  Where does the time go?  I have completed a few unfinished projects, started a few more and currently working on a T-shirt quilt ( actually 2 T-shirt quilts one for each son).  So far so good, it is looking great.  I tried a new pattern with this one and I just have to figure out to make the center blocks tilt the opposite direction…wish me luck!

Easter was great!  Emma was so much fun this year, took her to an egg hunt with my neighbors and what a treat!  What manners my girl has, she was going after the same egg as a little boy, she got there first and turned to him and shared!!!!  What a proud mommy moment!  Even though, the whole way to the egg hunt, Papa was coaching her in the back seat…”don’t stop and show your eggs to Mommy, Nana or Papa just go, go, go!” She had that down pat, but again…she stopped to share an egg with the little guy.  Fun- filled day at the park, some quality time with Auntie Lynda and early to bed to wait for the Easter Bunny!  Easter Sunday was spent with family and friends, a good time had by all. We decorated Easter cookies in the morning when we got up, I think there was more icing on Emma than on her cookie…wish I had a video of that(but mommy only has two hands) so it is forever preserved in my mind and in my heart….and the quick cell phone picture I managed to get.  The first egg hunt she found 78 eggs(I made sure to count so no egg was left behind) with a little help of course, who knew the bunny left so many.  After dinner, mommy got a text message from the Easter Bunny saying he dropped more eggs off in the backyard because he saw that Uncle Clyde had arrived…so off we went again!  Needless to say, Emma slept good that night!  The next morning she woke up asking for more, more!  Gotta love it!!!

This is the big weekend that I tackle a job I am really excited about and dreading at the same time, but I know that it desperately needs to be done and I will feel oodles better when its completed…the fabric cabinets in the garage.  I am finally going to organize and get all my quilt shop fabric in some sort of color order, rolled onto cardboard and looking nice and neat for once!  There is fabric hiding in there that I know will make it like Christmas morning and make me say…remember when????  This way, I can keep making bags, quilts, all my fun little things without having to purchase more fabric…because as we all know funds are a little scarce these days!  I can’t wait!!!  Will let you know on Monday how it goes.

Xoxo, Emma's mom

Thought for the day....

Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is facing some kind of battle.

Need I say more....Have a great day!

My goal is to be faithful to myself and write every Monday and Thursday evening…more if I have time, but for now we will start with two days a week.      Last time I was here Dragonfly Stitches was making its debut at Quiltique and yay…I sold 12 items!  Woohoo…I wasn’t feeling so woohoo when I first heard, I was hoping for so much more and you know…that’s 12 more items than I sold prior to that day so I am now grateful for the experience and I know what sold and what I need to make more of.  Seems like the scrap sacks were the first to go and then the cute lil make-up bags.  I did sell an “Emma Bag” yay! And a couple dupioni silk wristlets.  My mom tells me to have patience…I just smile because I like instant gratification.  I have learned though that good things come to those who wait….I’m waiting, I’m ready, but I’m waiting!

Sad day last week, my Great Aunt Dottie (Emma’s Great, Great Aunt) passed away.   We knew it was coming but it is never easy to lose someone you love.  My memories of Aunt Dottie was her home in Auburn, with the creek that ran in the backyard, place of many family gatherings when I was younger.  My mom’s memories are of her Aunt Dottie dancing…boy she used to love to dance, especially with her brother, Lloyd, who we lost last year.  Mom’s memories are also of her on the cruise ship and when she was involved with the Barbizon School of Modeling (I faintly remember that).  She was in a care facility and we were told she never knew we were there, but I have to disagree…I was pregnant with Emma when she was first moved there and we went to visit, told her next time we would bring the baby, she loved babies and never had children of her own.  When we came with Emma, she was so excited, tears rolled down her face and she said “you brought the baby”.  It was obvious she knew who we were or enough to associate us all together.  Every time we took Emma she would get so excited, she would sing to her, she would “dance” with her in her wheelchair, each time thanking us for bringing the baby and for being her family.  So when someone tells you because they have dementia or alzheimers and they don’t know you are there, believe in your heart they do know…because I 100% believe Aunt Dottie knew we were there, her face would light up the room when we arrived! 

I also finished my little jacket for Emma too!  Tried to get a picture of her in it but she ran the other way, so we will try again soon.  Turned out the jacket is reversible, no, it wasn’t intentional completely by mistake (the teachers because I followed her instruction), but yay, now its 2 totally cute jackets!  Our intentions when we signed up for the class was to make them as Christmas gifts for all the cousins for Christmas, but not sure if that’s gonna happen cause I don’t think I can repeat the pattern, maybe when I have some spare time I will try…For now,  off I go to sew!

Xoxo, Emma’s mom!

Okay, so I admit I have not been diligent with my blog and feeling a little disappointed in myself, but I have a new goal..at least twice a week I need to add a little update! 

I have been busy sewing for the debut of "Dragonfly Stitches & Birdie Wishes".  I will be showing my goodies in the "Quiltique" at the North Wind Quilters Guild show this coming weekend, March 19th & 20th at the Fairfield Senior Center.  I have all my sewing complete(unless I decide I need just one more.....), but now I am busy putting price tags on everything.  I have an array of products to offer:  Scrap Sacks, Cupcake Pincushions(these were a hit as favors for Emma's 1st birthday), the "Emma" bag, Tote Bags and cute little dupioni silk wristlets lined with yummy batiks for a night out on the town (maybe a gift for your bridesmaids for any of you ladies out there getting married this summer).  I am a little nervous, okay a lot...but excited at the same time to see what others think of my goodies.  I have sold several of the "Emma" bags, tote bags and scrap sacks, but all to people I know, so wish me luck!  Remember...its all4emma!  If you have anything you would like to special order, please feel free to order, you can email me at all4emma@gmail.com

I am also in the process of building a web site, so you can go to one place and read the blog and find out whats for sale or what I am working on...I guess I need to focus on completing the numerous projects I have going on instead of adding more...hehe.

If anyone is looking for a special gift for an expectant mom, I have just the thing or things to choose from for you...my cousin, Jeanna has just started her own business as well making diaper cakes, diaper wreaths and other adorable little gifts for the mom to be.  Please check out Jeanna's site at http://www.jeannasadorra.com/.  Good luck Jeanna, I think its great you are doing this and wish you lots of luck with your venture...not that you don't have your hands full enough with Miss Mallory!

With love,
Emma's mom

I can’t believe it has been almost a month since my last post…well, actually I can!  I don’t know where the time goes, I just know that I have been a busy girl!!!  Emma is putting more and more words together each day, what a sponge!  She loves to point out airplanes, trains and her new discovery roly poly bugs, she seemed a little puzzled when it rolled into a ball, but sheer joy & amazement when it opened back up again…her face was priceless.

I know I have been busy because I have so many things to say today, might actually require a couple of posts!  Holy cow, I am excited just thinking about it.  Since my last post I have completed 2 of the 3 jacket classes I mentioned last time.  So far, so good we have a jacket coming right along! Maybe there can be a few photos to show the work in progress, the rick rack is looking adorable on the jacket, now just need to make the flowers!   Just trying to decide if I want to make the burnt edge flowers, or make rick-rack flowers…decision, decisions. 

I have also ordered business cards for my little sewing business, I even added something to the name so it is now Dragonfly Stitches & Birdie Wishes…Emma loves her birds!  Her new addition to her bedroom is a tree branch suspended from the ceiling, spray painted white & lacquered with love by Uncle Clyde, then Auntie Dawn brought some beautiful birds to add to the branches.  It is adorable and sometimes Emma & I just hang out there with the lights on the branch and look at the birds; she thinks it is great…hmmm, maybe a photo of her tree!  Boy, I keep adding more work for myself..but like I said, sooooo cute, you gotta see it.

I also completed 4 Emma bags! Yay!!!!  I will be adding photos, they just got finished last night and it was late so no time to take pictures, and I finished 2 new samples for the quilt shop!  Yahoo, so that means I will be teaching a couple new classes here in the near future, there will be about 4 or 5 from the book so it makes buying the book worthwhile and what fun! So, yes…as soon as they are quilted I will add those photos as well.

I will close for now so I can take photos while the sun is still shining. I have to get ready for tomorrows garage sale…my 1^st one ever, so that should be interesting.   It’s supposed to be a block sale but I haven’t seen any signs up yet, but I decided to participate…lots of shoes, some of Emma’s things she has outgrown and whatever else I can find around the house that I am not using!  Emma will love it because she will be outside all morning…Papa said it’s a good way to celebrate his birthday!  So Happy Birthday today Dad and we will celebrate tomorrow with Miss Emma!

Xoxo, Emma's mom

Hello again!  My mom and I had signed up for a class that started this past Friday night, we were pretty excited!  It's called the Swing Jacket, not sure why, but the sample at the store was adorable and I just knew that it would need to be in Emma's wardrobe.  We got to class at 5:40 (it started at 6) and much to our dismay the class never happened.  The teacher didn't make it, so the 6 of us ladies sat there until 6:30 and left a little disappointed.  I am still waiting for a call from the teacher to find out what happened...

I chose a baby pink corduroy, (big surprise there coming from me right???) with the liner a cotton print in pale yellow with soft green leaves, and pink & white flowers.  I found soft green rick rack to make stems coming up from the bottom of the jacket and trying to decide if I am going to make flowers to go at the top of the stems or if I am going to just look for buttons....what do you all think????  Hmmm....make them right, I found a blog that made adorable fabric flowers, so maybe I will give that a try sometime this week.

ahhh, I hear Emma stirring from her nap so off I go to play with my lil snickerdoodle!  Love my time with Emma!  Be back soon!

With love,
Emma's mom

Happy New Year!  I know, I am a little behind...here we are 13 days into the New Year and I am just making my first post.  Oops!  My goal was Dec. 31st...well, didn't quite make it.  Let me introduce myself, I'm Emma's mom!  Emma is a beautiful 19 month old angel who has COMPLETELY enriched my life in a way I never thought possible.  Each day brings new adventures, some with challenges, some with frustration, but most with new discoveries and accomplishments, along with seeing the world and life in a whole new light...through Emma's eyes.  At the end of each day I come to the conclusion that I love this little girl more than I did the day before!!

I think the most difficult thing about this blog is where do I start?  what do I say? That's my first excuse for not posting anything yet, but thanks to Janice we made a deal..we both had things that needed to be accomplished so we gave ourselves until January 26th, so woohoo!  I made it and I am even early!  My second excuse is that I needed photos up so you could all see what I was talking about.  Taking the photos was not the problem, but making them "cute" and blog worthy was the challenge.  (I think it still is...)  even though Jailyn was kind enough to guide me through, I think I need a little more guidance, so thank you ladies for helping me reach my goal!

So why start this blog?  I have tried Etsy, but with no luck and only disappointment.  Someone suggested a blog, link it to my Etsy store...so easy right!  Haha...But I am giving it a try and hopefully this is the kick in the pants that was much needed, now I just have to get my wares on Etsy also.  I will get there...quickly!  So what are my wares you ask????  I sew, sewing is my passion, my stress reliever and helps pass my time when Emma is not with me, therefore this is all4emma!! All4emma is my name on Etsy once I get it going again by the way...

Let me start by showing one of the special gifts I made for Christmas this year (I was going to show several but I realized after sometime trying to get my photos "cute" I still need some help so only 1 photo will accompany this post).  Since money is tight (not just with me but probably 75% of America if not more) I made the decision to make my gifts this year.  I have an endless supply of fabric stored in my garage, so I made good use of it...my dad jokes I can open my own store with my stash alone (sad thing is he's probably right...but we won't tell him that).  I have been collecting this stash for years now and its great when I can go "shopping" in my own garage and know that its all paid for!  So with my 50% coupon I headed to Joann's to pick up a package of Printed Treasures and chose some of my favorite pictures of Emma and the creations began.  I originally started this idea with my brother in mind, he lives in Colorado and hasn't met Emma yet, but he gets photos all the time and regular phone conversations with him and yes...she talks to him. Meg Smith, an amazing photographer and long time friend of mine for Emma's 1st birthday did a photo shoot of us, how beautiful they were!!  I chose 12 of my favorites and remembered a pattern from a magazine and quickly realized that I needed to do more...my brother hasn't received his quilt yet, its still sitting on my kitchen table, but this was for Dawn an amazing amount of support poured out of this woman the moment I told her I was pregnant and she was there when Emma arrived into this world....so the 1st completed project was for Dawn and her family...best part about it, I even quilted it myself after Dawn spent hours teaching me...little did she know it was for her...and believe me, no pun intended but I was busting at the seams!!!  So enjoy this first glimpse into what I will be showing.....I'll be back soon!

With love and appreciation....Emma's mom!