A Time to Quilt

Today is the day.  The day to get working on my unfinished projects again, and start a couple more too!  I started by bringing out all my bins of fabric.  I thought I had 5, but no, I have 6.  Thank goodness that I buy in small quantities or else I would have a dozen!

We also brought out my mom's collection.  Her's is nothing compared to mine, about 1/6th!  Using her collection, with a little bit of mine, we are  going to make a new master bedroom quilt.  As many of you can tell from my previous posts it is very difficult for me to finish a large project.  Keeping that in mind it is time to start another.

Searching around the internet wasting time I found this quilt.

More than anything I like the pattern.  The chevron/zig zag pattern spoke to me.  I usually love the white contrast but this time I'm going for all color.

I drew up some plans.  I find it helpful to plan it out so I don't have as much excess fabric.  Hopefully it actually works out that way.  Only time will tell.

I'm going to use fabric that I originally purchased for a different project that is defiantly not going to happen.  All teals, blues and green.  I found one more large piece of fabric to add to what I had already purchased so now I have eight different colors.  I hope it turns out as well as I think it could be.

A Thing To Do In Kansas - Arboretum

I'm back in Kansas now and as it may to come a shock to a lot of people, there are many things to do in Kansas.

 I visited the Overland Park Arboretum and took a walk around the area.  There are fantastic walking paths all 

They are adding some new elements to area in the upcoming year.  Looks like this summer they will open a miniature railroad.  I'll be visiting it as soon as it is open!

They have beautiful water features and gardens all around.

And peonies.  I love that flower, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites!

Along with the gardens there are wildflowers growing all around.  These purple ones were beautiful.  They might make a nice looking embroidery hoop soon.

Back to the crafts soon.  I have been organizing my music and photo collections.  Let's just say it is very time consuming.  I've been busy, and a bit lazy, but I'll be back soon with some crafts.

Royals... they are not good at Baseball

 I went with family our first Royals game of the year.  We got there super early for a giveaway and we got our free t-shirt!  Gotta love it!

As many games start for fans in the parking lot around the two stadiums, Kauffman and Arrowhead.  When we are ready we head towards our unofficial seating area.  

 After the recent renovation to the stadium they added a fantastic place to watch the game.  Anyone can sit/stand in the Pepsi Party Porch in right center field.  And recently they added chairs!  Yeah sitting!

 One of the Highlights of the game is the Hot Dog Derby.  At Kauffman Stadium they do a live version.  I bet they are a lot harder to run in then it looks.  Needless to say it is pretty awesome!  

Now to the not so awesome.  The Royals lost, again, 9 times over.  To quote my brother, "The Royals are not good at baseball."  At least less people will be at the games when it comes to good giveaways days! 

We will be back.  Hopefully by that time they will be out of the cellar.  That might be wishful thinking this year.

It's baseball season!

Opening day in KC was this past weekend.  Did I go? No!  We thought about the Sunday game but the wind picked up.  So tomorrow it is instead.  It's a free t-shirt day and I just can't resist.  And I'm sure I'll see these fireworks in not too long!

But for now I can make another embroidery hoop!  Be ready people, there are many more of these in the works.

Again, to paint or not to paint?  That is the question.  Off to Kauffman stadium soon, or The K as the locals call it.  

1912 Jayhawk

If you didn't already know I went the University of Kansas.  Our mascot is the Jayhawk.  Over the years the Jayhawk has changed looks but we still embrace them all.  One of my favorites is the first from 1912.

He is celebrating 100 years this year so I will celebrate his birthday my way.  By making an embroidery hoop of course!

Looks good! 

 I might paint the body blue and add at 1912 on the right next to the foot.  Or maybe I'll just make more and experiment!

- Bryn

100 Years of Titanic

On April 14, 1912 the Titanic hit an iceberg.  100 years later there was an exhibit in Kansas City at Union Station.  They had a special to see the traveling exhibit for 4.15, the same date as when the ship sank at 10:30 at night!  

 I haven't been to Union Station in a while but now I plan on visiting again soon

 As with many exhibitions photographs were not allowed but I too pictures around the rest of the building before our "departure" time.

 Like many Union Stations that were build around the turn of the century the detail inside the station is impressive.  The main clock is still working down the main hall.

  The past saw many travelers using the train.  They had a cool display of a train in the main lobby.  

In the science center there is a model train exhibit.  That will be for another day, but definitively a must do!

 Kansas City's Union Station was restored in 1999 and is now used for exhibit space, restaurants, a kid's science center and more.  

The exhibit was really cool, litteraly.  They had an ice wall explaining how salt water freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater.  It was truely amazing how many artifacts they had recovered including intact china, clothing, paper and items from the bridge.  100 years gone but never forgotten.

I didn't leave empty handed of course.  I bought a teacup replica of the second class passengers.  They had the first class china as well but the second class spoke to me.  Now I feel fancy drinking tea.

Welcome back to Kansas

I've gotten into the embroidery craze like many other crafters have.  I wanted to mark my homecoming by making a hoop just for Kansas.  I chose our very rectangular state and the state flower, the sunflower.

I went into my floss box and found 4 colors.  A green for the stem, yellow for the flower, brown for the seeds and blue for the state outline.

 I took my two images and traced them onto my fabric.  As always my fabric is muslin.  I stretched the fabric and pinned the paper behind it and traced with a pencil.  It's that easy!

 Half way there!  I did the seeds with a french knots.  Turned out well I think.

 And sideways!  But it looks great!

I have tons of ideas for the little embroidery hoops.  More Kansas, more Disneyland and a little bit of everything in-between.

3 days and 1650 miles

I used my tetris skills packing the trunk.  It was so full that you couldn't even see the light on in the trunk. 

The back seat was piled up as far as I felt comfortable seeing out the back window.  Wow, it's amazing how much stuff you can amass in three years. 

So off we went.  We went through desert,

changing landscapes,

Vegas,

rock bluffs,

red mountain passes

snow covered mountains,

and prairies.

1,650 miles later I was back in Kansas City.

At the moment it feels strange being back home.  Plus finding everything a home in the house has been an adventure in itself.  Back to crafting soon!

My last California Adventures

Sorry, it's been a while since my last post.  The last month has been full of life changes.

I left work at Disneyland on March 28.  It was a great time working there. 

I will treasure my memories from Disneyland and of course all the pictures I took over the years too!

Only my last day I worked at two of my attractions.

I started on Steam Trains with many Lilly Belle trips around the park.

I ended my Disney working experience at Opera House as the Mid Lead.

On my last day I attached some ruby red bows to my crappy work shoes.  They did make my travels back to Kansas very smooth if I don't say.

I will truly miss all my friends that I made there but it was defiantly time to move on from there.

Before we left my mom and I went to Seaworld with some free tickets.  We only spent four hours there.  Some of the shows are great but generally there is not a ton to do there. 

Our Final California adventure took us to Long Beach and the Queen Mary for a wedding.  My 3rd cousin, my mom's cousin's daughter got married.  She looked beautiful, the ceremony was great with the sun coming out about thirty minutes before and the food was great.

And we watched KU make it to the final game of the National Championship at the bar at the stern of the ship.  It was a great day overall.

And couple days later the drive began!