I just looked back on Instagram and I started cutting this quilt a year ago. Wow, that actually seems pretty fast for finishing a quilt. Usually it's a years (yes, plural) long process for something this big.

The pattern I used is called Turning Twenty. It uses 20 fat quarters, hence the name. Through various turning of the blocks, you can create several different patterns. To make the quilt extra-big, I added 5 extra fat quarters, making this Turning Twenty-Five.

The quilt is about 90 x 90 and perfect for my 6 foot tall husband. I quilted it with a light grey thread in a ripple pool type pattern. The fabric is Doe by Carolyn Friedlander. It is from 2014 but there are still many options to buy on Etsy and other online quilt shops. It's a gorgeous neutral palette with a few pops of color.

Last fall, after a particularly difficult day, I was greeted by a phone call from a dear friend back in Texas. After we exchanged pleasantries, she offered me a job. (There were a few more details than that, but I don't think anybody really cares about the nuances) I haven't spoken much about it on here, but essentially, I work as a tour planner and guide for educational tours. This job allows me occasional travel opportunities, and my first tour was in New York City.


If you follow me on Instagram (as you should) you will have seen most of these pictures. During the trip, I was working and exhausted. We walked about the equivalent of two marathons in 6 days. I didn't get a chance to post all my thoughts and feelings with the photos I took. But when I left the city, I had a few minutes, and jot down a few thing I was thinking/feeling.



"As I write this, I'm in a cab and can see the empire state building in the rear view mirror. I just wrapped up a 6 day trip in NYC and what a trip it was. 

Have you seen the new Hazelwood line by 1Canoe2???

I'm so glad  I had the foresight to take pictures of Zoe in this field of bluebonnets. Last spring we didn't know we weren't going to spend another bluebonnet season in Texas. This field was about a minute away from where I worked and covered, I mean covered, in flowers. Zoe danced and twirled for several minutes among the tiny little buds, pure childhood joy!

This line is a knock-out for me. The page came together so quickly. The shades of blue and purple just make the most fantastic monochromatic look. Zoe loved the 3D butterflies. The trick to getting them to stick up like that is to bend them before you glue them down.


XOXO,

Aubrey Plays
Two Blondes and a Sewing Machine
A Jennuine Life
Izzy and Ivy Designs
Holly and Company {That's Me!}
Elle Lee and Me
Lilly Shine Boutique
Simple Life Pattern Co
SewSohpieLynn
Happiness in the Making
MADE Everyday
Little Bit Funky
Sew and Tell Project

If you are unfamiliar with One Little Word, it is essentially a word that is your theme for the year - mine for 2017 is

I snapped this quick photo while we were singing "Happy Birthday" to her. I thought about including it in my 4th of July spreads, but I felt this milestone deserved it's own page.

This page came together so quickly. Normally, I spend half an hour just sorting through supplies, pulling items I may or may not want to use. For this page, I knew which papers I wanted to use. I grabbed them and a few star embellishments and I was off to work. Since I was only using one photo and little embellishment, I used depth to add visual interest, in the form of pop-dots behind the photo.


The crepe paper circle is actually from a Valentine's Day embellishment. I ripped off the heart sentiment and covered it up with the chipboard star. I love being able to re-purpose supplies, These inkable Heidi Swapp alphas have been a new favorite of mine. A little gold ink and voila! A perfect color match.

I still need to add journaling to the page, but it will most likely go on the back, because there are just too many words to fit on the front. Plus, I feel like the words would take away from the design in this instance.

Do you ever favor design over journaling?

XOXO,

If you follow me on Instagram, you have heard me talk about Zoe's freckles more than once. See I don't have cute freckles. I have a husband with cute freckles and a best friend with cute freckles, but I just have random freckles/beauty marks/moles. I've always wanted freckles sprinkled ever so perfectly just on the bridge of my nose. Thankfully, because of her father and his cute freckles, Zoe has inherited the perfect amount.

Since this particular story involved my own tale of ugly crying, I didn't really want the journaling front and center. I used a 3x4 journaling card and a plastic tab to hide the story.

Some stories are harder than others to tell. This one was hard for me. It was a reminder of those frustrating feelings I felt as a mother. All my worry and stress rolled into one scrapbook page. But, it was important for me to write down my true feelings because one day Zoe will read those words, maybe in a year, maybe in a few years, and maybe when she has children of her own. When she reads those words she will see how much I cared, how much I worried, and how everything turned out okay.

This story is more than just pictures of the first day of school, and that's just one of the reasons I love scrapbooking so much.

Where do you write down your stories? A journal, scrapbook pages, twitter?

XOXO,

• spider webbing and spiders - $2
• Heidi Swapp Marquee Pumpkin - $5
• Eyeball gumballs - $2
• White pumpkins - $6
• Owl ornament - $2

 The candlesticks, books, clipboard calendar, frames, Lindsey Letters print, and glass bottles, I already had. This mantle will transition into my Thanksgiving mantle using many of the same pieces.

The only item I made was the foil sugar skull print using my Minc foil. I found the free PDF here. Alexis of Persia Lou has a great tutorial for this over on her blog here.


Do you have a place in your house where you decorate for the seasons?

I get to have two Christmas tress this year, and a mantle....you bet I'm excited!

XOXO,