This is the post I've been meaning to write.

The last few months are a blur. Faster than fast, Lightning McQueen fast. I'm-forty-now-and-it's-all-downhill-from-here fast. I'm finally going to catch up on the things I've been meaning to share. 

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One of the awesome things that took place these last few months is the launch of my cousin Sean's big project. He's a filmmaker and photographer with ooooodles of talent. He lives in San Francisco and did a photography project on the Tenderloin District.  Check it!  It's a amazing. I'm so proud of you, Sean! I know he's gonna be big someday. Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas big. 

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In April, the whole family headed up to Carpinteria for Spring Break. It was cold and damp for several days but that never stops us from having fun. Below is a storyboard I created using the Magic Blog It Boards from MCP Actions. Oh man these are so cool and so easy to use. I've been using them on my new photography website and I love how polished and professional they look. If you have a blog and post multiple photos at a time, these actions are money well spent. 

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I turned forty on April 18th. (And for anyone who remembers what I MAY have said last year about the whole 40 by 40 thing? Totally didn't make it. By about 40 lbs.) My amazingly thoughtful husband planned a party at a winery in Temecula in their barrel room. What an amazing night!  The food was yummy, the company was lively, and the wine was very nice. I was dressed up with heels and make-up, and even had flat, grey-free hair. And it all went down without my big honkin' camera around my neck (gasp!). On purpose. Instead we took our little Panasonic Lumix wonder box which was passed all around. (Yes, I own a point-and-shoot. As point-and-shoots go, it's one of the best.)  Here we are with the glow of good company and good wine filling up our faces.

A huge thanks to all our family and friends who made the long drive from all over Southern California to be there. I had a wonderful time and I feel all grown up now. Sort of.

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I've added yet ANOTHER hobby to my long list of Things To Do With All My Spare Time. Along with scrapbooking, my photography business, knitting, cooking, laundry, three kids, a husband, cleaning, reading, and sometimes sleeping and showering, I have taken up quilting. Yes, quilting. I've been wanting to for a while now, and it was a trip to this store in Ft. Morgan, Colorado last summer while at Sweetwater House that the bug finally hauled off and bit me. 

Now, technically, it's not quilting since I'm not yet actually "quilting" my quilts, but rather tying them with yarn. Maybe, someday, I'll get a better sewing machine with a good set of various feet (foots?) so I can machine quilt, but my current el-cheapo $79 Shark machine I got at Target a few years back just isn't up to the task.  I've made one for Aidan and one for Makena, and I'm working on another for Nadia. I've been using Moda Jelly Rolls and pre-cut fabric collections from various places and I'm having a blast with it.  For my first quilt, I used a Jelly Roll and simply sewed the strips together to form the quilt top, then tied and bound my quilt. For Makena's, another quick and easy time of sewing the pre-cut squares together and voila, a cute lap quilt. For Nadia's, I'm working on a "coin" quilt which you can see in the Moda link above. Here are peeks at Aidan's and Makena's quilts:

Aidan's last day of Kindy is Monday. Bloody heckfire, but did this year just completely fly by or is it just me? And then before I know it it'll be September and I'll have a first grader AND a kindergartner. I'm just not ready for all this grown-uppedness yet.

Oh, and Makena lost another tooth and has several more wiggly ones.

Nadia's favorite thing to say lately is "You in deep doodoo." That girl slays me.

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I'll be back soon. Promise!

Comments

[Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY]

So great to finally see your quilting projects. It looks great and I love the fabric selections too.

The little ties are a wonderful way to bind the pieces together and they also add a bit of whimsy to the project.

[Clair]

First of all, you are looking gorgeous! Love the new tweak to your blog and I'm glad you mentioned it 'cause I missed a couple of posts (gasp)-- I especially like the little "one ___ at a time"- sweet touch.

[Rayna]

Your quilts look great! There's no shame in tying a quilt. I"ve been bullying my cheap-o machine into quilting but I think the end result would be better if I tied them. I'm working on quilts for the girls right now.

And you don't look 40!