Mel's Own Place

I'm belatedly participating in a blog tour in honor of Craftsy's FREE block of the month guided by my personal quilty friend AMY of Stitchery Dickory Dock!!

You may remember me having a great time in Salt Lake City, Utah last October when we attended The Sewing Summit.

Amy (Stitchery Dickory Dock) and I arrived to my home state this afternoon!  As any good Utah native would do, I introduced her to cheese fries at Training Table, "A Utah Original".  




We are in Utah for the first ever Sewing Summit put on by Amy of Amy's Creative Side and Erin of Two More Seconds.  They have done an amazing job organizing this event and I have a feeling we are going to be spoiled!




Thanks to my friend Sherry for the ride to the airport in Denver and thanks to my sis, Marianne for the pick up in SLC!  At the airport we met up with a fellow quilter/blogger/Sewing Summit go-er, Chris of Freckle Mama. 


I feel so left out, seeming to be the only one without a smart phone.  Everyone is tweeting, and snapping pics.  I'm bumming my pics off of Amy, so nothing to show just now. {{pics added!}}


We are going on a mini shop hop tomorrow am.  Can.not.wait!

This whole week will be filled with tons of projects and tutorials you can take on the go including a tutorial of mine!  I LOVE handwork so I know I'll be going to Victoriana Quilters site every day to see what new project has been posted and I hope you do too!

Uhh, um.  Hi.


Should I pretend nothing has happened to make me stop blogging for the past 10 months or should I info vomit?


Let's just say for now, my personal life had a lot of unpicking to do. Nothing that family, friends and Diet Coke can't fix!




I miss the dickens out of ALL of you dear bloggy friends!!  I haven't been around visiting either! What a horrible neighbor!  Can we get together to chat?


I loved how being a part of my little bloggy world inspired me to create fun things.  I thrived on the communications I shared with you wonderful bloggers EVERYWHERE!


I'd like to begin blogging (again) in September - I think.  


I am alive, healthy, happy and blessed.  I am grateful for the gifts of hope, courage, endurance and intuition from my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I'm eternally thankful for the kindness and love from close friends and ALL my family members, who have picked up the pieces I couldn't carry.

Be Aware, Be Grateful
1. Wonderful fall weather, still in the upper 50s!
2. Family traveled safely to two different places
3. Hair cut
                                     * * * * * * * *

I’m still amped up about the Quilter’s Festival that took place in Alpine, Utah (and surrounding areas) last weekend!! Sydney from Alpine Retreats organized the FUN event!

Since I was coming from out of town, Sydney invited me to stay at the Retreat House. 

HOW LUCKY AM I?!

This is the room I was able to have sweet dreams!!  CHARMING!

Did you notice the fireplace in the top picture?  I was ‘all snugged up’ as Urban likes to say!

Every detail was attended to by Sydney.  Fresh flowers, quilts, embroidered items and silver platters of candy were everywhere!

It was a wonderful place to absorb serenity and inspiration.

No need to tell you I slept quite well and when I woke up I was anticipating the fun day ahead.

Another bedroom downstairs with a full sized bed. This one has a large walk out deck.

 

Isn’t this tapestry beautiful? It hangs above the bed.

Below are pictures of a room with two single beds and one full sized.

One more cozy room with a double bed, balcony, fresh flowers and an amazing view!

To see more pictures of Alpine Retreat’s beautiful rooms and work spaces, click here for a tour!

Since I took over 100 pictures I thought I’d split them up.  :) So coming up will be posts about the classes and teachers, one about the places I visited and one that shows Sydney’s quilts and some of mine!

Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. Lissa’s home!!
2. Fun, inspiring weekend!
3. Family fun!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I was sooooo excited to present Lissa with the comfort quilt many of you helped make.

We all got emotional at the happiness that came over Lissa’s face when she saw her quilt for the first time. 

She and her husband, Mark were in awe that so many people that we have never met, would be so kind hearted as to donate so much love for Lissa’s sake.

It was a testament to the love that is in the human spirit and the wide spread of concern that is shared specifically here amongst bloggers. 

Many states in USA and countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina all held Lissa in their heart and offered comfort through words and prayers.

After much ooo-ing and aww-ing, we got things back to normal by playing a couple rounds of Hand & Foot.  Lissa didn’t miss a beat as she beat us by a large margin!  It’s good to have her back!!

 
Lissa with her three boys, Logan in red, Brock in blue and Brady in brown.  These boys are sooooo happy to have their mother home!

Many, many thanks to those of you who donated Four Patch Squares, money, gifts and cards to Lissa. 

 
Thank you to Jane who organized and collected the blocks.  Thanks to Millie for volunteering to quilt Lissa’s quilt.

Inset picture is of the back of the quilt, I could not have picked a better fitting design!! Thanks Millie!!

 
Signature squares (above) were sent by over 40 participants in Lissa’s Quilt. Not all are shown.

Thank you all so much.  I am a more compassionate person because of your examples.

I’ll tell ya what you should be doing!!  Come join in the Quilter’s Harvest event, Friday November 12th, hosted by Sydney owner of the

Alpine Quilt Retreats!

I’ll be teaching my
Wool Covered Buttons in Group B. 

 

In addition to my class, you’ll get cooking instruction & demo,  you’ll visit three local quilt shops; Broadbent’s in Lehi where you can make a Christmas Ornament, Quilter’s Cottage in American Fork to make a Fabric Corsage, Just Sew in Highland to create a Pin Cushion Bracelet. You’ll also be a guest at a French-like boutique shop Dear Lizzy, also in Highland, for a FREE treat and drink from their bistro!

An inspiring day for girlfriends, sisters, mothers and daughters or just ‘Me’ time for yourself!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

If you can’t come, PLEASE at least take a look at the Alpine Retreat House, and plan with your friends to attend a future weekend of cooking lessons, scheduled classes, sewing-sewing-sewing, or just amazing inspiration!

Here’s a preview of a class I’ll be teaching there February 17th – 19th 2011.  I call it Quilting Unplugged.

I’ll be teaching several hand piecing techniques such as Apple Core, Hexagons, Clam Shells and Appliqué.

Come hang with the ‘cool kids’!!

Be Aware, Be Thankful
1.  Fall weather
2.  My job
3.  Family
* * * *

Pictures from my parent’s balcony.  They live in an apartment in Tigre (an area of Buenos Aires)

Outside of my parent’s apartment.  I know it’s a bit cheesey, but we’d just got off a thirteen hour airplane ride so everything was a ‘good idea’!!  ;)

We visited the office where my parents have been working while on their mission.  My dad takes care of the financial dealings with the missionaries.  My mother keeps track of records and supplies.

Well that’s just part of the first day in Argentina.  So much more to report!

Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. A safe trip to and from Argentina
2. All who helped make Lissa’s quilt
3. Nathan and Urban
* * * * * *

I have soooo much to share from my trip to Argentina that I’m overwhelmed!! 

I arrived home today and have jet lag but want so badly to show you some (of the nearly 800) pictures I took while soaking in the country.

Be sure to click on the pic to enlarge!

Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. Aunt Denise who shares buddy passes!
2. Opportunity to visit another country
3. All who have taken my parents into their hearts and homes
* * * *


This is a pre-post, so by now I should be in Buenos Aires, Argentina visiting my parents!!!


They are serving an LDS Mission and have been there since March of 2009.  They LOVE the area, people, and fellow missionaries.


I wanted to take a little something to give those who have been particularly welcoming and kind to my parents.  I made some mini quilts in Americana colors.










Two more still need to be bound and are not pictured.


They range in sizes from 15” square to 17” Square.  I think they turned out nicely and can’t wait to give them out with a hug!