Thursday, August 5, 2010

Is anyone still out there?

I have been procrastinating this post all month.  Somehow the blog blahs have set in, and I haven't felt like posting at all.  This month has just flown by.  I'm actually looking forward to school starting, just so things will slow down a bit!  (That's pretty sad!)  I hope you are all still with me, even after my long absence.
Last February I showed my daughter a blog post with the most darling cake!   She had it in her mind, that she wanted an Alice in Wonderland party just like that!  I almost didn't go through with it, as there was just so much to do, but in the end, somehow it all came together.  The cake was a family affair.  it took us a couple of days to make, but so much fun.
I made DD an Alice dress,and one for her AG doll too.  Doesn't Julie (the doll) look like the perfect Alice?
This is the quilt that my mom and I made for my DD's birthday.  I pieced and appliqued the quilt and my mom "HAND QUILTED" it, in about a weeks time.  Isn't her stitching perfect?  DD loved it!
Quilt Soup's "All Dolled Up"
Other events this month...my husband and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary.  We had 2 major holidays, the 4th of July and the 24th of July, which is Pioneer Day in Utah, and is a big deal!  (It's the day the Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, after being persecuted and driven from their beautiful city of Nauvoo, Illinois.)
This is the Brigham City Tabernacle, in which the pioneers built in 1868, and has subsequently gone through a total renovation in 1986.  We were tour hosts for this beautiful building.  It  was a neat experience to be able to learn all about the history of the building and those who sacrificed to build it.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is building a temple right across the street, which will be an impressive sight to see.
We inherited two birds from the neighbor kids.  They raised these ugly ducklings from eggs, but thought that we would be able to release them into our trees when they got a little bigger.  The one on top is a pheasant, and it turns out, it's a girl, so her name is Fredrika the Pheasant (After Carriage House Samplings sampler) and the bottom is a "Chucker" and it's name is "Chuck" because we don't know if it's a girl or a boy.  These birds are getting a little easier, but at first I was really regretting the decision to adopt them.  They stink!

Also this month, I had 2 nephews get baptized.  Family parties and lots of food always accompany those wonderful events.  We had a family wedding that ended up getting canceled 4 days before the event.  We still had lots of family visiting, so we had more parties and food!  I tell you, I'll never work off the calories we've eaten!
Birds of a Feather Friendship Sampler.  Stitched on 36 count linen with Weeks, and GA threads

On the stitching front, I haven't made a lot of  progress on anything that's probably why I haven't felt like blogging.  I've been working on this wonderful little sampler that Terri gave me.  I hope to get it done for our retreat in September.  (Happy Dance!)  I wish I would have stitched this with 2 strands of floss.  I started with one, as I love the "soft look" normally, but after looking at Terri's I wish I would have gone with 2 strands of floss.  I'm not inclined to start again, so I'm just going to have to live with it!

Hope all is well with you dear friends.  Thank you so much for your friendship!  Your comments make my day, and give me happiness that you will never know.
Until next time..

20 comments:

Kelly said...

The cake and your daughter are adorable!!

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

Loraine That cake and party was so cute !! I love that quilt. I keep reminding myself that is why I want to learn to quilt! The pictures of the Tabernacle are beautiful !!

Anonymous said...

Oh my heck, that cake is amazing! I would not have been able to eat it! All that fondant work- WOW. The dress and the quilt...it's all just beautiful. What a fun birthday!
How lucky to be able to be a guide for the BC tabernacle. It's a beautiful building. I'm so jealous of you all in Utah, having a temple around every corner! I would love that. :)

Mylene said...

Great job on the cake and the dresses for your daughter and the doll, GORGEOUS!! The quilt is sooo beautiful!

Happy Anniversary!!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

For Heaven's sake - that cake is FABULOUS!!! You CAN do everything!!! Your daughter is so pretty and sweet - love her AIW costume and the matching doll outfit is wonderful. Great job!

That tabernacle is so pretty - love all the woodwork - can we see that when we're in town? Ooooh, I can't wait!

The quilt you and your mom made is stunning - I can't believe all that you do!

Happy, happy anniversary!!!

If you're not happy with the sampler, start over - you want to love it and you should have enough floss. If not, I'll bring my leftovers for you.

Jan said...

I am sitting here typing with my mouth open...such an incredible cake and such incredible outfits for the birthday girl!! I am somewhat overcome too, that it seems like I was just reading about her birthday celebration last year...time goes so fast anymore, doesn't it?

Love, love, love that quilt you and your mother created together, you have a very, very lucky lil girl to have a mother that is so dedicated to her happiness! May you be blessed, Loraine!

I love what you have stitched and I can so relate, I was always ready for school to start too, when my children were still at home. You just need a rest and some Loraine time! Hope it happens soon for you!

woolwoman said...

I know what you mean about not wanting to blog for nothing exciting to show - however this is certainly a very exciting post to return from your summer hiatus with. My goodness what beautiful things you did for your DD birthday - she is one lucky little girl to have such a loving mom and grandmother. Lovely sewing and the cake is something else - I would have thought it was done by a professional. I don't have any kids but I'm quite sure I would feel the same way you do about going back to school. Hope we see you around blogland more often when that happens - mel

Cari said...

Your daughter, the dresses, the cake and the quilt are all just over the top!! My goodness girl you have been very, very busty...no wonder you haven't had time to blog!! Love your Friendship Sampler...I should bring mine in September too!! Hugs...looking forward to our adventure!!

Margaret said...

That is one amazing cake!! And your DD is adorable!! Happy belated birthday to her. Love the quilt and your BoaF piece. Hope the birds don't stink anymore. lol!

Deb said...

Where to start? That cake is absolutely fantastic. I can't even imagine decorating a cake like that. I've done a few in my time, but absolutely nothing like that. It's awesome - so pretty! Your daughter must have been thrilled. Love her dress and her dolls dress too.

That quilt is gorgeous. Such beautiful work. And such an heirloom!!! You and your mom make a fantastic team!!!

Happy Anniversary too!!!!! The tabernacle is such a beautiful building. And great start on your sampler, but if you're not happy with it, start it over, as hard as that might be!!

And I hear you on school - I'm counting down the days - there has just been too much going on this year!

Jane said...

Hi Loraine! Sounds like you've had plenty to keep you busy lately. That cake you made is amazing!! Your daughter will have the memory of it for many years to come. So much love and time has gone into creating it.

The quilt looks divine and another lovely keepsake for you DD. Your stitching is coming along nicely too. Don't worry about the one thread, it will give it that delicate, antique look.

I've been going through the blogging blah, blah stage myself. No stitching going on and haven't felt like blogging because of it. I may try to do a post this weekend. Take care, my friend!

Jennifer said...

Love the cake! How perfect is that with your beautiful daughter in the Alice dress and Julie in the matching one. What a wonderful party it must have been with the Alice theme! AG will soon be calling you to be their designer!!! Love the beautiful quilt too! and pics of Utah. Bet you are getting excited about the SB retreat can't wait to see pics of that too.

MyLifesAStitch said...

Awww! Your DD is adorable! It looks like the party was a huge success. :) The cake is AMAZING!!! Seriously! Wow!

Her quilt turned out beautifully, too! Kudos to you & your mom on that!

Keep us posted on the birds, lol! What an adventure!

Have a great weekend!

Blu said...

Stunning cake! I could never cut into such a work of art. Your daughter is a cutie.

Very pretty quilts.

natalysneedle said...

That cake is a work of art!

Carol said...

Hi Lorainne! I just discovered your blog via Terri's. You made her such a pretty little gift for her birthday.

But, even more impressive is that cake--unbelievable. The detail, colors, everything, are so professional looking! And your daughter and her little doll dressed as Alice are too cute...

You obviously inherited your mother's creative talent because the quilt she made for your daughter is spectacular, too!

Hazel said...

WOW!!! Amazing cake and outfits. Just superb. I feel like such a failure now. You have truely outdone yourself. xx

Siobhán said...

Sounds like a busy, busy summer! The dresses that you made for your daughter and her doll are adorable! What a neat theme. I love the quilt that you and your mother did, too! Love the WIP! I enjoyed the pics of the Tabernacle, too. How neat!

Mylene said...

Stopping by to say Hi! I hope all is well with you.

FIONA said...

Wow - your retreat away with the girls sounds so great! Wish i lived closer! I'm new to your blog - so thanks for sharing!