Towering Triangles Quilt

I’m back today with my latest quilt finish. This one is for my friend Kristi, who is having her first child very soon. I am so excited for her! I’ve been calling this quilt Towering Triangles.

I had a lot of fun designing this quilt and putting it together. I knew I wanted to do triangles, and I got it in my head that I wanted to make at least some of the triangles striped. First, I sewed together a few strips of a Kona cotton red, and Cotton + Steel/Melody Miller’s stars in pink, and I Heart Bees in gray. I cut equilateral triangles with my ruler. I didn’t like the idea of wasting half of the triangles, so the triangles with the bees at the base became the bottom large triangle, and the triangles with the red at the base became the top two triangles. I cut yellow triangles to fill in the holes. I think the yellow is also a Kona cotton. It was leftover from another project that is still in the works. After trimming all of the triangles, I sewed them into horizontal strips. Then I broke out the navy, which is from American Made, and finished piecing the horizontal strips. Finally, I sewed all of those horizontal strips together, and voila – I had a finished quilt top.

I love the stained glass effect from the window.

I got a little fancier than usual on my quilt backing. I took the strip of four-petaled flower fabric that runs vertically in yardage of Melody Miller’s stars, and framed it with strips of the red, yellow and navy solids. I thought bees and flowers were a nice compliment! The rest of the backing is the I Heart Bees print.

After I finished my quilt top and backing I read some rumblings on the internet that there may have been some sort of production issue causing the bees fabric to run at a slant. That never occurred to me as I was working with the fabric. I just embraced the angle. The angle looks more like bees in flight to me!

Finally, I quilted vertical yellow lines, which ended up looking like pinstripes to me. I rounded off the corners (can’t stop, won’t stop!) and bound it with the remaining pink stars fabric.

And look, it’s my very first labeled quilt...hooray!

Thanksgiving Toilet Paper Tube Friends

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and I was excited to spend part of this past weekend going through some of my decorations, and trying to decide what to put up to make these dreary, November days more festive. Last year, I found adorable toilet paper tube Thanksgiving friends and this colorful toilet paper tube turkey while perusing Pinterest, and couldn't resist making them to entertain the kids in our waiting room at work. They got so many laughs and smiles that I can't wait to put them out again this year.

The turkey came with a tutorial, but the others did not, and I'm not sure of the original source. I used construction paper, markers, and colored pencils to create my own versions. Parts of my Uncle Sam template could be modified for pieces of the pilgrims' outfits.

I'm working on some Thanksgiving goodie boxes for my cousins who live out of state. Towards the end of the month I'll be posting my Thanksgiving wrapping paper, and tutorials for the turkey-themed crafts I'll be sending them.

Wishing you a Happy November!

Happy Halloween!

Here's a slice of what I've been up to in preparation for Halloween 2014....

Creepy Cards

The googly eyes (25 cents), Halloween greetings stamp ($1) and pumpkins ($1 Halloween invitation) are from Scrap.

Frightful Finger Puppets

These fun finger puppets were constructed with large pom poms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, felt, and a hot glue gun.

Ghastly Goodies

Every year, my workplace holds a Spooky Halloween Potluck. Thanks to Pinterest, this year I made frightful Frankenstein Rice Krispy Treats, Mummy Oreos inspired by these Mummy Cupcakes, Black Cat Oreos, and Oreo Eyeballs.

I piped on chocolate frosting instead of dipping in melted chocolate, and used miniature chocolate chips and chocolate sprinkles to give Frankenstein's hair some nice texture.

From my house to yours...wishing you a spooktacular Halloween!

Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Part 2

Hello friends! Last week, Lauren shared Part 1 of our awesome sister getaway to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I’m so excited to share Part 2 with you now!

First, I’m going to back up a bit from where Lauren left off with some of my pictures from Morning Glow and Mass Ascension, both of which were soooo beautiful and awe-inspiring.

One of my strongest impressions of the Balloon Fiesta was how nice the balloon crews were. Everybody seemed cheerful, even though it was incredibly early. I think it boils down to a whole bunch of people being exactly where they want to be for an amazing once a year event. Obviously, the balloon owners are hugely passionate about ballooning, but it’s worth noting that the crews are largely comprised of volunteers who sign up because they love it and want to be a part of it.

The crew lays out the balloon envelope and then the balloon is blown up with a big fan.

As I was framing a shot of this green and blue balloon, one of the crew members who was holding the top of the balloon during the inflating process called me over and invited me to get right up close and get a shot through the air vents of the inside. So cool!

As the sun came up, suddenly balloons were inflating all over the huge field. Like Lauren mentioned, we wanted to look everywhere at once, and the beauty of it was overwhelming. And quilty inspiration was everywhere! If I had a nickel for every time Lauren or I said “I think that one is my favorite…”

No basket!

Once all of the balloons launched into the sky, we were equal parts exhilarated and starving. Luckily, we’d been tipped off that the Fiesta experience was not complete without a breakfast burrito. New Mexicans are quite proud of their green chiles, they put them in everything, even their chocolate truffles. These burritos were filled with eggs, potatoes, bacon, cheese, and green chiles, and they were ridiculously satisfying.

After that amazing burrito, we had a few hours to sightsee around Albuquerque before we had to be back for the evening session, Twinkle Glow. As Lauren mentioned in Part 1, we drove up to Sandia Crest to see the city and surroundings.

We wished we had time for a hike, but that will have to be saved for a future trip. Instead, after lunch we headed back into town and stopped by a grocery store to pick up some food for dinner. As great as the Fiesta burritos were, we figured twice in one day was a bit excessive.

On our way back to the park and ride, we took a 2-mile detour to drive by one of the biggest Breaking Bad landmarks, the White family’s house.  The house is now inhabited by an older couple who apparently does not enjoy the home’s claim to fame and constant stream of Breaking Bad tour buses, die-hard fans, and from-a-distance lookie-loos like us. There were multiple "No Trespassing" signs in the front yard, and the couple was standing in the driveway, arms crossed and frowning. We took mental pictures and went on our merry way.

After we got back to the Fiesta grounds, we walked over to the Balloon Museum.

We had 45 minutes to explore before the museum closed, so we hustled through exhibits on the history of hot air and gas balloons, the use of balloons in war, and the history of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. There were also fun interactive exhibits for kids about how the balloons are constructed and operated.

One of the most memorable sights at the museum were two ladies that were elaborately dressed exactly alike from their purple blazers to their patterned black pants, and identical shoes and purses. It was just great and now I wish we’d approached them and asked to take a picture with them.  

One tradition of the Fiesta is trading and collecting pins. Breaking Bad pins have been popular in the past few years. Here are a few of the pins displayed by the museum from a private collection.

After we got our fill of the museum, we walked back to the Fiesta grounds and checked out the pin booths and other merchandise booths, and found the Fiesta raffle quilt. I could not capture a picture of the entire quilt due to some unfortunate lighting, but here is a portion of it.

We found a spot to eat dinner, and then hung out, waiting for the sun to go down. The wind came up and people started flying kites.

Unfortunately, by the time it got dark, the wind was strong enough that the balloons had a hard time staying upright. But we still enjoyed it and really appreciated the balloon crews that made the effort to stay inflated for the crowds to enjoy.

The night ended with a long and impressive fireworks show. After it concluded we were exhausted and could not wait to get back to the hotel and fall into bed.

On Sunday morning, we were up at 3:40 a.m. (2:40 PST) with our act together! We got to the park and ride before any significant line had formed, and within 5 or so minutes we were zipping off to the Fiesta grounds. Our bus was nice and quiet Sunday morning, no rowdies to be found.  We started the morning right with a breakfast of burritos and coffee, which were so nice and warm in our bellies as we waited in the pitch black cold for the sun to rise.

Sadly, the sun rose without dawn patrol or morning glow, and we eventually learned that the winds were just barely too strong for the balloons to take off. We suddenly realized how fortunate we’d been Saturday morning to catch mass ascension.  The officials waited a few hours before canceling Sunday’s mass ascension. Luckily, the entire morning was not a loss, because some of the crews decided to make the best of it with a static display on the ground.

Sunday's balloon display was gorgeous and we had a good time, but it also strengthened our desire to come back for a longer visit next time. Good work, Balloon Fiesta, you knew just how to leave us wanting more! 

After the morning session ended, we headed back to the hotel to check out, and then grabbed brunch at Zinc and took a walk around the University of New Mexico campus before heading to the airport. We were sad to leave but also pretty worn out from the extremely early wake-ups. All the more reason to go plan a longer Fiesta trip next time, so that we don’t feel the need to cram in each event on all the days.

Balloon Fiesta, we can’t wait to come back and see you again!

Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Part 1

Earlier this month, Jen and I embarked upon an adventure of a lifetime to New Mexico for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It now ranks #1 on my list of most incredible life experiences, and I'm sure it'll take marriage or children to bump it down a few notches. I'm at a loss for words when I try to describe it to others, other than saying it's the coolest thing I've ever seen, and that the pictures don't do it justice. The Fiesta has been held for over 40 years, and is considered the largest balloon event in the world. This year, over 600 balloons gathered on a 365 acre field for eight days of festivities, and I'm so glad to have been a part of it.

We flew out on a Friday to get settled for the very early events on Saturday morning. On the plane, we sat next to a delightful gentleman who gave us some tips to make the most of our Fiesta experience. He emphasized dressing warm with wool socks and boots, getting to the Fiesta Park no later than 4:30 am, and to be prepared to walk A LOT. In other words, the launch field is the size of 54 football fields, and that doesn't include the rest of the park with the food vendors and bathrooms.  He also threatened to charge $1 to let us look out the plane's window, but I got him back with a $3 charge to use the bathroom.

Santa Fe

Once arriving in sunny New Mexico, we set off for Santa Fe, about an hour outside of Albuquerque, in a shiny blue Yaris. In case you're in the market for a car, the Yaris doesn't have much oomph, and took us chanting "Go Yaris Go!" reminiscent of The Little Engine That Could to get up to speed with the rest of the cars on the freeway. It became great entertainment when there were slim pickings on the radio, and the view out the window looked like this, and didn't change...

After battling some traffic, we got into Santa Fe in the early afternoon and the city seemed pretty quiet. We meandered through the streets dense with shops, restaurants, and museum gift shops. The flowers in bloom were gorgeous.

Based on a recommendation from Jen and Patrick's friend we ate at La Boca, and were not disappointed. We feasted on:

kale salad with fried garbanzos, roasted garlic, and lemon vinaigrette (my favorite)

melon salad with goat cheese, olives, and mint

We also sampled the pincho de pollo, harissa chicken skewer with avocado, cucumber, and tomato salad, not pictured due to hunger. Each dish was delicious, and truly hit the spot after a long day of traveling. We were lucky to drop in and find seating at the bar, but reservations are highly recommended. The drive back to Albuquerque on Highway 25 was timed perfectly with this gorgeous sunset. We passed the time belting out the greatest hits from the 80s ( the only radio station with reception).

We stayed at Hotel Parq Central, a former hospital and psychiatric facility that's been beautifully renovated. There have been reports of the hotel being haunted, but luckily we did not experience any uninvited guests or strange occurrences. Our room was cozy, comfortable, modern, and even included fluffy, white bathrobes. We wish we would have had more time to enjoy the rocking chairs positioned throughout the peaceful grounds, 24 hour hot tub, Apothecary Lounge, and multiple common rooms full of gigantic comfy chairs, old-fashioned game tables, and books. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Waiting in Line...

Saturday morning, our alarms blared at 3:30 am (2:30 PST). I'll admit, it was painful to get up, but once we were vertical we felt like 5 year olds on the way to Disneyland. Based on the many recommendations of experienced fiesta attendees, we brought lots of clothes (sweatshirts, scarves, gloves, hats), a flashlight, sunscreen, and sunglasses. To get to the Balloon Fiesta, you can either drive directly to the fiesta grounds, or take the Fiesta Express Park and Ride. The parking lot has been described as a nightmare, with people reporting that they missed the events waiting for a spot. Per our hotel's recommendation, we opted for the Park and Ride.

There are five Park and Ride locations within the city, all within a 15-25 minute drive to the Balloon Fiesta grounds. From the Park and Ride, you are shuttled on school buses, driven by local school bus drivers. They work on tips and had a variety of clever tip jars, many decorated like the balloons at the Fiesta. We parked at Coronado Mall. Be warned - make sure you have clear instructions of where to park at your designated location because there isn't signage, and there is no one to ask at 4:00 am.

We arrived around 4:30 am, tickets in hand, to an hour wait for the bus, and 25 minute drive to the Fiesta grounds. The first event, Dawn Patrol, started at 5:45 and we desperately wanted to make it in time. During the Fiesta, Dawn Patrol is held on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays. A select group of experienced balloonists gather before 6:00 am and take off before sunrise. The sight of their brightly lit balloons against the black sky is indescribable. After Dawn Patrol is Mass Ascension where all the balloons take off into the sunrise. The park calms down for the afternoon, then gets going again at sunset for the Balloon Glows.

At 4:30 am on a Saturday, we were expecting a nice, peaceful, uneventful ride to the park. Boy were we wrong. The buses leave in groups of 6, and we were the last bus in our group. A lovely fellow rider stood up as we were pulling out of the parking lot, and asked our bus driver to wait for "Michael."  Our driver generously agreed, while we longingly watched the other buses drive away and kissed our chance at seeing Dawn Patrol goodbye. Michael took his sweet time walking to our bus. Strike one -- we're late.  Next, the same rider who delayed us started a Journey sing-along. Strike two -- singing before 5:00 am. Finally, this lovely rider who had by then become our favorite person had a screaming conversation with Michael, who was sitting in the back of the bus, while intermittently yelling "Make it rain, bus driver" each time we passed a strip club. Strike three -- really obnoxious busmate. Our bus driver said we were worse than the evening session (Twinkle Twinkle Glow) groups after multiple cocktails. We kept smiling any way.

Instead of a selfie, this is our "bus-ie"

Dawn Patrol

By some miracle,  we pulled in just as Dawn Patrol started. We were SO happy. We literally went gallivanting through the park towards the balloons as the burners were igniting against the dark morning sky. After visiting the Balloon Museum (more to come in Jen's post), I learned one of the purposes of Dawn Patrol is for the more experienced balloonists to test the conditions before Mass Ascension.  It's quite chilly before the sun comes up, so you can really feel the heat from the burners. It's like warming up next to the fireplace! The balloons are choreographed to ignite and take off in a pattern, and the effect is breathtaking.

Mass Ascension

As the sun starts to rise up over the Sandia Mountains, Dawn Patrol gradually turns into Mass Ascension, and lasts about three hours. The incredible thing about the Balloon Fiesta is that you can get right up next to the balloons and be part of the action. Jen got some incredible shots inside the balloons as they were inflating. Don't bother with the Gondola Club or Chaser's Club tickets unless you want to be far away from the balloons. These are the more expensive ticket options that market guaranteed seating, buffet meals, special parking, and dedicated bathrooms.

Jen and I joked that we wished we could simultaneously be a spider and octopus to have eight arms and eight eyes and be able to see and take pictures in a 360 degree span. I was overwhelmed and awe-struck and didn't know where to look. We kept glancing at each other in disbelief. On the ground you become surrounded by brilliantly colored balloons inflating and launching into the sunrise, while hundreds of other balloonists drift through the sky right above you in every direction.  I loved that the crowd cheers in support as each balloon takes off. Standing on the ground with the other spectators, you can sense this collective feeling of joy as you watch these gentle giants float silently through the sunlight. It's extraordinary.

Sandia Crest

Walking out of Mass Ascension, we had the biggest smiles on our faces. We decided to head up to Sandia Crest for the afternoon to see the Aspens changing colors and for outstanding views of the city. It's about a 40 minute drive from Albuquerque, and the last 20 minutes are full of switch-backs.

The gorgeous view made my eyes twinkle...

On our way back to Albuquerque we stopped at the Greenside Cafe for some lunch. The meal was wonderful, and Jen and I really appreciated the staff's sense of humor...

I loved my Balloon Fiesta experience, and cannot wait to go back next year, hopefully for the full week. Stop by next week for Jen's account of our sister adventure - Balloon Fiesta Part 2!