His Hat!

Our bedroom door. Vinyl cling letters from dollar store. I have numbers on all the doors, ours is "8" for all of us, Roxie's says 7, sewing studio 6, bathroom 5, hall closet 4, kitchen back door is 3. Just because. #1 door would be the front, but it is glass, and I really want to etch our address on it, so you can see it lit up at night. Horizontal, but BIG.

Hey, That's My Hat!

Love my orange flower hat, by way of Likely Stories! Thank you!

Is Less Color Better?

When Less Color Is Better

When you match your dress, it helps to tone down the saturation. I blush easily, and this dress matches my face to start with, but it is warm!

This is Why I CROP and TILT

Editing is good for most things!

What We Go Through

To get one okay photo of both of us we have to-
--take lots of photos (usually it is one or the other, not BOTH of us with eyes closed!)

Can you say, "Wind in my hair..."? It looks like the tree branch above me has attacked my face!

Stewart was our photographer Sunday.

Get It Right

This is my favorite tweak of this photo. Focus is on our eyes, not the unflattering view of my neck...
As seen here. My bangs/fringe needs a trim. I think we look better from above eye-level camera position, NOT below...I am trying to distract you with color. Can you tell where we took this?

Original photo. Love the setting. This is inside the visitor's center where it was warm and they have couches. This photo is a week old! I had to leave super early for work today, training my census crew so I am pre-blogging a little this week...

Seasoned

This picture of Stewart shows how in shape he is. John says he looks like a TITAN, ready for combat. This is only his second season of wrestling--he started in his junior year and has done really well!

.UCBAC wrestling on Saturday. Stewart came in 3rd in his weight class; he is going to regionals next week. You can sort of see the shiner under his right eye and the scratches from wrestling earlier in the day.

John was at the library with an Eagle Scout friend working on Stewart's eagle project! He has next week to finish up, before his 18th birthday. You can see the stake president behind us. He was there to watch his nephew compete!
Best thrift store deal: I always look in the dishes, just in case they have a pizza stone. Years ago I bought the middle one at full price, mother-by-marriage lets me "borrow" hers because we use them so much and she doesn't (cookies, rolls, everything cooks better on stoneware!).

Brand new, waiting to be seasoned, broken-in, worn and loved.

Matching [Family Culture] Questions

I read on Emma's blog comments that my Grandpa Jack told my dad the same "shaggy dog" story about the un-asked for tire jack that Grandma Sandy (John's mom) tells.

I love hearing of in-law family similarities, matching culture and background, things we have in common.

(I remember my mom's advice that couples have enough stress and conflict without adding more differences to the relationship.)

His parents got married on the same day, in the same place, so same anniversary as my parents.

His dad is a convert. So is mine. His mom is long-time LDS member family, like mine. My family from west, with strong ties to east coast. His family from east coast, with history in west. (We still are working geographical challenges out.)

His parents are super hosts, very active in the political community, sing in the ward choir, gregarious entertainers and take care of John's grandma who lives in the same town.

My parents feed local family on many Sunday nights, work in the SL temple, are saying good-bye after the youngest son is married in a month; they put in their mission papers and are waiting for the call to leave.

When I first heard that Emma is now dating a guy who grew up being careful of wet wall paint (as a common thing) I laughed out loud with joy! That is completely like the world I have created for my kids. They have that in common!

His parents met at BYU-Hawaii. Hers at BYU-Provo. We share the same religious background, big plus.

And...?

My personality seeks for more connections with his [Dean's] family, trying to discover what else we share, besides dating children. Still struggling with protocol and appropriate getting-to-know-you-long distance attempts.

Last night I dreamed Dean had called me and said he had some time to talk. In real life I worry that would freak him out if I made that same move; I face-book stalked him at the beginning of their relationship and was too intensely curious and full of questions.

What is the balance? How does one communicate eagerness to discover similarities without overwhelming? Openess and friendliness while reserving judgement?

I would be curious to ask our kids what characteristics they think we embrace as a family culture. The culture of Landbeck that John & I have created:

Who are we? What is our family identity? What makes us, "US" and unique? Who do we think we are? How should we expect someone to get to know us? What do we do when that eagerness to discover and "know" isn't automatic or reciprocated?

I am thankful I found a man who yearns to grow more united with me every day. He loves it when we show up wearing the same color!

I LOVE This Advice!

Found this here: http://www.artwallonline.com/hijirik/

It is easy to reverse this and look at my life and think, do I really love _____? How can I change things so I am more in alignment and living what I love.

Us after a date. Even poor with no money we still squeeze in a date!

Strawberry, Blueberry Blast, Grape

Sobering Wednesday

How far would we re-locate?

I asked Max what the worse time to move for a high school teenager. He said going into your senior year, like he will be this fall.

A job nibble for John in Madison, WI. My sister and family just moved FROM there. But it is a historically important place for our family. Fox Family lived there. (I am a FOX!) And it has cheese. Lots of cheese. My family likes cheese...

Praying for something local, closer to home.


These are public domain old photos, not really family photos, at least not my family. I like the soberness, the serious faces, the poses. I have to remind myself that things could be worse, a lot worse. Time to go count some more blessings.

More Snow, But I Don't Mind

I really like the snow! I think it is beautiful, and I'm ready to paint some snow for fun. I saw a store clerance sign spray-painted on a 10 foot bank of snow along route 40, bright neon orange paint, hard to miss.

Kool-Aid, or spray paint? Make it bird edible? Juice? Abstract or representational?

DC Temple Quilt 2010

Listen to promptings.

Before we left I had the thought pop in my head that I should take my scriptures with me to the temple. I brushed the thought away, telling myself I had plenty to talk to John about and crochet to finish up on a receiving blanket (another client buys them from me) and seminary was probably going to be cancelled anyway with more snow predicted.

Half-way there I started thinking about my recommend, realized it was NOT in my bag, but back home, in that scripture case... If I had listened, we could have gone in together. I made John go in without me (he reported that it was very lonely).

I went and found G-Street Fabrics, which has moved to Randall Street in Rockville. Found fabric for another client, another quilt.
This is client Becky and her sweet forever family!

And this is BeckyT's quilt:

Finally, here it is. Some process photos to give you some more glimpses.


The quilting on this is kind of cool. Too bad I can't take credit for all of it!
And like the real thing, you have to see it in person to appreciate all the colors and patterns, and the sparkle!

Valentine Shoot

I like matching.

The little boys were adorable at Church in their red polka-dotted bow ties.

Max had two back-to-back MSB concerts Sunday, so he was in uniform.

Stewart, John, and Sam wore these leopard print ones (I made from the cut off bottom of one of Great Gma Billie's silky robes that I hemmed for her. This is my preferred method of recycling-fabric to new uses!).

I don't know if this was Suzu, Max, or Roxie's photo of us-they all took turns.

The over-the-knee leopard socks are recycled from Roxie's too small tights-very comfy and warm and I was surprised they fit so well (without the pantie part of the tights). We went through all her too tight TIGHTS drawer and I cut them up, and put elastic at the top for her over-the-knee socks, no elastic needed for the ones I claimed. They have gone through the wash twice without falling apart-tight weave on those tights?

Love At Home, Touch Of, DC Temple, Mad About Plaid

Happy Valentine's Day!

My "2000" quilt is displayed here on the table. 2000 tiny 2.5 inch squares, exchanged through internet friends, no two the same. I think Suzu has this one in her room. "Love at Home" is Grandma Billie's favorite one I've made. "Touch Of" is out of character for me, made for Emma, and she took it to BYU with her. DC Temple quilt hangs at Babcocks, made in...2000?

Linda Mawhinny taught this class. We exchanged plaid squares and this was the first quilt I made with my bundle. Gave it to John, so it is still here in the house. Brown polar fleece on the back, so snugly quilt.

Lenten Cross

In the kitchen, snow outside the window, lots of snow...

I donated this quilt to a church. Made it with a good group of Christian ladies, taking a class from...Peg Bingham/somebody? Must look up her name. Celtic knot work fascinates me. I am really bad with names.

Becky Won't See Her Quilt Until MONDAY

The scheduled drop-off is Monday, so you will have to wait until she sees it first.

So I will show you some other past work over the weekend.

See, I do know how to make a Double Wedding Ring. Nephew Gabriel M has this quilt.

I had all my quilts hanging once. The "Say Good-bye to the Mountains" quilt is the purple and green one.
Close up of the tops of the mountains with some of the first photo transfers I ever did. Can you see our wedding picture? Does that count as a couple photo?

Becky's Quilt Reveal...

(The extreme amounts of snow has cancelled many events. Our stake conference broadcast has been postponed. Stake temple trip TBA. Delivery of Becky's quilt tomorrow? It was going to be a smooth hand-off at the visitor's center, rather than mailing this quilt. Phone call and how much we can dig out will determine that, so stay tuned here...Meanwhile, being snowed in means cooking together!)


Becky's quilt reveal...WILL BE TOMORROW!

After she sees it first. Maybe.

Again, snow piles, extreme ones, have changed the pace of life on the east coast.

More teasing glimpses.
Yes, I could have done this all by hand, the long way. Is this cheating?

No, and yes.

Remember my Bi-Polar altered quilt with appliqued Baltimore album style one side and two white bears and polka dots painted on the reverse?

Think of this as using my resources, with the time restraints and the power of layering, and recycling and the excitement of altering something okay into something spectacular!

Becky grew up in an artsy, groovy, nature-loving home (parents met in the Peace Corps, and she was born in Ethiopia!) and she wanted a conversation piece for her living room. We talked about an inspiration piece, something else I've made that she really liked and wanted one for her home (wink, wink, JenB!).

I started with a good condition thrift store quilt, a "Coming Home" Land's End double wedding ring queen-size quilt, for $14.50. Right price, too big (I was hoping for a twin-size). I've been looking for weeks, wanting something light in background so the colors would work for this project. This was light enough, and the florals were perfect. And the pattern had meaning. WEDDING in the title is a good-mood-feeling in this piece. Rings intertwined and bound together is important in the meaning.
Cut down to 12 circles, edges sewn. Painted. First using watercolors to establish color boundaries, then fabric dyes, and finally, pens for details and acrylic gold paint. I also used super opaque white by Jacquard.

When people ask "How long did it take to make that?" the answer is complicated. Factor in thinking about it time. Shopping for the right base quilt. Changing the orientation from vertical to horizontal decision time. Sketching. Taking photos. It took days of inconvenient kitchen manuevering, big tarp on the floor, people eating tip-toe-ing. It took drying time. Hanging it up and looking at it across the room days. Adding more. Sewing more stuff. More paint, meaning more kitchen floor time. Once it was draped across the kitchen island, getting details. Ironing to set dyes time. More looking across the room time.

I got the commission and first-half of payment in November. Working deadline was delivery before Valentine's Day. Worth every earned penny. Hopefully it will now be a family-treasured heirloom. I know it is going to a good home, so it is easy to let this baby go!

Quilters labor and sweat and push out quilts that we love like children. (I think I love my kids more, but we still have to let them go. It's been hard lately.)

You love whom you serve. So celebrate Valentine's Day by serving someone!

BACK side of quilt, where colors have bled through, shown here before I added the hanging sleeve and one more paint wash of colors.