Swank Baby Quilt :)

I made this quilt for a co-worker who was expecting her first grandbaby!  So exciting :)  He has arrived - baby Xavier - and he is ADORABLE!!!  Eeeksss...

 

The quilt pattern is my favorite, easy to assemble baby pattern - Square Dance, the fabric is Luv U (love the owls and snails in this line!!  CUTE!) by Deb Strain for Moda and the quilting was done by Rhonda Loy of Dexter - fabulous as usual.

What I'm Reading...

America's Boy by Wade Rouse. 

I met Wade Rouse at the Kalamazoo library last year at a reading for the book he edited  and contributed to - I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in this Relationship.  It was a fun event and I was instantly a fan!  He was completely lovely while signing his books and chatting with the crowd.  During the event, I learned that America's Boy was going to be rereleased {YAY}.  I picked up a copy in April from an awesome independent bookstore in Petoskey.  So far I love it and I'm so glad that I was able to get my hands on a copy.

Two Years...

Two years ago today, I saw him for the first time since he surprised me by filing for divorce.  We were at the court house in Ann Arbor together.  I pre-gamed the event by taking a xanax and wearing my favorite outfit at the time.  He did not.  He looked nervous.  After making awkward small talk for a few minutes and convincing our court appointed arbitrator that we were not staying together we were ushered into the courtroom and put on the docket.

I have to admit, after hearing the case that went before ours, I was thankful.  The man was weeping about his wife cheating on him in a room full of strangers.  I realize that I am probably more private than most people, but WOW.  I would never.  The woman was trying to get a personal protection order against the man, so I'm sure the whole story was not being shared.  It was humiliating and awkward.  I felt like I was invading their personal space and I wanted to get the hell out of there.

Next it was our turn.  A few questions were asked, including if I was pregnant (um, what?!?) and we were divorced.  Easy peasy... one court appointment and $150.  In retrospect, maybe too easy.

I am thankful every day that B and I are no longer married.  But, I feel fundamentally damaged from the experience.  I question what marriage means, what I thought it meant, how someone with two happily married parents could not believe in the sanctity of marriage and if I could ever that that leap of faith again.

Shortly after the divorce decision, I started dating a boy that I've been in love with for a decade.  I assumed he would NEVER want to get married and that the topic would be off the table virtually forever.  Now, I'm not so sure.  I look at him and I think he is the only person I ever want to be with.  I know my life is fundamentally better when he is in it {a fact that was reinforced earlier this year after a short and slightly controversial "break" in our relationship}.  I am 100% myself around him.  He embraces my quirky personality traits.  I think we make each other better.

The first time around, I was excited to get married.  I was 26, I thought I was super old {my 33 year old self realizes how completely crazy this sounds - ugh}  All of my friends were getting married and having babies.  B was finishing up his military training to be an Army infantry officer.  We were moving to Hawaii together.  What could go wrong?  As it turns out, the answer is everything.  Everything that could go wrong did.  Trust was betrayed, our relationship became irreparable with one quick decision.  My love for him was replaced with hate... and it couldn't be fixed.

Having the past two years to reflect on the topic has helped.  The scar is still there, but it's less visable.  I feel happy and content in my current relationship.  A feeling I *never* had in my marriage.  And I watched it begin again...

I've Got Your Number

I had a super lazy day today and read a book on my iPad {ahem, it's really my work iPad that I put the kindle app on to conveniently look at giant pdf files and to read trashy novels...}

Love, love, loved I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella.  This books did not disappoint... it was a quick read with an engaging main character that you couldn't help but root for.

United Way Quilt - Year 2

Since my quilt was kind of a hit at last year's silent auction {thanks largely in part to my boss who put a really generous bid on it} I was asked to donate another quilt this year :) 

I chose a quilt that was one of the first tops I had completed in 2009... it was just sitting in a stack waiting to have the binding put on.  The fabric is Hushabye from the amazing Tula Pink and the pattern is "Stacked Coins Baby Quilt" by crazymomquilts which was featured on the Moda Bake Shop blog.

Link to the gorgeous fabric collection:  http://tulapink.com/collections/archived-collections/hushabye-collection/

Link to the quilt pattern:  http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/02/stacked-coins-baby-quilt.html

The best part?!?  I somehow have it finished already and it isn't due until Friday!  That *never* happens to me.

A Quilt for Winter - Part 2

The quilt photos are magically no longer "corrupt"!  I am not going to question this... I'm just going to post them :)

A Quilt for Winter

This morning I dropped my final 2011 Margaret's Hope Chest quilt off at the Post Office.... 6 weeks late :(  Clearly, I am unable to meet deadlines.

Winter lives in Georgia and she is turning 9.  She likes pink, purple, grey & blue... so I took that opportunity to make a quilt using the Jay McCarroll line of fabric "Garden Friends" with one "Woodland Wonderland" print mixed in.

My camera managed to corrupt all the pictures that I took last night... so here are some of the fabric swatches.

The quilt is the "Perfect Ten" pattern by Swirly Girl Designs and was quilted by Rhonda Loy of Dexter.