shop hop '10

For the past 2 days, that's all my mom and I have done!

15 shops around Utah picked themes and had sales. You go around to each shop and get a stamp, and when you have all of them, you turn it in for a chance at some really great prizes. And getting to shop all day long? Yes! Most everything we bought was on sale too!

We started out in Bountiful, at Quilters Haven. We love that store!

Then we traveled all the way up to Brigham City, to the cute little Village Dry Goods shop. They had the theme "Prom" and they were all in D.I. flouffy dresses with '80's music playing. I made the mistake of playing the game of "find-the-record-on-the-floor-for-what-is-playing-and-win-a-prize." I absentmindedly found "thriller" right before it came on. I stood and waited. I won! Little did I know that in order to get the prize, I had to go up front and do the thriller dance. In front of like 20 old ladies. Dammit. Well, I did it anyway, I wanted that prize! But it was lame. So, needless to say, I didn't participate in any other games!

But I did get these cute tea towels! And my mom bought me this pattern. It is so me! I plan to take at least a year to finish it, and I will customize it for my memories of my grandma's and mom's kitchens.

Off to Pipers.

I got this new Heather Bailey pattern. Look at those pigs! Are you kidding me? I need like 5 of them right now.

Next up, Whimsy Cottage, followed by Elaine's, then Mormon Handicraft.

Some cute fat quarters that I got from Elaine's for some baby boy blankies. My mom and I are obsessed with making them!

Next: Quilt etc, Thimbles & Threads, Material Girls and Pine Needles.

Top: some solids for my stash, and the red for a small project.

Bottom: Rainy Days for some baby girl blankies. See? Obsessed!

Pine Needles finds- for baby boy blankies. Addict!

We went from 9:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. I was so wiped out!

Thursday we started with Sew Sweet in Tooele. So far away! And truth be told, it wasn't that great of a shop. Sorry guys.

An hour drive later, we arrived at Broadbent's in Lehi. That store was awesome! They had old fashioned candy, vintage colored glass, fabric, toys, baby clothes...

Yeah, I bought it!

On to American Quilting, The Stitching Corner, and finally, Corn Wagon Quilts.

Monkey's and ellie's from Broadbent's, bananas from The Stitching Corner.

My mom and I died over this collection from Tula Pink by Moda. We went waay over budget and each bought enough for a baby quilt. After this shopping trip, we will have enough fabric to keep us in projects at least until Christmas!

We got it at Corn Wagon Quilts- their theme was "Family Reunion" and they did an amazing job! They were all dressed up like weirdo relatives from all around the country. "Aunt Flo the rich aunt from Florida" would greet customers like this: "Cousin Carol! Oooohwwweee! I haven't seen you in years! Uncle Billy just got out of prison, he'll be here tomorrow. Cousin Lou was here, and she looks just awful!" While the aforementioned customer is looking pretty darn confused, my mom and I were highly entertained. Kudos, ladies!

They also had the most complete collection of hand-dyed felted wool I have ever seen. So next time I need wool, it's out to Springville for me!

On the way home we had lunch at in-n-out burger. Then back to Elaine's to drop off our completed stamped cards and to pick up my quilt- it is finally done being machine quilted! (I will post pics of that later, when I get the binding done.)

What a busy and fun 2 days! Looking forward to next year!

funeral through loo-loo's eyes

"Looks like Cookie Monster!"

Me with droopy eye.

Carmella

"Casket! Say Cheese!"

(seriously, that is what she said as she snapped this photo.)

She thought the hearse was funny looking.

Me taking a photo of Loo-loo taking a photo of the dancing girl.

Loo-loo taking a photo of the dancing girl.

Danny.

(see the Dr. Pepper? I made my dad stop so we could get a bottle before going back for the luncheon. We got some dirty, some jealous looks from people for having caffeine in the church.)

Nick & Mom.

Me & Hazel.

and finally...

Then she took photos of all the important things that all churches should have.

(except for the ham.)

Looking for a way out? Loo-loo has the answer.

funeral

I had this attitude that since my grandma wasn't really a part of our lives for the past 15 years, and since I had mourned her loss a long time ago, that I would be okay when she passed. This post proved that theory to be wrong. This past week I have been sad, but not the manic-depressive-crazy-kill-me-now-sadness that has engulfed me in the past.

I did a lot better than I thought I would at the funeral. I didn't bawl my heart out all day long. It was a typical LDS funeral- viewing, family prayer, funeral, burial, luncheon. We got there 10 minutes early. (amazing, right?) As the church filled with mourners, I grabbed Lindsay and made Danny keep her company while I made my mom braid my hair. (I so wish I could french braid my own hair) Loo-loo really wanted to see her grandma. In the box. So when the room cleared a little, I led her in.

I watched her intently as she studied our grandmother. Her face was calm, her manner was soft. We turned around and found a seat. After a few minutes, we went back up. This time Loo-loo wanted to touch her. I told her that she could only touch her hands. Our grandma looked good- like herself, the way we remembered her. Not the sickly and confused woman we watched suffer last week. Again Loo-loo was calm, patting her hand, and holding onto her arm. She said a few things under her breath, then patted her hand again. She looked at me and said "Grandma in heaven. With grandpa. Just body. Hands cold." We sat back down.

The room filled again with people. I began to worry. I get a little claustrophobic in crowds. The bishop announced that they would be closing the casket, so if there was anyone that wanted to see her, they better do it now. Loo-loo begged for one more look. Please? Please? she said. I couldn't say no- right? We went back up.

Loo-loo watches a lot of T.V. She often quotes movies and t.v. shows dramatic moments, it's her way of identifying with her emotions. All of us exaggerate.

This time was quick. She touched her hand, and said "I love you, grandma." As we walked away, loo-loo started crying, and then almost falling to the ground, she cried "grandma!" as we walked back to our seats. There was gasping and crying from the crowd, who mouthed "aww" and "I'm sorry!" in response.

The thing is, loo-loo was acting. It was a magnificent act, she should win an Oscar for it. I had such a hard time not laughing through it.

I sat between her and Danny during the funeral. I learned a few things about my grandma that I had never heard before. My dad had emailed me his talk the night before, so I knew what he was going to say. It's probably why I didn't cry a lot. Loo-loo really wanted to go "up there" and sing. Really really badly. A few times I had to hold her back to keep her from running up there!

Afterwards, when the pallbearers were taking the casket out of the church, she waved her Kleenex at the casket as it passed her. A few more gasps from the crowd.

I love her. So much.

Ain't they cute?

Always appropriate.

I heart my sisters!

The Limo, Loo-loo, and Nicky poo.

Loo-loo and Hazel.

Jacob and Loo-loo.

(Jacob was my grandma's husband)

learning curve

We celebrated the wonderful life of my grandma this past week. Her funeral went well- as best as a funeral can go, anyway. It was bittersweet, reuniting with family after years of not seeing each other, but only doing so to mourn that death of a loved one.

I inherited so many talents from my grandma- but there are a few that I didn't.

I got this book awhile ago, so I have been dying to learn how to crochet so I can make them. My mom's friend Hazel (that she has known since 2nd grade) is a whiz at crochet and knitting. I have been bugging her forever to teach me, and since she came to the funeral, we sat down for a few hours while I tried to figure it all out.

I hate learning new things. Did you know that about me? I suck at crochet. I can't get the tension right, and I do it waaaaay too tight. I made Danny watch Hazel teach me so that when I do it wrong at home, he can help me. He even tried it. Right-handed. And my left-handed husband did it much faster, looser and better than me. Sweet.

So here I sit, watching the Goonies and eating Peanut Butter n' Chocolate Ice Cream and failing at making a granny square. I can't get it started. Frustrated, and out of ice cream.

Luckily, I have more in the freezer. And Pet Semetary is on next.

Do you think I could pay Hazel to make them for me?

i'll cry if i want to, and even when i really don't

I made this ridiculous rule goal that I would not cry every single day until the funeral. That I would be strong and save it for the day. Then I can fill just one day with gut wrenching sadness, gobs of snot, droopy eyes, and a salty face. Then it would be done, and I would be fine.

Ha. Right. As I was mid melt down at 2 a.m. last night, my husband told me that it's okay to be sad. Every day. For awhile. He told me that when his grandpa died, he cried once a day for 2 weeks. What? How did I not know this? I feel like a horrible wife when I have not comforted my husband in a time of sadness. Danny is so private sometimes most of the time. He doesn't talk about his feelings constantly, or post them on the internets like I do. I feel controlled by my emotions sometimes- out of control.

So I envy his ability to reflect and deal- quietly, privately. The only thing keeping me sane right now is him. My back has been killing me- storing the stress in the form of knots lining both sides of my spine. He rubs my back, and I feel okay. Better. When he is at work, it's all I can do to not lay in bed with a heavy heart.

This sadness is driving me crazy. Seriously, I feel like my heart weighs 20 pounds.

So I am making some new hair clips. I have a few special requests for my family, and I think I figured out a few new ones that will be really cute and not like everyone else's. It's been a slow process so far, I can't create and not think about my grandma.

And I really need a glue gun. I have tried so hard to not use one, but it would make this so much easier. But I can't go and get one until I take a shower. And I really don't want to leave the house and deal with other human beings. Especially the ones that work and shop at Joann's.

Speaking of Joann's, I made Danny go with me the other day. I had to get fabric cut, and that line is always ridiculous, so he waited in the car. When I finally came out to the car, he said to me "Why are all the ladies that shop here so hideous? I mean their hair. Is awful. It's like they don't wash it ever. And it's huge and just gross." Atrocious. Is the word my mom would use to describe them.

Because, my darling. Crafters are introverts, like myself. They shack up in their sewing rooms, making stuff. Then they realize that they need something at the store to finish whatever it is they are doing, and they need to finish it right now, so they go sans shower, because that creative fire can be put out. I know, it has happened to me many a time. I have indeed gone to Joann's, sans shower. I wear a hat. Because you can't tell I have greasy hair and no makeup on when I wear a hat. Right?

Needles to say, I will not be joining the ranks of hideous women shopping at Joann's today. I have to take a shower so we can go to my brothers birthday party later anyway. So I will go and get my glue gun looking like a rock star. But I will not judge the greasy haired, sweat pants clad women. For I am one of them.

Except that I do pull some jeans on with my hat. I have not reached the level of going out in public in sweats yet. Wait till we have kids. I'm sure by then it will happen.

To my wonderful husband, sorry in advance. I hope you will still love me then.

memorial day

My whole day has consisted of scanning old photos for a slide show for my grandma's funeral. I feel that it's ironic that it's Memorial Day today. A day I have never ever spent remembering the dead. Usually I would have to work, then head out to a BBQ somewhere...

So I am grateful that I don't have a job, so that I can just focus on helping in any way I can, and not have to worry about work. My parents have a lot to do before the funeral, so I went and picked up the Loo-loo and we had breakfast with Danny at the Pancake House. So damn good!

I am a genius and I smashed the crap out of the power cord for my mac, so we had to run around trying to find a new one so I could start this huge project. It has to get done today. The Apple Store in Gateway had none, they have been out since last week. Nice. And lame. So we went to Simply Mac in Midvale- and they were way more helpful, nice, and they had what I needed.

I figured since I have all these wonderful old photos of my grandparents now digitized, I should do a post dedicated to them.

I love you, and miss you so very much!

Betty

Las Vegas. I love this goofy photo of the two of them!

Grandma always cut our hair.

We loved playing with grandpa!

Grandpa, Grandma, Nick, Lindsay, Jessica.

That summer, I wore that swimming suit every day! I loved it- to pieces!

Jessica, Grandpa, Nick, Lindsay, Grandma

Grandma & I. 1987?

My grandpa died in December of 1988. Maloree was not born until 1990, so she never knew him. (that is why she is absent in these photos)

He was such a great man. I will have to do a post just for him sometime...