Summer project

The hubby and I have been making monthly trips to Utah for the past 2 1/2 years as Glen has grown a client base there for his business.  This summer it was time to open a satellite office in Salt Lake City.

We found ourselves in and out of furniture stores while our son did most of his shopping online.

I think that furniture shopping is exhausting, don't you?  It was also scary to make choices based on the existing carpet, wall color, window blinds and all that 1980's oak trim. That is Glen's office to the left.  It was (and is) a project in progress.  His office will have a more traditional feel.

Son's office is modern and all the choices are his.  The conference/classroom has super comfy chairs and a 14 foot conference table.  Instead of a projector, they mounted a large TV on the wall and will operate their "slide shows" for classes via Ipads.

That is Glen in the corner room which has a sofa and chairs and beautiful mountain views for individual client meetings.  All those folding chairs went back to the townhouse garage in Provo.  Unfortunately the new chairs arrived just a bit too late for the first official class.

We also had these drapes to work with, but I think I found the perfect chairs for the greeting area.

This is the view from Glen's office on the 2nd floor.  Utah has been very smokey this summer.  When it is clear, the mountains are stunning.  Pluses for this location just north of the 215 on 900 East include plenty of parking, sits next to the famous Sports Mall, central for clients, and the price was right. Hubby is in office heaven.  If you know of any dentists who could use his business savvy, send me a message.

Winners all. . .

Helen Butler, Turkish Delight, 2011, cotton, gold metallic thread, silk thread, 90 x 90 inches. Photograph compliments of the Springville Art Museum, courtesy of Helen Butler.

This quilt was the favorite of viewers at last year's Springville Museum of Art Quilt Show.  It was a beauty.  This year my sister was in Provo dropping off a son at BYU so I had someone to go with me to this annual show.  Here are a few pictures.

A mixture of traditional applique. . .

and Japanese style blocks.

A Jane quilt

Border applique

There were several with blue ribbons indicating some kind of award, ie., Judges, Piecing, Hand Quilting, Machine Quilting, etc.  I tried to get a picture of the ones with blue ribbons but have forgotten the name of most of the awards.

I did love the house border and tiny pieces.

Very large nosegay quilt

A Grandmother's Garden which the quilter had worked on for years.  I loved the hexagon border.

Hexies in a new interpretation.

This one did receive the machine quilting award.

Loved all the color in this appliqued quilt.  The sashing is a stripe fabric.

A beautiful appliqued square. . .

and the best in hand quilting.

I loved the very graphic feel of this quilt. . .

and the flying geese border.

A small quilt made of small quilted blocks. . .

made of mens silk ties which were then mounted in a somewhat random manner on the backing fabric.

The black background really made this one pop.

some of these fabrics were hand dyed.

This one appealed to my love of red with yellow.  The quilt maker called it a countrified version of a Baltimore Album quilt.  We were allowed to vote for our favorite with the winner being announced at the end of the show on August 29th.  This quilt won my vote.

Houses, lots of houses, each one different.

See the dog in the window?

Light and shadow and my sister's beautiful gray/white hair.  Wish I had nerve enough to stop my color habit.

Whimsical applique with dots.

Really delightful!

We debated, does the red background take away from the applique. . .

or does the quilt maker have it just right?

I loved this little cutie of rainbow colors. . .

and retro embroidery.

This was my sister's favorite and got her vote.  It was all done in reverse applique and each block was different.

Isn't it stunning?  My sister, a non-lover of batiks, thought this time a batik was the perfect choice.

Winner for the smallest pieces.

I feel a headache coming on.  Those are very small pieces.

Another Grandmother's Garden with a dark green border and background.

I loved all the color.

And last but not least, a flour sack quilt.  Made me feel like I was back in Kansas and also wishing my mother would have saved a few for me to find.

If you are ever in Utah in August and are anywhere near the Springville Museum of Art, the Annual Quilt Show is a must see.  The Museum is also very interesting.

This is the inner courtyard with exhibit rooms branching off from it.

Such a peaceful place to be as are the exterior gardens.

The courtyard has a roof but makes you feel like you are outside no matter the weather.

It is flooded with light. . .

and architectural features. It was a pleasure for the senses.

Missionary Bookends

I've been spending time this week with my nephew, Jason, and his mother and my sister, Lynette.  Elder Jason Bunker just returned with honor from the Canada Vancouver Mission and will start classes at BYU next week.

We also got to go to Heaps Brick Oven Pizza for lunch with my nephew, Matthew, and his parents before they dropped him off at the MTC to begin his mission.  Elder Matthew Palmer will be going to the Portland Oregon Mission.  He completed his first year at BYU last April.  He is flanked by his father, Monty, and his mother and my sister, Janis.

Glen and I were honored to be invited to lunch with Elder Palmer and his parents.  We all shared missionary stories and advice and good wishes.  Seeing these two great young men coming and going from their missions has brought back memories and  feelings I had when my sons served as Mormon missionaries.  Missionary service really does change lives - both ways.

A BIG birthday celebration

It was my goal to finish this biography of Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before attending his 85th birthday celebration at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City this weekend.  I did it!  It's a big book and I have been reading it in bits and pieces for the last few months when in Utah.  Most of us live good lives but some, especially President Monson, live extraordinary lives which bless millions.  It was a pleasure to read about his walk through time and history and the impact of that walk especially as is occurred throughout the world.

The birthday celebration was a wonderful experience.  It can be viewed here.  Tickets for big events in the Conference Center are free but awarded in a random way over the Internet.  We felt lucky to have tickets even if they were in the balcony.  It may have been way up there in the stratosphere, but we were seated dead center directly behind President Monson and his family in their front row seats.  We enjoyed every moment. This is yet another one of the perks of living life in two different places.

Flying geese, lots of flying geese

So this is what I've been up to lately.  I making another Schnibble just because I like them so much and I get some practice on skills while finishing a project rather quickly.  This time it is Summer Day and it calls for 148 flying geese, so that's the skill.

See that tiny Olfa cutter and double stick tape in the background.  I had just started this project when Thelma over at Cupcakes 'n' Daisies talked about how she likes to use a smaller rotary cutter to trim up blocks and double stick tape to keep the smaller template or ruler in place.  I was soon out the door to buy both and it really has made my geese trimming easier.  So glad Thelma posted this on the day I needed it!