The Return of Penny Laine

Paul and Penny came to visit for Easter. Penny had been with Paul for the previous two months and I was pretty excited to have her around again. Easter was also Penny's first birthday. After Paul set off to return back home Penny and I took a birthday celebration walk by the river. It was a bittersweet day since it was Mom and Paul's anniversary and Penny's first birthday.

Also it had been rather rainy in April and the Mississippi was starting to flood...

Ben's Birthday!

Ben spent his birthday weekend visiting me this year. Feeling a bit guilty that he came to visit me on his birthday rather than me visiting him, I attempted at surprising him with his favorite cake made from scratch. I think it turned out ok, if I do say so myself. It was a yellow cake with Nutella and cream cheese frosting. Ben was adamant that Nutella + cream cheese would be delicious together, I was a bit skeptical. I decided I would try it out and surprise him by icing his cake with the combo. Luckily I was wrong and it was quite tasty.

We spent the evening with friends playing gestures, eating cake, and playing with the gift I got for Ben.

A Day in the Life: Crafting for SVOSH

I signed up for an organization at school last fall called SVOSH. This stands for Student Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity. What we do is travel to various locations in Central and South America and give eye exams and glasses to those who would otherwise have no access to vision care. The members of the group are divided up into smaller teams that travel to a location and give eye exams all week.

In order to prepare and fund these trips the members do a lot of volunteer work to fund-raise. In April I was still short 10 hours from the 30 hour requirement. Then there was good news, we were going to have an arts and talents auction! Yay! a reason to do crafty things and get volunteer hours for the money it would raise! So here is a bit of my sewing excitement from April...

Selecting fabric for an apron.

I couldn't resist this teapot fat quarter, it reminded me too much of my Aunt Kate

I also couldn't resist this print either, then I noticed the name of it...

...Its the title to one of my favorite Beatles songs!

Because I can't make anything without ripping out at least one seam.

Almost finished!

Paper piecing hexagons. I just love sewing by hand.

Hexagon flower pencil case.

Patchwork skirt for a lamb.

A tote bag...

...that folds up into its own bag.

A bouquet of flower headbands if you will.

Note card holder.

Make up bag.

Most of these projects can be found in the book I <3 Patchwork. Check out the authors blog here.

In case you are ever in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area check out my favorite fabric stores!

http://www.homeecworkshop.com/

http://www.ctquiltshoppe.com/page/page/5870153.htm

http://www.pineneedles.net/store/pc/home.asp

A Quick Trip Home

At the start of April I made a weekend trip home for my best friend Jodee's bridal shower and bachelorette party. It was a busy weekend full of fun surprises and Penny Laine's first hair cut.

I flew home Friday night and Paul picked me up from the airport. When we got back to the house he had a surprise for me...

The Shelby is now restored! Again! It has been an estimated 18 years since I have seen my dad's car. A quick history of the Shelby from my mother's perspective for those who don't know:

"When your dad was a young man in the Army he bought the Shelby to fix up and drive really fast. Then he got married, had you and became a family man. The plan was now to fix up the Shelby and sell it so we could send you to college. Then he died and I don't know what to do with the damn thing!"

Mom wanted to carry out the selling plan, but Paul and I always wanted to fix it up. The confusion of what to do is the reason it has been in storage for a good part of 22 years.

Saturday morning I got ready to go over to Jodee's fiancé's family for her shower. It was great to see her again and catch up with her family.

That afternoon I took Penny for her first haircut. I had brought her home with me during spring break and left her there since I was going to be crazy busy with school for the months of March and April. She needed a haircut when I brought her home but I wasn't able to get her one. I was a little sad that I wouldn't be able to be there for it. I know it seems silly but I really wanted to take her for her first one. Then I had the idea to take her while I was home, so I called Paul and told him I would do it while I was home so he wouldn't have to take her. After dropping her off, I wasn't sure who the experience was going to be the most traumatic for: Penny, Me, or the groomer!

Before:

After:

After picking Penny up and dinner with Paul I got ready for the bachelorette party. We gathered at Jo's future in-laws and then boarded a party bus and made our way around bars in surrounding small towns. All had a wonderful time.

Jodee, Jackie and I:

The next morning I slept in and then it was off to the airport in the Shelby to return to reality in Memphis.

P.S. Jodee gets married in a little over a week! I am so excited!