The Big Five OheeOheeOhhhhh

Much goings on with Queenie and her Kingdom of late… 

Round about the middle of April, the eleventh to be precise,

Queenie hit one of those milestone birthday bench marks.

In celebration, Honey Man whisked Queenie away to the wee town of Jerome, Arizona for a getaway weekend.

A once mining boom town, gone ghost town perched on the side of a mountain in copper country.

It's now a quaint and quirky artsy haven.

Full of fun art galleries, gift shops, eateries, and wine shops.

We stayed at a delightful vacation apartment with the most amazing view!!

 

Which could be enjoyed for not one, but two sets of balconies.

One of which was perfect for dining alfresco!

Since our vacation get-away was located in the heart of this wee town we parked the car and did all our exploring on foot.  We happened across a darling old church – Holy Family

This old church is full of  rural Arizona, mining, gone by worship that in particular touched Queenie’s heart.

Honey Man and I lit a candle for the Queenie Mother and Father as they were traveling from beautiful Ohio to Arizona during this same time.

Throughout the town beautiful spring was shining forth…

Lilacs!! One of Queenie’s favorites, blooming especially for my special birthday.

If you are looking for a one of a kind get away in amazing Arizona give Jerome a try!!

Until next time…

Have a great day!

Spring in Arizona

Springtime is Arizona is a glorious time of year, with all sorts of everything turning that almost indescribable shade of new green

so fresh and lovely.

All sorts of trees, plants and shrubbery exploding into bloom, most especially our wee orange tree in the Delicious’ backyard kingdom at Hermosa Castile.

This winter bared its teeth harshly on our wee orange and monster lemon trees, freezing our citrus rendering them pithy and pretty much inedible.

But, the promise of spring has generated new life and a bumper crop of orange blossoms.  The fragrance of which is beyond belief, a wonderful something that sneaks up and surprises each year.

Spring in Arizona is the perfect time for walks in the cool evening when the glorious smell of citrus blossoms greets you here and there

putting a smile on Queenie’s face.

I hope the promise of Spring time is

shortly around a corner near you!

Until next time…

Have a great day!

More Sketching About

Currently in Queenie’s studio is more sketching about with thread on a quilt top I made from a pattern in Julie Herman’s book: Skip the Borders.

My further exploring with secondary design in and around strong geometric elements.  Here's some softening  sea shore waves...

Combined with organic Celtic swirling circles.

A fun juxtaposition of free motion and precise piecing.

I’m guessing I have about 2 or 3 more weekends worth of work on this project.  When all is complete I will post more snaps of this fun and frolic-y quilt.

I am connecting this post with Freemotion Quilting Friday. Stop on over to see more beautiful quilting a.k.a. sketching with thread.

Until next time…

Have a great day!

Thoroughly Thursday - Back to Basics

Sometimes you just have to get back to basics.

Queenie has been thoroughly absorbed in acclimating Herself to my new job in the mundane.  It’s amazing how a new job influences one’s free time.  Or would that be infringes on one’s free time.

From added time thinking about a new route for commuting. With alternative routes planned for when traffic is bestial. To careful planning of a daily wardrobe that is appropriate to the new surroundings.  Alas, tiaras are not in the dress code.

Throw in juggling the everyday duties of my monarchy… Care of Honey Man, the Delicious and Castile Hermosa –

Woof! Exhaustification!

(Exhaustification: Queenie-Speak for worn out through and through)

On this Friday eve, as I muse about the weekend,

Queenie Believes this is at the top of my to-do list…

Until next time…

Have a great day!

Sketching with Thread

When last we looked in on my current quilting project,

Queenie was about to embark on my first ever adventure in free motion quilting.

A technique in which you draw a secondary design into the quilt's surface with thread...

While also uniting the three layers of the quilt together - top, batting, and back.

Sort of like pencil sketching with thread...

But instead of moving the pencil around the paper...

 

The quilt is moved around under a stationary needle.

A bit like doodling in and around a printed page...

Frolicking about adding texture and dimension.

After all the sketching about, Queenie added the binding in the same strong blue for anchoring the edges...

And photos were snapped.

At long last the collaborative quilt brought to you by Queenie and the Queenie Mother is complete.

After a brief visit to the Queenie Mother for ooos and ahhhhs, it will make its way up to B the Brave and his lovely wife Tammy in Alaska!

Until next time...
Have a great day!

Beautiful Blooms on our 5th Anniversary

Friday, February 1, 2013 marked Queenie and Honey Man's 5th Anniversary!!!

Look at the beautiful flowers Honey Man presented to his Queenie!!!

A bouquet brimming with Lillies...

Roses and Carnations...

Mums and Bells of Ireland...

Beautiful blooms abound!!!
Thank you Honey Man, you are the bestest ever!!!

Until next time,
Have a great day!

New Adventure

Queenie is about to embark on a new adventure in the mundane.

This past Friday was my last day wielding my paraprofessional paper pushing talents for one organization where I had served a total of about 5-ish years.  These are the lovely going away flowers they gifted me.

Last week I was hurrying and scurrying about, tying up loose ends before my departure.  Alas, Queenie was a bit neglectful and did not post to my blog (insert reverent removal of tiara, head hanging low and heavy sigh).  Sometimes being a responsible adult trumps Queenie’s monarchy in blogland… 

Recently, Honey Man and I did do a wee bit of shopping for my new work adventure…

Yeah, I know, not exactly cutting edge fashion but they’ll do nicely accessorizing business suits and other such office wear costumes for my new work adventure as a senior paraprofessional paper pushing. You notice I did throw in a pair of sassy red ones. Queenie firmly believes a girl can’t have too many red shoes!

This week I’m home taking a much needed break, puttering about Hermosa Castillo with the Delicious and working on a collaborative quilt project.

The Queenie Mother created the lovely embroidery center panels. I did the swagged boarder and will quilt and finish off this lovely quilt. The rainbow colored bits in the pictures are safety pins and will go away once I’ve worked some quilting magic.

The quilt is a celebration of life and love for my brother, B the Brave and his new wife Tammy.

Until next time…

Have a great day!