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!

Arizona Centennial Art Quilt – I’m in the show!!!

When last we looked in on my Arizona centennial quilt adventure two majestic cacti flank either side of Arizona.

Queenie has since added the final elements, Cotton Copper and Cattle, to the top of the quilt.

Cotton at its peak, ready for harvesting

A pick and shovel to represent the Copper industry

And big bull horns to represent the Cattle industry

With the top complete…

Queenie had a full tilt, marathon quilting and finishing week of sewing flurry and fun. Just in time to submit it to the Arizona Quilter’s Guild’s Annual Quilt Show

About a month ago Queenie mustered the courage to submit an application and work-in-progress photo to the guild for entrance into their show.  This would be my very first quilt show. 

Yeah and Hooray!! They OK'd Queenie’s wee quilt. It is in the viewer’s choice Centennial Fabric Challenge category. Which means the attending public votes for the winner. Shameless hint hint to local viewers ;o)

The quilt show is Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 8-10 at the Mesa Arizona Convention Center. For all the details click here.

In all the flurry of finishing I did not take any snaps of the final product, but Queenie will have camera in hand at the show and will post pictures a plenty after this exciting weekend. 

Now Queenie can truly see light at the end of the tunnel for this celebratory quilt.  

To see previous installments of my centennial quilt adventure, click here and then click here.

Have a really great day

Always, Queenie Believe

Happy 2012!!!

Happy New Year!!! Happy 2012!!! Here’s to the start of a wonderful New Year!!!  And… Happy Centennial celebration year to the State of Arizona!!!

Between paper pushing at the mundane, decorating for the holidays, buttering pierogis, pampering the Delicious and spoiling Honey Man, Queenie snuck in a wee bit of work on the Centennial art quilt. 

When last we looked in on this quilt adventure only one saguaro cactus was standing.  Now, two majestic cacti flank either side of Arizona.  There is now light at the end of the tunnel for the top of this celebratory quilt.  To see previous installments of the Arizona art quilt adventure, click here and click here.

For many the start of a new year is a time of setting goals and reflecting on missed expectations… Hmmmm…

Psssst… a little royal secret…  Queenie really does not set forth a list of “New Year’s Resolutions.” We are not amused by the possibility of self imposed failure. –lol-

In this season of Queenie’s timelessness, I daily try to quietly and simply do my best to humbly accept the successes, graciously learn from the failure, appreciate each day as it comes and be thankful for even the littlest of things.

Whatever your tradition may be at the start of a New Year let Queenie, and her Court wish you all the best and much success throughout 2012.

And…

A BIG Thank You to all of our followers and visitors for your kind words and continued visits to Queenie’s wee blog!!!

Have a really great day

Always, Queenie Believe

Arizona Centennial Art Quilt - II

Queenie has been scurrying around making headway on the Arizona Centennial art quilt and taking a few snaps along the way to share with you.     

As you recall the gold boarder of the star and the Arizona fabric were in place and at the ready. 

Since last we met it has been all about hand appliqué…  Not only did the state of Arizona and gold boarder make their way onto the quilt but the interior of the star and the state’s motto – (ditat dues, God enriches) found their way on there too.

Referring back to Queenie’s original sketch…

I roughed out some saguaro cactus shaped patterns and...

Selected the perfect fabric for these most majestic of cacti.

Queenie carefully laid out the patterns so that the prickly spines would run in just the right direction...

Auditioned placement of each cactus on either side of the state in the blue of the horizon...

And in a flurry of weekend hand-work, one saguaro cactus stands tall and proud awaiting its companion to come.

That is where Queenie is on this Arizona art quilt adventure.  I will keep you abreast of progress as it comes along and Queenie remembers to take photos :o)

To see the previous installment of the Arizona art quilt adventure, click here.

Have a really great day

Always, Queenie Believe

Arizona Centennial Art Quilt

This past summer the Queenie Mother and Father paid a lovely visit to Queenie, Honey Man and the Delicious.  As is the tradition with the Queenie Mother, we visited several fabric and quilt stores.  At one particular store I was taken with this fabooo Arizona fabric. Little did I know that it was the Arizona Centennial Quilt Challenge fabric… 

The great state of Arizona turns 100 in 2012. Needless to say, I walked out of the store with a yard or two of the fabric intrigued by the idea of creating an art quilt in celebration of Arizona’s birthday… and Queenie and Honey Man’s return to this great state which is a whole other story for another post.

Queenie adventured on a flight of fancy with Arizona research in one hand and fabric in the other, coming up with the following rough sketch centered around the AZ fabric and design elements borrowed from the state’s flag, seal, motto – ditat dues (God enriches), and the major developing industries – copper, cotton and cattle

I then drafted out a full size pattern 40” x 40” working out some basic proportions to please

Queenie selected various fabrics from her stash and purchased several more…

...who would play well with the Arizona fabric and be best friends with the design  

Queenie auditioned several fabrics for the rays of the sunburst

Once the finalists were selected and order of appearance decided the cutting commenced with stacks of strips

Some became squares

Of two sizes in fact

That then transformed into half square triangle strips

The strips became sun beams

And more sun beams

Until there was a sunburst

On to the transfer of birth dates for hand appliqué

Once the sunburst and birth dates were complete the blue of the horizon fell into place

Now the gold boarder of the star and the Arizona fabric are in place for further appliqué

That is where Queenie is on this Arizona art quilt adventure. I will keep you abreast of progress along the way and Queenie remembers to take photos :o)

Have a really great day!

Always, Queenie Believe