50 & More !!!

Hi Everyone,

Well, it's been very, very hectic here as usual at my house. Between working, quilting classes and birthdays, I haven't had a chance to update my blog....to which my good friend, Ms. Yvette, has reprimanded me for.....just kidding !


Anyway, my mom's birthday just happens to be exactly two weeks before my birthday (April to May) and I wanted to make my mom something for her birthday.



She's very picky about her purses, but I saw this material and pattern to make her this quilted tote bag. It really was very easy to make (not like the first one I attempted to make and didn't like so I made her another one with an easier pattern) !!!














It has a pocket on the front and two pockets inside.














Then, two weeks later, it was my BIG 50 !!! I knew Craig was not up to planning anything and I told everyone I did not want a party, but my wonderful sister-in-law, Missy, said that she just could not let my 50th go by without doing at least dinner. It was supposed to just be family and her good friends, Gayle & Bill, from across the street. Well, when Craig, Matt, Ruby (Matt's girlfriend), Junior & I were walking up the driveway to the house, the garage door flew open and EVERYONE yelled SURPRISE !!! There were people there I had not seen in a very long time, particularly, my good friend Elena and her husband, Neil. My other good friend, Linda, was there as well. I never would have expected those two to be there. Also, some of Craig's friends, Randy & Diana and Steve & Cathy, also were at the party to celebrate. Randy & Diana live in the San Diego area and Steve & Cathy in San Bernadino area. Anyway, it was so nice of them to drive all that way and I know Craig was very glad to see them....(for more check out the slideshow above).

I especially want to thank my bestest buddy, Joy, for all the great pictures she took to mark the event !!! I LOVE YOU, MY FRIEND !!!
















AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO MISSY AND BOBBY !!! You guys are the best !!!

Now, that all the birthdays are over, I finally was able to complete the charity quilt for Craig's charity event. Again, this is being planned by my wonderful sister-in-law, Missy. More info on that to follow but we will be selling raffle tickets for someone to win the quilt in addition to other items for a possible silent auction. I'm leaving all of this up to Missy because I have no idea how to even attempt to do anything like this. For a preview of what the quilt looks like, check out the slideshow at the top of my blog. I designed the quilt myself and picked out the colors. Everything on the quilt has a meaning....again more on that to follow. However, it is was KITE STRING that actually made the entire quilt come together (thanks to Ms Janet) and it is being quilted by my wonderful teacher, Ms. Janet Salceido. I wanted it professionally quilted and I think she's the best !!! We raised over $300 from the sale of the wristbands and pins. All proceeds from Craig' charity event will be added to what we have so far and sent to the the Tug McGraw Foundation to aid in brain cancer research . Tug McGraw, an ex-baseball player, lost his battle years ago to the same type of cancer Craig has and Craig wanted to support this charity.

So, those are just a few of the things I've been up to....

Love to all my family and friends

Karene