UnBelizable!

Just returned from the Stitchin'Heaven, Moda 2012 Quilting Cruise to Honduras, Belize and Cozumel Mexico in the Western Caribbean.  As they would say in Belize,

It was Unbelizable!

I had such an amazing time with all the quilting ladies, Deb, Clay and Rachael,

and my new friend and roommate, Sandra.  She was so much fun!

and very hepful (that's helpful in Texan).

The first two days at sea we had class and the ladies stitched their little hearts out on the Blissful Day quilt. (We still have a couple left on our web site)

I taught one class,

Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister taught another

and Debbie Maddie taught another class.

The quilters stayed in the same place and we rotated class rooms.

The ladies could sew until midnight and some of them did!

The quilt blocks on my quilt could  be arranged different ways to make the quilt unique to each quilter.

They were very creative.

We had fun prizes for some lucky winners.

In the evenings we dined in style with fabulous food and enjoyed great entertainment!

On day three we docked in Honduras.

We had a little beach time after it rained. 

 It was cloudy, but the air was warm and it felt so good to dig our toes into the sand!

The next day we docked in Belize.  We went to the Belize Zoo, yes that is a Boa snake that we could hold... if we wanted to... and no, I did not want to... 

 ...and then we had an amazing boat ride down the Belize River. 

It was like being in the middle of the jungle. 

We saw monkeys, crocodiles, iguana, and many more exotic animals.

The food off the ship was a little less gourmet, but none the less authentic and yummy.  Beans, rice, chicken and orange Fanta in a glass bottle.  It tasted good to me!

Back on the ship we indulged in lots of ice cream, pizza and late night snacks. No dieting this week!

Our third stop was in Cozumel mexico.  Kayaking in a glass bottom kayak and snorkeling were our activities there.

We saw colorful fish and lots of sea creatures.  It was amazing!

As you can see, not much sun, but much warmer than the weather I left in Idaho, that's for sure.

Back on the boat for our last day of sewing and a farewell party.

There were prizes for everyone and some ladies even won quilts. 

Robin won my quilt!

Thanks ladies!  I have a whole new bunch of quilting friends. 
And a special thanks to Deb at Stitchin' Heaven for the opportunity of a lifetime!


Get your quilting friends together and take a quilting cruise, you will love it!

Check out the cruise slide show. 

The yummy chocolate dessert is mine... wish I had some right now!
Bonnie

Happy 2012 and Congrats to the winner!

                  Thanks for all your comments and good luck on your New Years resolutions!

Our winner for the Vintage Modern scrap bag is Nicole!

She said: "One of my New Year's resolutions is to write in my journal at least once a week and to specifically write about each one of my three boys, so I don't forget these days when they were little.
I love your new patterns and your new fabric line. They are all just lovely. A quilting cruise sounds like heaven this time of year...maybe one day. "

Congratulations Nicole, e-mail me your address and I will send your package right out!

I wish the best to all of you for a wonderful 2012. Don't forget to take some time for yourself and a minute here and there to stitch something!
It can be great therapy,
Bonnie

New Year, New Patterns, New Experiences

First let me say,

Happy New Year!

It is always fun to begin a new year.

It's like a fresh new start. 

  If you are like me, I have great intentions to be more organized, get in better shape and have more balance in the crazy schedule I keep.  I am never sure just how to make that happen.  I had a brand new fabric line land on my doorstep a week before Christmas (which is so much fun to sew with), my entire family came for Christmas (so great) and I am teaching on the Moda/ Stitchin Heaven Cruise (can't wait to meet all of you) at the end of January.  It's a little overwhelming, crazy and very exciting all at the same time. 

Oh... and I also designed, wrote and stitched 5 new patterns! 

So introducing 

Sweet Pea

This is a 6 Month, Row of the Month Quilt.  It is written so shops can use it as a class for 6 months, but the pattern includes the instructions for all 6 months! 

 No buying 6 different patterns.  It includes instructions for the 

traditional fusible applique method and the soft raw edge method.   

 

Wish

This pattern takes 20 Layer Cakes and also has the instructions for either

soft raw edge or  fusible web method.

Ziggy Petals

There are two sizes in this Table Topper pattern.

The large one uses Charm Squares...

... and the small one uses tiny scraps.

Scrumptious

The perfect project for a jelly roll.

You can either do the scallops or the zig-zags, both quilts with one jelly roll.

Baby size or throw size.  So fast and easy!

 Peppermint Pizzaz

A 43" x 43" Table Topper for Christmas.

 (this was a picture before it was quilted)

So, hope you like my new patterns and our new fabric line.

Even though it has been a crazy sewing marathon couple of weeks, it has been so fun to sew with fresh new fabric that rememinds me of SPRING!

And as for my new experience...

In two weeks I am teaching on the Moda 2012/ Stitchin Heaven Cruise.

Hey any of you ladies out there that are joining us, you are in for a great week!

The perfect week, sandy beaches and quilting.

I also want to let you know that Fat Quarter Shop has chosen

Vintage Modern for their 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month.

Thanks Kimberly and crew!

Camille and I have a block in the quilt as well.
You won't want to miss out on this project!

And last but not least...

 I am sending one lucky winner a box of scraps from Vintage Modern.

Leave a comment with one of your New Years Resolutions, then come back on

Tuesday the 17th to see who the winner is.

Wishing you a

Happy 2012!

Bonnie