Summer Vacation, Part II

This post is title Summer Vacation, Part II but it should be titled "How I survived My Summer Vacation Driving Across Country with My Mother!"

One of our summer highlights was traveling to New Jersey via car. Well we really didn't have a choice on whether to fly or go by car. Gas prices were just ridiculous! I believe the going airfare for one was $500 and we had to times that by four. Sometimes I can be math challenged but I knew that figure just wasn't going to work in my budget. Anyway, our passengers consist of my two girls, me and my mother. This sounds like a nice family outing but beware of traveling long distances with your mother!

Armed with map, snacks and kids we were off on the road around 2 am Texas time. Our plan was to get to Little Rock before lunch time traffic. I was the driver (dear mother can't see in the dark) and mother was the "map person". Everything was just fine until my mother decided that Mapquest didn't know what they were talking about and she remembered going another way before (10 years ago). I don't know about you, but I do know that highways have been put up and taken down within 10 years…ugh! So in order to keep the peace we went her way and yes we got lost. You would think she learned her lesson, right? I don't think so…

Well after a long day of getting lost and eating snacks, we decided to stop for the day and start out tomorrow fresh. Our first stop was Days Inn. Now, I'm not a hotel snob but when I stay on the road I just want the basic necessities like a clean bed, working phone and TV. We should have known we were in trouble when we picked up the telephone receiver and didn't get a signal! Entering into the bathroom, I was greeted with flashing light bulb that gave you a headache just looking at it and the walls had big gashing holes. My oldest daughter pulls back the bed sheets and screamed, "This looks like a crime scene! Look at all these stains on the bottom of the box spring!" We can laugh about this now but we couldn't wait to get out of Days Inn. I think we were traumatized and from that day on whenever we see a billboard for Days Inn boos and hisses erupt throughout the car.

My next post will cover the second leg of our trip. Until then please enjoy some of the pictures I took. The first photo is a sunset on the road and no I'm not driving. But are we going to right way? (Dear mother is driving)

The first photo is titled: Are we going the right way?

Until we chat again, have a creative week!

Tracy

www.3bgirlsquilts.com

And the Winner is...

Sorry this post is a day late. I've been suffering from a sinus infection and my head seems to be swimming in a bowl of pea soup.

The girls and I have selected a winner for our pattern naming contest. Drum roll please...and the winner is Joanne V with the name of "Poseable Posies". Joanne please contact me so I can get your copy of Amazing Stars to you.

I want to thank everyone who posted or emailed me. We received some really great ideas on names so thanks again.

OK now I'm going to go back to laying on the couch and hope my head stops spinning:-(

Until then, have a creative weekend!

Tracy
www.3bgirlsquilts.com

What we did this summer

This post has been a long time coming. Since the girls and I got out of work and school we have been on the go. Our first trip was to the Texas Hill Country. We camped out for three days and cooked on the grill everyday.

And we had to have smores every night! We chose to go on the Forth of July weekend so the camp grounds where full and lively. My girls had a chance to drive a on Canon Lake.

I also caught some wild life picture also:

Ok, this is going to be post one of three of our 2008 summer trips.

PS. Tomorrow I will list the winner of the "African Sunflower" naming contest.

Tracy

www.3bgirlsquilts.com

Playing with Blacks and Whites

I'm a fan of Project Runway and last week's episode featuring Diane von Furstenburg was great for the imagination. The black and white dress of Koto's made me want to set down and craft up something with these colors. The photo to the left is from Style.com Diane von Furstenburg's 2009 Ready To Wear collection. Quilters can you see the quilt pattern? Well I sure did. This inspired me to do a quilt with these colors. I kind of played around with the blocks by twisting and flipping them until I came up with this design.

Of course I have no name for this quilt, but I'm sure it will come to me. By the way, what a great response I got for naming my "African Sunflower" quilt! Thank you all! I will run the names by my partners (daughters) and we will select a name by Friday. Anyway, here is the black and white quilt in works.

Tracy M. Ward

www.3bgirlsquilts.com

New Pattern Help

I'm reaching out to the quilt world with some help naming my new pattern. The only thing that comes to mind is African Sunflowers but for some reason I'm not sure this will work. I would like to get other quilters input on what to title this quilt. First of all, this picture does not do the quilt justice. The flower petals are 3-D and can be adjusted.

Ok here is the catch! I'm offering a new copy of Amazingly Simple Star Quilts by Jeanne Stauffer and Sandra L. Hatch as a reward if your pattern name is selected. This book is a hard cover book with amazing star patterns.

So Please feel free to post on this blog with your title suggestions. I hope to select a winner by next friday.

Thanks for your help,

Tracy M. Ward

www.3bgirlsquilts.com