Superbowl!

It's official! The Seattle Seahawks are the champions! 

Eight years ago, they took a trip to Detroit to play the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are lts of opinions about the outcome of that game. This isn't a rehashing, but I still (probably will forever) have bitterness about that. I was living in Panama, and I had one friend who cared about the Superbowl that year. I missed out on the hype. It was such a bummer.

This year, I watched or listene to every game. I rooted to the players, not because they were on my fborite team but because I love the story of overcoming tht this team represented this year. It was exactly like my fantasy team! I was told I had a crappy draft and pkayed through a season of injuries to become the champion. It was sweet, sweet redemption. I loved being included in the energy of the region this year rooting on our beloved team!

Check it out if you missed it!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uRhHWiiWigU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuRhHWiiWigU

Winter Wonderland...

It snowed. Snow in Seattle equals quarantined to your home until the great melt-off. I know this seems silly to those of you whose lives can continue with feet of snow, but Seattle snow is wet and Seattle is a city of hills. So, if you want to get anywhere without taking out a neighbor's fence or the community's transformer, we walk or opt to stay home.  I guess I could invest in X-country skis...that would make a trip to the store a but quicker! With that, I haven't left my house in 3 days. I don't do well is such circumstances, so I've been trying to keep myself entertained...sewing usually does the trick. As I was pulling down the Christmas decor, Matt suggested that next year we decorate in Seahawks colors only...the grinch suggests we decorate in a particular motif--I jump! Absolutely, we can decorate in all Seahawks colors! That gives me an excuse to do more projects! I spent a few days looking for quilt blocks that looks like snowflakes. Thankfully, my class provided a good start! So here I am working on providing my husband's request...

Snowflake pattern on L: Block 1 from Lonestar Pizzazz by animas quilts.

Snowflake pattern on R: resized Swoon block by Thimbleberries.

I LOVE Valentine's Day!

To be honest, I've never been a fan of Valentine's Day. The only fond memories I have of the holiday are from my freshman year of college. Those memories are slightly morbid. I lovingly burned things in honor of my poor broken hearts (plural because I had lots of them in my younger years)--"All By Myself" wafting through my mind. Let's just say I didn't really embraced any sort of warm, fuzzy, lovey-dovey feelings. But, if having a bonfire with some of your closest friends isn't warm and filled with love, I'm not sure what is?!? Ah, memory lane!

Anyway...I have been working on updating our home decor because I need it to match. I know, sinister and ocd! I'm ok with that!

Here's the new V-Day selection!

St. Patrick's Updated

So, I got new lamps for Christmas from my momma! I love them, but they are turquoise and I have a slight obsessive compulsive personality--meaning I need stuff to match! So, I've set out to redo my decor a bit to not be "matchy-matchy", but at least coordinate. I started my "quilting" hobby with holiday decor and it's been fun to redo stuff because I actually know what I'm doing now!

Here's our March/ St. Paddy's Day stuff!

Wall hanging and month block for my big display calendar. Also have a table runner for the dining room table.

BOOTM II: february

This one was a doozy! I might have to redo it but here is my first try for all posterity to witness! Until now, I hadn't done very many blocks with pieces cut on the bias before. The bias is stretchy so you must take extra care when sewing on it so that things don't get misshapen or stretched. I thought I did pretty well for my first try! But, I now know the challenges and will be up for the task as more blocks come my way! 

Here is {Lonestar Pizzazz} block 2!

 

Look at all those  points!!!

BOOTM II: january

This year's quilt is going to be more challenging than last year's, even though it is about 30% smaller. This year's quilt {Lonestar Pizzazz} has LOTS of points and everything has to be extremely precise. That's difficult because there are so many pieces and for some reason my machine doesn't understand how important a 1/4in. seam is! It meanders somehow. Not sure if that is operator error a if my machine is flawed? I have to take extra are to make sure it's just right. Nonetheless, here is block #1!

Christmas Card 2013

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

It seems like just a few days ago I was making last year's Christmas Cards.  The years seem to tick past us quicker and quicker as we grow older.  This year has been wrought with challenges, but we are also constantly reminded of how blessed we truly are. Here are just a few:

• Christina turned halfway to 70 and it was a pretty difficult birthday to swallow. :/
• We connected more with our church and community and have grown to love where we are planted!  Matt has some great fishing buddies and Christina feels pretty loved on.  We look forward to being able to bless those people as well.
• Matt also coached with the same group of guys that he was with last year in Bothell.  His team didn't fare as well this year, but the coaching staff is awesome and we look forward to spending a few more years hanging out with them.
• Christina took on quilting as a hobby.  If you are reading this blog, you can see most of her works here as well.We did some minor traveling--visiting family mostly. Probably one of our favorite weekends was spent at Samish Island, up in the Puget Sound, near the San Juan Islands.  It was a weekend filled with friends, good food and wonderful R&R!
• Matt was laid off in October and has been diligently looking for new work (work that would be stable, predictable and better supply for us financially). 
• Christina continues working as a therapist at the Seattle's Union Gospel Mission with women coming out of domestic violence and addiction.  If is completely rewarding and she loves it.
• Matt and Christina are beginning the process of fertility treatments.  In November, they held fundraiser events in Port Angeles and Bothell and have been overwhelmed by the financial blessings from people close to us.  Thank you for your continue prayers about that.  It can be a pretty stressful process and we will need your continued prayers. 
• Matt and Christina both did excellently in their Fantasy football leagues.  Christina took the TOP honor (after the league told her she had the worst draft?!?) and Matt came in second in his league. We have so much fun watching football and learning about all the players around the league rather than just our beloved Seahawks!

We pray that this season has been filled with blessings and lots of love and laughter and that more than anything you are reminded of why we celebrate Christmas--the gracious birth of Jesus!

Love,
Matt and Christina Konrad (and Saben)