California Spring

It really is spring in California.

Buddy and I took our first camp trip this weekend, and if you follow beyondthereef on facebook as a fan, you'll realize it was his very first camp trip.

When you live "in the city", getting out into the hills is a real treat.  

For just a few hours of driving, you are rewarded with a whole new set of flowers, scrub, birds, and people.  It's really a treat.  I would suggest being a tourist in your own state, if you have a chance.

For Buddy, it meant a tent, eating in the tent, watching prairie dogs and birds and squirrels and all sorts of things he could never ever catch.

For me, it is a whole new file of flowers and blooms to applique.

And while they may not be tropical, or Hawaiian, the shapes and the structure will lend themselves beautifully to that Hawaiian fabric.

Finally.

I thot you'd like to see some of Buddy's camping pics.

And last but not least, I hope you can see it...

Buddy and a Prairie Dog

(I think.  Or maybe a really small gopher?  Look just 'lower of center' and above the clump of dirt to the right of Buddy's right elbow)

Good dog, Buddy.

BeginAgain.

2010

All things...big and small...

California Rains....

They're the best.

They bring out the best in our world, don't they?

They clean, they refresh, they delight.

It gives us a lot of inspiration as quilters, too.

Colors are brighter, and we wake up refreshed to the possibility of making wonderful things for wonderful people.

Ways to keep warm, ways to bring in the cheer on a cloudy day.

Big projects.

But then, there are the small projects.

A coffee cup holder.

An eyeglass case.

Even coasters.

Simple.

But still delightful.

All things, big and small, are gifts of ourselves, given with creativity and love.

And whether big or small, you can bet they will light up a persons life.

Including your own...

Sparkle + Shine

2009

natalie.

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Pajaro Valley Quilters aka: Quilt Show Santa Cruz

"f l e a   m a r k e t"

pattern by Quiltin' Cousins

Quilt and Fabric Bundles by

b e y o n d   t h e   r e e f

Greetings from Pajaro Valley Quilters quilt show!!

Well, actually, greetings from the Studio.

The show is over for this year.  The volunteers are putting their feet up, patting themselves on the back, enjoying the success of the show, the auction and the weekend.  If they're not, they certainly should!!

You know a Quilt Guild show - well, any show - is a lot of work.

Then come the vendors, and that's a lot of work too.  

There's no need to go to the gym to lift weights on a quilt show setup or break down day.

Believe you me.

But when you get to see smiling faces like these two (who I have the pleasure of seeing two times a year),

well, it makes it all worth it.

Thank you, all of you that come to the shows to see us, to see what we've been making, to see the quilt show quilts and be inspired, and to inspire us all to do better every show!!

And if you have a chance, next February, please come to the Pajaro Valley Quilters quilt show.

It's held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

They take THREE buildings.

They have something going on in every building, on every day.

This year, we taught Little Wonders on both days.

Hopefully, we inspired and delighted, too.

Thank you, Pajaro Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola and the California Coast.

Thanks for thinking of 

b e y o n d   t h e   r e e f

Natalie.

If you're interested in the pattern for the quilt above, or the fabric bundle, please visit

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

(it will be posted by tomorrow morning; thanks!)