sewtakeahike

Paddleboarding and a winner

 

 

 

I have always loved watersports and am willing to try most anything if it has to do with fun on the water. When I was a kid, my cousin Brenny would take us out on the lake with real jet skis that you could stand up on. We loved when she would call and whisk us away to the lake for a day or two on the weekends. And if we weren't with Brenny, we were lake camping/swimming as my dad was an avid camper/fisherman.

L-man and I have recently picked up a new water activity and we are having so much fun with it. Paddleboarding! We are so excited to travel with them and explore.

If you paddleboard and have any tips for us, we would love to hear!

 

 

 

 

Thank you for all the comments on the Noodlehead style giveaway post! I have chosen a winner and it is Linda M, who said:

"I am always a fan of blue and this one here is nice, but I like the blue with white flowers the best!  Tumble!"

I will send an email to you shortly Linda!

Happy Monday!

xo, Penny

 

Bikes and citrus

 

 

Since getting our tandem last fall, Lenny and I have been daydreaming of summer rides into town to farmers markets, breakfast and to run errands. We have been taking advantage of some very lovely mornings the last several weeks to ride, and this weekend we had a weekend full of those things and it has filled my heart.

 

 

 

One thing we've found that helps to replenish us as we ride are orange wedges. So last weekend when we were camping, I drew up a new design I'm calling Sweet Citrus, inspired by our replenishing orange wedges as we ride.

This weekend I sewed one up and made it into a pillow for one of our chairs.

 

 

I have a few other ideas for this pattern, hopefully more pics soon!

xo,

Penny

 

A Beachy Christmas

 

For Christmas this year, L-man and I camped at Crystal Cove State Park for a week.

 

 

 

 

 

The campground is terraced, so everyone has the perfect view.

 

 

On one of the days, we took our tandem over to Balboa via the (short) ferry and rode along the coastline from Newport to Seal Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was my favorite by far!

It was a treat to drive up to Ventura and see Kelly and her Superbuzzy store, then driving back to Laguna beach via Malibu. I have to say, Malibu felt a lot like "the old" Las Vegas if you know what I mean!

 

Our early morning beach walk on Christmas morning was such a treat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Newport Pier was fabulous

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can vividly imagine a trip to this area becoming a Christmas tradition!

I hope your Christmas was filled with wonder and your 2014 is filled with joy!

xo, Penny

 

My kind of Saturday

A drive

 

 

 

A hike

 

 

 

 

And burgers at the trailhead.

 

I hope you're having a great weekend!

xo,

Penny

 

Ringing it in with a grateful heart

Happy Happy New Year!

 

 

I always thought my parents were so fuddy duddy when they would say this, but where has the time gone?  It really does seem to move quicker now than when I was 10. 

 

 

2012 was full of many things; joy, sadness, inspiration, brokenheartedness, and elation.  Just when I was feeling drab, something or someone would inspire me.  When I was feeling down in the dumps, someone would encourage me.  And when I was heartbroken, friends came along side me and cried with me and hugged me. 

Through it all, I am so thankful for 2012.  After all, it brought

• the most wonderful dream of a partnership with Kerry in Sew-Ichigo.
• a renewed sense of where I fit in the quilting world when I was asked to teach at QuiltCon (which is coming up in a few short weeks!)
• reminders of what's really important in life
• time with L-man doing the things we love
• closer bonds of friendship
• Instagram! :)
• a deepening desire to improve and make a difference

 

 

And then, just a few days ago, I received a note from Lisa at the Moda Bakeshop telling me that my Isosceles Picnic quilt was one of the top 10 viewed projects at the Moda Bakeshop in 2012!  Get.out!!!

 

So to each and every one of you that take your precious time to visit sewtakeahike, leave comments and touch my heart, thank you.  Thank you for a wonderful 2012!

And to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ben at Saral Paper and Kimberly and the gang at the Fat Quarter Shop for being long time sponsors. 

Here's to a super 2013!

 

xo,

Penny