My Wedding Quilt That Never Happened

So, I've been married for 20 years.  Here's our story.  I was living with my on again, off again boyfriend of 4 years in Riverside, CA when I realized that I'd made a terrible mistake.  Some relationships just shouldn't happen.

I was working with his sister at the time (who'd also gotten me my job) and was kind enough to let me move in with her until I found my own place.  That same week, she and some friends were going to Tijuana, Mexico for the night.  Feeling sorry for me, she invited me along.

Anita and her friends met some Marines.  They claimed they had a friend they were going to hook me up with.  Honestly, no better way to get over a loser than a fling with a hot Marine.  So, we go to the hotel where he's staying.  Gross, Tijuana hotel.  But, he won't come out to play because he has a migraine, leaving me to fend for myself the rest of the evening.  Which, by the way, I managed just fine.  There was a time that I was kinda cute, and guys dug me.  For real, I'm not making that up...

Anthony, who?

Later that week I talk to the guy on the phone and I'm pretty sure we have NOTHING in common.  He tells me he's a surfer, blah, blah, blah.  His family is wealthy and owns a trucking company, blahzy blah.  Whatever man, whatever.  Anita and her friends make plans with them for the next weekend.  By then, I'm feeling much better about my future.  Who needs a man anyways?  There's nothing wrong with being single and independent.

The guys come over and they have their buddy this time.  I think we went to meet them somewhere, so they wouldn't get lost, maybe?  I walk up to an Iroc Z to see who my date for the evening would be....

He's too good looking, I'm going to hate him!  And, he's a surfer?  Eh, not my type.  He gets out of the back seat and he is SERIOUSLY good looking.  Damn it!  I really have a problem with attractive men.  They think too highly of themselves.  It's obnoxious.  I can't stand it when they care more about their looks than I care about my own!  (One of the problems with the previous relationship)

But wait, he's wearing cut offs and an ugly button up shirt.  Didn't exactly dress us to meet me... The night progresses and I find out that he's really a farm boy from Iowa.  Yes, his family owns a trucking company but they aren't exactly wealthy.  He's seriously funny and seemingly stable.  Having just returned from Okinawa, Japan he was literally wearing his only civilian clothing.  And, he had to buy the shirt that day at the PX.  It was one of two options.  He gets more and more interesting by the moment.  And still, seriously attractive.  Did I mention funny?  Hmm, pretty eyes, too.

His drunk friend kept saying his name different ways so finally I asked him how he spelled it.  Oh.  MANTZ, I thought he was saying Manson, and I was going to stop things before they got started.  No way was I going to be associated with Charles Manson in any way.  By the end of that night, the girls hated their dates but I knew I'd met my future.

We eloped to Las Vegas 3 months later.  The thing about eloping, nobody buys you presents.  Since I've always admired wedding quilts, I decided to make my own.  My guild Secret Pal gave me the book a few months ago and I'm crazy about the project right now.  Each block will have more embroidery, buttons and beads eventually.  Now that I see the blocks up against that rick rack, I think I'm going to do something more with rick rack, too.  I want it to be happy and fun.  20 years, 4 kids, a lot of pounds (me, not him damn it) and a hell of a lot of ups and downs.  But, at the heart we are still two super hot, happy, fun kids that are beyond lucky to have stumbled upon each other.

And there, you have it.  Rich and Heather Mantz, the story.

Well, At Least It's Not Candy Crush

Grandbabies are popping up all over the place at work.  My friend De is about to be a first time grandma and she quilts, so I had to come up with something other than a quilt.  And, my wrists hurt when I crochet.  I decided to give these baby blocks a try and they were a lot of fun to make.  I had a pattern, but honestly, you can do it without.  Sierra had the cool idea of making giant dice.  That would be fun!

Then I made Cookie Dough Cupcakes for another co-worker's B-day.  They were SO good!  Just use a cake batter and drop frozen cookie dough in the center before you bake it.  Don't overcook.  Only bake for 16 min.  Cool completely.  Then I topped with my favorite fudge butter cream.  YUM.  There's another birthday next week.  I can't decide what to do next.  I'm thinking banana.  Either with chocolate ganache and peanut butter frosting, ala Elvis.  Or, just banana cream.

My yellow bag was WAY too small!  I loved the fabric but I couldn't fit anything in it.  And forget about going to the movies when your family thinks you can sneak in a bunch of sodas.  No.  So, I got this pattern (McCall's?) for a dollar a long time ago.  I was waiting for the right fabric to present itself for the right price.  I love those 40% off coupons.  Of course, there are a few things I'd like to change but you know how that goes.  There's always next time.

Like my model?  He loves his mommy.  Yes, his bracelet says "I love Boobies".  He's still a teenage boy/man... supporting breast health.

Still no picture of my trees.  And, I could have sworn I took pics of my latest applique project but I guess not.  Something for later, perhaps.  Anyways, Rich and I are watching Heat.  1995, back when DeNiro and Kilmer were mega cuties.

What Can Happen In A Month

Bethany's dance recital...Check
Survive another school year...Check
Prom Season over...Check
Quilt show is done...Check


In between, I finished some projects and started some more.  It's crazy but I can't help myself.  The vase with flowers is the center medallion for a quilt that I started for myself.  That's right, myself.

Before school got out, Sierra wanted to dye her hair teal.  I thought it was cute.  It's been about a month and she wants to change to lavender now.  We started stripping the teal out and as of today it's a minty green.  I'm calling it an artistic experiment.

I got the daisy block done.  I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with it.  FYI, don't use kleenex to transfer embroidery patterns to your projects.  It took me forever and a day with a tweezer to pick out little bits of kleenex from the Mason Jar part.  Bleh.

Now, these looked really good, but were terrible.  They were pink lemonade cupcakes.  Sounded good, wasn't.  I'm still on the search for a better recipe.

Finished my menu board.  It's working pretty well.  I just have to remember to write on it...
These cupcakes were freaking awesome!  Coconut with raspberry filling.  Yum.  Yum.

My in-laws came to see Bethany's recital.  It was great to see them and Bethany did great.  She just joined the competition team...

My rose bush bloomed.  Yeah.

My TAS group is doing a Funky Fat Quarter Challenge.  We exchanged background fabrics that we wouldn't normally use as background.  So, I decided to do this.  I also used it as my "Sit and Sew" at our guild's quilt show.  I'm going to do a little more embellishment once I quilt it.

I also finished the tree quilt top.  I don't have a picture because it's upstairs, I'm down stairs and I don't want to do the in between stuff.  Yep, I'm lazy.  It'll be a good thing to show in my next post.

And, I only have 18 more states to finish in my state flowers quilt.  Another 2 years, and I should be done!