Yael Naim

I went with my friends Jamie and Corynn to the Yael Naim concert at the Cedar Cultural Center this past Wednesday. The concert was AMAZING! Yael is so fun and whimsical on stage. Plus, the music was better than I expected. Yael Naim and the band are twice as good live as on their album. Jamie had some hookups and was able to get us into the meet and greet after the concert. So here we are with Yael Naim! I would pay to see this group in concert anyday!

I actually spent the whole week at my friends' apartment since Josh was installing a project in Mankato all week. They begged me to stay and live with them, but I just told them they'd have to ask Josh when his next business trip was. Hopefully he won't have to be gone for a week very often. I missed him too much. That's not to say I didn't have fun with my girlfriends!

2.5 years in the waiting...

I was recently offered a job at the architectural firm MSAADA!!! Eeeeee!!! I am ecstatic that after 2.5 years I'm finally being given the chance to use my degree and show what I am capable of! MSAADA is a non-profit architectural group who designs churches, hospitals, educational facilities, and more for missions around the world. It will be an amazing experience to combine my love for God and architecture. It's a small firm, so I'm sure I will have the opportunity to learn and develop so many more skills. My first day is November 3rd!

Crazy Quilters

I had such an amazing weekend! I left Friday morning with my friend Alice to head to Arrowhead Bible Camp in Wisconsin. We spent the whole weekend chatting, eating, and sewing! I was incredibly productive and finished 4 of the 5 projects I brought with me including the Moda U block of the month quilt featured above. I'll have to take a picture of the other ones I finished. One of the reasons I got so much done is because I was the last one standing on Friday night (2:30am) and was up by breakfast (8:00am). Since I didn't get any more sleep Saturday night than Friday, I'm sure I will pay for it today. Aside from a lack of sleep, quilt retreats are so much fun. I got to sew and laugh with some very neat ladies. I think I need one retreat a season for mental health and to stay on top of all my projects!

Autumn

Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods.

-Brandi Carlile

Although today I wasn't on my own, I had a wonderful, long walk in the woods at Lebanon Hills with my friend Leah. It's moments like these where I wish I were a wandering ranger in a National Park or an adventure guide in the mountains. I miss my long backpacking trips and time away from society. I think I'm going to plan a long backpacking trip to somewhere I've never been for next summer. It's long overdue!

Kimono PJs

I decided to take a break today from studying and work on a sewing project. My mom has always said, "sewing is my therapy." I think it is safe to say it has become mine too! It didn't take long to put this adorable "Kimono PJ Set" together. I love the bright contemporary prints that make this little outfit so incredibly cute. It is another sample project that will be on display at The Quilter's Haven in Rosemount, MN. The pattern came out of Amy Butler's new book, "Little Stitches for Little Ones."