Quilting and Photography

This past year I have picked up 2 new hobbies. Quilting and photography. I finished my 1st quilt and I am about 1/2 way through my 2nd one. I love working with fabric - there are so many wonderful colors and designs. The possibilities are endless. I love seeing the progress you can make quickly - then it all comes together and it's so cool! You feel like you've actually accomplished something worthwhile and beautiful. You can lose yourself in motherhood - you work hard all day and at the end of it - sometimes it seems like all your left with is a messy house, ornery kids, laundry and dirty dishes to wash. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing more important than motherhood, you just get faster results with quilting. Hopefully after 20 years of being a mother the results will be worthwhile and beautiful too.

My 2nd hobby I have worked on this past year is photography. Hopefully this one will be more than just a hobby. I've always loved taking pictures - been kind of known as the "family photographer" but I got a great camera and some great lenses and I LOVE IT!!! I'm always "armed" and ready with my camera - I think my kids wish I would just stick with quilting. So I've been taking classes at the U, reading tons of books and practicing all the time. The pictures below are from a field trip with one of my classes at Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. There are so many of Courtney because we could bring one model and I brought her. It was kind of funny - she ended up being the model for the whole class because my teacher loved her. Anyways - here are some of the ones I really loved.

This one of Court is my absolute favorite!

I've had so much fun with these 2 hobbies. I'm always open for suggestions and help - I know so many of you out there are pro at these things. But it's been a blast to find things that I love to do.