OTYA or Operation Twenty Year Anniversary

Yep, it's true. Kevin and I have been married for 20 years.  My husband could be described as "not having a romantic bone in his body." But then again, he's a guy. Actually that's not true, I think it is deep in there it just has a hard time showing itself.  That little part of him came out last week.

Our anniversary fell on a Wednesday and so we didn't celebrate until Saturday. All week he hinted at OTYA. (He was channelling his inner Jack Burns for you Meet the Parents fans). I was able to figure out where we were going for dinner, but I had no idea he would plan anything else.

I was told to be ready at 5 pm sharp. But I wasn't. So around 5:20 he is rushing me out the door and what do I see?

A limo! We didn't even have a limousine for our wedding day. We pulled away from our reception in his mom's blue Chrysler sedan, picture a late 80's model. It was better than my Diahatsu Rocky or Kevin's white with orange/red/yellow stripes Toyota 4 x 4 truck for the occasion I have to admit. 

Not working gondola at Bridge Street

Our driver took us to Bridge Street town center which is an outdoor mall.  We were scheduled to take a Gondola ride.  Apparently there is only one gondola and it was not in operation. I thought gondolas were powered by a human. This must be a "knock off" gondola with a motor haha.  (Sorry about the picture quality. I took it on my phone and had to crop and zoom so you could even tell what it is). So we headed on into Connor's steakhouse for a cocktail.  They have the best (and most expensive) margaritas in town. 

Kevin at Big Spring park

From there we were going to go watch the sunset from Monte Sano, but it faces east, good for sunrise, not so much sunset. Instead we walked through Big Spring Park. Kevin had never been to this part of town. It was fun to see his reaction to how cool this area of downtown is. There are tons of geese there and huge Koi in the lake and creek there.  At the other end of the park is the Embassy Suites hotel. We stopped in for another yummy beverage. This time it was some crazy fruity martini. 

Frank the limo driver picked us up and drove around the block to the Cotton Row restaurant for dinner. It was delicious and definitely a go-to place for special occasions. The peanut butter and jelly phyllo dessert - speechless really. 

We headed home after dinner. I gave Kevin his gift on the way home- no not that! Just a golf gadget, a range finder for determining distances. I figured the night out was my gift, but I had one more surprise in store for me! Kevin knocked on Frank's partition and he handed him a little box. I said, "Little is a good sign!" and boy was it!

He got this beauty at Alexander's here in town which has estate jewelry. I am going to have to get it sized because it is a bit big. When I do I will get the history if I can.  I have been dreaming of having an antique piece.  I don't think I have even mentioned it to Kevin, but he knows I love old things and knew I would love it.  His story of shopping for it is pretty good too.  The way he tells it he physically fought off about 3 other women who also wanted it! I am glad he won that battle! 

And that is Operation Twenty Year Anniversary!

Go Huntsville Sting

Pictures from Chandler's football jamboree last Saturday. He played great for his first time! His main position is defensive lineman, for now.

Yay for School

Chandler first day of 5th grade

Yesterday was the first day of school here in Huntsville, AL.  The fifth grader got to school and home without a hitch.

The high schooler waited for the bus for 45 mins and just when we got in the car to drive it showed up. They were almost an hour late, plus he spent several hours with the counselor getting his schedule straightened out, then couldn't find the bus to get home.  So I had to go get him and it is a hike over the mountain to get him.  According to maps it is 13 miles and 30 mins. That's an extra hour of my day wasted. He also realized he read the wrong book for summer reading, since we thought he was going to be in a different English class. So he has 3 days to read Edgar Allen Poe. Good luck with that. Hopefully today will be better for him.

Jackson first day at new high school

The students all got HP laptops instead of text books this year. That is amazing to me.  Our school district has been a bit sluggish let's say to keep up with other areas in the past.  Last year we got a new superintendent and he seems to be whipping the place into shape. Since Huntsville area has more rocket scientists and PhD's than anywhere else its nice to have that reflected in the public education system too.

So, what did I do with my first day semi-alone? Not much, unpacked lots and lots of books from their boxes.  Now they are all scattered on the floor of the office because the shelves need to be adjusted so they can actually fit. I didn't realize how many books I had. I may need to give some to new homes or find more shelves :0) Then I went to the YMCA and exercised. Yes I am sore today and that's it. Those few hours fly by! Today's plan, exercise, visit a friend in the hospital, and maybe get to the county offices to figure out what I need to do about licensing a business and collect/pay sales tax.

2:00 will be here before I know it, so off I go!

Block swap

I am participating in my first block swap. At our local guild meeting yesterday I received my first set. I am so excited. I chose 30's fabrics and they are so cute. It is a simple X block that is super easy to make. I have completed my 2 sets out of 6 that I need to make. Fun!

It's all in a name?

Sooo, I thought I had it all figured out. A word play on my name would be the perfect name for my new long arm quilting business, right? I was even one step away from ordering business cards etc.  So what happened you ask?  I was sitting at football practice the other night talking to another mom who happens to work in advertising.  We were talking about the ads that people are going to put in the football program and I mentioned my new venture.  I told her that one day Chandler saw me quilting and said "Mom, are you drawing with thread again?"  She got a thoughtful look and said she really liked that for a business name.  This is coming from a non-quilter.  And so I told her about how I was going to be "Beautiful Bee Quilting". But now I may change directions and be "Drawing With Thread" quilting services.

 I like the idea that it will make non-quilters pause and wonder what it is.  I know that most people think of quilters as little old white haired ladies sitting around a frame.  Us quilters know better than that! But I am going to be doing t-shirt quilts and so I need to attract to a certain population that does not really know much about it. And so a name change might be in order. 

What do you think? 

By the way, I will be open for business Sept 7, 2012!

I have a web site

I have gone ahead and set up a web site for my new adventure.  It is still pretty bare bones until I get some real samples of work done on the long arm, which I cannot possibly do until after September 5.  Because that is when I am scheduled to get the beast.  I have my home address listed on the site, just in case anyone wants to get ahead of the crowd and send their quilts to be quilted in early. (haha) Since I have 5 followers and I know three do not quilt and one is me that leaves one and I'm pretty sure she already had a friend or two that she can go to for this particular service. And since I am not trying to 'steal' anyone else's business..... 

Maybe I can teach some of my friends in one of my quilting groups about technology and how to become followers? Maybe not, just facebook is a stretch for some of those gals. (I say this in the most loving way, I love all of them dearly). (cma just in case they do find their way here, right:0) ) If you don't send it by e-mail they won't get the message.  So I guess I will have to break down and put each individual into my contact list and do emails to tell them about the site.  I think they will be able to handle that much, right?  

So what is the address you say?  www.beautifulbeequilting.weebly.com .  Now if you forget the quilting part you will arrive at a beauty type site.  And remember, the name is a play on my name: melissa = honey bee and labella = beautiful.  It is a very basic site, but it is free and you know the saying, if its free its for me! Seriously, it has the most amenities of any free site out there and is really easy to use. Just drag and drop and add photos, wa la.  

I am still working on an official logo.  I like this little guy above and may just add the name in a circle around it. I haven't found a great free logo site that has any cute bees.  They are all ugly waspy looking things. I'll keep searching. That's all to report for now. 

Am I insane?

I am a pretty new quilter.  I really started being obsessed a couple of years ago when my obsession changed from cutting paper and scrapbooking to cutting fabric and making quilts.  One of the first things I did to meet people when we moved from Texas to Alabama was to look up the local guild on the internet and go to a meeting. I didn't hesitate and joined that first time, at my first ever in my life guild meeting.  I didn't even really know what it was about.  I was expecting a small group I think. Not so much at a membership of over 200.

That is not the insane part.  I mentioned about a month ago that I went to see a lady about a long arm quilting machine and her business.  Well... I am seriously going to do it.  I am going to go all out and get the biggest, baddest one out there.  Here's the catch, there is no space in my house for the beast.  Which means I will have to rent a space, which means more expense and overhead. Hmmm.....

I am hesitant to tell people about what I am doing.  First of all, what if it doesn't go well or I end up not really going through with it?  Plus, there are already at least four talented long arm quilters right here in Huntsville and I don't want to step on any toes.  I really feel there is more room in the market.  Just in my Thursday stitch group alone I could get several jobs.  Plus my resource (JoAn Knight) mentioned that she gets most of her quilts mailed to her from around the country, not locally.

I am trying to brainstorm ideas of what I can combine with the long arm quilting to be able to pay for the space.  Allow artists to display their work and take a commission? Have space for other artists to come and use on an hourly basis to teach their craft? I don't think either of those would create enough income.  Maybe paired with a tea room of sorts?  I don't know enough about that plus it would involve food licenses I think and I don't want to go there.  A quilter's clubhouse where one person or a group could come and work?  But there is already a fabric shop close by that has a big room people can use, I think for free since she sells fabric and it would increase her sales.  I would have to charge a fee.  I want something where people can come just hang out if they want but I have to be realistic and make money at it too.

Do you have any ideas? Oh and the name... Beautiful Bee Quilting and __________ .  What do you think of that?  Let me know.  I am super nervous to be letting the proverbial cat out of the bag, I don't like the idea of public failure, so this has to work out!