Tickled Pink!

Closing ceremony - the survivors entering the
 stadium and the raising of the final flag
...shoes up!

I am finally back in Iowa and have had a couple days to recover from my Komen 3-Day journey...and to say it was incredible would be an understatement. I have experienced very few moments in my life that have been more powerful...and I am proud to say I walked every single step of the sixty miles last weekend in San Diego. Walking into the closing ceremony, hand in hand, with my fabulous team was a breathtaking experience, full of emotion and a huge sense of achievement....there really are not words to describe it. The entire walk was AMAZING - my heart felt great, my legs were ready (my year of training definitely paid off), and I was able to enjoy the beautiful San Diego scenery that surrounded me. I did manage to get "impressive" blisters (as Terry, our medic called them) on day 2 that were a definitely a challenge on day 3... but, the medical crew (who were FANTASTIC) bandaged up my "super bad blisters" (yes, that was my diagnosis), so I could walk on the final day.  There were numerous memorable moments - in fact, too many to list...so, I will share a plethora of captioned photos with you that will give you just a peek at my experience...

Opening ceremony on the first day...getting pumped up for 60-miles - listening to an
inspiring speech by Dr. Sheri Phillips (the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®
national spokesperson)...

I signed the white memorial flag in remembrance with a couple very special names:
Cathey Magill aka "Pumpkin" and Golda Paton (the mother of my very dear friend)...
I wanted to write a message with each, but unfortunately, the markers were running
dry...this was a very emotional moment...

The first day - walking through Torrey Pines State Reserve - Lois was handed off
the commitment flag that she had carried for 20 miles in Dallas in 2012...

The first day - setting up camp - and yes, I am wearing our matching team jammies,
after a hot shower...and yes, I slept in that pink tent...you can see the shower trucks in
the background...

Day 2 - taking in the scenery in La Jolla - seals, pelicans, seagulls - a welcome change
from cold and snowy Iowa (click to enlarge)...

One of the sweep vans - sweep vans are decorated and operated by volunteers - they pick up
any walkers needing a lift to the next pit stop/camp or who need medical attention...

Arriving at lunch on the 3rd and final day...at the top of the "death march" or "suicide hill",
 as many walkers called it...the lunch crew took very good care of us...

Arriving at the finish line after every single step of the 60-miles: (L-R) me, Lois, and Sandy...
Note the matching hats our team captain made for us...and the matching bows on our shoes -
these details helped us find each other in the crowd of 2,300 walkers...

Our two other fabulous teammates arriving at the finish line (in the chaos, it was
difficult for all of us to stay together): Diane on the left and Lori on the right...

My tired/blistered feet after the 60-miles...

Walkers marching down the tunnel of people before crossing the finish line...

Walkers marching down the tunnel of people before crossing the finish line...

My incredible teammates: (L-R) Sandy, Lois, Terry, Diane and Lori...I heart you all!

Walkers checking in at the finish line at Petco Park - the man in the center with the
red, black, and white backpack was an inspiration throughout the entire walk -
he is 72 years young and took every single step - slow and steady!

The San Diego police department entertaining us with a dance at the finish line -
they were phenomenal throughout all three days!

The San Diego police department booty shakin' during a dance at the finish line
- they were quite entertaining!

Lining up in rows of eight to enter the closing ceremony...

A sea of walkers at the closing ceremony....

Closing ceremony - the survivors entering the stadium and the raising of the
final flag...shoes up!

The very inspirational Dr. Sheri Phillips, the national spokesperson for the
Susan G. Komen  3-Day for the Cure® - lifting us up at the closing
 ceremony - she walked all 60-miles...

Closing ceremony - raising the final flag "NEVER GIVE UP"...

In closing, I will share the thank you note I e-mailed to everyone who made a donation...this sums it up...

My dear friends, family, and needlework enthusiasts, 

A GIGANTIC heartfelt thank you for supporting me on my Komen 3-Day journey! It was an UNBELIEVABLE three days and I am extremely proud to report I walked every single step of the 60-miles. It was an AMAZING, challenging, fun, (at times) painful, and breathtaking experience...filled with memories that will definitely last a lifetime.

Because of your generosity, and the support of all of my donors and team members, I raised over $8,300 to help end breast cancer...our small, but mighty team Twinkle Toes (five walkers and one medical crew member) raised just shy of $30,000 for this important cause...and the San Diego event (2300 walkers and 425 crew members) raised an OUTSTANDING $6,100,000! I cannot thank you enough for your support, love, and encouragement - I am so very touched by your generosity and kindness.

I also want to take a moment and express my sincere gratitude to those of you who made cash donations to our team captain for expenses, to those of you who sent care packages to me before the trip, and to those of you who sent sweet treats with notes to me in camp - you helped lighten the financial burden and truly enhanced my experience - I am forever grateful.

YOU made this INCREDIBLE journey possible and I thank YOU from the bottom of my heart. Together we ARE making a difference!

xoxo, Belinda "Baby Twinkle Toes" 

Team Twinkle Toes is thrilled to announce we are headed to Dallas in 2014!

So now, life gets back to "normal" - I play catch-up...I finish up the new designs for printing...I answer correspondence...I fill orders...I tackle the HUGE "to do" list...and I try to keep my feet elevated...and in a couple weeks I will get back to training for the 2014 Komen 3-Day in Dallas...it's all good!

From California With Love...

Hello friends! This is just a quick post from California to let you know I completed the Komen 3-Day walk...it was an UNBELIEVABLE three days and I am extremely proud to report I walked every single step of the 60-miles. It was an AMAZING, challenging, fun, (at times) painful, and breathtaking experience...filled with memories that will definitely last a lifetime...and YOU made that possible. I will make sure to tell you all about it and post photos upon my return - but until then, here are a few snapshots I took on my smartphone along the way (please excuse the quality)...

Team Twinkle Toes right before the opening ceremonies...

My home for the event...

The view from our tent...

Memorial tents at our 3-Day camp...

San Diego Police Department decked out in pink - they made our journey
very fun and safe! They were absolutely wonderful....

Members of SDPD entertaining and uplifting us on the walk...

Our view at Petco Park (home of the SD Padres) as we crossed the finish line...

Because of your generosity, and the support of all of my donors and team members, I raised over $8,300 to help end breast cancer...our small, but mighty team Twinkle Toes (five walkers and one medical crew member) raised just shy of $30,000 for this important cause...and the San Diego event (2300 walkers and 425 crew members) raised an OUTSTANDING $6,100,000! I cannot thank you enough for your support, love, and encouragement - I am so very touched by your generosity and kindness.

I also want to take a moment and express my sincere gratitude to those of you who made cash donations to our team captain for expenses, to those of you who sent care packages to me before the trip, and to those of you who sent sweet treats with notes to me in camp - you helped lighten the financial burden and truly enhanced my experience - I am forever grateful.

YOU made this INCREDIBLE journey possible and I thank YOU from the bottom of my heart. Together we ARE making a difference!

If you made a last minute donation and are waiting for "Red Rosies and Pink Posies", I will send the chart to you as soon as I return to Iowa (thank you for your patience!)...I will also be answering outstanding e-mails and inquiries at that time...

xoxoxo

California Bound...

Hello friends...yes, I am still alive and kicking...it has just been a crazy couple weeks. I am actually leaving for California for the Komen 3-Day walk in a couple hours and I have been swamped trying to get several models done and ready for printing production upon my return...so, if you have sent me a message and are waiting on a reply, I apologize for the delay - just way too many irons in the fire! So, as you probably expect, this will be a short post...

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported my Komen 3-Day walk with a donation to receive my special pink needlework design "Red Rosies and Pink Posies" - I am overwhelmed by your generosity! Together we have raised over $8,000 for breast cancer awareness, education, and funding...which is simply INCREDIBLE!...and our mighty team Twinkle Toes (five walkers and one medical crew member) have raised almost $30,000 for this important cause!! I just can't thank each and every one of you enough...there are not words to express my gratitude. The Komen walk starts on Friday and over the course of three days we will each walk 60-miles for this worthy fundraiser. If you would like to follow my journey, please make sure you send me a friend request on Facebook, as posts will be made on my personal FB account (http://www.facebook.com/BRDgirl)...then I will post here when I return from my trip. I will be out of my studio/office from November 12th - November 20th, with very limited communication; therefore, I will respond to all correspondence (e-mails, Etsy inquiries, FB messages, comments, etc.) in the order received upon my return - I appreciate your patience!  Thank you for your encouragement, support, and love! http://www.the3day.org/goto/Belinda

So, quickly, here is a sneak peek at what has been keeping me busy...it is titled "Quilt Block Christmas"...it is now at the framer and will be in printing production as soon as I return from California (along with "Woodland Tree Farm")...

...and finally, here are a few photos we have received of Schatzi while she is at formal training...we miss her bunches and can't wait for her to come home on Decembr 7th...

I look forward to sharing details of my trip with you when I return...until then, be happy and stay safe....

Yosemite National Park

Here it is Wednesday afternoon, and I am still suffering from the "California plague" (yes, my diagnosis has been changed from "California flu" to "California plague", which is much more accurate). I have started to feel a wee bit better and I am finally somewhat functional...my temperature has lowered and I almost able to breathe through my nose again, both of which are good signs...I am hoping to be back to normal in the next day or two...fingers crossed.

Today, I will once again let my photos do most of the talking...these gorgeous pictures are from Yosemite National Park. Last week during my trip to California, I was beyond blessed to stay with Lois and Mr. Bear for a few extra days to do some sightseeing...and Mr. Bear was kind enough to drive us to Yosemite for a day. He really had no idea what he was getting himself into, as this Iowa girl likes to stop at every single landmark for photos...he started out by giving me a time limit for each stop and by the end of the day, I was made aware I had reached my quota - no more stops...luckily by then I had a gazillion photos (and really, how many photos can you take of mountains, trees, and water??...it is really something you just have to experience in person). It was another breathtaking day filled with marvelous views and memories...and big, BIG trees (I am in a couple of the photos to show you just how BIG)...

Bridalveil Creek

Bridalveil Fall

Ribbon Fall

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Inside the Ahwahnee Hotel

Tunnel View

Horse Tail Fall

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Bachelor and Three Graces

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Fallen Tree

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Grizzly Giant

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
California Tunnel Tree
(cut in 1895 to allow horse-drawn stages to pass through)

And for my faithful readers...yes, it is still all "about the squirrel"...and the bird...and the lizard...

 I hope you enjoyed seeing Yosemite National Park through my camera lens....it was truly incredible...

It was an AMAZING trip to California - I can hardly wait to go back in November! A huge thank you to all the attendees at the Elegant Stitch Workshop - I am so glad you requested to have me return - I enjoyed my time with each and everyone of you!! ...and to Lois and Mr. Bear - you know how dear you are to me - thank you for your hospitality, your love, and your friendship - you hold a very special place in my heart...