Home Again!!

The retreat was so much fun!! It was a lot of work and long days, but such a pleasure to be with 225 people who love quilting as much as I do! Sadly, this picture of me doing my lecture was the BEST of the bunch! Does that indicate a lack of photogenic aptitude????

I taught the Bees Knees pattern in my all day class. They didn't need me. All really good quilters that worked hard and hopefully had a little fun, too. Here are some of them with their heads down.

And here they are with a finished block. Some used the fabric from a kit and others used their own creativity with their fabric. I thought they were all great!

It was very appropriate that this retreat was my last class to teach. I was a charter member of the guild that began the fall retreats at that facility over 20 years ago. It was like coming full circle. Maybe I'll actually have time to attend as a participant in the future!

It did make me think about all the friends that I have made over the last 25 years. Many have remained close and I treasure their friendship more than ever. I don't know of many things that builds kinship like quilting does. We can pretty much go wherever we want and there will always be a place to fit in. How lucky we are to have so many sisters! Quilting supercedes all other things in life. It doesn't matter whether we're married, have children, which church we attend, which political party we follow, what color or sex we are. We are still sisters through quilting (except for the brothers!) And now I'm making friends through the internet and this blog! It just goes on and on. I'm feeling very blessed!

So now to catch up with orders, calls and email. THEN to list items on Etsy and work on one more project for my new fabric for Market. Hope all of you had a terrific weekend and are off to a great week. I'll be in touch soon!

Blessings~

Off to the Retreat!

I'm not quite ready, still cutting feedsacks squares, but here's what I've been working on all week. Doesn't seem like much, huh? It's amazing how much time it takes to get ready to go to an event. Still have to pull quilts, etc. together to show. At least it's fun when I get there! But I'm reminded as to why I don't do shows anymore!!

Thanks to all of you who have sent pictures! I appreciate it so much. They are all wonderful and I can't wait to show them. Don't stop sending though! The more the better and I know there are lots of quilts wanting to be seen.

Todays pic is courtesy of Cheryl Tooker from Yucaipa, CA. You can visit her wonderful blog at Polka Dots and Rickrack. She used my Sailing Sailing pattern which until Square Dance was my best selling pattern ever. I think she did a terrific job with it. Thanks so much Cheryl! I'll get your free pattern in the mail pronto! Don't you just LOVE quilts with feet???

As you can see on the sidebar, I am once again sold out of feedsacks. Thankfully I cut some for Etsy as I was cutting for the retreat so you should see some next week. Thank you so much for being such loyal customers. I'll get better as my time frees up. Don't give up on me!

I hope everyone is having wonderful fall weather. This retreat is located at a State Park not far from here and it's always gorgeous this time of year. Again, if I remember to, I'll take some pics! Have a terrific weekend and I'll see you next week---

Blessings ~

Changes to Calling All Quilts!

I've been thinking about the post I wrote yesterday and I want to make some changes. Here are the new ideas I came up with.

1) Any quilt that contains fabric I designed. You didn't have to buy it from me.

2) Any quilt that is made from authentic feedsack fabric.

3) Any quilt made from one of my pattern designs, even with changes and regardless of the fabric used.

I think I like that better! The whole idea is to see some quilts so I don't want to restrict it too much.

For your trouble, I'll send you the FREE pattern that I designed for my first fabric collection called "Fun with Feedsacks". Just send me your address with your picture and I'll get it off to you.

Thanks so much!

Blessings ~

Calling All Quilts!!

I need your help! I would like to develop a gallery of quilts (finished or not) that have either been made with fabric or feedsacks purchased from me OR quilts made from any of my patterns. I think it would be so much fun to see them and show them on the blog!

If you would just send me a pic of a project with your name and hometown (and blog address if you have one) I would love it! Thanks in advance.

This week I am working toward getting things pulled together for the retreat I am speaking and teaching at the first weekend in October. They have about 225 people signed up and I always try to take as much as possible to sell. So we are cut, cut, cutting fabric and feedsacks and getting things ready to go.

Today I spend and hour and a half in the dentist's chair getting a temporary bridge. YUK!! Over the next year I will have 2 implants done and then get several crowns. I've had SO many root canals on my teeth from an accident when I was 13 years old, it's unbelievable. Amazing how you still deal with something 40+ years later. I've had a bridge for over 20 years and now I'm going to eventually go back to having individual teeth. Amazing! It costs a FORTUNE, hope it's worth it!

Here's the first picture I have to show you. It was made by Owanda Arms in Silver Springs, MD using my Square Dance pattern. I LOVE the pastels she used. Thanks Owanda!

Have a great week! Blessings ~

Off To Another Book Signing!

I wish I had something exciting to tell you about, but no! All I've been doing is cutting kits for an upcoming class I'm teaching at a retreat and trying to get a few things listed on Etsy.

But tomorrow I'm off to Springfield, MO to sign some books in a vendor booth at the quilt show! Same cute shop I was at in Carthage. Bill graduated from Southwest MO State University (I think it's just called Missouri State now) and we enjoy going back there as often as possible to eat cheese enchiladas at the Mexican Villa.

He told me 30 some odd years ago before we got married that the best enchiladas in the world are there. HA! I said. Being from New Mexico, I knew that couldn't be true. So off we went to Springfield, MO to eat enchiladas. Dang!! He might be right!!

So we stuff ourselves and then go eat "Springfield style Cashew Chicken" at the next meal! If you haven't had cashew chicken in Springfield, you haven't had good cashew chicken! Didn't know Springfield, MO was a mecca for foodies, did you? If I can remember to take my camera, I'll send you some pics!

The weather here is exquisite! I hope everyone is having a lovely fall and enjoying some time outdoors. Till next time...

Blessings~

And the winner is....

Hi Everyone!

Hope you had a great weekend and are settling back into the work week smoothly. I had Bill pick a name from the bowl (after he got back from golf, naturally) and here is the winner of my new book:

So there ya' go! MJ in Michigan needs to send me her address etc. and I'll get it right off. Thanks to EVERYONE who took the time to enter!

Have a great week & blessings to all~

Only One More Day!!

I've been a busy girl since I posted last! Thank goodness!! Here's what I've been working on---

First, I got that little tablerunner pattern done that I posted a pic of earlier on the blog. It's called Cock-Tails. THEN I got another quilt made with the new fabric AND the pattern done! It's called Baskets and Blooms. They'll both be on the website next week if I can corral Bill long enough to get it out there. The weather's cooling off and you know who wants to go play some golf!

Last Thursday we went to Carthage, MO to the cutest quilt shop for a book signing. Amy Campbell is the owner and was participating in a 12 shop hop so she had me over to sign books while it was going on. This shop is darling! If you're ever in the area, be sure to stop. The customers tell me that they never say they like a quilt because Amy ALWAYS has a kit for it!! LOL!! Here's a couple of pics I took (are you impressed that I remembered to take them?)

When I got up on Friday morning I got in the shower to get ready to go back and slipped and cracked my head on the soap dish! Ouch!! The urgent center stapled my head back together for me, but it could have been so much worse. One of my friends told me that was definitely an 'old lady' thing! Ouch, again!!

Beyond that, the orders for the books and that kit in the new McCalls are coming fast and furious! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I treasure each and every one of you!

Don't forget to enter the book giveaway! Tomorrow's the last day and I'll reveal the results on Monday. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to enter with a comment or email.

So until Monday - Have a great weekend!

Blessings~