Go Pack Go!

Dennis has been a lifelong Packer fan 

and had never attended a game at Lambeau Field until NOW!!!

Alison wanted to go as bad as he did so I stayed in Chicago with the dog!!

All in all, a great week-end, a big win and smiles all around!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love This Art!!

Love everything about this!!

Black and white dresses.

Black and white bench.

Red lips.

Red nail polish.

Red shoes!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Alison's dog, Webster, won the Halloween Costume Contest at doggie day care!

His winnings included a free bath, toys, dog treats and a new blanket.

So proud!!!

Last DAys of October

As I put my house back in order - after a busy month of sewing - 

I just have one more quilt to show you.

The fabrics are done in conjunction with Liberty Fabrics 

and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.

The prints are wonderful and would be beautiful to use in garments as well.

This is the back  of the quilt.

This is the front of the quilt.  

There are 2 color ways of each pattern

so I paired them us and interconnected them.

I think it makes a very lovely quick quilt!!

Time for a break from quilt making.  Many of my business contacts are still in Houston - unable to get back to NYC due to the damages done by

Hurricane Sandy.

Hopes and prayers to all - for their lives to return to normal.

Leo Says Happy Halloween!!

Halloween Bash 2012 @ Madison Street Dance Hall

Ah - yes, here we are, at another Halloween Dance Party - the Beach Bums - edging our way closer to retirement!!

Atleast these costumes are easy to dance in!!

This party was hosted by Brooke Bocek

and we had a blast!!

Enjoy the photos!  Mike & I do a Cha Cha Cha!!

Me and Brooke - dance instructor extraordinare !!

Our dance friends - Jane, Karen & Mike.

And a view from the back side!!

Stay tuned for the Broomstick Ball this Saturday night!!

Newcastle Fabrics

I have been picked up by another fabric company to make quilt samples.

Sounds exciting, right?

This is a new company in the fabric business.  Imagine that!

This first quilt is from a fabric line called Fantasy.

It reminds me a lot of the Mary Englebriet lines of days past.

I did two sizes of half square triangles and the quilt is 66" x 66".

It was a little more ambitious than I should have attempted!

The next quilt is made from the fabric line "Little Lamb".

It is on the sweet side, as you might expect.

Side One is a simple strip pieced version with 5 of the fabrics.

Side Two is the very large panel in the collection.

The machine quilting is small hearts - professionally done by 

All About Quilting & Design.

The third quilt is from a fabric line called "Best Friends".

It is on the bright side and turned out so cute!

I thought of Hopscotch as soon as I saw the number block panel.

The giraffe just kind of came into play as I worked on this one.

His neck is pieced and the head is appliquéd on after the machine quilting,

again beautifully done circles by All About Quilting & Design.

It is about 72" long so it could also be a great grow chart!

Only one more post on the market quilts.

I am busy writing the pattern directions up.  UGH!!

Three Quilts to New York City!!

Three more quilts are on their way!! 

 It is such a feeling of accomplishment!!

All of these quilts feature Michael Miller Fabrics.

This Fabric line is Les Amis by Patty Sloninger.

The fabrics are really sweet and feature owls, turtles and foxes.

Tee backing is pieced as well and features the overall tree print.

This line is also available in pinks and oranges.

This quilt is made from Patty Young's New Textured Basics.

These photos are the same quilt - just two different angles.

The top photo shows colors going crosswise

and the second photo shows pattern crosswise.

The colors are great fun - salmon, red, lime, teal, papaya,& tangerine.

This is actually the back of a quilt I already posted.

This is the fabric that says dinosaurs!

And is the backing for this wonderful quilt!!  What fun!!

Only 5 more quilts to finish for market samples!!!

To Free Spirit To Free Spirit

Monday will be a BIG DAY for me at FEDEX!!  HOORAY!!

The following quilts are going to be shipped to Free Spirit Fabrics.

This quilt is made from a new fabric line by Erin McMorris called Moxie.

I machine quilted the white background fabric 

and then hand appliquéd each of the flags.

This is a friendship quilt and signatures can be added around each of the flags.

This bulletin board is an additional item featuring the fabrics.

This fabric line is a good one for "tweens".

Oh boy, look who came to visit!  Webster likes quilts, too!

This quilt features Katharine's Wheel - a new fabric line designed by 

Nel Whatmore.

This quilt is her design also.  Love the reds!!

The border fabric really adds to this quilt.

This last quilt is made from new fabrics designed by Kathy Davis called Pocketful of Poppies.  Kathy is well known for her greeting card lines.  This quilt was designed virtually by someone sitting at a computer and I wasn't too sure about it at first.  But the finished quilt is actually quite striking.

Small butterflies are quilted all over the quilt.

So there down, two more to go for Free Spirit!!

10 Quilts in Progress!!

Yes, indeed, I have 10 quilts in progress right now at my house 

for fall quilt market!!

A follow--up to a recent sneak peek - 

The quilt is 50" x 50" and features "Dinosaurs!" from Michael Miller Fabrics.

More to come!

THREE Quilts in Progress!!!

Another month until wholesale quilt market in Houston, TX.

So I am very busy these days!!

Check back on the progress of these three quilts.

You may be surprised at the outcome!!

Identical Twins with Quilts!!

Friends of ours increased their family by TWO on August 4th!

Annalise and Alivia - not sure who is who in this picture!

I made the quilts for them!

Aren't they adorable????

PACKERS WIN!!!!!

What a great win last night for the Green Bay Packers!!

I watched it with my Green Bay Owner Husband and it is a good time to look back at our trip to the owners' meeting this past July!!

The museum was the best part of the trip for me.

So many Packer GREATS!!

The stadium was spectacular!! 

An opportunity for an on field photo!!

 Dennis at Vince Lombardi's desk!

And I spent a little time with Clay Matthews!!

Ask Jay Cutler about Clay Matthews today!!

It was justice after listening to the Chicago Sports Media

the last few days!

GO PACK!!!

A Successful Day at the Market

A quick note on my market finds today!! 

 Yes, the sunflowers - 2/$5 - the mixed bouquet - gotta' love it!!

Fresh sweet corn, white potatoes, homegrown garlic, rhubarb, giant radishes, local raspberries and blueberries, 8 ball zucchini - yes, it is round- assorted cherry tomatoes, Rosemary Flatbread and 

Persian Lime Olive Oil from Good to Go!!!

What a feast for your eyes and your dinner!!

Exciting News!!

I have decided to sell some of handmade items and fabrics 

starting Tuesday, July 10th

at the Central Park Plaza Market

in DOWNTOWN Valparaiso!!

I will be there most Tuesdays through October

from 8 AM to 3 PM.

Stop by and see what I might have on - The Rack!!

A Tapas Cooking Class!

Last Sunday I cashed in on a Christmas gift to take a class 

at The Chopping Block at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago 

with my girls.

The first recipe was quick and tasty - Bacon-Wrapped Dates -

with Cream of Balsamic.

Here we have Courtney - a friend of the girls - and Natalie 

getting ready to chop!!

Since I am an expert at rolling dough, 

I was the choice to roll the empanada dough.

And I even got a shout out from our chef!!

Here is Alison making them!

And here they are - Black Bean & Cilantro Empanadas!!

A group effort!!

And Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce with baguette slices.

This was served hot and was delish.

And the best for last - Chicken and Chorizio Paella!! 

Alison handled the stirring duties under the watchful eye of our chef.

And, yes, it was as good as it looks!!

In the room across the hall the cooking class was

Cupcake Boot Camp

and you should have seen the cupcakes they were making!!

Next time!!