Exciting News!!

Remember these pillows I recently posted??

They will be in a great sewing magazine this spring!!

I made them for Free Spirit Fabric to display at fall wholesale quilt market.

The fabrics are Bontanique, designed by Joel Dewberry.

How much fun is that???

Stay tuned for the name of the magazine & when it hits the newsstand!!

A Visit to Wholesale Quilt Market in Houston

I have been attending wholesale quilt market off and on for a number of years.

In the early '90's I had a home based manufacturing business and I purchased fabrics at market for the items many gals sewed for me in their homes.

Ane then I had a small fabric business for seven years beginning in early 2000.

So the changes I saw and did not see at market were very interesting.

Overall, the show is much smaller.  Most fabric companies have really downsized their booth displays.  This is always a slower paced market, but I thought it was REALLY slow.  Many sales reps were just twiddling their thumbs - there just weren't buyers writing orders at their tables.  It was , though, the first day of a three day show.

The displays are always so fun and creative as you will see in the photos.

I thought this was a clever way to display a fabric line - 

and this is designed by Marcia Derse.

She has just overlapped 1/4 yards of the fabrics and sew across the top.

If you did away with the selvage edges, I think you could have any interesting texture piece for your wall.  She talked about how she does this when she gets new fabrics - just so she can look at it for a few days before starting to sew.

There are always so many totes, but I thought this one was fun!

This creative display really drew me into the booth.

The pattern is to set up a Burrito Baby Bar.

This looked like it would be so fun!!

Sew up the babies, wrap 'em up, add toppings and add a little spice!

I just had to have the pattern.

Burrito Babies, anyone??

Clever display with lots of fun things, including a checkerboard quilt on the floor.

I have always been a fan of Ardvark Quilts.  Her quilts and patterns always make the fabrics that so many of us do not know what to do with - just go together.  Very inspired by this one!

Another Ardvark Quilt -a real twist on the zig zag quilt.

And I will end on this one for today - 

as I said - some fabric displays get a little crazy!

This was the feature in the Timeless Treasures booth!!

More from quilt market in my next post.

Done is Wonderful!!

Indeed, Done is Wonderful!!

I am heading to Fedex to ship a quilt to Houston 

for wholesale quilt market.

Late availability of fabrics made this a "must do" in just a few days.

A big thanks to Laurel Hahn for quilting this one yesterday.

The quilt - "Spooling Around" -  is designed by Denyse Schmidt 

for Free Spirit Fabrics.

The new fabric line is called "Ansonia".

This will be sold in a kit with 575 pre-cut small triangles

and 37 pre-cut large triangles.

I had to cut my own!!  Lots of work on this one!

I also made a quilt using a new line from Free Spirit - 

Marjolein's Garden.

The center is a cheater panel.  When I first saw the thumbnail sketches,

 I thought it was going to be smaller.  

I was very surprised when the fabrics arrived!

Thanks to Laurel Hahn for the quilting.  

The finished quit really is square - just hard to photograph!!

Every now and then, I am asked to do something other than a quilt.

These pillows are made from a new Free Spirit fabric line 

designed by Joel Dewberry

called "Botanique".

I loved working with these fabrics.

The colors and designs are spot on!!

I also made a dress (ugh) and a bag.

This Modern Nine Patch is made from

Michael Miller chevron fabrics and features their Cotton Couture Solids.

I am traveling to Houston on Saturday

to attend wholesale quilt market.

I have not been for several years, so it will be fun to see what the trends are!

Stay tuned.......

Interwoven Expressions

I am already to load the car for the art show I am in on Saturday -

Interwoven Expressions.

I have 100 items, marked and ready to sell!!

It is truly amazing how many quilted items I can get on this rack!!

I do have a few items for tabletop display.

Wish me luck!!

Fall Quilt Market

I am excited to say I will be attending wholesale quilt market

at the end of the month in Houston!!

I have not been for several years so it will be fun to feel the pulse

of quilting these days.

I sent my first sample to Michael Miller Fabrics today.

Modern Nine Patch

35" x 50"

So many solids in modern quilting.

Three more samples pending.....stay tuned.

Interwoven Expressions

A reminder to mark your calendars to attend

INTERWOVEN EXPRESSIONS

if you live in the Valparaiso Area.

I am a lucky new artist this year!!

Here a photos of some quilts I will have for sale!

Yes, there will be table runners!

All with a modern quilt style.

Quilts will feature Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

I am lucky to have access to only high end designer cottons.

A variety of sizes of quilts will be available

as well as bags. totes, journals and a few pieces of fabric jewelry!

Stay tuned for additional blog posts!!

Farewell, My Friend

My friend, Linda Kilander, passed away today.

I have never known anyone who took on cancer with such a positive spirit,

and fought to the bitter end.

Thanks for all of the good times.

Everyone who knew you comes away with some of your spirit.

That is your gift to all of us.

I look back on our similarities - 

both fiercely independent, down to earth, creative with color

and most of all - just girls at heart.

Girls just want to have fun - and we did!

Nap Time

Last of the Dog Days of Summer 2013

Recent week-end with the Granddog!!

Of Course, I Said YES!!!

In a weak moment, I said YES 

to being a model in a local fashion show.

It is tomorrow at Sand Creek Country Club

and is a benefit

 for St. Patrick's School 

in Chesterton.

No wild photos to show you - 

but take a look at the shoes I will be wearing!!!

I actually like the leopard ones and they are quite comfortable.

Fortunately, my friend, Leona, stopped by yesterday and

coached me on walking the runway.

She used to be a lingerie model.  Who knew??

I am modeling for Chelle's in Chesterton.

The clothes are my style.

I am a regular customer of hers.

Surprise.

A BIG Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who sent me a birthday card or personal text on my birthday!!  I enjoyed the presents, too!

I am so glad that it is no longer "in" to type

Happy Birthday on Facebook!

On the eve of my birthday, my mother had yet another mini stroke.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

I am so grateful I had the chance to spend a week-end with her recently.

Carry on!

Tip of the Day on MY Birthday!!

www.jjill.com/masterthescarf

This is a link to some great videos on tying scarves.

I think it is really awesome!

J Jill has some beautiful scarves, too!

Yes, Happy Birthday to me!!

A Sweet Day!

Natalie's friend, Lauren,

from high school,

was married in Cincinnati on Saturday!!

Lucky me - in the photo with the beauties - 

Brittany, Natalie and Lauren!

A photo op for a 3/4 family photo!!

Back in the Saddle Again!!

We are indeed, back in the saddle again!

We returned home late yesterday from a very fun & exciting week in

Austin, Texas!!!

As many of you know, Dennis & I are looking at Austin as a potential retirement spot and we were not disappointed in what we found this week.

We stayed at a great boutique hotel called Vintage Villas.

We had a fresh Texas Hill Country breakfast prepared each morning.

We hit the ground running from the airport.

We took a chance for a local lunch

and stopped at a restaurant called

Jack Allen's Kitchen.

OMG!!!

If this a a sign on how our entire week was to be, we could not have made a better choice.

The waiter was so friendly and the food was all farm to table and was superb!!

We went back one night for Happy Hour - Yeehaw!!

Red Chile Fries & Crunchy Catfish with Coleslaw

Thirsty Goat Amber Ale

The Blondie for Dessert

I think the photos tell it all!!

We did see some great planned communities in South Austin.

Some of the ideas in the model homes caught my eye!!

Yes, this is a swinging twin bed on the front porch!!

And these two photos are of a fantastic craft room!! 

And an awesome new product for countertops -

a dull finish granite with a rough edge - in many colors!!!

Dennis did not want to leave Texas without some BBQ

so we made a stop the last night at the famous

SALT LICK in Driftwood, Texas!!

Dennis finally got his six pack of cold Shiner Bock.

 The place was huge and a real classic from the 60's.

And look at those meats in the pit!!

And we must not forget another awesome lunch spot we found.

OMG!!

This couple has lived everywhere and came to Austin from LA to get into the food business.  Walla - pieous!!

Fresh salads, pizzas and pastrami that is homemade right here!!

The pizza crust is from a sourdough starter the owner has had for 20 years.

They make fresh mozzarella cheese everyday. 

We can't wait for our next trip in October.

Stay tuned.

I'm IN!!!

I am excited to say that I will be a new artist for

INTERWOVEN EXPRESSIONS EXHIBIT & SALE!!!

Details below!!

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Think back to one year ago 

when I told you about some very special identical twins.

Guess what?  They just had their 1st Birthday!!

Annalise and Alivia - or is it Alivia and Annalise???

Sweet, sweet, sweet!!

I did not know what to take them for a 1st Birthday gift

so I went to work at my sewing machine and this is what I came up with.

I made fabric paper chains!!  2 1/2" strips of fabric worked great and velcro on the ends make it a quiet activity for the girls - not to mention eye hand coordination and things like that!!

Then I found the cute bubble container, so when opened,

each girls have a half.  How clever!!!

It is a perfect convertible day here in the Chicago area.

And it is sure to be a beautiful evening by the lake

attending the Chicago Bears home opener - 

the preseason game with the San Diego Chargers.

We are meeting the girls at Soldier Field for a great evening!!

Hot August Night!!!

Here we are at 

the RED Dance

on our 39th wedding anniversary!!

There was red lighting at the dance hall.

Dennis is actually wearing a white shirt with a red tie.

And for me, I am wearing a hot over the shoulder red dress!!

Smokin' hot!!

We had a great time - dancing the night away!!

Finish It!!

August is my month to get some quilt tops finished.

See what you think.  So far so good.