Notes from the Patch

Say Hello to Beverly

                                                                             photo by Beverly

Twenty five years ago my best friend Beverly and I followed a dream, opened a tiny quilt store and called it Strawberry Patches. Together we worked the store by day and sewed up special orders at night. You could say we did it for the love of our craft because pay checks were pretty much non existent. When family matters called Beverly back to her full time job of mother to three growing boys I was left to go it alone.

During those early years some of the special orders Beverly sewed were custom dresses. Nobody could make little dresses like Beverly. Her attention to detail put them in the heirloom category and Beverly's love of sewing shown through those little dresses.

Sadly our busy lives pulled us in opposite directions and we lost contact with one another. It wasn't until I started my blog eighteen months ago that we reconnected. Without a doubt the number one thing I love about blogging is that it brings people together. Blogging brought Beverly back into my life.

So you can see why I am so excited that Beverly has started her own blog. Now, not only can she peak into my life but I can again feel apart of hers.

I know many of you remember Beverly and I hope you will pop over to My Sew Sweet Studio and see what she has been up to. Please tell her her friend Suzanne sent you!

Encourage one another,

A health update and a give away

I had my three month, post op check-up yesterday.

Boy was I nervous. I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest as I waited for the nurse to call my name.

Bill came along for moral support, but made me drive because he said he was too nervous. Sheezz.

The first time Dr W. scoped me I watched the monitor, but this time I just couldn't. I now know what bladder  cancer looks like and trust me it isn't pretty.

After a few moments Dr W. said, "You're not looking".

I said I preferred to read his expression.

He was frowning.

"Is it bad?" I asked.

"No", he said. "I'm just concentrating". (As he continued I noticed he tried hard to smile a bit - such a nice man).

He said I was an excellent healer (must have been all the TLC Bill has given me) and said there was no sign of a recurrence (bladder cancer has a 55% chance of coming back).

He said he'd see me in three months.

I wished him Happy Holidays and knew ours would be especially meaningful.

We are so thankful!

Thank you all who have continued to raise us up in prayer. It means so much to both of us.

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Now for the winners of my little Cosmo floss giveaway.

Aren't quilters just the most amazing, caring and giving people in the whole world? (Or is it that by now you guys have figured out that I'm a total softy for people who do sweet things for others?)

Anyway the two winners of 24 skeins of Cosmo floss are:

Barbara Polk who is making a memory quilt for her 89 year old mother who is just finishing her cancer treatments. Barbara herself is a cancer survivor and I'm sure realizes how much this quilt will mean to her mom.

Colleen Chambless who wants to win for her sweet friend Davi who embroiders blankets to give away to her friends. Davi is my idol. With four boys under six, she finds time to make incredible gifts for her friends and family. I can't think of anyone more deserving.

Barbara and Colleen go here and pick out your 24 colors, then let me know what colors to send you.

Thank you to everyone who commented. You guys really are the best and I love you all!

Encourage one another,

Bunny Hill meets the French General at Strawberry Patches

Our shipment of French General's Rouenneries arrived this week.

As measly as it is.

Initially, when I heard French General was doing a fabric collection, I was excited. I had planned on buying the whole collection. (I'm a huge fan of French General).

But when I saw the group I didn't get it. Thought it was pretty but didn't think you all would know what to do with it and I, quite frankly, didn't have a clue.

Enter Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs, master of all things fabric. She definitely "got it" and designed Le Jardin using Rouenneries exclusively.

 

This appliqued block of the month is just charming and so many of you have called to ask if we'd be kitting it.

This morning I emailed Anne and asked for a list of fabrics she used in her quilt. This afternoon I  ordered more fabric. Our new Le Jardin block of the month starts in January. Kits will be limited so please reserve yours now. If you are interested go here to reserve your kit and to get all of the details.

Hummmm....it would make a wonderful Christmas gift wouldn't it? I mean for you...from someone who doesn't know what to get you. A gift that keeps on giving - for nine months. Kind'a like one of those fruit of the month programs only better. 

Encourage one another,

Who ya gonna call...

One thing you probably don't know about me is that Bill and I like to go on ghost hunts.

This time of year the City of Ventura conducts historical ghost tours and although they usually result in little more than a history lesson, they are lots of fun.

Snooping around old buildings and cemeteries after dark.

In the fog.

In the cold.

Yeah.

Lots of fun.

Really.

I actually saw a ghost once. A French ghost in a seventeenth century moated chateau. A lady all in white. The owner of the chateau underplayed her existence not wanting to scare away potential guests, but when questioned admitted her presence (along with a few others).

How about you? 

Tell us your Halloween ghost stories.

Encourage one another,

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We did see something at the historic Olivas Adobe house last night. A white transparent figure of a child that manifested itself on a wall, then disappeared before our eyes. Strangely, these sightings are not at all scary (maybe it's because sightings are always at someone else's house. I think I would totally freak if they appeared in my home).

Me and my Ex's

Receptionist: Dermatologist office.

Bill: I'd like to schedule an exorcism.

Receptionist (with a giggle): Sir, we don't do exorcisms here.

Bill: Well. Okay. Then how about an excision?

This is an extremely exciting week for us with an exorcism excision for Bill and a three month follow up exam with Dr W for me. 

Prayer and a good dose of humor helps make all this a little less excruciating.

Encourage one another,

A colorful giveaway

Guess what came today?

Here's a hint:

This is the address label. Don't ask me how our UPS driver knew it was for us.

I think this may say "Fragile", but I don't know for sure.

Give up?

Ta Da...

 

Oh be still my heart!

443 colorfast shades of six strand embroidery floss bliss. Once you try Cosmo floss you'll want to donate your DMC floss to the local Girl Scouts for friendship bracelets.

This silky, 100% cotton floss never tangles and the colors never run. It stitches like butter and the colors are oh, so yummy. At just a dollar a skein you'll want to treat yourself to them all.

Hey, how 'bout a giveaway? Leave a comment and tell me why I should pick you and two lucky readers will each receive 24 skeins of Cosmo floss in the colors of their choice.

Go here to view the Cosmo color chart, then get creative and tell me why you should win.

Encourage one another,

 

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You really should go to the Lecien site and read their descriptions of their products. I know. It's not nice to make fun of others and their English is soo much better than my Japanese, but it's amusing to read their descriptive translations. I just love this company, their floss and their fabric! 

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Here is the DMC to Cosmo conversion chart.

The happiest place on earth

What a great time of year to visit Disneyland! The park was decorated with pumpkins and fall color and many of the rides had a touch of Halloween ghoulishness.

The weather was perfect and the crowds were tolerable.

 

Sarah couldn't get enough of the roller coasters and Michael preferred rides with a slower pace since the rides with sudden drops made his tummy feel funny.

Bill and I just loved them all.

 

 

 

Not sure who had more fun, them or us!

Encourage one another,

 

Just Perfect

Today couldn't have been more perfect.

We made two trips to the beach.

One in the morning and one later in the afternoon.

 

 

 

Now I'm trying to figure out how to tell their parents that they're not getting them back!

Encourage one another,

A reminder to use protection

My son and DIL needed an appetizer for the party they were attending in San Diego this weekend and since they were flying in from Kansas I volunteered to make my Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Thingies for them to take along.

I shared the recipe with you here, but here is what I didn't share with you before. 

These powerful little jalapenos can bring you to your knees while you are cleaning them

so I wear protective gear while seeding the peppers.

Otherwise the fumes cause you to cough up a lung and burn the living crud out of your fingers. Heaven help you if you touch your eye with pepper juice fingers!

I do look like Nurse Ratchet here in my pajamas don't I? (Looks like I'm about to stick that pepper...well never mind.)

With a few simple precautions though, the whole process is really quite painless and the results are absolutely scrumptious.

Encourage one another,

A Zippity Do Da kinda weekend

We're headed back to LAX this morning.

No, we're not flying off again.

We're picking up these guys.

While my son and DIL attend a college reunion Bill and I get to play with the kids.

We have a fun packed weekend planned complete with a few sewing projects, walks on the beach and Disneyland!

My. Oh. My.

Photos to follow.

Encourage one another,