Notes from the Patch

What If

April marks my little stores twenty fifth anniversary. How could all this time have past so quickly?

I've always felt so blessed to be in a business surrounded by wonderful women all day every day. Many of my customers have been with me from the very beginning. Twenty five year old friendships that would have never blossomed if it hadn't been for this store.

I've always said I have the most wonderful customers in the world and I really believe that I do.

But it wasn't until I opened up to my blog readers and shared about my cancer and now about our son's ALS that I truly understood how special you all are. Your outpouring of love and support overwhelms me. Such wonderful caring dear women that are so good and loving.

I hardly feel worthy.

Sweet, sweet women who come up to me and put their arms around me and without saying a word, I know.  I know they care and are hurting for me.

When I first shared about my cancer my family said, "I can't believe you did that". You see I'm an extremely private person so telling the world that I was facing surgery was so unlike me. But I just felt compelled to share, to open up to you, my friends. And what I got in return was nothing short of a miracle. I literally felt your love and prayers as they wheeled me into that operating room. Bill too felt a peace and we both knew I would be fine.

Now, looking back on that experience I believe that God was preparing me for this journey with Jeff. He knew it would be tough and he knew I wasn't ready. No one can go through something like this without faith and the love and support of family and friends. He lead me to reach out in a way I never had before. He taught me to draw from the strength of others. He taught me how important it is to connect with one another.

As you know I believe everything that happens to us happens for a reason.

Insecure,  private, "dumb bell" English taking me, writing a blog for the world to read? Really. How bazaar is that? What if I'd never started this blog? I can't even imagine going through this without you all here by my side.

I know I'm rambling here. But today as Barbara came up to me and hugged me while saying that I didn't know her but that she was a blog reader and just needed to come give me a hug in person - at that very moment I got it. After twenty five years I got it. It wasn't about fabric, or sales goals or being on the cover of quilt magazines. It was about the connection we all feel for one another as loving, praying, caring human beings.

So with tears streaming down my face I just want to say thank you. Thank you for caring and praying and being there for me and my family. I love and appreciate you all more than you will ever know.

Encourage one another,

What I believe

    
I can say without reservation that this has been the hardest year of my life.

Have you ever wanted to know what the upcoming year has in store for you? If someone could tell you what 2010 would bring, would you want to know?

If someone had told me a year ago what this year had in store for me and my family I doubt that I would have believed it - I certainly wouldn't have wanted to know ahead of time.

Thankfully there have been many blessings this year along with all the trials. I prefer to dwell on the blessings.

This summer I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I've never had surgery and never even had a regular doctor so the news that I had cancer came as a total shock. With lots of prayer from friends and family I sailed through the surgery and had a good three month follow up check. Through my illness I came to realize the power of prayer first hand and the importance of love and support from our friends and my blog readers. I see my cancer as a blessing in my life. If I had the choice, I think I would choose to go through it all again. It helped me understand the connection we all have to one another and helped me see what is most important in my life.

Bill and I recently put our Ventura home up for sale. His business is dependent on the economy and the housing market and business has been terrible. Bill was forced to close two stores and lay off many wonderful employees. This has been a very stressful and sad time for us financially. I am so thankful for the two years we've had our weekend home and feel so blessed for every day we've spent there. We trust everything will work out and I believe that God has wonderful things in store for us in the future.

This summer it became evident that our oldest son Jeff was having health issues. In December we received the devastating news that he has ALS and Frontal Lobe Dementia. Bill and I are now faced with the hardest thing any parent can be asked to do; to help our son and our whole family prepare for his journey into eternity. We are heartbroken for our son and his sweet family.

Up until now I've only shared all of this with just a few close friends. To be honest with you I try not to dwell on it all. I prefer to see the good in every situation and to have a positive attitude (thanks to my mom for instilling that into me). We all have a choice on how we react to circumstances; on how we handle adversity and illness. 

I believe everything that happens to me is part of The Plan for my life that was written long before I was born.This is what comforts me and allows me to go forward. I believe that God Blesses us through our own adversities and through the adversities of others. I try to see the world through His eyes and not my desires and He reminds me that all things work for the good who love and trust Him. I know that God loves me and will never forsake me. 

If I had a request it would be that you would pray for our son Jeff, his wife Cherene and their two little boys Jake and Nathan. This is going to be a hard road for them and for all of us. I also ask that you pray that God will lead Bill and me so we will know how best we can help Jeff and his family in this journey.

Attitude is a choice. I know there are many of you experiencing  difficult times right now. My prayer for you all is that you keep your eyes on what is good and that you count your blessings and trust God in your journey. He has a way of bringing joy into a life which is otherwise filled with sorrow.

Encourage one another,

Color Forcast and Stock Tip

                  
 

               

I read this morning that turquoise is the color for 2010.

I suspect the color prognosticators must have been hanging out with my granddaughter Sarah.

Seriously.

If you want to know what's cool in the world of fashion and decorating ask a nine year old.

Sarah's bedroom walls are turquoise and her favorite clothes are, you guessed it, turquoise.

Turquoise is where it's at.

Oh. And peace signs.

If you're cool you must wear peace signs.

Preferably peace signs on turquoise!

Groovy.

Encourage one another,

 

PS: Vera Bradley. According to Sarah we should all buy stock in Vera Bradley. I know! Who knew? (You can thank me later).

California Here We Come...(we hope!)

Between terrorists attacks and blizzard conditions

staying in bed, rather than traveling home from Kansas seems the smarter thing to do this morning.

So far our flight has been delayed an hour.

Just time enough for a Latte and a Starbucks hot oatmeal.

Wish us luck!

Encourage one another,

 
 

Merry Christmas

There's a good chance we won't fly home tomorrow. We're having blizzard conditions and can't even see the street! = )

  

Merry Christmas from Snowy Kansas

 

 

  Encourage one another,

 
 

Tutorial Tuesday #8 How to post a comment to my blog

 
Good customer and friend Marty popped her head in the door last week to tell me how much she enjoys my blog. Said she now makes the best satin ruffles ever thanks to my tutorials, but never has mastered the comment thing and has not been able to comment to my posts to tell me. While she was talking to me Susan chimed in that she too couldn't figure out how to comment on my blog.

Since I hear this over and over, today's Tutorial Tuesday is on how to post a comment on my blog! (From here on there will be no more excuses, kay?)

1. At the bottom of my post, below my signature, you'll see the word "comments". Click on that and it will take you to a screen with the comments that have been made.

Scroll through the hundreds of comments = ) until you come to a box where you can type in your comment.

 

Just disregard this top part unless you have one of these accounts. I think this is the part that confuses some of you.

2. Below that enter your name where it says "Name".

3. Below that enter your email address. (It will not be published on my blog)

4. Leave the "web site URL" blank unless you have a blog or website.

5. Click on the word "post".

You should see your comment at the bottom of the other comments. I receive an email saying you have posted a comment (which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and oh, so loved!)

I hope this helps all of you who have tried to comment but had trouble.

Encourage one another,

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

Saturday it was in the 80's in Ventura. We watched the boat parade and hardly needed a coat.

Monday we leave this warm sunshine to fly to Kansas where it's literally freezing.

They are predicting freezing rain and snow for Christmas.

So what on earth would draw us there this time of year? 

These guys. Our youngest son Bryan, his wife Jen and our grandchildren Sarah and Michael.

                  

I'm planning on doing some baking and sewing with them while there (anything that means staying in where it's warm - I'm such a wuss when it comes to the cold). 

I hope your Christmas is filled with the warmth of family and friends.

Encourage one another,

The Grinch who tried to steal Christmas

Sorry that I've been MIA but I'm tired.

So the phone rings at 1:00 am Wednesday.

Not good.

Whenever the phone rings in the middle of the night it's never going to be good. You can bet on that.

Especially if it's your stores alarm company.

"We have detected motion in the main room of the store. And the small classroom. And the large classroom".

Bill says to me, "Do you have a cat in there?"

I go, "I wish!"

So we throw on our clothes and drive to the store in the fog. In the middle of the night.

We are greeted by five police officers and one very big German Shepard. 

The alarm is blaring and they won't let us in to turn it off because the dog is sweeping the store looking for bad guys.

Once Rin Tin Tin deems it safe we go in to survey the damage.

Why do I always get the stupid thieves?

First this guy breaks the window that backs up to a wall of fabric so once the window is broken he has to kick in the back of the fabric shelf then push his way through the blue bolts of fabric.

We leave no money in the register and most thieves don't sew so the forty five thousand dollars worth of Bernina's has no interest to him what so ever. 

Stupid.

He did get away with two computer monitors though.

Two twenty dollar monitors.

For that it cost me $1374 in new windows and a nights lost sleep.

The funniest part was once he was in the store he was stuck. He couldn't get out since the hole he created in the fabric shelf was too small to exit through and all the doors were dead bolted.

He eventually kicked down the back door and got away.

All for two twenty dollar monitors.

So stupid!

The bright spot of the evening was that the nice police officer who wrote the report was so sweet. He was a young man with a wife, a three year old and another baby due in May. He said he had bought his wife an inexpensive sewing machine last Christmas and said she had never taken it out of the box. I sent him home with a Minkee baby blanket, a pattern and a newsletter. I told him to send his wife in and we'd help her get started.

It was 7:00am before the mess was cleaned up and the windows were replaced.

I'm definitely too old for this nonsense! 

Encourage one another,

Tutorial Tuesday #7 - Easy Table Runners

Need yet another really quick gift idea? Or perhaps a new look for your holiday table this year?

These gorgeous table runners are so easy and the fabric requirements actually makes two. So whip one up for a friend and keep one for yourself. 

The idea for this project was copied inspired from a very expensive purchased table runner. You'll just not believe how incredibly simple these are to make.  And did I say fast? Oh, yeah. I did mention that.

*************************************************************

Buy:

3 yards for backing (will make two)

2 1/8 yards for top (will make two)

3 yards medium weight woven iron on interfacing (double this for two) If you are using decorator weight fabric for your runner you can omit the interfacing.

1 yard trim or ribbon (double this for two)

These table runners will finish at 16" X 90"

Cut:

From backing fabric cut a strip 16 1/2" by 108"

From top fabric cut strip 16 1/2" by 76 1/2"

Cut one piece of interfacing 16 1/2" by 108"

Iron interfacing to wrong side of backing fabric following manufacturers instructions. (Some photos in this post show the interfacing on the backing and some don't. I made two runners while writing this post and the first one (and some photos) don't have interfacing)

Sew:

With right sides together sew the backing to the top fabric across one of the 16 1/2" ends.

All seam allowances in this project are roughly 1/4".

Helpful Hint: If you own a serger, get that puppy out and use it! This is a perfect project for a serger.

On the second end sew across leaving an opening in the center.

 

Press seams toward the backing fabric.

At this point you will have a big circle of fabric. 

Mark the center of the backing fabric and the center of the top fabric.

See. Here's the iron on interfacing on the backing.

With right sides together, pin front to back starting at the center marks and matching long raw edges. Since the backing piece is longer than the front it will have to come around to the front, creating a band at each end of the front of the runner.

Press lightly before sewing.

Sew along each long side.

Press seams to set them before turning inside out. Why you ask? Because my sewing consultant, Annette, says so. And if Annette tells me to do it you can bet I do!

Turn runner right side out through the opening you left in the middle of the one short end.

Using your point turner (remember that little white plastic thingy?) poke the corners out all square and pretty. Press well.
 

Sew ribbon or trim over the seam at the top of each band (where the backing meets the top fabric) sewing the opening you turned the whole thing through closed as you sew. Finish the ends of the trim by turning them under. Helpful Hint: This is a good time for clear thread in your bobbin and as top thread.

Here it is with the scrunched look.

Give your table runner a good final pressing and you're done.

What's that?

No, I didn't top stitch, but you could. I just didn't because the very expensive table runner I copied didn't have top stitching and I wanted to copy its very expensive look exactly.

Encourage one another,