Notes from the Patch

This guy

Only Bill would think to pack hot sauce for his hospital stay. No matter how bad he feels he wants hot sauce. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's the way he likes it and there is no changing him. (Trust me. I've tried).

And only this guy sends me flowers

every. single. time. I get a clean cancer scope. (And thankfully I've had a bunch)!

This guy got a brand new knee today and is doing just great. 

Here's to lifes blessings (and a good bottle of hot sauce).

Cheers!

Thank you everyone for all your good thoughts and prayers. You're the best!

Encourage one another,

 

Fragile. Handle with care.

I'm feeling a bit melancholy today.

Mortal.

Vulnerable.

Weepy.

Our family has some pretty heavy things on the horizon.

Bill and nine year old grandson, Nathan are both having major surgeries in the next few days.

I think we're all a bit scared, although we don't talk about it much.

We've been through our share of stuff over the last couple of years.

I know we'll get through this just fine.

But still...

...it just makes me realize how everything can change in a blink of an eye.

Life is so fragile, we need to handle it with care prayer.

If you're the praying sort, we could sure use some.

Encourage one another,

Give away - Last call

If you haven't already done so, go here and tell us what your favorite collection and quilt is. You could win this stack of 2" squares.

Six.

Count them.

SIX lovely little bundles. One  two inch square of each fabric of the following collections.

Let's take a little closer look shall we?

(Caution. Fabric squares my appear larger on your monitor than they are in real life).

(The two prizes will vary slightly).

And if that weren't enough I'm throwing in a roll of Quilt Blocks by Luckett Baker just because.

 

I'll announce the two lucky winners on Sunday.

Good luck!

Encourage one another,

Here I go again

When I shared the arrival of Russian millenary lace with you a week or so ago I wondered how many of you also had been looking for it. Seems lots of you must have since so many of you came in and called for some.

Today I bring you FOE.

(Fold Over Elastic).

In twenty five colors!

Lots of you have been asking me for FOE and I'm excited to offer such a nice, reasonably priced, selection.

Our little local bakery/gift shop sells nine inches of the stuff for $1.50. It's simply a piece of colored elastic tied in a knot for holding ponytails. A longer piece can be used as a colorful headband. Fold over elastic is the perfect hair accessory for babies through adults since it can be adorned or left plain, not to mention its original purpose of binding edges of necklines in lingerie,  tee shirts, and baby clothes. FOE can be used instead of ribbing to give your clothes that ready-to-wear look.

Fe, Fi, FOE fum

Better come and get ya some!

I'll go now...

Encourage one another,

 

Quilt Market - The Post Game Show

Before I share the last few photos from Quilt Market  I wanted to give you my impression of market and tell you what I thought the overall theme was this time.

For those of you who were sewing back in the mid to late eighties you will probably remember the embroidery hoop craze. We hooped panels, lace and appliques. Hoops became the frames that finished a project. This market was full of hooped fabric. If there was a trend. It seemed to be hoops.

That and Missoni inspired chevron zig-zags. Zig zags were everywhere. On quilts and in fabric.

Another theme would have been technology. Annette and I spent lots of time sharing information with designers and sales reps about pinterest. We talked about websites. We used our IPads on several occasions to look up inventory and information about products and once while ordering notions it was suggested that we scan what we wanted to purchase using my I Phone. Quilting sure has come a long way from the day of women sitting around a quilting frame in the church social hall!

Here are a few more photos:

This is Nancy Rink from right here in Bakersfield.

   

Nancy has been designing quilts for many of the major fabric companies in our industry and she was vending in Houston for the first time. The beautiful quilt in the background is her block of the month for Marcus Brothers. Nancy is very highly regarded by the various companies she works with and her work is simply beautiful. Congratulations Nancy, you  are amazing.

This is Anna Maria Horner chatting with a shop owner in her booth.

She featured velveteen in her new line and the quilt hanging behind the couch was made like we do our Minkee blankets - pieced without batting or quilting. She called it a receiving blanket for adults. Fun!

We loved this new sewing book by Sarai Mitnick. The Sewing Handbook has a delightful vintage feel with well written, easy to understand instructions. 

This booth always stops me in my tracks. Kellie from Don't Look Now! does the most intricate work and it seems so intimidating. Upon closer inspection I realized everything was raw edge applique and Kellie quilts 

all of her quilts with her Bernina 440!

Who do we have here? Well if it's not Mr Amy Butler. AKA David Butler. This was David's first show as a designer. (I'm sorry you can't see his oh, so blue eyes). Lots of you want his circle quilt pattern, due out in February.

This next photo is for my friend Margaret . Isn't it adorable? It's needle felted. Darling!

 That's it. It was a great show and we found so many exciting fabrics, books and patterns that will be arriving from now until May of 2012.

Encourage one another,

 

Quilt Market - Day Two and a Give-away

It was breakfast at Moda for us on day two. An early morning appointment with lattes surrounded by beautiful quilts and gorgeous fabric. This is always my favorite appointment of the show. We meet an hour before opening and get to work in a nearly empty hall. It's a great time to view and photograph quilts and see collections without the crowds.

Annette and I loved many of Moda's twenty two new collections. Here are a few of the ones we bought:

This is Papillon by 3 Sisters

Designed from an 1860's quilt found in an European flea market, this beautiful group includes delicate botanicals in faded reds, dusty pinks, and muted aquas with touches of stone. We look forward to the arrival of the complete collection in February, Precuts and kits for the above quilt will also be available.

This is A Walk in the Woods by Aneela Hoey. This charming collection has a sweet storybook feel with candy colors featuring Little Red Riding Hood and her crafty fox friend.

 A Walk in the Woods will also arrive in February.

We loved this quilt (left) by Basic Grey. Hello Luscious is just that. Stylish. Provocative. Charming and just plain luscious! Hello Luscious will be here in February.

I wish this photo was better. The quilt is made from Layer Cakes (10" squares) from Cosmo Crickets, Salt Air collection. It has a warm vintage feel with beach themed prints. I adore it. We'll have fabric and kits in March.

This is California Girl by Fig Tree. Love the big 20" blocks in this quilt. All fabric, precuts and kits for this quilt will arrive mid March.

Let me know if you'd like to win these:

 

They are cute little 2" squares. Each individual stack represents a complete new Moda collection. I'll do a random drawing and two lucky winners will each receive six mini packs. To be entered in my drawing tell me which of the above quilts you like best.

Good luck!

Tomorrow I'll show you the last of my Quilt Market photos which includes promised photo of Amy Butler's husband, David.

You won't want to miss it.

Encourage one another,