Notes from the Patch

On the road again

Bill and I are off to Vegas bright and early. We'll be attending the textile show there as well as squeezing in some time for gambling and dinners at a couple of our favorite restaurants. We're the only couple I know that really likes Las Vegas and we love having the excuse of work to go.

This is one of those quirky shows where I find all kinds of random things like bird cage veil from New York, feathers from I don't want to know where and unique trims and ribbons. I just never know what I'll find that I didn't know I needed. That's the coolest thing about this show - you know, besides the location.

I'm charging my camera as I type so hopefully I'll have some show and tell for you all tomorrow.

Wish us luck and some good shopping!

Super Weekend

Bill and I played hookie Friday and ran away to Ventura. I spent two of the last three days in my jammies. I think it was just what I needed.

Friday Kara kept texting me...sold a serger...sold a machine...just unpacked a pallet of gifts and some cute owl flannel. Nothing makes a momma happier than getting a day away and knowing her kids can take care of business!

Today I got dressed and headed south. No football for me. I was hitting the mall and I scored a couple of fun new things. Let me just say It was really great to see the stores sporting so many bright colors. They say bright colors are a predictor of stronger economic times ahead. If sewing machine sales and color are any indication I'd say things are definitely looking up!

I did a bit of valentine making while I was lounging about - I'll show you those on Tuesday.

Now it's off to bed. I have another busy week ahead and can't wait to get home so I can show you what's new!

Encourage one another,

 

 

Angry Birds

I've resisted Angry Birds for months. I'd heard about the power of those feathered creatures and I wanted no part of them. My life is consumed enough with blogs and Facebook and Twitter. I just knew my schedule couldn't handle one more computer generated diversion.

But, (you knew this was coming didn't you) while we were visiting our grandsons they wanted to play Angry Birds on my iPad. You know, to see how it would look on that big, beautiful screen. And me being the doting grandmother that I am, I obliged.

They each took turns showing me how it was played. Nathan was especially adept; easily traversing the obstacles and blowing up those greedy green pigs. Innocent enough.

Umm, right.

As we said our goodbyes and headed for home I thought I'd give Angry Birds a try. Afterall, I-5 is a long boring drive and my husband's driving sometimes makes me a bit nervous. I'm a better passenger went I'm not looking at the road and he is definitely a happier driver when I'm not looking at the road. 

Four blocks from  home Bill noted that I had been playing that game non stop for the past five hours. I asked if he could just drive around  for a few more minutes while I completed level two.

As we pulled into the garage I deleted the game.

Damn birds!

Encourage one another,

 

 

 

 

Can you guess what Michael is doing in these photos?

 

 

 

He's laying in provisions for the big block party Monday night. Just wait until you see what we have planned for these babies. Bwahahaha...

Encourage one another,

 

Today...

My bed is litered with plans and idea books. I'm taking it easy today getting ready for the wild ride that awaits me over the next two months.

Plans are being formalized, I've had my first meeting with my uber talented cabinet maker (I hope my budget can support what is in my head!), and demolition starts this week on the new space. I have multiple appointments over the next few weeks with sales reps - after all I've gotta fill up all those fabulous shelves that Dennis is building me. We should be in our new store by April 1st!

Thank you for your ideas on what you'd like to see in a quilt store:

Hot tub

Fire pit

Cabana boys

Coffee bar

Homemade fudge

All great ideas. Keep em coming!

Enjoy the big game and encourage one another,

 

Our new normal

It's funny this thing called grief.

Right after Jeff passed away I felt a sense of relief. Relief that he wasn't suffering any longer. Relief that the twenty-four hour care was over. (Selfish of me I guess, but we were all so tired - Jeff, Cherene Bill and I). Relief that Jeff was in the loving arms of our Lord, finally able to breath deeply again.

Yesterday Cherene arrived with the boys.

Just the three of them.

As I was preparing the house for their arrival I starting  thinking about how this was our new normal. The three of them and Bill and me. Five instead of six.

My grief has gone from relief to sadness.

I miss my boy.

What I wouldn't do to have Jeff here with us, whole and well. To be able to have him walk out on that football field and be recognised with the rest of his team mates for their four consecutive Valley Championships. To fill that empty chair at our dinner table. To brag about my collections  and my decorating like he used to do

 

and to eat just one more smiley face cookie and get crumbs all over the floor. (Well maybe I don't miss the crumb part).

  

 

Last night we went to the game.  

Just the five of us.

It reminded Bill and me of those crisp fall evenings when we cheered on Jeff's team while we drank hot chocolate and ate hot dogs in the stands.

 

We wore green and white

  

 

 

and stood on the sidelines at half time and cheered the boys  through the tunnel

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

and we cheered again when they scored.

 

Some things never change.

Sadly somethings do.

Encourage one another,

 
 

 

 

 

Weekend report

How's your weekend going?

Mine is going way too fast.

I worked on my Tutorial Tuesday post yesterday and today then cleaned up my mess. I usually don't get my sewing mess cleaned up until Sunday afternoon so I'd say I'm ahead of the game.

Tonight it's fajitas and ritas and a competitive game of gin.

Tomorrow we're driving up the coast to Santa Barbara for some furniture shopping.

I have a bee in my bonnet that I want this table

and this light fixture.

 

I'm crazy about the French Industrial look or whatever Restoration Hardware is calling it. They've totally reinvented themselves and I really like their new look and direction. I'm thinking it will work in our beach house; helping me blend my love of all things French with a rustic seaside cottage look. All without costing us an arm and a leg.

I just want Bill's opinion. He always has such good instincts. I'll let you know.

Enjoy you Sunday wherever it takes you..

Encourage one another,

You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em

For me selling fabric is a lot like playing cards.

Case in point.

We got this big, beautiful new collection of flannels in called Winter Whites.

Have you ever seen a full fifteen yard bolt of flannel?

It's huge. Kind of like the Pillsbury doughboy on steroids. Very round and poofy.

Multiply that by sixteen bolts and you're taking up some serious real estate.

We had flannel everywhere. In the front of the store and in the storeroom just sitting and waiting for patterns to arrive so we could make kits.

After a month or so and still no patterns I started getting a little nervous and a whole lot tired of stepping over fat bolts of flannel. So we cut some up and made bundles.

Those original bundles of fluff all sold so we cut more.

On Tuesday Annette announced that we were out of bundles again and asked if she should cut more and risk running short of fabric for our kits.  My call was to cut them. My thought was that the flannel was selling so well that way and who knew if we'd ever get the patterns in.

Well, guess what came on Wednesday?

Um humm.

The patterns.

So now we don't have enough fabric for the beautiful butterfly border. Oh, we have plenty of pretty little bundles tied up in tulle, but not enough yardage to cut borders or sashing.

If only I had waited just one more day...

Reminds me a lot of my gin games with Bill. You know when you have two big ol kings and wait and wait for that third king and all you can think about is getting caught with those twenty points and your palms get all sweaty and finally you cave and discard a king and on the very next turn you draw...you guessed it a king?

Yeah, like that!

Timing...

          a very tricky thing to get right.

Encourage one another,

If you would like to be added to the waiting list for our Winter Dreams kit let us know. Replacement fabric is on its way and should be here the first of August. In the mean time I will resist the urge to cut more bundles.

Road trip

It seems like I've been packing all day.

It's going to be a busy week!

     

Sunday morning bright and early I'm off to the Ventura Flea Market just down the street. It's an RJ Canning production and friends Penne and Beverly say it's always great.

I haven't been to a good flea market in years. Collecting old stuff used to be such a passion of mine. You know, all those old toys that decorate the store, red transfer ware and of course old quilts. I just kind'a got tired of all that stuff for awhile, feeling like I'd like rather be a vendor than a buyer. But now I'm ready for a new search. Maybe some old sheet music, books, keys and other stuff to scrap with. I just love the thrill of the hunt. Even in the cold. And in the dark!

Then later Sunday Bill and I fly to Vegas for a textile show. This is a small show (and very poorly attended) but we like Vegas and we love any excuse to go and eat and play a bit. I'll be shopping the show then will meet Bill for a yummy dinner at Bouchon or maybe Il Mulino.

Tuesday afternoon we fly from Vegas to Louisiana for some red fishing in the bayous. I have a horrible fear of alligators and they say we may see some so you can bet my hands and feet will be well inside the boat!

What do you pack for fishing in the bayous?

My cameras are charged and my computer is packed (along with just about everything else I own).

Are you all up for a little road trip?

Gett'n Wordy

        

My first seven letter word and quite apropos wouldn't you agree? The absence of the ubiquitous Saturday night margarita could have contributed to my clearer thinking.

For whatever reason.

Sweet.