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September 5, 2009

I have an announcement, Quotes for Today,Cool things I love,Quilting Cartoon,Pet Beds,Your Color Fix for Today

WOO HOO...HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I am truly excited to announce my collaboration with Avlyn Fabrics as one of their fabric designers. My first collection is fun, fresh, and whimsical.
The kind of fabric that makes you happy!


When I first put my pencil to paper, my thoughts were of you, the quilter, sewer and crafter. We LOVE color and that was a no brainer for me as I am a huge lover of color too. I designed this first collection with some of the things I love......can you tell I am being quite secretive??? Believe me, I am full of anticipated excitement to show you the finished fabrics.....but we are still working on a "name" and finishing up the coordinates. I know in my heart you will love it!

So....how did this happen for me? Jaye Lapachet, a friend of mine from San Francisco,CA has an amazing blog called ARTQUILTMAKER where she posts a word prompt every week.

Sherri Dodds of Little Rock AK and I became the first two "joiners" illustrating what the word prompt meant to us. Sherri's blog name is " The Lazy Quilter" which is sooooo not true!
We really got excited about this and Sherri's son Tommy drew this little "cow" which became the icon you click on to get to Jaye's prompt page on her blog. Sherri and I put this icon up on our blogs and the word prompts began spreading to others. You should join us. You don't have to draw, you can do anything you want to portray the word prompt...even photos!!!


My good good sewing buddies who are more than just sewing buddies, saw my illustrations and told me it would be great in fabric.

So, the idea was planted.

Well....not exactly true. Mom and dad had told me years back that I should design fabric, but I had been busy writing quilt books, designing patterns, teaching and lecturing for symposiums, quilt guilds and quilt shows.
I had a "time" problem ..or so I thought....


Charlotte Angotti, a good friend of mine calls me on my cell and says "Are you coming to Quilt Market and showing your designs to the Fabric Manufacturers?" Ummm....gulp!
"Um, no Charlotte" I tell her, "I have no room to stay there, and hadn't thought I could go."
"Get whatever designs you have packed up, get in the car
and get your butt to Pittsburgh!"
No time to think....this is the best way for me to get this done!

So......in the car I go and I am off to Quilt Market in Pittsburgh, the mega market of the quilt world, where designers, quilt shop owners buy for their shops, pattern and fabric companies and artists all show what "new", you know...that superlicious eye candy we all want!


I arrive at Quilt Market 6 hours later (drove in torrential pouring rain) and am greeted by Charlotte Angotti of Quilt Maker's Studio
and Debbie Caffrey of Debbie's Creative Moments.
I stayed with Debbie and perused Market with Charlotte.


My little design pad under my arm, I made my way to fabric companies who loved what I showed and eager to sign right there or talk after wards.




The last company I went to was Avlyn where Karen Combs was sitting and showing her newest fabric designs....very yummy I may say! Karen and I made a lunch date where we chatted, ate great food and I showed her my designs.
I loved listening and learning about Avlyn. Karen was eager for me to meet and show Avlyn's president my designs. She intuitively knew that I would fill a niche and what I had to show was fresh, unique and FUN!
And what can I say.....the rest in history in the making! My first line of fabric will be at Quilt Market in Houston this fall....and I can't wait till I can show you the first collection.....stay tuned to my blog to see.

YOUR QUOTES FOR TODAY

Cool Things I Love

It never ceases to amaze me the inventive things that people create.
I would love to see the reaction of people when this crocheted covered bus passes them by.
Just check out those lug nuts!

And on the opposite end of the creativity spectrum, I think this crotchet covered piano with lace accents is just gorgeous. I can already hear a beautiful ballad being sung.



YOUR QUILTING CARTOON FOR TODAY
PET BEDS
How about dipping into your stash and use it up
by making your dog or kitty a pet bed?

Here are some great links to click on and
learn how to make your own:
Make and build dog stuff
Weekend Pro
ject
How to Sew a Dog Bed Cover
Patchwork Dog Bed
Pet Bed with Pillow ba
cks










YOUR COLOR FIX FOR TODAY

August 20, 2009

Zoie, Inside My Classroom, What do you do with...,Mini blast from the past, You Color Fix for Today

Hello everyone! It seems forever since my last post ( 3 weeks!), but I have had my head buried in designing and soon I can tell you what that all means...just make sure to stay tuned to my blog ...wink wink.

I usually need to give some though to what I want as my first picture when I post, but I knew I wanted to start with these great tiles for some inspiration. I LOVE the color combo (notice the sashing...um, I mean red grout), I love the simplicity of the design and oh how I wish I had these in my home.
Before we get to the quilty,sewing,fiber stuff....little Zoie has been begging for her spot here. If you remember not that long ago when she was a wee baby, she claimed the title as my assistant and I have neglected to show her updates on how big she has gotten. If only we all could "Live what we Love" just as little Zoie does everyday.
Yes, Zoie still has a big head....ya gotta love it! She really is a great doggie that I love dearly. She behaves perfectly, listens well and makes me smile and belly laugh every single day. She's a corgi for sure.....and they are known to be clowns, and she is most definitely a clown!
Zoie is learning to fetch a frisbee. She's getting the hang of it and has caught a few in the air, but I am thinking that since the frisbee is bigger than her head and 1/2 as long as her body, it make take her awhile. She doesn't think so though. She is GREAT at bringing it back for a little treat.
Ok....onwards to:

INSIDE MY CLASSROOM

Class: Floral Delights
Location: MAQ Retreat in Maryland.
Meet Jennifer DeCamp from Chantilly, VA
Jennifer never , ever appliqued in her life before and actually is not a fan of hand work,and she most certainly let me know this from the beginning, and the middle of class !!! I am sporting a huge grin here. Jennifer is a great student. Attention to detail, wanting to learn about colors, contrast and a general all over beautiful piece. She worked hard........
and at the end of class she told me she LOVED applique, loved hand applique! WOOHOOOOO!!! And the next day she brought in her whole piece totally finished. Kudo's to you Jennifer....can't wait to see the Panda and Baby done from the pattern you purchased! See ya next year.
Love, love this funky vase.

Happy, bright yellow back ground...now I only wish I remembered to pull my camera out before everyone left at the end of class.
Now that smile tells me this is one super duper student.
One thing I promise is that if you never appliqued, you will be after my classes. Look at all that got done in this full day class!
And from the BeeHive class......
Class: The BeeHive
Location: MAQ Retreat in Maryland

I get lots and lots of young and upcoming quilters and a huge applause to those, moms, grandma's and friends that introduce the younger generation to quilting.

The BeeHive Class in part hand and part machine applique and the introduction to making 1/8" bias tape for your beehives......very easy.....my students can testify!


And a spoof played on a student. She signed up for my class a long time before the retreat. Again, another non appliquer....I am smiling again! Her mom and 2 sisters also were taking classes at retreat and bought this lawn ornament and hid it in the car trunk. At lunch time, she was bestowed with a Beehave sign. I LOVE IT.
We had a blast teasing and laughing over how she was being dubbed by family as the queen bee.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH......??????
What do you do with......
Spare Time

Whip up a car cozy??? Especially for that ferrari parked in your garage!
What do you do with......
Extra blocks
Modge Podge it on a suitcase! Cute!!!
What do you do with......
Extra Yarn and Time
Hang out at the pier and crochet???? Hmmmm
What do you do with......
Wooden Spools

Make a little family...great projects for kids and of course for all us creative types
What do you do with......
Furniture

Make a super cool ironing board of course!
I LOVE this idea. If you want to know all the particulars.....hop over (after you read my blog of course!) to The Married Squirrels blog and check out their tutorial.
What do you do with......
Extra Hoops

Hoop up fabric for little bulletin boards....love this idea for that hard to cut fabric!
What do you do with......
Wall Plates
Cover them with fabric...great idea!

Mini Blast from the Past
A minor interruption from funny canine photos......
(This is a corgi...just like Zoie)
YOUR COLOR FIX FOR TODAY






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