Thursday, May 29, 2008

Instant Bond


After a quick trip to Provo to help my brother and SIL with their son's open house, we stopped on the way out of town to have lunch with my youngest 2 daughter's birth cousin. That sounds confusing...My youngest 2 girls are adopted and just last year we found a family who had adopted a boy who turns out to be their cousin (long story that I'll save for another day). My girls couldn't have been happier to hear that news and they instantly bonded with him. So did the rest of us. Our families are now good friends and will always have a special friendship. I consider them family.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Rubbing Elbows


While at market, we get to meet with many of the designers whose names we see often at our favorite quilt stores. My niece Mary (on the far right) and her roommate Kristine (center) were very anxious to meet Amy Butler. Amy's so personable and takes time with everyone who comes to her booth. Her booth, by the way, was darling as usual. Notice the cute aprons the girls are wearing from our booth.

More Market




Here's a few goodies I picked up at Sample Spree. The bag was full of Sandi Henderson's new line of fabric, Ginger Blossom. Even the inside of the bag was lined with one of her fabrics. I also picked up a new fat quarter pack from Andover and one from Benartex. Now I'm thinking of a pattern I can design to feature these new fabrics.

Market

My sister, Jan the Apron Lady, being interviewed for a podcast which should air later this week on Boutiquecafe.com.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Spring Market

Third time to the International Quilt Market. It hasn't lost its charm yet. I'm still amazed at the sheer vastness of the whole thing. There were 1000 vendors, each booth cuter and more creative than the last. Setting up the booth is definitely the hardest part. We stayed in a 2* hotel right across the street so that we could carry our boxes back and forth. The hotel was a bit scary, but worth the close proximity. There was a heat wave in Portland and several trips of carrying boxes and pushing baggage carts took its toll. The first thing I wanted to do was put up the incredible curtains that Diane Beagley had made for the booth. I was so excited to see them up and my anticipation paid off. They were a hit. Everyone commented on them and told us they had never seen anything like them.
The crowd of women waiting in the picture below is the beginning of the line for Sample Spree which takes place the night before market. Women start lining up around noon and the sale begins at 8pm that night and lasts for 2 hours. It's a wonderful kind of quilting fabric/gadget frenzy. I've included a few pictures from Sample Spree and market. My sister Jan, the Apron Lady, has a wonderful talent for design and fabric choices. Her aprons are different than any others we saw there and are now in the top ten for pattern sales for one of the major distributors. Her aprons are feminine, a little flirty and so easy to make. My daughter Kristina who's 12 made her Flirty Skirty apron and couldn't believe how easy it was.
All in all, it was a great market. I'll post a few more pictures later and tell a few more stories.



Saturday, May 10, 2008

Mother's Day



Here's my cute mom! How did she do it-raised 12 adopted children and has remained the most graceful, loving and caring woman I know. She takes care of my dad, he takes care of her. What else could a daughter want. I hope she knows how special she is. Actually, I hope we all never forget to let her know daily how special she is. Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! I love you.

I know it's Spring, but...

So I know it's Spring, and I love Spring with all the colors, new growth, new hope, flowering trees and plants, but Fall is still my favorite. The colors of Fall soothe my soul and the smells take me to another place. Here's my Autumn Hunter's Star quilt. I made this a couple years ago and I hestitate to take it down off my walls but I rotate all my quilts fairly frequently. I rotate to save them from too much sun exposure and also to shake things up around the house-- can't let it get too stagnant.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Box of Batiks

I never seem to tire looking at this quilt whenever I enter the room. It was so easy and fun to make. I'm definitely going to make another one. You basically draw a grid onto the background fabric, fabric glue the squares down and sew over the top of them 1/4" from their edges.

Just getting going....

Kind of a strange way to say something "just getting going" but that's what I'm doing-kind of spinning my wheels right now. At least my engine's running, right?