Pre-Market Rush

Spring Quilt Market is just 2 weeks away now.  I have been using every minute of every day to get things ready.  Of course I never will be.  It's like housework, you never are really done.  There is always more to do.  Eventually, it just comes anyway, ready or not.

I have some great surprises to share with you at Market.  I have been asked to design and execute (now there's a word) the booth for Henry Glass Fabrics.  I am so excited about this.  It is getting close enough that I can share a bit about it.

We are doing a travel theme for the HG booth:

HENRY GLASS FABRICS 

. . . .Your Fabric Destination!

Oh my, the things I have planned!  First of all the booth has a whole new look, and we will have demos going on, and prizes and games, and all kinds of fun stuff.  Free stuff, too.  

I know that most of you are not shop owners, so you will not be there, but I will still share all the fun with you, and we will have prizes here, too, so you can join in the fun.  Every day at Market I will post a few photos and we will give some stuff away.  

If you are a shop owner, please DO come visit the Henry Glass folks in booth # 931.  Just watch for the airplanes. . .

. . . more to come later about the Henry Glass Travel adventures!

In addition to doing the HG booth, my Jillily Studio booth is right across the way in booth #936!  It is going to be awesome, too!  We have some big plans.  I just hope I can get this all done.  

On top of this, I am still working on 3 more new projects and I have to write the patterns.  Which, as you know is my least favorite thing to do.  So of course, once again, I have put it off to the very last minute.  I wonder if I will ever learn?

I have been sewing on some appliqué today, in between running errands and computer work.  (There is always so much PRINTING that needs to be done before Market, and I tend to forget that.)  

I have had this quilt running around in my head ever since I first designed the Poppy Patio fabric line.  It's called California Dreamin' because of the sunny colors, and of course, the poppy--California's state flower.  I got the center and one corner basted on today, (Yay, Appli-Glue) with a little bit of stitching. (Yay, Aurifil thread!)  I need to finish this tomorrow.  (doubtful)  So it may just go to the quilter without the stitching done.  (sounds familiar.)

This one, however, is already quilted and just needs to be bound.  Now that is a record!  I don't think I have ever had a new project ready for Market a whole 2 WEEKS ahead!

 All of these new projects have used the strike-off fabrics--samples that I get before the fabric is printed.  It has been a challenge to work with such small pieces and still get a quilt done.  I have 6 new strike-off projects for Market this time.  I can't wait to show them to the shops.  I really hope they like them!

The Jillily booth plans are coming together.  If you are at Market, please come see me!

POPPY PATIO is out

Just a little reminder that my new line, POPPY PATIO is now available to order.

  It will not ship until August, but be sure to get your orders in now so you will be guaranteed delivery. This is for shops, of course.  If you are just a sewist, and not a shop, you will have to wait for it to show  up in stores--but you can encourage your local shop to order it!

I have been working like crazy to get all the new samples made up for Market.

As you can see, there is still plenty left to do, but new patterns will be coming out soon!  I am also working on a tote bag, another lap size quilt, pin cushions, and a couple of other projects.  Don't worry, it is still weeks away--and reality has not yet set in.   So I am optimistic.

Oh no.

I just realized that I also have to write all these patterns.  Not the best part.  I usually consider a project "done" when I make it.  Then I have to go back and remember how in the world I did it!!  I wish I had the discipline to write as soon as I sew.  But since it is much more fun to sew, and there are all these ideas flying around in my head, well, you get the idea.


So you can see all the pieces in the line, here are a few shots of the color card.  (My highly technical method of showing you--actually, you can view the whole collection at the Henry Glass site.)

 As usual, there is a free pattern with the line.  You will be able to download the pattern on my website or on the Henry Glass website.  Shops who order the whole line can get pattern sheets for free if they ask.

Whew.  I guess I better get sewing!  What fun things are you working on?

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

I just got home from a family quilt retreat this weekend.  This is our annual Family Pieces event that I have told you about before.   My sister Margaret and I along with our girls were in charge this year.  (This rotates around.)  We decided to use the theme of "Mission Impossible" for the retreat.

That really got our ideas pumping.  We came up with all kinds of "spy" stuff for our event.  First of all, the invitation.  It had to be covert, of course, and highly technical.  So we sent a "TOP SECRET" envelope to each "agent" in the family.  Inside the envelope was a thumb drive, and nothing else.

When the "agent" received the drive, she plugged it into her computer and this video came up:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

There was a downloadable registration form with all the special ops information on it.

Next, we prepared for the retreat.  We planned our quilt project--more about that later--and the food and the classes and all the little extras that make it fun.  When the agents arrived at the cabin, they checked the FPI (Family Pieces Intelligence) Bulletin to get a room assignment and table spot to set up.

Notice the picture of "M" on the left.  Mom was always so great to participate at quilt retreat.  We had to include her even if just "in spirit!"  (We also thought about making JoJo "Q" since he is into gadgets, but we didn't get around to it.)  Yes, I realize that we are mixing spy movies here, but hey, it's our party, so we can!

The training agents really put on a fun, but challenging retreat.  Let's just say we won't soon forget the 2013 retreat!

After everyone was checked in, we all met in the "briefing room" for an orientation.  We had 28 agents this year.  Some of them were working on special ops, so we only did 21 quilts.

Each agent was given a brief case filled with important spy stuff,  First, there's your passport so you can fulfill your missions.  Then you will need to know who is on your team--so you have an Agent Dossier for each member.  There were 5 teams.  Our agenda was written in code, and you will need a color evaluator to read it.  Then of course there were the spy sunglasses, to keep us incognito.  Top it off with a coupon for a quilt shop and some candy (I ate most of mine already).

Then we went to work.  We sewed and we sewed.  Our team had to make  2037 diamond blocks!  
Crazy.
I know.  Well, NOW I know.

 I didn't really think about how long it would take when we were planning it. (Note to self:  Maybe I should have considered that.)

We had 6 quilters on our team, and we DID IT!!  We did get some help from other teams when they finished.  Overall, we figured that we sewed a total of 24,004 pieces!  And we cut them, too!!   We had a bit of dissension in the ranks during the mission, but we were able to complete it anyway.  I believe this was one of our most ambitious projects.

We made all the blocks for 21 quilts.  We didn't have time to put them together (no, really?) but the majority of the work is done, so we can sew them up on our own.  We had two color-ways:  The fresh scrappy, (like mine) and a gray and white.  I think the gray and white will be stunning.  Can't wait to see it.

One of the first things I did when I got home Sunday night was to pin up some of my blocks on my design wall to see what it will look like.   I can't wait to get it sewn together!!  This is about a quarter of the quilt.  Storm at Sea has been on my bucket list for a while, and soon I will have it done!  (Just give me another 3 solid days of quilting with no interruptions.)

Every Bloomin' Thing

Have you seen it yet?   I haven't, but I can't wait!

I have a project in the new issue of McCalls Quilting magazine.  I almost forgot what it looks like!  I sent it off back in December and nearly forgot all about it.  Then I started getting calls about ordering kits, so I knew it was finally out.

I used my "Beyond the Gate" fabric collection for this fun little wall quilt.  Kits are available on my website until I run out.  (I better get cutting!)


 

They sent me the photos to share with you.  Here is what the cover of the magazine looks like.




You can find it on news stands April 2.  If you have a subscription, you should be getting it soon.

I think this project photo is darling.  Don't they do a great job?  McCall's is definitely one of my favorite quilting magazines.  Don't you agree?  I love that hat.  It makes me want to go out and pull some weeds or plant something!

Here is a link so you can see my project page on the McCall's website.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/Every_Bloomin_Thing_Charming_Pieced_Appliqued_Wall_Quilt_Pattern

I just got back from the St. George show.  It was so nice to visit with my sisters and friends from that part of the state.  Two of my fellow Henry Glass designers live there, so we had a fun dinner together.  Thanks to Dana for hosting it!

Barbara Jones,  Me,  Dana Brooks,  Janet Platt,  Judy Torgerson

Do you have big plans for Easter?  Hope you have a happy one!

Snow, Flowers and Kits

Last weekend we made a quick trip up to the Tetons.  It was still winter up there.  But the views are to die for.  We took JoJo on a trip so he could stay in a hotel.

He loves to pack a suitcase and go to a hotel so he can swim in the hot tub, get ice from the machine in the hall, and eat waffles in the lobby.  He has all the "hotel basics" down!  He has had his suitcase packed for several weeks, waiting to go on a trip.  Randy and I both travel for work, and it is hard on JoJo to be left behind with his suitcase ready.

So we planned a quick little trip just for him.  But I loved it!! I loved the beautiful scenery and the no-rush drive, through places I don't see often.  It was a simple thing, so very memorable.

I do love winter, and the snow.  It is so pretty and covers up all of the dirt and weeds when we are tired of summer.  But I am getting tired of it now.  I found these flowers at the grocery store, and I had to have them.  They guarantee that spring will eventually come.  It already has, somewhere, and it must be just around the corner here...

They are so cheerful.  Just makes me smile.

So I am getting ready to leave on another trip.  This time to St. George, (where Spring has already come) for a quilt show there this weekend.  If you are in the area, do stop by and see me at the Gems of the Desert Quilt Show.  I have been busy cutting kits to get ready.

It seems like every surface in my studio is covered with some sort of project in some stage of done-ness.
I guess that is a sign that either I am very busy or very disorganized.  Or maybe both.  Or maybe I feel busy because I am so disorganize.  Yup.  That's it.

Lipstick?

The other day. . . . 

I was reaching in my purse.... now where is my lipstick???  Oh, there it is....

Same shape, same size, good color, wait,  that's not lipstick!!!  HA, HA.  I had a good laugh with (at) myself!

Aurifil thread--how I love you--I carry you around in my purse, just in case I may need you!

That reminds me. . .I just got some more of my Aurifil Everyday Colors collection in.  Yay!

You can order them on my website, or ask your local quilt shop--they can get them for you, too!


Now, changing the subject, I promised that I would tell you when the next installment of my PDQ Club is up and a free pattern is ready to download over at the Henry Glass Blog.

It is up today, and last month's winner was chosen.  Go check it out (at the Henry Glass Blog) and leave a comment there, because there are always prizes!

HINT: You will want to see it because I am using the new Poppy Patio line!

Sun Dress

Well I just couldn't resist posting pictures of Emmy in the little dress I made.  After all, I had only shown you the front of the dress, so these pictures are completely justified, right?

In order to get the fullness in the back of the dress I just did a few pleats.   They also work great with the printed pattern on the fabric.  In fact, I like them as well as the front of the dress.

What do you think?

Well, I need to go play with Emmy...talk to you later.