Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness...don't you just love that phrase? I started thinking about it after reading Anna Maria's blog this morning http://www.annamariahorner.blogspot.com/. It is so touching and as always she has such a way with words! I know I would love to have Anna as a friend just from the way she writes.

So many of you email me with kind words, photos and stories each and every one touches my heart! I am always amazed at what a small world it is, how one kind word can spread from person to person, and how we are all connected. So if you're having a bad day, go out and do something kind for someone. It will generate a chain reaction that you won't be able to stop. Did you know that there is actually a foundation called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation? http://www.actsofkindness.org/ What a great way to share some kindness!

I was so touched by this photo I had to share it with you. It was sent to me in an email from Susie Boeckmann. Susie is expecting a baby and her mother made all the things for the nursery out of "My Sweet Baby" fabric! Bumper pads, quilt, receiving blanket and bed skirt. She is still working on the curtains! I just can't imagine that my fabric will welcome a new baby! Thank you Susie for sharing with me! Your kindness has made my day! (:

A Treasure of a Day!

Off we went early this morning, Chelsea in the front seat and furniture dolley in the back. On the hunt for treasures for our new home. Treasures that don't cost a lot and look like they did...and look at what we found! A shabby chic buffet for $175.00 and a crystal lamp for $26.00! I promptly placed it against the dining room wall and now it's waiting for pictures and accessories. Decorate it I shall! The lamp needs a slightly larger shade, but that should be easy to find. I'm just so excited!

To make my day more of a treasure, when I got home a package was waiting from my good friend Anne Bryson. (Yes, she's my assistant, but my friend first.) Seems she went shopping at market and bought this pattern from Barri Sue at Bareroots http://www.bareroots.com/. Then she came home and made me this darling little candle mat, in pink check wool, with bunnies! Does it get any better? The little pink jar I added, filled with buttons, came from Target...shabby chic bathroom section. Perfect for this little vignette! Thank you Anne!

Cat Dog!

We've had the strangest weekend! We are a kitty household. Pure kitties. Never a single thought of a dog. If I had to pick a dog it would be a Collie like Lassie, or a Corgi, or one of those "regular" dogs. So look what we came home with from the hardware store! A Chihuahua that we've named Chelsea. We ran into a lady selling this little dog and my husband fell in love with her (the dog, not the lady). So she's ours! He shelled out the money for her right then and there.

She sleeps in a little pink cat bed and we're training her to use the litter box! Yes, today she went in the litter box 3 times. I still take her outside so she doesn't get an identity problem. Yesterday was spent getting shots at Pet Food Express and a microchip that says she belongs to us. Guess she's home! If you had told me this was going to happen I would say you were crazy. No explaining the bond between man and his dog...(:

Desperate Times!

I'm going to share with you the stupid thing I did even if it means you all say what a dummy! Yes, I am a dummy, but a funny one! One of the little perks designers get when the sell their patterns to distributors is the ability to purchase things wholesale. It's a wonderful little perk and it kind of makes up for the discount we have to give.

Off I go to order charm packs wholesale. Thought I would start with just a few, so I ordered 3 charm packs thinking this should be enough to make a little quilt. You should have seen my face when they arrived! I thought I was getting what you see in front of the photo below, and instead I got the leaning towers of charm packs! 75 charm packs in all! I mean really, when I think about it I guess I should have realized these companies speak another language than we do, but who knew that 3 doesn't mean 3? Next time I'll read the fine print that says "bundles".

Now guess where you can find these charm packs for sale? They are on my son's web site! If everyone of you bought just one he would be rich and the towers would be gone. I'm so glad these aren't Jelly Rolls! http://www.crafts4me.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=c&Category_Code=fabric

The Design Wall Goes Up!

It was such an exciting weekend for me! My design wall was installed on Sunday by my hubby! He labored with love over it while he could have been watching some kind of sports program. I know a design wall is not normally as exciting as this, but if you saw the one in my old house you would be so happy for me! I've gone from flannel attached with velcro to the closet door, to one that I can pin into, and step back from to see how things look! Imagine that!

I'm using a product called Celotex Board, recommend by my photographer Gregory Case, recommended to him by Freddy Moran. I'm I could go on and on as to who recommended it to who, but I only know these two people. I'm sure you're grateful! If you are interested in finding this board yourself here's the link http://www.knightcelotex.com/pages/distribution_dealerlocator.asp.

My design wall is at the top of the stairs on one of those walls you never know what to do with. It's perfect for my needs!

Now for the photos! These tell it all!

Celotex Board attached with screws to the wall. 2 pieces of 4 x 8 board, joined down the center, cut out around the plug and patched with Spackle. It's so ugly at this stage that my husband thought I was nuts!

Celotex board after being painted, and trim attached to the edges. Even the wall plug is still accessible! Now I can pin directly into the board or, if I want to use flannel I can pin the flannel on first!

A sneak peak at my prize drafting table. It's double sided and antique! My find of the year! You can see it peaking out in the photos above, so I thought I'd show you the whole thing. I've ordered a princess chair (you know, one of those that has fabric going to the floor and a bow on the back), but it's still several weeks away from arriving.

Jelly Rolls from Happy Zombie!

Give a quilter a ruler and some fabric and watch what happens! Happy Zombie is smarter than the average bear and has figured out a new Jelly Roll Trick...or as she calls it "Jelly Roll Trix". Go visit and put this in your memory banks. Be sure and say "Hi"...she deserves some hurrahs for this one! I tried to leave a comment and her blog decided I had already left one...therefore no comment from me....just a rave review here! http://www.thehappyzombie.com/blog/ She is one smart cookie! (:

Emma's On Her Way to New York!

Emma's off and will arrive in New York on Monday! Flowers for Emma, my next fabric line left the west coast on Friday, packaged so she'll make an impression. After all presentation counts a lot! Inside this box are Bristol boards with pencil drawings and pretty little bags with colors attached to each board. The whole set is wrapped in pink tissue paper with a Bunny Hill carrot sticker on top. I get very nervous sending off a new line because I never know what the reaction will be on the other end. I mean what if they don't like it? It's mostly men who will judge her and she is really very feminine. Augghhhhh! I could drive myself crazy!

Party Cakes Quilt Kit

As some of you know, my son and his wife have an online business called http://www.crafts4me.com/ This is where we get all the crystals, beads, ribbon and embellishments that are used on our patterns. If one of my patterns has embellishments, you'll find a kit for it on their web site. They have some new additions coming very soon. You'll be able to find my fabrics on their web site! I'll let you know when they become available. In the meantime, they have the cutest little kit for my Party Cakes pattern. The kit includes the pattern and all the fabric for the quilt top including the binding! http://www.crafts4me.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=c&Category_Code=_whatsnewhill

New Patterns In The Works!

Most designers plan their new patterns for release at either Spring Quilt Market or Fall Quilt Market. I've thought about releasing them as they are done, but logic takes over and I'm saved at the last minute. Can you picture me at market with "new" patterns that have already been released? Shops would walk by my booth and say "seen that, nothing new". Can't have that! So we all work in-between and release new things at market. That means twice a year you get new patterns and designers get the big "unveiling".

Between markets we work away sewing, stitching and thinking up new things. Yesterday, I noticed my assistant Nireko had these little stacks of quilt blocks she is working on sitting right next to this pretty silver bowl of flowers. I had to share the moment with you, our first new pattern in the works! (:

Has it been a week?

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated my blog! I have no idea where the time goes! I've spent the week working on my next fabric line and once I start everything else goes by the wayside. I've promised my line to Henry Glass by the end of this week... not only drawings but color cards, water colors and anything else I can think of to send with it. The time crunch is on!

I'm so amazed that I am actually designing fabric that sometimes I have to pinch myself! I have no formal training in art...only a few water color classes at the local community center. I'm not a color expert by any means. I think very hard about how my fabric will work in a quilt, and what combinations will make the line pretty. That's the key for me...it has to be pretty or cute, and something I like! My next line isn't named yet, but it will co-ordinate with Miss Emma's Garden. The inspiration came from the photo below. You just might find this turned into a little drawing and placed in the fabric!

Now back to the "rug episode"...it's definitely turning into an episode. I should know better because anytime I start to brag, I'm always reminded that I might not be so smart after all. ALWAYS REMINDED! LOL! The aqua rugs arrived from Pottery Barn for our "Library" and dining room. The UPS man showed up at the door full of smiles, carried them inside and the minute I opened the package I knew they had to go back. Too bad his truck had already left! My husband wasn't so smiley as he rolled them up, carried each 60lb rug out the door, into the car and back to UPS. (:

I've decided not to talk about that room until it's done. It will jinx me for sure. I'll post photos when it's finished if I don't trip over all the rugs first.