Orange toenails

Roxie is our neighbor’s dog.  She’s a love.  Even Chelsea thinks so. Chelsea watches from the studio window and not once has Chelsea barked at Roxie.   Roxie passes all the “Chelsea” tests. 

Roxie also has orange toenails…

and a “bad dog” hat. 

Chelsea wanted one too when she saw Roxies’s hat.

She gave us the “look” we can’t resist.

So Ross went on the hunt to find her a bad dog hat.  Well, when he got there, the cupboards were bare, and so the poor dog had…

…A spider collar?  We’re kidding right? 

Nope!

I promised next year we’d get her the “Bad Dog” hat or I’d even make her a “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” costume .  This made her a little bit happier. 

As for the treats?  Chelsea and Bitsy both got treats in the mail this week from our friend Christine.

It’s going to be a good Halloween! 

Happy Halloween everyone!  May you have lots of treats and NO tricks!

Hugs,

Anne

Gift of Words

If, as wee babes, we could each select our own special attributes, I would have chosen the gift of words.  The ability to write what we want to say with eloquent, flowing words.  Priceless!

Now, please don’t get me wrong,  I don’t think I’m “horrible” at writing, but I really have to work at it. I write and then re-write everything.  And, then sometimes I go back and write it again!  If you have a blog you probably know what I mean.  It’s not easy.  Unless you have the “gift”.

As I read the article written by Patience Brewster, in the current issue of “Where Women Create”, I realized she has the gift of words.  I read her article three times and each time I was inspired or moved by something that she wrote and how she said it.  If you haven’t seen this issue of the magazine go to Barnes and Noble right away!

Patience is featured on the cover of the magazine and her studio and artwork are simply beautiful. 

Jo Packham, the editor of “Where Women Create” also has the “gift”.  I read every editorial she writes, and I love her style.    She always says something that inspires me to keep on creating.  And, now she has a blog of her own!  You can find Jo, and more pictures from the photo shoot with Patience here!

And, in case this isn’t enough excitement for the day, click here and you will be at the new web site for Yoko Saito in ENGLISH! You can order her books and products online from this site! 

Today is a good day.  Get inspired by these wonderful artists! 

Anne

Studio Stage One

Often when you change one thing it has a tornado effect. 

While I was at quilt market my husband, Ross, built IKEA cubby shelves in the studio closet.   Building shelves in a closet = chaos.  Everything has to come out. Everything! 

Remember that built in ironing board I had in the closet?  It’s now sitting in the center of the studio.  Hard to iron when it folds down to the floor.   

And the cabinets that were calling the closet home?  They made their grand entrance into the studio and are now sitting in front of the bookshelves.  No reading for us!

At first I was going to give these cabinets away, and then I thought, if I can only make them look a bit more shabby chic, I can use them in the addition.

Having an obsession with knobs,  I ordered these from Anthropology…

And settled on this one…

Soon it will be replacing these wood knobs for a bit of shabbiness…

Do NOT call or email my husband to tell him what these knobs cost.  He would NEVER understand about pink knobs, and chances are he won’t even notice when the wood knobs are gone.

And the new Ikea shelves?  I love them! They let us SEE what we have.  A novel concept to see what you have in a closet, don’t you think? 

And when we don’t want to see, we can close the closet door and it’s bye bye cubbies!

Yes, Ross painted the panels on the doors to match the room.  His special touch!

Brigette and I are having a great time working around the extra cabinets in the room.  We’ll have to live with them in front of the closet until the addition is built. Something tells me this is the easy part.

If you have an Ikea near you, the shelves with the cubbies are wonderful.  You can store a LOT of fabric in them and see it all!  I think they cost less than the knobs.  Slight exaggeration! Maybe.

Back soon,

 

Anne

I must be nuts!

I swear I must be nuts.  I hate change, I need quiet in order to work, and I hate clutter around me. 

I’m guaranteed to have complete chaos in my life for the next several months.  I’m walking into the lion’s den and I’m doing it willingly!  We’ve decided to enlarge the studio!

We’re going right through my design wall and into the attic space!  At the top of the stairs,  where you see the “Arnie” quilt, will be the future French doors leading into the new addition. 

The trouble with additions is everything; from the architect, structural engineer, permits, construction and the noise.  Oh no not noise!

I’m taking it one day at a time.  I’ll be showing you progress along the way.  The actually “destruction” should start in about five weeks.  In the meantime Brigette and I are working in chaos already.   She calls it the transition stage.  I don’t have words for it yet, and I haven’t told Bitsy and Chelsea although I think they suspect something is up. 

 

Anne

Craft Iron

Good news!  While I was at market I spoke to the people at Cl0ver asking why they discontinued their craft iron.  I love my Clover craft iron and the thought of going without isn’t appealing. 

Apparently some of the irons are making a buzzing sound.  They didn’t say what the buzzing sound means.  I guess the moral of the story is don’t ever trust an iron that buzzes!  My iron seems to be fine, but I’ll be extra careful not to leave it on all day. 

The good news is that Clover is replacing the iron  with a new model that should be available by next market!  They promise the same type of iron with that wonderful pointed tip.  New and improved, coming in about 6 months.   Hope it comes in colors don’t you?

Have a great weekend everyone!  I’m sewing some little “Allie” dogs for my Christmas tree!   Pink dogs! 

Back soon!

 

Anne

You are amazing!

Oh my, I never really expected so many comments!  Thank you one and all.  If I win the lottery I’ll buy each and every one of you a fat quarter bundle, rent a hotel and host big sewing party!  How’s that for dreaming? 

So let’s get on with the drawing!!!  I did one drawing last night and one this morning so that even people posting late (after bed time) would have a chance. 

Martinique, by Three Sisters, Moda Fabrics

The winner of the fat quarter bundle is:

Donna of Brynwood Needleworks!  She wrote on Monday, October 19,

“What a lovely post of gratitude. Moda is my favorite fabric company, and sadly, our LQS is dropping it from their lines. I'll be needing to find an online source for my Moda fixes!
Please enter me in your drawing. I'd love to own some of the new line.
Blessings,
Donna”

Congratulations Donna!  Email me your address and this wonderful bundle will come your way.  You will love it!

And the winner of the Layer Cake/Jelly Roll is:

Kathleen, who left this comment on October 19th!

“Such delicious fabric! Thank you for designing such lovely things and bringing such inspiration into our lives. I signed in to look at little patterns to make a special Christmas gift for my daughter. So fun to sneak in some surprise sewing”

Kathleen, email me your address and you’ll be sewing for your daughter very soon!  Congratulations! 

 

Thank you to everyone who entered.  If you didn’t win just remember,  this fabric ships in March!  It’s not that far off!

Hugs,

Anne

Thank You!

I believe in serendipity. Opportunities, that may seem accidental, but never really are. One thing leads to another and before you know it you’re reaching for a dream and touching it!

This post is to say “thank you” to all of you who have helped me on my serendipitous travels! Thank you to all of you who read my blog, purchase my patterns, or visit my web site. Thank you to all the shops who buy my patterns, have become friends and support me over and over again. And a special thank you to two shops who helped me get started:

Thank You Thimble Creek!

This is the shop where so many designers began their journey; Joanna Figueroa, Verna Mosquera, Sandy Klop, Denise Sheehan, and myself of course. Many others have followed including the shop’s owner Joe Wood! Sandy and I were talking about it at market, and we’re still amazed at how many came from that shop! Thank you Joe and Roxie for all the support you’ve given all of us!

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop!

Kimberly Jolly of the Fat Quarter Shop not only purchased my first patterns for her shop, but she hand carried them to Moda. Hand carried! She took a chance on a newbie!

We’ve been good friends ever since. And today she’s still helping new designers get started! Her support and friendship made it so much easier for me in the design world.

New designers remember, when she offers her hand, she wants to help. She is an amazing woman both professionally and personally, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you Lissa Alexander and Debbie Outlaw from Moda!

Without you we’d all be lost. Thank you for providing the fabric that makes it possible for designers to do what they do! Without the two of you, it would never be the same.

Thank you to all of you! Let’s have a giveaway!

At market I purchased a fat pack of the new Three Sisters “Martinique” from Moda Fabrics. When I got home I found an extra Jelly Roll/Layer Cake combo. Soooo, two of you are going to be lucky winners. One will win the fat quarter bundle the one will win the Jelly Roll/Layer Cake! !

Look at this fabric! It’s beautiful. I think it may be my favorite line from fall market.

I’ll do a drawing on Thursday so be sure to leave a comment.

See you Thursday!

Hugs,

Anne

Goodbye Fall Market 2009!

The Bunny Hill staff had so much fun at market! It’s like coming to a party after all the hard work getting everything ready. So many friends, memories, laughs, tears, and exciting things happen.

Brigette and Nancy were on a mission to find a Michael Miller Nome tote bag. As always, when they combine energy, success follows. Here they are in front of the Nome at the Michael Miller booth. I’m really surprised this guy wasn’t on the airplane with us on the way home!

This market was also a bit sad for me. I said goodbye to Henry Glass Fabrics. My last line of fabric with Henry Glass, “Petite Maison” will be in the shops soon. It’s a sweet line, and the little houses on the main print were all adapted from my Autumn House quilt.

As we close one door, another opens. I have a line of fabric, premiering at spring market, with a new fabric company. More on this as we get closer to market.

Walking the aisles reminded me I never tire of market. Never. There were fewer exhibitors this time. Sad to see, but the ones who were there, put their hearts into everything they did. The booths were amazing!

Kaari Meng from The French General, came by to see the block of the month I designed with her fabric. I heard she was out visiting all the designers who used her fabric. Isn’t that sweet?

She named her newest fabric line “Rural Jardin” and my quilt is Le Jardin. A complete coincidence I swear! She left me with a beautiful flower made from her new fabric! It’s now on my inspiration wall in the studio! Thank you Kaari!

We flew out of Houston Tuesday morning, with suitcases filled with so many things. When we got to the airport I was frisked. Yes, me! They said it was random, but pleeeeease. My iPhone was around my neck when I went through security and it set off the alarm! I was doomed.

While I was being frisked, Brigette (who, I might mention, had rice vinegar in her carry on and it went right through security), was dancing around taking my picture.

And so we said goodbye to Fall market 2009. It’s good to be home after market. The exhaustion sets in for a few days, and then the planning for the next market begins.

I bought a treat at sample spree for one of you. I’ll be giving it away soon so stay posted.

And if you’re in the “market” for wool, all of our Weeks Dye Works wool is on sale at 25% off on the web site. I’m streamlining and making some changes. You benefit, but quantities are limited.

Back soon,

Hugs,

Anne

Yoko Saito Visits the Bunny Hill Booth!

So, I’m in the Bunny Hill Booth, and two lovely Japanese women walk in.  They start talking and smiling to each other about my Scottie dog quilt.  I leaned over to get them a pattern and when I came up I saw the name tag;  Yoko Saito.

First came a gasp, then tears, and then the bowing started.  Back and forth we went, bowing over and over.  I wasn’t sure when it was polite to stop, so I just kept going and so did she!  I felt so graced just to have her visit my booth!  She is, in my humble opinion, the best appliqué designer ever. 

There she was, this fashionable lady, dressed so nicely with a beautiful scarf around her neck (note to self; get a scarf for market and try to remember to wear it.)

A picture was called for, in front of the Scottie dog quilt of course! Note to self; think about red glasses too.

For those of you who are not familiar with her work, I’ll share some close-ups with you.  Think itty, bitty tiny pieces of fabric, appliquéd, and then hand quilted with rows of quilting 1/8” to 1/4” wide.  It is amazing to look at her work! 

Not only is she known for intricate work, she is also known for her light hearted whimsical style!  Just look at her little appliqué tote that was on display at market!

I am fortunate enough to have almost all of her books in my personal collection.  A very special friend has given me one of her books for almost every birthday.  To have met Yoko, and own her books, is a dream come true. 

Have a safe trip back to Japan Yoko.  I loved meeting you! 

Next post I’ll wrap up my market pictures. 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Hugs,

 

Anne

We loved it!

We arrived home yesterday, landing in a huge storm. The passengers all clapped after landing. It was bumpy, rocky and the pilot flew right through the thick clouds on a wing and a prayer. I’m so glad to be home!

If you have fun, meet a lot of new people, and laugh a lot, it’s a successful market! We had a great market! Here’s a few of my “cutie” pictures from market.

We ran into the APQ girls the first day, wearing PAJAMAS! They had a kick off going that was clever and creative. Slippers too, oh my how cute is that?

And remember that cute trailer with the red dots I showed you in the Michael Miller booth? Look at the finished version! The back is open and filled with water bottles! It’s surrounded by large trees and I swear you’d think you were camping. It was darling!

I ran into Pat Sloan in the hallway. She’s as cute as ever. Don’t know how she does it!

Then Mark Lipinski came along. I’m sure he’s been called cute way too often! Must be the eyes. Looking good there Mark!

And speaking of cute, just look at my friend Kimberly , owner of The Fat Quarter Shop! She is just so dang cute and can you believe she just had twins?

And Jennifer from Shabby Fabrics! She’s another friend and a “cutie”.

Here we are packed up and ready to leave. Anne B ran over and addded the pumpkin. Cute!

And just before we left Anne Bryson handed me this birthday card…

Chelsesa’s not so sure how cute it is!

Next post I’ll share the one person who I admire so much I cried when I met her!

Hugs to everyone!

Anne

Sample Spree and Day 1

Quilt Market is the treat after all the hard work. It’s just so much fun to see everyone and you can’t imagine the creativity and production that goes into making all this happen.

We spent the day trying to assemble our booth. Brigette and Nancy were in charge of putting up the bed.

And remember the chandelier with the missing candles? We tossed the candles and added jelly strip bows.

And slowly our booth came together.

Lynette Anderson came by with the cutest Keds ever! Did you know you can have shoes made out of your own photos or fabric? This is from one of her fabric lines! She promised to send me a link to the site. I’ll share when I get it.

Then it was off to sample spree…

Here are my bunny helpers setting up our table! And see the crates of boxes at the end of the room?

That’s Moda fabrics and bundles just waiting to be unpacked.

Fabric…

and more fabric…

and then the tables were empty,

because of a certain person who shall remain nameless, but she did come to market with me and we do have the same name.

She’s helping the economy!

Hugs,

Anne