Simple Things

When I’m the busiest, I long for the simple things in life.  Oh how precious those little moments become.  You know the kind, the everyday, ordinary moments that we usually don’t even think about.  I’ve been so busy lately that these little things mean so much more.

Little things like the look of my old dog Bitsy, when she’s waiting for me to finish my work.   Can’t you see what she’s thinking?  “Are you done yet?  Come on Mom!”

Bitsy is almost deaf now.  She’ll be 14 in October.  And after two major surgeries she’s still a “spring chicken” so to speak.  Tomorrow she goes to the vet to get her teeth cleaned.  I HATE having to take her, but clean teeth mean better health.  I’d do anything for this little dog. 

Little things like a few moments in the sunshine with my Mooch cat.  Outside on a leash, rolling in the grass.  Yes, both of us!  These are the moments I treasure when I’m so, so busy!

Or little things like a new rose blooming in the yard.  Did you know I’m a rose fanatic?  I’m always buying new rose bushes and trying to find a spot for my husband to plant them. 

Not much time for roses right now.  Maybe in a few weeks, after quilt market.  

If your life is as chaotic as mine right now, go outside and take a deep breath!  Look around!  Hug your dog, your cat, your child, your spouse.  Smell that rose!  It’s heavenly! 

Be back soon,

 

Hugs,

Anne

Thinking of you!

Just a quick hello everyone!  The days are flying by and going way too fast!  I leave for Quilt Market on my grand-daughter’s birthday, May 12th.  I’m a bit torn by that, but Pittsburg is calling and they didn’t ask me about dates in advance.

So it’s time for last minute sewing and pattern writing.  My newest block of the month is due back today from the quilter and we’ll be having a binding party later in the studio.  Then I’ll send it off to the photographer and a new pattern should be right behind!  Just a few more weeks to go!

Thought you might like a little peak at a few of the fabrics I’m sewing with this morning!  Just look at this little stack…

I’m making something really fun with this fabric.  It’s “Soiree” by Lila Tueller and Moda Fabrics. I’m adding some green polka dot ribbon!  I should finish this project today and it will be ready for photos too! 

Oh, and a little FYI.  If you’ve been thinking about buying that beautiful wool I have on my web site, now is the time.  The wholesale price goes up $1.00 on May 1st. and I’ll have to raise the price. 

More to come soon, I promise!  Miss you all.  Wish you could come help me sew!

Hugs,

Anne

This could be fun!

I’m so busy I hardly have time to post right now.  Please be patient because you know I love to post!  It’s killing me not to have time to chat with you!  But  I leave for Pittsburg spring quilt market on May 12th. and I am working, really hard to get everything ready! 

I’ll be giving you sneak peeks of a few new patterns  during the next 4 weeks but everything is in various stages right now.  Some are done, some are at the photographer, and some are still in the process of being made!    It’s enough to drive any bunny crazy! 

Remember the little brown and pink baby quilt I showed you a few posts back?  Here’s a better picture of what it looks like!  I used my Chelsea Manor brown bunny print in the center, put a pink flange around it and added borders with a few pieced blocks.  It’s a quilt you can use for everything depending on the print you choose for the center and it’s so, so easy to make! Chelsea really wants this quilt.  I may have to make her one! 

If you’ve been following me on twitter you know that a quilt shop in Sweden is using my A Tisket, A Tasket free pattern as their own.  The have covered up my copyright symbol and replaced it with the name of their shop.  The instructions have been written in Swedish.

I’ve given permission for quilt shops to hand out the pattern, but NOT to cover up my copyright and hand it out as their own.  This is against US copyright law, and copyright laws are honored between countries.  I feel sorry for the shop that has done this.  It must be desperate times for them.  I don’t mind if shops translate the instructions, but to cover up that copyright symbol is wrong.

And now for something special!  If you like embroidery & cross stitch here’s an online needlework shop opening today!  It just looks like so much fun!  Wish I had time to go shopping but I’ll leave that up to you!   My own patterns are calling.  Have a great week everyone!  I’ll try and be back soon! 

The Online Needlework Show

Hugs,

Anne

Bunny Week Part 3

I am moving very fast right now trying to get ready for spring market.  Lots of early morning hours and the days are becoming a blur.  But this morning as I looked over at my newest block of the month coming together, I realized that it’s all worth it.  I LOVE designing appliqué more than anything.  What a great joy I get from seeing my drawings come to life in fabric. 

Block one now sits on my cutting table waiting for the finishing appliqué and embroidery,  and I’m almost done with the remainder of the blocks.   I can’t wait to show you my version of “A Vintage Christmas”!  The fabrics are wonderful and it’s been such a pleasure to design with them. 

Today I’m working on a appliqué lamb for my quilt.  Don’t worry, I’m still surrounded by bunnies in the studio, but I love lambs almost as much!

And in case you think I forgot,  here’s the bunny for today…I received this beautiful rabbit card in the mail from Betty Duagherty thanking me for the free patterns.  Isn’t it wonderful? 

Have a great day everyone!  Surround yourself with bunnies.  It’s that time of year!

Hugs,

Anne

Bunny Week Part 2

So what’s in a name?  You’d think when you call a company named Bunny Hill it must have SOMETHING to do with bunnies, right?  Some man called this week and wanted to know if we had LIVE bunnies for sale.  Poor guy. He was a bit confused when I explained what we did.  No live bunnies for sale.  Why, not even decorative bunnies for sale.  

 

When I hung up the phone, it was obvious I had been talking about bunnies and my hubby says to me “We need to have the kids over on Sunday for a brunch and egg hunt.  I’ll do the cooking”.  And I say something like, “I can’t! I need every day left to get ready for market!” And then it hit me!  Did you hear what I just said?

There comes a time when no matter how busy you are, you have to take time for those you love. 

I’m taking a day on Sunday to celebrate bunnies, family and the art of egg hunts.  By Monday I’ll be back to the rush, but Sunday I can hide eggs while my own little “bunnies”, fill their baskets.  It’s the little things in life that count. 

I sure hope that man finds the bunny he’s looking for.  No doubt it was for a special child. 

 

Hugs,

Anne

If you love bunnies

It’s bunny week at Bunny Hill!

If you love bunnies this week is for you! You’ll find a bunny or two in each of my posts.  It’s spring and bunnies are everywhere so I can’t help myself!  They fill the catalogs and the stores.  What’s a bunny lover to do?

Saturday a little package arrived that completely overwhelmed me with the thoughtfulness of the gift.  DJ LeVan sent me a little Steiff bunny!  Just look at her!  Isn’t she the sweetest thing ever?  And if you don’t know DJ LeVan, well I don’t either, but she’s a kindred spirit for sure!  I “met” her when she placed and order with Bunny Hill and I helped her with her order.  I’ve collected bunnies for years and this is my first Steiff bunny! Thank you DJ!

Want to make something with bunnies?

If you like the brown Chelsea Manor fabric you’ll love making this little bunny picture.  It’s so easy!  It has the Chelsea Sutton seal of approval.  She’s partial to the brown fabric so she’s very excited. 

I found this little frame at Home Goods.  They have so many to choose from, but I had something in mind when I choose the pink one!  It has a 3” x 3” opening that’s perfect for a the Chelsea Manor bunny! 

Here’s how I made it:

1. From the Chelsea Manor large bunny print, fussy cut the bunny fabric 2” larger than your frame opening. For the 3” x 3” frame, I cut my fabric 5” x 5”.  Center the bunny before you cut, and draw the cutting lines onto the fabric with a pencil.  (Tip: Use the glass from the frame to preview how your picture will look.)
2. Cut a piece of flannel or batting the same size as the fabric. 
3. Lay the fabric, right side up, on top of the flannel/batting.  Center both on top of the frame back, and bring to back as shown in picture below.  Pin to hold in place.
4. Double thread a needle, and stitch from side to side until fabric is secure; stitch from one side to the other, tie off and bring the next two sides to top.  Stitch from side to side again, trimming fabric under corners to reduce thickness.
5. Insert into frame and enjoy!

You’ll want to make one of these bunny pictures to go with the new pattern coming soon from Bunny Hill!  It’s called “Uptown Baby” and it’s the simplest baby quilt ever!  I’ve added a pink flange and a soft pink border to frame the brown bunnies from Chelsea Manor.  You can make this is a weekend!  Picture + quilt = perfect gift!  In pink and brown what uptown baby wouldn’t love this? Have a little boy?  Make it in brown and blue! 

More to come soon.  We’re busy, busy getting ready for market! 

Hugs,

Anne

It’s Basket Day!

It’s April 5th and that means basket day at Bunny Hill!   Block number 4 of “A Tisket, A Tasket is ready and you can find the free pattern here.   I’ve filled the basket with a chocolate bunny and added a little wool chick! 

The bunny fabric is the brown check from “Sultry” by Moda Fabrics, # 30167-15.  I used the wrong side of the fabric for the arm and the back ear.

Here’s a sneak peek at the sashing I’m using to finish the quilt.  It’s from the Howard Marcus line “Legacy” by Moda fabrics # 46033-12.  I fell in love with this fabric and there’s not a block in the quilt that doesn’t go perfectly with it.   Very vintage and very pretty!

I’ll be giving you the outer border soon so you can be sure and get fabric if you want it. 

Here’s the yardage requirements if you need them: 

Sashing:  1/2 yd
Sashing posts:  1/4 yd or 1 fat quarter
Inner border:  1/4 yd
Outer border:  3/4 yd
Binding:  3/8 yd, or 3/4 yd bias

If you’re working on the redwork version we’re sewing ours together now.  It’s just so cute! 

The sashing and posts are from my very own Chelsea Manor fabric line!  The sashing is # 1938, Color 8.  The posts are # 1945 Color 88.  I’ll be choosing the rest of the fabrics for the redwork quilt very soon in case you want to purchase fabric while it’s still available.

And no, I didn’t forget about the woolies out there!  If you want to see the wool version go to Cottons 'N Wool!  Anne’s in charge of the “woolies” and I know she has a version you will love. 

Have a fun Sunday everyone!  Happy quilting & stitching!

Hugs,

Anne

American Patchwork & Quilting, June 2009!

Have you seen the June issue?  The June issue of American Patchwork and Quilting?  If you subscribe to this magazine it should be arriving in your mail box any day.  If you don’t subscribe (and you should), you can find it in the stores April 6th.  I’m excited to announce that I’m the featured designer in this issue!  Yep, me!  Moi! Mich! わたしを!  Me, Me, Me in French, German and Japanese! 

If you asked what magazine I would most want to be featured in, I would say without hesitation, American Patchwork and Quilting.  It’s a professional, wonderful, quilting magazine and it’s such an honor to be included in this issue! 

 

It was last August when American Patchwork came to my home and studio.   Can you imagine how you’d feel if you knew they were coming?  I started cleaning in July!  They spent a little over a day, shooting more than 200 photos, with cats and dogs watching, to bring you this article. 

It’s amazing to watch them work.  They have but one goal;  to bring you, their readers, things you will enjoy reading.  The staff of this magazine is simply the best! 

Jennifer, thank you for asking me, and Elizabeth, Nancy and Michael, thank you for coming and making it so much fun.  I had the best time ever!

Julia in Germany, I’ll send you a magazine as soon as I find one!  I promise! 

Hugs everyone!  Be sure and look for this issue! 

Anne