It’s that time of year

It’s been such a busy week! I’m not sure where it went, but it just flew by!  Seems the season gets busier every year!  School recitals, last minute gift purchases, wrapping presents, shopping list after shopping list, it’s crazy!  

Seems some of you have been busier than me!  I’ve already received pictures of finished A Tisket, A Tasket quilts!   Just look at these!

 

Amazing, don’t you agree? 

And now I’m off to my grand-daughter’s birthday party today!  This little cutie turned 8 this week.  Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Hugs,

 

Anne

Block Twelve

I just can’t believe a year has gone by since we started “A Tisket A Tasket”!  A year!  And here we are at block number 12!  I started with a snowman and I’m ending with a snowman (ok, a snowlady).  Welcome December! 

I can’t wait to see all of the finished quilts! Take a peek at all of the blocks in my Flickr group!  So many of you have made me smile and I’ve loved seeing your work! I hope you’ll add pictures of your finished quilts!  I’ll be checking in to see them. And keep posting your blocks as you finish them.  I’ll be looking at those too!

And finally, I can show you my finished version of  the appliqué and redwork quilts!

See the rick rack in the binding?  I’ll be posting a tutorial “how to” soon, so please check back!

And the redwork!  Ohhhh, sweet embroidery!

As for next year, did you think I would just drop all of of you cold?  You, my blog readers?  My favorite people in the world?  You’ll be getting a little treat every month in 2010, starting in January. 

As always, you can see the wool version of block 12 over at Cottons ‘n Wool.  The finished quilt will be coming soon!  Anne’s waiting for flannel to arrive! That’s right, we decided to go with flannel for the sashing.  It’s going to be so cute!

If  you’d like to purchase wool to make your own wool quilt, I found the best web site for you!  Woolies will love The Wool Basket!   I’m sure I could spend some time and money in this shop.

Happy December 5th everyone!  I feel like a grand reunion should be on the agenda in 2010 LOL!

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

I Loved Designing This Quilt!

Every time I start a new appliqué quilt I’m in heaven.  I love the process, feel of the fabric, drawing,  re-drawing, the prep work and finally seeing it come together.  It’s a labor of love and one I can’t live without.   Pure joy for those of us who love appliqué!

“Le Jardin” was especially fun.  I love the fabrics with their vintage look, the faded reds (or pinks as I call them) next to the bright reds, the gray tones, the beiges, and the creams.  “Rouenneries” is a wonderful line. I dare say  these colors will look good in almost any room!  I have a pale pink dining room that’s calling for “Le Jardin”! 

So which block is my favorite? Should I tell?  Ok, it’s block seven, the cottage.  If I lived in a French garden, it would be in this house, with heart topiaries in my front yard and a rabbit weather vane of course! 

If you’re reading post this today (Thursday) we’re probably hanging this quilt in our booth right now!  It’s set up day and that means working till you feel like you can’t work another minute!  I’ll take pictures I promise! 

You can find the pattern here on our web site.  You will love it!  The drawings are full size and each block has a large color photo inside the pattern.  You can see EVERY fabric I used. 

Miss you all!  Wish you were here!  I’ll try and post from market for you!

Hugs,

Anne

A Tisket, A Tasket, It’s October’s Basket!

It’s October, the month of black cats and trick or treats! 

I have two little black cats that live at Bunny Hill, and you’ll find one in the basket this month!

Meet Topsy & Turvy !

Topsy & Turvy are rescue cats.  A horrible man dumped them in a shopping mall parking lot and drove off.  We saw it happening.  They were only kittens but they panicked, we panicked, and after a lot of running, stress, and more running, we all ended up in the same car together. Ross and I rescued them. It was a miracle of sorts. We’ve had them about 4 or 5 years now and they are our very own little Halloween treats!  It was just before Halloween that they were dumped!

 

So let’s go trick or treating together!  You’ll find this free pattern here on my web site, along with all the NEW patterns from Bunny Hill here! 

And the wool version of October’s block?  It’s over at Cottons ‘n Wool of course! 

And look at what just arrived from Moda!  It’s the French General Notebooks!  They are beautiful!  We only have a few to sell, so if you’d like one click here!

Have fun with the new block for October everyone!  Trick or Treat!

Hugs,

Anne

And Now Some Fun!

I just looked up the weather in Houston…it’s awful!  Hot, humid and raining… but not on our parade!            Houston weather

I may never leave the hotel.  We’re staying at the Hilton and it connects to the convention center.  Hotel to booth without going outside!  It’s the little things that make me happy!

  Our weather!   

Here at Bunny Hill it’s been a lot of work,  but I can see the finish line. New patterns coming, along with LOTS of new blog posts and so many fun things to share with you all!  I am really excited about this market!

Everything has a photo, the patterns are written and I’m waiting on the final proofs and brochures.

So how about a week of show and tell!  Are you ready?

Here’s a new quilt from Bunny Hill called,

Bitsy Button & Friends

Here’s Bitsy…

She’s  feeling so “young” and frisky!   And the words on the fabric fit my little dog perfectly! 

Bitsy has lots of friends on her quilt!

Just after last market, one of my blog readers emailed and asked me to design a dog quilt.  Carolyn had just lost her sweet little dog named Rosebud and she sent me Rosebud’s picture.  There was something in Rosebud’s eyes, just like Bisty’s eyes, and I couldn’t get Rosebud out of my mind.  I knew a dog quilt was in order. 

So Bitsy, and Rosebud, this quilt is for the two of you!  From me, to Bitsy and Rosebud, in Rosebud’s memory. I know  special dogs when I see them. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this little dog.

My Bitsy turns 14 on October 7th. and Carolyn now has a new rescue dog named Shellie.  I’m sure Shellie’s  on this quilt along with Chelsea too! 

I hope all you dog lovers out there love Bitsy Button & Friends.  The pattern will be available by Monday!

 

Lots more to come…

Hugs,

 

Anne

I promised you a sneak peek!

Le Jardin, A French Garden Quilt…

My new block of the month has a French garden theme. Oh I hope you love this fabric as much as I do!  It was wonderful to work with AND so much fun!    I have to say, this quilt should be hanging on my dining room wall!  Instead it will be traveling to shops and shows for a year or two, so all of you can see it!  By the time she comes home I will finally be able to enjoy it!  I will never tire of this beautiful fabric! Vintage & French, it’s just wonderful. 

The French General and Moda are the perfect combination. I can’t wait to see what everyone has done with the Roueneries fabric at market!

If any of of you are shops and would like a fabric guide for Le Jardin,  I’d be delighted to email it to you. Just sent me an email and let me know you are interested.  I designed the entire quilt using this fabric line. 

I can’t wait to show it to you.  Only a few more weeks to go!

Have a great week! 

Hugs,

Anne

School Days, School Days

All the wonderful spools are back in stock! I’ve added this cute 6” wood spool. I actually had a few the first time but they are so cute I couldn’t part with them!

Aren’t you glad it’s Labor day weekend and the 5th of the month all at once! I for one, am excited. I have so much planned for this weekend. It involves sewing, and more sewing!

I’ll be watching the Law and Order re-runs, or shows I’ve taped during the week. Shows like Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, and The Mentalist! Criminal Minds ? Tell me some of you like that show. Do you think I’ll get my yo yo’s mixed up if I watch Criminal Minds while sewing?

When I’m writing patterns I need absolute quiet, but when I’m sewing, it’s a different story. I love to watch TV and catch up on shows. What about you? Do you sew with quiet, TV, or music?

Have you download block nine of “ A Tisket, A Tasket” yet? It’s ready on my web site.

Block nine is a very smart Scottie dog. He walks the children to school, and carries a basket filled with apples for the teacher!

If you’re working on this quilt please show me your blocks ! Post them on flickr and join our group! There are some CUTE, CUTE blocks and quilts coming together!

And now that we only have three months left I can show more of the quilt! Don’t you wonder what the last three blocks will be?

You’ll have to wait until next month for October. In case you didn’t know October is my favorite month of the whole year!

Are you doing the wool version of this quilt? Don’t miss what my friend Anne has done this month. Her quilt is looking pretty cute. Gotta love those prims ( I even gave her a prim color for her name)!

Have a great weekend everyone! Sew away if you get the time!

Hugs,

Anne

Sewing with the French General

No posts for almost a week?  I can’t help it!  I’ve been sewing with the general.  The French General, Kaari Meng!  No, she wasn’t really here, but her fabric was. 

Kaari, do you realize how popular you are?  You with this gorgeous Moda fabric line called “Rouenneries”? The name is so French, and this wonderful fabric has been so much fun to design with!

 

I’ve never designed a block of the month that used one fabric line exclusively.  Now I have!  Kaari’s fabric is the only line in my newest block of the month.  And the pile of fabric that you’ve seen all week…

…has finally turned into a quilt!  I’ve designed and prepared the entire quilt using the spray starch method of appliqué.  I can see what each block will look like before it’s appliquéd in place. 

I’m writing the pattern, refining the drawings, and then block by block it will leave for Bend, Oregon where my friend Anne will do her magic and complete the appliqué and embellishing.

 

You know how I love to embellish!  Velvet ribbon winding up the stem of this design, and all those little points she gets to turn under.   Anne will love me for sure! If you don’t hear from her for awhile you’ll know why!

I’ll finally get a chance to list the vintage spools this week, and the rick rack is back in stock now!   Think of me in front of this computer, all week long. 

Have a great day everyone!  Here at Bunny Hill we’ll be busy, but we always have fun! Another block of the month is almost done! 

Hugs,

 

Anne

Breast Cancer Quilt

Have you heard about the “Forget-Me-Not” quilt?  It’s been touring some of the quilt shows and if you happened to be in Long Beach this past weekend you may have seen it. 

It’s the brain child of Meg Hawkey from Crabapple Hill Studio, and it comes from the hearts of 25 designers. 

It’s a quilt filled with stories, hope, love and prayers.  Wouldn’t you love to own this quilt?  Just look at the back of the quilt!  Meg designed the signature blocks for the back of quilt, we all signed our names, and she pieced together a quilt back as wonderful as the quilt front! 

You can buy a raffle ticket to win this beautiful quilt!  It’s a one of a kind quilt and all the proceeds go to the Susan G Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer.  Visit the Susan G Komen web site to buy a raffle ticket and view a close-up of each block.  It will be the best $10 you ever spent and you could end up owning this beautiful quilt. 

Most of us have been touched by Breast Cancer at some point in our lives.  I lost my mother and my sister to breast cancer and every stitch in my block is  honoring them. 

Here’s a close-up of my block.  The bunny in the basket is “me” and I’m holding two hearts (mother and sister).  The tag says “Imagine”…

Someday it will be more than just imagine.   It will be a world without breast cancer and you can help!

Get out that credit card and enter!  Do it today so you don’t forget.  The drawing will be held December 1st.  Click here!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Hugs,

 

Anne

This is my first quilt…

I may have loved pink, but I lived with red. Cottage red and yellow. 

The date was  January, 1997.  It was the year of Debbie Mumm, brick fabric and the color red.   I took my first quilt class from Laura Nownes.   “Quilts, Quilts, Quilts” by Diana McClun & Laura Nownes was the book.  My copy is FILLED with notes.

Notes that allowed me to make this sampler quilt…

I was obsessed with this quilt.  I loved this craft called quilting and I couldn’t get enough. My first theory  in 1997 was if you made the quilt, you HAD to hand quilt it!  A theory that didn’t last very long.

That’s not binding on the quilt.  It’s the backing basted to the front.  Much of the quilt is still basted together. My first quilt remains unfinished, but at least I can say I tried.  Horrible quilting, but I tried!  Even used the wrong batting, but I still tried.  And the appliqué?  Well, if you messed up a point just take a few extra stitches over it.  Oh my! There’s hope for us all!

My second theory in 1997 was houses had to be made out of brick fabric…I would have NEVER considered pink flowers!  I collected all the brick fabric I could find.  Who knew when I’d need another house? Humm… wonder what happened to all that brick fabric? I bet Laura hid it!

Now this may surprise you, but I still live with red and still love it.  Our master bedroom is filled with red.   That’s not pink on the bed, but a red & white toile.  My first quilt sits on a shelf in this room.  Folded neatly, waiting for the “quilter” to re-appear. 

My most recent quilt, that I can show you is “A Vintage Christmas”.  Pink & Red! 

It goes perfectly in my home at Christmas! 

Chelsea loves my last quilt.  She’s a vintage kind of dog and she loves Christmas!  Right Chelsea? (Disappointed in the plastic veggie tray…she wanted silver I’m sure.) Oh, and did I tell you she LIKES my first quilt?  She told me so this morning! Reminds her of the tomatoes on this veggie tray! 

Thanks Camille and Carrie for thinking up this first quilt idea! 

 

Hugs,

Anne