My Big Announcement

Back in January, I gave you a little sneak peek of something I have been working on.... and now I can finally share with you.... I am so excited to announce my new fabric line with Henry Glass Fabrics called Sewing Room Social. It is so much fun- little mice and birds gathering and playing in the sewing room, really pretty colors and fun buttons and flowers and teacups. We introduced the line at Spring Quilt Market last weekend and got a great response. Below, a preview of the panel and coordinating fabrics:

Ask for my line at your favorite quilt shop! It will be in stores in October, shop owners can order it now. I have also developed 2 free patterns to promote the line- they will be available soon, so make sure to check back here. (see images below.)

Designing fabric is something I've been wanting to do for a very long time- it is the perfect way for me to combine my love of painting and sewing and color (some of you know that I am a "color geek"). It has not always been easy, getting to this point. It has many, many times seemed like one step forward and two (or three...) steps back... I've often felt like I was sitting by the phone, waiting for the boy I like to call to ask me to the prom, wondering if he'd ever call.... but here I am, and I must tell you, I feel just a tiny bit like Cinderella, finally going to the ball (though I really don't look like her, sitting here in my pj's, but you get the idea.) I have worked really hard to get here- finally.... So the moral of this story is not surprising, I'm sure you've heard it from your mom or dad, or maybe a favorite teacher, or maybe just the hero/heroine of your favorite fairy tale- Never give up! Dreams come true!

Have a wonderful weekend!

New Pattern Releases & The Final Quilt Market Photos......

Until next time, of course!

The quilt on the left is my Flutterby design, featured in Northcott Fabrics' booth. They did a display for their Child's Play fabric line.

BTW, the pattern for Flutterby is now available on my website, along with a couple of more new patterns that I released for Spring Quilt Market.

(Shown above top to bottom, Flutterby, My Romance, Moonlit Stroll, Cross My Heart).

Finally, a photo of ever popular designer Amy Butler's booth.

Stay tuned for my next post- BIG announcement (well, to me anyway!) coming!!!!!

Back from Market

Daughter and I got back from Market a few hours ago...... boy are we tired! But I thought I'd put up a few more photos. Going to Quilt Market is so inspiring- being surrounded by so many creative talented people and their beautiful creations is so energizing! My head is swimming!

Here I am with my pal Lynnette Anderson, a very popular designer from Australia.

This is Helen Stubbings from Hugs n Kisses- she is another designer from Australia (I think there is something in the water down there, because these ladies are just so talented.....)

This is Anna Griffin's booth, which won an award for creativity (obviously, a well deserved award...)

AnnaMaria's fun and playful booth.

There will be more photos in a few days, so ya'll come on back now, ya hear?

More Quilt Market Photos

A few photos of our booth at Market.

Quilt Market in Minneapolis- First Day

Landed in Minneapolis Wednesday morning. Checked into the hotel, found a cute little crepe bistro for lunch. Look at this chicken and artichoke crepe- it was really yummy.

We didn't eat there, but apparently there really is a "Hell's Kitchen"-

Then after lunch, it was time to get to work and set up our booth. This is what it looks like when you first walk into the convention center- not much to look at

Here is the Northcott Fabrics booth. On the left is a quilt that I designed their new Child's Play line.

I saw this cute little sewing table while I was walking around and I want it!

I have lots more to show, but I am tired and it's time for bed... Will show more photos soon.

Views from a Garden

Quilt Market C-R-U-N-C-H!!!

A few un-retouched photos of what we have been living with lately:

The family room.

My office.

Last minute samples to stitch up.

Serious chain stitching going on.

Quilt Market Spring 2010 is less than 2 weeks away! I'm so excited! I'm so overwhelmed! So much to do. But it really is fun, once you get there and get your booth set up (phew!) and then you can walk around and see what all of the other designers and manufacturers have been up to. And of course, I get to see some pals that I see only twice a year at the Quilt Market trade show, so it is always fun. (For those of you who don't know, Quilt Market happens twice a year- the fall is always held in Houston, the spring travels around. This year the spring show will be in Minneapolis. It is a trade show, which means that the public cannot attend, but it is open to quilt shop owners, designers, manufacturers, publishers, etc.) I will have lots of photos to show when I get back, so you can see what goes on. In the meantime, you can see photos from previous shows here and here and here.

Have a great day, and make sure you do something creative and fun. What will be your creative outlet today?

Happy Mother's Day

Mother, oh Mother,

come shake out your cloth,

empty the dustpan,

poison the moth,

hang out the washing

and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house

is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery,

blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little

Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done

and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing

will wait till tomorrow,

for Children grow up,

as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......

~Author Unknown ~ 

Might I add, teenagers also don't keep.... Often I get caught up in the details of the day (some things important, some not so much) and it is easy to forget what is important... as my children get older and I realize how fast time flies and how fast they have grown up.... I have come to appreciate every moment with them. I have had to discipline myself to put on blinders to the piles of laundry and sinks full of dirty dishes so I can sit with them and just hang out.... I love spending time with them, but sometimes it seems like I am pulled in so many different directions... but of everything I have done and experienced in my life, they are and have always been the most wonderful product of my care and attention.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. And I think we should redefine motherhood. Even if you've never given birth or adopted or fostered, I think that if you have in any way taken time to care, nurture, mentor, guide or listen.... you have mothered.... and so I wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day.

And now for something fun. I posted this a year and a half ago, and many of you have probably seen it because it was a bunch of tv shows, but I think it is so hilarious (and TRUE!)- watch and enjoy....

Cinco de Mayo! Enchilada Casserole Recipe

I'm not sure why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo- from what I understand, it is much more popular in the United States than in Mexico. But a good excuse to load up on chips, salsa, and cheese, I think....

Anyway, last night, I made an enchilada casserole, to celebrate Quatro de Mayo. Since quatro de Mayo has no more significance to me than cinco de Mayo, I didn't think it was a problem. BTW, youngest daughter says we weren't celebrating Quatro de Mayo, but rather, National Jedi Day, as in: May the 4th be with you. Ha ha!!
Here is the recipe- it is super simple and tasty! Of course, I could eat Mexican food 6 days a week (I never met a carb I didn't like....)


Enchilada Casserole

1 T. oil
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. ground chicken, turkey, or beef
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and/or 1 can corn, drained or 1 c. frozen corn
1/2 of a 16 oz jar of salsa
salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne or chili pepper, cumin to taste
1 can (10 oz) can of enchilada sauce (I used green, you can use red or green)
8 corn tortillas
1 c. sour cream
1 bag (8 oz) shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large skillet, saute onion in oil, add ground meat and stir to break up, cook until meat is no longer pink. Add beans, corn and salsa. Season to taste. Cook about 5 minutes until bubbly.

Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream.

Spray a 13 x 9 pan with cooking spray. Spread half of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of the dish. Put 4 of the tortillas in the bottom of the dish (I tear them up to make them fit better.)

Spread meat mixture over tortillas. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.

Put remaining 4 tortillas on top, spread with remaining enchilada sauce. Cover and bake 40 minutes.

Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake, uncovered, another 10 minutes, until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

A Walk Through The Garden

The weekend before last we got to go on a house and garden tour. Photos are not allowed inside the homes- too bad! They are gorgeous, full of history and interesting stories and wonderful antiques. Here are some garden photos that daughter took.