LaVieEnRosie

Miss Manners...

Good morning!

To those of you who have kindly commented on this blog -- THANK YOU!

You made my day and I very much appreciate your taking the time to read and comment.  I'm still learning about the proper etiquette for bloggers so I'm not sure if I should respond to every comment, and if I should respond via e-mail, here, or wherever.  So please accept my apologies for any faux pas I have made.  (And, yes, Mom I know that ignorance of the correct behavior is not an excuse for rudeness.

To make up for my transgressions, I am going to give the following...

... to someone. 

Don't know who yet, just someone who leaves a comment for this post.  I'll draw names from the two or three of you that leave a comment before the "witching hour" on All Hallow's Eve.  (That would be midnight PST on Friday, October 31st.)

As for what it is, it is a complete kit for Cheap Trick.  It includes everything you need except the backing fabric, meaning that the Portugal Layer Cake, the borders, binding and background fabric are all included.

Now to the important, most relevant thing to mention this morning -- the pie was awesome!  Not all of it, there is still plenty left... although not for long, I'm sure as both Rosie and Mom love apple pie! 

And I have to show you something I worked on last night.  I had the best of intentions.  I was going to go to bed at a "reasonable hour" of 10:30 pm and then I got sidetracked.  I figured I would make one more little thing for a new Schnibbles pattern and well... the next thing I knew, I was making nine-patches that finish at 1 1/2".  So I made this little double-nine-patch block that finishes at 4 1/2" x 4 1/2". 

This is the back of it...

 

And I can blame this all on Virginia Cole!  As I wrote before, I had so much fun in her class and I've fallen in love with making itty-bitty little things.  Now don't panic!  I am NOT going to be making bed-sized quilts using 1 1/2" blocks... well, not for a pattern anyway.  (I'll tell you about that other project another day.)

Back to the block you see above... the seams are trimmed to 1/8" because this isn't going to be washed, and then they are pressed open.  If parts of it look a little crooked, that is my pressing/trimming and the midnight hour.  It was pretty straight by the time I machine-quilted, aged and finished my little project.  Virginia's methods for everything are brilliant.  And a lot of fun. 

As for what it is, you'll see that in a little while and I hope you're going to want to make one. 

Later... and THANK YOU in advance!

Simple pleasures...

I'm having a good day.

It isn't any one thing, just a compilation of little things that have made me smile today. 

Like this...

 I hope you'll forgive me, I had to take the vase outside to get a good picture of these gorgeous flowers.  This is a "Brighten Your Day" bouquet from Trader Joe's.  Okay, it's actually two bouquets, but since a single bouquet only costs $5.99, it doesn't seem too outrageously self-indulgent. 

Then factor in that the sun is shining -- okay, it's a little too hot to be absolutely perfect -- but I refuse to complain because the sun IS shining!  And there is the most amazing smell in the house right now because I am actually baking a pie! 

One of my favorite blogs to read is Posie Loves Cosy and a couple of weeks back, she included a recipe for Sour Cream Apple Pie.  If this thing tastes as good as it smells...

And just in case you're thinking that I haven't been working today, that just isn't true.  This morning, I started out with some charm squares that looked like this...

 

Flag Day Farm by Polly and Laurie... kind of pretty, isn't it?

About 15 minutes later, my two charm packs looked like this...

   

A couple of hours later, I had this...

 

Okay, that's just a tiny little piece of the finished quilt top... well, almost finished quilt top.  This one is going to get plain borders and I can't decide which color.  I am "living with" the top for a day or so while I consider my options... and wait for the aforementioned options to arrive from my man Ted.  

Sorry about that... I had to run off and take my pie out of the oven!  It smells heavenly!  How long does it take a pie to "cool completely"?  I'm guessing that's probably more than 15 minutes... right?

So while I wait for my pie to cool, I am going to sit and enjoy my flowers... or I may go and cut up some more charm squares.

Definition of Pathetic...

That would be moi.

I learned to sew over 30 years ago.  In that time, I have sewn all sorts of garments, including tailoring, dress shirts and some pretty detailed clothes.  (And some rather dreadful outfits that defy description, but that's neither here nor there.)  I have dozens of spools of thread and several jars of buttons.  And, I currently own several sewing machines, at least two of which can sew on buttons. 

But for the last six months -- yes, 6 months! -- this has been the state of my favorite pair of frequently-worn linen pants...

 

And in that time, to keep these most favorite linen pants from falling off, I have had to use this to close them...

 

Wait!  What's that sound?  Did I just hear my high school Home Ec teacher rolling over in her grave?  I know... you don't have to tell me... this is SO weak. 

So since I wanted to wear my pants to work today I finally took the time to find a spool of black thread, the button -- which I had managed to save all these many moons, and a needle.  And now I have this...

 

And on a quick little side note, while I think most cigars are vile smelling things and we won't even go into the health problems they cause, there is one really nice benefit of cigars.  Cigar boxes!  They make the most wonderful thread boxes!

 

I think the iron is finally cool enough that I can open the tank and add some water so I'm off to finish up my current little project... which you might get a glimpse of later this week.  See 'ya!

One more for today...

I better show this one to you quickly because I'm going to cut up these 42 little charm squares today -- the newest Collection for a Cause ~ Legacy. 

 

 

 

The colors are quite wonderful -- the cream is the color of cream cheese.  (I just compared it to the shmear on my bagel.)  The blue/aqua... I think it looks like that Araucana blue that Martha Stewart made famous.  And it's gorgeous.  There is one pink print and everything else is some shade of brown from light tan to a very dark chocolate/dark espresso shade.  And lots of pink accents in the prints. 

I am making a little quilt with the charm squares, something simple with two charm packs.  And I think this one is going to have borders.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

And with the fat quarters... I haven't got a clue.  Not yet, anyway.  It might have a little more pink in it though, possibly even bits and pieces of the pink prints from Barbara Brackman's Civil War Crossings.  They look really nice with this collection. 

As for the rest of what my man Ted from United Notions sent me...

This is Flag Day Farm by Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson... be sure to see the pictures of Polly and Laurie from Market...

This is Wonderland by Momo...

 

And this is the very pretty Patisserie by Fig Tree Quilts...

I'm off to sew... really!  I have this pile of fabric that really needs my attention or else Ted won't send me any more!

Now about that new fabric...

Like anybody cares what I have to write... it's all about the new fabric. 

The Aviary collection by 3 Sisters -- it's really pretty.  REALLY pretty.

 

Forty-two pieces of loveliness in soft, not-quite pastel colors.  There is just enough oomph to the colors that they aren't quite pastel, but the colors and fabrics are soft enough that they feel like pastels... does that make sense?

The cream is just that -- the color of cream... almost milk.  It is almost white but not quite.  There are two tone-on-tone prints, a large scale floral print and the tiny little bird-toile-print that has been in past 3 Sisters collections.  (I'm glad because it is one of my favorite background prints.)

Two of my favorite prints on the creamy-white background are --

 

The flowers in this one are a little less than 2" across -- and this picture shows half of the fat quarter.  And the leaves and branches are tan, not green.  Did I mention that this fabric is really pretty?

The flowers in this print are about 3" across, and this is 3/4 of the fat quarter.  (And, yes, next time I'll press them first... although that would take time, maybe delaying this a day or two...)

Yes, I do know what I am going to make with this lovely fabric.  More on that later...

The night the floor shook...

Now that I have a forum in which to express an opinion, I would like to share a few thoughts about the famous -- and infamous -- event at Quilt Market known as "sample spree".

Can you buy lots of gorgeous fat quarter bundles and patterns at wholesale prices?  Yes.  Can you buy actual samples of small quilts, pincushions, pillows, etc.?  Yes.  Is it fun?  Yes.  Is it insane?  Yes.  Do a few people get a little out-of-control in their frenzy to get to the [I think you know who I mean here without me uttering the name of a particular fabric company's] table?  Absoposilutely YES! 

Of course, when you walk away with a shopping bag filled with stuff like this...

 

And, really, it's always about the fabric, isn't it?

What is Sample Spree like?  How do you get in?  If you have a product to sell, you puchase one or more tables -- and chairs -- in a large ballroom at the convention center.  Two hours before the whole thing is scheduled to start -- usually 8:00 pm -- the sample spree vendors are allowed in the room to begin setting up.  Some folks bring in props, displays, signs and lots and lots of product.  Others just bring in lots and lots and lots of stuff to sell -- see company indirectly referenced above.

If you're a vendor or an officially designated helper of a vendor registered for sample spree, you can enter the room, and the limit is three people total. 

The funny thing is, the line for Sample Spree usually starts forming before 5:00 pm with folks camped-out in line.  And when people from inside the room go in and out for whatever reason, they are generally asked one question -- "which way to the [guess who]'s table?" 

About five minutes before the doors open, there is an announcement to get ready, then another with 1 minute to go.  Then the announcement that the doors are opening... and the stampede begins.  To you-know-who's-table.  Stampede?  Surely I am exaggerating... NOT!  A few years ago, I was helping some friends at their table -- a common scam to get into the sample spree room for those of us not vending at sample spree -- and the Moda table was further down our aisle.  The floor shook.  Really!  It felt like an earthquake!  Seriously!  I grew up outside San Francisco and lived in Los Angeles, I know earthquakes!  (It was the 2nd floor of the convention center, the floor actually vibrated and the tables shook!)

There wasn't any running, just really, really fast walking by women in comfortable shoes with a purpose.  Within 10 seconds -- the distance was less than 50 yards from the door to the tables -- the crowd was 10-deep at the Moda table.  A gentleman across the aisle said it best... "well, I guess we know who the ugly stepsisters are now."  I laughed so hard I thought I was going to hurt myself.

Now, here's the thing, I have been standing at that table when the doors opened.  Within seconds, I was smushed against the table, being pushed forward against the stacks of bundles, being elbowed by ladies -- at least that is what I will call them -- reaching for bundles, etc.  Trying to get out -- after paying and getting my bag -- was almost worse because nobody really wanted to step back because that meant stepping away from the fabric!  So close to the prize, who was going to retreat even one single inch!  (True confessions... I sure wouldn't have!)

What I like about sample spree is all the stuff I get to see that I don't get to see during Market itself.  And I get to buy things for myself -- and for friends, helpers, etc. -- that I often don't see in my LQS.  I have bought patterns, books, fabric -- the Lecien table is almost as crazy as the Moda table, wool, thread assortments and pincushions.  (There is a reason why my freight shipment from Market sometimes weighs more than my shipment TO Market.)  While many vendors are selling at wholesale prices, not everyone does. 

And that's sample spree.

Workroom

I have a "studio" but it really shouldn't be called that.  It is where I sew and it is kind of a disaster area.  Actually, as I wrote in the Jolly Jabber blog in July, it was officially been designated a "crime scene" by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department last year.  (The Fat Quarter Shop's  blog -- www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/.)

But someday, I will have the space of my dreams.  Until then, I can work on what I've got and get some tips from a wonderful new magazine/book that arrived in the mail today.  If you're familiar with the book, Where Women Create by Jo Packham, then I think you're going to love this magazine as much as I do. 

It is titled Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women and this is the Premier Issue of what is expected to be a quarterly publication.

   

The studios/workspaces of the following extraordinary women are beautifully showcased:

• Sally Jean Alexander ~ Sally Jean
• Karey Bresenhan ~ Quilts, Inc.
• MaryJane Butters ~ MaryJanesFarm
• Karima Cammell ~ Castle in the Air
• Marcia Ceppos ~ Tinsel Trading Company
• Jenny Doh ~ Stampington & Company
• Cathie Filian ~ Creative Juice
• Shelli Gardner ~ Stampin' Up!
• Kaari Meng ~ French General
• Jen O'Connor ~ Earth Angels
• Jill Schwartz ~ Elements

The magazine is scheduled to be on newstands and in bookstores November 1st, but until then... www.wherewomencreate.com and www.stampington.com.

It is wonderful, gorgeous, inspiring and definitely motivating... in that "I want to work in a space like that!" kind of way. 

Setting Up...

This is today's goal. 

Today is the day that everybody really gets down to business with their booths.  Some people are done and off having fun but most are busy.  (And this picture was taken in Pittsburgh, the site of Spring Market 2009.  I loved this convention center because of all the natural light.) 

While you're busy setting up -- or finishing up -- your booth for tomorrow's big opening, today is also the day for shopowners to attend Schoolhouse.  I don't know how to describe it accurately other than to say you pay for the privilege of doing a 15 or 30 minute presentation on your latest and greatest, and anything important you need to pass along to a shopowner who might  be interested in buying your product. 

My first Schoolhouse presentation was in Pittsburgh and I had been persuaded to believe that I NEEDED to do a Schoolhouse.  As I told the audience when I started, considering that I was planning to DO a Schoolhouse presentation, it might have been nice if I had actually BEEN to one.  I didn't have a clue what we were "supposed" to do other than this was NOT to be a "hard-sell sales pitch".  (Having been to a few presentations since that first one, most of them are best described as a soft sales pitch.)

One rule -- do not finish early!  I learned that lesson in Minneapolis when I inadvertently started early, whizzed through my presentation, didn't have any questions and told everyone to have a nice day.  Oops... the "power that is" was right outside my room and "we" got in trouble.  Okay, I didn't get in trouble, my good friend and valiant helper got to hear all about my transgression. 

Since I have to bring quilts to my Schoolhouse, I don't really set up my booth until after I'm finished.  And, really, it doesn't take my long... a couple of hours at the most.  And Ginger is a HUGE help for that as she "fluffs" better than I do... really, I can't "fluff" at all. 

When it's done, my booth usually looks something like this...

Move In...

Am I missing Houston yet?  Not really... okay, just a tiny bit.  Very TINY!

Although I wouldn't be that busy today.  Today is the first day that you can move into Fall Market -- Thursday for Fall Market, Wednesday for Spring Market -- and I don't usually do much.  At best, I go by the convention center to make sure whatever I've shipped is there or to drop off whatever it is I've brought with me. 

 

And that's about all I do on the official move-in day. 

There are a couple of reasons for that -- mostly because it doesn't take me that long to set up my booth -- 3 hours at the most -- and I can't hang all the quilts until after my Schoolhouse presentation.  And that's tomorrow.

Now, there are people who are itching to get in at noon when the doors open and will be busy unpacking, sorting, organizing, decorating, hanging drapes, hanging and re-hanging quilts, moving in furniture, etc. from noon until closing time on Day 2.  Not me.  I am very low-tech when it comes to my booth.  Low-tech -- I hate to say this, but to some folks, I think they would probably translate that as high-tack... as in, high-tacky. 

My very first Market was six years ago, October 2002.  I had a half-booth and my friend, Ginger Sanchez, was next door with a half-booth.  We used the icky white polyester drapes provided by Market as our "backdrops", we didn't have any floor covering at all -- just the lovely concrete, and the table provided by Market which had to be covered with something.  I hung quilts using small binder clips and "S" hooks so that they kind of looked like drapes.  Just the twelve quilts, a pot of flowers on the floor and moi. 

If I ever find a picture of it, I promise I'll post it. 

In my next life, if I am still a quilter doing patterns, I want to come back as Mary Pat Pogue of Ginger Cookie Company.  Her booths were always my favorite -- and I will admit to be completely biased because she is such a nice person on top of that.  She could throw together a fabulous booth in a few hours, making it look absolutely perfect and charming and wonderful.  And, yes, she usually won a booth award because of it.  Oh, and that the booth was also filled with perfect, charming, wonderful quilts and projects probably didn't hurt. 

Okay, that's it for move-in day... I'll pretend I'm missing Schoolhouse tomorrow. 

My man Ted...

I'm in love.  His name is Ted and I've never met him.  I don't know what he looks like or how old he is, I just know that he's the perfect man. 

He never asks me for anything and he makes no demands on me.  He doesn't care if I want to sew all night or wear my pajamas all day.  He's never asked me for a thing.  He doesn't leave his clothes on my floor and he doesn't expect me to make him dinner every night.  We've never argued... okay, we've never actually spoken either, but why mess up my dream with a few details like that?

The best thing about Ted is that he gives me the most wonderful presents!  Every couple of weeks, I get this wonderful surprise package filled with all kinds of goodies.  Of late, he's been even more generous as I have received a couple of boxes in the past week! 

Oh, right... like you didn't know Ted had something to do with fabric and Moda.  The thing is, I really don't know who he is.  The only thing I know about him is that it is his name on the box.  (I would like to think that he's a secret admirer but I suspect that he is really the devoted subject of the person who is really responsible for sending me all this wonderful fabric... oh well, my Mr. He'll Do is still out there.)

Now, about that box... I wish I could show you all the wonderful contents but I promised a few people that I wouldn't spill the beans... just yet.  (Since I'm not going to Fall Market, we'll talk in about a week or so.)  So until I can show you a picture, you'll just have to do with a 1000 words...

Collection for a Cause - Legacy.  I love this collection.  While I haven't a clue yet what I'm going to do with it, this is my favorite CFAC collection so far.  Like the first two collections, the prints are reproduction-style, but the colors in this group make the fabrics -- and the whole collection -- look very clean and fresh.  And some of the little florals are absolutely glorious. 

Flag Day Farm by Minick & Simpson.  Wonderful!  As Laurie and Polly have written in their blog --http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/ -- it is a little darker than their past patriotic collections.  But there are several red prints -- the paisley is gorgeous by the little scattered floral print is my favorite!  

Patisserie by Fig Tree Quilts.  This one is really pretty!  Lots of beautiful pink, apricot, cream, green, mocha and red -- how could I not love that?  There are all sorts of wonderful new floral prints and one of my favorite little prints from Indigo Blues.  Joanna Figueroa has shown many of the prints in the new collection on her blog -- http://figtreequilts.typepad.com/my_weblog/.

I also love Aviary by 3 Sisters.  More beautiful, soft, pastel floral prints in green, blue, pink and cream... and one piece that is a deeper rose pink.  As with Patisserie, there are a couple of pieces in this group that I think I'm going to need to have... just to fondle. 

And last and definitely not least, Wonderland by Momo.  This is funky, bright and really, really cool.  The colors are very modern, and the prints could be retro and/or modern.  I love the red and the pink -- especially together!

So... my man Ted.  Don't you wish everyone had one?