I'm An Underachiever!!

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since my last post! Since then I've been to Santa Clara, CA to vend at Pacific International Quilt Festival, to Houston, TX for Quilt Market and vending at Quilt Festival, and then back to California to sell my handmade items at a boutique! And that's not to mention Thanksgiving thrown into the mix along with my 2 grandsons coming to visit for 3 days. So I guess I haven't been sitting on my laurels, but then I look at my friend's blogs and there are wonderful pictures and postings almost every day and I feel like such an "Underachiever"! Where do the hours go each day?? And to think that the BIG van still has boxes in there that were sent home from Houston. I've decided it is a perfect place to store boxes ... and now I'm not sweating where to put all of it. Who's going to need drapes for a booth right now? Or table covers even? Of course I do have a few boxes containing bolts of fabric...so I will have to deal with it at some point when I need to get to them for orders. So tomorrow when I drive the BIG van in for it's oil change I'm sure the mechanics will be suitably impressed with these boxes ( all 50 something of them). Just think if they could see the rest of my quilting life too...they would be in for a surprise.

So I'm going to make an effort to get some of my photos posted here in the near future so you can see some of what I've been up to. I had a great response to my 2 newest designs - "Gentle Violet" and "Santa's Winter Wagon". I had a wonderful call from a woman in California who said she hardly ever buys patterns and never kits, but she couldn't get "Gentle Violet" out of her head after she saw it at PIQF in California. So she ordered the kit over the phone, and who knows, maybe she's busy making her own right now.

My other big news is I bought over 6,000 fat quarters (actually fat fat quarters because they are cut metric so you gain a little bit over US fat quarters) from Lecien fabrics. They are the most beautiful fabrics. Lots of basics - tone on tone, small stripes, checks and dots- and then 2 big boxes of the Durham Quilt Collection! That is one of my all time favorite designs from this great Japanese fabric company. The colors are so soft and romantic. I'm working on a new design right now - I'm thinking about naming it "Sweet Adeline" after my wonderful Aunt who was full of life and always surprised me with her humor. So that's in the works...and hopefully by spring it will have hatched off the paper and onto fabric. I wish you all a wonderful Holiday season and I'm going to try and get back here more often to talk with you. Mary Jane

I'm Back But Not For Long

If you've been wondering where I've been since my last post.....I'm not sure I can remember. Each day runs into the next and it is almost a blur! I've been frantically working on TWO patterns. I wrote awhile back about "Gentle Violet" and that is all ready to go, but now I'm finishing up "Santa's Winter Wagon". In fact, the copier is working away as we speak. So tomorrow I leave for California for Pacific International Quilt Festival. The really fun part of this is I get to see my sister. I haven't seen her since November. And since she's not only my sister but my best friend that is far too long. We always have lots of laughs and she'll help me in the booth at PIQF so we'll be spending lots of time together. If you're planning on attending the show (which is FANTASTIC!), please stop by and say hello. We'll have our 2 new quilts hanging plus some beautiful quilts by other designers. Once I return from California, I have about 3 days at home and then it's off to Houston, Texas to attend International Quilt Market where I get to see everything that's new and exciting to purchase for the shop. That is followed by International Quilt Festival which is open to the public. Look for us in Booth # 559 and 561. We'll be there ready to give you a big HOWDY! Until then .... keep yourself in stitches (and I don't mean the medical kind)! Mary Jane

Almost Done!

I am so psyched! Yesterday I went to the post office and picked up a package from my machine quilter. I've spent the last couple of months working on "Gentle Violet", and it has turned into my "baby". So, after the top was completed I sent it off to be machine quilted. Now if you're like me, you can't always pick out a quilting design that will look good on a specific quilt. That is a talent I do not possess! I rely on the professionals to guide me and then I worry that I won't like it - but my worry was unnecessary! When I opened up the box I took a deep breath and then dove right in. I was so thrilled - the quilting is absolutely perfect and it really did make the quilt. Now I'm trying to get the binding on so I can ship it off to the photographer. It is made from the most beautiful Lecien fabrics .... and the fabric arrived yesterday so I'll be able to make kits. Look for the kits sometime in October. Enjoy your day. Mary Jane

The Woodchuck Story

If you ever have a woodchuck in your backyard and he's eating your garden .... just let him stay! There is probably enough to feed all of you. But at our house, we had to trap the cute little furry thing in a Hav-A-Hart trap. Now, that is the kind way to remove him from the garden, but here's what this kind gesture evolved into..... we went away for a few days right before Labor Day. I told my husband that he shouldn't leave the trap outside because if we caught something it would be stuck in there for a few days and that didn't seem too kind. So he moved the trap into the basement. Then on Labor Day as I was rushing around trying to pack for a quilt show in Harrisburg, PA, my husband said he would move the trap out of the doorway leading into the storage room. So of course I heard him say he was moving it, but I didn't see where it went. But did I find out when I turned around and fell right over it (and it is pretty big) and onto my nose on the cement floor! We spent several hours at the emergency room and found out I had a broken nose. Luckily I didn't break the leg that landed into the cage too. So if you ever take a dive onto your nose, here's what you do .... make sure you put ice immediately on the nose. Luckily I did that and it didn't get too swollen and I didn't even get black eyes for my trip to PA. It only proves that quilters are determined to go to quilt shows ... because this little mishap didn't even slow me down.

On a brighter note - my newest pattern, "Gentle Violet", should be ready in October. I'm really excited about this little quilt and I'll share photos of it once I get the pattern done. I'm also working on a small quilt for each season. So far the main piece is done for summer and winter. Haven't finished fall or spring yet. Who says the seasons have to be done in order? I'm trying desperately to get all of these projects completed and the patterns written before October when I go to Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, CA and then on to Quilt Festival in Houston. So if you attend either of these shows, look for me there! And in the meantime, keep on quilting....Mary Jane

Around The Cape and Back Again

I just returned last night from a quilt show on Cape Cod. What a wonderful place to visit...it is so beautiful. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me while I was driving so I can't share the sights with you. But I'll just say the scenery was so picturesque....rivers leading out to the sea and the boats bobbing in the water....oh yes, and let's not forget the fried scallops which were delicious!

So here are a few pictures you might like.... These are 2 pictures of my booth at this show. It was the 27th annual Bayberrry Quilt Guild show. What a nice group of quilters....and many beautiful quilts were on display that were made by it's talented members.

Next is my husband's domain - the outside.....he practically lives outside year-round, but especially in the summer, and has such a green thumb. We have the most wonderful organic fruits and vegetables! Who knew that asparagus could be so pretty??? We all know it is delicious to eat, but when you let it go to seed after the picking you get this... and it is spectacular.

And if you like dill , but never thought about it except as an ingredient in dill pickles, then you might like this bit of nature's artwork ..... dill growing in the garden.

Also, lettuce and marigolds make a pretty picture....

So here is a view of the garden from a distance - I'm so lucky to have the land we have and this beautiful backyard. And a husband who absolutely likes to make it that way. That way I can have the time I need inside the house, adoringly looking out the windows from my sewing machine (at him and the garden)!

Now awhile back I promised you some pictures from our cottage in Vermont - 8 miles from the Canadian border. We spent a week there in July with our 2 grandsons, Rory and Noah. Rory said it could only rain at night and then only on the other side of the lake .... and he pretty much got his wish. So when it rained on the other side of the lake, we had this magnificent rainbow from our yard looking out over the lake.

And in case you think Vermont is pure country .... here are some elk eating at their trough. This farm has 100's of elk and they are so majestic. I just had to throw a picture of them in.

So now I'm off the Lowell Quilt Festival. I'll be spending the next 2 days there setting up my booth. I've got a few ideas I think will be fun! Then the show is open Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun. Stop on by and say hi. I've been told that the quilts this year are the best ever ..... can't wait to see them and you too! Mary Jane P.S. I hope my friend Anne reads this and sees that I can take and post pictures now - thanks to her encouragement!

Free Gift Info

I had hoped to share a few more photos with you today, but there are just not enough hours in the day. I am madly trying to accomplish more things than humanly possible. First there is the cutting and bundling of 100's of yards of fabrics for the show at Cape Cod in a week and then immediately after that is another show in Massachusetts. Next the quilt is almost done for my next pattern. I am really excited about this small quilt...but this small quilt equals hours and hours of work. If you've ever tried to create a quilt from "scratch" the process isn't that complicated, but it does take much "dreaming" and "thinking". After the design phase, there is the fabric selection. For this quilt I've chosen almost exclusively Lecien fabrics...these are fabrics that won't be on the market until sometime in Aug. They are the most wonderful fabrics, but that's another story. So after the blocks were completed, then the borders have to be done. But of course, did I have enough fabric from these "not to be found yet" fabrics?? NO-O-O. But I am fortunate enough to be friends with Nireko who just happened to have 2 far quarters which she kindly mailed to me. PLUS she called Japan (of course it helps with you speak fluent Japanese like she does) and they brought over on the plane Tuesday 1 yard for me . So now the borders can be completed. After that it is off to the quilter. Sounds like cake?? Well, you also have to decide what quilting patterns you want. Of course the quilting really makes the quilts so you really want this to be a good choice. Once that's completed, then it's back to me for the binding. Then off to the photographer for the picture. Then there is the new logo to be designed for the pattern company - Holly Hill Quilt Designs - I came up with a rough sketch but someone has to make it pretty and usable. Then you also have to write the pattern so someone else can make it......get the picture? And if that isn't enough I am trying to design a line of fabric. I've come up with 9 designs so far but I've spent countless hours there too. I am so glad that I love quilting and fabric or none of this would seem like fun. As it is, I am really happy to jump out of bed in the morning and work until almost midnight on something that I truly love. So now you understand why I didn't get the silly pictures scanned. WHEW!

So here's the deal....I want to see if anyone is reading this and I'm not just talking to myself. If you post a comment on this blog, I'll put your name in a box and randomly select one of you to receive a gift from me to you. Now isn't that easy? And doesn't everyone love a present?? I'll draw the name on August 12th (my daughter's birthday) so get busy writing me and see if you are the lucky one on August 12th. You have until August 11th to get your comments in. Good luck. Mary Jane

Here's Where I've Been

I promised you pictures so here they are. This shows you a little bit of what I've done since the end of May. First off was the trip to Wisconsin to visit with my Norwegian cousins. If you've read earlier posts, then you know that I LOVE Wisconsin and especially my cousins!!! We went to the parade and I couldn't resist taking a picture of this Viking float....

Then after the return from Wisconsin it was off to the New Jersey State Quilt Guild show in Edison. There were so many beautiful quilts on display it was hard to pick out only a few to share with you, but this first one is a close up of a quilt named "Pepto Bismol". The workmanship was incredible and I apologize that I didn't get the persons name who made it. But whoever you are - your quilt is absolutely beautiful!

This next picture shows the quilt from a distance.

I love traditional quilts, but I also love modern quilts. I guess I just love quilts, so here is a really striking quilt with wonderful bright colors.



And here's another modern quilt - what a great eye this person had for arranging the colors.

And just to give you an idea of what I did there besides taking pictures (with my new 35 mm camera - I think I'm finally over my fear of cameras), this is picture of a portion of my booth. In the foreground is Bunny Hill's "I Believe in Angels" quilt. Oh so beautiful!!! It is a "heavenly" design. And next to it is Alex Anderson's "Baskets and Blossoms". You can definitely tell that the color choices were done by a professional. Who would have thought that the wild Hawaiian print would be so great in this quilt?

Then here's another part of the booth where Bunny Hill had a corner on the market. There is "Sugar Bunnies" on the left and "Postcard Cuties for Spring" on the right. The head bunny at Bunny Hill, Anne, is such a wonderful person. Isn't it nice when we can support designers who are not only talented, but are also exceptional human beings?

And last, but definitely not least, are "Seaside Cottage" by Vicki at Bloom Creek on the left, Alex Anderson's "Hopscotch in Neutrals"in the middle, and "Winter Memories" by my friend, Brenda, at Acorn Quilt and Gift Company. Brenda and Anne are friends too, so that tells you what a wonderful person Brenda is too!

So that's it for show and tell for now. I'll try and post my pictures from our trip to the lake with the grandsons and the dog soon.