Is It Halloween At Your House??

This past week-end it was Halloween at my house. While most people are getting ready for Christmas, I was busy working on Halloween! No, I'm not really that far behind in my life.....but my friend, Jackie Paton, needed a little quilt made from her new fabric line and asked me to help. This is the cutest panel with witches on brooms, bats, pumpkins and my favorite part - the moon. So look for this Red Rooster fabric line that will be available at your local quilt shop around May 2009. In the meantime, Red Rooster will take this little design and make a free pattern so you can make one for yourself.

If you've ever wondered what Quilt Festival in Houston is like .... well, here's a look at a little part of my booth. It was overflowing with lots and lots of just released patterns and much more! These patterns were so hot off the presses that I picked up the quilts and patterns from the designers at the close of Quilt Market and then hung them the next day in my booth! So this was their first debut to the public!


Well, I'm off to the post office to mail out orders so enjoy the day! Mary Jane

WHEW! I've Finally Added Some Pictures

If you've read my posts in the past, I'm sure you know about my "camera phobia". I don't know what it is that keeps me from taking photos. I love looking at blogs with pictures. We're quilters, right? We love the visual. So I'm starting on my New Years Resolution right now .... do more posts with pictures. Here is a wonderful photo taken by Gregory Case, so I can't take credit for it. It is a picture of "Gentle Violet" and it is the cover photo for the pattern. Greg is not afraid of cameras, so he is the man to call when I need a cover photo done.

"Gentle Violet" was named after my Mother, Violet Hopkins. The pattern has a special place in my heart and I hope all of you who have purchased the pattern since it's debut in October have the same love of your quilt as I do of this one. And if you complete yours, please e-mail me a picture.

I've come to realize that I LOVE ribbon and rick-rack. I just recently purchased LOTS and LOTS of beautiful ribbons and rick-rack. My head has been swimming with the possibilities of where they should be used. This is the time of the year that I get to be creative and I so cherish this time. No quilt shows to pack for ... just the sewing machine and I in harmony (at least, most days).

Here's a look at two ribbons I think are really fun. The one on the left is a brown ribbon with pink FUZZY dots! The dots are so soft and cuddly .... I'm thinking it would be really fun to use this on a baby's quilt. Maybe as the binding?? Who knows what will come of it, but maybe you'll find a picture on a future post. The ribbon on the right is a satiny explosion of beautiful stripes in fuchsia, pink and a soft green. I'm looking for the right fabrics to go with this one.....

The last photo today is a small view of "Santa's Winter Wagon". Again Gregory Case was the photographer so I have to give him all the credit. I'm designing a series of seasonal patterns with wagons. So far the Winter quilt and pattern are done. The Spring and Summer quilts are partially done. My goal is to have them both ready for February when I go to Hampton, Virginia for a quilt show. So I'll keep you posted on my progress.

My task this weekend involves a box of fabric I received in the mail yesterday from my friend, Jackie Paton. Jackie designs fabric for Red Rooster. You might remember my post awhile ago about "Happily Ever After" which was her first line for Red Rooster. It has been a HUGE success. So the fabrics I received yesterday are from her Halloween line (It will be out next year). There is a great panel and Jackie wants me to come up with a design that incorporates the panel and some of the other fabrics. So I've got to put on my "Mathematical" head and figure out what triangles, rectangles, squares, or strips to use. I love this part of quilting. Well, maybe not all of the math but the creative part where you can just put together what you like. And then when it's complete (and if it's wonderful) you feel so great! Who needs drugs to make our day better? We have fabric and lots of ideas for our "high". So put your "creative" spirit to work and see what you can do. Enjoy and I'll talk with you soon. Mary Jane

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!