California Here I Am

I arrived in California last night. So today it is up and at it trying to finish last minute details for the Pacific International Quilt Show. Right now it is still dark out - I'm on East Coast time, not West Coast time yet - so I'm going to hand sew on some of the bindings on the sample quilts I brought along. I finished one last night so hopefully before the sun rises I'll get one or two more done. Everyone else is still sleeping so it is nice quiet work. Enjoy your day. Mary Jane

Time Flew By Again

Hello Friends - I can't believe it's been almost 3 months since my last post! I wonder where the time has gone, but then I think back. Let's see: In the beginning of August I was vending at the New England Quilt Guild Show in Lowell, MA, then the middle of the month I was at the World Tour of Quilts Show in Manchester, NH. So in between I was cutting and bundling fabrics to get ready. Then I took a week's "vacation" to go to our camp in Northern Vermont. But vacation at the camp means mowing the grass, cleaning, trying to get a little more painting done on the outside, etc. Even though we are on one of the most beautiful lakes around there is so much work to be done to maintain another home. Sometimes we just have to be happy with looking at the lake and thinking about our retirement some day in the future. September - what went on then? Let's see: The beginning of Sept. my sister, Judy, came to visit. She hasn't been here for over 5 years (but I've been to CA 2 or 3 or 4 times a year to see her during that time) so we did a little 3 day fun time. We went to Cape Cod and stayed at my daughter, Marta's, house. We did the tourist thing and went to Provincetown for the day and just strolled around. It was incredible weather and so much fun. Then it was back home and we spent 16 hour days bundling fabrics for the show in Oaks, PA. Oaks turned out to be a really incredible show! We were so busy each day that we didn't even get a bite of our lunch until 4 pm! Now I'm not complaining - that's the sign of a really good show (and not that bad for the extra pounds either). Since returning from PA I've been even more crazy than ever. I am leaving on Sat. for the Pacific International Quilt Festival Show in Santa Clara, CA. This is one of my busiest shows of the year so I've been cutting and bundling and packing box after box and then going to UPS to ship. I'm now down to the wire so I have 5 large suitcases left to fill with merchandise (it's still cheaper to pay for the extra suitcases with 50# of merchandise then to ship). I probably won't bring many clothes so if you come to the show and see me in the same clothes each day you'll know why. The other thing that's keeping me busy of course is making samples for the booth. I have 10 quilts that need binding before Santa Clara and I'm picking up 2 more from my quilter tomorrow. So the sewing machine has been getting it's fair share of abuse too. And if that isn't enough, I also have to finish writing the patterns for my two newest quilts - "Hoppy's Spring Wagon" and "Teddy Stevens Comes To America" - before I leave and get them copied and collated. Once I return from CA then the big news happens - I finally got into A Quilter's Gathering quilt show in Nashua, NH. Even though it's a small booth, I'm really happy to have finally gotten in after years of waiting. If you are attending the show, please stop by and see me. Well, I better get back to work. I find it is easier to write patterns in the morning because at night I'm just too brain dead. I hope you all have enjoyed your summer and after reading this post you'll know why you haven't heard from me for awhile. ( I think it's time to take my Geritol since I don't drink coffee) Mary Jane

Mick Has A Confession

Mick wants me to tell you that he's been keeping me busy and that's why I've been so slow at posting on my blog. (he wanted to say that he ate my homework, but he thought you wouldn't believe it!)

He also wanted me to post some other pictures that have been in my camera for quite awhile, but I wasn't smart enough tonight to figure out how to rotate them. So maybe the next time

I'll be a little more computer literate and you'll see some of what I've done since the last post.

One thing that is really exciting is that Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company is coming from Arizona to teach a 2-day class for us on September 12th and 13th. Mick is really excited too because he thinks Miss Rosie is coming with Carrie. I haven't had the heart to tell him the truth.

I also recently finished another new pattern - Welcome Winter. I can't seem to get the photo to download right now so I'll try and post it tomorrow if the computer gods are nicer! Hope you are enjoying your summer. Mary Jane

Spring Fever

Hi Friends - I haven't posted a new blog since the end of January so I thought you should know that I've been sick.....I think I have a bad case of spring fever!! No, seriously, I've just been down right busy. Since my last post, I've been to Folsom, CA to vend at the Folsom guild's show, then I was home for a couple of weeks, and then I was off to Hampton, VA. You would never know there is a problem with the economy by the attendance at these 2 quilt shows and the purchases these quilters made. WOW! In between all of this, I decided to empty out my whole shop...I wonder if you can tell that I'm really a glutton for punishment! My husband and I painted everything (a really beautiful green), shampooed the carpets, and had track lighting installed. I promised myself that when I put everything back in it all had to fit. But I think I have to break my promise, because I have over 400 bolts (maybe even more - I'm afraid to count) that don't fit. So keep looking on my website for the dates of my giant tent sale and you'll be able to find some great bargains. As if the shows, the moving of the shop, etc. wasn't enough I also designed a new pattern - Heavenly Home. I just received the photo back from the photographer and I'm really pleased. There are pieced blocks and applique blocks and I used some really "heavenly" fabrics from Lecien. I should have the pattern done tomorrow so at some point I'll get it posted my website. I also have another pattern in the works - Welcome Winter - and I think you'll like it too. That one may take a little longer to get the sample made because there are 15 applique blocks and quite a few pieced blocks too.

Today I was working on a quilt that was a pattern I purchased for the shop but their sample was done in an assortment of tans. Not that I don't love tans - especially the Japanese tans and taupes - but I am making my sample out of squares from the Durham Quilt Collection by Lecien. I am using all of the light background fabrics with the pink and reddish flowers. If you haven't seen these gorgeous fabrics - they are so subtle that they almost melt before your eyes. Then there is a variety of appliqued flowers, stems and leaves. I've done my leaves and stems from a soft grey-green from The Durham quilt Collection and then the flowers are done in assorted wools - soft pink, lavender, coral, pale yellow, etc. I made the sunflower 3 times before I was happy. First I made it as the pattern showed in a gold wool with a black center (I can follow directions sometimes!) but since I had made my sample smaller, I thought it was too big. So I just redrew it smaller - I took a little artistic license with the pattern - and made it again in the gold wool with a black center. But I didn't really like the gold since all of my other wools were softer colors it just seemed to stand out too much. My third try was the pale yellow and I tried a taupe center, but didn't like the taupe. So I finally settled on the pale yellow with the black center. (Maybe that actually makes 4 times??). So most of the flower stems are appliqued down, all the wool flowers and the leaves are cut out, but I was hoping to have this quilt done for the quilt show in Lancaster, PA. Not sure I'll make that one since I leave on March 31st, so not only would I have to get my part done on the top (which is the remaining applique plus quite a few half-square triangles for the border) but I'd have to get it to the machine quilter, and then get the binding on too. I guess you'll understand if you don't hear from me again for awhile. In the meantime, enjoy the first day of spring which is approaching really quickly. I'm off to Amherst, MA this week-end to vend at a quilt show so I'll be inside but I can still appreciate the fact that I can see the ground a few places in my yard. That white stuff is on it's way out (hopefully) ..... Mary Jane

California Dreamin'

On Monday I leave for California to attend the Folsom Quilt and Fiber Guild Quilt Show. I am looking forward to the trip and really looking forward to the warmer weather. Even though I like winter, it is fun to get away for a little bit too. I've been packing and shipping boxes of goodies and now I'm down to the final packing. I am bringing 3 big suitcases stuffed with fabrics (just need to remember the 50 pounds per bag rule) and a carry-on filled as heavy as I can lift into the overhead compartment. I'm not bringing many clothes since I can borrow from my sister (this makes up for when we were young and she wouldn't let me wear or even touch her clothes). And by eliminating clothes I can have more merchandise for my booth.

I spent most of yesterday machine sewing binding on samples (I had 12 quilts that needed binding). But of course, I still have to do the handsewing. Guess I won't be bored in California, right? I also took my latest quilt design to the machine quilter last week and it is supposed to be done when I return home. The machine quilter, Cathie, had so many wonderful ideas for the quilting and I can't wait to see it! I am still working on a name - sometimes the quilt designs come easy, but the names are harder. I always love to see what other designer's name their quilts. Sometimes I just want to name then "Thank goodness it's done!". But I guess that wouldn't be such a great name.

Enjoy the last day of January and talk with you again in February. Mary Jane

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to everyone! Just so you know, we finally got back our electricity and then a few days later lost it again for another day. So tonight it's snowing outside but I have electricity, a big fire burning in the wood stove and I'm reflecting about 2008 and planning 2009.

When you turn on the news all you hear is how everything is BAD. I've always lived my life as a Pollyanna - I'm usually a very positive person and think how wonderful it is to be alive each day. I especially don't get hung up in negative thinking when it is not in my power to change whatever it is that's going on. A couple of nights ago I phoned an old friend of mine because I hadn't gotten a Christmas card from her. She is one of those people who remembers everyone's birthday and never, ever forgets to send cards. (I only wish I were as good as she is) So I found out that she had been deathly ill, and was in the hospital for 30 days. It made me think about relationships. I think about friends and family every day, but with my incredibly hectic life I don't always tell them that I'm thinking about them. Not that I think they are psychic and will know I'm thinking of them, but I just think I'll get to it later. I have WORK to do .... so if you are like me, maybe it's time to tell each and every one that you love and hold dear to you just how much they mean to you each and every day of the year, not just birthdays or holidays, and that every single day of the year they are in your heart. So here is my resolution for 2009 (and I never make resolutions so this is new for me), I'm going to call and write to friends and family more often just to tell them they are special. I think with my friend's brush with death it made me realize that we need to actively participate in friendships and don't take it for granted that they will be there always. So give your friends and family a hug for me.....Mary Jane

The Iceman Cometh!

If you've listened to the news lately, I'm sure you've heard about all of the ice we've had in the Northeast. We have been without power since Thursday night. But I thought you might like to see a little of what we've had in our yard. I know that this storm has brought troubles to many residents throughout the area and I don't want to make light of it, but you also have to admire the shear beauty of Mother Nature. This little weeping cherry in my front yard is just covered in ice (in fact you can't find a tree that isn't completely covered).

Then there is this beauty right by my front door. Both of the enormous rhododendrons are covered in glistening crystals of ice. Who needs diamonds for Christmas? We have all the bling we need right in our own yard.

And last, but truly not least is this giant beech tree that I see from my kitchen window. It is the first green I see in the spring ... a lovely soft spring green. But right now, it is a frozen statue. I took all of these photos over the week-end. Yesterday we had temperatures in the 60's so all of my lovely ice sculptures are gone - and hopefully we'll have electricity again real soon. Now they are predicting snow tonight and tomorrow...so who knows what else lurks on our weather horizon.....

In the meantime I'm going through sewing withdrawal. I was sewing borders on a quilt when the power went off...so close to having the top done that it is driving me crazy. I used the first day to clean one of my sewing machines. A good use of your time, right? I even put in a new needle. But by now, I've used up all of my "non-electric" ideas and I've done so many Suduko puzzles it's not funny. Plus who knew that it gets dark so early in the day this time of the year? So wish me luck and hope that our electric company can bring back the light....Mary Jane