Unsure where to start…

I haven’t posted in a while and there’s so much going on can’t find the time to do it correctly.  Let me start now and see how long it takes for me to publish this….ok, I started this post on the 9th….let’s try again.

The past 2 months have been a whirled wind!  I’ve traveled to Texas – again, Pittsburgh, Deal Island, Maryland, lost over 60 hours of sleep, caught back up on sleep, lost track of 3 swaps, caught back up on swaps, ripped out very nasty carpet in sewing studio (15′ x 22′ area), totally rearranged my sewing studio, kids got out of school, and now trying to just find my stuff to sew something for myself!!

I have been going, going, going more so than normal I had an out of season depression spell and I think I’m finally over that.  But needless to say, I have lost track on the things that helped balance me on a daily basis.   I’m starting to find my sewing items and sew, in fact I’m quilting today the last stage of a round robin swap.  Then I’m going to sew some blocks for my Needle Nosh block of the month class.

I still have a HUGE pile of stuff in my sewing studio to go through, but I’m doing it in baby steps.  A little each day.  I hope to have it organized before we leave for the ocean next week.

I have only accomplished one completed top in 3 months—if that doesn’t speak volumes, then you are just getting to know me.  I finished it on my quilting retreat.  I also have done a bit of hand work with my hexagons.  I do have pictures!!!

I’ll finish making some albums of my pictures over the pass few months and share them this week.

I am planning on reconnecting with my blogland friends and you might see over the next few days some comments from me on older posts   Sorry for neglecting you all.  I do miss you.

Oh my head….

is still swimming with all the excitement of Quilt Market.  It was such a sensory overload!  It was soo exhausting and fun at the same time.  Learned a lot more on the challenges of a shop owner selecting the right product for their customers.

I enjoyed several classes from paper piecing, web designing, marketing, to post card making.  Met LOTS of icons I have followed for 15+ years.  I think one of the neatest persons I got to meet was Nancy Zieman.  She is very pleasant and a great teacher.  She has some new purse templates out by Clover she was promoting.  I got a picture with her thanks to Sandy(one of our traveling companions):

I also met Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the Elm Creek Quilts novels and Jinny Beyer whom I’ve met before but she is also an excellent instructor:

I also met Eleanor Burns, Amy Butler and Pat Sloan!!!!  Didn’t get pictures, but enjoyed each encounter.  Pat is just soo personable in person she is a busy lady as well, but I was able to have her set a date for teaching at the shop—SQUEEE   I need to confirm that when I go back to work today.  Thank you Pat!

Alas, I missed Mark Lipinski.  He was floating around the floor meeting new artists, he swing into Zebra Patterns booth to meet Debra, but I didn’t even get a glance.  Debra was very successful with her first time at market.  Debra has some awsome patterns and is just highly talented. I was able to get a nice photo of her and Eleanor Burns:

And I have a wonderful picture of “us”.  Carolyn, Jackie (boss lady) and me at market.

I have tons of pictures (like that surprises you) to share.  Working on them now into an album to post later today.  Also, trying to update my work blog, one thing I learned about was how important blogging can be to a business.

I have done some sewing—shocking—and done some hand work—more shocking–and picked up some wool applique kits—SHOCKING…again I blame my coworker Carolyn and Betsy for their strong influence in these new endeavors.

I did spend a pretty penny or two on fabrics as well.  Now to pack them up into my suitcase and prepare for next weekend’s retreat!!!!  I can’t believe its right around the corner!  We’ve been planning for so long!  Next retreat will be in October.

Need to head to work, so many ideas and follow up phone calls/emails to make.  I only got through a third of my list on Monday.

Going to Market….

leaving tomorrow!!  I’m so excited!  Hope to see lots of new things, take a few classes and lots of pictures!  Quilt Market is in Pittsburgh this spring and also hoping to meet some online friends!

I haven’t done too much lately….kinda in a funk.  But of course I have pictures to share.

I’m part of a 12 month wacky house block swap the Betsy is hosting and my May block came with a bonus towel!  Mary was kind enough to do this little block and extra!

I also ordered a very cool necklace from Chris, check out her stuff: http://sihaya09.etsy.com

http://www.sihayadesigns.com

My Black and Limey came back from Ms. Penny last week, just in time for me to take to market in hopes to show Mark Lipinski in person….crosses fingers.  She did an EXCELLENT job of quilting.  We took some of the spirals from the fabric print and had it digitized to be quilted.  Just awsome, of course soo much better in person:

Then this past Saturday I spent time with Michele in Occoquan, Virginia taking a apron class at Attic Treasures & Sew Easy Sewing School.

It was fun, quick and easy!  Don’t we look cute?

Then we walked about town and had a nice lunch and visited a small local quilt shop—and spent a little money!  Epicurean Crafts is a cute shop and the lady was nice and they have pins!  If you wear your pin you get 25% during your visit-very cool!

Occoquan is a very artsy kinda town and lots of quaint shops.  I recommend visiting and seeing the sights.  My favorite little shop next to the two above was The Polka Dot Divas, check out the window!

Now I need to get ready for Pittsburgh, meaning I need to do more laundry and pack….bounce bounce bounce!

I have soo much to share…

and have been trying to catch up on simple things around my house.  Seems like I haven’t found time for catching up.

Trying to do laundry now, trying to organize my sewing space at the same time, and sending out May birthday cards.

I had a wonderful birthday last week!  First my son surprised me with his girlfriend – we don’t get to see her too often, so it was such a nice surprise and she got me hooked on the Tudors!!

Then on Wednesday I had dinner at the Green Turtle in Mt. Airy and was joined by several friends throughout the duration.

(L-R: Eva, Sati, Jane, me, Linda, Jackie II, Cheryl)

Cheryl presented me with my own birthday cake (evil woman she is):

Needless to say, my kids helped me eat all those bad things!

Then I went to Bunco with Pam and her fun friends and won the Bunco pot of $36….sweet!!   Needless to say, it ended my birthday on a high note….but not to end the celebration too soon, my friend Stacie came up for Saturday night and we drank wine, watched the 2nd season of the Tudors (which she got me for my bday gift) and just talked.   What a week!!!!

I also received my Miniature Booty 3 Swap from Norway!  Laila has incredible craftsmanship!  I’m soo in love with all the items I received from her.  She is highly talented and I feel honored she agreed to be my partner!  I haven’t hung it up yet, still need to clean the wall it will hang on in my kitchen, but here’s the booty:

My booty will be on it’s way tomorrow to it’s new home.  I can’t show a picture because it’s so specific, it would give it away

I work today, but tomorrow and Thursday I plan to focus on my sewing space and get things packed for the deep reorganization that will happen.  It’s going to be crazy and awhile before I sew on my machine again, but I have all my prep work done on my latest hexagon piece and started basting the little suckers last night…so easy to do while I’m watching TV

Happy Earth Day….

of course, we should celebrate it everyday….and if that is the case, the celebrating my birthday everyday would be awsome

I received a pleasant surprise last night when my hubby arrived home with my son (hubby drove from TN to Philly to pick up son), my son’s girlfriend!  How cool is that!  So, for the next few days I have Fallon and Allen visiting!  Unsure how much sewing will get down, but I’m close to finishing my “to do” list for this week, so it might be ok!

I have meant to share my newest obsession, hand work…you say WHAT?  Well, I got a sample of hexagons from Paper Piecing (we had them at work and got some at guild). I took them along on my trip to Texas to “work on”….and I did it!!  My first flower!  Now I plan to do use two more packs to create a pin cushion, but I’m soo proud of myself and my stitching (in my opinion) is awsome!

I purchased a book called Quilts from Grandmother’s Garden and have gotten a few inspirations from it.  Also in the most currect AQS Magazine, they had a very cool hexagon pattern, that I’m actually going to “kit up” and use they suggestive tips for this portable project.

I blame Karol-Ann, Betsy and my co-worker, Carolyn, for this newest addition.  I even had to purchase reading glasses to do it successfully!

Unsure what today holds, but dinner with friends and an evening of BUNCO (I’m sooo excited about that).

Enjoy the day!

Oh, PS…I also Twitter now as quiltingpirate and facebook is my name.

Woot…

rolling, rolling, rolling….

I “had” to make binding to put on my latest quilts that came back from Penny.  I normally wait til I have at least 10 bindings in my binding bucket, but I made 7 and it’s off my “to do list”:

Now to apply 2 of those new binding to my quilts I got back from Ms. Penny yesterday.  I’m in love with my Kiwi Meltaway:

And my Blue Leaves is just as beautiful:

The Blue Leaves will be up for sale once the binding get on.

Off to work, hubby is on his way home!!

I need another vacation….

my hubby left Thursday for his own mini vacation and it seems like I’ve been going nonstop with issues with kids, work and previous commitments…..I’m ready to run away again.

I have though found a focus and drive to move forward in a direction to having my own business.  Now if I can just stay on track, I know I’ll be up and running within a few months.

So, keeping on track I made some goals I need to do first – of course it involves clearing off my design wall and cutting table.

This is currently on my design wall Lattice Strips:

I also finished up my little Blue Crab (needs quilting):

I also added my final borders to my Blue Orient, need a picture because it is gorgeous!!  It’s too big for me to take it by myself.

I finally went through my mail from the past week and discovered several birthday goodies and my FSS5 arrived from Australia.  Kate did a beautiful job on this table runner and I just LOVE it…not to mention the goodies she also put into the package:

I have to finished up just a few more things this week, then I’m demolishing my sewing area and finally turning it into a sewing studio…..that’s my big plan.

Day 4, 5 and 6th….

Well, I figured you were getting tired of my trip and I think I can get all the remaining items in one post….

Sunday we headed to FAIRE – granted I wasn’t dress up but it was all good. We visited Scarborough Faire, it’s about a 2 1/2 hour drive.  We meet up with Dani & James (close friends of Anjea and her hubby, Jason) who came from Dallas.  We had a great time.  Perfect day for faire, Easter Sunday and rainy – only in the morning, the sun came out by lunch time.  The place was empty!

We got to see the COOLEST thing.  A wonderful performer who plays a carillon – you say what?  Read more on his website Cast In Bronze. It was a beautiful sound and I had never seen one before (or heard of them).  Just incredible!

Anjea and Jame (both fencers) decided to battle it out with swords….it was rather humorous to watch:

Us girls had a great time (Anjea, Dani, and me)

Again, lots more photos in the album (link below).

We did see blue bonnets on the way home and also Herbie the love bug:

Came home after another long day, but was home for good by 7ish.  Had YUMMY stuff pork chops for dinner and Anjea and I decided to sleep in on Monday morning…..and sleep we did.

We got up and had to run to Central Market – what a COOL place.  We need to pick up salmon for dinner, but ended up walking around the entire shop just looking at all the gourmet stuff!  They have cute veggies/fruits outside their doors:

We got home before lunch—our quickest trip the whole weekend–and headed into the sewing room!  Where Anjea proceeded to dig through her stash and combine fabric with patterns and now has about 5 new UFOs   I mean while sat and sewed up 2 old UFO’s myself…ok, one was all hand work I did on the plane for a pin cushion  I got at my first retreat 2 years ago, then I sewed my second pin cushion (which I also brought stuff for Anjea to make her own –check her blog).  So, yah I sewed and finished projects.   What’s weirder that I finished them or brought them along….

I did bring along a new top as well, I had precut it just in case we had sewing time.  I finished 18 out of 36 blocks:

We had wonderful salmon for dinner that night and Anjea went to her Spanish class and I stay home and sewed.  Tuesday was much of the same, we slept in later, sew a little bit and headed to the airport by 2.

I can’t thank Anjea and Jason enough for their hospitality and my new dog (the joke being I brought home enough husky dog hair to make my own dog when I got home).   It was a wonderful trip!

Do you want to see what goodies I purchased?  I just realized I have put everything away already (YAH me!), but I can do a few quickie shots for your eyes:

I have tons more pictures of faire and inside quilt shops.  To see more visit my Austin Album.

Now it’s back to reality and catching up on my quilts that I’ve started over the past 2 weeks.  Hoping to get 3 tops ready for the backing stage and longarming stage—ooo and picking up 2 quilts from Penny this weekend too.

I guess I need to go to work as well…. I wonder what I’ve miss this pass week.

Day 3 . . .

Are you getting sick of my Austin trip posts yet?  Hope not, because I still have a pictures to share!

Our plan of attack for Saturday was “run” to Ginger’s (local quilt/needlework shop) to pick up a few things and hit another shop in North Austin I haven’t been to yet.  Then come home and just veg/sew or something….well…..

Shop #10 – Ginger’s Needlearts, Quilts & Framing, Austin (their link isn’t currently working)

Picture is actually from my 2007 trip, but I like this shop because I ask Anjea specifically to go back to it for things and I ended up spending the most money here!  This shop is mostly needle/cross stitch/embroidery work.  Nice novelty fabrics, but their focus is on the hand work items.  I did pick up 2 CUTE cross stitch designs to work on.

Shop #11 – The Quilt Shop, Austin (not part of the BBSH – but a great shop)

This is another “me” shop!  Anjea took me to them when I visited in 2007 and we had to “swing” by being we were so close and ugh….I got more fabric.  Great, excellent selection of batiks, brights, novelties and patterns.  I definitely recommend this shop in Austin the most over all the others.

Shop #12 – Ready To Sew, Cedar Park (North Austin)

Nice shop, not overly friendly.  Nice selection of notions and contemporary fabrics.  I got a new ruler here and the one lady gave us about 4 more shops to visit—le sigh, on the next trip.

Ok, by the time we made it home–mmm, around 4 we were done.  We kinda played around in the sewing room and pull fabrics together that Anjea has purchase, then by 7:30 we were out the door again.

We headed over to Torren’s pad for monthly movie night.  I have heard Anjea talk about this and I was not let down!  He has turned his garage over into a theater—with stadium style seating (raised platforms with rows of couches) and a huge screen projector and a huge screen of course.

We watched The Princess Bride (bonus!).  Even a 2 movie trailer and next month’s movie trailer.  Great pizza and conversation.  It was a good evening.  Again, arrived home around mid-nightish with an early wake up call to head to faire on Sunday….more pictures and details coming….

Day 2…

and the hopping continues.  We discovered from the first 2 shops we visited on Thursday, the Annual Blue Bonnet Shop Hop was happening the following weekend (Apr 16-19).  So we picked up a shop hop listing and did our own.  By some miracle we actually hit 9 out of 12 (one I had been to previously and didn’t need to go again)!

We get up EARLY on Friday to arrive at first shop by 9:00–well, it didn’t open until 9:30 – DOH!

Shop #4 – The Quilt Haus, in New Braunfels.

Very nice shop, in fact we enjoyed the clearance racks here and their selection of charm packs.  The staff seemed not quite awake or something.  When we checked out they seemed to perk up a little.  The selection of overall fabrics was very nice.

Shop #5 – Oak Leaf Quilts, New Braunfels (not part of the Blue Bonnet shop hop)

Very warm, country, traditional feel to this shop.  Had a very nice selection of baby items.  Lovely feel for an older store fun.  I picked up some on sale sunflower fabrics to make a bag.  I took this picture of a quilt called “Lessons from Mama”.  I love the color choices and this was the BOM I hosted last year at Patches Quilting.

Shop #6 – Seventh Heaven, San Antonio

Nice selection of patterns.  I did like their selection of patterns the best out of all the shops.  Friendly staff and some good discounted books and fabric.  Purchased several patterns from local quilt artists and hope we can get them in at my shop.

Shop #7 – Las Colchas, San Antonio

The name means “The Quilts” in Spanish.  I like this shop a lot.  It wasn’t “my thing” but the selection of wool, felt, embroidery threads and patterns was large and perfect for the hand work person.  They also carried a large collection of 30’s repro and civil war repros.

Shop #8 – Fabric n’ Friends, Castroville

Well, first let me share a little background on Castroville.  When we were station at Kelly AFB in San Antonio (over 22 years ago 87-91) we took the boys to the creek in Castroville and always dreamed of retiring down there.  Now I have a reason to revisit that dream   Loved this store, second to Creations, but very “me” choices in fabrics, colors, and batiks.  The owner was very pleasant and catered to us the entire time.  We really enjoyed our visit here.  Granted it’s a long drive from Austin, it was worth the trip to explore!

Shop #9 (6th for the day and last one of the day)  Sew Special Quilts, San Antonio

This is the shop we had the wrong address for the day before.  It wasn’t worth stopping in my opinion.  They seemed to be preoccupied with Shop Hop prep work, that we were just not important.  Their pattern selection was very nice and they carried a lot of modern/contemporary fabric lines.  I was bummed when I didn’t get a shop pin (80% of shops in Texas has pin—I have collected 13-3 are the Bluebonnet Shop Hop pins, I got one in 2007 as well).

Exhausted we drove back up to Austin to have home made Red Beans & Rice.  Then headed to another Austin experience, the Alamo DraftHouse Cinema.

We saw LOTRS in 90 minutes…yep, they had comedians host the screening and do monologue while the movie played.  It was sooo wrong and fummy.  A 3 hour moving in 90 minutes—and Anjea was correct, I’ll never view the movie again the same way.  It was hilarious!!  Anjea, noticed the floor design:

We got home around midnight….long day!!  And we planned to be up semi-early on Saturday to hit a few places and sit and sew Saturday afternoon….well, it didn’t quite work out that way….more to come later today…..