Lots of Good Things Coming!!

There are several good things coming from three of my fellow designers that I really think you'll want to know about.  After all....what kind of friend would I be if I didn't share the news with you??? 

First up is Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings.  Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, starts Lisa's annual Thanksgiving Freebie event at the quilt shop and for on-line customers as well.  Make a $25 purchase and receive three.....count 'em....three freebies!!  Click here to read all about it and see the adorable freebie projects!  I adore the wool wintry scene with the red pick-up truck.  Love, love, love.  Click here to shop on-line!  Have fun...there's lots of goodies to buy.

Then, on Monday.....

Hop on over to my friend, Tara Darr's blog (Sew Unique Creations).  Tara is the first of 12 primitive/wool designers participating in this Christmas Blog hop.  Each designer will have a Christmas ornament, cookie recipe, and decorating ideas to share.  Tara's blog also gives the dates and other designers line up....so save the dates!  I won't miss it, and I sure want you to join me!  Sounds like a great time, don't you think??  Click here for all the hop info!

In addition....Tara just posted sneak peek pictures of a few of the projects that will be featured in her new book.  I was one lucky friend when I got to see them, hold them, and drool over them last week, and let me tell you....

OMG!!

 



She has really out done herself!!  We're all gonna have to wait until next summer to get our hands on the book, but it will be worth the wait.  No doubt Tara's blog will keep us informed on her progress.

And, last....but certainly NOT LEAST....is the news that, Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles has announced the reopening of.....

Kansas Troubles Retreat!!!! 

 

 

 

If you were lucky enough to have retreated there before, then you know exactly why I'm so JAZZED!!  It was the best retreat EVER!!

 

 

 

 

If you missed out on retreating there the first time around....here's your chance to experience it for yourself.  Why is the KTR so special?  Well.....nearly everything surrounding you is antique or vintage.  The beds (not the mattresses or pillows ~ teehee!), linens, and quilts are all vintage.  YUM! Night stands and decorations....vintage!  Lynne has old restaurant-ware plates and vintage glasses for you to use ...so fun....and you're surrounded by really cool "old things" everywhere you look.  There's also a Kansas Troubles store in the building as well. You sew in a spacious room, with a comfy seating area to sit in when you want to relax, stitch or read.  Click here to get all the info directly from Lynne.

 

I hope I've given you a few things to look forward to.  I know I'll be shopping at Primitive Gatherings tomorrow morning, and starting Monday, I'll be blog hopping throughout  the holiday with all the talented prim designers, and very soon, I'll be booking my next KT retreat sometime in 2013. 

 

 

Wishing You Man Happy Stitches....and mouse clicks!

 

Pam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Indiana Travels

Well....it's just been too long since I've had a chance to post.  I've missed all of you, dear readers!  When last I posted, I promised a report on my trip to Indiana, to Back Door Quilts, and to visit with the Bloomington Quilt Guild.

My first stop was to a quilt shop I've long known about, heard nothing but great things about, have seen numerous times at Chicago's Quilt Festival, but  until now, never had the chance to visit.....

Back Door Quilts in Greenwood, IN.

Linda & Teri have owned Back Door Quilts for 25+ years.  The shop is over the moon wonderful, chock full of samples, samples everywhere.  There's so much there to inspire you!!  I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but trust me...don't miss this shop if you're anywhere in Indiana!!

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't it amazing how many goodies are in this shop?  There truly is something for everyone.  They carry every imaginable fabric, and if by chance there's something you need that they don't have, they will be happy to order it for you. 

 

 

The moment I walked in the door, I was surprised to see very familiar quilts on the ceiling!!

 

 

 The shop girls display a few of the Prairie Women Sewing Circle projects on the ceiling. 

Most of the other samples are in their classroom space, which resides in a separate

building across the parking lot.  It, too, is full of wonderful quilts.  

They have a large and very active group of Prairie women at the Back Door! 

I have posted photos of their show-n-tell on numerous occasions.

 

 

 They also have a bunch of lovely samples of my Lucy's Prairie Pockets.......

As well as this Christmas tree decorated in a variety of my Wee Whimsies block quilts all done in Christmas greens & reds.  So cute!  I can't wait to go back!!  Thanks to Linda, Teri and all the shop girls for allowing me to linger for many hours, and for making me feel so welcome!

 

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After my visit to the Back Door, I was on my way to spend the evening with the

Bloomington, Indiana Quilters Guild. 

I gave my lecture, Secrets of Professional Quilters ~ Revealed

and showed several suitcases of my quilts from magazines, patterns & Prairie Women.

 

 

 The next day was spend with these lovely ladies in my workshop Practice What I Preach.  They were all very fun, warm and generous, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.  There are a whole lot of very, very talented quilters in this guild!!  I thank them so much for allowing me to spend some time with them all!!  Truly, you just can't miss spending the day with quilters!!

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Please don't forget to email me a photo of your

 

Forget Me Not quilt!!

 

The deadline is November 30th.....only 11 days away!!

 

Thanks for visiting with me today!

 

Pam

 

 

Off and Running Again!

Hello, Dear Readers!

I am back home from my wonderful trip to Indiana.  I arrived at Back Door Quilts Tuesday afternoon and spend a few hours there pouring over every nook and cranny full of delicious quilty things.  It was my first time there and I had plenty of time to linger and take it all in.  Then, I spent Tues evening and all day Wednesday with the ladies from the Bloomington, IN Quilt Guild.  I took lots of photos for you to enjoy and had every intention of posting them today, but time just got away from me.  I'm only home for 24 hours before I head out on another adventure.  This time, my pals and I are headed to a big Folk Art & Antiques Festival downstate, and immediately after that....I escape to another friends lake home to sew, sew, sew.  I promise to blog promptly once I'm home to stay.

In the meantime, I thought you'd enjoy a bit of...

 1800's Trivia!

 

Sparking Lamps

 

Sparking lamps were popular in the early 1800s for monitoring the length of time a gentleman caller could spend with the object of his affections.  The young man was permitted to remain in the woman's home for as long as the lamp remained lit.  Sparking lamps were made in a wide variety of sizes with some so small they held only a thimble of oil.  If the folks didn't like the gentleman when he came a'courting, they could pull out the smallest lamp, and when that thimbleful of fuel was gone, he was out the front door!

 

 

Have a wonderful week.....I'll be back soon....

 

Pam

 



 

The Great Girlfriend Get-away in Sunny Florida!

Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles) and I were absolutely delighted to be invited to teach at the next Camp Blanding Retreat!  This twice yearly event, held at the Camp Blanding Army base in Starke, FL (near Jacksonville), is hosted by our dear friend, Gloria Parsons.  Gloria owned the famous Olde Green Cupboard quilt shop in Jacksonville, FL.  She has since closed the shop but remains very active with her pattern business, teaching classes, writing a wonderful blog, hosting retreats, and has many other new surprises up her sleeve coming in 2013. 

The dates for our Camp Blanding retreat are Friday, January 25 through Tuesday, January 29, 2013!!

Click here to find out more about our Great Girlfriend Getaway to Camp Blanding.  Space is very limited! 

Click here for more information about our 2013 Great Girlfriend Getaway cruise to New England to see the fall colors!  We only have a few openings left, and if you've been thinking about joining us, it's time to put your deposits down to hold your spot!! 

There's just nothing like getting away and sewing with girlfriends!!

 

Lynne and I would sure love for you to join us!!

 

Pam

 

PS.  I'll be visiting the Bloomington, IN Quilt Guild next week.  If you're in the area, I'd sure love to meet you.  The guild meeting and lecture is Tuesday, November 6th at 7pm, and is held at the North Central Church of Christ, 2121 N. Dunn St., Bloomington.  My workshop is Wednesday, November 7th.  Please check with the guild for workshop openings.

 

More From Houston Quilt Market

Every market, I have to make a long, lingering stop to visit with friends Paula Barnes & Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline (formerly Bonnie Blue), and take in their awesome booth.  Isn't it great!

They always have new lovely things to make....or pine over at the very least!

Sigh......To see all of Red Crinoline's patterns, click on the link above. 

This is friend Annemarie Yohnk of Quilts Remembered.  She has lovely vintage reproduction style quilts. 

 

I could hardly take my eyes off of the quilt in the center of this photo. 

I loved the border fabric (Jo Morton from her Leesburg collection),

and is without a doubt, one of my favorites

from Quilt Market.  Annemarie named it Four Score. 

You can see the pattern and all her new patterns by clicking on the link above.

 

 

Here's all the new goodies from Celine Perkins and her company Perkins Dry Goods.

What's not in the picture is Celine's Perfect Piecing Seam Guide.

Click on the link to read about this product

and how it can help you with accuracy in your 1/4 inch!!

 

 

I'm so excited to tell you about Char Hopeman's new ruler!!

Char created the Flip Flop ruler that does some pretty amazing things.

Start with a strip set (like you see on the cutting mat in the photo) and position

the ruler one way and cut, then flip it around to cut the other direction.

See the block cut from the strip set?

 

 

All of the different quilts in both of these photos were made using

the Flip Flop ruler!!  What fun!! 

Click on the link to see more about the Flip Flop ruler and all of

Char's patterns for her company Cotton Cottage Press.

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the wonderful new things that

were shown at fall market.  This is but a drop in the bucket of

creativity shown there.  Do visit your favorite designer's websites

often to see all that is new from each of them.  Like me, they all

work hard to bring you exciting new projects to keep you in stitches!!

 

Thanks for visiting with me today!!

 

Pam

 

 

 

Back From Fall Market

I'm back home from attending fall market in Houston and had a great time.  Since I didn't have a booth, it allowed me to mosey the aisles, talk with friends, investigate new stuff, and take pictures of lots of quilts.  I wasn't feeling great when I went as that cold and sore throat I had just wants to hang on.  It never got worse, but by the end of market, I no longer had a voice.  Today, that's still the case....I sound gravely and awful.  Perhaps it was from laughing so much!  I'll gladly pay the price for the good time! 

I flew to Wichita, KS, and Lynne Hagmeier picked me up at the airport.  We chatted our way to Dallas, and the next day, she took me to the Moda home offices and we shopped the Moda warehouse.

 

I've long been a fan of Moda, especially Lynne's Kansas Troubles fabrics, so this was a treat!!

 

 

It was a real kick to see my patterns on the shelf.  Oh, the dumb things that can make you smile.

Let's start the market tour with Kansas Troubles booth.  The quilts shown here are all from Lynne's new book, Loose Change, featuring her "layered patchwork" techniques.  It was a big, big hit at market!

These projects aren't available quite yet as they are all made with Lynne's next fabric line, Pheasant Hill.  Love the border stripe in this collection!

Here's new goodies from Minnick & Simpson......

 

 

the absolutely fun and talented sisters, Barb & Mary of Me & My Sister........

 

 

 One of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet, Kathy Schmitz. 

Check out her stuff on her website...

really cool. 

 

 

Kathy's book, Gather the Passing Seasons, was one of my most favorite finds at market.

 

 

This is one of the displays at Moda's booth to announce Mary Jane of Mary Jane's Farm

as a new designer.  This is for MJ's Glamping (Glamour-Camping) collection. 

 Lots of new stuff from friend Lisa Bongean and Primitive Gatherings. 

You can really enjoy the outstanding quilting talents of quilter Linda Hrcka on the green quilt!

 This snowman quilt is a new BOM coming soon!

Lisa's Wool Alphabet Sampler was another market favorite for me!

That's all for this post.  More market photos coming shortly in the next post.

Thanks for visiting with me a while.....
Pam

P.S.  I haven't forgotten about the next sew along.  I just have to have time to organize it! 

Hang in there with me!  

 

A Change of Scenery

Well....Hello Dear Reader!

It's been too long since we've had a chance to chat.  Didn't I say in my last post that life was in a good place?  Ah...how a few days can change all of that.  A few deadlines I thought were many weeks away just became urgently needed now.  I wasn't feeling all that great a few days last week...thankfully nothing serious, just really run down, arthritic, and crummy.  In a word OLD!  (Ugh...sigh)   And....a dear friend passed away, so we were involved in that stuff for a few days.  Before you know it, a week has gone by! 

I've been very busy in the sewing room (in between all of the above), and wish I had more to show you and talk about....but that's the problem when I'm working on things that aren't ready to share at the moment.  I feel like I have nothing interesting to tell you about or at least you'd like to hear about.  However...all that is about to change!  Tomorrow, I'm headed for Houston and Quilt Market!! 

I'm not exhibiting in Houston....I'm going to help my BFF Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles, and to see what goodies I can find, look for vintage fabric, visit with friends and generally be submerged in Quilter's Disneyland!  I'm starting my trip by flying to Wichita, KS, where Lynne will pick me up at the airport.   That way we can ride to Houston together, chatting and shopping along the way.  We're making a stop in Dallas, TX, and Lynne is taking me to see the Moda home offices, and shop in the Moda warehouse!  I'm very excited about that!!  I'll have my trusty camera and will report all the goodies I find when I return. 

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In the meantime.... my friend, Becky, asked if I would query all of you with smart phones to share your favorite quilting apps.  I don't have a lot of quilting apps, but would love to hear your favorites.
When you comment, please tell us a little about what the app does and why you like it.

I'd also love it if you'd like to share any of your favorite apps.  Here's a few of my favs.....

Audible.com - which has an app for my phone, too.  I download books to listen to....wonderful!!
Pandora - listen to your favorite music over the internet.
Dropbox - allows you to "drop" photos and documents in one device, where they are then accessible thru all devices, i.e., iPad, iPhone, and your computer.
Fandango - access movie theaters for showtimes and movie info.
SoundHound - listens and identifies songs on the radio, TV, and you can hum or sing the melody!
Pinterest - You already know all about Pinterest, I'm sure.

Thanks for sharing your favorite apps.....Until next time......

Pam

 

Sharing Something Delicious

I don't know about you, but I think the best recipes are the ones I get from family and friends.  And...aren't those "Family Favorites" cookbooks filled with the best recipes, too?  Well....I didn't get this recipe from a friend or family member, but....I'd like (as your BFF, ya know!) to pass it along to you because it's a real winner!!

I try to catch Ree Drummon's Pioneer Woman show on the Food Network, and saw her making this salad a week or so ago.  I love to make any salad that isn't your usual garden salad, (however...any salad that I didn't have to make always tastes better!) especially when it comes with an original salad dressing.  So...last night I made 2 new recipes.  First up was Ree's salad, aptly named Apple, Cherry, Pecan & Blue Cheese Salad.  It was fresh, quick and easy....and WOW yummy!  The dressing has only four ingredients and was delish.  It calls for Dijon mustard but didn't taste mustard-y (?) at all.

Click here for the recipe! 

The other absolutely delicious item I fixed for dinner was Lisa Bongean's Pasta Parma. 
OMG!  My family and I love, love, love it!  Our daughter, Nicki, is very sensative to anything too spicy or hot, so I omitted the red pepper flakes.  Super delish!  Click here to go to Lisa's recipe.

 

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I am enjoying a wonderful spell of "normalcy".  Aahhh....it feels great.  No cramming for quilt market, no overdue projects, just going along at a nice pace.  It won't last forever, I know, so I'm trying to soak it up while I can.  The holidays are drawing nearer by the day, and that always adds much to our "to-do" lists, doesn't it??  Sigh.  Don't get the idea that I haven't been keeping myself busy!  On the contrary....I'm in the process of designing two new fabric lines, creating three new workshop offerings, and have designed six new quilts, and two hopefuls for magazine submissions.  Not to mention collecting ideas and doing historic research for Journey Five.  Oh....and a new sew-along.  From the poll I posted last week, I am amazed that the great majority of you want another one as soon as possible!  I am quite surprised by that!  Sewing production will begin shortly, and as I dig thru my stash, pulling, auditioning and selecting the fabrics for all of these new projects, I will also hit my scrapbag and start making the sew-along blocks.  I'll let you know ahead of time when it will be.

 

Here's a couple of other items.....The next Great Girlfriend Getaway Fall Colors cruise to New England that Lynne Hagmeier & I are hosting is nearly sold out.  If you've been thinking about joining us, you may want to call our cruise director, Bunny, and have her hold your spot.  You can reach Bunny at (815) 715-8483.  You can also read about all of the particulars by visiting

www.travelconnections.co.

 

Also, I have restocked my Heart of the Prairie Fat Quarters and Fat Eighths on my website.  This is your last chance to get them.  When they're gone....they're gone!  Click here to order.

 

The photos of my Forget Me Not sew-along are coming in, and they are just great!!  Allow me to remind you to email me a photo of your quilt, along with the state or country where you live.  Please send your photo by Friday, November 30th, and remember....your quilt does not have to be quilted or bound!!

 

Until next time.....Pam

A Little Fall Getaway

I was finally able to access all my photos from our trip to Niagara Falls.  Computer issues are resolved as well, thanks in large part to the Geek Squad who worked with me over 6 hours to fix and tune-up the 'ol computer!  So...after much frustration and delay......here's my photo journal of our trip...highlights only, of course. 

The first stop on our road trip was to Cleveland, OH, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  If you love R&R, this is a must on your Bucket List.  So great to see so much R&R history, and rest assured they play great music while you're there!  Loved it!  They don't allow any photography inside, so I wasn't able to show you more, but trust me....it's worth the trip.

Niagara Falls was another Bucket List item for DH and me.  It surely is a sight to behold.  We stayed on the Canadian side, and the view from our hotel was spectacular.

We strolled the parks on both the Canadian and American sides of the falls, each with its own perspectives and attributes.  The weather was lovely, the leaves were changing, and we had great food when dining.  What more could you ask for?  Well......how about some shopping! 

A short 30 minute drive from the Falls is a wonderful quilt shop called Patchwork Garden. 

 They offer a lovely variety of fabrics with something for everyone.....

Have loads of goodies......

...including this luscious wool.  I had to buy some...quite irresistable!!

They're chock full of inspiration.....offer classes, and clubs, too!  One in particular I really like.....

 

Hhmmmm....that fabric looks very familiar!

They just started The Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club at the shop!! 

(It's not too late to join the fun!)

 

 

Guess what other favorite designer's fabric they have loads of!!!  They had oodles of Lynne's Kansas Troubles fabrics.  I took my opportunity to stock up on some of my favorite prints.   You know...the ones you buy 1/2 yard of, and then think...."why didn't I buy a couple of yards of that one?  It's soooo good!"  Yup...that's me.

Patchwork Garden's owners, Bev & Joan, gave me permission to tell you that, in June of 2014, both Lynne and I will be going back to the shop for a series of workshops and a combined lecture & trunk show!  We're so jazzed about this!!  I know it seems like a long time away, but it will be here before you know it.

Visit the Patchwork Garden website for information

when it becomes available!!

 

Many Happy Stitches!

 

Pam

 

Technology ~ Love It, Hate It!!!

Hello my dear friends....

When last I left you, I was headed out of town to Niagara Falls for a short little getaway with DH.  On the trip, I took my iPad, intending to blog along the way.  I wasn't sure about the availability of Wi-Fi connections, so I wasn't sure I could blog.  I had plenty of Wi-Fi connections, and took some great photos, but when I tried blogging, nothing happened.  The blogger app said I was successful, but the post never made it.  So...I waited until I got home, and tried again today to blog using my iPad....same exact thing.  Frustrated, I tried putting the photos from the blog onto my computer, and for some reason, my computer isn't downloading anything today.  Ggrrr.

I wanted to give you an update so you wouldn't think I fell into the falls and was on my way to Lake Ontario!  I'm here...home....saying pretty words in my head to my computer....frustrated.  So...while I get the kinks worked out....I have a question to ask of you.

I've designed the next Pocket Patchwork Sewalong project.  It will be a little quilt using up loads of scraps.  No kit this time as it is intended to use up small leftover scraps.  It will post once a week over 5 weeks.  I get lots of emails asking when the next sewalong will be, and I'm not sure what you'd like to do....so....I've posted a poll on the blog.  Look for it at the top of the right column.  Please vote as I'd sure like to know what you'd like to do!

 

On another note....exciting news....Lynne Hagmeier's new book, Loose Change is hot off the press and available right now!!  It is full of new designs using her easy piecing Layered Patchwork technique.  Lynne's Layered Patchwork technique takes full advantage of all of the different Moda Pre-cuts for very clever and inventive quilts you can make in no time.  The book fully describes the technique, and is loaded with great instructions and lots of pictures.  Click here to read more about Lynne's book and see several Loose Change quilts .  Click here to order a copy for yourself, and  while you're at it.....how about one for a quilt loving friend!  Christmas is right around the corner, and this would be a terrific gift!

 

 

Well...that's all for now.  I'm calling the Geek Squad....Toodles....Pam