Winnerzzz!!!

Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is. -Vince Lombardi

We have two winners for the Country Threads book review give away, but first a message from our sponsor.


I told you I would share a very special time in my quilt life. The time I/we spent with Connie and Mary here in Georgia. They were invited to speak at our guild The Gwinnett Quilt Guild here in the burbs of Atlanta. My sewing group had a dinner partay in their honor. It was in my home and all the ladies OUT DID them selves with fabulous southern cookin.(move over Paula Deen!). I'm tellin you this was one love fest. We had been stalking, admiring their patterns and kits and goodies for years and had done a trade for Chicken Blocks with their Chicken Gumbo pattern. Connie and Mary packed up the entire Country Threads store in Iowa and sent it to us and boy did we shop, and shop and shop. These ladies are like rock stars for us so to have them all to ourselves was extra special. We took them away and went on a sewing retreat for a couple of days and enjoyed all they had to teach us and tell us. We learned about goats and stuff too!


I was going to show you some photos of the above events but they are on another computer and I cannot access that stuff right now. (note to self...get photos off the old computer!). So we will be photo deprived and you will have to be sad that I cannot to the files at this moment. I sorry. Watta disappointment, watta failure to blog, watta mess. Ok I'll stop and quit beating myself up. 


I did want to tell you about this.

These ladies have been sending out their newspaper the The Goat Gazette for I don't know how many years. Decades I'm sure.  It is filled with talk of quilts, book reviews, the latest on the farm, the rescuing of animals, recipes, stories of their families and big events in their families and farm life. REMIND YOU OF SOMETHIN? Yes, that is what we all do with our blogs and Facebook and Pinterest etc. etc. etc. Connie and Mary have been communicating with their friends and followers through the Goat Gazette before any of us even thought about a blog. Imagine that!!!  A REAL NEWSPAPER that comes in the mail and everything. Social media before it was KOOOOL, and they are still doing it. Where they find time for all this I'll never know. Mary is probably out rescuing a dog and driving it to a new home in Yukon territory right now and Connie is sewing and designing and running a store, while petting her dog Lucy. I swear these ladies are my heros! When I read the Gazette I always get the feeling that these two women know something I don't know. It makes me want to kiss a goat or move to the country or live in a barn or something like that. There is a peaceful quiet life that they know about and I wanna know. (I'm listening to the traffic reports on the TV right now! I think I'll just stay home and sew today.)

I hope you have enjoyed my little corner of their book. As for me, I will add their book to the others and continue stalking, admiring these amazing quilters. (Note to Connie and Mary, don't you EVEN think about retirement!)
 
So on with the winners.


The first winner is #29...Pat from Minnesota whos blog is pansypat... (she said she has been to Country Threads in Iowa.) I'm not jealous or anything nope...no siree...

Result: 29 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The second winner is #6.. Faye from North Carolina...Carolina Stitcher! Hey maybe I will meet Faye when I'm traveling to North Carolina! Love your blog Faye!
Result: 6 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

If both winners will contact me privately with your snail mail addresses,  I'll shoot your New Book "Back to Charm School" and The Goat Gazette off to you right away. LUCKY YOU! 

Country Threads Blog Hop Book Review

 When a friend asks you for a favor...say YES...everytime!

 -Pat Wys

 Today is my day to give a little review about Connie and Mary's book "Back to Charm School". I will stay on task and review the book but first a message from our sponsor  "  me". 


I could not review the book without talking a little about Connie and Mary. These two ladies have been in business for 29 years. This alone is an accomplishment of epic proportion.  They are without doubt...QUILT INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS! A few years ago I had the pleasure of hosting them for dinner in my home along with a group of friends who co hosted. We had a grand partay and I have special memories of that night and the retreat that followed. Whatta treat. I will blog about that tomorrow (with photos) and tell you about the memorable time we spent with Connie and Mary. What I want to say here is that the honor of reviewing their book is something I'm grateful and happy to do for these two gentle spirited, kind hearted women.  So now I get to talk about "  Back to Charm School"...my pleasure ladies!


Let's just talk about the title of the book and the theme "  Back to Charm School."   Each project has a GOLDEN RULE of manors and ettiquette to live by. I love it! Am I getting old (don't answer that question) or are we forgetting our manors more frequently? I love each little pearl of wisdom and laughed at most of them! Use a Napkin only for your Mouth! hahahaha Never Wear Gloves at the Table. These are great. I would like to add one. Turn Your Cell Phone Off in a Restaurant.. ok I digress I'll get off my soap box. I love the theme of the book sooo much. GENIUS LADIES. 


Do I have to pick a favorite project from this book..reeeely...I'm mean seriously??? Ok so if I could only choose just one I suppose it would be Do No Put Your Elbows on the Table. 

  The Honeycomb I quilt. This is my kinda quilt. It is old fashion looking but you could jazz it up with some contemporary fabbies. You could also make a little mini signature quilt from it and have your sewing group sign the blocks or sumthin like that. I think I will try to make this little quilt and reconnect with my inner Y seam. Do some hand work in the car while traveling. What do you think? I haven't made a project using templates in a long time. This would be a good place to return to hand piecing, which is how I learned to quilt back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!

I also like the cute and funky pillow Clean Your Whiskers after a Meal (I can so hear Connie and Mary saying that). I think my girls would like to have this pillow in their homes. What a quick and fun project. (told ya I couldn't just choose one)

This book is perfect to pick up and make some small projects that are doable...They point out that you can do the machine quilting on your home machine (a prospect that terrifies me). This may be a super place to practice quilting on my machine instead of quilting with my credit card! I would be more inclined to do some hand quilting, again the projects are small and I can get er dun without too much stress!


We have come to love the beautiful photography in all the books that come from Martingale & Co. this book is no exception. There is a warm cozy feel to the projects within the pages of "  Back To Charm School"  which is no surprise because of the warm wonderful people who wrote the book and the company that styled it. It is kinda like putting on your comfy clothes and sitting by the fire and planning your next quilt project. Wrap yourself up in this book friends, and start sewing you won't regret it!


I have two books to give away. That means there will be two winners hahaha (I'm such a smarty pants).  They are both signed by Connie and Mary. Just cuz I love ya I will throw in some pre cut 5" charm squares cut from my very own stash...and a copy of the Goat Gazette. I will tell you, next post, about the Goat Gazette which is the newspaper that Connie and Mary have been sending out for years. They were into social media before it was KOOL. 

 So leave me a comment and tell me where you are from and what quilt project you are working on right now. Go on now.  I want to see a whole bunch of comments so tell your friends to stop by!
PS. I will leave this give away open until 10pm Monday night. Then I have to go to bed I need all the beauty rest I can get.

Getting ready for Country Threads..my turn...

 Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is almost my turn...but first a message from my sponsor (thad be ME). I'm waiting patiently to tell you about Connie and Mary's book (I just hate waiting when I'm so excited).

Yesterday I had the honor of being on Mark Lipinski's Creative Mojo internet radio show. I was big fun and went super fast. If you want to listen to the show you can access it through podcasts on iTunes or on your puter by via www.toginet.com click show hosts/Creative Mojo and you are there! 

I'm honored to be on the list for Connie and Mary's blog hop which is going on right now. Each of us are blogging about the newest sensational book "Back to Charm School" by the stars of Country Threads...Connie and Mary! I can't wait to tell  you my spin on the book on the 25th. Also, I will share some photos and tell you about the time my friends and I hosted Connie and Mary at a dinner in my home and retreat here in Georgia. TALK ABOUT GREAT BALLS OF FIRE AND FUN!!!!  I have photos so get ready okay?

Here is the schedule of designers on the hop. Sorry I forgot to post this sooner. I was probably getting a pedicure to get ready to be on the radio! hahahahaha

2-20-12        Maureen Baly                moequiltz.blogspot.com

2-20-12        Paulette Doyle                sweetp-paulette.blogspot.com

2-21-12        Lori DeJarnatt                humblequilts.blogspot.com

2-21-12        Jo Kramer                        joscountryjunction.com

2-22-12        Sherri McConell               aquiltinglife.blogspot.com

2-22-12        Karen Griska                    selvageblog.blogspot.com

2-23-12        Julie Winkler                    juliekquilts.blogspot.com

2-24-12        Sarah Craig                      confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com

2-24-12        Suzanne Melkoski            coloradolady.blogspot.com

2-25-12        Michelle Marr                   mychellem.blogspot.com

2-25-12        Pat Wys                            silverthimbletalk.blogspot.com

If you have not read all these blog posts that have occured soo far..Get along now cuz you got sum readin to do. WOW this is fun. I'm planning a big party for the 25th and I'm gonna get into some PRIZES! whooop whoop my favorite thing to do. Give stuff away!!! Tell your friends to drop by and see me.


 

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.

-Og Mandino

I have had some emails asking about my interview with Mark Lipinski. The interview will be tomorrow. It is scheduled between 3-5 pm EST. I think I will be on around 4:15. You can listen to the interview 2 ways.  The first is through itunes podcasts and will be "up" a few hours after the show. The second is through your computer at www.toginet.com . Look for Creative MoJo under the show hosts page and you can listen that way!LIVE.  I'll be there chattin it up with Mr. L waiting for YOU.


I've been in the sewing room for days working on a baby quilt. The blocks have taken me about 2 hours each they have 64 pieces in a 9" block... and there are 13 of the little sweeties...I love the quilt but I'm happy that it will be finished today! I can't wait to give it to the new mother at her shower. (no this quilt is NOT for my grandson! This was a labor of love for me)

Many thanks to all who are soooo supportive and interested in my interview. I love you more than I love Cheetos! See you (kinda) tomorrow.

Ellijay the final chapter.

Life is about using the whole box of crayons! -unknown

I still have many photos from my retreat to share with you! I hope you will enjoy these!


This is Karmen's teeny tiny units... Splendorfull wool and cotton wall hanging. She worked so diligently on this project. I know this because she sat right in front of me while I was not working diligently.


Leisa and her 99 spools. Gee whatta lot o work. He is smiling because it is finally done.


Gretch and Karin with their design boards.


Mary Ellen with a rug she made and showed us in her rug demo. Rug hooking is on my BUCKET list. I need to live 100 more years...l have a long list!


Check out Sandra's wagon! All decorated up for Valentines day.


Glory Bound... Perhaps one of my favorite quilts. My heart is racing!


Cheers girls! Is that diet coke in those cups???


And Julie's wins some amazing fat Quarters. she is happy!


Who says quilters can't dance.... Yes people.....there was dancing! JOYFULNESS.... EVERY WHERE! SHAKIN THE TAIL FEATHERS!


Time to put this retreat to bed...until next year.



Wagons packed we are ready to go... Until next year....

Baby quilt sewing today. Whoop whoop.

PS. Contact me (email) if you are interested in coming to my retreat..2013!!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ellijay #2, Photos and Fun

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. - Thomas Jefferson

  With all due respects to Thomas Jefferson from the above quote, he mentions nothing about fatigue! I guess fatigue wasn't an issue because he probably practiced the early to bed early to rise philosophy of his friend B. Franklin right??? I will be in bed early one of these nights. 


I never completed the Ellijay photos. So here are some cool quilts and people. Come to Ellijay next year there will be two weekends of retreats. Look for those announcements in the Spring, which according to the daffodils which are blooming right now spring is going to begin any day now. What a weird winter!.

Kim and her wall hanging. She looks happy!

This is the look Karin gave me when I suggested some applique on a quilt she was working on. Good thing she didn't speak I don't even want to thing about the words that might have come out of her mouth! The look says it all! (remember Karin? she is the one who invented Staplique and set quilting back 100 years)

Jane with her cupcakes. Some little someone is going to love it!

This is Quarter Square Triangle love. Proof that the Tucker Trimmer is at work! Whatta ruler.

At the end of retreat one of the last things we do is play Left, Right Center for nine patch blocks. The winner of last years game is requested to make a quilt from the winning blocks. This is Marti and one of the two quilts she made from the winning blocks. NICE HUH? 

Leisa believes in carrying all her supplies to the ironing board. Check out the Best Press bottle!

Marti's second quilt from the winning blocks!

And the finial game!

Apparently Jane is close to winning.

But then there is the final winner...Elaine. Every year there is one photo that says it all about the retreat. This one is IT...pure JOY!

Gotta go Thimbles today and tomorrow! I'm taking a sweet treat for the gang to celebrate our new digs!

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.

-Victor Kiam

I have had the best day. The Earl de Schlep and I went to the church to check out the layout for Thimbles Club this weekend and that went very well!! Then I came home and put on my comfy sewing clothes. Debbie came by for a chat and some hangout time! I love it when she comes by. We have a secret project in the works yes we do! The rest of the time I worked on a baby quilt. No not for my Grandson to come for my daughters childhood best friend. They are both expecting. Ansley a girl baby on the way...Emily our sweet Grandson Jackson Neil! I just love to say his name out loud! Ansley's quilt needs to get finished and off to Leisa. I'm pushing the envelope here on projects that have some serious deadlines. So what else is NEW!

As promised some recap photos of our Ellijay retreat. I wish you could see the smile on my face when I think about last weekend. Here are a few of the photos I took...and the obligatory comments.

Gretch and her spectaclar quilt..all civil war and stuff like that.

Pat B. I should have zoomed a little more on this quilt. It was a beauty. And a lot of workie! Pat is no slacker! I just love her name.

Teresa and one of her 75 quilts she finished at retreat. Look at that smile. She is so precious and so is her quilt.I think she is the funnest person, laughin all the time.

And we have the wagon round up! More on that later.

Mary Ellen came with half of her store and she also did some rug demo's for the group. Bj is trying her hand with rug hooking. Step away from the rug hooking Bj...you have quilts to make.

And here we have the wagon train. I had myself a little Texas style wagon parade. I tried to get them to race. I shall not repeat what they said to me. Check out the view. This is what we looked at while we were sewing and laughing and eating.

More round up and then back to sewing.

And here we have Moda Man and his necklace of sewing charms.He is a very charming man.  He came for a visit and hogged my fabric and sewing space the whole time. More quilts and smiles to show tomorrow. I gotta go cook some salmon and then it is back to the sewing room. PS. It is Wednesday and I have blogged 3 times this week. It is a world record!!! did you notice?

ME and MARTINGALE..SERIOUS LOVE!

Leap, and the net will appear.-John Burroughs

I forgot to put this in my blog post yesterday..I have an interview that  with the fabulous Durby Peterson from Martingale! If you go  here there is a rolling headline with the interview linky thingy that will zoom you directly to the interview. ZOOMING IS GOOD.

MY PICTURE IN A ROLLING HEADLINE!!!! The first time I saw it I about konked my head on the floor when I fell out of my chair. (I needed a quick infusion of Cheetos.) This is crazy, I need to settled down and go quilt sumthin... who knew??? ME in a rolling headline AND a featured interview with the best publishing company on the dang planet. I had tons of fun doing this so I hope you will take a little time to read it...let me know what you think...pahleeze!!! ok so I'm a little needy here and insecure about all this interviewing and stuff. I need to hear from my blog friends. Get along now you have reading to do. I'll be waiting right here for your comments..or I'll check my email every 1.5 seconds.

OH BOY!!! I Can't wait!

One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.

- Michael Korda

Guess what? I cannot go another step before I share some exciting news about two special events this month! First of all I will be a guest on Mark Lipinski's radio show Creative Mojo! (this will make your skirt fly up!)  I am scheduled for February 22 at 4pm. Tune in...podcasts on your iTunes/computer... for a chat with me and the hilarious Mark Lipinski. I can't wait. Mark and Pat! should be good for some fun and laughs.

Also on February 25th I will be a guest designer on the Country Threads Blog Hop...I will review their new book. Back to Charm School,  and have myself a give away in their honor. I have been a stalker, FAN of Mary and Connie for may years and am honored beyond belief that they asked me to be part of this blog hop!  My heart is racing!  I will post a schedule of the whole hop team very soon. BTW their new book is amazing! I'm in serious love here. Talk about INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS! OH MY!!!!

February is turning out quite nicely I would say. I'll be back with more photos from my Ellijay weekend. Right now I gotta go do a  lecture/trunk show. The Earle de Schlep is packin the car right now. Things are busy here at Silver Thimble World Headquarters.

The Best and the Story

The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best. -Epictetus

If you only knew how hard I tried to blog from my retreat in Ellijay, GA. I struggled with my iPad app, Blog Press, downloaded another app and that did not go well. Finally on the last dang day of the retreat Blog Press decided to make a return visit. Who the heck knows what was happening! I have so much to blog about (with photos)...I decided to wait until I got home and collect my thoughts and reconnect with my blog via my computer. Don't get me wrong I have some serious love for my iPad, no complaints. I think we may have an operator issue here. i cannot tell a lie.

Ok, so my retreat in Ellijay was, Bliss, JOY to the MAX, I swear if you could feel the love, happiness and excitement in that room you would smile for days and days. We had chilly but fabulous weather. Sewing, looking out the windows at the lovely panorama view of the North Georgia Mts. Great people, great food, great fun, great fellowship....amazing quilts! We laughed until tears rolled down our legs... Oh be still my heart. Do we reeeely have to wait another year for this event???


With so much to say and so much to show you I'm going to begin with one quilt and one person that I really MUST call some special attention. I see so many amazing quilts and meet so many wonderful people at the guilds and shops I'm so lucky to visit. I love sharing the photos with my cyber family. Rarely do I call ONE out and spend some story time with you....this is one. Here is the quilt, sans borders they are in development. Stay tuned. 

HERE IS THE QUILT.....

And here is the maker of the quilt standing (give me a heart attack! standing in two folding chairs! and she is having knee replacement in a week) Mercidene!

And here is the story..... Several years ago, I think it was Summer 2005.  Mercidene showed up at my "  Summer Stitch IN"  at the local shop here I was teaching. She signed up for the whole week.  She brought a kit we had offered at the shop and was off to the races, or so I thought! She told me she would need my help. (That was an understatement).  Ok that is what I'm here for, that is what I love to do! So, after 7 long days and and long nights, many "  counseling sessions".  It was a completed quilt top. 

That week could be compared to having my teeth pulled one by one with no Novocaine. It was quite possibly the worst quilt I have ever seen. I'm tellin you that quilt was miss cut, miss sewn and miss led..miss guided. Everything that was wrong in quilting happened to that quilt. Through it all Mercidene worked on. Through it all the teacher worked on. Pat wanted this woman to stay with her quilting, get better and fall in love with the art/hobby we love so much. (an exercise in patients). Although there were moments during that week when I wanted to say to her that maybe she might want to consider taking up Scrap booking or gourmet cooking as hobby, we became friends and sisters. Mecidene became a quilter.  I love her..A LOT. 

And here she is...with her current quilt...When I see this photo I swear I cry! 

Everyone at the retreat got up from their sewing and came into the other room and gave her a round of well deserved applause...The student has past the teacher....if you teach that is the goal. It is what it is alllllll about! Better than that she is the kindest, gentle woman... Thank you darling friend!

Miz Mercedine.....This blog post is for YOU!

So much more to blog about. I'm home and reconnected.

What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.

I'm in the Mountains of North Georgia. Tryig to blog about my retreat which begins tomorrow! My problem is this. The app I use on my ipd "Blog Press" won't open. The screen pops up and then immeditately shuts down... I'm soooo not happy right now. I have rebooted the thing. No luck. I had planned to blog it up while I was here having so much and I wanted you to be a part of all this. I wanted you to share the love so to speak. (or be sad you aren't here with us).

If anyone can help me with my app issues pahleeeze leave me a message. I will be forever in your debt.


BTW I can't upload photos from ipad without that app. Dang dang double dang. I hae so much to tell you ad share with you.

Surprise!

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

-C.S. Lewis

Our big surprise! As I mentioned and will undoubtedly mention many more times. We are going to become Grandparents in May! JOY JOY JOY! As the story goes the little mommy did not want to know the gender of the baby...and the little daddy did. Well!! the little grandparents decided this would be a good time to keep the mouth shut on said topic. We were told that they had the oportunity to find out the sex of the future prince/princess but had declined! End of subject. 

 

During my Saturday Silver Thimble Club meeting the pregnant mommy and daddy surprised us with a sneak into town visit (from Asheville).  They said they had come in to surprise the future granddad for his birthday,so I thought nothing of it! WELL, some time went by and Russ goes out to the car and walked in with balloons.... here was the scene. 

Enter new daddy with balloons.

Me...shocked!

I have no memory of what I said or did from this point on.

No memory at all! What a fool.

And here we are..the fam. I wondered why Mary Beth came in from Atlanta on a Saturday afternoon just to show up at my quilt club. I'm easily fooled apparently. 

Did I tell you????? It's a boy! due May 26th...yup. No Spring Market for me! I'm gonna be getting ready to be a grandma! I just love surprises!

January sewing retreat with friends!

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.- Mother Teresa

Don't cha love a good Mother Teresa quote to begin the day. What I wouldn't give to have seen or met her in person. I have a list of people I would love to meet (living and gone!) Mother Teresa is at the top of the list for sure!

Last week I spent a few days off on retreat with some sewing buddies. It was very very super much fun. We laughed and talked non stop and the machines were humming. It was one of the best and most relaxing retreats we have ever had.  I worked on a quilt that will be a gift soon. I will show it to you soon but for now I have to hide it. It was nice to be able to sew a little sumthin for personal for a bit of a change.
I want to show you some of the projects that were zipping around the room. Get ready for a little showie and tellie..and if you are thinkin that you are going to get out of reading this blog without comments from me on the photos...THINK AGAIN!

Teresa's scrappiness. How many different fabrics do you think she used. sheesh

This is Debbie's quilt (one of them, there were deux) I think she said she was giving them to the Quilts of Valor program at our guild. NICE very NICE!

Leslie has this one in the works. It is an Alex Andersen pattern. There will eventually be a string of lights appliqued into the borders. I just love this quilt. yes I do!

Now here we have Miz Jean and her killer batik nine patch o' rama. Dang girl. Guess where this quilt went. She gave it to the people that run the facilities where we were sewing for their auction. Jean Jean Jean...what a sweetie pie.

See the wonderful blocks made by the above "Jean"..stay tuned cuz in a few photos I'm gonna show you the REST OF THE QUILT.

Pincushion trade...aren't they soo cute all lined up on the table!

And this is a photo of the pincushion Paparazzi. Where else can you see a bunch of women all taking photos of dang pincushions...so funny...so US! (apparently,we are easily entertained )

My heart stopped when Ann finished this quilt. Soooo summery sooo picnic...It was a kit offered at my Thimbles club...I wish I had made one for myself.

Sandy was putting this striking quilt together. Looks like a granny square afgan doesn't it!. Love love love it. So old timey.

Debbie's trees. I want. I want I want.

OK so remember those blocks from above that Jean made? Here is the rest of the quilt almost completed. I had to stare at this amazing work for hours from across the room..Jean Jean Jean...what a perfectionist. Whatta quilter there are no words . So that is it for January. Wonder what will happen in February??? It is almost time for my peeps to go to my retreat in ELLIJAY. WHOOP WHOOP!!!