All Good Things

They came, we ate, we drank, we made merry...they are gone. The babies are gone. One back to NC with my precious SIL, the other back to school for her final two weeks...ever. Graduation from college Dec 9 and 10th. What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had. I am so....thankful....here are some photo of our Thanksgiving, I loved every minute of it!

The table was set and ready for everyone to arrive. I was sitting around doing nothing.hahaha

But we ate by candle light. (it wasn't this dark!)

I just love those pilgrims!

The kitchen was a busy place, I love having everyone in the kitchen laughing and chattin it up.

How many casseroles can two ovens and one warming drawer hold?

Lots!(way too much food)

Janet getting the wine into the glasses!

 

The cousins dishin up the goodies.

More table shots. (I'm kinda into tables)

And now, thanks to my kids the whole joint looks like this. They were a finely tuned decorating machine on Friday. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..dee dah dee dah deeeee.

Later my friends...I'm going to have myself a little give a  way...somebody's having a birthday!

If we are friends much longer, we'll start to look alike.

-author unknown

I think the above is true and especially true of the Silver Thimble Quilters of Grayson Georgia. We have been quilting together sew long! They understand my language...I've been told I have my own vernacular kinda like Dr. Seuss.."Thimble Seuss" yup. So I told everyone that we would have a "Thing" next month so everyone should bring a "Thing" in a dish to share with the group, but don't stress out about the "Thing" cuz the holidays are just too busy for that. They understood completely what I was talking about. This is scary, see above quote. 















 





The quilts were amazing again. Show and Tell was so much fun. (Pictures later) We even had a visit from a Pilgrim. Great goo-ga-moo-ga (that language again!) She was so proud of that hat! Teresa is birthday girl along with her side kick Cathy. Cake ensued. Really good cake too, made and decorated by Marilyn's daughter. I may have had too big of a piece.

I must tell you about this person. Karin .Who hates applique. It took her 40 days and 40 nights to applique that K! She complained the whole time too.  She calls it heinous applique. So what does Karin do? She signed up to do our Comfort & Joy, block of the month quilt being offered by Melisa at Sweet Home Quilt Co.  Our pattern...with applique. I tell you this because it is shocking news and because I'm going to have to form a 12 step applique program to get her through this. I promise you this is going to set quilting back 100 years.  I can just hear the whinning and b....chin right now. The program is for 8 months so the quilts can be done for next Christmas. Well, Karin has a shot at it as long as MY HEALTH holds out. Looks like 2011 will kick off with some fun. We will find out if I can teach...this may be my undoing. It is probably going to kill us both. If you come to my funneral, cheetos will be served.  We will rename the quilt Christmas Miracle if Karin manages to finish it. I'll throw a party for that quilt. Light candles and send up the fireworks. More on this subject in 2011 you can bet on that...stay tuned. 


Bought the big dang bird...I'm cooking for 12 this week. A 22 pound bird!  My babies are comin home!!! I don't know about you but I sooo love this holiday. Thats cuz there is so much to be thankful for. Don't you agreeeee?

Shifting Gears

I could not at any age be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived and curiosity kept alive.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm having withdrawals. I miss them. I wonder how they are. I wonder where they are. I wonder what they are thinking without me. Who is holding them. Are they safe? What if they were put on an cargo plane that was making a pit stop in Atlanta from YEMIN. (ok that was a bit over the top). 

The hard copy of the book. Weighed in at about 50 pounds. Left this week. Still no word. Distress. 

Ok, so now I'm still writing. These little babies were extremely popular at market. These children have been neglected for the above children. They are happy to see me and in need of some motherly attention. So all you people that have been emailing me, phoning me...the wait is almost over, stay tuned. 

 

 

PS. Look at that angel in the bottom left of the Christmas Quilt. Doesn't she look like me? All chunky and happy.  

It's Done

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

-George Eliot

I've forgotten what a day is like without deadlines on the other end of the day bearing down. But I intend to remember! The manuscript is done. Emailed last Thursday, quilts mailed Thursday, hard copies of everything but the kitchen sink..mailed today. Whewwww. And I haven't even dealt with the market orders and patterns....double whewww. 

My blog, so neglected! My reading of blogs practically non existent. Today is HEINZ 57 DAY. I'm going to KETCHUP...Oh and then there is the little matter of my sewing room. It may be a two day KETCHUP process. But I shall win the ketchup process and reclaim my life and blog.  

Emily and Russ were in Atlanta yesterday (they were celebrating this). Two years...so happy.

Emily got a new lens for her camera and took some photos of me for the book. Which one do you like the best?

Somebody needs to lay off the Cheetos...

Market #3

You can find on the outside only what you possess on the inside.

-Adolfo Montiel Ballesteros

We had a ball....we worked our fannies off!

But at the end of the day...it was about the people we met and friends we made. Here is sweet Marcie having her first market! GO Marcie. I will get out of the booth next market I promise!

Showed off new goodies...but it is still about the relationships. Quilting is just like that.

Saw unbelievable artistry..Blackbird designs winning Single Booth category. My skirt blew right off and it always does with their booth.

But still it is the people. The people who jump around, grab your stuff and love on it, and let us take a photo!

We admired about a bazillion quilts. You see it all at market.

But still it is the people. BJ, I loved designing Comfort & Joy with you and I look forward to many more designs to come. I loved you before and I will love all our days ahead.

Ok it is about the people but dang this quilt is on my bucket list for sure! Buggy Barn.

My friend of OVER 30 years. Suzanne, we have seen it all through the years. There are simply no words.

Brazil, so beautiful.... could not speak 2 words of English..but her enthusiasm for our Comfort & Joy pattern was amazing. It's all about the people....

 

 

 

 I'm just sayin!

Market #2

God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.

-James M. Barrie

Just a few photos from market. I have so many more to share. I will try not to opine too much. 

This is only a partial view of the market floor. It's big. Think of it as the  SUPER SIZED COMBO QUILTING MEAL. (I borrowed this photo from Melisa remind me to thank her)

This was the best man at market. He made a zillion friends. Quite possibly melted when we packed the clown car as it was 100 percent humidity. dang it was sticky hot!

Yes my friends your are seeing her...the one and only... Elinor Peace Bailey. This is a toned down outfit for her. She is famous..google her name and find out.

And the fabulous Carrie Nelson (she did not have Rosie with her on the market floor but she was in Houston!) This photo of us is in the Martingale Booth. Carrie's book is flying off the shelves! She is the warmest, dearest, and sincerely nice person. I love her and wish I could spend more time with her! Thanks Carrie! My home is open to you if you get to Atlanta! shop hop as promised too!

More booth photos..I really did like it.

 

Ok this photo will go down in my memory as Fun Fun Fun in the booth. We were writing orders and my "girls" from Princeton Ill. came by...hugging and laughing, jumping and clapping ensued, general all around chaos. Meanwhile little did I know that at that moment half the Martingale Publishing gang chose to come see me. Well, now they know how shy I am..I think I shocked them..or scared them...but I gave them the Southern welcome and had a ball. 

See the guy with the vest on?? Ty Pennington. Cutie Patootie..Yes sireee. He is designing fabric now. I'm pretty sure he doesn't know what a Y seam is..I could just teach him a thing or two!

Niffty Thrifty Dry Goods. One of my favorite booths. I could roll in the buttons and trims. No kidding my skirt flies up every time I get in that booth. I want all of it.

Here is the snow dude again on BJ's tea towel. Pattern available mid to late November. I could just kiss him in the mouth I love him so much.

Back to my book. I have 50,000 tabs open on my computer screen. Wish you were here!

Nobody has ever measured, even the poets,

how much a heart can hold.

-Zelda Fitzgerald  (who grew up in Montgomery Alabama down the street from my mothers family)

Home from market. The blogging just didn't happen. The truth is we were in high gear the whole time and by the time we walked into our hotel room all that could happen was.. sleep or in my case, an attempt at sleep. After standing for the entire day and talking to 20 gazillion people all we wanted to do was CRASH (I wanted to cut my feet off the dogs were sooo tired).  The committee was in full swing in the middle of the night and frequently woke me up for a "meeting".swell

We had so much fun and worked so hard. I will say that this market for Silver Thimble Quilt Co. was a huge success. We were busy and the new quilts were very well received! I'm so pleased, grateful and thankful to the quilting community,...... these few little words can't possibly explain all that I feel. 

Here are the two best reasons market was such a success for me. BJ on the left and Suzanne on the right. They worked their Silver Thimble butts off, we were a finely tuned booth running machine. I love them more than my self cleaning oven! Oh BTW this photo was taken outside of the Minick & Simpson booth.

 

There was waaayyy to much eating of this stuff. I may never eat another piece of chocolate. Holey Moley..we are having the complete veggie plate for dinner tonight. Cooked in MY DANG KITCHEN. I'm so ashamed I will not be eating fast food or the above for a very long time!

It is a miracle that we got this stuff to Houston. This is the van neatly packed by Sir Quilt Dude. It did NOT look this good last night at mid night when we got home. It looked like a CLOWN CAR...I packed it coming home. Along with purchases made at market....be afraid...be VERY afraid....

I loved this sign. We stopped in a gas station and food store (those places are turning into grocery stores). Loved the signage.

Then of course there is the booth. I got a corner booth this trip and I loved it. You can't tell but there are white twinkle lights with fabric strips tied on the cords at the top of the booth. It looked so good. This picture was taken before the convention people put down the final red carpet on the right side. The lights looked a little droopy in places but we fixed that. Suzanne took more photos than I did, I was busy talking to shop owners and stuff during the show so I will share her photos as soon as she gives me her photo card. Tired doesn't even describe what BJ, Suzanne and I are feeling this morning. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are home safe and now I am going to work finishing my manuscript for my book. DUE NOVEMBER 12!!!

I just sprung 700 more grey hairs...more about market tomorrow.