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My Favorite Things...120...Puppy Love!

I promise to return to my "Quilt Market Tales" later this, week...but humor me dear reader, as I bring you a tail of a different sort...

Here she is in her new Maraschino Cherry bandanna I made for her this morning...Meet Sophia, the "puppy mill reject" aka LUCKY DOG, who was given up by her "captor" about a month ago at the age of three, because she couldn't produce enough puppies...She's the sweetest little thing on four paws!

Here's the back story: We were at our vet's office earlier this week, and she told us that she was the foster dog-mother for Sophia, who came to her as "Wendy the Westie" from puppymillrescue.com.  She said that it was Oprah's recent show on the atrocities at puppy mills, that got her energized.

I was so inspired by this that we here at LHDG are going to get involved too.  I started scheming up a plan today...I'll keep you posted.

More Portland "Pics & Quips", and stories of the "Great Northwest" coming soon...

 

Back in two shakes...H2

My Favorite Things...117...Exploring Portland

If the neighborhoods weren't so darned adorable in Portland, I might have a lot to whine about it, as I was the designated driver...It seemed like everywhere we went in the first three days, we got lost.  Fortunately, there were oodles charming Victorian, Bungalow and Craftsman style homes built from the late 1800's to the 1940's...lush gardens, arbors, rickety picket fences, "true light" windows (the ones with the real window panes)...it was like being transported into the pages of Cottage Living magazine.

I only wish I had more time to take more pictures...

Meanwhile, for years Penny & I had been hearing about a "Fabric Mecca" in Portland called Fabric Depot. With directions from Marc Hickok over at our distributor EE Schenck (thanks for everything, Marc!), we set out...Fair warning to you, dear reader:  NO matter what your google maps say, and however many miles a road seems to go on indefinitely under the same name on your map...don't believe your eyes!  Streets, avenues and roads will stop on a whim and you will be doubling back, joggling left and right (and many times!) before you reach your final destination in Portland, so allow extra time and bring your camera...there are a lot of inspiring things to see.

Our Fabric Depot "story" is a funny one.  Penny and I arrive, and boom the minute you walk in it's like "QUILT FABRIC NIRVANA".  It seemed like every collection from every company who show at quilt market was represented at this store, or so I thought...We walked up and down the aisles marveling at the amount of fabrics, but wait, no LakeHouse  ;(   "quel horreur"  It got almost comical as we walked up and down and down and up the aisles..."Wee Wo, NO LakeHouse" (mild anxiety)...Then, when we got almost to the middle of the store (which took us a good ten minutes of looking), near the cash registers...to our surprise and delight, A SPECIAL LAKEHOUSE DISPLAY...Just in time for all of the out-of-towners making their pilgrimage to Spring Quilt Market.  Wee hoo!

Here's me checking out patterns made with our fabric that I never even knew existed...

The Fabric Depot display gals even got the Copperplate font right for our name.  That gave us a chuckle when we saw it...What a treat!  So in case you haven't guessed already, Fabric Depot should be put on your "must see" list whenever you get to Portland.  Big Hint:  It's not far from the airport!

There's still lots more to show and tell...

I'm going to make it up to you for the last 5 months if it breaks me!   ;)

Back in two shakes...H2

PS Our NEW LakeHouse Spring 2008 fabric introductions are now live on our site!

112...My Favorite Things...Young Geets

The title of this little story should be "Geeter Helps Out"...Geeter, aka Kitty is the kind of dog who does her "spin to win" move when she sees me put my shoes on, or if I get the car keys out of the drawer.  She's the best little traveler there ever was.  "Where we goes she goes"...

Here she is on one of our recent moving days...is it just me or is she adorable?  Danielle our trusty dog-loving intern took this pic with her phone.

I know a lot of you are chomping at the bit for pictures of the new office.  We've made lots of plans and are in the midst of implementing them right now.  Paton has been terrific helping us get all of our shelving in place. We now have what seems like miles of new shelving (that will fill up in no time, I'm sure.) 

We looked for over 6 months to find the office space that we finally took.  We had several deals fall through (including our dream space), so don't get too excited.  The space is large and we have windows along three exposures.  But the basics are white walls, new gray industrial carpeting, and "standard issue" 8 foot acoustical ceilings (which I really can't stand!).  I must admit, coming from Manhattan where space is $$$ cha-ching, we are getting a lot of space for our money.  But the perks:  Central Park a block away, latte's on demand on almost every corner, and 6 bakeries including a French pastry chef within an easy walk...They just aren't to be had anywhere near our new digs. What's a spoiled Chub-ette like Moi to do?

Anyhoo, things are moving along, and  I am anticipating a (very small) lull before the last big push for market, so I promise to indulge you with "new place pics" soon.

Back in two shakes...H2

111...My Favorite Things...Young Fabric Lovers!

I received something intriguing in the mail a couple of days ago, and just had to share it with you all...
This is the handiwork of Genevieve Nitzsche who is the young daughter of Kathleen Nitzsche who helps with some of our show and magazine quilts. Kathleen made the Emma's Garden quilt  that just came out in the 2008 April McCall's Quilting Magazine.

It's a book report on the back of a hand puppet made by Gen...

Isn't it a de-light?   You go girl!

On another note, some of you have written (Bren, Elizabeth & Pam Kitty for starters)...you've noticed that I haven't been posting as much as I usually do...That's because after a really long search...(that started well over a year ago)...We found some new space...WE-HOO...We'll have room for a huge fabric library...(think bolts) and a huge reference library...(as in almost everything I have ever bought at flea markets, from fabric & quilt dealers, etc. in the last 30 years), a graphics studio, a photography studio and our support offices.  We have begun (and only just begun) the arduous task of moving "the stuff".  I will keep my art, sewing and quilting things here at the house for nights and weekends.  I will blog about that little space (my favorite room in the house) as soon as I get it set up.

That's all for now.

Back in two shakes...H2

 

 

My Favorite Things...72...All Dressed Up!

What a couple of days it's been (so much creativity!), Shannon Martin wrote to show me an outfit she made for her daughter with the La Belle Rose fabrics that have been out in the stores for a couple of months now.

Take a peak, her adorable little girl looks as pleased as punch with her new ensemble.

Thought that I'd also give you another little peak at another of Penny's new creations, called the "Desk Deli"...

It's sized so that a lean cuisine can fit in the bag...it's a perfect size to take your lunch to work in.  Penny suggests that you make a different cloth napkin for each day of the week!

More soon, as time permits.
Back in two shakes...H2

My Favorite Things...57...Miss Bunny!

Day 10 of 13 A Dazzling Dozen Delicious Desserts

The excitement is palpable here at the studio...we're busy like Santa's elves on December 23rd, trying to figure out what fabrics go to whom, and get the boxes out asap.

I'm starting to have a few "moments" about how the booth is all going to come together...But that is just part of the design process...so stay tuned!

Here's one of my first little studies for a quilt that uses some of the La Belle Rose fabrics intermixed with some of the new Cherry Baby line that we will show at FQM at the end of October.  This mix of "old & new" is done completely on purpose...I love mix and match, and I love that one collection "self seeds" right into another...(and selfishly, I'd like our fabrics to make a big presence for you in your local quilt store!)

Also, as I have probably mentioned before, I am trying to make a conscious effort to do simpler quilts...This is no small task for me, as I my tendency is to overwork and over-think almost every thing I do...Something about this quilt gives me a nostalgic feeling, don't-cha think?

We all have memories of childhood that are indelibly etched...sensory things, like colors, tastes, smells and places. I have some especially fond memories of Christmas time at Marshall Field's department store in downtown Chicago.  Velveteen dresses, patent leather shoes, white tights, brunch under a ginormous decorated evergreen tree in a dining room that seemed to me to be a hundred feet tall.  My mom and dad "were in" for the food, (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) because Field's had an unparalleled gourmet dept for it's time...things like Frango Mints and Cheddar Cheese Soup.  My favorite place back then was the children's toy & book department. I can still remember odd little details, like the paper curling ribbon that they tied the packages with and the children's gift wrap paper (colorful animals and toys on a celery green background). 

I am not exactly sure when I became aware of Anne Sutton & Bunny Hill.  But I can tell you that Anne's work is very evocative and like Christmas memories, it too awakens the child in me...Judging from the popularity of her blog and her quilts, I'm guessing that I am not alone.

It's some sort of a weird full circle thing then, that when I first started putting things together for the latest collection, I kept thinking of Anne.  So I'm particularly proud to have her share with all of us what she's been making and baking these last few weeks.  So here's Anne to tell you all about it!

Back in two shakes...H2

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My Favorite Things...48...Having a Party

Day 1 of 13  A Dazzling Dozen Delicious Desserts

Welcome one and all to our first ever Blog-able Feast...the atmosphere at our humble little studio here at "Chez Boulders" is festive (if a bit frenetic) and filled with the anticipation of good things to come.

My faithful side-kick Kammie, aka Kamma-Noodle-Von-Poodle (my list of pet names for Herself is a long one)...allowed me one good photo of her in a new "Cherry Baby" neckerchief ...Is it just because she's my girl or is she precious?

My hope is that I will be able to get Miss Thing to pose in some other Haute "Cat-ure" outfits before the last in our series is feasted upon.

Speaking of crazy ladies who like to dress up their pets...Our first Blog-able Feast guest is none other than the quilt-making grandmother of four...wait for it...Guinea Pigs, Elizabeth Scott.

In addition to her going to her Late Bloomer blog to check out what she's working on for Fall Quilt Market (hereafter known as FQM) and her yummie dessert, YOU MUST go to Elizabeth's May Archives  (scroll down to May 21) and check out the Grandpigs enjoying the quilts she made for them.

You can see a gallery of Elizabeth's other projects at her site Late Bloomer Quilts.

So without further ado, I give you Elizabeth making something cool & creamy in Livermore, CA.

Our next Blog-able Feast is tomorrow.

Back in two shakes, H2

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My Favorites...42...Frosted Dots

When I saw Anne Sutton's blog about the Frosted Dots fabric last week, it didn't dawn on me that I needed to do a follow up blog.  That didn't happen until this morning, and frankly I don't know what made it pop into my head now, since I am thinking about a million other things, too.

First let me give you a little insight into my life right now...it's just about time to kick things into high gear for October market.  So my usual 6 days a week turns into a colorful blur of "what day is it?", punctuated with (sometimes fretful) glances at the "count down calender".

We have a fairly standard procedure for market...we make lists based on the lists from last market, and the market before that.  The only problem of course is that each new market has it's own unique set of challenges...

Since this is my first time as a blogger, while getting ready for market at the same time...well, all I can say is...time will tell.  I won't say "I'll do my best", because in "New-York speak"...well let's just say, depending on the tone of the delivery, means pretty much the opposite...(edited out by our Department of Decency & Civility here at LHDG).  I digress.

Meanwhile, I just wanted you all to know that we have a LOT of favorite colors of the Frosted Dots fabric, why we even have a promotion card of cute little swatches...(and they'll be up on the website soon...I promise!)

Champagne, the color that Anne is so enamored of is the one on the lower left.  My personal favorite has always been the Onyx color (thats the long one that takes up the entire row, one row up from the bottom).  I have fantasized about making a pair of Audrey Hepburn-inspired pedal pushers for a couple of years now...wish we could stock that neat polished cotton that has the stretch to it. (Pants made out of that stretch cotton feel like a second skin!)  I digress...again.

So it looks like we are off to the races ladies.  Market is 62 days away, so fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride.

Back in two shakes...H2