Oh Happy Day ...
On April 13th at 4 pm est, I'll be a guest on Pat Sloan's Podcast ...
Here's the link to hear the show: http://www.creativetalknetwork.com
I'll be talking about #SunriseStudioFabrics #InstantScallops #ScallopMagic #SunriseStudio1 #SunriseStudio2
Join the fun ...
#LakeHouseFabrics … yeah!
It's been so long...and just when I thought things couldn't get any crazier, things did...so it's wonderful to be back.
The Sweet Little Words Quilt from the March/April edition of McCall's Quilting was just returned to me. It was so precious, I had to call Pam and have her come over to see it in person and snap a few shots to show you...The Pam Kitty Love color palette is positively radiant!
Kudos to Pam Kitty for her lovely, seemingly effortless photos.
Here are some close-ups of Nubin Jensen's delightful quilting...
And a big shout-out to Fat Quarter Shop's Debra Taylor, for her lightning-fast precision piecing...
Hugs all around for all you gals, it takes a dedicated & experienced team to meet the time demands of quilt magazine projects! In case you haven't actually seen the magazine article, the Sweet Little Words Quilt is being offered as a kit (with two different border color options!). To see the kit info, just click here.
In addition to all of the quilty-love excitement, there's been friends visiting from out of town, we've been putting the final touches on the Sweet Things collection, had several bouts of frozen pipes at the studio, and our mascot -- a Border Collie/Terrier mix who demands (seemingly endless) hours of exercise on every chilly day we have. I could go on, but let's get to the really good stuff...
Alice Waters of Chez Panisse, who is a renowned chef from Berkeley California, says that the secret to being a good cook is knowing how to shop (for the best quality ingredients).
People often ask me about my design inspiration & secrets...Yes, there are tales of travels, flea markets & tiny one-of-a-kind boutiques, on quiet, tucked-away-streets in Europe. More often than not, inspiration sort of "bonks me on the head" while I am walking down the street minding my own business, and *poof* something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. Or like the other day, at a little mom & pop store called Andy's Local Market near where I walk my dogs. Getting a morning coffee, and what did I see amongst an adorable display of Valentine's Day trinkets & treats...?
Naturally, I thought of Pam, & our recent Pam Kitty Love collection...called her immediately.
We came up with the idea to offer all of you a chance to win your very own Pam Kitty Love LunchBox...
So here's the deal...Tell us a wonderful Valentine's story...it could be true romance...a tale about the power of love, or a rom-com, like a first date story that went awry, or a true tale about one of your most beloved & favorite critters. Make it good, really, really good...and then tell us your story in our comments bar...and we may pick you!
The deadline is Thursday February 14th
The winner will be announced on Tuesday February 19th
Be there, or be square.
(Or keep carrying your lunch in a boring paper bag to work...)
*<:@)
H2
PS~Pam, this one's for you WoOoF!
PPS thanks to Goji, for being such a willing subject
:oP
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought I'd show you all some pretty pictures taken by none-other than our fabulous "resident" blogging queen aka "Pam Kitty" (& photo-savant) Pam Vieira-McInnis, at a secret garden that I stumbled upon recently here in Marin County CA.
This is the new "Scrap Happy Basket Quilt" (designed by yours truly). The New Applique' Pattern for it which BTW uses fabrics from my new Penelope 4 -- 5 -- 6 collection (that has just been delivered to independent quilt shops near you), has been written & published by our friend Jennifer Bosworth over at Shabby Fabrics. Psst: if you haven't heard the good word...Jennifer writes a great pattern!
Here's a little close up of the quilt...
I just LOVE all of the fabrics in this quilt...the colors are OH SO HOME DEC! IMHO, all of the prettiest colors for a warm & inviting home. I think Jennifer might even have a few kits left, too...? Check her stock, by clicking here.
On another note, on the home front today, things started off with a splash. I was brushing my teeth when "El Bandito", my Milo rescue kitty (the only truly clumsy cat I have ever known) fell in to the toilet feet first while trying to jump up on the bathroom sink (trying to get a better look sniff at what he thought I was putting in my mouth (mint ice cream -- whatttt ?). (This would also explain the times in recent months that I have sat down on a less-dry-toilet seat in that same bathroom...)
Here's more pictures taken by Auntie Pam, the day of our photoshoot last week of Bandito...
Is it just me or does that little black chin make you think of C Everett Koop...?
LOL
;oP
H2
PS, Pam Kitty will be making a table runner from blocks using the Scrap Happy Quilt pattern (in yet another bee-u-t-ful Penelope colorway...I'll announce the specifics of this VERY SOON! OH & YES, you heard it here first: there will be another FQ bundle giveaway too!
These SweetHeart Roses remind me so much of the lush flowers in our Penelope series...And by-golly, it's that time...Penelope 4 5 & 6 are being packed & readied to leave our warehouse on the East Coast as I write...
Even better, I have done a few new designs that can use any of your favorite Penelope Fabrics...(1,2,3,4,5 or 6...) These quilts weren't in the latest Penelope 4, 5, 6 sales booklets, so your LQS hadn't seen them until last week in Kansas City at Jennifer's booth...
That's the Big News...Jennifer Bosworth of Shabby Fabrics has graciously taken on the writing & publishing of my quilt designs. This is a huge relief to me on so many levels...writing patterns has always been a challenge. I've received my share of hate mail over patterns that took me weeks & months to conceptualize, write, check, re-check & re-check again...And when I am writing patterns, I am not designing fabric & quilts...Of course those of you who have seen how Jennifer writes a quilt pattern or her beautiful Block of the Month programs...know why I am clicking my heels!
Thank you Jennfier for freeing me up to do more of the projects that I have been thinking about for years, but haven't had the time to focus on...I am chomping at the bit to do my first Block of the Month...I can't wait.
Here's the first two of my quilt designs that Shabby Fabrics Pattern Company will be publishing that use new Penelope Fabrics. First, the "Teacup Star" quilt...
Second, the Scrap Happy Baskets quilt...
Lots more on my favorite Penelope fabrics, projects & people too, coming up...
Back soon...H2
It's been too long...Forgive me. The last 15 months of my life have been filled with new adventures, new friends, lots of fun :o) but also the craziness of not one, but two moves...& more things to do than I could do myself or delegate. I had to put several things on hold...and blogging was one of them (even though it is one of my favorite things to do). Thank goodness things are settling down a bit now...more details on all of the above later.
For the first time since 2003, when we started LakeHouse -- the fabric company, I did not actually make it to Quilt Market. I came down with my second bout of the flu (in 6 weeks time) the week before market & it really hit me hard. Luckily, Pam & her daughter Frankie were there to help out...Kudos & Hugs for stepping up girls!
Luckily, Pam took lots of fun shots of the Pam Kitty Love themed LakeHouse booth in Kansas City...(it's like they asked us what color to make the aisle rugs) -- LOL!
On our side & back walls were a combination of oversized posters that I designed for the booth, as well as quilts made by Pam, Nanette from Freda's Hive & Darla Padilla from Wildflower Quilting. Many of you will recognize the gingham block quilt on the right (click to englarge photo), it's the one that I designed for McCall's Quilting Magazine, and oo la la -- I just love Nanette's sampler quilt! The "Come Around For Coffee" quilt on the poster in the middle is a freebie click & print pattern from Pam...it's on the right sidebar on her blog...it's UBER CUTE! (I'll show you more color combinations of this quilt from our sale booklet sometime soon--wait till you see how she designed the handles on the coffee cups!)
Here's a couple of close up shots of the little goodies in our booth, (Is it just me, or do Pam's fabrics put a smile on your face too?)...The adorable bags filled with goodies are by Keiko Clark of K Cotton Studio.
Frankie helped us fold dozens of the heart-fan decorations, & Pam's accessories on the clothesline are just darling, aren't they?...
Before I close for today...Don't miss having your own mini version of the Pam Kitty Love sales booklet...just click on the 9-patch Pam Kitty Love sidebar icon to the right---> So you can run in to your LQS and make sure that they'll be ordering exactly what your heart desires!
Sorry, but the perfectionist in me needs to mention that the colors on the .pdf are not the greatest. (They are muddy!) Since you've probably seen the colors of Pam's first collection in your LQS, you already know that her color palette is clean & bright and filled with "good cheer". Most importantly, the new Pam Kitty Love fabrics due out at the end of this year, will "play nicely" with the original Pam Kitty Morning fabrics...so you can't go wrong blending the old with the new.
Sort of reminds me of the song we used to sing in girl scouts..."Make new friends, but ke-ep the old, one is silver but the other's gold"...Do any of you remember singing that song too?
Back in two shakes...(promise!)
:oP
H2
Here's me with the lovely Jennifer Bosworth at her beautiful new Shabby Fabrics booth at Salt Lake City. She had some exquisite new quilts, and of course she pointed out her favorite "shimmer dot" that she used in the quilt behind us. It's our LH 03035 Champagne -- one of our top 5 best sellers in the history of LakeHouse.
I also got to meet the irrepressible Pat Sloan for the first time...we have so many friends in common, and somehow we've not been introduced until SLC...
Last but not least for today are Pam & I trying to contain our glee (and our fatigue at the same time), at the end of our first day on Friday...it was a labor of love -- it was many months worth of work and we were toast!
still lots more to show & tell...
;o)
H2
Here's a picture of Pam Kitty, McCall's Quilting's Beth Hayes & me (looking dazed & bloated--LOL) at Quilt Market this year, taken by Laura Roberts (also from McCall's -- thanks Laura!)...
Is it just me, or does Pam look like her feline alter ego?
A little bird told me that PKM is on her little quilt retreat, so it looks like she hasn't totally scooped me on photos from the booth (yet)...
Many Thanks to Nadine Woodraska for loaning us all sorts of cute things from her shop in South Jordan Utah...The Material Girls...We love you Nadine!
We had lots of giveaways at the booth. Pam made up the cutest little fabric strawberries...with a pattern on a recipe card, called Strawberry Delight. She also made up a free pattern for the circle pot holder...(hint: with googly eyes that pot holder turns into a hand puppet!) We also gave away lots of little jars of Pam Kitty Jam, and Pam Kitty Candy (cinnamon hearts)...And of course Ric Rac was from our buddy Adam at CheepTrims.com (Oh, and can you tell that these pictures were taken b4 the show actually opened...that's the boxes from our tables & benches in the background ;o(
That's one of Nadine's antique child's sewing machines from her collection on the top shelf. On the tabletop is the New Pam Kitty Morning sales booklet, and more of that delicious Pam Kitty Jam.
Here's a picture of the large Jars of Pam Kitty Jam we had on display...
Wouldn't you know that the crack security team at the SLC airport confiscated the Pam Kitty Jam that was in my carry on (on my way home)...Wondering who gets the spoils from all they confiscate...The man who checked my bag was rather chubby. I'm just saying...
Oh, and if you are wondering where the playful pink dotted fabric on the table top & strawberries came from, it's the Annie's Farm Stand fabrics we introduced last fall, that are just hitting Independent quilt shops near you right now! (Most of you know by now, that we really try to make our fabrics play well with others, so have fun mixing & matching the new "Annie's" fabrics with the "Pammie's" when they arrive in October '11...
The LakeHouse fabric for quilts motto:
"Matchy Matchy": No! "So Happy Together": Yes!
More pictures from SLC coming soon...so y'all come back now...
H2
WELCOME TO DAY ELEVEN OF OUR BROWNIE POINTS BLOG-ALONG-ATHON!
This is our second day with Kimberly & her gang over at the Fat Quarter Shop. Since it's getting so close to Christmas, I'm feeling particularly nostalgic today. First, I have to show you a picture of Kimberly and her brood, because it is a testament to multi-tasking, hard-working women everywhere...
I first remember meeting Kimberly at the Kansas City Quilt Show several years ago. Almost every time I've seen her since, she's been walking the show (and pregnant) or she's not been at market because she was too pregnant to travel.
First there was Emma (on Santa's lap), who is looking almost grown up now. Then the twins (in the matching snowman t-shirts). Aren't they the sweetest little "toilet tissue" babies you've ever seen? And in November, another boy named Christopher. Yet in the midst of all of all of this "family expansion", Kimberly's created an empire over at the Fat Quarter Shop.
Kimberly, her husband Kevin (who works with her) and all of their kiddles, are living proof that the American Dream still exists.
As a fellow small business owner, I'd like to commend Kimberly and her "Stay Calm & Carry On" attitude.
Let's all take stock in Kimberly & her success ladies, and look forward to a prosperous New Year.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll remind all of you that Fat Quarter Shop is also selling the Fast Flowers Quilt Kit today, and their charity is the Make A Wish Foundation.
I'll be doing a little guest post over at the Jolly Jabber, so click here to go there...hint, more free stuff for deserving fabri-holics.
As we "wrap things up" (no pun intended) for Christmas, one of quilting's funniest is waiting in the wings to be introduced. Can't wait...LOL
Back in two shakes...H2
PS if you are here for my stash giveaway, pls leave your comment on this page!
PPS if you are involved in a group that does charitable works, pls click here
WELCOME TO DAY FOUR OF OUR BROWNIE POINTS BLOG-ALONG-ATHON!
On Wednesday, I just finished up...
This is a special tip sheet that I did as an adjunct to the FREE FAST FLOWERS QUILT PATTERN. When I read the pattern that they sent me for my approval, it left me with a LOT of questions. Plus I thought, OMG all levels of quilters are going to read this pattern, and there are going to be a lot of questions...How am I going to help these people out?
Being the control freak (that I admit) I am, I turned on the computer and wrote up two full sheets of notes & diagrams for you all.
I'll go through a lot of these tips with you over the next many days of Brownie Points...but if you want a copy right now, just go to my left side bar...it's the icon that says "BROWNIE POINTS QUILTING TIPS"
My next guest is a darling gal from Florida...Here's a picture of me (the smirk & the tired eyes) with adorable Jenny from Sew Fabulous at Quilt Market a while back LOL...
Imagine my delight when I found out that Jenny was not only a quilter & fellow animal lover, but a veterinarian, too.
Jenny is also selling the Fast Flowers Quilt Kit at the Sew Fabulous site. As with all of the other Brownie Points shops, I'll be donating $5.00 for every Fast Flowers Quilt Kit sold to Jenny's charity: The Alaqua Animal Refuge.
Lots more fun & frivolity tomorrow with Jenny, her charming blog & pictures of her fur babies. Turns out that her kids love the LakeHouse line...
LOL
;oP H2
PS I'd love to hear your comments on the HOLLYTIP sheets and the Fast Flowers Quilt Kits when you get them in the mail gals...Kristine's studio (she's our designated kitmaker) is like Santa's workshop right now, there's ribbon & tissue & bundles of pretty LakeHouse Fun Flowers Fabric everywhere!
PPS Keep those warm wishes for our Velda coming in girls!
