Holly Blog

My Favorite Things...238...Chalk Drawings on the Sidewalk

People ask me alot "What inspires you?"  Almost anything, anywhere.

I saw this recently while walking the dogs at a nearby school after hours.  The campus one of those idyllic California schools that are so very special.  Lots of gardens & outdoor space, covered walkways between small buildings, artwork hung in the classroom windows, courtyards filled with flowering plants, grassy lawns, sunshine and the evidence of kids & creativity blossoming everywhere.

This little drawing reminded me that I used to love to color up a storm on the sidewalks when I was a kid.  It makes me so happy to see a spontaneous use of color...

Summer is officially here...what inspires you?

:o)

H2

 

 

My Favorite Things...215...Little Tykes

I just thought I'd share a little fun news with you all...Paton's nephew Simon Hillis who's now 9 years old, is on the front of SKI magazine this month.

I can remember Simon up at the family cottage in the Muskoka's when he was just a baby.  He wasn't old enough to walk, but he could swim like a fish.

Simon has been on skis since he was 2...how cute is that?

:o)

H2

 

My Favorite Things...186...A "Little Deb" will do Ya!

Day 1 of 16

It all started with the idea for the "Dolly Dress Up" panels, at the end of last year.  It took a lot of patience, doing 12 different dresses that went together and yet different enough...(thought bubble)...frankly, it was not as easy as I thought it would be!

So after several weeks of working on this, and many strike-offs later...

We are READY TO RUMBLE ladies!

Without further ado, I give you the adorable...drum roll please...Debbie Taylor...she's "the retro recipe lady" (and quilter extraordinaire) at Fat Quarter Shop.

Here's a sneak peek at one of the blocks on her delicious new quilt...

Rumor has it that Debbie is going to do a tutorial for y'all on the Jolly Jabber blog, to help us all celebrate the beginning of "the Season of Giving"...Click here for more with Debbie.

See you bright & shiny tomorrow...

;º)

H2

My Favorite Things...151...Cute Overboard!

Hate to disappoint, but the part did not arrive today.  UPS was delivering, but it just didn't come...What's up with that?

I feel not a little bit like the minister standing in front of the congregation (tapping her feet) and the bride has gone missing!

Since Cheryl's long arm is in the proverbial sling now, she's keeping moving the ball forward for Quilt Market with some new models of her own "real live Doll Dress" pattern that she calls a Sunshine Dress. Turns out that Robin, Cheryl's smart & talented daughter who is now in graduate school in Philadelphia used to wear dresses like these when she was a wee one.

Here are some of the fun retro ric rac embellishments on her Sunshine Dress that Cheryl has been playing with while she taps her feet along with us...

Please excuse the threads...these are works in progress!

I just love this little collection...it makes me smile and think of a simpler time.

I'll post whatever I can as soon as it's ready...

Back in two shakes...H2

My Favorite Things...149...All Together Now!

It's a little tough for most of us to load up 12 separate posts at once and have a look-see...So I thought I'd show them all together in the order that they were presented to you.

Are you all as anxious with anticipation as I am?  The quilt is on the frame at Cheryl's as I type to you.  Oops! One more delay..."we are experiencing technical difficulties"...Cheryl's long arm went terribly wrong this week, metal parts grinding, pieces flying all over...so she is waiting for replacement parts to be sent to her ...They have been promised for Monday morning.

In the meantime, Cheryl has graciously posted a tutorial on her blog about the "North American Smocking" technique that she used on the yoke of her gingham tunic...

I am going to try to get over to her studio sometime today to get a sneak peek at our group quilt while it is still on the frame...Wish me luck!

Back in two shakes...H2  X';º)

My Favorite Things...139...Haulin' Overalls

Welcome back!  Our next designer is yet another talent from Arizona...Her name is Jere'e McDade and she's a friend of my buddy Brenda's and is the designer behind the "Quilted Quickie's" pattern line.  Jere'e is  a bundle of joy and laughter...her work exudes this, don't you think?

Is it just me or does this remind you of an extra special version of those OshKosh B'Gosh Overalls that kids used to wear "back in the day".  I am probably dating myself here, but I always loved that look on toddlers and young kids.

Make sure to hop on over to Jere'es blog and her Quilted Quickies website too...we both share a LOVE OF POLKA DOTS, and her website couldn't be cuter.

Stay in the cute zone...

Back in two shakes...H2

My Favorite Things...128...Baby Boy Blue!

Hey Ladies,

I just found out that my post for the Jolly Jabber is just up, so I wanted to share with you a few more quilts that I designed with the BOY OH BOY fabrics we showed at Spring Market (it's my first collection of fabrics for Little Boys, and I'm just crazy for it (she said modestly!)...

Here's Polka Dots & Pinwheels...

Gonzo Gingham...

And one of my favorites...Firecracker ! ! !

There's more new goodies coming soon, too...

I am up-to-my-eyeballs swamped today...Why you ask?  Because we just received our sample yardage from our next collection, due out in the stores in early October.  It's called "Doll Dresses", named after my inspiration:  a collection of old doll's dresses that I have been buying at flea markets, and from other collectors for years!  I can't wait to share some sneak peeks of my "Dollies" with you sometime soon...Check back in the next week or so for a preview.

Back in two shakes...   ;)   H2

 

My Favorite Things...124...Pretty Purses!

I'm interrupting my little SQM food-fest with some pictures just in from Elizabeth Scott of Late Bloomer fame, with she who we adore Pam Kitty Morning's  "A Little Purse"...made up in some of the fabrics from our new Little Lady collection...If I do say so myself, aren't they adorable?  I just LOVE them!

One of my favorites is "Party Dresses & Dancing Shoes"  shown here in Black below, check out the XOX  fabric used as a lining (kiss hug kiss, get it?)...

I 'm especially fond of the bags made with the focal point "Little Lady" fabric, the circles fit just inside a 1-1/2" square with just enough seam thickness room, so they are great to fussy cut.  I'll show you more about this later...

So much more to show and tell...it's a tough choice, food or fabrics?  Shall we take a vote?

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