LOOK FAMILIAR?

Last week Mary at Quilt Hollow e-mailed me to say that she saw my Williamsburg Medallion quilt in the April issue of McCall's Quilting! Another friend in Minnesota reported the same thing. I have been running to the mailbox daily to no avail. I have been haunting grocery stores and other places as well--nothing! My copy of McCall's Quilting finally came in the mail today! I am very happy to see my own little quilt published in what is now my favorite quilting magazine. (I wonder if they want more of my designs?)

Here is the quilt that I designed over a year ago, when the Williamsburg Toile, by Windham, came out. I love medallion quilts and using that beautiful bird for the center was a no-brainer. The rest of it came together as I played with the fabric, looking for balance with the toile, etc. I was surprised and delighted to see how popular this pattern became. What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff, the LQS, always generously supports my patterns, and displays my quilts. They became quite excited about this one. They used up all their red and also the blue toile in kits and they have sold out of them. They may have one or two left in brown toile, also lovely. They now have kits of the scrappy version, including the wool for the birds.

(You can reach them at 757-523-2711 if you need a pattern or a scrappy kit -- they have chosen awesome fabric!)

So this is the issue, April 2009, page 60. Think of me when you see that bird, looking proud and pretty, and maybe even strutting a little. Give me that much, will you? I'll be back to earth soon enough, I'm sure!

P.S. I need to clarify that there are no directions for my quilt in the magazine. It is shown in conjunction with What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff as their most popular quilt.

OBAMA - OUR PATCHWORK HERITAGE

Wasn't it nice to hear President Obama mention quilters in his inaugural address on Tuesday? His exact words were, "America has a patchwork heritage". Being a quilter, of course I picked right up on that! It even got me a chuckle from a group I was speaking to on Wednesday. Well, you know how I like to play with words, and he gave me a perfect opening. Of course we do have a patchwork heritage, and as quilters we are still trying to keep the quilts coming. We also love to bring new quilters into our midst. I asked this group of non-quilters how many of them had a homemade quilt in their home. Do you know I think every single woman raised her hand! Isn't that amazing! I also asked who wanted to learn to make a quilt and NO ONE raised their hand. Oh well, they don't know what they are missing! And we don't all need to like the same things, do we.

Here is what I find interesting though, everyone had a quilt in their home that was made by their mother or grandmother. And they hold those quilts dear, as mementos of another time, and as a treasure made by someone they love.

Each quilt is as distinctive as the person who made it, and each is a patchwork of love! America does, indeed have a patchwork heritage. A heritage in which we are happy to contribute!

FINGERS FIDDLING WITH FLOSS

Yes, my fingers have been fiddling with floss of late! I showed the above photo last summer when in was in progress. I finished it to this point a while back and still haven't framed it. The pattern is buried somewhere, so I can't even tell you who the designer is. But someone out there is bound to know, so if you do, please leave a comment so I can post it. I like to give credit just as much as I like to receive credit! LOL! Now if I would get my sewing room cleaned up surely the pattern would surface and I could put it in its proper pattern place.

*** Jeanette commented and said the pattern is from Threads That Bind. Thanks Jeanette!

I haven't done cross stitch in a really long time, but I do love samplers, and when the Blackbird Design ladies posted this free pattern on their website a while back I copied it. I finally got it started before Christmas and finished it last night while watching The Big Country on the western channel on TV. (Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, both so young and handsome!)

Sorry, I don't think this pattern is still on the web site. They have other wonderful cross-stitch patterns though. Often they are much like their quilt designs. Barb and Alma, my hat (if I had one) is off to you! They are both so amazing! This project, by the way, was supposed to be done on a much smaller thread count. But 14 count is about all I can handle, and it is still a nice size.

Have you noticed in the upper corner of my blog I put a corner of this quilt? It is a scrappy version of my Williamsburg Medallion pattern. I had it hanging here at home for a while and decided that little wool birds would look very nice in those four spots around the star. So I stitched them on, and I love them! The quilt is now back at the LQS, What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff, where they are kitting it up, including wool for the birds. I know, I need to get a better photo. This one was taken on the fly!

I want to give a very big THANK YOU to all of you who commented on my last post with such lovely things to say. I hope you all know that I was kidding around, as is my tendency, about being at the top of the blog list. Thank you especially to Dawn at Quilts and Pieces, who sees right through me. Ha! Isn't blogging a blast?

BLAME IT ON THE BLOGANOVA

I am, no doubt, the last person on earth without a calendar for 2009. For some reason it never occurs to me in December that a new year is fast approaching and hence, a new calendar will be necessary. This year is no different. Post-it notes adorn the wall above my computer, but my eyes are constantly retuning to the 2008 calendar which still resides there as well. Tomorrow I MUST get out and find a calendar. 2009 will not wait for me---it is moving on!

By nature I am not a very competitive person. But something is occurring in Blogland that is really needling me. Some of you have bloglists posted on your side bars that update as soon as someone posts on their blog? Some even show the newest photo posted. (See Colleen's blog Crazy for Primitive Quilts and Gardens I am happy to be listed on some of these, but it irritates me when I am at the bottom of the list! The only way I can get to the top of the list is to post something new. And for those that may show a photo, I am now very conscientiously trying to find a photo that will attract attention. I even posted the above photo because I thought it would show better that the one below! What is happening to me? Whatever this illness is that has seduced me into blogging has taken a turn and I am going under--down, down, down, and who knows where it will lead? I have never been a ME FIRST person! I know this is a game I cannot win. I am driving myself nuts! Blame it on the Bloganova!

Last Saturday was Open House at the LQS, What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff. The open house gives people an opportunity to come in and meet the teachers and see what the new classes are. The shop was mobbed! There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm. New people mingling with regulars, and hopefully everyone found at least one class they want to take. I have one little project listed, but it is a cutie! It is the one pictured at the top of the page.

P.S. If you hurry to Colleen's blog I will be at the top of the Blog list!!!

ANGELS BRING JOY

I don't understand why some photos enlarge and others do not. But I know many of you would like to see these angels from my previous post up close, so I re-loaded them individually. Aren't they wonderful?!

P.S. Karen says the angel designs are by Prairie Schooler.

BABY COME BACK

You can blame it all on me! I have been gone three weeks, and I fear I may have lost some readers. Worse than that, I haven't been able to keep up with YOUR blogs! According to by Bloglines guide, I have over 3000 posts unread! Well, that's just crazy! Yes, they have been accumulating for a while, and no, I won't get them all read. But I will try to fly through Blogland on my mop and see where I land! Look out, I may be heading your way!

Upon my arrival home I had some surprises! This wonderful little trio of angels was sent to me by my quilt blogging buddy, Karen, from Sew Primitive. She digitized these cross-stitched pieces on her machine and set them into a quilt just for me! The surrounding fabric is so perfect! Karen is one of the most talented people I know. She always leaves me in awe. She truly has the heart of an artist. Her newest pattern has the most adorable bunnies on it. Just perfect for spring. My sidebar hold links to Karen's website as well. Spend some time with Karen and you will begin to see things through new eyes.

Today I was presented with this wonderful bag by my friend Connie. Connie is a very clever lady who has made countless bags and taught classes for them as well. She also does the digitizing on her machine and as you can see she put my Patchalot Patterns logo on one side of the bag, and Grandma Mousie on the other. For those of you who may not know, Grandma Mousie is what my granddaughter called me when she couldn't pronounce Marcie. Connie lifted the illustration off my sidebar (Karen-Sew Primitive did the illustration). Connie digitized it and colored it and it is so cute! Plus the bag is beautifully made! If you live around here and want to make a tote bag, check out Connie's class at the local shop, What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff.

I had a wonderful three weeks in Arizona with family, LOTS of family! It was great! I also am glad to be home in my own bed with my own pillow and my own quilt. Thanks for visiting with me. More later....