Button Bandits

I just want to remind those of you who may still want to take advantage of the *BOGO* sale at Patchalot Patterns that the sale ends Tuesday, April 30th.

Button Bandits has been a very popular recent design and it is back in stock! This whimsical little quilt combines simple piecing with wool birds and is embellished with buttons. Did you know that crows are attracted to little objects that they can pick up and hide? I know I have told this story before, but years ago my Great-grandfather Chambers had a large crow that adopted him. He would wait for Grandpa to come home from work and then hop off the roof and onto his shoulder and ride into the house with him. He would hide little things behind sofa cushions, etc. They discovered keys and other shiny objects in strange places and finally found that it was all the work of their feathered friend! These Button Bandits are dedicated to Grandpa's crow! 

 

Dear Little Rembrandt

I mentioned two months ago that our dear little Rembrandt, the kitty who entertained us on Karen's blog Sew Primitive, had found a home. Many of us were concerned about Karen's cats after she passed away and so we were gratified to know that they had been adopted by new families. Well, about two weeks ago I received the sweetest email from Sandi in Atlanta letting me know that Rembrandt now resides with her family! Sandi doesn't have a blog, but she read Karen's blog and she reads mine, and maybe yours! She said she enjoys seeing Rembrandt's picture on the side of my blog and that Rembrandt is being loved by her family in her new surroundings. Rembrandt has always been a little skittery and so Sandi sees her zipping from one hiding place to another as she becomes familiar with the house and the hiding places. She also comes out for food and affection. Good to know! I imagine she is getting to know the children, but Sandi says she hasn't quite warmed up to the dog! Karen's house was very quiet, as you might imagine. Filled with fabric and art supplies, it was Karen's own little den of creativity. I can't believe Karen has been gone almost three months. I miss her every day. I often go back to her blog and read old posts from when she was healthy and productive and funny! How nice to have that available at my finger tips. I am so touched that Sandi would contact me and assure me that Rembrandt is being loved and cared for. That was such a concern of mine. I know Karen would be pleased to know that Rembrandt is in a loving home. And now I have made a new friend online as well! Thank you Sandi! 

Ever the artist, Karen had rooms dedicated to her many endeavors. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Fabric Love

I have to share some yummy fabric I got in the mail recently. On her blog Barbara Brackman has been showing her new line called Metropolitan Fair, by Moda. I fell head over heels for it and had to find some for myself. 
Then Judie Rothermel, who designs for Marcus, has a beautiful new line called Civil War Melodies, and I gasped when I saw it online. 

 You know how we all try and set up a pretty little vignette when we display something. According to Wikipedia, "a vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, or object". So here is my attempt. But now I have to look up "trenchant".

And here is a close up so you can get a better look at the wonderful fabric. Oh yum!

I have not purchased fabric for a really long time and so I didn't even feel guilty when I got it. No, in fact I felt so good that I decided I better clean my obscenely messy sewing room to justify feeling this good. Still cleaning...

Primitive Quilts, Projects and ME!

How many of you got this in the mail this week? I did! And guess what? I have a small, cute and easy project in this issue! And I bet you have everything you need to make it right at home because it is *scrappy*, like most of the stuff I make. No, mine is not on the cover, but when you open the cover you will be blown away by all the cuteness in this magazine! Yeah, I love that cover quilt too.

 This is a great issue! It has so many cute projects in it
that I don't know where to begin!

 Well, let's begin with mine! I hope you like it. This is a version of the one in the magazine. To see the actual one that was published check out the link to their website shown below. This one is smaller. Isn't it sweet?

Here is a photo PQ and P sent me to use on my blog.

My friend Kimber has two darling projects in here as well! She designs the cutest pincushions! Also she is an editor in a variety of magazines, including this one! Check out Kimber's Blog! See her talent for yourself!

Here are all the projects in this issue:
I Pledge Allegiance by Becky Delsman and Kim Schueffner
Latte Gone Wrong by Bonnie and Madison Condon
Blazing Stars by Deanne Eisenman
Crazy Purse by Brenda Laffoon and Kathy McGlothlen
Let Freedom Ring by Laural Arestad
Somerset by Dawn Heese
Hospitality by Norma Whaley
Butternut by Kay Harmon
Les Belles Fleurs by Kimber Mitchell
Calico Pennies by Marcie Patch-ME!
North and South by Melissa Lussier
Al the Owl by Logan O'Bier
Rhapsody in White by Nancy Moore
Friendship Garden by Pam Buda and Lynne Hagmeier
Autumn All Around by Tonee White
Down Home by Tonya Robey

If you don't have a subscription yet, you can sign up quickly at the Primitive Quilts and Projects website. Do this for yourself and be happy! 

Let's go BOGO!

I must be feeling better because my mind is beginning to think about my Patchalot Patterns business again! My life has been filled with family and surgery, etc. And that is all good. I am happy, but now I feel like I want to get things moving again with Patchalot Patterns! So to kick that off, let's celebrate Spring with a BOGO sale! Recently I saw an ad for a BOGO sale and wondered, "what is a BOGO and why do I need one?" You probably already know the answer to that, and I can't believe I didn't. My husband is a retailer and I hear the lingo all the time. The acronyms are getting out of hand! BOGO simply means 'buy one get one'. Yes, BOGO! Who can't get behind that? Doesn't it make you want to dance! Do the BOGO!

Here are a few of the patterns available

So here's the deal, if you have been tempted to buy patterns online at my website, PatchalotPatterns.com, but have hesitated, now is your chance to buy one and get one free. Two patterns for the price of one! Buy any pattern that you like and then choose from all the patterns, except the ones marked NEW in red, as your free choice. I will email you after your purchase to ask which pattern you want for free. This sale is for retail customers only, of course. And the shipping is free too. Win-win! This sale will go until the end of March. I have never done this before, and who knows when I will do it again? I am unpredictable.

(Thanks for catching my mistake. Yes, the BOGO is until the end of April. I am not as good yet as I thought!)

My website has PayPal on it for easy and safe purchasing, but if for any reason you are uncomfortable with that, please call me with a credit card and you can place your order over the phone. Don't be surprised if you hear my scary voice. 

 We got some good news last week that my son and his wife are expecting another baby! I am so thrilled! That has me thinking "baby quilts" again, and so I have been designing! I can't wait to begin creating! Girl? Boy? I really don't care, I just want to cuddle! And I want to get on this baby project right away! Yes, I am definitely on the mend!

A blanket of snow = Snow Quilts

As I look at these magnificent images of quilts in the snow I have to admit that making them from fabric is a lot more forgiving. So I have to pick out a few stitches once in a while. What does this guy do when he goofs? Wait for a blizzard to cover his mistakes?

 Snowshoe artist, Simon Beck creates these masterpieces while tramping over frozen lakes in Savoie, France. Each design covers the area of about three football fields. That is a lot of tramping. You can see more of Simon's designs HERE! I just wanted to share this beauty and add another page to the ever evolving art of quiltmaking. Amazing! 

Well, I had my surgery a week ago today. I am still feeling a little groggy and taking naps, etc. My throat is still swollen and looks gross and my voice is still low and gravely. Hoping for improvement! Actually, I do feel a little better each day. Catching up on TV and actually I get a little sewing in each day. I almost have all the blocks done for one of my big UFOs pictured below. More later on that.

  Now it's back to the couch.

 

A little time for a little quilt

 We all lament the passage of time and I am no exception. Where does it go? It evaporates into space and leaves us wondering. I truly feel that the older you get the faster time flies. I can't prove it, but ask anyone of a certain age and they will testify as I have--it's next week already! The past few weeks have been filled with doctor appointments as my husband and I prepare to use our insurance while we still have it. He is trying to retire, but doesn't feel comfortable about it until he knows that my voice problem has been resolved. So tomorrow I go in for that surgery that I mentioned a few months back. I can't wait to get this over and out of the way. My grandchildren are beginning to make fun of me! We were doing 'facetime' on our phones the other day--the kids love that. All of a sudden Isaac (age 3) began talking funny. My husband picked up on it right away and had a good laugh.

After thumbing through my Primitive Quilts and Projects magazines I decided to make this little quilt by Lisa Bongean from Primitive Gatherings. This is from the Summer 2011 Issue. I love a little wool with scraps! I feel very happy picking up small projects right now. And I love playing with scraps. I pretend that I am cleaning up in my sewing room if I sew any small scraps together! I have so many little pieces laying around that it is like a scrappy blizzard in there.

This little quilt is the remains of a class I taught for my Old Elegance quilt. I made several blocks to demonstrate color options and to show how to use the Tri-Recs Tool for the star points. Since I just had nine blocks I added a sawtooth border to finish it. I think I would have gone on to make another whole quilt if I had more of that plaid that I used in the 9-patch block. But now it will be a table topper or wall quilt. You can see another color option of this design on Patchalot Patterns Facebook page. JoAnne at the Patriotic Quilter was in my class and her quilt turned out great! By the way, if you go to that Facebook page be sure and hit LIKE will you?

So many great things going on with quilters these days. I really love what Rose Mary has done with her favorite star. Take a look at Applique 'n Patch for an eyeful of her talent and skill in design! What a delight it is to meet so many wonderful quilters and peek in on them as they share their projects! 

Hopefully more next week from me after a bit of down time.

 

Are your quilts labeled?

Labeling quilts is a priority for me. I try to get my quilts labeled right away, but it doesn't always happen. When I was checking quilt backs last week I realized that a few needed to be labeled, so I got busy.

My method is a simple one. I open a Word Document and write in what I want to show on the label. For example:

My Happy Place

Marcie Patch

-Patchalot Patterns-

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Quilted by Marae Harris

80-20 batting

2006

I iron a 8-1/2" x 11" piece of freezer paper to a piece of fabric that is cut just a little smaller. Usually the paper curls a little so I press it under something heavy while it cools. I try to do a few labels at a time on the same page. The fabric side faces down in the paper drawer and rolls up to be printed on. Often the top edge catches when it starts going through the printer and the top of the page gets smudged with ink, so I leave a large margin at the top just in case. This isn't a fool proof method, but it works well enough. The more you do it, the more you know what to expect. 

After your page is printed on the fabric you can peel it off the freezer paper and press it with an iron. The heat seals the ink so it doesn't wash out. Now trim down each label, leaving about an inch around each side of the lettering. Add little borders to make it cute, if you wish. Next I sew it right side down to a piece of light colored fabric on all four sides. Carefully slit open the back and turn it in side out. Pull out the corners, press it and it is ready to stitch on to the back of your quilt. You will thank yourself for doing this in the coming years! 

I also like to give notice as to who designed the quilt. Sometimes it's me, but not always. Also, who quilted it, what batting, etc. Sometimes there is a story behind a quilt that you may add. 

Another thing I have done when I make little gifts for friends is to simply make a bunch of little labels with my name and the year, fold all the raw edges in and tuck it into the binding so you have a little tab label.  

I know people document their quilts in different ways. If we post them on our blog we can do a search with the right key words. Today I was able to find a post by Karen Mowery about a quilt that she made that was recently won at an Ebay auction. My friend Paula the Quilter was the high bidder and when she received the quilt there was no label. Luckily we were able to find Karen's notes about the quilt on her blog! It was a great find because it not only gave the date she made it, but also who quilted it and the fabric line and her inspiration in creating it! Now Paula can make a really interesting label!

 

By the way, a few of you have asked about Karen's cats, especially Rembrandt, and whether they found homes. Yes! I am happy to report that Karen's son Tim found homes for both her cats! 

 

Who Can Resist?

Spring is in the air and history or nature or 

something brings on thoughts of LOVE!

Even the little ones can't escape it!

Our little Micah has a friend!

March Melody of Quilts

Greetings Blogging Buddies, I want to thank those of you who, even after my absence, are kind enough to keep by blog on your sidebar and come back and read my blog. I told my husband that blogging friends can show up after several years and when we connect again it's just like old friends. I love that! I am trying hard to get back in the groove. I have been trying to visit some blogs and see what is happening, always a fruitful endeavor! If you haven't seen Lori's Jubilee Jubilation!!! post you must race there immediately! Her talent just keeps growing! 

I haven't had the time to do much sewing these past few months, and I keep running into these unfinished projects and spare parts laying around now that I am home. Something must be done! I am going to make a concerted effort to complete something very soon!

Meanwhile, I did lug home a bunch of quilts from the local quilt shop last week. After the loss of a couple of great shop managers who bought the kind of fabric that would lure me into the shop, they have decided to go in a different direction and will be focusing on brights. I know, I know, it's what all the young quilters are looking for. So I guess the old geezers like me will have to look elsewhere. There are no other shops close by for that, but I have a few online favorites! Thank heavens!  

 I see bloggers post stacks of quilts and always find it charming, so hopefully you will enjoy these photos of some of my older designs. It's good to have them home. some have been at the shop for YEARS!

So speaking of fabric, have you seen Civil War Melodies, by Judie Rothermel (Marcus Fabrics)?  This fabric line is a must have for me! Judie-Judie-Judie, I can always count on Judie! Thankfully I can also always count on Michelle at the Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, CA to carry everything Judie! And they ship FREE!

  Be still my heart.

Come to a Spring Retreat in West Virginia!

Who doesn't love a quilt retreat?  The Woolen Willow Spring Retreat 2013..is happening April 25-28.   It will be held at the beautiful Blackwater Falls State Lodge in Davis, West Virginia! Bring projects to finish up ...quilting, rug hooking, etc...anything!  They promise that it will be fun!
More info is available at this link: http://woolenwillowspringretreat2013.weebly.com
 
You can also visit The Woolen Willow website and there's a menu tab just for the Retreat on the side!  (www.woolenwillow.com)

 Remember, these are the same gals that bring us the beautiful magazine, Primitive Quilts and Projects. I love promoting them, because they really are nice ladies.



This photo shows me in the middle of the three "Prim Sisters", Jenifer, Judy and Gretchen. This was at their booth at Quilt market in Houston last fall.
And guess what, I have a project in their next issue! Their current issue is out now and is fabulous!

So if you want to head to a fun retreat in April, follow those links above and check this out!

Lifetime Achievement Award goes to my dad!

I have been gone so long from my blog that I feel like I am quietly slinking back and pretending that I have been here all along. I feel like I have been, as I keep thinking that I need to write about one thing or another. Those of you who are kind enough to keep up with me may recall that I have been in Arizona since before Christmas. I delayed coming back to Virginia because my Dad was about to celebrate his 90th birthday and we were planning a big party. Two weeks before his party he suffered a stroke. It was not a really bad stroke, but bad enough that it jarred us from our reluctance to admit that he was really that old. He has been, for the most part, very healthy and active. The stroke did slow him down, but by the time his party rolled around he was doing very well, thankfully. He is not up to speed on his former energy level, or his reflexes, or his memory for that matter. But he still does very well. We are so grateful for his good health and his wonderful attitude about life. My brother presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award! Isn't that neat?

 My Dad, Jim Winspear, surrounded by grandchildren and greats!

His party was amazing! Family came from all over the country to celebrate with him. We paid him tribute in words and in song and dance. It was so much fun. I wrote more about it HERE on my family blog.

 This is my darling granddaughter Becky (mother of the twins). She is wearing a dress that my grandmother made for my mother when mom was about 16 years old, I am guessing. This is such a darling cotton dress and looks so cute on Becky. So it was made by Becky's great-grandmother! What a treasure!

I have hardly sewed a stitch this year. I am in desperate withdrawal. I worked on a couple small things in January, but left them in AZ. 
I am doing crazy things, like trying to start the microwave with my ATM code, and things like that. I still recognize the improbability of that, but let's face it, I am spacy in the morning. Later that afternoon we went to the Social Security office to apply for benefits. Do you think there may be a connection? I'd like to warn you young 'uns that the years between 45 and 65 go quickly and do not end up with pretty results! But you can find happiness at every stage of life and for that I am grateful. My dad is the best example!

Potato Barn Chic

I am still in Arizona and will be for at least two more weeks. My dear Dad had a small stroke two weeks ago and so I am really happy that I have been here to attend to his needs. He returned home from a rehab facility yesterday. He is doing quite well, but hasn't quite got that old spark back yet. He wonders why he is feeling so tired. We have his 90th birthday party planned for next weekend and lots of family is coming to town for it. We are all really excited and are looking forward to being together for something happy! My granddaughter's husband is a professional documentary film maker and plans to film us. Scary, but cool! My nephew has been making a DVD slide slow of lots of old family photos, and that will be really fun. He has done a great job!

 My cute Dad with Linda, Marcie and Randy

On another note, my DIL and I went shopping for a bed for the granddaughter who deems herself the favorite. She has been known to sit in front of babies to make herself seen, and hide the babies. She is 16 years old and makes us laugh. There is a chance that she is serious tho. So we went to a store called The Potato Barn. I was there several years ago, when the store was in a big barn. Apparently their success has moved them into shopping centers now. I took a bunch of photos with my phone because I want to share their very shabby, but new furniture. 

 This chair made me laugh. Can you see the 

patch on the side?

 Seriously stripped down paint job!

 Loved this chair with the stars stitched on!

 Nifty cubbies!

 Another stripped down piece. Some were done in teal, or whatever that popular blue color is. 

You can see some of it in the background.

  These last pieces were my favorites. They have  removable galvanized bins. I can see them in my sewing room holding scraps in various sizes! So easy to toss pieces in as I trim them and so easy to draw them out as I need them. I think these were $285 a piece. It's a stretch for saving scraps, but cuteness does count for something! Since I want to keep the husband freaking to a minimum, I think I will just covet them for a while.

Karen Mowery

My dear friend Karen Mowery passed away on Friday, February 1, 2013, just one year after being diagnosed with cancer. It was a really tough year for her and she was sick for most all of it from the treatments she went through. She went peacefully, and her wonderful son Timmy was with her at the end, as he has been all along. He was her greatest joy and treasure. 

Karen was always reluctant to have her picture taken, so I scanned this from her beautiful book, A Bountiful Life, published by Kansas City Star.

 

My one comfort is that I know she is in another realm where there is no pain and love will surround her, and peace will comfort her.
I know that we have many quilting friends in common and you will feel her loss as well. She was a person of enormous talent and also of great humility. She took joy in her artistic pursuits and had so much left to offer. I am sure that our Heavenly Father has a whole new palette of color to offer her. 

I will miss her every day.