2010 brings more BLOGGING!

HI ALL! What a great Christmas I had... all of my children, grand-children, nieces and nephews - we were all together...that's the greatest about Christmas... spending time together.

2010 is the year when I'm going to improve on my blogging! Heck...it's fun... I just have to make my buttocks sit in the chair and chat with all of you.

This is my friend - Karen... well today is her birthday! I won't tell you her age but I was quite surprised when she told me how old she was... she looks much younger! She's my blogging "guru" and will be helping me improve on this jouney! First issue on this journey... How in the heck do I rotate this picture of Karen???!!! Sorry Karen... I've worked on trying to rotate for over 30 minutes... everyone will have to tip their head to the right to see your pretty face. I'll figure this out tomorrow! (oh...this is going to be an adventure... I can tell....)

You see this mess??? That's my mess... I worked hard today getting some new fabric chosen for new kits!! Wait until you see this one....it's going to be gorgeous! Yes.... that is wide ric-rack... oh-la-la!

In just two months we will be headed back out on the road... first show is in Hampton, Virginia. Last year - when it was time to come home - we got up in the mornng.... peered out the window and we saw TONS OF SNOW. Please... no snow this year! It was simply bloody cold!

I'm off to do some handwork! chat with you soon! Happy Sewing! Gloria

I'm Back In Town!!!

Here I am...back in Jacksonville until February. I must admit...I'm a bit pooped! This year we have traveled to Virginia, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Pennsylvania... and there may be more but I just simply can't think of them at the moment.

It's now time to be with the gals at the shop... enjoy each other's company.. and get ready for the holidays. The store is decorated simply gorgeous. If you haven't been to our website in some time, please do so and look under Gallery.

However, my mind never stops thinking (maybe that's why I'm tired!). I've already come up with new ideas for a new booth design next year, new patterns to draft and publish, and fun new events for the store.

I'm currently piecing a wonderful quilt by Sandy Gervais with HUGE stars made from homespun. Since we have a HUGE selection of homespuns, I'm excited to get it finished. I know the "guys" will love it.. very manly looking! PLUS.. I'm also piecing a new pattern of a reproduction quilt - I'm calling it Pop Clyde's Bow Ties ! PLUS... I promised Jill (she works with me) that I would piece a halloween quilt for her that she finished stitching. PLUS... I'm finishing up a block for Jan Vaine's new book - it's a dove flying with a branch/berries in it's beak.

I've just found the greatest product - Transfer Eze! I must have Heather add it to our website. It's so easy now to transfer patterns (for applique, embroidery, needlepunch, etc.) to your background fabric....NO MORE LIGHTBOX....NO MORE TRACING!!! LOVE IT!!

Tonight I am finishing Jan's block then I must get busy on my Christmas gift. We draw names here at the store and our Christmas party is not far away and I haven't cut the first piece of fabric! eeeeekkkkk!!!

We're putting the final touches to our "Jingle Bell Quilting Cruise" !!! We're going to have a blast!!

Watch for more posting soon... I have a friend that will be helping me out !!! I can't wait.

Happy Sewing to All!!!!

Gloria

It's already been a week....

Wow..does time fly when you're busier than all get out! I can't believe an entire week has gone by since I last chatted. Time flies when you're having a great time!!

This week has been crazy... some days we were so quiet you could hear a pin drop and then other days we were like wild women! Cathy and Lynn have been quilting fools all this week... They pumped out the quilts. Then............................ Saturday we took in 8 more. Cathy's gonna love me when she sees the long arm table. I've got them all neatly piled up and ready to go for her. Although...she loves the long arm...she does it day after day and never gets tired of it.

We are all ready for Quiltfest.... Jill, Sue and I leave on Monday for Philadelphia...aaaahhhh... nice cool weather... I CAN'T WAIT!! I'm so tired of the heat... actually I hate the heat...why am I in Florida? 'Cause I love this state! The Philadelphia show is in a new location this year...it had previously been in Ft. Washington - they tore that place down - then it moved to Harrisburg in a beautiful facility. However, it was somewhat far from it's original home...so.. now we are in the expo center in Philly. I'm hoping it will be a super show for us. Our truck is packed to the top.

Then we leave to come home on Mon. and Tue. then Wednesday we unload for the Jacksonville show!! Whew...ok...I'm tired already. ha! Vicky and Heather will have more stuff packed for the show also. We have 6 booths so we have to fill 'er up! I love the Jacksonville show.... very nice!

Today I have to pack, shop, get my glasses fixed! Why is it when you buy expensive frames they don't last any longer than those at a more reasonable price. I can't keep one of the screws in on the arm ...gggggrrrrr... makes me very unhappy.... then I have to sew... I'm having withdrawal...so I must sew.

We're having my hubby's great steaks for dinner....I can't wait... they are better than any I've ever eaten in a restaurant. MEAT.....PROTEIN.... ya gotta love it!

Ok... I'm off to get coffee and get day going!!! Happy Sunday to all!

Later...Gloria

Cross them off the list....

Today is Sunday.... I actually feel pretty awful... I'm missing my great nephews (Vincent) birthday party.... so while I'm trying to get rid of this headache, cough and icky nose... I've decided to sit at the computer and get some work done.

I've just talked with Jan Vaine...this is the class she will be teaching in January 2010. It's called Fancy Flowers.... more will come in an email and on our website.

Jan is so talented.... you should see the detail of this block up

close...it's unbelievable!

Keep watching your email for more news!

Cruisin' - yep... we're putting together our list of "cruisers" so we can begin to give them fun information regarding our cruise in December!! I'm so excited... I've never been on a cruise before ... so to go on one with 40 - 45 other gals is going to be too much fun! Mara (my cruise director) is an awesome lady and has been on over 65 cruises.....WOW!!! So... if you're going with us... you'll be hearing from us soon!!!

Bucket List - I've finished one of my items on my bucket list... well, it's not actually finished...but I'm well on my way! I can't tell you all of it at this time.... but I'm sooooo excited about it.... tell you more later!!

Our Web Sampler quilt is finished.....yippee!!!! Here is a sneak peak of it .... if you go to our website and click on the Web Sampler logo (star in a circle) it will take you to a full picture. Plus you'll be able to see all of the other blocks. Go to each web site and purchase your block...while you're on each site, take a peak of their quilt finishing kit. Buy the one you want... and you'll be ready to go! It all begins on Sept. 15.

I've just finished putting the binding on my "Same But Different" quilt. It's so "fall"... I love it. I wish I had a picture to show you....but not yet. We'll be taking it to the Philadelphia show (we leave next week) so I'll be sure and take some pictures to show all of you.

I'm now off to the living room.... cuddling in my chair... and hand sewing my binding down.

Later chickies......... Gloria

Wow...where am I?

Have you heard that saying.... "too many irons in the fire"... hey...that's me. I have so many different projects, trips, etc. going on I'm not sure where in the heck I am. Making new patterns - double handled woven basket with wool tongues, basket with leather handles with sunflower, pumpkin pin cushion, tomatoe/strawberry pin cushion, pear pin cushion, Love in a Cottage 12 month stitchery, 5 & Dime christmas Stitcheries & Fall Stitcheries, Halloween Quilt to put together for "Jillie", Pop Clyde's Bow Ties new quilt pattern, Scissor lanyards with "Felts" wool, scissor fobs, daisy pins, Locker Rug Hooking kits to put together for Philadelphia and Jacksonville show.............whew..... you thought I was kidding didn't you?

I love it! Keep busy... it keeps you feeling young!!!

Web Sampler Celebration

Hey everyone!! Just wanted to let you know I've been working on the final setting of the Web Sampler Celebration quilt. We along with 11 other quilt shops will have individual blocks that you can purchase (one from each shop... 12 blocks total) on-line from each of our websites.

While you are on each site you will also be able to see each "finishing kit". If you love it... you can purchase it through the website... I'll fill you in with greater detail soon. The websites will be ready to sell their blocks on Sept. 15! We're using Marcus Fabric - Paula Barnes/Bonnie Blue Quilts Americana line! It's pretty wonderful....

I'm off to bed...v...e...r...y... tired! Chat with you soon!

Gloria

What a Great Day!!!

What a fun day we had.... Vic, Paula, and I got to the store early and hauled in all of Paula's precious cargo (THE QUILTS!!) We hid them in the stock room to be shown later that evening at her Trunk Show.

The gals started arriving.... one by one... until the room was FULL and we were ready to get started. Vic and I hung out in the back of the room and worked on store samples while the sewing machines began to hummmmmm...... (I love that sound...don't you?) Paula introduced us to a new process of making our half-square triangles. It's called Spinning Stars! Wow... do we love these bad boys. We will be ordering them for the store. You're gonna love them! Talk about perfection!! Each half square triangle is perfectly pieced together and fits into your block like a "dream". Soon they were on their way to making their first block.....

We had all color combinations in the room and EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE AWESOME!!

Our sweet Thelma Henry (pictured above) finished first.... YEA!!! Thelma - good job...heck...she was the last one to enter the classroom and the first one to make a block. I told the room she was a "whizzer" at sewing and "BANG" she proved me right!! GOOD JOB THELMA!!

Look at this wonderful blue & brown color combination! Isn't it gorgeous! Thanks gals for coming from Tampa to be with us! We enjoyed having you here!

The entire group squished in together...showing off their blocks!! Congratulations gals..they are awesome!!

While Paula's students were working on their blocks, I was piecing a new quilt ! It's a copy of an antique bow tie quilt. When I was thinking of a name - I immediately thought of my Grandpa Rawley... we always called him "Pop Clyde" (his first name - Clyde). He was the best grandpa... he was thin, handsome, and neat as a pin! When hugging him he always smelled like Old Spice and Juicy Fruit gum...two of his favorites. When he got dressed up I remember him wearing bow ties. That's how I came up with my quilt name - "Pop Clyde's Bow Ties"!! I can't wait until it's finished. It's in the color palette I love the most "dark and dirty" - the primitive reproduction look.

Vicky was also working on one of our new patterns. Full of feminine soft florals - "Grandma Ruby's Scrap Basket" is surely going to be a beautiful - simple - fast quilt! I can't wait to see it quilted and bound! It's going to be popular...I can tell!!

Grandma Ruby was married to our Pop Clyde. We spent many summers swimming (they always lived by Shriner Lake) and ice skating in the winter...so much that we knew our ankles would break. Isn't it just the best to have childhood memories that will stay with you forever? I still miss both of them to this day. Grandma would spoil us and make our favorite foods when we visited... home made chocolate cream pie and yummy fried potatoes ... we loved them for breakfast! She was the best cook in the world...but oh my... was she a messy cook. I think she dirtied every dish and pan in her kitchen with every meal she made!

Soon our sewing time ended... class was over... BOO HOO!!! It's now time to get the room ready for the trunk show. I was going to vacuum and have all of the thread, scraps and pins picked up and I said to myself - "What the heck for....these gals know we've been sewin' today.... they won't care!" So... we set up more chairs, got Paula's quilts in order for her presentation and went to dinner! It's all about the food you know... and speaking of food... yes we had yummy, yummy dessert breads from Fresh Market...

Paula told the history of each quilt as Vicky and I held them up for her. We soon found out that our arms are NOT in good shape. Wow ... those quilts were heavy! It could be from due to them being so LARGE! Of course... that's what I love to... BIG quilts.

The group loved Paula's presentation... she's a great story teller and brought many laughs and giggles to the group! Too soon the trunk show ended. It was time to visit and shop a little.

What a great day... Paula is a delight and a great friend. I'm so proud of her and Mary Ellen and Marcie... they've been in business a little over 4 years and they have a super website business, over 35 patterns that are sold world wide, and now Paula is designing fabric for Marcus Brothers. That's pretty darn wonderful!!!

Paula is now on her way to Louisiana... she has two teaching engagements and 2 trunk shows. Then she's taking some time to visit with her daughter... We will meet again in just a couple weeks at the Philadelphia show!.... We're travlin' fools... but we must "make hay while the sun shines"!

Chat with you soon... and Sew a bunch today!!

Gloria

Bonnie Blue has entered the building!!

Hi everyone!!! Thanks for following our blog. It's a new, quick and easy way for me to reach all of you and keep you up to date on the Olde Green Cupboard's life!

Paula Barnes from Bonnie Blue Quilts is with us...right now... right here... at the Olde Green Cupboard! Today she, Vicky and I are sewing together ... working on store projects of course. We were going to take her antiquing but she has asked to have a sewing day... poor thing...she never gets to sew. She's always at her computer designing... so you know us... we gladly said YES.. since it's hard for us to get sewing done too.

Saturday she will be teaching one of her new designs - Cabin Creek. Now... let me tell you...this quilt is HUGE. The last show we attended they were our neighbors...right behind me at the cash register. That quilt is so big it was hanging 10' back and over 8' tall... I had to pin the bottom of the quilt up so I wouldn't walk on it and get it dirty. What an awesome piece of work Paula (she's on the left)!!! Good job... and good job to Mary Ellen (she's on the right) that pieced it!

Then Saturday evening she will show us over 30 quilts that she has designed along with a little story about each. We'll have a big crowd for her...!!

Ok... I'm off to get my sewing machine packed along with 50 million other items that you just need to take...'cause if you don't... then you'll need them!!! Know what I mean?

Sew a bunch today!!

Gloria

It's Fall Ya'll !!!

If you haven't had a chance to visit our website... you must do so! We have the entire store decked out for fall and Halloween! It's gorgeous... the gals did a super job... it's my favorite time of the year!

Jill, Sue and I have just returned from Knoxville, TN. This was the first show in Knoxville that had been moved from Nashville. The convention center was awesome... large...bright.... and great folks to work with. We think the attendance was down; however, with this being the first show and the economy.. it was still great for us! I'm sure we will have many more visitors next year. I know I'm pushing for some buses to leave from Jacksonville!! We should have buses going to all of the big shows!

Speaking of big shows... have you heard about the Mancuso Brothers World Quilt Show that will be held in Palm Beach this November? It will be the 13-15 !! Mark your calendars... call all of your girlfriends and make plans to attend. The quilts they have in the show are A+ and they are from all over the world. They are fabulous!!

We're gearing up for our new 5 & Dime that will be this Friday and Saturday morning. Since this is the first session they are normally huge with attendees... so we're going for two mornings to be able to handle the crowd better. Come on in and start this wonderful project. We will have a Christmas and Fall for you to select from... or you can do them both. In addition we have optional stitchery for each season. Each of those patterns will be $2.00. You're going to love them! If you've always wanted to do embroidery... don't be afraid... I'm here to help you! It's so easy and you will become addicted to the calmness of stitching!!

I'm off to work on my new patterns that I'm drafting... oh...by the way.. we have NEW patterns from The Olde Green Cupboard on the website...go take a peek!

Chat with you soon..... gloria

I'm trying something new....

This is a test ....

I'm so excited... I've begun piecing my first reproduction quilt pattern. It's the famous "bowtie" pattern...I love it. So simple but so cool! I've also picked the name ... ready? "Pop Clyde's Bowties". You see... our grandfather was the absolute best... we loved him so much... and this quilt is for him! I'm using the wonderful fabric from Windham - Worn & Loved II. I can't wait until it's finished. I'll be sure to post a picture when it's ready!

I'm also working on "NEW" redwork patterns!!! Very exciting... so much fun... !!

Oh... I decided it's time to start my "bucket list"...

1. Paris Flea Market - I want to go here so bad... AND have lots of money to spend so I can send all of my wonderful "finds" home to the store!!

2. Travel to Europe with my hubby!!! I don't care where...just so we can have fun together!!

3. Design Fabric!!

4. Attend Roundtop and Canton, Texas and shop 'till I drop!! It's a great place for primitives - which I LOVE!!

5. Become a well known pattern designer. Quilt patterns, embroidery patterns, and applique patterns !

That's it so far.... I'm sure more will come later...!!

Have a happy week! I know it will be a busy one for me!

Happy Sewing.... Gloria

Have A Happy Holiday!!

Wow...what a great week...! We've had wonderful visitors to the store the entire week. Today is Friday, July 3, and I hope we are super busy. Tomorrow, July 4, Saturday we will be closed which is the first time I can remember!

I plan on going to the movies with my Jack and working on more of my new patterns. I have several in the works and it's hard to determine which one to focus on first!! I have two antique quilts that are being reproduced. One is bow-ties! I think I have a name for it picked out - "Pop Clyde's Bow Ties"! How does that sound?

Pop Clyde (my grandfather) was a wonderful man. He was so sweet and these ties just remind me of him. I remember he was an immaculate man...always neat and tidy. He always smelled of aftershave (I think Old Spice) and Juicy Fruit Gum. I miss him......

Have a super July 4th. Celebrate our wonderful country and pray for all of our military guys and gals. Bring them home safe...

Happy sewing... Gloria

My Sewing Studio

Hi Everyone!!! It's Gloria from the Olde Green Cupboard !!

I know... you are all taking deep breaths due to surprise!! I thought it was about time to post information on my blog again! I'm going to try to be much better at keeping up-to-date with the Olde Green Cupboard life...and mine!!

Many people have always wondered what my house and sewing studio looks like...so now that I've finally figured out how to move my camera photos to my computer...I'm a happy girl!

I simply LOVE quilt racks with shelves and pegs...! The quilt hanging is an antique double wedding ring. LOVE IT!!

The Old Quilt sign is made from an old house board and attached to the top is an old leather bridal ! We found these in Pennsylvania! Also is an antique child's dress. This is my bedroom - Shabby Chic!!



Here's another one of my favorite peg racks! It's a dark burgundy... and of course...another one of my loves are CROWS! Don't ask me why... I just love them...I can even "crow" like one (I can't believe I just told you that...!)I'm getting ready to find 4 of my primitive quilts and tie the end into a bundle and hang them from the pegs! Plus... I need to add a little greenery to soften up the display!





This is one of the walls in my dining room. Can you tell I love burgundy colors? PLUS... I love old ironstone plates, platters, and pitchers. They sure are getting harder and harder to find. I also love baskets and old hats. I haven't made a basket in such a long time... I think I'm getting the "itch" to weave one!! I'll have to take some pictures of my favorite baskets that I've made and post them for you to see! (uh...that will be later...)

This is another wall in the dining room. Don't you love my quilts? They were both given to me for Christmas presents from the girls at the OGC!!

I love this particular quilt rack. It actually swings out to the left so it's easier to hang your quilt. Once it's hanging just like you want... simply swing it back under the shelf. We had these years ago in the store.... they are wonderful and unfortunately we have been unable to locate the vendor we ordered them from a show in Pennsylvania. The quilt hanging is Spaghetti For A Crowd by Country Threads... one of my favorites!!

This is in my hallway once you've walked through the front door. The quilt hanging on the bottom was made for me by Carolyn Allen... It's a Primitive Pieces by Lynda pattern... LOVE IT!!

By the way... all of the burgundy quilt shelves and racks were made for me by my honey...Jack!! He's such a good guy....I'm so happy he's mine!




Okay...now we're getting closer to my sewing studio. This is in the small foyer area just outside my studio door...! My bench/flip table was given to me by my sister - Vicky. (I'm hoping she will not want it returned in the near future...) Sitting on top of the bench is a LARGE carved goose. I can remember my granddaughter - Elizabeth - would ride it like a horse when she was just a little tike... such a cutie she is! Hanging over the bench is a pride and joy quilt that my daughter - Heather - made for me one Christmas. And then my awesome basket quilt on the wall was given to me in a quilt exchange from Carolyn Allen. Can you tell they know I love blue and white?

We are now in the sewing studio! Ok..I'll admit I have a collection problem!! This collection is antique children's chalk boards. I simply love them. I have one that still has the lead pencil piece tied to it! Another one with lines etched into the slate so they can learn music notes, one with a paper insert that shows the alphabet... I wish they could talk to me... I'd love to know about the little girl or boy that learned how to read and write from their work.

Here's another idea I saw in a magazine!!! While antiquing... look for OLD wooden folding tape measuring sticks. Shape them into a star and hang them on your wall... or sit them in with other collectibles on a shelf. My "First Year Language Reader" I purchased at an antique shop. It was published in 1911 and belonged to Mariaretta Carpenter. How sweet is that?

This is a portion of the top of my large antique yellow (it looks white doesn't it?) cabinet. I'll never forget the first time I saw it. We were coming home from a show and we stopped to look in this new antique shop. There it was...it took my breath away when I first saw it... what an awesome feeling that is...know what I mean? It was a bit on the "pricey" side so I called my Jack to see if it was ok... of course he said... "if you love it..it's okay with me" (see I told you he was wonderful). So... I paid the cashier and off we left for home...! Jack would drive back and pick it up with the truck in a few days. When returning home with my beloved cabinet...he said to me "honey, I can't believe you bought this...it's so old!" Sometimes they just don't understand primitive lovers to they? But... he moved it into my sewing studio and I filled it with my fabulous fabric!

Look at my quilt on the door....I LOVE IT! One of my gals... Susan Ache... made it for me! I'll show you the entire cabinet in another message... along with a photo of my walk-in closet stash (e-e-e-e-e-e-k) and my hall closet stash... (more e-e-e-e-e-e-k)!!

And last but not least... I love adorable, vintage Raggedy Annie dolls... Don't they just make you grin when you look at them?

They sit in an antique child's chair right by my sewing machine and TV. I can look at them a million times while sewing and they still make me happy!

Well, I feel like I've accomplished a major project. Learning how to BLOG in the modern age. Of course I've been working on this for over 3 hours! I surely hope I get faster...heck I could of almost had a quilt pieced in this time frame!

Have a wonderful week everyone.... come in to The Olde Green Cupboard this week and enjoy the 25% fabric sale. It lasts until July 11!!! We have our new schedule out... Heather is in the process of getting the website updated!

We have a special for all of you that shop our website!! With any purchase you will receive a FREE Olde Green Cupboard pattern of "Only A Few Hours!" This quilt is fat quarter friendly and goes together... "in just a few hours". Thanks for shopping with us!

Happy sewing, stitching, appliqueing, piecing...you name it....Happy Everything!

Gloria