Wow... what a schedule I've had lately! Am I retired? I'm thinkin' not!! I have a retreat that we are holding at Camp Blanding in February.... 196 of the funniest, nicest, most loving group of quilters that exist!! This base is ideal... we have a huge room, great food cooked by the base chef, and hotel accommodations that are super nice and very reasonably priced.

Ok...that's not all... I will soon be announcing two dates to select from for an AWESOME "TRIP" RETREAT! Plus... we are also working on a retreat to the mountains. Can you tell I'm in the RETREAT MODE? I love them... !!! So much fun. If you've never been on a retreat... you owe it to yourself to take one.

Oh... and I'm working on a new quilt that will be sent to a new magazine.. they asked us at the Houston Market to submit a primitive project or quilt for the debut issue. Of course, they are getting A LOT of submissions so I hope ours gets picked.

This Friday is my Christmas Party... ! I've invited all of the OGC Gals to my house for fun, good food, laughs, and PRESENTS!!

But I must get busy!!!.. I have more quilts and projects to design.... I'm just a busy little beaver.....

Chat with you soon!

Thanksgiving is over.....

Fun things have been happening around my house!!! Thanksgiving is over and I've gathered up my fall decorations, packed them away... and am now working on my Christmas decorating! I haven't seen or opened many of these boxes in years! It's like Christmas morning as I unwrap everything. You see... since having the Olde Green Cupboard for so many years... and decorating for Christmas... by the time I got to my house - I was DONE!! I can't even tell you how many years I didn't even put up a tree. I'm not a scrooge... but was just tired!

However, this year is different. Below you will see some of the areas I have finished.

But first... look at my two new wonderful pieces!! You see... I am also a lover of blue transfer ware platters... look at my two new ones! The one on top has sweet little birds!

The one below my friend Kelly found for me while shopping at Mt. Dora!

They will look smashing in my quilting studio. I have it decorated with my blue transfer ware collection and my children's antique chalk slates (another silly thing I collect)!






















Oh... and look below!!!!

This isn't a very good picture... but I wanted you to get the color palette of my project for the new magazine "Primitive Quilts and Projects". It's debut issue will be April 2011. The 3 gals that are the heartbeat of the magazine are all sisters! They are super, great gals. We had so much fun with them at market! They've asked tons of primitive designers to submit their quilt and/or project by January 21. From the entries they receive, they will pick 15 for the first magazine. Heather is also sending in one of her wonderful mohair creations. So... keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer for us... that we get chosen! There is stiff competition that's for sure! As my quilt progresses... I'll give you a few sneak peaks!

My Santa's wanted to say "HI!" to everyone! The primitive look...that's what I love!!! The more grungy looking the better!! My favorite Santa's are from Alta's Heirlooms. I have had them for quite awhile... I wonder if she still makes them? I'll have to check into that and see. She was always at our gift market in Pennsylvania. She and her husband used to make them together. They have the most wonderful sculpted faces! Ok... I just checked and she is still making her Santa's. Go to this link and you'll be so surprised. She also makes wonderful ornaments and bears!! http://altasheirlooms.com/ They are a bit on the pricey side... but trust me... worth every penny!

More of my little friends. What's up with all my dolls and Santa's? As I was digging everything out of their boxes... I giggled... maybe I didn't get to play with dolls enough when I was little and that's why I'm still so attracted to them.... ya think?... I'm just sayin' !! Oh who cares... I love them and that's that!

I love to decorate all over the house... this is in my kitchen. I'm a lover of ironstone... pitchers, platters, plates... you name it.. I love it. The more patina the pieces have on them the better I like them. The middle section with the little white bundle... that's from my "popcorn" tree. It bloomed one time in over 12 years... this is all I got out of it!!! I treasure these little fellows! Every year after this blooming time... the popcorn was black... you know... the look you get when you leave your popping bag in the microwave too long? Wheeewwwoooo... stinky!

I also love to take bottle brush trees and put them in pitchers... they look just like it grew there. My little black boxes are reproductions of holiday cocoa, tea, etc. Too cute!!

It's time to heat up those turkey leftovers! They are so good....!!! That's the best part of Thanksgiving.. those days of eating what's left. Let's see... the fudge is all gone, the pumpkin pie is all gone, no more stuffing, no more deviled eggs, boo hoo.... I guess it's back to the normal meals! Hey... how come we don't fix turkey more than twice a year? Isn't that silly? I think I'll have to just make that happen... cook gobble, gobble more than twice! What a novel idea. It's now on to my sewing machine... the Christmas decorating will be worked on more tomorrow! I'll send you more photos.

Night all!! Sleep tight! Dream sweet dreams... AND REMEMBER...

"Celebrate Handmade"

Wow...what a great day!!

This Sunday has been the best! I woke up early (very early) and had so much on my mind I just decided to get out of bed and get busy! Of course...there is the morning email reading, blog reading, and catching up on pattern orders! Then it was time to play!


Being creative can be a messy job! Can you relate? I have tons of notes, all of those cool things you see in magazines that you've torn out (with all intentions of putting them in notebooks in categories...ya...right!), drawing pad, pencils, pens...whew! Before I know what happens my sewing room or desk looks like a cyclone hit it.


I've been designing a new block of the month. It's called "Living in America". As each block is finished (in wool applique), I'll post it here on my blog... you will see a quilt actually come together as we chat. So... with that in mind... here are my first several blocks.....



GGGGrrrrr.... there's something wrong with the upload of pictures into my BLOG.. they just sit there with the little "thinking wheel" spinning around and around! Have I told you how frustrating comuters are??? (a...uuuummm.... I am a hollow reed.... trying to calm down!)

Well on to other things!

Everyone keep your fingers crossed and say a big prayer for me... I'm calling a fabric company with 4 new ideas for fabric! It's quite challenging to come up with new ideas that no one hasn't already thought of! This fabric could be AWESOME... for that old soft antique look... ! I'll keep you posted on how the challenge progresses.


I'm also working on another retreat!! This one is totally different and will be SO MUCH FUN!!! Stayed tuned... there will only be 16-18 slots (especially for you primitive lovers) so when I email it out... hang on to your knickers and if you even think you want to come... REGISTER! More to come..... (have I peaked your interest?) Keep watching......

I'll keep working on the photos!!!!

Happy sewing... and remember "Celebrate Handmade"!!!

Hugs to all........... Gloria