I Must Do Better!!

Wow..I just looked at the date of my last post... I'm in big trouble! I so admire all of these designers that post to their blog daily... or even weekly. I must do better... as you know.. I always have so much to say!

We just finished our Camp Blanding Retreat! Oh my!!! What fun it was. We had 162 in attendance! Can you believe that? 160 women and 2 men! This retreat was held in a different building and we loved it. We controlled our air conditioning, it had carpet (much quieter) and we had electrical outlets everywhere! NO MORE CORDS ALL OVER THE FLOOR! That really pleased me... it was pretty scary looking at the spaghetti of cords in the Armory Building.

This was our second retreat with a SALE ROOM. This room is where the retreat participants can bring items from their homes they no longer want to own. Last retreat the room sold $7500 worth of items. This retreat.... it sold $12,500!!!! Can you believe that. It was so cool seeing everyone get such great deals on stuff they just HAD TO HAVE!

Then Vicky and I left in the middle of the week for Reardon, Washington - the home of Buggy Barn Quilts. They have an annual quilt show on their farm ... plus offer classes. This year - teaching with me - were Lynn Hagermeir - Kansas Troubles, Sue Spargo - beautiful wool projects and Shawn Williams - wool and needle punch. I taught Pumpkin and Friend wool table runner along with a quilt I designed especially for the Buggy Barn class - Stars Around My Garden - table topper quilt with jumbo ric rac and wool applique. What great classes I had! Wonderful students.... and did we ever have a great time.

Friday evening they had a "Garden Party" that we attended and had yummy food, listened to Jennifer - Editor of American Patchwork Quilting Magazine (she was so wonderful...great speaker... and a riot to be with). What gorgeous homes Janet and Pam have... and what great hubbies! This was their 15th year for the quilt show... the entire family helps! Grand kids, cousins, aunts, uncles... it's unbelievable and so much HARD work. They hang the quilts on the barns, clothesline, white fences...everywhere. The men in the family cook hot dogs and hamburgers for those that attend. Their store is tiny but packed with the most awesome fabric, samples and kits you've ever seen. It was so crowded in the store we couldn't even get into the building. Rats!!! I'm sure there were several things in there I was supposed to have .... oh well... I hope it went to a good home (sniffle). Thanks Pam and Janet for a super time!!! Shawn - it was good to meet you... and Lynn and Sue - it's always fun to catch up with you again!

Vic and I are designing like crazy! We already have 14 new patterns for Houston market but wouldn't mind a few more. I'm working on a gorgeous new quilt that I'm calling "Victoria's Crown".... it is so wonderful... I hope you all love it as well as I'm loving making it.

Vic is working on a new blue & white quilt. We haven't decided on a name yet.. .sometimes you just have to sew on it for a bit... then the names comes to you!

Oh... we now have 3 baby kittens!! A mommy kitty carried them into our back yard.. AND THEN LEFT THEM!!!! BAD MOTHER!!! We did rescue them, fed them from a pet baby bottle and got them to lapping from a bowl. Now... well... let's just say... we have 3 adorable, fun loving, wild playing kittens running around the house. They are so good and well behaved. Took to their cat pan the first time we put them in! Smart kitties. We are waiting until they reach 2-3 pounds then the adoption agency wants them. I'd love to keep one... but Lexie is allergic to them. Her little eyes get all scratchy and swollen! Not good!

Well...gotta go for now... Jack just fixed breakfast and I'm starving! It's now time for my wonderful diet!! No carbs and NO sugar! Whew.... pray for me... this may get ugly.

Chat with you soon!

Gloria

"Celebrate Handmade"

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"