Michael Miller Fabrics

I try to take lots of pictures during the set-up day of a show, because generally I DON'T HAVE A CHANCE later on. At Quilt Market, that means I must see how they assemble the Michael Miller booth.



Designer Kathy Miller was working hard that day -- but gave me permission to take some photographs of their FABULOUS BOOTH. It must be a lot of pressure for them to go to Quilt Market, because they have to out do their LAST show...


They bring in TRUCKS loaded with all kinds of walls, furniture, floors, everything covered in their beautiful FABRIC, of course...it takes hours to build and assemble and decorate...



They used white flocked trees at this market -- they were everywhere!


And, no surprise -- THEY WON FIRST PLACE in the booth contest for multi-booth exhibitors.

Be sure to visit their website: Michael Miller Fabrics where you can see their FABULOUS NEW LINE of fabrics. If you're an Expo fans -- you can go to Pacific Fabrics to take a look!

Michael Miller Fabrics focuses on doing business with INDEPENDENT fabric stores and quilt shops. A philosophy I admire....

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Michael Miller Fabrics!! Trust me -- you will be INSPIRED to sew something!! (I recently bought enough zebra to make some napkins for the porch -- but it ended up in Lillian's window valances instead...gotta go shopping AGAIN!!)

Iowa Writers Festival

Every summer, I try to take a few classes and LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

I am very blessed to live one hour away from the fabulous Iowa Summer Writer's Festival. If you go all the way back to the beginning of this blog -- you'll see that's where I LEARNED HOW TO BLOG...Here I am at a recent weekend workshop...


Here's what the room looked like -- inside Schaeffer Hall on the campus of the University of Iowa. The workshop format means there are never more than 12 students in a class...

Two of the best writers in the room -- Hardy and his daughter Annie. ISN'T THAT SWEET?? Really -- making it a father/daughter event was pretty darn special.


Attending this particular workshop: Mary, Cecilia, Mary Ellen, Louise, Karen, Hardy, Annie, Nancy, Rita, Joan, Mary Lou. That's the order as we sat around the room (not as we posed for this picture). It's two very intense days -- and you hear amazing stories. It's probably best that I didn't learn anybody's last name.



This is a very nice picture of our teacher, Carolyn Lieberg. She came all the way from Washington, D.C. -- and I highly recommend her class. My other mates came from -- Massachusetts, New York, St. Louis, Portland, Borneo -- WOW!! WHAT STORIES THEY HAD TO TELL...Carolyn promised us "29 Points of Departure" -- and she delivered in a big way.

Maybe one day I'll post one of my writing exercises...(that's a threat -- not a promise...)

On the drive home, I kept thinking about my friend Marion (who has also attended the Festival). Her question is always, "why would anybody write fiction? The truth is so bizarre -- it never lets you down..."

You have nooooo idea how right you are, babe...

Mark Lipinski at Quilt Market

I went to the Spring International Quilt Market to work in the Schmetz booth. On the first day of the show, I went to a lot of "schoolhouse" sessions. There are thousands of people, moving from room to room, for some fast-paced 15 and 30 minute classes...it's A ZOO...

Mark Lipinski wrote on his Facebook page that he was in a certain room -- and I received that on my phone (I am trying to embrace the technology) -- and HERE WE ARE!

When the show opened -- I realized that Mark was in the Northcott Fabric booth -- very near our Schmetz booth -- so we got to watch him in ACTION during the show. There were tv crews all the time, coming over to interview him...

Mark recently found out he is in end-stage kidney failure -- and right now, his kidneys are functioning at only 22% -- so he will need a kidney transplant. If you want to follow Mark -- please visit his blog: Mark's blog

I say this all the time -- but Mark Lipinski is the REASON I BLOG. And, now that I know how hard it is to really do -- I AGAIN BOW TO THE MASTER. Keep up the good work, Mark. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

And -- hey -- bud -- SLOOOOOOWWWWWWWW DOWN!!

Girlfriend Dinner at Mary's

During my drive-by visit to Mary -- she had a "girlfriend dinner" in my honor. Here is Renee, taking some things out on Mary's deck...

Mary's sister, Sarah, is in charge of Marguerita's to start the night...

Theresa and Renee...

Mary is admiring Nancy's favorite new jacket...(YET ANOTHER PERSON falling in love with black & white)...

Mary made a delicious lasagna for dinner -- and you might think I'd have some lovely photos of our group...but, hummm...how to say this...

Apparently, I was distracted by Marguerita...

Quilt Market BAGS & TOTES

Here is another example of how THIS BLOG HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. No matter where I go, I'm snapping pictures of anything that interests me...because it's much easier to SHOW YOU A PICTURE than it is to write about whatever it is. At the Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis, I was struck by the purses, bags and totes...sooo much personality:

I told you the inside of Nancy Jewell's purse was zebra stripes. You don't have to take my word for it -- here's a picture...


Then, hanging in the Brewer booth -- one of the bigget notions distributors -- I saw this great tote -- no doubt there is a PATTERN available...

Attending the actual quilt show -- this friend of Nancy's was carrying a distinctive purse...

Taking a much deserved break -- here's my friend Deanna Springer -- she and I are comparing TOTE BAGS. Deanna is showing off her NANCY ZIEMAN TOTE -- which is made from those cool Clover templates...have you seen them?



Yes, I know this doesn't look like actual "work" -- but Deanna and I are nothin' but business -- 24-7...

Story of a Quilt..?

Bert and I went day trippin' to a big antique mall in Princeton, Illinois. Thank God I had my camera with me -- otherwise, I'm sure I would have bought this fabulous quilt. It was only $90...

Every square was completely different bits of fabric -- and I love the way this quilter used black and red to bring it together.
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I'm no expert -- but I think most of the fabric was feedsacks from the 30's...

And I loved the look of that -- but the MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT THIS QUILT -- do you know what I'm going to say??

Yes -- that's right -- it's the decorative stitches. This little stitch took me back to 1963 when my Mom got her brand new Singer sewing machine with all those CAMS -- and all those intricate decorative stitches. Mom put them on EVERYTHING...I took this picture of the back of the quilt so you can see the stitches...

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. There wasn't a single tuck or pull anywhere on this entire quilt. Honestly -- HOW DID THIS QUILTER DO IT?? I would sooooo love to know the story behind this quilt.

For me, that's the great thing about quilts. The story behind the quilt...wondering who made it and why. Was it a gift? Who used it and when? Where did the fabric came from, the inspiration? How they made their choice of patterns...

Y'know -- just having the pictures isn't quite doing it for me. I'm having "didn't buy it" remorse...Maybe I should make another trip to that antique mall, eh??

Can she bake a cherry pie?

John's cherry trees were LOADED this year...So, the big question is, 'CAN SHE BAKE A CHERRY PIE?"

OF COURSE SHE CAN!! The hardest thing is to remove the pits...I use a bobby pin...

Buy the rolled up refrigerated pie crusts from the grocery store. JUST DO IT. I make a fabulous homemade crust -- but the truth is -- nobody can tell the difference -- so WHAT'S THE POINT?? The refrigerated crusts are a WONDERFUL INVENTION...and it's not like I didn't just spend two hours picking and pitting the cherries!!


Filling:

4 cups of pitted cherries
1 cup of sugar
3-4 TBL tapioca
1 tsp vanilla

Mix and let it sit for an hour or so...pour cherry filling into the crust and dot with 2 tbl butter.

Wet the edges of the bottom crust before you place the top crust. Crimp edges together -- poke some fork holes in the top and bake at 350 for about an hour (until it starts to bubble over). Put an aluminum-lined cookie sheet on the rack UNDER the pie. Nothing will mess up your oven like a juicy cherry pie!!
Whew -- I forgot to take a picture of the BAKED pie. This is the next day...

Ahh, summertime!! I do soooooooooo enjoy writing about the Farro Family Food traditions...

and the answer to the original question is -- "yes, Charming Billie -- she bakes a delicious, memorable cherry pie..."

But only once a year...

Susan's Calico Creations

It was my cousin Jackie's birthday. She couldn't get home -- but -- oh well -- we decided to celebrate anyway. (as a group, we require very little encouragement)...

DAY TRIP!!

Of course, any PERFECT DAY TRIP starts off with a girlfriend breakfast. You'll recognize my usual book clubbers...and we have a special guest -- I'll call her "Quilt Sandy"...Starting with me, it's Linda P, Quilt Sandy, Sandy and Linda K. Come to think of it -- I had a great poker hand -- two pair. Two Lindas and two Sandys...

Since Quilt Sandy was visiting from Kentucky, and she is an accomplished, devoted quilt teacher - we took her to Fulton, Illinois to visit Susan's Calico Creations

I ran into my friend JoAnn (on the right -- from our previous lives of running competing fabric stores) -- and the shop owner, Susan... Calico Creations was JAM PACKED full of finished quilts, thousands of bolts of fabric, etc. Just what we hoped for...

I found a wonderful fabric book panel -- with Dick & Jane graphics. LILLIAN WILL LOVE IT...

The quilt displays are fabulous. Linda is falling in love with a gorgeous display quilt. They have it available in a "kit"...hummm...what to do, what to do??

Susan's Calico Creations uses baby cribs to display the fabric! Here's a fabulous Michael Miller collection....hey -- is that a zebra stripe?? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I NEED FOR THE VALANCE IN LILLIAN'S NEW ROOM...

Quilt Sandy has inspired me to make a personalized fabric photo book for Lillian -- WHAT A GREAT IDEA! She loves kissing pictures of her Mommy & Daddy...

I bought everything I need. So, I'll be blogging about that project (DUH). AND -- if you are ever in this neck of the woods -- be sure you visit Susan's Calico Creations in Fulton, Illinois!!

Tell them Rita sent you....!

In the next week or so -- I will be posting the blog with the INCREDIBLE WINDOW TREATMENTS I'm making for the baby's room...keep your fingers crossed...there is a video involved...

Iowa's Best Pork Tenderloin

Last summer I met Shaundra when we were both taking a blogging class in Iowa City. Since then, we've had very occasional email contact -- but we've learned a lot by reading our respective blogs. Which -- of course -- was why we were both in that class...

I've put Shaundra's blog, "Musin Mama" -- on my sidebar. It's a personal blog -- and I love, love, love her thoughtful approach to this complex job of being a mommy...

Recently, Shaundra was back in Iowa City for another class at the wonderful Summer Iowa Writer's Festival. I met her for dinner at Sharpless Auction House (they have a weekly consignment auction -- with 5 auctioneers and BUILDINGS full of junk). I billed it as "the best pork tenderloin in the State of Iowa". And Sharpless did NOT disappoint...



Shaundra BROUGHT A GIFT FOR LILLIAN. Oh My God. Isn't this precious?? I can hardly wait to put Lilly in her new dress. The lime green ribbon is soooo perfect.

Obviously -- Shaundra is a petite, fit young thing. Reading her blog, I knew she was an avid "spinner" (that involves a bicycle, not a spinning wheel)....and I wondered if she would really enjoy a big fat juicy piece of pork...

But I needn't have worried...


What's not to love?? THE PORK TENDERLOIN at Sharpless was everything I remembered... big, juicy, hot, tender. On a soft homemade bun -- with ketchup, mustard, dill slices and a bit of chopped onion. WE'RE TALKING A LITTLE BIT 'O HEAVEN, PEOPLE...

We were so busy getting to know each other -- we sat on the little plastic chairs in the eating area (you couldn't really call it a restaurant...) for HOURS. I was stunned when the Sharpless crew started turning the lights off. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? The auction is over -- AND I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING?? I'll post some pictures of the interesting stuff for sale at this auction. That post will be titled, "TREASURES I DID NOT BUY"

I wasn't sorry I didn't BUY anything. I was only sorry my time with Shaundra was over.

Oh, yeah. I love my life...

Do you tip the hotel maid?

Ross is a cameraman for a wildlife television show and he travels ALL THE TIME. He stays in hotels 20 days a month -- and we disagree about whether or not you should tip the hotel maid...

The thing is -- Ross is not a fussy guy (understatement is my game). His living room has a 50" flat screen television and one lawn chair. When his friends come over to watch the Superbowl -- they have to bring their own lawn chairs...

During my recent visit to see where Ross lives -- there was no question I would stay in a local hotel...

In the morning, I left two dollars on my pillow...because I think it's the right thing to do...

During our discussion, Ross explained his point of view. "I'm sure being a hotel maid is a sucky job. But that's not my fault. I watched a television show and they showed why each room takes 30 minutes to clean. It is back-breaking work -- changing all those beds, dealing with the dirty linens, bringing in clean towels, restocking the little soaps and shampoos, vacuuming the carpet whether it needs it or not. The thing is -- I don't care about any of that.

So, I put out the 'DO NOT DISTURB" sign on my door every day. I figure I just gave the maid a 30 minute break. Instead of money -- which I can't afford -- I'm giving her the gift of time..."

I'm telling you -- it's hard to argue with a thinker...

Mary Collen's Project Red Dress Report

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting emails from my Expo friends about projects they're working on -- or other sewing/design events they attend. Mary Collen is the official "Expo Style Show Manager" -- and works behind the scenes making sure that our six FREE style shows a day go off without a hitch.

Mary is an accomplished seamstress -- and won last year's "Project Everyday" sewing challenge sponsored by Linda Lee and Bernina. Here's a picture of Mary and her daughter London -- right before our Pink & Red event...

Mary and London recently attended the "Red Dress" event in Seattle -- with the fabulous Nick Verreos, who was a Season 4 Project Runway finalist. Here's a picture of London and Nick...

Mary writes, "The event worked like this. Twelve aspiring designers were chosen from area design schools -- International Academy of Design and Technology, Art Institute of Seattle, New York Fashion Academy, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle Pacific University and Washington State University The students chose $200.00 worth of fabric, provided by Nancy's Sewing Basket. They had 16 hours (working four Saturdays) to create the gowns in the workrooms of IADT. The winning dress will be featured in a window display at Luly Yang's downtown Seattle shop, and in the pages of Seattle Met and `elise Magazine. The winner will also get a design internship with Luly Yang and a $3000.00 scholarship to IADT. The tickets were $75 for prime runway seating and a swag bag. London and I were treated to VIP seating as we were there on behalf of Sewing Machine Service (where I work) -- one of the main sponsors."
Here's a picture of Mary with Nick...it sounds like a FABULOUS EVENT...thanks so much for the report!!

This was the third annual Project Red Dress created by Monir Zandghorieshi, Program Chair, Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising programs, International Academy of Design and Technology.

Schmetz & Quilt Market

At the Internationl Quilt Market -- I was working in the Schmetz booth...I helped Rhonda Pierce, the Marketing Director, set up for her Schoolhouse Class. She had a packed room!



Here's Rhonda, the first day the vendor show floor was open.


We got a LOT OF VISITORS in our booth! Here are two of our favorite people -- Mark Lipinski and Kaye Wood!! Of course, they both use Schmetz needles in their sewing machines...

But this looks like a dangerous activity, doesn't it?? If you want to see EVEN MORE PICTURES of yourself at Quilt Market -- Rhonda has posted some great denim day shots on the Schmetz blog

Violet on Violet

This is one of those pictures that should NOT have turned out...but I love it. Violet & Sonny's house sits right on the water -- and I was trying to take a picture of her taking a picture...I was looking into the setting sun...

During my May visit to Tacoma -- the rhoddies were STILL IN BLOOM. And I was stunned by the sheer volume. Hey -- every location in the world has the thing they specialize in. In Iowa, the obvious horticultural superstar is CORN. It's everywhere, and it grows to 12 ft. tall. But in Tacoma -- it is DEFINITELY rhododendrons...

Here's a picture of Violet, in her laundry room -- with the purple countertop! Everything in her life is a shade of Violet...all her clothes...every room in her house...

I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT...here's Violet and Joanne -- see all the purple accessories?? I'm telling you -- VIOLET CANNOT GET ENOUGH VIOLET...AND the best new Violet in her life is a little grand-daughter. Named? Guess what? VIOLET...so now there is renewed shopping -- for violet BABY CLOTHES...

Here's the kind of thing that amuses me. I get to write this, "Violet, wearing violet pants and a violet sweater, is babysitting for Violet, who is also wearing a violet outfit, and sleeping on a violet bed in the violet room, covered with a violet blanket..."

I mean -- it could go ON AND ON, y'know??