Happy Birthday Deborah!!

Today is my sister Deb's birthday. I think she's 40 years old today. Hey -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

We have had some amazing adventures, Deb. And NOBODY sews like she does. Although it is a hobby that came to her late in life -- sewing machine embroidery just LIGHTS HER UP. I thought about posting pictures of the many wonderful jackets she has embroidered for me over the years....and I still might do that.

But, then, with a bit smile on my face, I decided to post some pictures of a few of our favorite adventures...

LIKE -- the time she took all her girls (five of them) to NEW YORK CITY...(Stacy was sick when we took this picture.)




Deb took ALL OF US to the American Girl store for a beautiful dinner...

It was only 2009 -- but Ally and Lexi look SO YOUNG HERE. They were the PERFECT age for a trip to New York City.

We got tO the TODAY show at 6:00 in the morning to stand in line...at this moment, we were enjoying a cup of hot coffee and looking out the window, right into Rockefeller Plaza...

Remember the breakfast we ate uptown? At the corner of 112th & Broadway -- the restaurant that was such a big part of the Seinfeld show...

Just when I think there's no way we could top that trip to New York City -- DEB SETS UP A SISTERS TRIP for Sew Expo!! Here she is at Pike Place Market...(trying on RINGS OF COURSE)

Every night, back in the condo, we had a shopping "sew and tell"...

And my sisters LOVED ALL THE STYLE SHOWS...and the classes, special events...

And maybe the best sister moment I ever had with Deb was seeing her with Simon Haskins. OMG.

She's made so many of his embroidered quilts...her talent, and artistic touch with the embroidery machine, and her passion for this hobby she loves is simply MIND BOGGLING...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEB

The Faces of Beaver Dam

The first morning in Beaver Dam, we were greeted by Lolie and Laura. When you only see somebody ONCE A YEAR -- it's such a treat!!

We expected to see Mike Shuster (he is the President of Nancy's Notions) -- but running into Bobbi Bullard in the hall was a surprise on Day One!

Since Mike is the guy who INVITED us to present our new program at this fabulous event -- it seems smart to take a picture WITH HIM...(THANKS AGAIN, MIKE...)

You can barely see the cash registers along the back wall of the warehouse. There is always a smiling face to greet you -- and Lori has a pretty good idea of what your "wait time" will be...

The night of our show -- we had OUR OWN SOUND GUY. Greg did a fabulous job -- we actually had those kind of invisible microphones that get taped to your face! WOW. It felt like we were prepping for a Broadway show....

No matter how many times I see him do it -- Steve Jeffery always gets nervous right before the show starts. And he is such a TECH SAVVY guy -- his notes are on his IPad...

Rhonda Pierce AND Nancy Zieman both came on stage to help model some of our wraps. This one is called the Peru Poncho...

If you want to see all the wrap pictures -- YES, we do have a Facebook page. And you can order the new WRAP IT UP pattern from Mary's website: MaryMulari.com

First Load of Treasure...

First of all -- I need to explain that since Ross has moved back into the house -- we have completely changed some of our television viewing habits. Now we watch the BIG BANG every night. AND I am hooked on Mad Men. He loves, loves, loves, everything about that show -- all the 60's references, and the constant Don Draper DRINKING. With those classy glasses....

A couple of weeks ago, there was a set at the local auction...and the woman who BOUGHT them told me she was going to sell them on Etsy for $60. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Of course, the GOOD NEWS is that this gives me something to search for as I indulge myself in my favorite thing to do -- TREASURE HUNTING...And -- sure enough -- at a beautiful St. Vincent De Paul thrift store in Verona -- I found THESE...

Gorgeous. Heavy leaded crystal....and they were 60 cents apiece....

One of the BEST THINGS about thrifting in Wisconsin is that I find LOTS OF LANDS END stuff. They send truckloads to the Bargain Nook chain.

AND on this trip -- I found a big bin of beautiful pants for 50 cents EACH. UNBELIEVABLE. The normal price in this store is $2 a pair. The 50 cent price was because they had less than a 28" inseam. Hey -- GOLF SHORTS, PEOPLE!

YES -- MY LIFE IS PERFECT BECAUSE I CAN SEW...!!!

AND, OF COURSE there had to be a gaggle of pithy t-shirts. This one says "DON'T FOLLOW ME -- I'M LOST"

This is a poor picture of a stunning jacket. Boiled wool, Lands End -- size 2X  -- and it was $3.99. I AM NOT KIDDING YOU...

A really beautiful hombre chiffon scarf -- 48" square...which was $5....

Brian Andreas, of the Story People, is one of my favorite artists.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his artwork and have several pieces hanging in my house. So you can imagine my delight when I found this print for only $3....

This print is called No More Secret. And words say: I will always remember the day the sun shone dark on your hair. And I forgot where we were and kissed you lightly on the nose and suddenly there was no more secret.

OH, YES, it was a very, very successful treasure hunting trip!! I still have not unpacked my car...and the BEST IS YET TO COME...because I haven't written about the two things I bought from my new artist-friend-Jeanne....but they are in this bag...and there will be a STYLE SHOW SOON...

2013 Wisconsin TREASURE HUNT

Road Trippin'....There are SO MANY ELEMENTS about this that I absolutely LOVE. I love being in my car, alone, driving for hours, listening to a good book on tape. (Clive Cussler on this trip!) The scenery in this part of the world is STUNNING. Spring is such an awesome time of the year. Things are greening up, blossoms are everywhere...it is WONDERFUL to be driving, and breathing the fresh air, and treasure-hunting...


And the small towns along my route are simply the BEST....Platteville, Mineral Point, Mt. Horeb, Verona...Madison is stunning and Beaver Dam (my destination this trip) is the jewel in the crown...


But with every stop -- my car accumulates a little more treasure, a little more trash...


The back seat is always piled high by the time I get home...

And I am always worried about getting the trunk closed...

Tomorrow -- I'm going to post some pictures of the ACTUAL TREASURE I accumulated on this trip. Really. Unbelievable...

REST of the van story

Okay -- so here's the REST of the story. Elliott spent 8 years in the Army. He went in as an award-winning shooter, and he became a world-class shooting coach.  When he got out, he started his own business -- Farro's Lead Farm.

Recently, our little town did a benefit for a local farmer who is paralyzed because of an accident. Elliott was the first person to step up and offer a custom built rifle for the auction. That night, his rifle sold for $1550 -- which was the single biggest money maker of the night.


Yes, he builds custom rifles -- but he also reloads ammunition. A LOT OF ammunition....which means CONSTANTLY HAULING SOME VERY HEAVY buckets and barrels of various brass components...back and forth...

Sometimes, he borrows John's pick-up truck. Which only works if it's a sunny day (rain is not a good thing)...and what he really needs is a panel truck.

So, of course, after hearing Eleanor's story about buying a used panel van in Paducah, Kentucky to drive up to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin...

I told her, "I might have a buyer for your van..."

Elliott said, "send me a picture, Mom...and find out what year it is and how many miles. I'll make an offer..."



So this is the picture of Eleanor's Paducah, Kentucky van -- sitting in the parking lot of the motel in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. It would have been a GREAT STORY if Elliott had met her at the Milwaukee airport to buy it. It would have been a better story if it was an all cash deal....and if Eleanor SIGNED the fender...or something...

But, it was not to be. As it turns out -- Eleanor's midwest operation NEEDED one more van...so Elliott is still looking.
If you have a panel van you'd like to sell -- email me. ritafar@aol.com

Eleanor Van

THIS is the story, in Eleanor's own words -- of how she ended up owning her new used van...

Hello Eleanor!!

Obviously -- a LOT OF PLANNING GOES into planning any big event. For the 2013 Nancy's Sewing Weekend -- the planning started more than a year ago. They hired the special event speakers...Mary and I were delighted to be invited.

And they invited Mark Lipiniski to do their Quilter's event. However, as you may know, Mark was moved up on the kidney transplant list -- and that meant he could not travel to Wisconsin. I am happy to report that MARK IS DOING FINE -- but that meant Nancy's Notions had to find a last minute replacement.

Enter -- ELEANOR BURNS. Here she is -- in the warehouse, signing some autographs...


But the FIRST time I saw Eleanor in Beaver Dam -- we were in the parking lot of our hotel. (The Americainn is a GREAT little hotel -- with WONDERFUL BEDS)...

And one of the most interesting parts of the 2013 Sewing Weekend story is exactly HOW Eleanor and her able assistant, Sue -- actually GOT THERE in the first place...


Remember -- Eleanor was NOT scheduled to speak in Beaver Dam this year. And because she ALWAYS does AQS in Paducah, Kentucky -- she was three states away with no good travel plans. AND, then, somebody agreed to her performing FOUR DIFFERENT SHOWS...and that meant transporting 75 finished quilts....

Sounds like trouble, eh?? Tomorrow, you'll hear the story from Eleanor herself...