Our Own Grizzly Adams

Recently, Ross stopped in Iowa with his co-worker Kurt -- and we enjoyed a nice meal together. They both work for a company that does hunting and fishing shows and magazines. Kurt is the expert bow-hunter and Ross is the photojournalist. Here I am with Ross -- I was quite surprised by the full beard he is growing...

This is a picture of John with Kurt and Ross.

Two weeks later, Ross sent this photo to my cellphone. Really -- doesn't he look like Grizzly Adams?



At one point, when our granddaughter Lillian was furrowing her brow, looking very unhappy with Ross's bushy beard, he said, "watch it, Lilly...that's facial profiling and it's illegal..."

SOCK MONKEYS

My great-niece, Avery, one year old -- reintroduced our family to sock monkeys. The good old-fashioned sock monkey is HER COMFORT THING. (see my November 13 & 16 posts -- she is cute as a button!).

During her Thanksgiving visit, our Lillian made it clear that her "comfort thing" was a Curious George stuffed toy. Humm...another monkey??

So, I decided with ALL THE BABIES COMING to bless nieces and nephews on both sides of our family -- I WANT TO MAKE SOCK MONEY DOLLS...

The last time I made one, I was maybe 12 years old, and all the sewing was done by hand. I AM SO EXCITED THEY'RE MAKING A COMEBACK!

I rushed into town to purchase the famous "Made-In-The-USA Rockford Red-Heeled socks". I started at Target. No luck. Then I went to Walmart....nope. Okay -- across town to K-Mart. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

As I'm standing in K-Mart, ready to scream, "I NEED SOCK MONKEYS!!" I turn a corner -- and there they were. Not the socks I was looking for -- but the already-made-in-China-Sock monkey-dolls. For only $8.99, they have traditional brown dolls, fancy colorful stripes...I could NOT resist. Hey -- I have two newborn babies in need of sock monkeys...it would be okay to buy them already made up -- just this once -- wouldn't it??

Hey, they're pretty cute. And just the right size for a baby to grab on to. But don't worry! I'M STILL GOING TO SEW SOME SOCK MONKEY DOLLS! I came home and found the Rockford socks online -- at the Sock Company. Two pair of socks (which will make you TWO dolls) is on sale for $8.50.

They also have a blue heather sock as well as the brown heather. AND I'm also getting a special little book full of ideas for only $4.95. If you'd like to phone them instead -- their toll free number is: 888-472-5678.

I'll post pictures of my very own, I'm sure far-superior, lovingly hand-made, with LOTS OF personality -- sock monkey dolls...Hopefully sometime between now and Christmas...

WISH ME LUCK...

MOST CREATIVE BOOTH

Although I am actually IN NEW YORK CITY today -- I've prepared some posts to go up on this blog. (as I always do). This post is about my visit last month to International Quilt Market...
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For me -- Quilt Market started at the Moline airport -- where I saw this woman (carrying some fabulous fabric totebags!). In Memphis, she went to the Houston gate and pulled a beautiful quilt out of one of her totebags. Of course, I'm always so curious -- I asked if she would share the story of her quilt...



Her name is Deb -- and she lives in Iowa but works for Michael Miller Fabrics (in New York). She used to be a fabric rep -- but that's a lot of travel -- so now she mostly sews samples for the company. And, obviously, she works in their booth during trade shows. The story of Michael Miller Fabrics is on their website. Kathy Miller and Michael Steiner started the company ten years ago -- and Deb is making the quilt as a gift for their 10th anniversary.

I took this picture of the red polka dot wrapped push carts on the first set-up day -- long before I knew they were connected to Michael Miller.

The vendors at Quilt Market & Festival go ALL OUT. There is a big judging -- with all kinds of categories. Y'know -- "best single booth", "best first time vendor", etc. The Michael Miller booth is a real stand out with a very distinctive theme. It was a CAMP MICHAEL MILLER -- and, WOULD YOU BELIEVE they had a little mini-camper right in the middle of their booth? There were trees, and roads, with signs...just like any national park.....At the end of the day, the Michael Miller Fabric booth won a very big award at the Quilt Market -- MOST CREATIVE BOOTH...





CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST TEN YEARS MICHAEL MILLER!! I love, love, love your fabric. You can't buy it at the big chain stores -- it is only sold to independent quilt/fabric shops -- so you have to look for it at places like Pacific Fabrics!!

Historic Smithville Tour

As you know -- several weeks ago -- I was in Brown's Mills, New Jersey for the American Sewing Guild. Here I am, with my Hey Rita tote -- Rosemary, and her son Chris. THEY WERE WONDERFUL HOSTS...


Saturday afternoon, after our event, there was just enough daylight left for a little private tour of Historic Smithville.

If you've been reading this blog, you know this is what I ALWAYS LOVE TO DO. No matter what town I'm in, I love to visit the old mansions. And there ALWAYS are some. In this case, it was really a whole village. Much like Williamsburg, Va. Historic Smithville was a place where people lived and worked and raised families. Hezekial Smith was ahead of his times in many, many ways. I LOVED IT...Thanks again to Rosemary, Chuck and Chris for their great hospitality!!

TODAY SHOW -- HERE WE COME!!

HEY -- I'M IN NEW YORK CITY!! TODAY we will be having dinner at the American Girl. tomorrow morning -- we're going to be standing at the fence of THE TODAY SHOW!!! Look for the Hey Rita TOTE...

My sister Debbie is REALLY INTO SEWING -- so we may have to visit the Garment District.


And we'll have to take our little girls to see MACY'S WINDOWS -- OF COURSE..


BE SURE TO WATCH THE TODAY SHOW ON FRIDAY MORNING...I'm hoping the Hey Rita Tote (and some of her friends) will attract Al or Meredith?? Wish us luck!!

Thanksgiving BABIES

My sister Deena probably had the MOST EXCITING THANKSGIVING EVER this year.

Deena has three children. Chad, Toby & Kelcy. Deena already had two granddaughters -- her son Chad and his wife Becky have Madeline and Avery.

Deena's daughter Kelcy is pregnant -- as well as Toby's wife, Brenda. They've been comparing pregnancy bellies all along. Brenda (on the right) was due the middle of November -- Kelcy (on the left) one month later.

But, as these things often happen -- Brenda was overdue. She FINALLY delivered ON THANKSGIVING DAY -- at 4:30 in the morning! Here's a picture of Toby, Brenda and their baby boy, Clayton Frederick. Deena was up all night...of course...

Then -- on Black Friday -- while early morning shopping at Walmart -- Kelcy's water broke! Two weeks EARLY!! So Deena had to make a fast trip out to Des Moines (a 3 hour drive) where Kelcy delivered her baby boy -- Mason Dean. Kelcy's husband, Andy, is on his way back from Iraq for a 15-day paternity leave.


So, JUST LIKE THAT -- Deena has TWO granddaughters and TWO grandsons.

Symmetry...you've gotta love it...

Everybody is doing just GREAT!! CONGRATS TO THE SCHRODER FAMILY..such blessings...

P.S. -- you've met these young Mom's before. Kelcy has the jungle-themed nursery and Brenda's baby shower was the embroidered blankets for their farm-theme nursery. More on that bandana idea later...(I promised you pictures)...

New York City Again -- Yipee!!

As unbelievable as it may seem -- I'll be in New York City AGAIN this weekend. My sister Deborah is taking her five girls (three daughters and two granddaughters) to NEW YORK CITY -- and I'm DE-lighted to be their tour guide. Yipee Kayee. Just in case Deb is reading this blog -- here's what the decorations inside Macy's look like:



AND, if we're lucky -- we'll go into the fabulous Takashima's Department Store on Fifth Avenue and we MUST USE THE LADIE'S ROOM...


When I was in New York two weeks ago, they had the scaffold up around the Christmas Tree...and when I get back from our fabulous weekend...I will have pictures of the DECORATED TREE!!


We will try to get on the TODAY SHOW -- Friday morning. December 4th. We'll be a big group 5 women and 2 girls -- you'll know us by the HUGE SMILES ON OUR FACES...

LOOK FOR THE HEY RITA TOTE!!