Pillowcase Patrol

This year's Pillowcase Patrol was a MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN. Because we realize our audience LOVES TO DO charity sewing. We used to set up an area at the show -- but it is no longer feasible to do it on the grounds. So -- with the inspiration of the "Million Pillowcase" project -- and our partnership with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital -- we asked you to sew your pillowcases and BRING THEM TO THE SHOW...

AND, BOY -- DID YOU EVER!! This picture, taken on Sunday, is with Barbara Barolatz and one of her volunteers...from Mary Bridge...

They were keeping a running count...and by Sunday morning -- we officially HIT 2000..!!!

In this picture, Barbara and I each picked a favorite! The pillowcases were AMAZING...we were stunned by the LARGE VOLUME OF pillowcases!! They completely filled the back seat of Barbara's car -- AND the back of a Jeep Cherokee as well...!! Just HAULING them back to Mary Bridge became a VERY BIG JOB...

There were so many stories as the ladies delivered their pillowcases...I'll be sharing some of them, along with more pictures, as I sort through...

For me, one of the memorable moments of the 2011 Sewing & Stitchery Expo happened on the first day. Thursday. 8:30. The show has opened -- but Barbara and her volunteers haven't made their way to the booth yet. So I am there, alone, accepting pillowcase donations...

One woman came in with 65 pillowcases. Oh My Goodness. This is a HUGE pile. I'm helping her to stack them up, and trying to give her some Coats & Clark thread...as well as a door prize ticket for each pillowcase...when she put her hand on top of mine and said, "No, dear. Please. I didn't do it for glory. I did it for the children."

wow.

The very next woman who came up delivered 45 pillowcases -- bright little-boy prints. I said, "how great to see something for the BOYS"...and she said, "My Mom loved to sew for her four grandsons. Over the years, she made them pajamas, pillows, shirts, tents -- you name it. Mom died last year and I knew this was the perfect thing to do with her fabric stash. My sisters and I spent the last two weekends making these pillowcases."

Oh, yeah. It was amazing.

Barbara has many more stories to share...Mary Bridge gives out about 500 pillowcases each month...

Good job us...
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Lillian's Dinosaur Fixation

I have NO IDEA why Lillian is so cray about dinosaurs -- but she LOVES 'EM..!! And at some point, I realized that nobody makes dinosaur shirts for GIRLS. Really. Shocking, isn't it?

So -- of course -- for the last coupla weeks -- every chance I got (while thrift shopping) -- i bought little BOY dinosaur shirts -- because I knew I could fluff 'em up...

When Lilly goes to her play group -- she always notices the little BOYS who are wearing dinosaur shirts...

THEN, I found this wonderful pillow sham. Just one...but that's all I need...

Several months ago, I bought this Curious George fleece -- thinking I'd make a new blanket for her 2nd birthday...but she seems to be moving out of the Curious George phase...

Now it's ALL ABOUT THE DINOSAURS...

In a future post -- I'll show you how I frilled the t-shirts. AND married the Curious George fleece and Dinosaur sham.

SO MUCH FUN...

I Write Trite

I often write "posts" for this blog far in advance. Blogger makes it easy to schedule posts into the future -- and it has become a part of my daily life. I often take pictures of random things, just because I think it'll be fun to write a post about it. Then, sitting in my living room at night, watching the Real Housewives...I'll put the pictures with the words and see if it's a "post"...

Writing has always been my therapy. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm really feeling about a thing until I write it down...

So -- when I'm traveling -- like my recent 8 day trip to Puyallup -- I post the blogs before I leave -- so I don't have to even think about it when I'm on the road.

But the bad thing is that something really serious can happen in the world -- and my blog makes it seem like I think laundry or American Idol is the most important thing...

Hey -- hanging laundry is often the EXACT PURPOSE of this blog. Sewing a dinosaur blanket, having breakfast with your crew...I enjoy writing about the little things that women do...the perfect popover, having a porch party with your cousins. I believe it's those everyday tasks, those very ordinary, thoughtful meals or chores or visits that make a life worth living.

But, for the last three days, watching the horrific video from Japan -- seeing the devastation caused by the earthquake and the tsunami, the loss of life, the nuclear plants melting down -- well...

I dunno. I keep thinking how in just a few moments -- so much was destroyed and lost. Lives, homes, businesses -- everything. Gone forever. For millions of Japanese people -- their lives will never be the same.

They will always measure their lives by "before" the earthquake...and "after"...

Today -- I just couldn't write my usual trite. I want to be sad. And I also want to be grateful. I am both those things...in equal measure...

This is just me, hitting the pause key...

Lillian is TWO

This weekend, we go to Wisconsin to celebrate Lillian's second birthday! JUST WHAT I NEED. Nothing can cheer you up like holding a baby...I can hardly wait!!

Although, she certainly isn't a baby any more...it's shocking how quickly they grow up...

This picture is Elliott, Emily and Lillian one year ago -- March 2010. It was Lillian's first birthday...

And she was still a baby then. She wasn't quite walking...she really didn't understand the concept of opening presents...

One year ago, she was all about "Curious George". Emily and Noona & Aunt Hannah made all the monkey cakes, cupcakes, banana dessert...it was a complete MONKEY THEME party...

This picture was taken at Christmas. How much difference a year makes. She is walking, checking everything out with her binoculars. I'm pretty sure she is wagging her finger in this picture because she is giving somebody an order. To do something....and she means NOW...

It's not about monkeys anymore. Her 2nd birthday will be ALL ABOUT THE DINOSAURS...


Pulling the pictures for this blog made me think about how quickly a year goes by...and how it's always about the changes....

It's so easy to make a two year old happy...a dino shirt and coloring book and Lilly will be over the moon this year. I'm going to just ENJOY the moment...

And wait until you see the special blanket I sewed for Lillian's second birthday! Hey-- come to think of it -- I'M OVER MY FUNK!!

After-The-Show-Letdown

I got home from the show on Tuesday night. Since then, I obviously wrote a few posts for this blog and the show blog -- and I've been answering emails, and trying to deal with the 1300 photos on my camera.

To be completely honest -- I am experiencing a huge after-the-show-letdown....

Really.

I can't believe it's over.

This is worse than Christmas!! These bags, pictured here at the Seattle airport -- are all sitting in the middle of my kitchen right now -- half un-packed. And I don't feel like finishing that big job...ugh...


Maybe my doldrums is caused by a week of eating "show food". Even though Gail left the condo WELL stocked with fresh fruit....and I did enjoy a banana every morning, on our way to the show...and I clearly PACKED an apple every single day....but, sadly -- it was the SAME APPLE every day....(thanks for trying, Gail!)...
Because, sadly, what I actually ATE most days was out of the WSU snack bar -- chips, granola bars, cheetos, pretzels...did I already say chips?? There was some stale beef jerky...
And -- who are we kidding? Besides the non-stop daily snacking -- The actual lunch was some kind of spaghetti or noodles every day...with a mystery meat floatiing in a fattening sauce...but I could identify the BROWNIES for dessert...

When I take the Fisher scones into account -- not to mention eating supper at 10:00 PM AFTER the evening events -- it's no wonder I gained 10 pounds. And, so far, I have put off walking on my treadmill JUST as successfully as I've put off the unpacking job!!

So it's the doldrums....but I'll deal with it. This is one of those days when I wish I knew more about anti-depressant drugs. Humm...

Oh well. Since I have a limited knowledge of pharmaceutical remedies for depression -- I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way.

I'm off to buy some candy bars...then I'll put on some Motown music and SEW SOMETHING for Lilly's birthday party!!

Bernina At The Show

This is Ricky Tims -- on the stage with the Bernina poster and his beautiful Grand Piano. Bernina sponsored our Quilter's Night Out -- and you'll read lots more about them on this blog in future posts...
But, today, looking at some of my pictures, I thought you should see what the show floor looks like on SET UP DAY...that's right...it's a big open space. The pipe & drape isn't even done yet...


But after a LOT OF ELBOW GREASE...the booths start to come alive....
Bernina also had to set up a classroom. It was a VERY BUSY SHOW for them...

And I have some great pictures of their crew at Quilter's Night OUT. THANKS, Bernina...and thanks, Ricky. You were awesome.

It was an inspirational night. If you were there -- you know what I mean. Sooo special...

MY BIG TRIP

Going to the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington is the BIGGEST TRIP of the year for me. I work every single day on Sew Expo. There is ALWAYS something going on. A newsletteris due, the weekly show blog, emails from consumers, trying to track down new vendors, speakers or special events. It really does TAKE A VILLAGE, people.

I started writing the articles for the Seattle Times insert way back in November..and I already have a list in my head about what I hope will make an interesting story for NEXT year.

So -- when it's time for me to actually get ON A PLANE and FLY TO WASHINGTON STATE -- I am ready to hyperventilate from all the excitement and last minute details. I am a nervous wreck from all the worry. Will the show be a success? Will the weather cooperate? Will the people come? Will they enjoy the evening special events? Will we make any money for the charity? Did I explain the Pillowcase Patrol well enough? Well...you get the idea...

I took this picture as my plane was leaving Moline...I can still remember taking a deep breath...my head was spinning...but I knew there wasn't anything more I could do...
I'm telling you -- THOSE PLANES ARE CROWDED. My standard joke is, "the only way they could squeeze any more passengers on this plane would be if they sprayed us all with PAM as we got on."

The actual distance from the edge of my seat to the back of the seat in front of me is 12". REALLY?? I have my Hey Rita totebag (my purse is inside), a bottle of water, a boiled wool jacket and a raincoat. Ugh...(my laptop suitcase is stowed ABOVE the seat -- in the SSMO section. (some shifting may occur)...

This picture was taken during set-up day! Laura Mendoza with her awesome MAYA -- who enjoyed every day of the show!!

Thanks, Laura -- for being such an enthusiastic, awesome CTA, mentor for the Coats & Clark Pro-Am event, attendee, Yahoo Group devotee...

You EPITOMIZE the Sewing & Stitchery Expo.

It was an AWESOME SHOW. The first day of the show, some people couldn't get across the pass (whatever that means). And it was rainy for three out of the four days. BUT our attendance was only down by 800.

Which is a HUGE VICTORY in today's "new economy".

We built it and THEY DID COME...

I'll be posting more pictures, more stories, lots and lots of Sew Expo!! And hey -- Nobody had more fun than me...!!