Back to Reality

"the trouble with reality is it doesn't live up to the best expectations of my fantasies"

 No wonder I stay in my own little world most of the time...reality often smells more like a dirty diaper.

Anyway, I ran away from home for all of last week.  I ended up at the beach.  It was wonderful.  What was amazing was that my sewing machine and projects somehow snuck into my car.  So, I was only partially in my Fantasy Land.  As Brandy and I were driving South, I checked the weather for Fort Morgan....rain was predicted for the entire time we were planning to be there.  

"Why don't we just head back home, Brandy?  We could probably get a lot more done and would not be wasting gas and time driving?....Nah.  I would rather be at the beach house, regardless."  To our delight, reality did live up to some of my expectations.  It was sunny every single day.  Part "B" of my expectations was that I would come back lighter than when I left.  Hrumph.  The only thing lighter was my wallet.  I actually gained 3 pounds!  Pew.  Stinky stinky pew.

I do have some stuff to show you, though....

"Carry All of It" (c)

"Ruffled Apron w/ Gabbi's Rose II"

Where-o-where???

Hey, where have you guys been?  I have been looking for you for a month and.....oh, wait....it is I who have been gone.  Oopsy.

It has been a zoo around here.  I know, you are asking yourselves, "Is that something NEW???"  Oopsy.

There really is no excuse that will stand up in a court of logic.  It is simply that I have not stopped long enough to talk.  Oh, I have been "talking," just not where you guys could hear.  I have been talking to B.....about the sewing machine luggage that has my fabric on it ( MAJOR EGO TRIP so it is a good thing that I will have the new luggage to pack my new, larger hats in to fit my newly larger head) ,  I have been talking, a lot, to the printer about my fabric that I had hoped would already be in my hands,   I have been talking to ....well, myself, mostly.  Creating requires a lot of conversation with oneself, particularly when oneself does not always know what oneself is talking about.  I tend to babble more then but I don't have to worry because I am the only one in the conversation, heh, heh.

And now, you are conversing with yourself asking, "This is what you have been waiting for for a month?!?!

More Quilty Gabbi's Rose

As I said, here is another project for Portland.  Whatchathink???  Inside the pocket is a hot pad. (The "flower")

More clipboard stuff.

Working Quilter

As I wrote the title of this chat, I started wondering, "What exactly is "work" anyway?  Is making a quilt working? When people get paid to sing, is that working????  So much for deep thought.

I have been busy (working) on samples for Market in Portland.  Thus, I am going to do my best to (see?  I have stopped promising) to post the completed items.  So....(the top image is the closest to the "real" colors. The other images look faded to me.  IPhones are probably not the best choice for images, heh heh)

Totally shocked Quilter

From time-to-time I take just a teensy weeny peek at the statistics on my blog.  There are actually those of you who are so loyal, so amazingly faithful to me that you are kind enough to check in on me even when I have been very very bad.....beyond neglectful.  I don't deserve any of you.  Consider yourselves hugged.....heck, just go and give yourself a big fat kiss from me, too.  I am nothing if not generous....

The show in Paducah was grrrrreat.  We were placed in a new spot this year.  Even though we were way over in a corner at the very back of the building, we managed to set a personal best as far as sales are concerned.  The folks were delightful from the AQS personnel, to the shoppers, to the fellow vendors, to the sweet young fireman/EMT who came to ou booth to drool over my daughter.

As you can see from the hour that I am writing this, I should be heading to bed.  So, more later, I just hope it is sooner rather than too much later.  Again, kiss kiss.

Quilter Lovin' It

Truthfully, I love a lot of things.  That can be a problem, especially when it comes to clothes, food, fabric, quilting,jewelry, shopping,  painting, do-nuts,  slot machines ....you get the idea.  Right now, I am in love with the weather.  That is a rare statement coming from someone who lives in northern Lose-iana.  The usual weather is hot, or humid, or hot and humid.  These last few weeks? GORGEOUS.  Dogwoods are in full bloom, even ones that do not usually have blooms.  Azaleas, just WOW.  Roses, AMAZING. Now, lucky me, I get to prolong this time of year by heading North. 

Good news, I hope I hope I hope.  My strike-offs are in the U.S.  Sadly, that does not mean it is in my hands at this second.  I have to wait a few more days because it will be waiting for me in Paducah.

Addictive Quilter

I have always known that I had a tendency to have an addictive personality.  Thank Heavens I did not take up smoking, drinking, or drugs.  The scary part???  I have discovered CASINOS.  I just love the slots.  It used to be doughnuts.  My car turned automatically into the Krispy Kreme parking lots.  I tried to resist, screaming at my kids, "Grab the wheel. Pull."

  But, it was a fight we often lost.  What else was I to do?  We were already in the parking lot....so, I bought, and ate, wonderfully warm, fresh, gooey, delicious doughnuts.

Now, it is Casinos.  On the way home from Schaumburg, we stopped at two casinos.  In fact, we stayed at the second one until 2 a.m.   After sleeping a couple of hours in a WalMart parking lot, we arrived home around 8 a.m.  When I called Tom he asked if I won.  I said, "Sure, I won.   I won, then I lost, then I won, then I lost....."

Luckily, there are no casinos within a hour's drive from here...however, there is a doughnut shop in town.  It is not a Krispy Kreme, but, sometimes one has to be a bigger person and overlook small flaws.  Yeah, if I keep overlooking some of these flaws, I will be a lot bigger person.

Where has this Quilter been?

Are you kidding me?  I have been in the Never-Never-Land, in OZ, ...in The Cloud.  Wherever...By the way, I have no idea what this new term, the Cloud, means.  I guess someone figured out that the Earth just could not handle all the krappola that we as humans create all the time so they decided to clutter up the sky, as well.  Feed it to the Clouds, yeah, that's it.  It could be that when one goes to that Big Cloud in the Sky they will not be bored because there will be so much up there to check out.  An eternity's worth.

As for my fabric, sadly, I cannot say that you guys have exactly bombarded me with orders.  I consider this to be a bad sign and am wondering if I have made a HUGE mistake by ordering thousands of yards of the stuff.  Gulp.  Oh well, too late now.  The first of the fabric will be in my hands by next Friday.  If everything checks out and there are minimal changes, then the entire batch will be made and in my hands in a few weeks. My first order of business will be to use up a good bit of it making samples for Market in Oregon. But, first, we will be headed to Paducah, Kentucky, and plan to show off the fabric then.  I will be taking pre-orders there as well.  If you are able to walk, run, fly, or use magic, you should get thyself to the AQS show in Paducah.  The town is charming, the quilt show is fabulous, there are a bazillion vendors selling everything from quilting supplies to shoes and jewelry.  Waaaay fun. Hope to see you there.

Quilter Wakes Up

Slap, slap.  Back to Reality.  As my dear friend said the other day,"I buried my head in the sand but every time I took it out, the world was still there."  Honestly, I like my life.  I love where I am in this phase.  That is not to say there are not things that I would change.  The changes are obvious--my husband would be here, beside me, ALL of the time ( ok, so I would let him potty allllll by himself), my sister, mother, and father would be in my arms instead of the Angels', my daughter-in-law would get her just rewards, and, I would actually be making a Profit.  Like I said, back to Reality.

FABRIC STUFF:  If you are interested in ordering any of my new fabric line, Gabbi's Rose, please do not hesitate to call me at 318-243-2983 or email me at sales@quiltinacup.com  When the fabric arrives it will retail for $10.99.  We are pre-selling yardage for $8.99 with a minimum order of 3 yards, total.

QUILTING ARTS segment:  Airs sometime around the latter part of July.

WHERE ARE WE?  Schaumburg, Illinois, @ the Original Sewing and Quilt Show, Schaumburg Convention Center, April 4-6,  10:00-6:00

Quilter's Quandry

We have a dilemma  in front of us.....we are in between shows and the taping without enough time to drive home and then turn around and get back for the Schaumburg Show.  This gives Brandy and me three days without a sewing machine!!! Or, a computer!!  What does one do in these dire situations?

I seem to recall in the T.B.Q.. (Time Before Quilting) that there were days where we read books....did a little knitting....needlepoint.... Cooking..(there must be a mistake.  Forget that I wrote that)....Cleaning (DEFINITELY FORGET I WROTE THAT.  Shake it off, Dianne.  It must be all the sleep I have been getting.  I am not in my write mind.  Apparently, too much sleep and relaxation can warp one's thinking)....

Such trials life can give us.  But we are women; we are creative..first, we overslept.  Next, we spent the day at the Chicago Art Institute ; we had lunch out.  We shopped.  We overslept, again.  We watched television without fabric and a cutting table in front of us.  I did not know the television even worked without a pair of scissors in my hand and the sewing machine plugged in and on. Now, today, we are exploring the countryside.  I could get used to this.....