Memorial Day

The best thing about small town America? Small town American parades. We just got back from the Dexter Michigan Memorial Day Parade and it was as great as it is every year. And, it wasn't cold and rainy like it usually is on Memorial Day. Gibby is very excited to see his first parade.The veterans were at the start of it.
Soon followed by the Boy Scouts.Next was the Dexter High School Marching Band.Polly and I are both graduates of Dexter High School. It is uniforms like this that are responsible for our life-long dislike of the color "maroon." Seriously. If someone mentions the color maroon - to this day all I can recall is the smell of sweaty wool uniforms. And we weren't in the band. Between the band uniforms, the cheerleader uniforms, and the athletic equipment - that smell is my most vivid memory of high school. Oh, these poor kids. The band was closely followed by these lovely and sweet smelling baton twirlers. Next were the miles of vintage cars.Followed up by fire trucks.....and last, but not least, the horses.The best part?? Possibly the ride home, getting that smell of "maroon" out of our nostrils. Happy Memorial Day Everyone - and Thank You Veterans!!

Laurie

P.S. We are still counting polka-dots and we only have 3 La Playa kits left. Thanks for the great response.

Sunday Salads

Today we had our favorite salad. It is one of Polly's favorite too. Spinach and Strawberry salad. Uhhhmmm, we ate it before I remembered about getting a picture of it. Google to the rescue. This is a spinach and strawberry salad, just not our spinach and strawberry salad.
This is our favorite....

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

For each plate arrange the following: baby spinach leaves, 3-4 spears of steamed asparagus, 1 very thin slice of red onion - separated, 1/3 cup mandarin orange slices, 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, 1-2 tablespoons of toasted sliced almonds. Dress with poppy seed dressing.

Poppy seed Dressing

1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 thick slice of red onion
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Add all into the bowl of a food processor and whirl for about 5-10 seconds until the onion is very finely chopped. Dressing keeps well for 1 week in refrigerator.

This is a favorite of ours this time of year when fresh asparagus and strawberries are in season here in Michigan. With a slice of bread this is a full lunch and with a piece of grilled chicken this is certainly very filling for dinner. Bon Appetit.


Summer is on the way and what is making an impression on me? Stripes. Polka-dots. Lots and lots of them. I am seeing them everywhere and while they can be for anytime - it sure seems summery to me. (image from www.cher-is-creatingspaces.com)
(image from habituallychic.blogspot.com)

And even these - the most talked about eye wear at Spring Quilt Market - Polly's new glasses.Too cool.

Polka-dots have been IN for awhile now. I couldn't be happier. LOVE them!
This is Joanna's new version of polka-dots in her Fresh Cottons by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.
Here is our latest version of polka-dots - the Bar Harbor polka-dots.Actually, Moda is loaded with polka-dots.
This is one of the many dotty things in Moda Home. Polly and I love polka-dots too and we try to get a new variation in every line. I love polka-dots so much that I picked out a dog with a polka-dotted tongue.
Click to enlarge! Yes, this is Gibby and his best girlfriend Clara after a play date.

Which brings me to this..... guess how many polka-dots are on Gibby's tongue (don't forget the underside) and you can win something summery from us. Comment and guess before midnight June 2nd and the prize will be yours.

Laurie

Back to "Normal"

That is, assuming we were ever normal. Polly is busy contemplating future rug designs and the Fall Quilt Market booth (yes, really!) and I am now unpacked and making sure our new patterns are in the process of being printed. As someone has pointed out, we didn't take very good pictures of our booth this time. The reasons are good - we were swamped. Market was busy and the vibe was positive. That said, here are our three new patterns and an older pattern that was re-made in Clermont Farms fabric.This one is called Patrick's Patchwork.This one is Alma's Quilt.
This is 3 Brother's Farm made in the new fabric....Last, but not least is La Playa.
La Playa is being kitted by us and you can order it here. We bought all of this original background fabric available from Moda fabrics and we have a limited supply. Each kit will include all the fabric for the top and binding, the pattern (which will be delivered to us next week) and the backing is optional. All will be lovingly packed in a sand pail. Thanks Everyone!!

Patrick's Patchwork and Alma's Quilt patterns will appear on the website in a few days.

Laurie

My Apologies!

Mea Culpa. I owe a lot of apologies. There is no excuse, but I was over caffienated, under hydrated, over worked and something else too, I forget. First of all, Sandy Gervais - I am so sorry. Your beautiful new line is not Frolic (a current fave), but Lollipop. Oy!
Second of all.... I did not get a picture of Leigh Ann, but I did get pictures of her ongoing project in the hotel room.It is another La Playa quilt (for Leigh Ann's own "over achiever enjoyment" and also for another La Playa to tour with trunk shows) Thanks Leigh Ann. Seriously, she went back to the hotel room and between 9 and midnight each night she worked. It is almost done.

Apologies are due to other fellow Moda designers who belatedly get their booths or quilts posted here today. Here, in no particular order is Laundry Basket Quilts lovely new pieced and appliqued beauty.
This is Jan Patek's new quilt. Wow, Jan - it is my new favorite.
This over exposed picture of Kansas Troubles' Booth does not do it, nor Lynn justice. Sorry Lynn.
As for the rest of my colleagues - Uhhh, that's is all I have. If I missed you - please accept my apologies. :)

Laurie

It is now over and we laughed a lot. A success, anyway you measure it. Last night we had a wonderful meal with good friends. Quite possibly the best meal ever. We dined at Alma. Alma is a recent winner of a James Beard award for best restaurant in the Midwest. We all agree. Make sure to go if you are ever in the area. Carrie Nelson and her booth helper Judy came with us. Because there was a "Prom" at our hotel at the very same time, the outside of our hotel was littered with limos. We took advantage and hired an idle limo driver for a short drive to the restaurant. We kind of felt important. Here is Carrie showing us the way to enter a stretch limo - ladylike. I didn't do such a great job.
Seriously, the waiters took away our plates and not a crumb was left by any of us. Superb! Okay, on to more Quilt Market pictures..... Here is the pillow from Renee Plains booth. Renee is a delight and her booth is a must visit at every market.

At the Lecien booth, our friend The Happy Zombie was showing her first line of fabric. This was children's clothing made out of it. Adorable, Monica.

This booth was called The Red Thread. The wool quilts were lovely.

Sandy Gervais had another knockout booth with her Frolic collection.

Now, it's early to bed and back on the road tomorrow. More to follow when I am home.

Laurie

Minneapolis Mash Up

I just want you to know that when I get home on Tuesday, the many, many, pictures I have on my blackberry will be patiently loaded on this blog. It isn't happening right now. These are the pictures that loaded in the last hour. Oy. If another full day in the convention center wasn't enough - I was taken to the Mall of America today for lunch and a roller coaster ride. A person should not and could not expect anymore. You want more??? Okay, how about dinner in a 4 star restaurant with quilting royalty and a ride in a limo. More details tomorrow......

First things first... this is Joanna's beautiful Fig Tree & Co. booth. Another hit Joanna.
Here we have the ribbon winner - Bunny Hill with her fantastic take on all things baby.

Blackbird Design couldn't be here in Minneapolis, but Kansas City Star had a lovely display of their work.

Best use of funky, weird things?? This is a "quilt ladder" in American Jane's booth made out of antique textile mill spools.

Please make sure to visit all the other bloggers. More tomorrow, complete with restaurant reviews.

Laurie

Long Day's Journey into Blogland

Such a great day. So exhausted. Hardly any words or any voice left. Here are some pictures of the Moda area this morning before all the activity. This lovely quilt is from the Collections for A Cause - Hope.
Moda has a new designer - Oliver + S. This is their fabric made into an adorable quilt.

This was their booth. Awesome!

This is one of our new patterns - La Playa. I think this picture is upside down, but it is symmetrical - so you get the idea.

Polly is reading the designer playbook and here is the sign for our booth - Clermont Farms - the new collection.

More tomorrow.

Laurie

Lost in The North Woods

We are having fun in spite of ourselves. Less than one day here and Polly has lost her phone (later found) and I have lost my purse. The hotel staff has found it and returned it. Leigh Ann certainly has her hands full keeping us safe from ourselves. We are now back in the room after a day of booth construction and a visit to the infamous Sample Spree. Only a very few pictures have survived. Somehow most of my pictures were lost too. A whole lot of other bloggers are here taking pictures - so you will not lose out. Make sure to visit the link at the left to other Market bloggers. So, here is what we have......

Polly found lots of lovely wool at Sample Spree. This is from Wooden Spool Designs.

Here is the Moda table at Sample spree.

And last, but not least, the Moda booth at Market being put together.

Light a candle for us, that we won't lose anything else. More tomorrow!

Laurie

Ready, Set, Go

Gibby is terribly depressed that I am leaving. No, not really. He is just upset in this picture because we have banned him from the kitchen while we are cooking dinner. He likes to help, but he does get underfoot. He is an accident waiting to happen. All 60 lbs of him.

The car is packed and we will be on our way at 6am tomorrow morning. The only thing I know I have forgotten is a roll of quarters for the infamous toll roads in and around Chicago. We will just have to stop for nourishment before we get to the Windy City and stock up on quarters. Leigh Ann is a great travel partner, even if we do need a large supply of caffeine and chocolate for the road.



Keep checking back for market updates and a new kit will be up a week from today. Happy Trails.

Laurie

60 Hours

In 60 hours Leigh Ann and I will be on the road to Minneapolis. Polly will meet us there. The booth has been packed and I am crossing things off my lists. I still need to pack my own suitcase, but that's about it. We have never been this ahead of schedule. Kind of scary. The big news....we have achieved our "Booth Packing Goal." The booth is broken down and in 2 suitcases. Two. Suitcases. That beats last market when we had 2 suitcases, 5 tubs, a crib, and a wheeled dolly. It beats the market when we packed 2 large bins and shipped them by freight. And it beats the time both Polly and I flew to market - each with 4 suitcases on wheels. Flying with 4 suitcases is now but a fond memory. It would be cheaper just to buy our suitcases their own seats. A little explanation is due. Polly is mailing a box ahead to the hotel room and Sara and Hassan are making 2 props for us and meeting us in Minneapolis with them. All the rest though..... in TWO SUITCASES. Thank you, thank you. Your applause is appreciated.

We couldn't do it without the help of our friends: Sara and Hassan - artists extraordinaire, Lissa and the crew at Moda who loan us step ladders, hammers, chairs and flooring, and friends like our booth neighbors Barb and Mary who know their way around all those pesky teamster regulations. Barb and Mary are two "Can Do" women and a heckofa fun pair.

I am so far ahead of schedule I even cooked dinner last night. This is what we had. Delicious. I can't wait for when I am back next weekend. I am hoping the local strawberries will be at the Farmer's Market and I will post Polly's and my favorite salad.

Well, I guess I can't put up a post without some kind of a picture.... So here....This is a "Ship Ahoy" quilt kit. I have 2 kits left over from a workshop. The kit includes the Ship Ahoy pattern, all the fabric to make the top and the binding. The price of this kit is $80.00 and that includes the shipping. Email me here and I will get one of these kits out to you before I leave town. Sorry, just 2 kits. Once they are gone - I will post an update. Thanks. Remember to stop by daily next week for Market updates and be sure to go here for other Market updates.

Laurie

UPDATE: Thanks!! Both kits have been claimed.

Homestretch

Well, things are getting wrapped up here just in time for a little road trip to Minneapolis. The quilts came back from the quilter today. I am busy, sewing on the bindings.
Always one to multi-task - I am getting in a few innings of the baseball game too.

You know I said my heart hadn't mended yet and I wasn't committing myself to baseball this year. Well, you know how that goes.



Laurie