Almost Wordless Wednesday

Lots of HST's made with Grant Park......

My afternoon will be spent trimming bunny ears and listening to baseball.

Laurie

Grant Park and Playing Card Winners!

Thanks everyone for all your "escape" ideas.  There were lots of good ones.  It doesn't seem that we need a week or 10 days away at a spa - but sometimes just an afternoon with no phones or deadlines, and maybe something cool to drink.  All of your ideas were great to read.

The winner of the Grant Park Jelly Roll™and playing cards is Glynette

The winner of the Grant Park Charm Pack™and playing cards is Debby who said  "It is nice to have a few hours all by myself. I love to ride out of town and turn the radio on to whatever station I want to listen to - or not turn it on at all."

The winner of the Grant Park Candy™ and the pack of quilty playing cards is Helen - who likes to getaway to nearby Whidbey Island.

Ladies, email me here and your goodies will go out promptly.

The dog days of August are almost upon us..... don't forget to treat yourself to a little time off.

Laurie

My Kind Of Town

We just spent a couple of days in Chicago........

 We had some nice seats at Cellular Field to watch the Tigers play the White Sox. The Tigers won, the weather was brilliant, and the train ride there and back was fun.

 I took my own advice and we spent a lovely afternoon on the Architectural Boat Tour of Chicago.

 What a great way to spend the afternoon.

Cannot wait to get back there.

 A leisurely, lovely breakfast at Ina's was one of the highlights.

 And look what awaited me back here in Ann Arbor - the pre-cuts of Grant Park. (Grant Park, by the way is right next to the Art Institute of Chicago, where we saw The Fashion of Impressionism exhibit.  Sorry, they wouldn't allow cameras.  If you love Impressionism, France, and 19th century fabrics and clothing - this is a must!!)

 Guess what else the postman brought? A pack of quilting playing cards.  These were a gift from Monique Dillard and C &  T publishing.  Monique used our fabric to make the quilt on the back of the cards.  Thank you Monique!! We love these!

 Our 2 1/2 day vacation was just what the doctor ordered. We relaxed, saw great stuff, ate great food, and we are now back to work, refreshed.

What do you do when you need just a little time away? Comment here about that - or anything else and you could win a Grant Park pre-cut and a deck of quilty playing cards.  We'll pick 3 winners for a chance at a Jelly Roll™and cards, a Charm Pack™and a pack of cards, or a Candy™and a pack of cards.  Comment before midnight Saturday July 27th.  This is your only chance to get Grant Park before it ships next spring to your local quilt shop.

Laurie

Quiltmania 96

We received a nice little bundle in the mail today.  A few copies of the new Quiltmania.  Issue #96 features lots of pictures from the Pour l'amour du Fil show in Nantes this past April.

They are offered HERE

P.S.  We have now sold out.  We hope to get some more copies in.  In the meantime - you can find Quiltmania at many quilt shops and newstands that carry foreign magazines.  Thanks everyone.

Have a great weekend!

Ann Arbor Art Fair 2013

The last couple days I've been working on new quilts to showcase our fabric collection Grant Park. (Someone asked when it would be available - not until spring of 2014.)  We are busting our knuckles to get the quilts designed so we can get a catalog ready to show to shop owners.  We've been feeling the time crunch and I turned into Miss Crankypants yesterday from my 15 hour work day.  I was then told by several people to take a break.  Okay. Message received.

I got up early, got on the bus to view part of the Ann Arbor Art Fair this morning.  Like most Art Fairs - it was beautiful, inspiring, and HOT.  I usually go the first morning, but didn't get there until the 3rd day this year.  I like to go before a lot of people are there.  Unfortunately, this year most of all the booths were locked up tight and no early views were available.  Also, there were many "No Photography" signs.  Heh, I hardly call my self a photographer, but anyway.....

I started at the far edge on South University and walked back to the bus station.  South University is the original, and oldest part of the Art Fair, and it's always where the best stuff is.  

These are shibori dyed silk scarved by Betsy Giberson.  They were exquisite.

These charming paintings of birds and dogs are by Candace Compton Pappas

Energetic street scenes by Roger Disney. This particular one of State Street in Ann Arbor was being sold in a silent auction. 

The Ann Arbor Pottery Guild always shows on the steps of Hill Auditorium. 

The THING this year at Art Fair..... Wine Slushies.  Not too much of a crowd at 10am.

And what would be Art Fair without the quintessential Ann Arbor treat - a Berry Patch at Afternoon Delight.  It's sort of healthy and sort of decadent.  Frozen yogurt with fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Can you believe I've actually had requests for the annual Art Fair report? Yes-sir-eety.  I guess you folks haven't had your fill of bad photography, but here it is for another year, now back to sewing.

Laurie

Almost Wordless Wednesday

iPad, paper piecing, and the new Grant Park fabric.  We'll be working like mad for the next 2 months to bring you new patterns using this lovely group.

It's Monday and a UPS Trunk Visited

My poor UPS driver.  He had 5 boxes to deliver today.  4 of them were big.  He and his hand truck made it to the porch.  That in itself is a feat.  Road construction........

So, guess what happened?
As I was waiting for the above mentioned UPS driver, the road construction in front of the house had stopped traffic.  Stopped.  About 100 cars with their motors running, standing still in the July heat.  Have you heard the saying - "It's not the heat it's the STUPIDITY"  Well, it's true.  Some loser started blasting his horn.  Like that would help.  Thankfully, a few other motorists and a courageous bike rider went over to talk to him before I stormed out of the house to give him my opinion on the matter.  I think it's best for everyone that it didn't get to that.

Anyway, I digress........ the 5 boxes were dropped off by my sweaty, but extremely pleasant UPS driver.  One of the boxes was barely hanging on - it practically exploded on the porch.  Fabric is like that - very dense and heavy.

Yeah! New Fabric being delivered...  Here are the first photos.  Excuse the bad photography.  Here is Grant Park by Minick and Simpson for Moda Fabrics.

 The exploded box soon was getting stacked, piled, re-stacked, re-piled onto my cutting table.  We are working on 4 new patterns with this collection.  That first stack of red fabrics has been confirmed - it will be one of the new quilts.  The other 3 are still being decided as I stack, re-stack, and ponder. What is my favorite fabric, you ask?  There is always one that makes itself known right away.  Even though I saw pictures of the fabrics in an email last month...... it's just not the same as getting them in your hands.  I would have never guess that this little unobtrusive taupe calico would become my favorite.  At least it is today.

Remember those "Orange Peels" that I was working on last week?  They have started to make their way onto a quilt.  It is far from finished.  Here is a little peak.  Except for 2 pink fabrics, all of the fabrics used are Minick and Simpson fabrics from my scrap box.  We think it has a bit of a French look to it.  What can I say, travel will do that to you.....

There is MUCH to be done still.  I'll keep you posted.  This will become a pattern and it will be available in our next batch of patterns to be unveiled next month.  Thanks for indulging me.

Laurie

July Report

It seems like I have tons to tell you - and not much at all, really.  Just stuff.........

First of all, I am the Calendar Girl for July - for the 2013 Aurifil Designer of the Month.....

This is my block, Chained Star - using Pat Brava's fabric collection - Rock'n Romance.  

What else... for all of you who asked about my progress on the big stitch quilting of Nightingale.....

The quilt is finished and on it's way to it's destination.  More pictures later - when it gets closer to publication time.  It took me 12 days (evenings, really) to hand quilt it.  The big stitch let me finish it in a flash.

I'm having a great time listening to my new favorite murder mystery series - the Flavia De Luce series by Alan Bradley.  Flavia is an eleven year old detective/chemist in 1950 Great Britain.  Yes, a real to goodness "girl detective".  She is wonderful.  The first book in the series is "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie".  My local library card lets me download the ebook audiobook of this (and many others) immediately onto my ipad.  Sometimes the 21st century is just awesome.

Hope you all got through the fireworks celebrations ok.  Gibby does not like them one bit.  The relaxing of the local ordinances regarding fireworks is not helping his serenity at all.  A Thundershirt was purchased and it helped some, but between the all day road construction noise and the week of evening fireworks - a trip to the vet was needed.  A few anti-anxiety medicated days later, and he is a new dog.  But seriously, the fireworks can stop any time now.

What else is going on here? Well I expect NEW FABRIC to arrive any time now and we are fine tuning the designs that will use it.  One of the projects will have lots and lots of orange peels......

Laurie

Have A Happy 4th!

 We hope you have a great 4th! and wear the red, white, and blue in style.

East 42nd by Thomas Hawk on Flickr

Whether you are in the city or the country, have a great day with family and friends.

Sit and relax and have a cool drink.

Wall of shoes in the Converse store in SoHo.

Maybe even indulge your artistic side in the long, holiday weekend.

Polly and Laurie

July

Happy July Everyone!

Boy On The Beach from American Summer by Polly Minick

Sailboat Semper Fi kit

La Playa Quilt

Sand Pail Quilt from Folk Art Friends by Minick and Simpson

Beach Gal from American Summer by Polly Minick

This is our season...... Enjoy

Laurie