Decoration Day

Does anyone still use that term for Memorial Day anymore? That was what our parents called the end of May holiday.  The internet told me that Decoration Day was the first name of the holiday after the Civil War.  Our parents aren't quite that old - but their parents and grandparents were.

Frederick Childe Hassam

We hope you have a fantastic Red, White and Blue holiday! Make sure to dress appropriately.

Whether you go to the pool....

Or a gala......

Or whether you curl up in your patriotic room and read a good book....

from Habitually Chic.com

Always have a cool drink to keep you hydrated.......

In our heart we love the red, white and blue!  

To help a little with the celebration, we have 1 kit for sale over the long Decoration Day weekend.

Polly's Stars and Stripes kit is 25% off until midnight Memorial - Decoration Day.  All you need to do is put the code DECORATIONDAY in the coupon code box.  You can find the kits HERE

Laters,

Laurie

Post Market Wrap Up and Winners!!!!

We're back. We're tired, and we're happy. The big plans I have every year of taking more pictures is still unfulfilled, but I did manage a few.  You only get a few chances to walk around and explore.  Most of the time is spent in your booth talking to customers and friends.

This is what we saw on the first day - Set Up Day.  Aurifil was unpacking.....

Jamie and Tammy were building trees for the Moda Camp booth.

Our favorite Brits - Tony and Janet had their Flight fabric collection looking spiffy.  Tony surprised me with his excellent dance moves.

I asked Sandy Klop of American Jane to make sure she saves a kit of this beauty for me.  It's made with Hop, Skip and Jump - her new line of fabric.

Jen Kingwell is looking regal in her amazing display of quilts, patterns, and fabrics.

Gingiber  is a new Moda Designer.  Thicket was very popular.

Holly - the genius graphic designer, booth builder, quilt maker, jack of all trades - made this stunner. 

Our booth neighbor Betsy Chutchian had her lovely quilts made with Hope's Journey. 

Linda White of Gum Valley Patchwork stopped by to chat and gave us a copy of her new book - Elenor Jean.  Elenor Jean (along with her previous quilt - Dear Prudence) are awe inspiring. They are an English Paper Piecer's dream.  They are also both made with Minick and Simpson fabrics. Thanks Linda, for making us look so good.

We stopped by to visit Paul and Karen of Somerset Patchworks and to pick up new supplies (for you!!!) of Mrs. Billings and Star A Day patterns.  Karen may or may not have lured me into a new hand pieced project.  I'm 2/3 finished with my Star A Day - it will have to wait for that.

We had a nice chat with Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession.  This is her new line with Free Spirit. We love the hand quilting!

Now, on the winner of the Grand Traverse Bay Fat Quarter Bundle™ - Gayle

Gayle has already been contacted, but I have some good news...... I have picked 3 other winners!

These 3 will get Quilt Market goodies!

Saltandpepper

sndy1

paulette

Ladies, email me at lauriesimpson92@gmail.com to get your goodies!

Laters,

Laurie

We're Going to A Convention!

Polly and I are packing right now to go to a convention.....

Nope, not this kind of convention.

We're going here....

The Salt Lake City Convention Center.  We'll be running into all sorts of friends and compadres.  Business will be done, but lots of laughing will be done too. 

International Quilt Market - Spring 2016 (photo from a year or so ago)

I'll try to keep the photos coming as we work.  I have 48 lbs of quilts in one of my suitcases.

This got packed..... as did this

It's so big I can't get a picture of it.  

What would you like a photo of? What booth would you like to visit? What restaurant would you dine at? What new shoes would you wear? 

Leave a comment about that - or anything else and you could win a new Fat Quarter Bundle™ of Grand Traverse Bay - that's enough fat quarters to make the quilt above - Martin Place (25 Fat Quarters and background fabric)  - it's almost like I go to Sample Spree FOR you.  

We'll draw for a winner when we get back home.

Laters,

Laurie

Bolt End Sale

This is just giving you a head's up on our sale in our Etsy store.  We are expecting lots of bolts of fabric for our upcoming Portage Lake Block of the Month.  I need to make room, so I have partial bolts of many fabrics that were used in previous kits.

This was me making a pile of them earlier today.  They are all now listed in our Etsy store.  All are Moda Fabrics.  There are prints (Minick and Simpson and other Moda Designers) for $5.00 per yard. There are specialty fabrics like Cross Weaves and Denims for $6.00 per yard and we have a few Bella Solids for $4.00 a yard.  

Thanks 

Laurie

The Airing Of The Quilts

All the quilts are back from the long arm quilter and they developed some creases being boxed up and shipped.  It was a gorgeous day today and I realized you haven't seen many of these close up - in their natural habitat.  This is Martin Place.  This is a large, yet simple quilt - made all the more yummy with some great quilting.

This is Miller Avenue.  It is being photographed ON Miller Avenue.  

This is Ric Rac.  It was a delight to hand quilt (in the style of UK strippy quilts).  I have included the hand quilting patterns and a few of my hand quilting tips in this pattern too. 

Gibby likes Ric Rac......

He even aired out a few things of is own while he was admiring it.

Portage Lake is finished and ready for a summer by the water.

Daleview really got wrinkled and I'm letting it hang out in the studio until it relaxes.

We hope you get to get out in the sunshine this weekend.  Remember we have a holiday on Sunday.  In honor of Mother's Day - everything in our Etsy store is 15% off this weekend.  Just use the coupon code MOTHER to get your discount.

Laters,

Laurie