Fall

How can there be only 2 more days of September?

I'm writing this on a cool, windy, rainy night. I'm wearing sweat pants, sweatshirt, and socks. Socks, people! It's been a few months since I've worn those.  Someone in the neighborhood is burning logs in their fireplace and the whole neighborhood smells wonderful. The neighborhood is also quite noisy.  There are many, many black walnut trees in this block and today seems to be the day they are all dropping. If you aren't used to the noise every fall you might think artillery is hitting the roof.

Fall is definitely here.  I made this a couple of days ago and the recipe is going into the permanent file.

This is what is commonly called the New York Times Plum Torte.  You can find the very easy recipe HERE.

The weather is particularly nice since I'm busy sewing a quilt for Quilt Market next month.  I can't show you much, but I'll give you a couple of hints.

Some red berries might be involved.  And our color palette is being tweaked just a bit.

I'm feeling quite jolly about it.

Since I'm in the holiday mood - how about a little sale?  As a thank you to our Block of The Month customers, we but some quilt backings in our Etsy shop.  We gave a special coupon code to the Portage Lake BOM members - BACK40 - and they could purchase their backs at 40% off.  The sale is good for the whole month of September.  We have just a few quilt backs left - and we have 2 days left in September.

Let me give you another hint - as long as the total of your "shopping cart" is $56.00 or more (the cost of the quilt backs) - everything you put in your shopping cart would be 40% off if you use the coupon code BACK40.

For all of you Block of The Month people - you can get another back, or anything in the shop that is at least $56.00 in value to take advantage of the sale again, there is only a few more hours left in September.  Thank you all - we sold a ton of quilt backs.

Laters,

Laurie

Football, Books, and Shoes

Hello again.  I'll tell you about the last couple of weeks by going through my photos on my phone. Polly, myself, Jennifer and Steve Keltner  had a nice treat 2 weeks ago. We watched a University of Michigan football game together.  We had spiffy seats. I'll probably never get to watch a game in that kind of comfort again.  A good time was had by all.  What you see here is the halftime show paying homage to Veterans.

I put several works in progress up on my design wall to see how they are getting along.  I haven't shown this one before on the blog.  It's a BOM from Australia called the Rowdy Flat Library Quilt.  It's kind of eccentric and very, very fun.  I went off in a totally different color palette (trying to channel my inner Australian).  There are 3 more big blocks to go - plus an appliqué border. It's excess on top of excess. 

This is the progress so far on my Star A Day quilt.  Only 2 more blocks to go.  It's all made with Minick and Simpson scraps and despite using hundreds of different fabrics - it is quite cohesive.  Just a reminder that all Minick and Simpson fabrics will work together.   For those of you looking for the pattern - we are currently sold out - but I will be stocking up on more next month at Quilt Market.  The next time I post an in-progress photo of this quilt - we will have the patterns back in stock.

 I have added to my personal library with these 4 beauties. The top 2 are artist studios and home decor and then the new Kaffe Fassett book and the new Gwen Marston book from Martingale.  There is so much inspiration in all of them.

 Speaking of books....... we can now announce that we will have a new one out in April of 2017.  It will be published by Martingale and will be a coffee table type book - tons of pictures! We know you want it and need it, right?  More info when publication gets closer.  So that sort of solves the mystery of why my fabric shelves are so neat.  Picture taking!

Jennifer Keltner and Brent Kane took tons of gorgeous photos.  Don't let these pics taken on my iPhone prejudice you on the beauty.  

 

This is my Mrs. Billings Coverlet looking spiffy on a great bed.

This is one of Polly's new rugs looking spectacular over a cupboard.  These are just a small drop in the bucket of pictures.  We can't wait to see it all put together.

 In other news..... I'm breaking in my new pair of Quilt Market shoes.

Laters,

Laurie

Early Fall

 I'm ashamed to see how infrequently I have put up a blog post.  Things get in front of it on my daily "to-do" list.  It was summer when I last blogged and now it's early fall.  You know that of course by the kazillion football games that were broadcast this past holiday weekend.  It is football season here in the Midwest.  RAH!  If you are a football fan (or live among them) maybe our Gridiron! table topper is for you.  The color could be altered to fit your favorite team. 

Grand Haven Table topper is here too! We think of it as summery, but if the nautical look rocks your boat all year long - here it is.

Now that Grand Traverse Bay fabric collection has shipped to shops - we love seeing what you are making with it.  Instagram has been great for that.  This is my Miller Avenue - hanging our in the studio on Miller Avenue.  

Our friends at Moda in Dallas found the very last ever kit of Austin Bluebird hidden in the warehouse.  It is now here - waiting to be claimed.  It's in our Etsy shop.

Speaking of football season, we are anxiously awaiting cool evenings so we can cuddle up with this Ironwood quilt made with our Cotton Works fabric collection.  It's soft and squishy and feels like  wool, but it 100% cotton. 

And if snuggling up under a warm quilt sounds good - you might want to have this too.  This new book by Martingale is a wonder.  Gwen Marston and her quilts.  Gwen's genius is evident. You will want to pick this book up again and again for the inspiration.

Me? I'm plugging along on a new quilt for our top secret fabric group that will be unveiled next month.  It might have a lot of appliqué.  It also might have a lot of English Paper Piecing. I think this might be enough thread.  We hope you love it.

Laters,

Laurie