Love this weather!

O.K.- it has been way too long since I last posted and am going to try and do better. I just ran down the street for lunch and I am sure loving this weather. Of course it doesn't measure up to being on the cruise, but it is sure an improvement. - Beth and I have been busy getting ready for the Princeton Quilt Show. It is the first weekend of March and will be here before we know it. We have lots of new projects and are really trying to focus on the fast, fun and easy ones. - Our retreat is at the end of the month and we are both finishing our blocks to send those off to Janice to quilt. Remember, if you need a great quilter, we have one! She is putting the quilt I made for my new grandson on the frame today. He is due any day now. She asked me just how long have I known I was going to have a grandson? Some things never change. Sew much to do, sew little time. - I am working on another baby quilt for my neighbor and have had a ball appliqueing with my new Pfaff. Having the pressure foot lift on it's own makes everything soooooo easy. I am actually making two of them so I can have one for the store. - Tomorrow night we do our Aunt Sewzy program for the Ottawa guild. It is called, "Aunt Sewzy Goes to the Demo." Beth and I always have a good time when we go out and visit the guilds. Aren't quilters great?

Ta Ta,
Carol

Where in the world are Carol and Beth?

What a day! We saw so many new things it is hard to know where to begin! So......I'll start with our first purchases--two rulers by Deb Tucker. Yes, you guessed the first one--The Tucker Trimmer. She was so busy doing demos that we had our picture taken with her husband. He said he didn't mind at all! We also bought another ruler that you are going to love for doing the 54/40 or Fight. It is the V block trimmer. We definitely don't think Deb sleeps at night. She is amazing! On the first day of market we always sit with our Moda Rep, Brian. Edyta Sitar has some beautiful batiks and cottons. Of course we purchased some Kansas Troubles. And, we purchased an adorable line from Sandy Gervais. Our final picture of the day was with the guys in pink from Like Sew. As you can tell, we always have a lot of fun with them. They run our website and we use their program for designing blocks. I was in their very first class at market 2 1/2 years ago. They are the nicest "computer geeks" we know. Market closed at 6 PM and then we headed to the Moda party. We aren't going to tell you where it was held, but we will give you three strikes, oh I mean three guesses as to where it was. Now, don't tell our husbands to check out these pictures of us. We've always told them our trips to market are work, work and more work. Actually, you can tell our husbands as they don't even know how to turn on our computers!

TTFN,
Carol

P.S. If you like my scarf, I got it at Amma's in Princeton! Beth was sooooooo tired of people stopping me and asking where I got my scarf. I was almost tempted to take it off so I could get through the aisles! (Notice I said almost!) I finally called Kay, the owner of Amma's, and asked her if she could mail them to people. She has them in many colors, but you better get down there soon as Kay will soon be out of them!

To Market, To Market

The day before market is such a fun time---anticipation, anticipation, anticipation! We have been receiving mail with all of the new products and designs. We just always wonder what the new "hot" item will be. I am finishing a Camille Bag to take to market out of the leopard Shannon Cuddle print. It is adorable! I was up in Chicago with my niece on Monday and that is what I am seeing in the accessory department. Lots of leopard prints! Of course that is right up my ally! I'm also noticing the soft textures. Oh, I can't wait to see what new Shannon prints will be offered. I hear Fons and Porter are coming out with a new program also. --The biggest plus of it all is I get to see my sister while in Houston. She will be coming down a couple of nights. Yahoo!!! Well, need to finish that bag...............

TTFN,
CArol

Whirlwind???

Wow, things have been a whirlwind around here. This has been a great fall--weather included! The great part of driving places is getting to enjoy the beautiful leaves. We have definitely been on the road! Of course last weekend we had 8 busloads of wonderful quilters. I believe a good time was had by all! Last Monday we were in Coal City at the library to do our Aunt Sewzy program and last night we were in Albia, Iowa to do a program also. You know, no matter what guild you are at, it is the same-- wonderful quilters everywhere! The guild last night does so many charity projects. It just gives you goosebumps to hear what they are doing and the joy it brings people to be the recipient of a pillowcase or quilt! Of course we had God on our side last night. We left Albia and made a 2 hour drive back to Muscatine to spend the night. The ladies told us to be very careful as the deer were terrible in their area. Aren't they terrible everywhere? Well, we were about 2 miles from Muscatine and a deer started trotting across the road. Of course someone was right on my tail! Anyway, the deer got real close to my door and decided not to cross the road. He literally turned around and ran the other way!!! Of course our alarm clock didn't go off in the motel room so we slept a little late!!! Oh well, it is a good story!

TTFN,
Carol

Fall is Quilting Season

With the changing of the leaves, it reminds me of quilting season! Haven't the leaves been unbelievable? The colors seem so intense and beautiful. It makes me want to finish my fall quilts. I said it makes me WANT to finish, not that I am going to finish! Maybe in a few weeks! -- We are getting ready for our big "Crazy for Quilting" bus hop. It will be a great time. 8 quilting shops in 2 days. What could be more fun? --Have you had a taffy apple yet? I saw one that looked so good, but it was a Granny Smith apple and I like Red Delicious. Do you like your apple sweet or tart? Beth likes her apple tart and I like mine sweet. We have a really cute towel done up with a taffy apple on it. It makes me hungry each time I look at it. - Next week we have 2 Aunt Sewzy programs. We will be doing one in Washington, IL on Monday evening and then we have one in Albia, IA on Thursday evening. Aunt Sewzy will be on the road again! We look forward to meeting new quilters. We are definitely a special breed. There is a special bond between quilters that is hard to explain to anyone who isn't a quilter. Don't you agree?

TTFN,
Carol

Day at Home

There is nothing like a day at home! It has been quite a little while since I've had time at home so I'm enjoying the day trying to get things done. I was wondering how you all get things done? Do you make lists or what do you do to stay on track. As you know, I have a difficult time staying focused. I find if I write it down, it helps me immensely! My son's wife is very focused. She has a big board in her office and she writes down on a dry/erase board what she needs to do. I would say she is extremely focused if she was able to take her first test to become a CPA just 2 days before their wedding! I still don't know how she did it. I was reading the Good Housekeeping magazine and Jamie Lee Curtis had an article about being organized. I think the real key is to clean out clutter. Nicole and Sharon helped me organize the office this week. Wow! Nicole said she could actually see that our desk was brown. I had Steve Lewis hang some shelves so we could get more things off the counter and also got more folders to get things filed. It sure makes me feel good! HOWEVER, at home I have a harder time going through things and getting rid of them. I always think I might need something (even though I haven't used it in 5 years) and hate to part with it. We don't have a basement in our home so I have to be pretty good about getting rid of things, but it is still hard. Well, so much for talking about being organized. Guess I better get busy and do something. Beth and I are taking off for a few days for a little sewing and relaxation. Well, we hope to get alot of sewing done!

TTFN,
Carol

The wedding

I know it has been so long since our last post. We have been very busy at the store getting ready for the quilt show in Madison, WI. Remember, it is next week on Sept.9,10 and 11 at the Alliant Energy Center. If there is any way you can get there, it is well worth your while. We will be in booth 99 and 100. We have lots of new patterns we will be debuting and we have all been working day and night to get ready.--I am wondering where the summer went. It was definitely a memorable summer for me. My son, Chad, married Sarah Schierer on July 24th at Kickapoo Winery near Peoria, IL. In the outdoor rehearsal picture, I was watching them practice and when I looked up, there was a beautiful rainbow over them. It still gives me goosebumps! The wedding went off without a hitch! It was such a wonderful time to share with family and friends. At the next wedding, I will take more pictures of the bride and groom together. I kept thinking, "I'll get those pictures from the photographer." So, I don't have lots of pictures of Chad and Sarah together, but I'm sure you can get the idea!! - I was reading on one of my favorite blogs - Jill Savage - and she was saying how we wonder how our children grow up so fast. When our children are younger and people tell us to enjoy our children because they DO grow up fast, we think, "Yah, Yah, Yah!" I have to say that when I was looking through pictures for the wedding I really wondered how the time did go so fast. Would I do anything different if I had to do it again? Probably. I would worry less about a clean house and having everything just so. I have always walked to the beat of a different drum. I am not very routine - imagine that! I just love watching mothers who are soooooooo organized. I tried so hard to keep everything in order (and spun my wheels more often than not)and just should have thrown it all in the wind! I am glad though that we always took vacations and spent lots of time with our extended families and friends. So many memories!!!
Well, lots to do so better get back to kits, kits and more kits.

TTFN,
Carol