Simplify

This weekend, it's...

Goodbye Spring (I'm no longer in denial), 

hello HEAT (and watermelon).

Goodbye Las Vegas,

hello Chicago!

Goodbye munchkins,

hello girls weekend!

Goodbye May (aka Market),

Hello June (aka turning 2...6. Yikes.  And my baby turning 4.  Double yikes.)

And last but not least... 

Goodbye Dr. Pepper,

Hello... tears.  I'm going to miss you, but we need a break from each other so I can learn to live without 88 oz of you every day.  Yep, cold turkey.  It's the only way.  It's not you it's me.  Okay, its partly you.  You are just too delicious.  

Well, better finish packing my bags, and then I'm off!  Wish me luck!  (Especially with that last one.  *sigh*)

I'll be back Tuesday to tell you all about Chicago, and pick the winners to the giveaway (below, in case you were here for that).  See you soon!

Moda love (and something to win!)

A day or two... five.... who's counting, right?  Anyway, I'm back.  For a minute or two, at least.  I have really been slacking with my blog lately.  Sorry...  I'll try to be better!  

I thought it would be fun to highlight each of the Moda designers in their booths (and a little closer up too) so you can get to know them a little better.  I am just getting to know them all, and they are amazing.

Keep in mind, this isn't all of the Moda designers, just the ones who had booths at Market in Pittsburgh.  The name will link to a blog if they have one, and the business name will link to their website.  So, here they are, in no particular order: 

Sandy Gervais- Pieces from my Heart:

yes, she really is as awesome as she looks in her picture.  we had a lovely discussion about Joan Rivers.  also, something about photoshopping a face on a butt??  ;-)

Kathy Schmitz- Kathy Schmitz Studio:

didn't get to chat nearly as much this time as last time, darn it.  Kathy is the sweetest!

Joanna Figeroa- Fig Tree and Co.:

oh, you already know I heart Joanna.  She is going to LOVE this picture, I'm sure.  haha...

Karla Eisenach- Sweetwater:

brand spankin' new designer, and her first line rocks.  can't wait to make something from it!

Deb Strain- Saltbox Illustrations:

Deb is also the sweetest.  seriously.  she told me I should be on America's next top model. (?!)  Love her!  

Sandy Klop- American Jane:

how cute are these guys?  Not sure what Sandy is doing in this picture, but I love it!

Lynne Hagmeier- Kansas Troubles:

only one picture?  darn it!  I thought I got two of everyone.  Sorry Lynne.  Next time I'll take 10. or 100  ;-)

Laurie Simpson (and Polly Minick)- Minick and Simpson:

This was when I was 'stealing' her idea from her sketch pad.  What a good sport!

Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson- Me and My Sister:

One word- HILARIOUS.  Love these girls!

Lila Tueller- Lila Tueller Designs:

Poor Lila had a rough market- she lost her voice.  Good thing she had a stylin' booth to make up for it.  Hope you are feeling better!

Edyta Sitar- Laundry Basket Quilts:

Do you know how hard it was to get a picture of just Edyta?  She works harder than anybody at Market!  Her booth was always full.  You can see why!

And last but not least, us.  Bonnie and Camille (How crazy is that?  Crazy.  I'm still in awe.):

(eating chocolate, as usual)

So I was thinking,  to celebrate being surrounded by such incredible women, it would be fun to give something away.  Simple Abundance Honey Buns, actually. 

And to shake it up a bit, here's how it is going to go.  Choose any designer, go to their website and pick your favorite pattern or product.  Come back and tell me who it is, and what you love.  And of course, your name and where you are from.  Something interesting about yourself couldn't hurt.  ;-)

To choose the winners, I'm going to randomly choose one Moda designer, and then everyone who named that designer goes into a bowl, and the winner is picked from there.  Twice,  Two designers, two winners.  Does that make sense??  There may also be additional prizes... I'm just saying...

As always, here is my example:

Hey there, Camille Roskelley here, Nevadan/Idahoan.  I have a doughnut problem lately, all I want to eat is Maple Bars.  It's true.  I'm going to choose Joanna from Fig Tree, partly because I am a Fig Tree Junkie, and partly because we are going to hang out in Chicago in 3 days.  Hooray!  I'm eyeing her Creme Fraiche pattern these days, even though I have no idea how to say it.  So lovely... See?

Oh, and you have until next Monday to enter.  I'll announce the winners on Tuesday.  Sound good?  And for those overachievers, yes, you get an extra 3 entries to blog about it.  ;-)

Market is an interesting thing, you are surrounded by so much creativity, by so many amazing people.  Looking out from my little corner of the show, I was overwhelmed by the wonderful people I was surrounded by. And just so grateful to be a part of it all.  

Comments are now CLOSED for this giveaway.  Check back later today for the winners.  Thanks everyone!

Quilt Market.... finally

I'm back!  I know, I know, I'm slow. But just in case you aren't tired of Quilt Market, heres my two cents. Gosh darn it, it was fun.  Also, I'm exhausted.  From too much work, or too much play, I'm not really sure.   Here are 147,679,832 photos to help you decide which it was:

1.

Pittsburgh

2.

me and mom

...Just teasing.  Sorta.  I did take a lot of pictures, but between the 3 hour time change, and the getting up at 7 am, I was actually waking up at the time that I had been going to bed before market.  Because of this, I have some seriously sleepy lookin' eyes, so if you don't see your picture here and you are feeling left out, please send me a copy of yours to add to my Pittsburgh Quilt Market album (coming soon to my left sidebar) because seriously, I have more than a few pictures that are never going to see the light of.... blog.  (?)  

Whose idea is it anyway, holding Market while we are all sleep deprived?  Next time, I think we should have a mandatory week long cruise the week before.  That way we will be well-rested, and everyone besides me would be tan.  Quilts Inc, if you are reading this, think about it.  That's all I'm sayin.

Anyhow, here goes.  My Market recap, mostly in pictures (since it is late, and my brain is finally on Pittsburgh time):

Our hotel, the beautiful Omni William Penn

my half of the booth (Karen of Black Sheep Quilts let us borrow the darling little tables on the sides and the baskets.  How sweet is she?  And also, Karen- you need a blog! ;-)  THANKS! )

my mom's half of the booth

me in my booth looking cheesy 

With Heather and her many gorgeous quilts (excellent work Joel- make sure to ask about his dog ;-)

One of my most favorite people ever, Ted, er... Lissa.  (as in THE Moda Lissa) 

The lovely ladies of Fat Quarter Shop (minus Kimberly and the twins(!) 

Love my pal Sandi Henderson, who matched my booth perfectly and it wasn't even planned

(not sure why this one has weird color?) THIS is THE Carrie Nelson from Miss Rosie's Quilts.  She is a genius, I'm telling you.  Genius.

"Jane" of Lanie Jane- so darn cute, with a so darn cute husband to match. We heart Jane!

My mom and our "people" Sheri, who we also heart.  I've heard she is also known as "THE Sheri Howard."  I know several "THE" 's it turns out.

Debbi "Duckie" Duckworth lookin' stylish in her fancy shoes

Holly and Whitney at the Moda Home booth.  I can't tell you why I love Holly, but it has something to do with something that rhymes with "Shmurban Chicks."  You didn't hear that from me.

Another booth pic?  I'm too tired to put these in any kind of order.  Sorry.

My sorta-sister Angela, Christine, Me, the amazing Joanna (I know, it sounds like a magician, but she is amazing) and my cute little mom on the Moda dinner cruise

The view

My favorite shot of me and Angela.  We got some weird looks from the boat crew for this one. 

Dinner with the "Moda-mouths", otherwise known as one heck of an amazing group of women, even though we were missing a few.  Dinner/laughing our guts out was probably the highlight of the whole week.  Still pinching myself that I get to hang out with them.  They are way cooler than me.

Before takedown:

and after takedown.   

Anyway, thats the short version.  I'll be sure to put up a Pittsburgh album on my sidebar (did I already say that?) to post the rest of the pics.  So keep an eye out for that if you want to see more.  If you don't, that's fine too. I'll understand. :-)

I still can't believe it is over.  All that work, all the preparation, and it is over.  Just like that.  We left everything the way we found it, and it was time to head home.    

Did I mention I missed the munchkins?  

SO happy to see them all when I got off the plane.  And Cafe Rio on the way home?  Just the icing on the cake. Or, in Cafe Rio terms, the Tomatillo dressing on the... everything.

All in all, I'd have to say it was a pretty good market.  A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made it what it was.  Love all you guys (or ya'll for you Texans) and I can't wait to see you next time.  

For more Quilt Market, go check out Lissa, Joanna, Sheri, The Jolly Jabber, Carrie, Pam, Laurie, True Up, Sandi, Anne... who am I missing?

Check back in a day or two for Part 2 (of 2, don't worry).  Think Moda designers, and booths.  And a giveaway, perhaps?  

Anyway, I'm going to bed.  Almost time to wake up.  In Pittsburg that is.  Blurg!  

Good night!  

There's no place like home

Just hanging out at the airport, anxiously awaiting some quality time with three handsome guys. Pittsburgh was WAY too much fun. 

Pictures, stories, and possibly tales of "Moda-mouths" to come. Soon. Very, very soon... Looks like we're ready for take-off, see you on the other side. 

 

Blogged from my iPhone

Because moms are the best...

...but especially mine.   

(market last year, sorry about the weird lighting)

My mom taught me just about everything I know.  

But the thing I am most grateful for is that she taught me how to work, and work hard.  I remember so many nights I would get home late and she would be working away in her sewing room.  The next morning when I would get up, she would still be working.  Never complaining (okay, I may not have inherited that trait) she would just cheerily say good morning, make sure I had some lunch money and something to eat and push me out the door for school.  

I have to admit though, I never fully appreciated how hard my mom worked until I followed in her shoes.  For twenty years she has been designing patterns (In fact, see her latest and greatest here.  She's got an awesome B3G1 promo going on right now too, just fyi), pulling all nighters and raising a family. And doing a darn good job, if I do say so myself.  Just thinking about what she has accomplished makes me tired.  And seriously, darn proud.

I am so proud of you mom, I wish I could be there to wish you a happy Mother's Day, but Tuesday in Pittsburgh will have to do.  Can't wait to see you!  Miss you, love you, and most of all, thank you.  For everything.

Love, 

your stubborn, difficult, loving daughter who calls you 9 times a day (yeah, sorry about that...) and who looks up to you more than you know.

If I...

...have to deal with this:

At least I can do it here:

Summer.  When did that happen?

Blogged from my iPhone