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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Ready, Set, SEW!!

Are you ready for the 
big day on Friday??

That's when all the fun begins, right here on Friday morning.  Now, you don't want to miss out on the fun, and it sure wouldn't be the same without you!  So, get your machine all ready, put in a new needle, and we'll get going on our first block.  

Here's the line-up, so be sure to visit all 12 blogs to learn lots more about a few of the talented Marcus designers and NY staff.  

8/1                        Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts                                  www.HeartspunQuilts.Blogspot.com
8/8                        Paula Barnes ~ Red Crinoline Quilts                     www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com
8/15                      Sarah Maxwell ~ Homestead Hearth                   www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com              
8/22                      Pati Violick ~ Marcus Fabrics                                 www.MarcusMentions.com
8/29                      Gloria Parsons ~ Olde Green Cupboard               www.OldeGreenCupboard.Blogspot.com  
9/5                        Nancy Rink ~ Nancy Rink Designs                           www.NancyRinkDesigns.com/blog
9/12                      Mary Ellen Robison~Red Crinoline Quilts          www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com
9/19                      Dolores Smith ~ Homestead Hearth                       www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com
9/26                      Lisa Shepard ~ Marcus Fabrics                               www.MarcusMentions.com
10/3                      Red Crinoline Quilts ~ Quilt Revealed!                www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com


Oh, I can hardly wait!

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Tastebud Detective


Several weeks ago, my hubby and I visited one of our favorite chain soup & salad bar restaurants.  You might like eating there too...they have really sweet veggies, especially tomatoes, and a soup bar suitable for a plantation (wink, wink).   Anyway.....

One of the featured salads that day was a wonderful salad with the yummiest creamy lemon dressing.  The greens were very simple...only five ingredients:  romaine lettuce, spring mix greens, Craisins, blue cheese and chopped walnuts.  Mixed together with that wonderful lemon salad dressing...well, it was a bite of heaven on a fork!

I became a little obsessed with trying to replicate that lemon salad dressing.  So, I set about playing detective with lemon dressing recipes.  This was one of my trials.  Four dressing recipes mixed with romaine.  My husband was a taste tester, too.  

At the last minute, I decided to make the fourth with a recipe variation of my own, and it ended up to be the winner....a dead-ringer (and a lucky guess!) for the lemon dressing at the restaurant.  In this case, while I love Craisins, I substituted fresh blueberries.  I think strawberries would be great as well.

If you'd like to give this salad a try, click here for the recipe.  It's easy to make and very refreshing.  Hope you enjoy it!  

Monday, July 21, 2014

A Spa for my Soul

Lynne Hagmeier ~ Kansas Troubles Quilters
There's nothing quite like a visit to the home of a best friend.  Well, that was what I did for a couple of days after leaving Quilter's Station and Primitives of the Midwest.  I went to visit my BFF, Lynne Hagmeier, the designer extraordinaire that is the creative force of Kansas Troubles Quilters!!  


We stayed at Lynne's Kansas Troubles Retreat....had this enormous place all to ourselves!  


The sewing room has 10 individual work stations complete with swivel chairs and lamps.  There are three ironing stations and a roomy cutting station, too.  All decorated with Lynne's quilts, antiques and folk art.  

Adjacent to the sewing area is this comfy sitting area where you can stitch, read, watch TV or post on social media!  






The sleeping area is one of my favorite places ever!  You truly feel like Goldilocks.  Having to choose one bed is a hard decision!  Ten people can sleep in the "dorm".  Kansas Troubles quilt or vintage quilt?  Hard choices!!  This room is also filled with lovely antiques, quilts, and fun stuff everywhere.  

Within the last year, Lynne's husband, Robert, opened a quilt shop on the first floor of the Kansas Troubles building.  Robert also became a Bernina dealer.  


The shop has all of Lynne's KT Quilt patterns and an ever-changing variety of her fabric, too.  

You'll also find some great gift items tucked here and there as well.


Every corner has one tempting quilt or project after another!  Believe me!  You'll be inspired!!

There are a few patterns from other designers such as this quilt, which is my pattern called Endless Summer, made from Lynne's Kansas Troubles fabrics!  Love it!!  Call the shop and they may be able to pull a kit together using similar KTQ fabrics!  

There are a couple of new things you've got to know about!!! 

Lynne has a brand new book coming out any day now called Layers of Love.  It's her second book that showcases her unique and super popular "layered patchwork" technique.  Click here to read more about Layers of Love.  Call the shop to order yours today!!  (785) 488-2120 and tell them Pam sent ya!

The other thing you've got to know is Lynne, the retreat, the shop, and even her home will be featured in the next issue (Sept,  2014) of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine!!    You don't want to miss picking up that issue, I promise.  

Rarely in a life, there can be a place that you feel as home as you do in your own home. Comfortable, happy, delighted to take it all in and soak it up.  This is how I feel about being there....from the first time I visited Lynne and the stayed at the Kansas Troubles retreat, and even more so now.  It certainly has a lot to do with Lynne being there as well!  It was, as the title said.... a spa for my soul.  A very special place, indeed!  Do yourself a favor and book a stay at the retreat!  It's quite wonderful!

And...please consider joining both Lynne and me on a Great Girlfriend Get-Away!  Our next Get-away is coming September 8th in Mackinaw City, MI!!  Click here for all the info!!


Reminder!!

How are your Market Day Sew-along quilts coming?  Pictures are beginning to arrive in my email in-box from around the world!!  Lovely, lovely quilts!  You know how much you enjoy seeing everyone's quilt, and we want to see yours, too!!!

Please email and attach a jpg picture of your quilt(s) along with your first name and the state or country where you live before September 15th for the......

Airing of the Quilts!

Remember, your quilt(s) do not have to be quilted!  

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Primitives of the Midwest & Quilter's Station Quilt Shop

Quilter's Station Quilt Shop, located in Lee's Summit, just outside of Kansas City, MO, is not only a top-notch shop, but is home to the infamous Primitives of the Midwest quilting retreat.  

Attending Primitives of the Midwest has been on my quilting bucket list for years and years.  I never thought I'd be teaching there!  Primitives is held for five days and has from 6 to 17 nationally known designers teaching classes.  I would love to show you the projects we offered, but they're all designed exclusively for Primitives, at least until the event is over.  Gotta attend to get them!  

This year, Barb Adams & Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs opened the event with a casual lecture/trunk show of their fabulous and inspiring work.  Teaching workshops were Lori Kabat of Lilly Anne Stitches, Maggie Bonanomi of Butternut House, Shawn Williams of Thread That Bind, Victoria Ingalls, and myself.  You won't be surprised if I say there were many happy quilters making some really beautiful things from cottons and wools!!


Shop owner, Rita Briner, a designer in her own right, is the creative force for the shop and Primitives of the Midwest.  Rita has impeccable taste for Prims and Folk Art, not to mention energy from I don't know where, and seemingly never stops creating. 



You will most definitely find Quilter's Station inspiring, too!

Aisles and aisles of wonderful fabrics....my favorite aisle....RED!!

From just about every fabric company out there, with loads of Marcus fabrics!


Doesn't Rita have great displays??  I want it all!!


Watch the Quilter's Station website in the spring for the announcement on next summer's Primitives of the Midwest.  You never know which of your favorite prim and folk art teachers will be offering classes.  If this event isn't on your bucket list, it should be!!  

From Primitives, I traveled to one of my most favorite places on the planet!   I'll tell ya all about it in my next post!



It's getting much closer to the beginning of our Friends & Companions Sew-Along!  Just a few more weeks!  I wanted to remind you to save the date.  You can buy a kit from Homestead Hearth Quilt Shop or Red Crinoline Quilts,  or gather your own fabrics, and sew-along with not only Marcus designers, but Lisa and Pati from the Marcus home office.  

Click here for all of the info....
Don't miss a thing!!!

8/1                        Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts                                  www.HeartspunQuilts.Blogspot.com
8/8                        Paula Barnes ~ Red Crinoline Quilts                     www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com
8/15                      Sarah Maxwell ~ Homestead Hearth                      www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com              
8/22                      Pati Violick ~ Marcus Fabrics                                 www.MarcusMentions.com
8/29                      Gloria Parsons ~ Olde Green Cupboard               www.OldeGreenCupboard.Blogspot.com  
9/5                        Nancy Rink ~ Nancy Rink Designs                           www.NancyRinkDesigns.com/blog
9/12                      Mary Ellen Robison~Red Crinoline Quilts          www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com
9/19                      Dolores Smith ~ Homestead Hearth                       www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com
9/26                      Lisa Shepard ~ Marcus Fabrics                               www.MarcusMentions.com
10/3                      Red Crinoline Quilts ~ Quilt Revealed!                www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

Monday, July 7, 2014

More Goodies from Patchwork Garden Quilt Shop


Continuing with my visit to Patchwork Garden Quilt Shop, I would be remiss not telling you about their very large Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club.  They have so many club members that to accommodate them all, they have three meetings, and are considering a fourth!  

With such an active group, they've made a whole lot of Prairie Women projects and treated us all to show-n-tell.  

Gentleman Caller ~ Journey One of Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Windy Hill Farm from Journey Three of Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

At Mama's Knee ~ Journey One of Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

A Light In The Window ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Heartland Crossing ~ Journey One of the Priaire Women's Sewing Circle club.

At Mama's Knee ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Leap of Faith ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Prairie Huswyfe ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Mrs. Olson's Hatbox ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Peace Among The Flowers pillow ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Elizabeth's Prairie Garden ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Lockridge Mill ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Frontier Foundations ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Windy Hill Farm ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Heartland Crossing ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Seneca Falls ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Mrs. Olson's Hatbox ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Leap of Faith ~ Journey One of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club
The Quilting Gathering ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Olde Settler's Way ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

t
The Mill Girls ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Elizabeth's Prairie Garden ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

A Light In The Window ~ Journey Three of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Olde Settler's Way ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

Remember Me ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club

The Quilting Gathering ~ Journey Two of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club
Patchwork Garden Prairie Women....you blew me away with your work!  I so enjoyed meeting every one of you!!  A big, giant THANK YOU to shop owner's Joan and Beverly who hosted a wonderful event that hundreds of people enjoyed.  You made us all feel welcome, well fed and inspired!  

If you're in upstate New York in the Buffalo area, do yourself a favor and visit Patchwork Garden.  They're also very close to Niagara Falls.  A most worthwhile trip....guaranteed!!