FLUFFING THE NEST

It has been so long since I've posted. I truly apologize. June is a busy month around here because of the upcoming Markets (Atlanta and New York). I am going to make a real effort to send more posts, even if they are short and sweet.

We've had so many storms the last few weeks. One storm knocked down some large branches and I wanted to show you two nests that we rescued. The larger nest is loose, rough and a bit messy, but the bird made a real attempt to decorate, intertwining a yellow ribbon. The other nest is tiny, tightly woven with bits of feathers and very soft. I stuck some cute fake eggs in for fun.Very fascinating to me.

TRENDSPOTTING MY CIRCLES

A SHOW + TELL: Look what I found in housebeautiful.com. They posted one of my frames in an online article about Circles. SWEET, huh? It puts a smile on my face to see my sunny yellow frame on yet another grey and stormy day in the Midwest. Hope it's bright and cheery wherever you are!!

On the fabric front, I'm glad I didn't succumb to some pleadings to give early sneak peaks. We eliminated one pattern and enlarged another. All done for now and hope for my first strike-offs to appear in several weeks (trying to be realistic, but really hoping for a package to arrive sometime in July). July and especially August are busy months around here with the Atlanta and New York Gift Shows. It's out of my hands now. So excited though, can you tell?

Have a glorious weekend!

SUMMER KICKOFF PARTY

Here are the pics of last weekend that I promised. Sure beat the severe weather all this week.

1) Jennifer & Joe; friends since HS and now married 10 yrs. 2) Talitha; HS, Vacations, College, wedding, births, forever friends 3) Loree; HS, Vacations, College, Weddings, Births, photographer, owner of the hottie in 4) w/the black-t, obviously trying to claim some prize.

Check out: http://www.loreealayne.com/store/Default.asp Thanks for the great pictures.

Such Posers! The Three Musketeers. Forever friends. Inseparable gals and can't go anywhere w/o a bathroom photo..even from famous hotels.

Okay, who crashed this party? Wyatt and Amelia (my Mia) came bounding in from their "clear the deck of kids" attempt. Wyatt and Amelia flew through the door, took a look around and squealed when they saw Tim and I. No greater joy on earth. my friends. Nothing more complete.

FLIGHTS OF FANCY, SO IT IS!!!!

The pressure is on. I actually am more creative under pressure. I've thought about why that is, since I hate being under pressure. I think it sparks the "no time to be wishy-washy" cells in my brain. I was so proud to have all my fabric designs done, sent off and just waiting to hear any thoughts or concerns while I moved to other pressing business.

So I get a call from Kathy Miller Wednesday eve asking for a couple things and for me to fax over the logo for the selvage...like right then. I said, "I haven't even named the collection yet". I know you're thinking it's a good thing its not a baby or something. And you're right. It's just that I wanted to see the baby that I created, and I'd barely given birth...want to see all the parts and count the fingers and toes...just need a little rest....NOPE. So in a matter of minutes, thanks to Jennifer, we finalized the collection name and designed a logo. It will make sense when you see this baby.

I am changing gears now to designing for my other "day job". Lots of things in the works.

More on Jennifer and Joe's fun patio party will be forthcoming.

COMING UP FOR AIR

I know I said I am buried in designs, which is totally true. We are really working around the clock to finish all the designs. However, I must halt all work to show you a recent pic. Fortunately, my daughter Jennifer (my trusty cohort) has a bit more of a balanced lifestyle than I do right now. Her and Joe had an awesome gathering this past weekend on their patio.

These glasses are from Pier 1 Imports. So cool for everyone else. I'm usually the one who says "Hum, this is my glass," which comes the reply, "Na Uh, my glass has more in it", to which I say, "Finders, Keepers, Losers Weepers". So now, Pier 1 has figured me out. These glasses have a mini chalkboard w/chalk to write your name to keep track of your own glass. Here's mine, and it needs a refill!! Much more to come...after much sleep!!

HELP, I'M BURIED UNDER DESIGNS

I'm here. I have so much I want to post about and show you. I'm making last minute changes to the fabrics. Also designing my Fall/Winter Collection for both mimi's collection and Paula Prass. I'll be back as soon as I see the light....I'm bursting to SHOW + TELL.

MORE OF PORTLAND + QUILT MARKET

Just when you thought you'd seen enough of the Quilt Market...here I come with more. I'm a few days late getting the second installment because, well, just because.

These first two are from the Meet and Greet I posted about last time. This is Charlotte Barnard, Deputy Editor of Country Living Magazine on the left and Jona of Fabritopia I've actually met and chatted with Charlotte a couple other times and emailed Jona before, so I wasn't just running around hugging people. Not that I'm beyond hugging strangers, but it was just so much darn fun to all be together in one place that I was filled with warm fuzzies and hugs for all. I had a lovely chat with Donna Wilder. She was actually instramental in encouraging me quite awhile back to submit fabric designs.

I took a photo of this quilt during the show...I really saw this as an art piece/Geo Wall Art.

Right across the street from the Oba Restaurante were two shops I just had to tell you about. Oblation was irresistible. We made a purchase or two! I took a shot of the storefront as well.

Two doors away is Cielo Home. Incredibly wonderful store filled with home and garden treasures. There were so many lovely shops and restaurants in the Pearl District that we went back several times to shop and dine.

I couldn't be in Portland without finally meeting my web designer in person! Ron and I have spent hours on the phone and emailing for almost a year. He's the huge talent behind the makeover of my Paula Prass and mimi's collection websites. Meeting up with him was one of the highlights of a wonderful trip in every way.

I'M BACK FROM QUILT MARKET

Kathy Miller of Michael Miller Fabrics; me; Sandi Henderson; Patty Young

I came back Sunday eve with my mind full of glorious color, events and people. However, my body has had a different take. Temperatures there in the mid 90's, late nights, early mornings and a three hour time change had me moving slowly yesterday. But I'm back to my perky self and ready to Show and Tell.

On Thursday eve Michael Miller Fabrics and Caroline of JCaroline Creative hosted a 2.0 Meet and Greet at Oba Restaurante. Thanks Kathy and Caroline for a fabulous event!

I was incredibly excited to finally meet my new Michael Miller family. Kathy Miller is a truly wonderful person and I'm honored to work with her. Sweet Sandi Henderson has been so helpful and encouraging to me, I just couldn't help but squeeze her. Patty Young and I both signed on w/ MMF at the same time. She's actually shorter than I am! I know, hard to believe, isn't it? Okay, then here's Caroline Devoy, doing what she does best, making people laugh. If you haven't read her blog and need a good laugh, just click on her name and check it out. Here are some of my favorite designers. Everyone is so kind and fun. Lots of laughter and hugs.Tina Givens booth was impeccable in every way. I'd never met her before and found her to be so engaging. LOVE her style. It was great to catch up w/ Anna Maria and see her colorful, new collections. Amy Butler's booth was beautiful. She is so tall I told her my camera couldn't fit both of us, so she graciously sat down for this photo. It was wonderful to see Heather Bailey again. She's used to having to come down to my level for pics. Love her!Joel Dewberry's booth was so tastefully done. I didn't feel comfortable taking photo's of other designer's booths (that's a no-no in my world), but will tell you I was tempted. Joel has very exquisite taste. And so warm and friendly, as well. Valori Wells has also been incredibly helpful by giving me pattern repeat info when I started on my designs. Busy gal. She was doing double duty in her booth and promoting her newest book. Jennifer Paganelli was another exceptionally delightful person to meet. I wish I'd spent more time with her. I really enjoyed Melissa Averinos, as much, if not more than her yummygoods site.
This new venture is so rewarding. I've never met nicer people, seriously. I can't wait until the next Quilt Market in Houston this October. Book me a ticket! I hope, hope my fabrics will be ready by then!!

HEADING TO PORTLAND

I'm heading to Portland, OR for the International Quilt Market today. My husband and I are going early to visit our son, shop and soak it all in. I am more excited about this trip than any vacation I've been on, which even seems odd to me. I guess it's because I will finally meet so many of the people in person that I'm getting to know through blogs, emails and phonecalls. I'll come back with photos galore!

WELCOME ME TO THE 21ST c.

I am realizing just how true "Being Married To Your Business" really is. I have gradually lost touch with the daily upgrades. Fortunately I work with a bunch of much younger, much hipper gals who let me ask dumb questions about life outside my small world. I've actually seen an IPhone and can pronounce Wii properly, but have not seen one yet. I hear that when I get to a nursing home I'll get to play Wii all I want. But lately my life is making huge strides. Let me begin:

For my BD my Jennifer decided to gift me with a CHI flatiron for my naturally chaotic hair. Seriously, if you saw me at a red light in a convertible, I'd be the one with her hair still in whatever position the wind left it. I spent one month in Hawaii on the beach last fall and all the photos of me look like Nick Nolte mugshots! Case in point; see Exhibit A Photo above. I played the "Oh, you shouldn't have", but inside I was feeling more like my in laws when they were gifted with a microwave. They questioned with a sceptical tone, "Why do we need that when we have a stove and pots to heat whatever we need?" Or when we switched from an answering machine to voice mail and they continued to yell, "Pick up the Phone" into the receiver. Change can be like whiplash to us slow movers. So I cautiously said thanks and thought, "Hope she didn't spend much". Three weeks later I went to my stylist and told him my plight. I asked for instruction and a demonstration. Amazed at the transformation, I went to the restroom and swung my hair in front of the mirror for about 15 minutes, totally enthralled that it fell back into place. Will I ever be the same? See Exhibit B for proof.

I'm just getting started. Jennifer informed us last fall that our washer AND dryer (we've had them since dirt was invented) was not energy efficient, I'd never really thought about it. On Christmas eve. morn while I was sitting at the computer in jammies and a cup of coffee... when what should appear, but a delivery truck unexpectedly pulling up our drive. I turned to my husband, who was also looking out the window and I stated, " Those delivery guys are going to be very disappointed when they realize they went up the wrong drive." To this he said, "You better go get some clothes on." A dizzy whirlwind later and I was the proud owner of a shiny white, front loading washer and dryer. Tim made plans to donate our old W/D to a single mom with several kids and her friends came by, picked up and delivered them to her on Christmas eve, as well. You will see a BEFORE + AFTER of my Laundry/Design Space very soon.

Little did I know life would push me even closer to the 21st c. For Mother's Day my husband bought me a Dyson vacuum. Yes Way!! For years we have shared one vacuum for both home and business... lugging the old Hoover up and down, back and forth. So we are like two kids seeing how much crud we can suck up and view in the clear bin. I find myself mesmerized by viewing dirt. If I vacuum the laundry room while doing laundry I can get a double dirt fix! I love this country!

The moral of the story: You're never too old to have straight hair while cleaning.