I should be sewing

Every year at this time, as school gets out and summer vacation starts (for other people) I wish I could go back to the days when I did have my summers off…  I enjoy my job, but I envy those with three months of a free schedule (or at least one YOU have 100% control of) and leisure time.

If I had today off, I’d be in my sewing studio paper-piecing the quilt I cut out last night.  I just don’t get enough time to sew.  Ever.  It would be even better if those four in the pic (really, even just one of them) were there to keep my beverage glass full, and press the seams for me.  (thanks to my sweetie who does do that for me on the weekends!)

Happy sewing,

Doris

p.s. Congrats to Sherry at Blessings from our Nest, who won our SMS Giveaway at Row House Creations.  We are running a special on our pattern, though Friday as a thank you for all the wonderful feedback!

Spring 2012 Bloggers’ Quilt Festival

A little late throwing my hat in the ring (what’s new?!) but here is my entry into the Spring 2012 Bloggers’ Quilt Festival:

One Big Cabin

In mid April, I announced here that my friend Trina and I had published our first pattern.  It was a long time coming.  As quilt shop employees, we travelled to Spring 2010 Quilt Market together, and we got along so famously, as we always had, we spent the four hour drive home brainstorming ideas for a new business venture together.

It took us a year to actually form Row House Creations, LLP, and another nearly 8 months to actually get that first pattern printed, but it was worth the wait.  We designed this quilt together, brainstorming the layout over iced coffees at Caribou Coffee, I went home and drew the critters, and eventually transformed my sketches into this applique pattern drawing:

I’ve always loved drawing, and this pattern venture is one of the first times I’ve utilized that love and that talent for professional purposes.  I’m so proud when I show people my artwork on this new pattern cover:

One Big Cabin is made using a very simple raw-edge applique technique that anyone can do!

We are both so fortunate to have found such a like-minded business partner.  And, she’s an awesome friend, too!  Trina went to the Machine Quilters Showcase in Kansas City last week, I was travelling with another friend.  She went to Angela Walter’s book signing, and was second-to-the-last person to receive a copy of Angela’s book, for free, signed by Angela.  She texted me this pic of her with Angela Walters (notice the book under her left arm):

When I saw Trina that evening, she gave me the book!  It’s inscribed “To Doris”!!!  Love that girl!

 Visit the rest of the Festival Quilts at Amy’s–Enjoy!

For a chance to win a copy of our pattern, visit the Row House Creations blog before Friday.

Moda Designers Don’t Disappoint!

I’ve been to Quilt Market at least six times over the last 7 years or so, in one capacity or another; as an Assistant Editor for Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting, as a LQS employee, as a pattern designer, as an aspiring pattern designer on a reCon mission… you name it.  Every experience has been drastically different, but one thing that never changes?  How impressed I am with booth designs individual designers create and execute, and the Moda designer’s booths are always a feast for the eyes.  So here you go:

Love the new Sweetwater line, especially made up into this adorable spool quilt:

Sandy Klop in her American Jane Booth

American Jane quilt hanging on the outside of Sandy Klop’s booth

See the penquin family? Basic Grey’s Booth

Camille Roskelley in the Cotton Way Booth

Joanna in her Fig Tree & Co Booth

Cute modern style quilts in the Me & My Sister Booth

Kate Spain’s newest collection: Cuzco (can’t wait!)

Quilt showing off Kate Spain’s latest collection, Cuzco

Lauren & Jessi Jung’s display–so sweet!

So much fun color, great prints, and inspiring design! New lines for Moda:

Juggling Summer by Zen Chic
Eats Your Fruits and Veggies by Pat Sloan
Simply Color by V & Co.
Gypsy Girl by Lilly Asbury
Tapestry by Fig Tree & Co
Cuzco by Kate Spain
Odds & Ends by Julie Comstock (Cosmo Cricket)
Windsor Lane by Bunny Hill
Dancing in the Rain by Laundry Basket Quilts
Marmalade by Bonnie & Camille (Cotton Way)
Double Chocolat by 3 Sisters
Metropolitan Fair by Barbara Brackman
Old Glory Gathering by Primitive Gatherings
Trail’s End by Holly Taylor

Kansas City or bust

Back home after a three-day trip to International Quilt Market in KC… with my business partner, Trina, to promote our first pattern release, talk to pattern distributors and make some important business contacts:We had a great time, took some silly photos…

Trina “borrowing” Amy Butler’s glasses

Doris petting Anna Maria’s “kitty”

My new “tat”

I take to smoking

Well okay, smoking isn’t exactly “allowed” at Quilt Market, it was a candy cigarette (who knew they even still made those!?!)

Ran into lots of old friends…

Me & Amanda Jean (Crazy Mom Quilts)

Carla (Lollyquiltz), Cindy (Live a Colorful Life), Linda (Flourishing Palms) and Me

Fellow Des Moines MQG members, Jill & Marny in their booth

Chatted with Shelly, and Stephanie, and forgot to get a pic with my friend Victoria, but I did shoot her lovely yellow quilt:

Victoria’s cotton couture Mod quilt

Saw some famous characters…

Row House Creations meets Star Wars

Trina meets her “Peanuts” crush, Linus

and starting tomorrow, I’ll show you some of the inspiring designs we saw…

Moda designers don’t disappoint!

the Westminster gals redefine nature!

Art Gallery’s “a day at the beach”…

and Alexander Henry’s mustache mania…

 

Stay tuned for all of this, and a giveaway or two!

Doris

To market, to market

But not to buy a fat pig… (fabric, more likely!)  Do you know that nursery rhyme?  We had this “much-older-than-us” hardcover nursery rhyme book as kids, it had to be the size of an encyclopedia volume, and it had all these ancient, sometimes bizarre, nursery rhymes.  Many of the old favorites that we all know, but many wacky ones, too.  I still have that book tucked away somewhere, I’ll dig it out and share some of those gems with you one day soon.

So, yes, too busy to find time to blog, but piecing and designing new patterns is happening almost daily… (I even have two cats supervising my every move!)  Headed to Kansas City for International Quilt Market this week– hoping to see some old friends, and meet some new ones.

An update on Caleb, from the last post, THANKS to all of you for the prayers and well wishes.  He is doing wonderfully, had his follow-up appointment with the surgeon yesterday, with a good report.  Still on a liquid diet, and his entire family is joining him on the liquid diet in solidarity (even his 7 year-old brother!).  That’s love and some serious empathy!  They had pureed spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner one night last week.  Thank you, but no, I’ll pass.  This is a shot of Caleb from Saturday, when we were setting up our garage sale (as you can see, he’s doing pretty well!):See you on the other side of Market!

happy sewing,

Doris

One in a Million…or so

This is my nephew, Caleb.

Caleb has the best smile.

He REALLY likes Mickey Mouse.

Caleb turned 5 years old last week.

He was abandoned near a toll booth when he less than 24 hours old.

He spent his first 4.5 years being cared for by some wonderful people at an orphanage and in foster care, in Changchun, China.

He joined our family officially on December 5, 2011–FIVE MONTHS ago this week.

Caleb has brought immeasurable joy to our family in five short months.

He was born with a cleft palate.  At some point, he had surgery on his upper lip, and at least one other surgical procedure. As a result, he has a fear of doctors and hospitals like no other.

But Caleb has gotten braver since coming to live with his forever family, visiting the doctor for many exams, shots, tests, etc.

Caleb is having surgery TOMORROW to repair his cleft palate.

Caleb could really use your prayers and happy thoughts TODAY for his pre-Op visit with the doctor…

This summer, Caleb will work to learn English, and speak without any kind of defect.

In August, Caleb gets to go to kindergarten, just like all the other five-year-olds.

Caleb is a lucky boy, but I am lucky, too.  Because I get to be his Aunt Doris.  Forever.

 

***The United Nations reports that the number of orphans around the world waiting for help is more than 140 million.

There are more than 46 million orphans in Africa.
There are more than 71 million orphans in Asia.
There are more than 10 million orphans in Latin America.
There are more than 120,000 orphans in the United States.