Day 20 of Pillow Talk - Lisa Bonegan - Wow it's about that red quilt!

We're off to church in Kansas City and that pretty well takes care of the day for me. But before I left I wanted to be sure the remind you to visit Lisa's Blog. You'll want to see what she has in store for you and check out her giveaway.

Is that red quilt not awesome? Wow! I love red quilts!

A little welcome respite

It's supposed to rain here tomorrow but yesterday and today were a welcome taste of what's to come. I did get to spend about half an hour in the garden but the rest of the day has been in the office trying to make heads nor tails of things.

It's been a long time since I did the office work and most everything has changed. I really am wondering if the good Lord is telling me that's it's time to slack off a little at 66 and mainly stick to wholesale. As much as I enjoy the kits, they do take lots of energy. For now, though, I'll leave things as they are. Max (Byron) and Tori and I so far have been able to manage.

I did miss posting yesterday though I found time to read Barbara Brackman's Blog. I had no idea you could do all that stuff with Photoshop. Well, I kind of knew you could but still don't know how. Great left brain that woman has. And besides also having an awesome right brain, she is a kind person and good friend to those of us who need left brain help. (She helped me set up my blog to begin with.) You really need to hop on over and see what she has for you.

This is Deb Strain's pillow. Besides creating beautiful things, Deb Strain is one of the nicest people I know. And I hate to use the word "sweet" but she is. And she has all sorts of giveaways so be sure to visit and say "hi".

And tomorrow be sure to visit Sandy Klop of American Jane. I hope I gave you the right link. She's supposed to be on the Moda blog. It's great to be able to catch up with everyone in between Markets. Makes me look forward to seeing them again even more.

Dreaming of Dogwoods Sale and Back to the Drawing Board for the FF BOM for 2011

This is the Featured Fabric Quilt for 2011. The finished size will be 82" x 98. Usually, I make the Featured Fabric Quilt out of the line that is shipping to the stores in March. This year it's Lilac Hill. I had planned on doing at least the top two rows out of that line.

The best laid plans of Mice and Men (or women, in this case). When I went to order the fabric - it's gone - oversold by a lot. And apparently there aren't any plans to reorder. I understand, by the time it got here we'd be doing pumpkins - and pumpkins usually aren't lilac.

So I'm regrouping. This year the quilt (usually my only really big quilt) is going to be a BOM out of necessity. I have been shopping up at the Moda store and using some prints and my beloved homespuns, I am conjuring up an awesome (even if I do say so myself) quilt. The blocks will go out each month. Cost per block will be $22.50 - which includes shipping and handling in the contiguous US. I know that's pricey but fabric has gone up quite a bit. The border and sashing will ship together somewhere in the middle. I have to get enough of it done to make sure what I want.

You can preorder by calling (816-632-7632) or emailing Byron (janpatekquilts@yahoo.com). I'll only kit a limited number but we will have a waiting list in case some people from last year drop off.

The weather is warmish and the snow is almost gone. That means, however that the ground is soggy and muddy. And the day today is really grey. I suppose days like these make us really appreciate the spring weather that's ahead. I, for one, am ready for it now. Hearts are coming down and this quilt is going up in the back hall.

So we're having a "Dreaming of Dogwoods" sale starting today and ending next Tuesday. The kit for this little quilt is $34.95 for a week only. Grab one to lighten up you life and your psyche.

And don't forget it's Day 16 of Moda's Designer Pillow Talk Blog Hop. Sweetwater always has some awesome fabric and their theme today is Sweet a6 - clever, huh. Hop on over and see what they have in store for you.

Day 14 - My friend Sandy Gervais

Happy Valentines Day.

First you must, must must hop on over to my friends Sandy's blog and see her paintbox pillow. Sandy has been designing fabric 1 Market longer than Linda and I. We have become good friends setting up and taking down booths and admiring each other's work. That said, I'm not quite sure I believe that she paints those little pictures with her toes. Yep, she said she did.

But before you go, today only 15% off of Lilly Heart's Throw or Wallhanging while supplies last.

Day 12 - Minick & Simpson & Playing Possum

First - you have simply got to hop over to the Minick/Simpson blog and see Laurie's bed. I swear, I always love to read her blog. Usually I end up chuckling and feeling like it's a better day when I finish and today is no exception. And of course, I love their fabric.

Back in Missouri, it's Saturday - washday - the sun is out and the snow should be gone (except for the giant hills) by the end of the week. Oh whew! Good ole groundhog. I'm sure we'll get another blast of winter but for now - whew!

This isn't a groundhog but he (or she) has been visiting since it got very cold. One morning when I opened the chickenhouse, there it was, curled up asleep in one of the chicken nests. Apparently it had been hiding the night before when I shut up the house. It's probably the same possum that has been eating cat food on the deck. I had checked with my brother Jim (he a vet) who told me they don't carry rabies so that worry was gone. BUT before shutting the house up that night - it was still asleep - I googled possums to find out what they eat - besides cat food. Apparently they mostly eat mice, snakes and insects - fine with me. It probably came in to catch the mice that always follow the grain. It was a lot warmer than outside so he stayed.

It's been here about a week. It's asleep when I gather the eggs at night and asleep when I fill the feeders and waterer in the morning. Don't tell Pep but I put a little cat food out for it :)

On a totally different note, Happy Birthday to Mr. Lincoln. And since this is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, I'm making (with a lot of help from Tori) a homespun quilt using Lincoln's Platform blocks. It's coming along splendidly. The piecing is easy and the visuals are - wow. Wait until you see it. We'll probably kit it.

More clothes to hang and a quilt to make.

FREEBIE FRIDAY - Free Fabric

We've started carrying some fabrics by the yard (all Moda fabrics, of course). The Homespuns are due any day but we do have a selection of prints on hand. Check out the category Fabric Prints (this is the red page) in the store.

To celebrate, and since it's Freebie Friday we're giving away a free yard of the fabric of your choice to the first ten orders of one of the following books.

Bird in Hand

Homespun Hearth

Garden Spirit

Say It With Flowers

Pokeberry Quilt

Together Again

Twixt Garden Gates

Young at Heart

The Free Fabric Deal will be posted on the " Specials" page at 11:00 CST and it's a "first come, first served" deal. Check out the books and fabric and get ready for 11:00.

And after you've shopped, be sure to hop on over to Me and My Sister's blog and see the quilt they have in store for you. Their post certainly reflects their humor and will make you smile. They are always so much fun at Market with their sparkling ideas and good cheer. And if you didn't get to Camille's blog yesterday (sorry, Camille, I was teaching and it takes all of my energy) you need to go sign up for a chance at even more free fabric, see her pillow and the pictures of her new baby. And the rest of the family - big brothers and husbands are important too.

"Love Is" Sale starts today and Day 9 of Pillow Talk - Kathy Schmitz - Wow!

Our "Love Is" Sale starts today (and runs through next Tuesday). So, for a week

"Heartsong" here is 30% off.

So is "Love Is"

Our "5 Hearts" kit is 15% off

and all patterns with a heart in them are buy 1, get 1 free.

(All prices on the "Specials" page reflect the sale price.) So hop on over and grab some Valentine kits because after all, Love Is something we need year round.

And speaking of hopping, you need to hop over to Kathy Schmitz' blog and see what she has in store for you.