Shoveling snow & Freebie Friday

Sorry I'm so late getting the Freebie Friday post up. We've been outside shoveling snow and taking care of critters.

The snow is absolutely gorgeous. It's also very wet and heavy so things take a lot longer. Since the post is going up so late we'll just have Freebie Friday extend to Saturday too.

This is a Fat 1/8th pack and you get one Free with the purchase of a book or books from our store - today (what's left of it) and tomorrow. The only exception is our book Special this month, Garden Dance. So browse through the books, pick one out and get some really neat Moda fabric to play with.

Well - SHE loves the snow! And payment options.....

It's snowing again!!!!

This is Cutler. She's a Siberian Husky puppy that we're puppy sitting for a friend until he gets his fence built. She doesn't mind the snow at all. I think she wonders why we all go in the house instead of staying outside and playing. She comes in because we're inside but she'd much rather play in the snow.

She is beautiful. Her eyes are blue and her fur is soft like a bunny's. And she has enough energy to run and pull a sled all day long - every day. Fills me with joy just to watch her run. Tires me out too.

Inside, where things are warm enough for people, I'm designing new quilts and thinking of spring.

We're having a sale on Basket Patch - regularly $149.95 - this week only $100.00. (We need some space on our shelves.) It has soft, gentle colors - some blues the same blue as Cutler's eyes. And flowers - I am so ready for flowers. I'm not ready for mowing the grass yet but maybe for some crocus.

Now for the payment options part. Most of you know that at the moment we can't take credit cards. We were the object of some credit card fraud (orders using someone else's credit card) and the Credit Card processesor that we had at the time (First Data - a big one) didn't bother to tell us that they really weren't set up for internet orders. Their security system just didn't have the checks it needed. So until we get everything straightened out - and it's like working with a bowl of spagetti - we can't take credit cards.

We've built a new store where you can check out with Paypal or Google. You don't have to have an account with them - it's good if you do, but even if you don't, you can use your credit card on their site which is secure.

If you're a member of one of our clubs we can't just charge your card and ship your order. What we can do is invoice you through Paypal or if you've had issues with Paypal we can invoice you through Google.com. They both have secure sites where your credit card information is safe. Or, of course, you can always opt to send a check. We can either send you an email that the Club is due to ship or if you're a long time customer, we'll just ship it and you can pay us. Just let us know how you want to be invoiced.

And since Tara quit with no warning (and no training of her replacement) we're kind of fumbling around in the dark. Max (Byron) has been working hard to figure things out and to see if there's anything to be done about the credit card situation. Every time he thinks things are figured out, something else comes up. Our priority right now is to get you your kits and products as quickly and as safely as possible.

Day 22 Moda Lissa

Be sure and check out Lissa's blog for the full story.

From Lissa's Blog:

20 questions

Here is a list of 20 questions from the moda designers pillow talk blog hop. Just in case you did not read all the posts, here is a link to each of them in no particular order. Cotton Way, Thimbleblossoms, Fig Tree Quilts, Laundry Basket Quilts, Deb Strain, Sandy Gervais, Barbara Brackman, Jan Patek, Kate Spain, Kathy Schmitz, Bunny Hill Designs,Aneela Hoey, Blackbird Designs, Me and My Sister,

Kansas Troubles, Lauren and Jessi Jung, Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson, American Jane, Sweetwater, Oliver + S, Primitive Gatherings

I believe the comments are closed on many of the posts but still stop by and follow them, add them to your blog roll, add them to twitter or whatever makes you remember to check out this talented group of ladies on a regular basis.

Yes I am going to give a prize to the winner, BUT I am not going to tell you what it is. You will have to trust me and want it really bad.

We've learned over the years that she always has something up her sleeve - and it's always good. Thanks for a great Blog Hop, Lissa!

Day 21 - Edyta and her awesome batiks

I've had the pleasure of having a booth next to Edyta (pronounced with a "k" in there) at a couple of Markets. This is one of the most dynamic people I have ever met. She has unbounded enthusiasim (sp?) and energy for her husband and kids, for her work, for her life.

Do hop on over to her blog and hear about her pillow.

And Edyta was going to be last, but certainly not least, on our Designer Blog Hop but now we hear that our fearless Marketing Leader Moda Lissa is going to have that honor tomorrow. Yay!

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.