notes from Terry Ann

Crazy Days of August

This is NOT what my summer has been like - instead of calm and peaceful it has been non-stop. We traveled, helped our two kids move into apartments, worked on our new website, and in between all of that worked on a new pattern and some projects for our Groovy Girls club. Whew! 

In August I had the opportunity to go to the Checker Open House event in Ohio where I was so busy I forgot to even get my camera out of the bag. I talked to lots of shopowners and had a chance to meet new people and catch up with some old friends. What fun! The Checker showroom has every quilting notion a shop could possibly want and the warehouse is packed full of fabric too. Talk about sensory overload!!

On the way home from Ohio, Kirk and I spent the day in Chicago. Love this amazing skyline made out of Legos.

Our big plans for rollerblading and biking along the lakefront didn't happen because it rained all day. So we had fun wandering around downtown in the rain.

On Michigan Avenue one of the shops had a collection of sewing machines in their window - too bad they weren't for sale.

Lots of interesting architecture and detailing on the old buildings.

Good night Chicago!

 

 

Playtime

 

What's a great way to enjoy a fun Sunday afternoon of "girl time"? Taking a mosaic class at Bon Ton Tile. What fun to play with colors and shapes.

The colors came alive when the black grout was added.

Our finished tiles!

Another favorite food group

I know I'm supposed to be working - but look what I found in one of my photo files! Now my head is full of happy thoughts about my all time favorite candy. Whenever we go to the Mall of America I treat myself to a handful of Jelly Bellys at the candy store - cherry and lemon are my favorites. What's your favorite flavor?

I Love Pastels

Summer color

Kirk and I went "up north" last weekend - this colorful display was in Walker MN.

In Brainerd it looks like they knew we were coming - my name was on the trail! We went rollerblading and biking in perfect weather.

The best part was being on the trail early while it was still shady! Or wait - maybe the best part was finishing early so I was ready when the quilt shops opened!

 

 

 

 

Happy Holiday!

Here's my Happy Holidays table runner all ready to celebrate the fourth of July! I used  Quilt Minnesota fabric from a few years ago - love that stripe! This picture is from last summer - too bad I can't find the runner today. It's here somewhere, and I'm sure it will turn up on July 5th or 6th. I guess we'll have to eat out on the Fourth!

What Season Is It?

April showers bring May flowers - just kidding it's almost July!  It has been so cold and rainy that it feels like early spring. And I'm just getting started with a few spring cleaning projects - not a few months late but a few years late. Megan and I cleaned out our "thing with all the drawers" in the living room and we found a whole drawer of Girl Scout stuff. She's 21 - not sure how long ago we stashed the Girl Scout balloons and meeting agendas in there. Sylvester supervised all of the cleaning and sorting from his vantage point in the top row of drawers. We have no idea how he got himself in there, but he wasn't too happy when we tried to get him out!

Here's evidence that it actually is summer. These flowers were on the deck at the Bachman's Idea House, and I snapped a photo so I could find the exact same kind in their greenhouse. I'd show you mine but it's raining. And they look kind of scraggly. But they aren't dead yet, thanks to all the rain, so maybe when the sun comes out I'll take a quick snapshot.

These were my other favorite flowers at the Bachman's house - rain or shine they'll look great!

 

A Red and White Cathedral

Kirk and I didn't have to go all the way to New York to get out of the snow but we did! It's "The Year of the Quilt" at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City - and they are hosting "Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts".

The centerpiece of the "Infinite Variety show was a simple circle of chairs that stands for the women who made the quilts. It was a very personal touch to an overwhelming, amazing show. As I looked at the circle I thought about the friends that I've quilted with - and the time spent together around a quilt frame; and  time spent with friends gathered in each other's homes.

Spiraling above the chairs were an amazing variety of quilts. There were 651 quilts on display - and they were all red and white.

The quilts were hung in circles - sky high pairs of quilts hung back to back.

A few of the quilts had circle motifs - ranging from simple snowball blocks to pieced circles with applique.

There was a spotlight on each quilt, and the shadows made circles on the floor.

The tables even had circles - and I sat and visited with quilters from as far away as Texas and London - fellow quilters gathered around, sharing their love of quilts.

 

Too much white!

Here's the view outside my window - and it hasn't stopped snowing yet! Maybe it will melt in record time - we've got to get ready for April showers . . . and May flowers!

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring Fabric

Sawyer and I have had our last snowy hike for the year.

Our snowbanks were so high that we couldn't see over them to back out of the driveway, but now this is all the snow that is left! It's grey, foggy, overcast, and muddy everywhere.Yuk!

Which is why these colors look so good to me right now! What fun I've had playing with these yummy fabrics. The quilt top is done and it's at the quilter's getting quilted. Can't wait to see it - I'm so ready for spring!

January Farmer's Market

While driving down the freeway in LA we spotted some white tents in a shopping mall parking lot. After a quick exit, we found a farmer's market.

Yum!! Fresh oranges - of course I had to swing by for a second sample.

And there was even fresh kettle corn - but I can't show you because I ate the whole bag.

The L. A. Fashion District

We had so much fun exploring the LA fashion district. We walked for blocks and blocks, and around every corner we found more fabric. Most shops had fabric spilling out onto the sidewalk. In Minnesota we have snow and ice on our sidewalks!

The shops were jam packed full of fabric - with hardly room to walk. We only found one shop with cottons for quilting - so guess where we spent the most time!

It was so much fun to browse through all of the trims - laces, sequins, buttons, crystals, appliques, pom-poms, rick rack - everything you could possibly imagine.

We even wandered into some bead shops - and look how many beads they had just in turquoise! Multiply that by all of the colors of the rainbow and you'll know why our brains were overloaded at the end of the day.

 

L.A. Fashion

Was this Project Runway or a red carpet fashion show? Neither! These dresses were on display at the CHA show in L.A. CHA is the Craft and Hobby show - much like Quilt Market but with paper and craft supplies instead of fabric.

Such a creative way to showcase paper and trims and buttons - hard to believe it wasn't fabric.

This guy didn't need a dress - most robots don't bother with fashion!

One of the things I loved about the CHA show is the same thing I love about Quilt Market - lots of color and creativity everywhere.

 

California vs. Minnesota

We just returned to Minnesota from a week in California - and look who was here to greet me! 

Too bad we had to leave the beach behind!

We returned Sunday night and drove home from the airport in blowing snow. First thing Monday morning we got to shovel it. I guess it really doesn't matter what kind of weather we have - I'm gonna stay inside and finish some new patterns for Spring Market.

Win a Zippy Strippy pattern!

If you missed my interview on Pat Sloan's radio show on Monday, just pop over to Creative Talk Radio and listen to it anytime! Leave a comment on Pat's blog this week and you'll be entered to win a Zippy Strippy Pattern. The drawing for three patterns will be held on Friday at noon. 

Let's Talk

Join me this afternoon with Pat Sloan on Creative Talk Network for a fun show and prizes!! If you have never listened to Pat's show - you're in for a treat! Listen live at 4:00 eastern time (that's 3:00 heree in the midwest!) or go to Pat's blog to listen anytime!

 

Can your dog read?

Or does he just look at the pictures? Sawyer took a break from his busy day to relax with the December/January issue of Quilter's Home magazine. He was excited to see Pockets to Go, Cash and Carry, and Zippy Strippy suggested as great Secret Santa gifts!

This must be our month for quilt magazines - my owl purse made the cover of Quilts and More magazine! I just love the photos, and of course there are some of my tips for making zippers easy.

Texas Colors

Kirk and I stooped in Galveston on our way to Quilt Market in Houston. Yes, of course it's on the way - if you go that way! It was super windy, and the ocean looked tan instead of blue. We asked one of the clerks if it always was so brown and she answered, "No, sometimes it's really pretty!" If you're from Minnesota, it's pretty no matter what color it is.

The Lego store at the Galleria was almost as exciting as the quilts at Market. Wow!! Bins and bins of legos in every shape and color.

 

Downtown at the Hilton, there was a decorated pumpkin contest. My favorite one was "Día de los Muertos" or "Day of the Dead".

At first glance I wondered why this werewolf was next to the pumpkins, but then I noticed that his head was a pumpkin. Scary guy.

Kirk's favorite part of Market is the restaurants - oops - I meant the quilts! We had South American food, steaks, seafood, and the last night we had great Mexican food at Chuy's. What a fun place - and a great way to end our trip.

Remember to VOTE!

Just got back last night from Quilt Market in Houston last night. While we were down in Texas, we drove through this neighborhood which was plastered with election signs. Today we voted. Did you vote yet?

Falloween Winners!

We've pulled the winners out of a hat - and of course we used a witches hat! It has taken a few days of checking all 10 of the designer's blogs to find three persistent readers who commented on each one. Here they are:

1st Prize : Sew Create It - Jane 

2nd Prize :   Polly - Aunt Polly's Porch

3rd Prize :   Shannon - Nunu's Quilt World

Congratulations winners!! Please send me your snail mail address to Gudrun at: gudrun@gequiltdesigns.com and she will send out the prizes.