Just Toasty

Why yes I am, quite Toasty in Texas!!! Lol. 

After all it is the middle of summer, hot as...you fill in the blank. So what do Texans do if we can't escape to the mountains for a cool break? We dream of crisp cool October air!!! 

So get ready for fall with a vintage inspired quilt in colors of persimmon, bittersweet, sable and parchment. Dream of Snuggle time with a good book or the love in your life. 

I'm making kits. Please let me know if you would like one. 

What are you doing this summer? I had great plans after Spring Market for all sorts of things: clean up and organize the sewing room, sew for the next book, study more women's stories for my club and keep up with sewing for the club, be more interactive and post more on social media, eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. LOL. The results of my great plan? Mixed, but in good shape with club! 

LIFE happens. Stuff gets in the way of plans. One of these days I'll stop complaining about what isn't getting done. Just watch for it-it's going to happen- I'm going to get caught up!

Some days I think I'm just like a dog who sees a squirrel, drops the bone, and chase ensues. IDEAS!!! They are like that. When they come you drop everything else. I've done a lot of that lately.  Of course there are other real distractions that take up time and space. Like waiting in a doctor's office for 2 hours! And then waiting weeks for results, only to find you have to go to another doctor, wait 2 more hours and more weeks for results. UGH. TIME EATERS! 

I was able to go on a wonderful retreat with friends. Made some sewing progress while visiting. So nice. Another retreat is coming up. Can't wait. 

Spent some fun time last week with Madison. She 'cooked' dinner for me. She has the cutest red kitchen. Pretend cooking is so funny. In her world everything is better with ketchup...but not in Mimi's coffee! Just try to say 'yum' to that! I dare you. ;-)

I'll close with a few more of my quilts from Bramblewood ... I have the patterns too, if you like. One of these days, I get an Etsy shop going. It was on the to do list this summer too. But for now just email me. 

Until next time, you dream of cooler weather, toasty, cozy, and cuddle worthy quilts. I'll dream of cooler weather, new quilts, an organized sewing room, playing with Madison, and Doctor results! Lol. 

~ Betsy 

Alternate winners

A week after announcing winners for the Frivols tin, Molly has selected two new winners. Sorry, only Lauren came forward! 

So new winners are Wendy Reed Caton and Victorian Girl. 

Please email me your addresses so I can get the tins in the mail to you!

Thanks for ALL the comments. I enjoyed reading each and every one. 

Last week I taught a Blended Quilt retreat, should call it Low Volume and yummy!

Creative takes on early 1800's chintz quilts. Smooshy was the goal and they all did great! Hope you can see in the photo the beautiful work they all did! 

Just look at this awesome inspiration board. Yummy. 

Ok hope to hear from the two new winners. 

Thanks so much for following me!

Until next time~

Betsy

Winners

If you are Lauren H, Cindy H or Holly Field, you have won a Frivol. Please email me with your addresses. 

Molly  sends her congrats!

Please remember when commenting that you need to have an email address so I can reply or reach you. Many have non-reply when  I tried to contact. So if I can't reach, or hear from you I'll be picking new winners. 

Until next time~Betsy

Frivolous Friday

Back in August Moda started a year long Frivol program. Surely you have heard of them by now. There are 3 months left. Still plenty of time to collect!

 I was honored to have my first line, Eliza's Indigo, selected for Frivol 3. A super cute tin, which holds fabric, two patterns, a pocket notebook and a quote. 

Different Frivols have different goodies inside, a good reason to collect! I have now opened 2, One I keep pristine and the other I'll be packing with little sewing necessities,

This is the cute extra 'maker' block.

The pattern for it is on the other side of the card.  The card that says...

I love quotes. This one has spoken to me since May of 2000. Why then? My daughter Rachel, quoted these words in her salutatorian speech. Along with a few other quotes, she eloquently spoke that evening, held our attention and left all the moms in the stadium without a dry eye. Of course her focus was on leaving the familiarity of high school and going away to college, starting a journey toward adulthood and a career. 

Just two years later, those words came back to mind as I was diagnosed with breast cancer. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Since then I've applied it to everything and certainly my journeys...treatment, quilting, caring for my parents and more.

Whether a physical journey, or a spiritual journey, there is always a first step. Without that step, we stand still. When we stand still we don't grow, we don't experience, and we don't have fun. So we need more frivolity! More antique quilts to buy! More fabric, more brown transferware or blue or wooden boxes and carriers or TINS,,, Collecting make me happy.

 Need to start a journey, or are you one one? So my advice: take a deep breath and take that step. There is always something  to be learned. And maybe have some fun along the way. Journeys take different paths and don't have a time limit either. Nor, a set course. 

This was in the doctors office yesterday. Routine bloodwork. They have a nice inspiration board... full of quotes! 

Be inspired. Be brave. Try something new. There is always a new quilt make!!! and fabric to collect!!!

My friend Annette posted this on Instagram, and I reposted. She made the little quilt pattern in my tin. So cute!

Most everything I do has a purpose.  A reason. 

There is frivolity in playing with my granddaughter. 

Madison and Minnie Mouse, and boxes from United Notions in the background. LOL. In our pajamas, most of the day. Totally Frivolous!

When was the last time you did something just for fun?  Tell me a frivolity of yours in a comment, or simply a comment on this post and I'll send a Frivol to a lucky winner, or two, or three. Chances to win end at midnight Monday April 11 Texas time. 

Visit other Moda designers, Minick and Simpson, Brenda Riddle, American Jane, just to name a few,  as we celebrate Frivols. You will see postings on Instagram and Facebook too. Look for hastags. #modafrivolousfriday and #modafrivols

Until next time~

Betsy 

Classic and Heirloom day

Fat Quarter Shop and It's Sew Emma have been having a sew along with the patterns in my book, Classic and Heirloom so I had to join in the fun. 

I've seen some great projects made from my designs, but in different fabrics on Instagram. 

Often we see a quilt in a particular color scheme and either want to make our own just like it, or are turned off because it's not 'our' color. 

Classic designs never go out of style. Sometimes I think we should only have patterns in greyscale so we can be imaginative. LOL Have I just dated myself?  Isn't that the way some of the really old patterns were, black and white?

But oh my goodness, I do love color. I love the fabric choices we have. I love the creative process. I'd love to see what you make!

So the little quilt you see above, has Mary Ann's Baskets made in my new Bramblewood fabric that will be in shops in May. Yes, you read correctly, May. 

I read a great and appropriate sewing area description earlier today-room of doom. If you saw mine now with all the prep for Spring Quilt Market, that what you would think-room of doom!  But there in THAT messy room ideas bloom. I just forget where I put them. ;-)

Until next time~

Betsy

Easter greetings

Happy Easter to you all. 

My grandmother saved postcards and my mom saved what she saved. Now I'm saving them for My daughter and granddaughter. This card is either 100 years old or will be in a couple of years. 

What are you all working on these days? Me? Oh a number of projects. Lol. Lots. So many things I'd like to show. So much of Quilt Market  sewing is secret. Andso is sewing for books. I'm also busy with a new club. On the secret side too! Hmm. 

So. Just what can I show? A couple of quits...

Trail Drive from Classic and Heirloom. Fabric is Lizzie's Legacy. My newest Moda line. I LOVE THIS LINE. I love all my fabrics. 

Mary Ann's Baskets

 

Who was Mary Ann? She was Lizzie's sister in law and best friend. Mary Ann and Lizzie's brother Ben were already in Texas When she and Robert left Kentucky for Texas in 1852. 

Together, Mary Ann and Lizzie shared the pioneer experience. They would welcome children, make quilts, dye wool and cotton, work the loom, sew all the family garments. Mary Ann knew all the dye recipes. She was also a prolific gardener of flowers and was often bringing them to Lizzie. Lizzie grew vegetables, but didn't have the patience for flowers...took too much time away from her quilting and garment making. Lizzies brother passed away not too long before Lizzie died. Lizzie worried about Mary Ann, alone without Ben.  I worry about Mary Ann without Lizzie. The bond between women who shared so much is a strong one. Lizzie was almost 50. 

Celebrate their friendship and your friendships by making Mary Ann's Baskets. Fat Quarter shop is having a sew along on any Classic and Heirloom project celebrating my book and  Lizzie's Legacy fabrics which will be arriving any day. The blog hop sew along Starts April 7, I think. 

Until next time~

Enjoy this day. 

Betsy 

 

And the winner is...

I

I piled the names by Molly who was asleep, then left the room. When I returned, she had rolled around and picked Jacque's name. No joke.  Out of 45 names. She managed to pull one piece of paper aside. I was amazed. 

I'm so tickled so many of you left a comment. Thank you all. 

Sandra and Lisa were right about Jen and I loving to choose fabric for our projects. I LOVE the hunt for the right fabrics for each project. And of course, more is better. 

Jacque, please send me your mailing address so i can send you a book.  Bchutchian@hotmail.com

A question came up yesterday about how to enter the big All in a Row quilt along contest if you aren't on Facebook. Here is what I found out...

Martingale has created a way for you to enter without having to be on Facebook. Yes, email photos will be fine. E-mail submissions to service@shopmartingale.com The subject line should say All In A Row Quilt-along so they know to enter the pictures in the drawings. 

I have also learned that designers may choose to offer additional prizes. This is by their choice, totally optional. 

So, in keeping with that option, If you make my Bitty Basket row

 you will need to take a photo of it and tag me on either Facebook or Instagram. Or send me a photo that I can post on the blog. If more than one if you make my row, then my assistant will decide the winner. 

What would you win? A surprise, of course.  Winner will be chosen when the contest ends. 

Several of you were interested in my sugar bowl and cream pitcher. Susie Q called them the Harlequin pattern, thanks! I did not know that. They were my mom's. She had some Fiesta and Hall dishes too. She loved dishes and had a huge collection. Now I have hers and my big collection. 

The salt and pepper shakers are pretty cute. 

Thanks for visiting and your comments. 

Until next time~

Betsy