Missing Camera

Okay, its not really missing. Hubby to it to upstate New York (he wants to move us there...eeek!). So the giveaway pics will have to wait. I feel so bad that I didn't pick up more fabric at sample spree for the giveaway, that I'm going to add some to it to make it up to y'all! In the meantime, check out the MASSIVE giveaway at Pink Chalk (http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/).

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

My market trip is officially over! :( I had so much fun! I've always read the blogs of those who get to go, and this time it was my turn! My favorite part was meeting all the celebrities! Here's me with Sandy Klop, aka American Jane:
She is seriously one of the nicest people I have EVER met! She even gave me advice on sewing curved seams! I think I should show up on her doorstep with my fabric, ready to hang out and sew. What do you think?

Yes, I got my picture with Anne Sutton! Her new Christmas BOM was just gorgeous, and she has a new squirrel pincushion and a cute cute table runner!
I know I promised more booth pictures. Here's Michael Miller, my favorite booth! The picture doesn't really do it justice. It was beautiful! I could've moved right in! ANd the fabrics...yummy! The shop owner picked up a few lines.

And here's Patty Young's display at Michael Miller.On our way out of town, we stopped for a quick bite at a 'famous' sandwich shop. And I don't remember the name! They put coleslaw AND fries on their sandwiches! Here's Tara's sandwich:


Liberty tried her hardest to wait up for me. When I got to her room, this is what I found:
That's her giant "crock-o-dy-yal" from Ikea. He's about 6 feet long! I guess I'll have to wait for the morning to get my hugs and squeezes!

Tomorrow we're off to the lake for a few days. I have the mother of all giveaways planned, so stay tuned! I've got tons and tons of market swag that I am giving away! Yep, I'm going to give it to some lucky reader. Okay, not all of it, but let's just say there will be magazines, patterns, doo-dads, and MAYBE my Moda bag (hubby says its too hard to ship, so we'll see). I'm restricting it to my blog followers only, so if you haven't checked the little "follow" button, you'd better hurry!

Spring Market, Day 2

I'm back, peeps! Today was awesome! I got to meet my favorite lady, Bren! Please excuse the insane picture! I really do not like getting my picture taken, so this is a big deal that I am posting this at all! On the other hand, doesn't Bren look just gorgeous?! Love you, Bren!
And here Tara and I are with Barri from "Bareroots", which you have all probably figured out I am obsessed with!
After a long day of shopping the booths, it was time for the Moda party! Here's our ride:

Isn't it cute inside? The food was fabulous!

Cara and I started playing with her Blythe dolls at the Moda party. We got a lot of interesting looks, but we sure had a lot of fun posing them! Here they are lounging:

Now for the celebrity sightings:
Jennifer Chiaverini
Amy Butler
Heather Bailey
Alex Anderson
Lynette Anderson
Camille and Bonnie
Joana from Fig Tree
Anne Sutton
Sandy Gervais
oh, and I also completely accosted Pam and Elizabeth. Sorry 'bout that.

I promise tomorrow I will take pics of the booths! I was a little overwhelmed today! And I'm still working on a giveaway for y'all!

Sample Spree

I survived! To be quite honest, I was a little terrified of getting run over by zealous quilters. Overall, everyone was pretty nice and orderly. There was only one booth I REALLY wanted to go to (nope, not Moda-Lecien!), and I got to it right away. So, here's a pic of me, post-sample spree.
Now that I look at it, its a pretty lame picture. Sorry. I was trying to be witty. Now, what you really want to see: the booty! (NO, not that booty. Get your minds out of the gutter!)
This is a sneak peek. When I unwrap everything, I'll post better pics. I got two fat quarter bundles from Lecien: "Flower Sugar" (to DIE for! Start bugging you LQS now!), and a mixed Lecien bundle, from Moda, the new American Jane, "Happy Camper"...WAY cute! I also picked up a few patterns and a charm pack of Lakehouse's new line.

As for the celebrity sightings...aack! Driving up to the parking garage I saw Lynette Anderson. Inside, I saw Bonnie and Camille, Eleanor Burns, Holly Holderman, Heather Mulder Peterson, Lori Smith and Lizze B Cr8tive! Very surreal!

Tomorrow I'm off to tour the booths, and as long as the booth vendors allow it, I will take more fabulous pictures!

Cottage Caddy

I thought I'd post some pics of my upcoming tutorial: "Cottage Caddy". It was the only name I could think of on the spot. Sorry. Anyhoo, its a pouch that opens in the back:

Perfect for carrying some notions to class or on the road. I need to make another one to work out a few kinks I had. Then I'll get it all put in a PDF for you and post it. Unfortunately, it probably won't be for another week or so (I'll going out of town 3 times in the next 2 weeks!).

I am horribly unprepared for Market tomorrow. I am also hobbling around thanks to my trainer. What I need to do is take a nice soak in a bubble bath and read a good book! I will be twittering during market (knock on wood), so those of you that cannot go can live vicariously through me!

Cotton Time

I got the latest issue of Cotton Time in the mail this weekend. For those of you that aren't familiar with Cotton Time, it is a quilting and sewing magazine from Japan. I order mine from Superbuzzy. The magazine is entirely in Japanese, but you can pretty much figure out how to make the items from their diagrams and your own sewing knowledge. I am completely obsessed with this magazine! I've been carrying this issue around with me all weekend, pouring over it! One of the projects I am going to make is the small quilt pictured above. Here's their diagram on how to make it:
It uses curved seams, which I've never done in quilting before. I love the scrappy chic look of it!

There was also a feature on this designer:

I'm not sure what her name is, but I know she designs for Lecien, because I recognize the fabric designs!

Expect to see this bag soon! A perfect way to use some of my treasured Japanese fabric stash!

Each issue has a few pages of quilt block designs:

I saw this series of blocks and just loved it. One thing I love about this magazine is the scrappy looks. They use fun, bright colors, and don't pay too much mind to being "matchy-matchy". I am going to make a quilt with this philosophy: fabrics I love, and lots of them!

For all you Janiacs out there, look at this! A Dear Jane quilt!

So that's it! I hope you have found Cotton Time as inspiring as I have! I've been working on a new pattern for you all, but have run in to technical difficulties. Once I get it all ironed out, I'll be posting it. Oh, and most importantly: I'm off to Spring Quilt Market on Thursday!! Thursday evening I will be at Sample Spree, so wish me luck!