Greetings all....What is your life about these days?
For us, April and May were about preparing for Minneapolis Quilt Market. I love Minneapolis. I get to stay with my fun-loving cousins and walk around the lake in the evening and eat scrumptuous food with good friends. Not so crazy about all of the work before hand. Friends Don and Sue were burning the oil in their wonderful workshop helping prepare some great new designs. Sue single handedly stitched up the quilt that was part of one of our Market best sellers. Here is a little peek, tho you'll see a much better picture of it on the pattern page.
"Fun Blocks and Quilt"
Be sure to also check the Pattern Pages for all of our other new designs. Like "Punky" the funky pumpkin guy done in Punchneedle. "Little Pouches" is simple, fun and originated in the Pfau workshop by Don. Then there is "The Tooth Fairy", "Better Not Pout", and "Run Goose Run". "Holiday Gift Tags", tho not brand new, was another of the top sellers at Quilt Market. Don't miss out on any of these.
How I wish the picture served well the beauty of this wonderful quilt - displayed at this year's Pajaro Valley Quilters Show in Santa Cruz. It was made by David Velluga for his wife Carolyn of Gypsy Threads fame. Colorful Quatamalen-type wovens, prints and batiks were meshed so artistically into this hand-quilted masterpiece. If only you could see what we saw.
A bit more about this quilt show. A very worthwhile show to visit in the month of February. Wonderful quilts, a variety of vendors and my favorite....meandering musicians!
Studio Tip (or workroom, as mine is called): I have a four foot work table next to my sewing machine. I put a pleasant table cloth over it so the supplies beneath are not visible. I had a a couple of pieces of plexiglass (or glass is fine) cut to fit over most of the table top. Underneath the glass I placed a splendid African batik and some of my son's terrific art work that never made its way into a frame. Wonderful inspiration and in addition...it encourages me to keep the table top cleaned off.
Say, If you have a favorite studio tip, please send it in and we'll share it in an upcoming newsletter.
A little tale about the pennyrug below.
Our friend Don received a note from a customer that had purchased a "Give Peace a Chance" pennyrug from him at a holiday faire. She wrote that she loves the pennyrug and uses it to cover her drum she plays when she chants peace songs.
Since you so rarely hear what people do with the hand made items that they purchase from you, I found this story to be very heart warming.
This past holiday season my oldest daughter shamed me into reading again. Since beginning this very time consuming business I have become nearly illiterate...she didn't like that, being a very avid reader herself. So I began by trying to read just a little bit every evening. It was working well until I picked up "The Kite Runner". I couldn't put it down...deadlines were missed....patterns unfinished...family? What family. Business? What business. Finally I realized things were falling apart so got the time allotment back under control and now I just thank my daughter for bringing the joy of reading back into my life. Just a little every day. I picked up "Sugar Camp Quilt" from the library shelf and after finishing it realized it was the seventh in a series. I enjoyed it and just picked up the first two in that series....I love the Bookmobile! Love the books on CD also.
Reets' not-for-everyone (but almost) music pic...CD by the Lovemakers. I think it's just titled The Lovemakers. Not telling you anything about it. Just go listen. You'll love it. I hope.
Great for sewing break excercise ..... very dancey.
We would love to have you visit our booth at one of our upcoming shows.
Check the SHOWS link to see if one is near you.
THE MISO SERENITY SOUP STORY....
One thing I love about attending quilt shows is visiting friends.
One evening while staying at my dear friend Susan's home in Berkeley, I was asked to share a lesson in miso soup making. A very simple soup it was, befriended by a bit of sauteed kale, green onion, mushrooms...and some red bell pepper I believe. At the very last minute...a scattering of slightly toasted pinots. I'm certain that it was really her warm and comforting Tuscan kitchen that so subtly flavored the soup that night.... but I pretended it to be my expertice. We ate at the aged wooden table that, in the dim light, stretched far beyond just the three of us, she, her mother, and I. Other family members out on the town that evening...missing the delectable soup that swirled so softly in the shallow white square bowls,
splashing the nearby candle light upon the huge beams
well above us.
It was simplicity at it's best.
Like a bowl of life should be...simple...and quite beautiful.
Silently, we understood something good that evening.
Yes.......so........anyway...after returning home by only a day, I received an email from Susan. She wrote....
I feel at ease and cared for as I recall something such as the soothing taste of nourishing, homemade soup; the gentle sound of a dear one's voice;
the caring words in a friend's letter.
Whatever my memory is, I feel serene as I recall it.
Well......
with that then, I think that i will just say so long for now.
Until next time....wishing you all, a bowl of nourishing, soothing soup...
shared serenely with a friend...
or two.
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