April 15, 2008 at 1:03 pm (Uncategorized)
I’ve had to take a little break, kiddos.
I’m down and out with pneumonia, of all things. Spent Sunday in the hospital. On tons of pills. Seeing my MD again this morning. Other than that, all is well! :) xoxom
April 8, 2008 at 3:48 pm (Uncategorized)
So I’ll be back in blogland soon! xoxom
March 22, 2008 at 1:43 pm (Uncategorized)
I love to watch Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday nights on HBO. It’s one of my appointment television moments but ….
Will someone PULLLEEESE tell Bill to whack the faux mullet and wash his hair?
Dear Jesus and the Saints above. I fall asleep dreaming of the Exxon Valzez and Texas!
It’s c-c-c-old here on Pickle Road this morning! Jeff started a fire and we read the paper and drank coffee while Evan slept.
I love a morning fire in the fireplace. It’s one of my fav things.
My Easter Lily is now open! 
I bought a couple of bouquets of tulips this morning. Tulips always make me happy.
I sometimes miss the days of living and working in Manhattan.
I used to buy fresh flowers at the little markets all over New York City all of the time. No matter the season or weather, the flowers were plentiful, fresh and beautiful. I always had fresh cut flowers in the rooms of my apartments in the city. Now, I have to buy my buds at Shoprite or A&P for double the cost and without the mondo selection. It blows.
My little quilt guild, the Common Thread Quilt Guild, will be hosting the One Block Wonder quilt class in Long Valley, NJ on April 12.
I’m going to take the class myself, from my bud Sherry. If YOU want to take the class with us (there is some teeny tiny fee), email Sherry at SBCowley@aol.com.
While I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I bought a large piece of fabric for my One Block Wonder and a large complimentary piece for other blocks, OBW modification, or both! They are designed by Art Gallery Quilts Fabrics, which I like A LOT! Here they are.
I love this puce!
Accent piece. 
Then, when I got home, I visited Kindred Quilts and bought 2 more large pieces of One Block Wonder fabric. Not sure which group I’ll use.
This might be the ONE I use. 
Love the birds in this.
Continuing my binge (the notions man-whore that I am), I drove to Pennsylvania to Pocono Sew and Vac and couldn’t resist these goodies (one I won’t show you because I want to put it in the magazine — I LOVE it and so will Y-O-U)!
This is King Tut Quilting Thread by Superior Threads that the Sew and Vac people LOVE and recommended. I bought them in Katmandu colors. 
This is So Fine by John Flynn thread by Superior. They tell me it is amazing to piece with. I always use an ecru or soft grey thread to piece with.
Metallic by Maderia. I wanted to try some machine embellishment on fabric using this stuff. Apparently this is one of the best metallics for machine embellishment.
Speaking of machine embroidery/embellishment, I wanted to try using the Floriani Heat N Sta Fleece as an interfacing.
Then I picked up a set of really neat tweezers for sewing. 
I also bought a flame red Sebo vacuum while I was there, too! 
It rated as one of the best in a past Mark’s Posse. My shitty Dyson hit the skids so off I drove to Pennsylvania! Pocono Sew and Vac is really a terrific place to shop for a vacuum but even a BETTER place to buy a sewing machine (they also sell quilting fabric)! You name the machine brand and they have it — and their customer service rocks! Believe it or not, they also sell Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home! I’m so happy I live in the area!
I designed quilts all day yesterday for the Califon line. I came up with a lot of pretty good designs. They are for the free giveaway patterns for shops who buy the line.
Speaking of Califon — here’s another peek. Don’t forget to call your local shop and ask them to order Califon from their Northcott distributor!
You might remember that my dozen chicks came home the other day. Here’s where I buy them. It’s the Agway in Flemington, New Jersey.
I picked my chicks from these large bins of different breeds at the Agway.
These are mine. They are so damned cute. (You should see the baby ducks — adorable!)
Let’s see….
I bought 4 Rhode Island Reds 
4 Araucunas (these are the kind that lay blue, green and pinkish eggs)
4 Barred Rocks (zebra colored, black and white chickens) 
And 4 Buff Rocks (big and golden colored chickens). 
I still have my two Polish hens. 
While I was at Agway I couldn’t resist buying the pansies. So I bought 6 containers for the front planter on Pickle Road.
Full Purple and full white Pansies and purple and white violas.
I’m making my families traditional Easter egg cheese this morning and my bread. Maybe I’ll get Evan to help me although the cheese is a super simple recipe. I think I’m all set for Easter dinner. There is just the 3 of us so it’s practically a no brainer. Evan’s only request was kielbasa for Easter morning (our Polish family tradition, along with the cheese and homemade bread).
My grandparents would have baskets of the food for Easter blessed by the priest at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. You couldn’t throw away the leftovers, egg shells, crumbs, etc. of the blessed food so my grandfather would have to burn or bury it. I thought it was kinda weird then and I think it’s kinda weird now. There is something to be said for eating non-blessed food (like a trash compactor) but my dad and grandparents would SWEAR that the blessed food tasted better than the non-blessed. Given I eat in pure quantity, I’m not sure I ever tasted any of it! :\
I dyed the eggs yesterday — just a few. 
Thank you to my Polish chickens for perfectly shaped white eggs!
Isn’t it a pleasure when your kids don’t want to dye eggs anymore? There is no mess, spilled dyes, prolonged and ugly two-toned eggs, clear crayon messages, etc.? Hell, I used to have dye stained counter tops until June! By the way, that damn purple NEVER works….red always shows through!
I’ve been too busy to do any Psanky this year so I blew it off. 
To read what Ramblings of a Fabric Obsessor is getting for her birthday — just click here!
xoxom
March 20, 2008 at 1:26 pm (Uncategorized)
Ah, the first day of Spring. Daddy is happy and my daffodils are coming up on Pickle Road. 
What’s more. I’m I just got a phone call from my local Agway. 
Seems my new flock of baby chicks are here!
The new issue of Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home is hitting the stands! Keep your eye out for it!
For you guys only! A first look at the first half-page ad for Califon, my new fabric line for Mark Lipinski Home for Northcott.
Here are some other samples of just the STRIPES from the Califon line:
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Got back from Ft. Lauderdale on Monday where I lectured and taught at the Quilt Show by the Sea quilt show. Beautiful weather! I had forgotten how nice it is to get into a plane in cold, grey weather and get off in a warm green paradise!
Here’s the tree that met me right outside of the Baggage Claim area.
Joy and rapture! Right around the block from my hotel, was a shopping center. I walked over to the local Publix to get some seltzer water when I found …. yes, a Carvel!!! Look! Their ‘open’ sign was a Fudgy the Whale (you know when I worked at Channel 9 - “Fudgy the Whale” is what some newsroom folks used to call Al Sharpton in the early days (the 80’s). I can never see Fudgy without thinking about Al. Not wild about Al’s politics or media whoring but love the guy — charming, great sense or humor. . Kind of like, hate the sin, love the sinner — doesn’t make much sense to me but it works for the fundamentalists, so I’m game). I was going to go in to get a shot of a Cookie Puss but I got kind of embarrassed and didn’t want to end up in a locked ward — and I had two classes to teach and a lecture!
Oh well, don’t say that I don’t throw caution to the wind. Meet Cookie Puss:
Look who was waiting for me (well, waiting for their ride to the quilt show venue) but the amazing Carol Taylor (a longtime buddy) and Robyn Pandolf (whom I thought was going to be an old bag and is instead, a vibrant, recently divorced, beautiful, wild and crazy mama)!
I took a shot of Robin’s purse while we were in the car on the way to the show. I loved the warm patina on the hand tooled leather. I loved it. Perfect for a gal from Galveston (or anywhere). You know, chickens, there is a quilt somewhere in those Mexican hand tooled bag designs!
Outside of the venue was a giant stone engraved with the 10 Commandments. A little weird for a public venue. At first, I thought someone might be buried there — nope. Just a gentle reminder to “Thou Shalt Not Kill” before you enter a quilt show. Ironically, there were signs advertising a giant gun show hung above the urinals (eeeew!) in the same hall within a couple of weeks. Maybe it meant “Thou Shalt Not Kill with your Hands.”
Now I have no problem with the 10 Commandments. Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Wife is one of the very easiest Biblical laws for me to keep — effortless. But religious symbols in public areas always reminded me of when I was adopting Evan in South America. There were giant saint statues in the lobbies of the police station, for instance. When I had to appear before the judge there was a huge bust of the Virgin Mary hanging on the wall behind her. Now I’m a Catholic (or was) so that kind of imagery didn’t make me wince. That said, if I hadn’t been a Catholic, I can imagine how I might feel like I wouldn’t get a fair shot once someone found out that I hadn’t been to church since Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. When I see this kind of 10 Commandment stuff or saints in a judges office, I can’t help but think how exclusionary those symbols might feel. Very important to keep that separation between church and state in my humble opinion.
Here is a table that was set up during the show where attendees could buy raffle tickets and then drop their tickets into a box in front of the ”prize” they wanted to win. Here, the shop Once Upon a Quilt offered 10 yards of Katmandu fabric as a prize.
I wanted to show you this award winning quilt (3rd Place) in the mini division. It’s a tiny log cabin made with Katmandu fabrics and it WON!!! The photo does it no justice. It was made by Sally Moon. I’m in love with it and must make one!
This is Lisa Stevens, the owner of Once Upon a Quilt and the sponsor of the Quilter’s By the Sea quilt show. I LOVE her. Feels like family (of course that would mean that she would be out of her mind). She’s a very smart business woman and really knows how to work a show and a room. This woman is a prime example to all of those struggling quilt shop owners. If you want to be successful you cannot treat your shop as a job but as your life. A lot of hustle and more than liberal amounts of elbow grease = success. It’s so not easy but it works. Lisa is a primo example.
Here is a part of Friday’s class that I taught.
On Friday, before my lecture, Lisa took us on a boat ride dinner.
Just kidding! That’s a photo of a photo hanging in Chuck’s Steakhouse where we REALLY had dinner!
This is the first time I had met quilter/teacher Cindy Blackberg and l00000ng armer, Barbara Hahl. 
Then there is:
Jeff (not my Jeff but Lisa’s employee, Jeff)
Sally Moon (she made the log cabin quilt)
Lisa’s mother (a firecracker to be sure - the apple didn’t fall far from the tree)
A group shot at The Cheesecake Factory (Halle Berry’s favorite restaurant, by the way) in Fort Lauderdale.
Lisa S. (OUAQ Lisa’s friend), me, Lisa, Sharon, and Sally.
Jeff’s partner, Bronte, with Josie who is doing her impeccible impression of Madonna.
Madge would be proud.
Jeff (not my Jeff) and Kathie Alyce, the creator of The Flip Flop Block.
Here are some shots of Fort Lauderdale from the Cheesecake Factory. Click on them for larger shots. The beach is just beyond the horizon in the photo on the right.
I found this pillow in the window in a Ft. Lauderdale shop. 3-D roses on a frilly pillow. Frankly, I hate this pillow, but it does give some examples of how to use fabric and embellishment techniques in your own projects. 
It has so much going on that it looks like a prom dress at a drag show!
Now THIS I LOVE! The photos do nothing for the beauty, grace and style of this ball gown. Absolutely gorgeous! Yards and yards of gathered and folded silk made to look like giant roses. Coupled with simple beading on the bodice equals WOW! Probably not to be worn while Krogering.
I liked this gown, too. Again, simple embellishment on printed fabric. I think that puce might be my new favorite color.
Here’s downtown Ft. Lauderdale at night from the parking garage.
. . . the fountain in front of my hotel at 4:30 on Sunday morning. I’m waiting for the shuttle to take me to the airport. Ugh.
Tina from Rhode Island sent me a photo of dancers with a note. Tina took a second look at the floor of the clogging venue where she was based on one of my previous blogs. She thinks she sees a quilt in the floor tiles.
The Quilter in Me blog talks about taking her shop-chosen quilts to show me when I’m speaking in western Pennsylvania in a few weeks.
Miss Mabel Studio’s blog writes on March 15’s entry about my invite to her to write something for Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home….that was several months ago and I have yet to hear from her as to what she might like to tackle. I’m always looking for new writers and ideas — so if you have any consider yourself invited, too!
Nellie Holmes - originellies blog talks about her picking up her friend’s copy of Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home! LOL Sounds like she likes it but why isn’t she buying it herself? Click here to read her Saturday, March 15 entry.
I love this blog. It’s called MY QUILT LIFE. The blogger posts a long, totally unnecessary apology to yours truly for something she had posted about the quilts in Mark Lipinki’s Quilter’s Home. Click here to read all about it. It’s her March 18th entry.
The Modern Diary’s blog talks about the arrival of her Mark Lipinski designed Katmandu Fabric. Click here to see what she thought.
March 13, 2008 at 3:05 pm (Uncategorized)
Hey Pickles!
It’s Thursday morning and . . .
I’m sitting in the Newark Airport waiting for my flight. Continental flight 203. 
Boring. But at least I was able to buy Internet access.
I’m looking forward to my trip. I even downloaded WHERE THE BOYS ARE on my spanking brand new iTouch that Jeff surprised me with yesterday. Whooo Hooooo!
I also downloaded CRASH for my in-flight enjoyment.
I have my Califon disc ready to go should I want to design another quilt along the way. I’ll crank up some Casada and create! Modern miracles.
Here’s where I’m staying. 
More once I get there…or get home! xoxom
March 12, 2008 at 9:27 pm (Uncategorized)
I’m screwed. After 4 years of absolute and almost flawless denial (what? you were expecting something less?), I was forced to endure the wrath of my MD today. I’ve gained 60 pounds in 4 years and he wants it off! Yesterday.
Yes, sweet taters, I am a fat pig and I need to lose the girth. 
I’m not ready to go under the knife for a lap band or bypass so I have no other choice but to eat carrots. 
NO! NOT THAT KIND OF CARROT!
THIS kind of carrot. 
It’s so easy to let yourself go (and fun not to worry about it). Well now I have to worry about it, take control of it, and I have to pay the piper (just not feed him). Shit, I can’t even get a quilt finished. How am I going to lose that kind of weight? Blech!
On a lighter note — spring is on the way. I bought a packet of basil seeds and a couple of seed starter containers. Looks like I’ll have pesto again this spring. I love Pesto — with heavy garlic.
I found this little bejeweled box at a shop in Morristown, NJ. I have a ton of these little boxes because I can’t resist buying them. I’m going to fill this one with Guatemalan worry dolls (when I find them). It’s ironic that when I’m not looking for them I find them in every junk shop across America. When I want to buy them, I can’t find them anywhere! 
When I got back from Rhode Island a couple of days ago, I came home to the sweetest gift from reader, Sandi Andersen who says that she loves to “gift” people with things that she knows they will enjoy! Sandi sent me a literal “half” cup mug along with a large feedsack piece of pickles! Thanks, Sandi! You’re right! I love that fabric!
Here are a couple of vintage books that I picked up. I found the Patchwork Quilts book from an on-line auction in England. While it’s written in English it was made and printed in Denmark in 1965. Here’s the cost” 25s net. Anyone know what that means? Most of the quilt photos are in black and white but there are a couple of color photos. It really is a history book and not a pattern book.
Now the Quilter’s Coloring Book is really just a bunch of plain grids that quilters could color to create quilts. It’s the Flintstone version of EQ6! Someone wrote to me about writing a book of quilt patterns that quilters could color themselves….I knew there was on already out there so I was on a mission to find it and I found it. It’s from 1979 and cost $7.95 for 223 pages.
I spent last weekend in Rhode Island with The Quilter’s by the Sea. I love the New England quilters. No matter where I end up in New England, I find the women to have a very sharp and quick wit (make me laugh and I’m yours forever, give me attitude and I can’t be bothered). I loved this group, loved the classes, and thought that Newport was fabulous and am only sad that I didnt’ have enough time to spend there. I just had about an hour to look around. 
The very best part of the meeting were the pink iced vanilla cupcakes that a member baked. They were FABULOUS! I had TWO. The table was packed full of chocolate goodies but I’m a vanilla eater, hands down. The fact that they were pink, my favorite color, made them even tastier! I loved them and have thought of them often since my visit.
This is a view of Mystic Connecticut from the highway on my way into Newport. Everywhere you looked was water. Very beautiful and very romantic. That said….
I totally loved the area but, baby, you could fricking overdose on seashell motifs, crab and clam nicknacks, fishing nets, and carved sailors. Of course it all put me in the mood for a Gorton’s fish stick.
Well, maybe just a quickie with the Gorton’s Fisherman!
It’s never hard for me to remember when Newport was founded - - 1639 — the same number as my current weight.
Here are some Newport street scenes. . . It was overcast. I’ll bet it is spectacular in bright weather!
I found this pillow in a shop window. The story of my life . . .
Here is my room at the bed and breakfast.
This wallpaper was on the living room walls of the bed and breakfast. I fell in love with it and dreamed that I was making a quilt with it that night! It reminds me of Jason Yenter’s In the Beginning fabric line. I love Jason Yenter. 
This woman was in my Friday class and I was so moved by her current project that I just had to take photos of it for you. She took a pattern from a Fons & Porter book — Quilts from the Henry Ford (I think). But here’s the story.
Her son is in Iraq and in order to keep sane (I’m not sure how she does it — I’d be a wreck), she would applique a blue leaf everytime she got an email from him and a red leaf everytime she speaks with him. What a wonderful idea and inspiration. I hope I got the story right — it could be the other way around…but it’s still fab-U-lous!
I love the little army man leaf. Genius!
My baby dumpling turned 16 on Sunday and he wanted to spend the day in Manhattan so off we went. Here’ s Evan in front of his new favorite restaurant, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill on 5th Avenue.
As we walked the streets, I looked up to find the Lion Brand Yarn headquarters. I had to snap a pic for you as I know many of you are yarn whores — me too — misery loves company.
We bought several things to showcase in Quilter’s Home from street vendors (who have web sites, by the way). Evan bought his first piece of art, a photograph from an Argentinian photographer, street vendor. Jeff framed it for him today and it’s hanging in Evan’s room.
Loved these signs that were pasted to some wooden gates near St. Mark’s Place (where we were headed for some Boho experience).
I spotted this tile floor in a closed restaurant while we were walking towards Tompkins Square Park. I love tile floors and am often inspired to craft quilts from the designs. Of course, I’m totally full of bullshit and know that I’ll never do a tile floor quilt. I’ll leave that to the real artistes!
I had totally forgotten about the Odessa Cafe. Back in the 80’s I had dinner there with Antoinette Giancana (yes, the REAL mafia princess). She was a very funny, creative lady looking for her niche. I wonder what she’s doing these days?
This sculpture twrills around when you push it. Evan was amazed when I pushed it in a circle. After we left I saw other people spin it.
This place is now a Starbucks (what the hell isn’t?). During an early visit to Manhattan, I had lunch there with author (Men in Love, The Normal Heart, Faggots) Larry Kramer. I wrote him a fan letter after reading his novel Faggots and we ended up keeping in touch. While we were eating a woman approached me. He introduced us. When she left he explained that she did the costuming for his movie Men in Love. I was speechless. I was also very young.
Evan loved dinner at The Mesa Grill. Jeff and I were less than thrilled. High priced, lukewarm food, not great cuts of meat and fish, not great service. But the evening was about Evan (Bobby Flay is his hero — but wasn’t there for an autographed copy of one of his cook books) and he couldn’t have been happier.
When you’re in New York — skip it. It ain’t what it used to be. Jeff and I had both been there several times before — in the days when you either had to be someone to get in and/or wait months for a reservation. That was in 1991 — now I’d stay away from Bobby Flay!
I got a few new books and patterns in from Martingale the other day. Look for them at your local quilt shops.
Love it. Full size patterns for your quilting. It’s a great deal at $24.95. All you have to do is trace, transfer, and stitch! Go for it.
Doesn’t do it for me. It’s a $12.95 pattern that I couldn’t be the least bit interested in. It’s not that I don’t like fish (see the Gorton’s fisherman above) but it’s not pretty, interesting or even artistic. I don’t get it. I’m kinda surprised because I have usually LOVED the That Patchwork Place patterns.
A quilt themed story book. I don’t have a little girl or a granddaughter so I’m not the target audience for this book. I do think that reading to your kids is VERY IMPORTANT so while you’re reading, why not something quilt related? Kill two birds with one stone. I’ll tell you this: this book inspires me and I smell a QH article here. Keep watching.
Now you know I like cats. But 32 pages for $19.95? That’s a little over 62-cents per page. YIKES! There are only a few patterns in the book (1 quilt, 1 crib quilt, 1 wall hanging, 2 pillows and 1 cat doll) and they all kind of look alike. Cat lovers may like it (even I like the larger quit) but a whole book? Too much for too little, dawg. 
TOMORROW
I leave for Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow afternoon. I get back on Sunday! See you then!
Ah, fun in the sun — and a quilt shop — Once Upon a Quilt. Can’t wait! xoxom
A friend sent me this link to Heather Thomas’ blog where she talks all about Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home. It’s pretty good. Take a look by clicking here.
Check out Creative Quilt Girl’s March 3rd entry and review of Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home. She puts me in very good company. Click here to read it.
Click hereto read the Muddling Through Life blog. She talks about the Pickle Posse Discussions.
The Knitting is Kneat-0 blog show what I have in common with her! Take a look by clicking here.
Creative Stitches by Lynn talks about her friend’s quilt in Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home. Click here to find out who her friend is.
This chick on Gayle’s Gallery blog felt the need to review Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home for the masses. Take a look by clicking here.
Caityquilter.com’s blog refers to a Mark-ism that we already know - the dream. What I love about what Caity wrote was to take our quilting dreams and apply it to what we wear — a very, very good point. To read her blog click right here, sister!
Click here to read a blog review of a book recommended in Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home.
March 2, 2008 at 7:21 pm (Uncategorized)
I got a surprise phone call from one of my favorite people on Friday, quilt and fabric designer, Patrick Lose! Keep your eyes open, chipmunks. Patrick is just about ready to release new products with a creative vengeance — a whole new set of patterns (some of which you’ll be seeing in an upcoming Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home), and several lines of fabrics and energy.
Patrick also has a new granddaughter, Lily! To visit Patrick’s web site click here.
I also got a very nice note from the ladies at The Quilter’s Inn in Danville, CA. It seems that I’m the Pin-Up Boy in their shop’s — bathroom! Well, if it’s good enough for Senator Larry Craig, then it’s good enough for me! :)
Now here’s an offer you can “barely” refuse. On the first of each month, members of the Pickle Road Pickle Posse list (over 1600 members to date) are allowed to buy, trade, sell, give away, and/or advertise their products, classes, books they they want to get rid of, sewing machines, etc. Well, Vis, owner of Bears Quilt Shop in California is having a sale…but there is a catch. A “BIG” catch if you catch my drift…. I had to laugh in spite of myself — actually the larger ‘I’ get the smaller ‘it’ looks!
:( So not funny! LOL
But don’t allow my personal agony to stop you. Take advantage of his sale! LOL Here’s the ad he posted:
“Stop on over to Bears Quilt Shop (and check out the cruise info, love to have y’all join us!)
Order anything from our online store, and then follow up with an email to me saying “Mark has a large Pickle” and I’ll give you 20% off your order. That’s for anything on the site, Fabric (our average is about 6.25 per yard, so you can really get some great deals with 20% off!) Notions, patterns, books, block of the month kits, whatever!
Offer is good until the 4th. (sorry, the discount may not be applied to the cruise !=)”
Oh dear God! Click here to visit Bears Quilt Shop!
How do you like these shoes? Apparently they are the hippest things to hit the red carpet and Hollywierd is embracing them. It’s not as if platforms aren’t bad enough, but platforms without heels? Brutal. There are some woman-hating designers out there — and some shit-for-brains broads who would wear these!
Maybe after a few of the divas fall on their asses and break a bone or two they’ll get to use crutches without any crutch! :)
Tulip received a sweet card and a photo of Marmalade (and her mom Rhonda Lauer), an 11 year old Sheltie from Iowa. As you can see, Marm has her own quilt to sit and sleep on the the world, as we know it, has not ended. 
It great anticipation of making a One Block Wonder quilt (which is my current favorite pattern book on the market), I bought this Clearview Triangle from my LQS. It was designed by Sara Nephew. Now I have to find just the perfect fabric. I think these OBW quilts are amazing and I can’t wait to get started. I spoke with Maxine Rosenthal the designer for the OBW the other day. I was hoping I’d meet her at Quilt Fest New Jersey (which I had told her about) but she must have gotten busy with the folks she was visiting in Livingston, NJ this weekend.
I bought this book on Amazonand upon closer look, this book really rocks! So many different quilting and embellishment techniques in one little book. If you haven’t seen it you should take a look at it. Really imaginative stuff and good instruction for those of us who can piece but who are less comfortable with out machine quilting skills!
You know I have a real love for cross stitch so when I found this for like, 99-cents, I made an eBay bid and won. I know I’ll never do any of this stuff and took 3 seconds to look through it but I’ll put it in my “someday” pile with all of the other worthless shit that I must have but know I will never use! Have any piles like that? 
I love me a Peeps! I have been buying these up like mad — mainly because I don’t really care for the fresh, out of the box Peeps, but I like to open them and wait until they’re stale and hard as rocks before I can truly enjoy them. Next to popcorn balls (no comments please), Peeps are my favs! 
Did you know that Peeps has an official FAN Site? Click here to see it!
Yesterday at Quilt Fest New Jersey, Liz brought me a pair of her undies that she thought that I just had to have! They say: “There’s a THONG in my heart …But I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it!:
Take a look!
Thanks for thinking of me, Liz. Tom Jones eat your heart out! :)
Suzy’s Quilting Room’s blog has a photo of us taken at Quilt Fest New Jersey plus a little paragraph about our meeting. Click here to see it.
March 1, 2008 at 12:47 am (Uncategorized)
Well out of adversity comes fabulosity! Kay, a Pickle from Nebraska, was baking me homemade Kulach’s last week when the ice storm hit NJ and my Lincoln classes were cancelled. Well don’t you think that Kay individually wrapped them and sent them off to me — across the country! THEY ARE AMAZING! I want the recipe! I ate 4 while I opened the damn box! A raspberry, 2 apricot and a poppy-seed. Yummy! Thank you Kay! You Rock!
Well, I’m now officially addicted to my Library Thing and have spent the day organizing a lot of my books (over 400 to be exact) with the cute bar code reading cat (only $15). 
I can’t believe how wonderful this service is and why in the hell didn’t I think of it? I only have about 1500 more to log into the system. It’s pretty amazing - and affordable. Click here to read all about it.
I haven’t written another word on my book. I’m freaked out. Maybe I’ll bang some out this weekend after I get back from my signing tomorrow at Quilt Fest New Jersey.
If I don’t get something turned into C&T by Monday, they’ll have my my head on a platter 
I’ll be at Quit Fest New Jersey starting at 10:30 tomorrow, Saturday, March 1 (can it really be March already?) until whenever the magazines sell out!
After being so busy that I haven’t had a chance to get to my local guild meeting in months! So I went the other day. Here are some pics from the Common Threads Guild meeting.
This is my friend Sherry Cowley. Sherry went to LA with me when I taped Simply Quilts a few years ago. She’s a riot.
This is Catherine from Paris! She is the best damn cook! and a very talented quilter! Catherine designed and made several quilts for my booth in Houston. Her work has been exhibited all over the world.
Y’all know Amy Buehler — she wrote the Martingale punch-needle book!
Gloria Dighton helped out at our booth in Houston…Remember her?
This was a small show and tell (it’s a tiny guild). Dot (on the right) makes a gazillion wonderful quilts and all from scraps. I love to tease and joke around with her.
This is Loretta with her charity quilt.
I was lucky enough to get a galley of Debbie Field’s new Landaur Table Topper book. It’s a good one, you guys! First of all I think that Landauer does a great job on their publications. This, of course, will be another in their long line of quality books. 
This is one of my favorites in the book (although there are many of my favorites in the book). It’s a book worth having.
I found this on the sale table at Barnes and Noble. I love inspirational art books. 
Calico Cats’ blog has a fantasy about moi! Click here to read what it is in her Friday Five!
The Shoppe Girls blog talks about califon. Visit them by clicking here.
The Crowning Touch has some Katmandu for sale. Click here.
Katmandu is back on Material Girl’s site. See it here.
Katmandu is also on the Life’s a Stitch site. Click here.
February 28, 2008 at 4:19 pm (Uncategorized)
Jeff and I met with lead Northcott designer, Ro Gregg, to show her our new line — the one that will appear in stores AFTER califon is released at Spring Market in Portland in May. This new one will debut at Fall Market in Houston. She liked it a lot and even called us later to say that our stuff just keeps getting better and better. We were very happy.
It’s really nice to have a fabric company actually manage a line and offer guidance and support, rather than just blindly throwing shit on a wall and seeing what sticks. There is a lot of communication with Northcott, discussion about sales strategies, marketing, etc. I guess that’s why they’re an industry leader. Someday, you’ll read all about it in my book! LOL
So far, this has been a good move for me. I’m finally learning the right way to design fabric and it’s thrilling — and a lot more challenging and interesting than I once thought.
In the meantime, chickens, if you have an idea for a fabric line — meaning — want to design your own fabric line and have something on paper — please email me. Maybe you can design for Mark Lipinski Home for Northcott?
I’m always on the hunt for new talent — both for the magazine front and now for the MLHome department.
After our design team meeting, Jeff and I hit the mall. We went to what is considered a very tony mall in New Jersey — The Mall at Short Hills. It’s gorgeous (for a mall) and has absolutely the most high end shops and clothiers that I have ever seen (and it ain’t cheap).
But I’ll tell you this: Never in my life have a seen such an excess of “Fashion Don’ts” walking the cavernous marbled hallways in my entire life! I was hysterical.
Jeff and I kept giving each other the eye and whispering, “Did you see that?!?” Pullleeessszzze. Don’t tell me you’ve never done that yourself! Dear God! You would have D-I-E-D!
Now, you know I would have snapped pictures of these fashion monstrosities, but I was afraid I’d get caught, and even I have limits, my dears!
You gotta love this fountain. It fills with water then spits it out from the top. The photos do it no justice.
OK, time to reveal my true self (again). I got snagged by the Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Department. I couldn’t help it. It was right there! Just as I walked into the building from parking lot to store…BAM! Bridal gowns.
Besides food, bridal fashion is my most favorite thing in the world. You know I collect all kinds of shit. If I had the room, I’d collect bridal gowns. I love the embellishment, and the satin and beadwork and threadwork and lace and, well, I blame it all on the Sisters of Charity. Of course I’m drawn to the gaudy — can you blame me? I spent literal years starring at women dressed in simple, caped black habits (and that’s a tough habit to break)!
Trusty camera in hand (sans flash) I snapped a few photos of some of the embellishment work. Now know that no gown was under $6000. Of course the one I liked was $8000. So worth it (unless I had to pay for it for MY daughter).
The beading was actually done on netting and then the whole piece was appliqued to the satin.
This entire gown was ornate raw edge applique and beading. I almost fainted. I wish I could have gotten the whole shot for you but I was afraid I’d get kicked out of the joint. Amazing.
The interesting part of this gown was that the entire tiered gown was just silk or rayon seed stitches. Nothing more. Just 1/4″ random stitches. I thought, “Shit, man, I can do that on quilting fabric!” And so can you! It adds such simple elegance. Try it!
I met these two adorable, sweet chipmunks as they were watching me snap photos from behind store pillars. The lady on the left told me that she only parks on that side of the mall so that she can come through the same door I did and peek at the bridal gowns.
She told me the sweetest story. Sixty years ago, when she was shopping for her own wedding gown, she shopped in every store in Manhattan and was forced to call her father to tell him that, although she looked everywhere, all she could find was a gown that was $250. “He told me that was too expensive and to keep looking.”
My, how times have changed. I paid less for my first car than the least expensive gown that I saw today. By the way, the lady called her dad again, and her father allowed her to buy the gown she had fallen in love with. $250. The year was 1948.
Not all embellishment has to be ornate. Take a look at how just simple faux pearls dress up this printed scarf. Sometimes a little says a lot. For instance, a little cake makes for a big ass. 
Here is another example of simple embellishment that caught my eye from across the mall. It is just a bead on a running stitch. Very eye catching and would draw people right into your quilt and dress it up, easily. Another technique for you to try out.
Loved this shirt. Well, not the shirt so much as the fabric.
Can’t you just see a pearl or bead in the center of each daisy? Love it! 
Yes, turtles, patchwork shorts are VERY in this season. Cut up your old tops that you haven’t quilted yet and make an easy pair of drawstring shorts. Just in time for summer.
Jeff and I decided that this is how we’ll dress up our pool area this summer. This was in the window of Restoration Hardware (this store, by the way, has lost a lot of its steam as far as I’m concerned). I have to say, before YOU say it, I’m very drawn to the Katmandu-ish themes.
I saw this in Crate & Barrel. Fabulous cobalts (that you can’t really see). What a quilt or fabric this would make!
On my quest for more applique from pottery designs, I found these at Williams Sonoma. Click on the images to see larger pics.
Black and White is in. At least if you live in Short Hills. It is everywhere — along with splashes of red.
I would like to see all of the Pickles (every single one of you) in this get up! Can you imagine? Hot pants are back in style. Blech!
califon Now I promised you a sneak peek at my new line, califon. So over the next several weeks, leading up to quilt market, I’ll debut some of the line just for you Pickly-poos!
Since B&W are the fashion forward colors, I decided to create a stunning B&W line — that can be minimally embellished.
Drum-roll please:
Click on these to see a full size of the accent colors
Here are the yellow and blue versions of this particular design.
Now, kids, this is just a VERY SMALL taste of what’s to come in the califon fabric line.
To get your shop to see the entire line and/or order califon, have your shop owner call
Bernie or Vic at (201) 672-9600
What the hell was this!?!?
I jumped when poor Amanda Overmyer (ridden hard, hung up wet) came out to sing (if that’s what you call it) on Idol last night. I thought The Bride of Chuckie might be subbing for her (either that or Lainie Kazan took the stage) or worse! Horrors!
Will the real American Idol please stand up?
This is the funniest blog entry EVER about Quilter’s Home. It’s from Bunny Hill Designs. I love the Bunny Hill Designs so the fact that she likes the magazine is a bonus — but she didn’t always like it — she may still be having second thoughts! LOL Click here to read all about it.
Designer and AQS author, Karen Griska’s blog has a friendly mention of that damn Foreward I fretted over.
There is a great article about Long Armer Janice Jamison in today’s Star Ledger. Click here to read it (I hope). Janice has quilted many of my quilts and is a dear friend, to boot!
February 26, 2008 at 11:18 pm (Uncategorized)
The SUN is out! 
Ooops! That’s Paris Hilton’s MOON.
Ah, that’s better!
Deer in the yard…eating Jeff’s bushes! YIKES! 
Jeff and I drove to Clinton, New Jersey again to take in the show by Cuban artists at the Hunterdon County Art Museum the other day (this Cuban thing is beginning to become a weird theme). We had to drive through the neighboring town of Oldwick, so we stopped for coffee and snacks. I thought I’d share the town with you….
This is the Oldwick General Store and the main street of Oldwick. It’s just a stone’s throw from Pickle Road and this is the joint where I get my coffee on my way to the airport and to my local quilt shop!
What I love about this store is that the floors are original and it still holds the ambiance of the old days. I like how they have old, antique shoes and lanterns hanging from the wooden ceiling.
Now, in spite of what you see on the main street, this place smells of old money. 
Some of the surrounding farms and estates are breathtaking. Former NJ governor Christie Whitman has a place here.
It’s horse country! I’m sure these folks participated in the horse competitions with the
Jackie Kennedy’s who had a farm in another close town, Gladstone and Peapack (yeah, Malcom Forbes lived there, too.) 
This is the library. The homes and businesses on the main street are Victorians. There is a farm stand on the main drag where you can pick apples and peache when they are in season.
The General Store has the best homemade apple turnovers ever — and they are gigantic. By the time we got there, at 11-ish, they were already sold out, so we got the apricot and strawberrry twists (which were still warm).
Across the street from the General Store is Zion Lutheran Church and the old, original cemetary.
The dates on the grave to the left are b. 1784 d 1833 
I loved this soapbox derby display in the old Pharmacy window. My dad made mine and I can still remember how angry he was that we lost! Old habits die hard. I used to do Evan’s stuff for him! 
Boots in the window that I thought you’d like. They look good but I bet they don’t look so good after a week of snow and slush.
This is the Hunterdon Art Museum. It used to be a grist mill. 
While looking out the side windows of the museum, I got a few good shots of the Red Mill across the pond. It’s one of my favorite places — during every season.
My attempt at artsy. I need to stick to quilting. All original floors and structure.
A few weeks ago, on the Pickle List, we chatted about using human hair in knitting and crafting projects. I took this photo — of one of the exhibits at the museum. It represents the flag of Cuba and is made from human hair that is wrapped and affixed to the piece to pay homage to the soul and people of Cuba.
In the studio area there was some kid art. I liked the primitive way this was put together — and given it is made of fabric — a quilt of sorts, I snapped it for you. I love that puce color!
Last night we ended up at my favorite supermarket in Bridgewater, New Jersey. It’s a Pennsylvania chain called Wegman’s. It is remarkable and if you can’t find what you’re looking for there, then it hasn’t been invented yet!
The place is massive. These pics don’t do it justice!
Look at only a PART of their candy section. I couldn’t fit it in but it goes on for miles. By the way, what a nice stripe those colors would make as a quilt border.
