Now you know I’m the KING of Photoshop and I make no bones about it.  But, darlings, if ever I should want plastic surgery, shoot me dead in my tracks!

 I woke up to this morning’s NY Post to find this starring back at me!

Poor Marlo!  

Here are some other of my favs who look vaguely familiar . . .

 Honestly, when I saw Farrah and Olivia Newton John, well, I felt just like Marie Osmond . . .

Last week, Tulip and I had our pictures taken for the March April Cover of Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home.  

She’s an amazing dog.  I swear that she was born for the camera.  Wherever you put her, she stays.  If it’s for 3-minutes, she stays.  If it’s for an hour, she stays.   Amazing.

This is the white seamless paper that I stand on to have my photo taken for the covers of Quilter’s Home.   The cover photos are taken at the Jeff MacWright Studios in Chester, New Jersey.  As you can see it’s far from glamorous. 

I’m getting used to the camera now, but those first couple of issues were just painful.

A cover shoot for Quilter’s Home can take anywhere from one hour to three hours depending on how complicated they are. 

  This is Jeff MacWright, the photographer for the covers.   You couldn’t meet a nicer man.

  This is Jeff’s wife, Beth, who acts as his assistant on the shoots (and bakes amazing scones), Jeff Turner (my partner and the Art Director for Quilter’s Home — if you like the way the magazine “looks” and “feels” that’s all because of Jeff Turner), and Jeff MacWright.

 Here is poor cover model, Tulip Marie Lipinski, waiting patiently for her close-up!  

Here’s  a “rough” version of the actual cover once both Jeff’s work their magic! 

 Saturday Afternoon

Yesterday, Jeff Turner and I made a short trip to the Allentown Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania just to get out of the house.   I had heard that the museum was a pretty good one so I wanted to see it.  

It really was a good one.  Now, it’s small, but the range of art — and the quality — were pretty amazing.   I think that both Jeff and I left feeling very inspired.   I may go back next week with a sketchbook (why I didn’t bring one yesterday is beyond me) to actually ‘record’ my inspiration. 

SET A GOAL FOR THE NEW YEAR

You know, dumplings, we don’t live in a vacuum.  If you want to be inspired and want to grow in your quilting or crafting hobby, it’s important that you venture outside of your comfort zone, away from your guilds and sewing groups, to explore what the masters have accomplished before you.  Trust me, taking yourself on mini-trips like mine to the little but mighty Allentown Museum can bring you more soul and quilting satisfaction than you might guess!  

Make a deal with yourself in 2008 to try my Divine Experiment and to push yourself creatively by experiencing new artistic venues —  like museums, concerts, library visits, anything you wouldn’t normally do during the course of a week — to watch the magic happen in your life! 

 You just won’t believe how yesterday’s Picasso inspired my next quilt!
I didn’t notice this building on my way into the museum, but I saw it on the way out.  I love, love, love outside wall murals and have the greatest respect for the artists who plan and create them.   I loved the look of the giant mural from afar and up close.   I wanted to share it with you.  

I got a few books in this week that I wanted to share with you.

   I like this book by Cyndi

Hershey. It is 9-patch quilts done 9 different ways.  I am really drawn to patterns and books that give me ways to explore my own creativity rather than just following what teacher or author might instruct you to do without options. 

I hate chocolate but know that you don’t so I know you’ll love this box o’ recipes! 

Now those of you in the Pickle Posse know that I choose names each month to win Pickle Prizes.    I wasn’t kidding when I told you that each of you were assigned a number.    Here, for your Pickled eyes, is the actual bowl of Pickle Posse members tickets that I draw names from each month.   There are now over 1400 tickets in the bowl.

Happy New Year, folks!   

REMEMBER:

 Don’t drink and drive.   

Too much crack is whack!    

AND 2008 is gonna be GREAT! 

 Love you!  xoxom

. . . and it comes in all kinds of colors!  

. . . Oh, but what the heck!

 I opened today’s NY Post to find the headline:

“SPEARS ‘GREAT MOM’: DR. PHIL”

What?!?    At first I thought he was talking about dear Brit, then I realized that he was talking about Lynne Spears, psycho-Brit and the recently knocked up ‘tween, Jamie Lynn’s, mother.  Yeah, right.  Mother of the year.

 Dr. Phil is such an old blow hard.   

 Of course people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones (me included).  But I remember that it wasn’t all that long ago that the self righteous ”doctor” married off his own son (who had been being shoved down TV producer’s throats as a teen role model much like his ‘anything for TV time” dad) to a topless Playboy model. 

Now, I have no problem with a Playmate showing her top and bottom.  It’s her choice and her right.  But Erica Dahm-McGraw posed nude and touchy-feely with her two sisters!  Yuck!   Yeah, that Dr. Phil.  Father of the year.  Blech! 

Last night, Christmas Eve, we had a very small (just our family) traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner.    Usually we have a small dinner party but with the magazine being due the same time as our next fabric line being due,  we barely got a tree up.  So last night was small, intimate and just fine.  

Our family tradition is a meatless meal.   I made homemade perogi smothered in butter and onions, meatless stuff cabbage rolls – stuffed with rice, carmalized onions, chopped portabello and rehydrated, imported mushrooms from Poland, baked between layers of butter and carmalized onions.  Creamed peas, beats, homemade bread (that’s another story), stewed mushrooms and sour cream and honey.  

Here’s the story about the bread.  I made it at night and let it raise overnight in the closed oven.   When I got up I checked on it and it was high and perfect.   I went out to run a few errands.  When I got back I went to take the bread out  of the oven to pre-heat it and when I opened the oven, there were my 3 loaves – flat as pancakes!   Seems that when Jeff was cleaning up the kitchen he opened the oven, saw the bread and the oven door slipped out of his hand.  BANG!   Bye bye bread!     Evan was all to happy to squeal on him.  I just punched it down again and let it raise AGAIN!   It turned out really well in spite of the drama (and my bitching and moaning). 

 I couldn’t find my electric Pizzelle iron.   It must be in the garage so I was forced to make my pizzelles with a hand held iron over the gas stove.   I remember my grandmother standing in front of th stove for hours making pizzelles, using a 2 -3 dozen egg recipie.  I used a 6 egg recipie and was there for an hour.   I bought an old, vintage, hand held, pizzelle iron on ebay for like $25 bucks – which is a steal.  I’ve seen them go for $60 or more. 

Speaking of vintage.  I found this ‘vintage’ pattern by Quilt in a Day at my friend, Sally’s quilts shop, Aardvark & Co., in Morris Plains, New Jersey.   I got such a kick out of it.  The last time I saw Eleanor Burns, I told her that I had it and she gave me her blessing to show it to you, dumplings.   She’s really remarkable and I just love her energy! 

Anyway, here’s the pattern. 

 Isn’t it a kick?   Now, take a look at the woman in the middle –  YES!  It’s Quilt Diva Eleanor herself!   She’s so CUUUUUTE!  

Now this pattern has to be 78-years-old and I STILL see quilters wearing these dresses at shows, don’t you?    I may have to bring a can of kerosene to the next show so that we can have a mass Patchwork Yoke burning!    OK, so they’ll be a lot of droopy boobed , topless quilting ladies running around the asiles.  Somehow I think it’s a better look.  (No letters please.  I have droopy man-boobs myself).   

By the way, did you notice the price on the pattern.  5-bucks!   Ah, for the good old days!

Speaking of old.  Look what I got in the mail!  

 Another item to go in the kerosene pile.   I’m only 32!  What were they thinking? 

Now I wanted to show you guys this.  This is the latest edition of the American Quilt Retailer, which is a professional magazine that is focused to “professionals” in the quilting field – shop owners, fabric and pattern designers, etc.    I love this magazine.  It’s done really, really well and if you have any aspirations whatsoever of becoming a professional, then this is the magazine for you.   The reason, however, that I wanted to show it to you is because the background of the cover shot is — you guessed it — Katmandu fabric!

Yesterday, while I was at the grocery store I found this:

Oh no they didn’t!  That’s right folks, PINK labeled Campbell’s Tomato Soup.   Campbell has pledged to donate $300,000 to help support breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment to a number of breast cancer awareness initiatives.   $300,000 for this company is nothing – maybe 100% of all pink labeled cans sold would be nice.  Now THAT’S a donation.  Pink can labeling is just a marketing ploy to sell more soup on the backs of the sick and the worried well.   I’m sorry. Maybe I’ve spent too much time in the media as a TV producer and now as a magazine editor.  I see right through it.   I can just hear the public relations execs at the meetings.  I’ve sat through a gazillion of these “marketing” meetings myself.  I just don’t buy into the pink media hype.  I’ve seen it all before, first hand, on one level or another.  (And poor Campbell’s.  I’m picking on them but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies doing this in all kinds of ways). 

And everyone is jumping on the PINK bandwagon, and not because they are anxious to donate their money.  It’s because it’s “fasionable” and P.C. and profitable for their companies at the moment.  They sell more product but put a cap on their actual donation. 

Don’t think it’s just a trendy cause?   Well then, I wonder how much Campbell’s and every other Tom, Dick and Harry company that is marketing ‘pink’ is donating to heart disease – the real killer of women?  Prostate cancer?   Kidney?  Diabetes?  Old age?  The war effort?  Why are their no cans to represent these causes?  Oh, I forgot — not trendy at the moment.    

   Cables for a cure?  You’re kidding!  Oh yeah.  Mixers for a cure.

Rowenta for a cure. Rowenta should cure chronic iron leaking for high priced irons.  Maybe that’s the cure they’re talking about! 

  Yankee Candles for a cure.  At least a cure that smells good. 

About a week or so ago I threw this QUILT PINK magazine issue into my grocery cart.  It wasn’t until I got home that I realized that it cost over $12.00 – $12.95 to be exact - for a quilting magazine!  I genuinely love American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.  This THINK PINK magazine is “by the editors of American Patchwork and Quilting.”   But it struck me as the most self-serving, self-promoting special edition I’ve ever seen — and all  in the name of PINK (I do like one or two of the patterns in this issue, though).   Their regular AP&Q magazine editions are so much better (and half the price).  Wouldn’t you like to know how much of this profit is going to Susan G. Koman Foundation?   I sure would.  100% would be nice. 

 Listen, I won a $600  American Patchwork and Quilting sponsorered Quilt Pink quilt on eBay.  I support the search for a breast cancer cure, treatment, and education – any idiot would.  

I know many, many women who have suffered and are suffering breast cancer.   We all do.  It’s painful to watch and painful to experience.   Maybe that’s why I’m getting so sick and tired of big business trying to one up each other by going “pink.”   It makes me angry because if they thought that much of the Koman organization or were really concerned about the cure, then they would donate without having to “market” it in such a way that call such attention to themselves for profit and self serving marketing opportunities, rather than pure generosity and humanistic concern.  They have taken the humanity out of it and replaced it with the huge or hopeful potential for company profit.  Aren’t the best gifts of these kind anonymous anyway? 

Again – no nasty letters, please, it’s just my 2-cents, pumkins. 

Having problems getting to sleep?   I often do.  My mind is always racing with events of the day and anticipation of the next day.   I have a rough time just relaxing.   Anyway, I found a CD that I love.  You can also download it onto your iPod from iTunes.   It’s by Louise Hay and it’s called  Morning and Evening Meditations.  Now, this is an old CD.  I’ve used it for years, myself. 

    I have to be honest.  I can’t really get through the morning stuff.  It’s too airy-fairy for me.  Too new age (Thank your plumbing and car, etc.) but I love the evening meditation for taking you off to a deep, sound, anxiety-trashing, sleep.   If you’re having trouble falling asleep, or waking up in the middle of the night to toss and turn, try this.  

   I wanted to share this book, Living the Creative Life: Ideas and inspiration from working artists,  that I got at Quilt Market in Houston.  It’s by Rice Freeman-Zachery.  Rice has an upcoming article in Quilter’s Home.   If you’re the ‘artsy’ type, you might want to take a look at the book.  I liked it a lot.  It’s a look into the world of working artists, inspiration and well, a touchstone when you can’t seem to find one ounce of creative energy in your being.  I like a book that makes me think — but not too much.

Fat Triangles by Quakertown Quilts

I found this in Houston, too.   It makes half square triangle blocks from 2 fat quarters.  It’s a really neat concept but not unlike Thangles or other software that does essentially the same thing.  This, of course, is measured to the size of a fat quarter which means that there is not cutting and piecing — just putting your two fq’s right sides together, this template on top and sew on the lines!   Eazy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Before I go, I just have to show you something that was given to me by Linda “cupcake” Zokan from Thistledown & C0.    It’s a handmade, grape yo-yo thong.   In my size!   Can you stand it?  

 Until next time, babies!   Daddy loves ya! 

We’ll chat again before the new year!     Let me hear from you!   I love hearing what YOU think!   xoxom

$1,000,000 Question

 OK, I have to ask: Sigfried, Roy or Barry?

What happened to this guy? Too much “work” I’m afraid. I watched a PBS special the other night, Barry Manilow: Songs of the 70’s. The poor guys face doesn’t move.

              Charlie McCarthy’s face had more animation.     

I was a huge Fanilow in the 70’s but that faded fast as I discovered disco and well, “At the Copa” was the beginning of the end for me.

Girl, You’re a Woman Now

Two nights ago, we had a terrible time with Lily. Seems she was unable to walk, moaning in a great deal of pain, and generally unhappy and uncomfortable. Jeff and I wondered if she had been hurt when leaping off of furniture or if Evan accidently stepped on her or whatever.

Jeff called the Animal Hospital – of course no doctor was in – some 24-hour service. But we dressed and were prepared to go in spite of the raging ice storm. (Yes, another one. Where the heck is global warming when you need it?).

About 2 hours later she seem fine so we decided not to take her. At about midnight it started again. Moaning, rolling. It was terrible. Jeff put her on a heating pad while I was trying to sleep. She would jump onto the bed, then off , then up, then moan. I told Jeff that I thought that she was having her first heat. He said he was taking her to the vet the first thing in the morning.

By 3 AM, she was out of control with the moaning. I told Jeff that he was either going to have to wring her neck or have sex with her because it was impossible to sleep. He wrapped her up and took her downstairs to sleep on the sofa.

I was right.  Lily is in heat.

Holy cow…not even in my friskiest, come hither mood have I been that out of control!  LOL  I’ve never had a cat before so I was clueless.  Sheesh!  Now I understand the phrase, “out catting around.” 

 She’s being spayed in 3 weeks.  

The Toll of Toile

OK, I got some letters about the leather man toile in the most recent Quilter’s Home.   Ironically, I got as many “how do I find that fabric?” as I got “now, I’m not a homophobe but about that fabric…”   Oddly,  I didn’t hear a peep about full frontal nude women, or nude woman camouflage, provocative cowboys or construction workers or even a naked couple in bed, but two men on a see-saw threw a few of the girls into a tizzy!    

Honestly, I’m not bothered by criticism nor am I judging the values and beliefs of the readers.  The fact is that the, LOOK WHAT I FOUND column in the magazine, always was, and will be, about highly collectible fabric —   fabric that will not sell mega bolts, nor be reprinted and/or out of print.  There are no agendas.  Not one iota of a political, social, or sexual agenda whatsoever. You really give me too much credit.  I’m not that invested in any of the above. 

I love fabric and I think you do, too. If you’re a serious collector of fabric, as I am, than LOOK WHAT I FOUND will entertain you.  If you’re not, then turn the page and buy a hideously uninspired and uninteresting line like First Frost.   That out to set you back into the safety of about 3 decades!  J  

Now I can’t find any more of the controversial toile in yardage form but I was sent a link by a publisher friend of mine that you might enjoy.  I thought it was funny.  It was the leather man toile in GIFT WRAP!!!   Well, that toile and some other unexpected toiles in gift wrap, pillow cases, boxers, etc.   Take a look at www.groovyq.com.

Fabric Envy 

Now, speaking of totally weird fabric, my Canadian buddy, Dale Anne, sent me a few pieces of the infamous floating penis fabric that has been making the rounds for a few years – in a secretive, underground, way.  Then, last week, a student of mine, Tracey Brown, from Connecticut brought me a fat quarter of it.  Was it something I said?   

Anyway, I am reluctant to post a photo of it in the blog.  I want to show you…but I’m not unless there is a groundswell of pleas in today’s comments section.  Then, I’ll think about it.  I’d also like comments about why I shouldn’t show you.   It’s your vote, kids! 

REQUEST:  If you know who prints this  fabric or where I can buy  a yard or two of this naughty stuff  let me know.  I think floating penis-themed Ohio Stars might make a nice compliment to the leather man toile quilt!  KIDDING!!!  But I would like to know where to get more!   

CALLING ALL COPIERS

Yesterday I spent the day running from ink jet copier to ink jet copier for a Posse story on the differences of Ink Jet Fabric sheets for quilts.   I can’t wait until you read it.  I think you may be as surprised as I was.   Again the lesson is to never judge a book by it’s cover!   

Which begs the question:  What kind of fabric sheets do you use and recommend for a “photo” quilt?

Made in China 

A few weeks ago, I had Toby of Kindred Quilts order me a tool that I saw in a magazine called, The Original Gypsy Gripper.   It’s the handle the travels from ruler to ruler.   I have a big hand and I still have some wiggle room when I use it.  

I think it’s pricey for what it is — $20 – but I’m happy I have it.  It’ll save my fingers one day and keep my ruler from slipping during a cut (one always hopes).  www.thegypsyquilter.com 

Can this new Robert Kaufman fabric be any more delicious?  I believe it is called, Stargazer. 

That’s it for today, poodles!    Quilt on.  Do what you love. 

Don’t kill yourself (even though it is almost Christmas – bah humbug!)

My darling dumplings . . .

When I left Pickle Road on early Friday afternoon heading for the nearby state of Connecticut, I was sure that I had left early enough to get there in plenty of time to shower, shave, change and look fabulously wonderful for my lecture with the Southford Falls Quilt Guild in Middlebury.  

It’s the home of the truck museum.  Who knew? 

So, I didn’t shower, shave or change before I left.  I worked on the magazine, ironed out some details for my next fabric line, packed the car with 50-plus quilts and headed north for a 2 hour and 20 minute drive.   I already had some anxiety when the guild president laughed with me that she told someone (after we had met) that I was “the poster child for Photoshop.”   Holy shit!  Maybe I should have had a lap band before I hit the road. 

Before I was on the road for a half hour I was stopped in traffic for a full hour on Route 287, a 6 lane highway leading from New Jersey, through New York and toward Connecticut.  

Now, cupcakes, when I’m literally sitting in traffic, to the point where I have to turn my car off, I at least hope that there is  some kind of horrific scene, like this one.   

Gosh darn it when after finally moving again, I find that it was just a minor fender bender between two shitty drivers that has put the traffic of 3 states into chaos.  Without a mangled car and/or bodies, I’d like to put my own car into high drive and run over the bastards myself. . . but I digress.  Yes, there were snow flurries but nothing of note.  No accident either.   I had forgotten that many morons who are allowed to drive actually are afraid to drive in the rain, let alone snow.  Jesus take the wheel. 

 So much for praying.  The snow started falling more rapidly and the roads were getting icy.  Like really icy.  For the rest of the trip I drove anywhere from 5 to 15 miles per hour.  I hit 20 mph a few times but only when someone moved into the exit lane.  I was screwed. 

 All in all, I spent 6 hours in the car — no food (and no breakfast), 1 bottle of water and not a single break trying to get to Middlebury.   My host, and I kept in contact with ETA’s and I urged her to cancel about 3 hours in and told her I’d be back the following weekend.  Nope.  She wasn’t letting me off the hook.    So I drove.   

I had a great phone conversation with Annie Smith of www.simplearts.com.  I love her and she kept me sane for about an hour.  I also spoke with writer, Jake Finch.  AND  I also got the shock of my life when quilt artist supreme Hollis Chateline telephoned and left a message.  I got diarrhea cramps while calling her back.  I was just sure that she was upset over something she read in the magazine.  She wasn’t.  As a matter of fact, I LOVED her and she LOVES the magazine and is sure it reaches an audience that none of the others reach — and she’s right.   We talked for a long time.  Hollis, like Annie Smith and Jake, saved my sanity (what little there is).   I had talked myself into never lecturing, teaching, or having to deal with a shitty road trip or f’ed up flying travel schedule again.  Screw it all — everything! 

 As it turned out, the 100 or so people who reserved seats for the lecture didn’t happen.  The weather kept them at home.  But 40 stayed and waited for me.  And as exhausted and resentful as I was — over 4 hours later than I had planned — when I parked and got out of my car, it all quickly disappeared.

When I walked into the room — a full hour late, smelly, unshaven, dirty jeans, and bad breath, I was greated by applause, giant smiles and honestly, one of the very best audiences that I have had.  They didn’t stop laughing and I didn’t stop yaking.  All of my pent up bullcrap came running out of my mouth for a really really fun evening.    So yes, I was the pinnacle of the poster boy for photoshop.  I looked like shit.   They didn’t seem to mind.

The guild even brought in pizzas at about 9 and we took a dinner break (my first food of the day).   I LOVED this group and we laughed and talked until 11 PM!  A 3 hour lecture.    and I loved every single second but I think we were all tired by the end of the night.  Well, the first row looked like the lady in the photo.  I felt that way inside.

 See, here is one of those fricking painful life lessons (aren’t they all painful?).   Just when you want to give up, something glorious happens.  A wonderful experience, a new job, an ex husband drops dead.  Fabulous things are revealed! 

  I went back to the Crowne Plaza where they put me up (it was WONDERFUL) and I slept like a baby the entire night.  Honestly, the hotel had a “relaxation” CD on the bed and a CD player on the nightstand.  I started rolling my eyes when I first started listening to this guy’s voice (you know I’m such a fricking cynic) but before he got to part two it worked!  I was out like a light.  Now, I wish I had stolen the CD.   I’ll have to call the hotel to order one. 

 I loved teaching the class the next day.  It was my Throw Me a Curve Mystery Class ! 

 The guild (Southford Falls Quilt Guild) is sensational.  My friend, Luann Bruce took the class and so did the shop owner/guild president, Barb.  Even the local press came out for an interview.  This time I was clean and presentable and still fat (I really have to do something about that. I’m tired of hiding behind my quilts for photos). 

The class ended at 4 and I had to run home.  Evan had his first semi-formal at the high school. 

He was so excited.  And I wanted to get home before he left so that I could see him.   I made it.  I got home from Connecticut in just 2 hours, door to door.  What’s best is that Cathy, a woman in my class who made a delicious pineapple upside down cake (one of my favs, right up there with German Chocolate) hid a giantunda piece in my car that I found after I left the area.  I ate the whole damn thing on the way home. It was wonderful!  I was a full as a tick!

              YUMMY!     

Now, Evan had a swim meet at 7 AM that morning.  He lost.  Actually, by the sound of it it sounds like he lost BADLY.  But he looked like a winner last night and he had a terrific time.  Isn’t that what we want for a kids?  Just that they’re happy and have a few laughs once in a blue moon? 

 Here’s my little stud! LOL

 Apparently he had his SECOND kiss last night.  YIKES!   (That’s our secret).

 SOME NEW BOOKS

Dudes, I got some new stuff in the mail and some books I haven’t seen before crossed my path.  I thought I’d share some with you.

You know, I gotta say that so many of the quilting books that are being released are starting to feel pretty weak.  The books keep getting thinner and more expensive.  For that matter so are magazines. The paper costs are tremendous and only going higher. We know about shipping and gas costs. They suck and the costs are passed onto the consumer — they have to be. It’s just good business. The quilt patterns I’m running across are pretty much so so. I’m concerned that the quilting title publishers are going to start losing money, if they haven’t already.  I’m wondering if the BOOM of quilting books is over — and my heart is heavy and am very frightened by it.   I’m a book addict.  I love quilting books. I buy them like a crack whore in heat.  But just like how I was totally bored with the quilting magazines on the stands, and would glaze over when I quickly leafed through them which lead to Quilter’s Home, that’s how I’m feeling about many of the quilting titles that cross my desk – disappointed, bored, uninspired, unimpressed.   I wish the publishers would hold out for sensational projects (or demand them from their authors by pushing them to the outer limits).  I’d totally pay more for a good book and wait longer. Usually I only find one or two quilts per book that I like or would consider making.  I have better chances of finding more than one pattern I like in an old fashioned, all technique, no personality quilting magazine – and for a third of the cost.   Where’s the beef baby? How can I help?

I wish, sincerely, that I could do something to help and I want to.  I’m urging you — If you have any ideas (good or bad – you never know), write to your favorite publishers and share your ideas with them. That’s right — pitch your own book.  Protect  and promote those companies who publish books for you and want to please you by letting them know what you want and need.  Help them ramp it up — Help them speak to the new audience (us) and get back on track.   A bag pattern or a young face doesn’t make tired content better, it just camouflages it.  Let’s help them reinvent themselves and in the process we can reinvent ourselves..

Now one of my buddies points out that the books coming out are fresh and new and wonderful for newbies, and that’s true, but newbies don’t carry the industry — at least I don’t think so. I may be wrong.

 I’m interested in what you have to say. What are YOUR thoughts on this? 

 One more thing.  I hate recipes in my quilting books.  Just my personal opinion.  I just don’t like it, never make them, and never take my quilting books into my kitchen unless I’m reading it over breakfast.   By the way I READ every single word of every single book I am sent.  It’s my duty and my job. 

 Enough of that bullshit.   Here are some books that I kinda like.  Most of them should be hitting your shops now.  Some are kinda older but are worth mentioning:

  By Terry Taylor for Lark Books.   What a fun book for you paper doll lovers out there!  I used to use my Trace-o-Graph to make gads of high fashion paper couture when I was a kid.  This is a really fun, light-hearted book (just like Terry - I know him) and it’s very inspirational.  I know it’s a few years old but it’s new to me.  I think you’ll get a kick out of it and will spark some creativity.  Have fun, buck-o!

 By Peggy Barkle for C&T.   I can’t say that I love the quilts (not quite art and not really traditional — quilting limbo) but I do like Peggy’s technique very much.  I suggest that you buy the book for the curvy lessons and then make your own quilts using the lessons you’ve learned. 

 By Jodi Crowell for That Patchwork Place.  I love this cover quilt.  I like pink.  There, I said it.  I like pink. There are only 32 pages to this whole book, er, booklet, and it sells for $16.95 (Yikes!), but I like 4 of the 6 quilts in the book.  I have to say that I think that That Patchwork Place does a really good job with their books (even the ones that don’t necessarily catch my eye. 

  By Mimi Dietrich for That Patchwork Place.  This is a book of previously published quilts by the fantabulous Mimi.  Can you believe that Mimi’s sold over a half-million books in her career?  Shit, man!  That’s impressive.  The quilts in this book are Mimi’s favorites. 

  By Debbie Mumm for Lesiure Arts.  LOVE IT!  There are about 25+ quilting and home dec (non-sewing) projects in this book.  Usually the crafty stuff turns me off but not this time.  The Sunflower Window is fabulous and I want to do one.  This damn Debbie Mumm keeps reinventing herself.  It makes it hard to keep up and compete!  LOL   Take a look at this one! 

 By Judy Martin for Crosley-Griffith Publishing.  I’m fond of both the look and ease of the log cabin block.  This book is a MUST HAVE for every quilter.  What you’ll find in it’s pages are easy directions, tons of log cabin inspiration and patterns and great tips for the OCD log cabin quilt addict.   

 By Margo Duke for That Patchwork Place.   Here’s another “book-let” about a machine technique for needle-felting with your sewing machine.   Nothing against the author/designer but I just like more tailored pieces if I’m going through the trouble of making them unless I just don’t give a shit.  No matter how “warm” wool is, the finished projects in this title leave me cold.  But again, in fairness, I know there are a lot of needle felters out there who’ll love this.  I’m not a needle-felting fan.  Never have been, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.     

 By Kim Diehl for That Patchwork Place. It’s a recipie box with pretty recipe cards.  I put my recipes in a book and also store them on the computer, but this is a TERRIFIC Christmas gift for your guild Secret Santa.   HINT:  I love Kim Diehl’s new book and I’ll review it in the March/April Quilter’s Home.  It’s a goodie! 

 LATER TODAY:

Evan and I went Christmas shopping.  It sucks out there, doesn’t it? 

And this is how Santa feels already.  Luckily, there are only a couple of weeks to go:

Jesus take the wheel!   xoxom