. . . and I’m taking a break from the office and all things quilting.  I’m giving myself about 8 full days of hanging with my family and locking the office door as of this afternoon.

I’m not reading email and not even logging onto my computer or answering the phones.  This is the first time in 4 years that I’m actually going to relax and recharge and I’m goin’ cold turkey, cupcakes!  I hope I can do it. 

My backyard hammock doesn’t look quite as tempting as the one above, but it’ll work.  Think I can hold out?   xooxm

. . . . and escape from all things quilting. 

Yes, turnips, I’m taking a break to recharge and relax.   It’s the first break I’ve taken from work in 4 years!  So it’s well deserved.  I’m not answering the phones, not reading email, not waking up until 10 and maybe,  just maybe, I’ll even see a movie or two … or three!

I’ll be posting back here in about 8 days (if not sooner – you know me, if I get bored, I’ll post).   Until then, cupcakes, stay well!   xoxom

OK.  I’ll admit it.  I have been a longtime Howard Stern junkie!

I have listened to Howard and the Wack Pack for years and even got a Sirius Radio when Howard left terrestrial radio.   I’m his male target audience.  That said, I’m not crazy about  his sidekick Artie Lange and have had my fill — so I’ve finally switched the switch on Howard.

Artie, a comedian (and I use that term very loosely – I just don’t get him) is just not funny to me, adds little to the show, and is annoying to listen to.  Not only that, I really hate that Artie (who, by the way wrestles with mega multiple addiction problems) is being enabled by the Stern show for ratings and in the name of entertainment.  Between Artie’s unentertaining contributions, and Howard becoming increasingly uber-tired and morphing into another over-the-interesting-hill Imus, well, the Howard Stern show had ‘jumped the shark,’ in my humble opinion. The show is about as fresh as day old doughnuts.

Now, in spite of how I relate (or do not relate, as the case may be) to Artie’s humor, this week the Too Fat To Fish author,  Artie, was arrested for a DUI in my home state of New Jersey.  Heroin binges, drunken blackouts, now a DUI.   It’s not entertainment.  It’s disgusting.   Allow Artie to hit bottom by firing him and freeing  him to get some help.  The whole Stern circus revolving around this man’s downward addiction spiral and the Stern show’s faux concern is just short of criminal.  MAD TV dumped his ass and so should Stern (c’mon Howard, that’s why they call it ‘tough love,’ baby).

Meet Artie Lange . . .

Oops!  Sorry. That was Chaz Bono!

Here’s Artie.   (Where is his family anyway?  Anyone ever heard of an intervention?  Oh yeah, I forgot, he throws his money at them [at least he says he does] and he’s probably their meal ticket, too.  Totally sad.)

I’m gonna miss you Howard – but Sirius has a gazillion other channels. I’m really disappointed in how someone who keeps saying how ‘concerned’ he is (AKA Howard), is allowing this to play out.

So what do you think?    xoxom

From Functional to Fancy: An Eastville Quilt Sampler

July 18-August 11, 2009

Eastville Heritage House, 139 Hampton Street, Sag Harbor, New York, 11963

Opening Reception July 18 2-5pm

Open 2-4 Saturday and Sunday July 18-August 9 and by appointment

One of my delicious and regular Quilter’s Home contributors, Art Tartz, Debbie Bates, works for Janome Canada. She has set up a survey to try to tell the folks in Japan just what quilter’s are looking for from their machine. If you are interested in taking her survey,  just click here.   Or visit  the Janome site by clicking here and then click on the survey. You might even win a free felting machine (is anybody still doing that?).

Here is little Debbie on her Janome!

On July 4, I picked  Posse Tickets from the Pickle Barrel for a fabulous SIDEWINDER GIVEAWAY . . .

The Pickle Posse winners

of the

fabulous SideWinders are:

Jo Langlois; Spring Lake, MI

Jacki Ziegler; Port Canton, OH

Judy Domke; Yacolt, WA

Patty Johnson; Sewell, NJ

Sherri Hoy; Federal Way, WA

Liz Mochan; Cutler Bay, FL

Sharon Talarowski; Pocatello, ID

Congratulations, Pickles!

Your SideWinders were taken to the Post Office this morning!

Let us know when you get them!

To have won a SideWinder you had to be a member of Mark’s Posse.  Click here to join Mark’s Posse!

Prizes are given away monthly!  xoxom

The winner of the

Easy Scrapbooking 2010 Calendar is . . .

AMY BARTLE

of

Fort Worth, Texas, y’all!

This is Amy!

From Canvas to Quilt

The 28th Annual Capital City Quilt Show

 Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning announced the opening of the 28^th annual capital city quilt show on August 28^th at the Museum of Florida History.  The exhibit, From Canvas to Quilt, extends through November 9, 2009, and features locally- made and beautifully hand-crafted quilts and wall hangings.

“The Museum of Florida History and Quilters Unlimited of Tallahassee have been partners in creating this annual exhibit for 28 years,” said Secretary Browning.  “We are very proud of this long and successful partnership.”

Traditional components of the quilt show include the challenge quilts, a chance to win the “opportunity quilt” which is awarded at the end of the exhibit, and a silent auction throughout the run of the show.  This year, other features will include an historic quilt from the Museum’s collection, quilts for the community, and samples of quilting techniques.  

 Programs in conjunction with the quilt show are planned for the Museum’s Second Saturday Family Programs, the Brown Bag Breaks, and 3^rd Thursdays during the months

of September and October.  This annual show is the Museum’s more popular regional exhibit, bringing visitors to Tallahassee annually from northern Florida, southern Georgia and southern Alabama. 

 The Museum of Florida History is located in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough Street, in downtown Tallahassee.  Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday and holidays, noon to 4:30 p.m.; and every third Thursday until 8:00 p.m.  While at the Museum, stop by The History Shop and check out the new products and merchandise. For more information, contact 850.245.6400 or go online by clicking here.

I got this note from Bonnie Browning (whom I adore) and wanted to pass it onto you! 

Don’t miss the fun and beautiful quilts at the AQS Quilt Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 22 – 25, 2009. Knoxville is ready to welcome you!

There is still time to register – registration is open until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. 
This link will take you directly to the online registration site:
Click here. 
The supply lists and photos of the projects are available at the registration site too.

Book your room now.
You can stay at one of the downtown hotels with a city trolley stop right at the hotel. You can park your car and ride the trolley to/from the show.

Call the Crowne Plaza Hotel directly at 865/522-2600.

You can book a room at the Knoxville Marriott Downtown by calling 865-588-7426 or 1-800-753-3823, Monday – Thursday,
or book online by clicking here .

We have an exciting show planned for you, with more than 500 quilts and 300 vendor booths in the Merchant Mall.

Have a great 4th of July and we’ll see you soon in Knoxville! 

 Bonnie Browning

I got a note from Suzanne from Colorado that she’s giving away this Krakow bag (Krakow is my last fabric line for Mark Lipinski Home for Northcott) if you visit and comment on her blog.  

Click here for the link!

You can buy Krakow yardage to make your own bag or quilts at my store at www.marklipinski.com     xoxom