Happy Halloween!

I had these wonderful pumpkins waiting for me on my front steps when I returned from Houston! My boys did a great job of carving them!

Quilt Market - Part Three

It was nice chatting around the Henry Glass booths. I got to meet the other designers who work with them. Lynette Andersen [right] is from Australia! She had her son working really hard! Karen [middle] keeps me in line! I also saw Bunny Hill Designs and met Quilt Soup, and Michelle of the beautiful Cicada Studios.

I met with the ladies at the Martingale/That Patchwork Place booth. Their books are so lovely and I hope to do some more work with them soon. I lunched with Cynthia Tomaszewski of Simple Pleasures. Her new book just made its debut at this market. We managed to chat with Weeks Ringle who was sitting at the table.

I wandered over to the Leisure Arts booth. Funny thing happened again this year. Cheryl and I met and talked business on the Super Shuttle! We've done this before!

My book, Home Stuff, was displayed wonderfully in their booth. That's the bird pillow on the left and the table runner right below it.

Mary Lou Weidman,  had a bunch of us drooling over a new super $11, 000 Bernina. We all wanted one! I think that there was talk of a bluetooth wireless foot for their machines. Wow! Check out her photo of us. I look much better there! She's such a fun person and very creative.

Maggie Walker had her wonderful applique designs on display. I love the painterly quality of her designs.

It was good to see Nancy of Better Homes and Gardens. She came to my home for the photo shoot of my home this past spring. She's totally cool and I love chatting with her.

Over at the APQS booth, I hung out with a few old friends, [from left] Pat Sloan, Heidi Kaisand, and Lila Scott.

Here's Lila again [she's the Technical Editor for BHGs' magazines] with Jody, who's an Assistant Editor for the same magazines.

I hope that you enjoyed these. I'll have a few more photos soon. xo, L

Quilt Market - Part Two

I love these ladies. I met Barb and Alma of Blackbird Designs at the Better Homes and Gardens' Designer Retreat. They are energetic, fun and very genuine. Gorgeous designs and oh so gorgeous styling happening in their booth. Take a peek below.

This mantle piece makes me envious that a booth display could look so much better than my home! Their booth was so comfortable yet so sophisticated.

They had this bird cage hanging across the top of their booth. Love that quilt hanging behind it. The little lights added a magical quality to their booth.

Oh yes, we even had some touch with true celebrity fame in Houston. Marie Osmond was making an appearance. She is so tiny! Lots of people were waiting in line for her to sign something. 

I went on to see the booth of one of my favorite design firms. I love Alexander Henry fabrics. Here's the dynamic designing duo, Nicole and her brother Phillip who own the company and do the designing for Alexander Henry.

I'm in love with the light grays, yellow and white look right now so I was obviously in love with their booth. 

Come back for part three. I still have lots of photos to go through but we're experiencing a storm right now so I've gotta run. xo, L

Quilt Market - Part One

It was a whirlwind weekend and it was awesome. I was in Houston at Quilt Market. I worked more than I played this time. I really got my creative groove back at this show. I could really feel it this time. I didn't get a lot of photos of all that was going on but I did stop by a few booths.

Since we're already on the topic of my friend, Amy, we'll start with her booth. She had a gorgeous booth as usual. Her new fabrics and patterns are wonderful. You'll have to check them out at your local quilt shop. Her Dad was there charming everyone!

Well, Mark Lipinski is, of course, editor of one of my fave magazines, Quilters Home. He was funny and charming as usual. Such a fun guy!! [Hey, Mark, did I do a good job of cropping the photo?]

On the first night, lots of people lined up for Sample Spree. It was crazy! On the way in, I spotted someone chatting with Ricky Tims.

Here are Scott and Joel from Henry Glass at their table at Sample Spree before the madness. They look calm because Sample Spree hadn't started yet.

That's all that I can put together at this point. I was so darned tired today. Totally pooped. My Mom, brother and aunt will be leaving tomorrow. Perhaps I can sit down for a few minutes to go through all of my photos and put together another post about the show again tomorrow.

xo, L

Lucky Me

My friend, Amy Butler, sent me this special book yesterday. So lovely. The designs are wonderful and they make me want to [almost!] have another baby. I don't review a lot of books but I have to say that I love this book. She has a wide variety of designs ranging from simple blocks to a couple of her awesome bags. I love the "Everything Bag" and I'm going to make a few for gifts. I am going to make the "Cheeky Monkey Laundry Bag" for my boys because they wanted that one the moment that saw the photo of it. 

Amy's directions are, as usual, great and detailed. The styling and photography are gorgeous. I would definitely recommend this for all sewers. The designs are versatile and lovely.

I am off to Houston tomorrow! Yippee! I'm so excited.

xo, L

p.s. The card and envelope are from her stationary line. Beautiful.

Little Helper

I am trying to work this afternoon but my little helper wants to show off his work. He's learning how to spell and he loves to draw. He did a nice job on my car today. While I was talking to his friend's mom, Alex decided to write on my car radio and hazard light switch with a Sharpie marker. Lucky for him there is a product called Magic Eraser or else he'd be in the doghouse right about now.

Those are very colorful Storm Troopers from Star Wars by the way. He thought it would be cute to show off all of Mommy's little treasures like her Moo cards, fabric labels, fabric buttons, selvage strips and wool pear pincushion. I think that his color sense is very similar to mine because I think that the multi-colored Storm Troopers are much cuter than the actual ones in the movie. 

*Note: For those of you who were interested in my inspiration wall, you can now buy your own at Land of Nod. I think that I may have to re-cover with another design now that everyone's going to buy some of this wallpaper. Sigh!

xo, L

Wishing For Warm Weather

I took this photograph this summer when it was nice and toasty. It has been quite cool here in the past week. Reno even left the ice scraper for me in the doorway on his way out one morning. Brrr!

Most of us in the quilting industry are prepping for Quilt Market this weekend. I can't wait! I love to meet up with friends and to meet some new ones. It is wonderful and I always come home inspired. Wishing you a lovely, warm day!
xo, L

Wowsa!

Thank you to Michelle of Sugar Creek Stuff!!! She won my contest a while back and look what she made for me.  I love it all the more because the gift was truly a gift. It is so wonderful and yet so unexpected. [Making the tote for me was not a requirement for winning but it is a wonderful perk for me!]

I love how she used the selvage on the front of the tote and the little tissue holder is lovely. I think that I will just have to have a few more contests! xo, L

Oh Brother!

I am having one of those weeks where everything is going wrong at the worst of times. I have to laugh about it or else I will cry.

I haven't posted for a while because my computer crashed. It is my pc and for some reason, the poor thing started to make weird, LOUD noises. Suddenly, it wouldn't even turn on. Luckily, I have my Mac. The aggravating thing is that we only got this thing in September. Reno spent all weekend saving all of my photos and files. Phew! One crisis in recovery mode. Next one please.

Then my eye glasses broke. OMG Quilt Market is at the end of this week. I have old glasses but I feel much better in my current pair. Hopefully, I will get them back before I fly out to Houston on Friday. Ok, crisis number two down. 

I believe in positive thinking. So, I thought I'd share a couple of pretty things to smooth the soul. My aunt made that pretty little shawl above when I was a kid. I found it when we sold our childhood home last summer. Although the colors are too garish for me to wear, I love to look at it because the colors make me smile and then I am reminded of my childhood. Anyone else wear lime green and orange plaid pants like I did?

I thought I'd show you this pretty little dove that I made for a book proposal about two years ago. It ended up being revised and in Quilts and More. All of this reminds me that the holidays are quickly approaching. I have a free little stitchery pattern for you. Hopefully I will get it up before I go to Houston for the show.

p.s. Does anyone know how to make these photos larger on an iMac? For my pc, I just clicked on it and dragged the photo. I can't seem to do that here.

xo, L

Inspiration For A Day

I was working in Manhattan yesterday. I love going into the city but I wouldn't want to do it everyday. For one thing, the daily four hours that it would take me to commute back and forth would kill me. I have friends who do it daily. That's why holidays are great. Yesterday it was Columbus Day. So, while there was still some traffic, most of it was smooth sailing. It only took me 50 mins. from door to door.


The fabric company is located in a great place in the heart of the garment district. Right around the corner of the offices are two of my favorite stores, Tinsel Trading and M&J Trimming. The ribbons, trims and other little decorative things are so special.

Right outside of the office building where Henry Glass is located, is a gorgeous flower shop. I can't remember the name of it but it is at 37th and 6th Ave. The colors are gorgeous aren't they? Sorry the photos are lousy. I can't believe that I forgot my camera! I had to use the one on my phone.


When we were finished lunch and the meeting, there was a lot of traffic from the finish of the Columbus Day Parade so I decided to walk a couple of blocks to Kinokuniya. Don't you just love the cover of this one?


I only got a quick glance of the books because I started feeling sick [I've been battling a bad cold all week] and I also had to leave by 4 p.m. or else I'd get stuck in traffic.

I just love the buzz that I feel when I go into the city. It's refreshing and invigorating. Everything's within a few blocks of each other so it's like a major shot of creative adrenaline.


Oh, the grittiness is pretty cool too. xo,L

Oh So Proud!

We spent the morning at Adam's tae kwon do yellow belt testing. He did well, he passed and he's so happy! Congrats!!! I highly recommend the sport. It gives him so much confidence and focus. Congrats too to Rebecca and Gavin [the two to his right]. You guys were great!



I took karate when I was younger but tae kwon do is a bit different. It's more like the stuff that you see in the movies. Lots more kicking involved and lots of flying kicks too. Tae kwon do literally means "foot, fist, way" whereas karate means "empty hand".

Great job! xo, L

Trying To Work

I am trying to get some work done. After all, Quilt Market is about two weeks away. Lately, I have been getting my groove back. This may sound weird and is perhaps more info than you need to know about me but anywhoo ... I am finally dreaming again. I design from my brain. Nothing gets done unless it's laid out in that noggin of mine. That's probably why I can run around like a mad woman and get errands done. I think and think and think. Ok, sometimes I think too much and then my head feels like it's going to explode but getting my dreams back makes me productive. Ideas will literally pop into my head while I am in the shower. It is as though my head is my sketchpad. I did sketch on paper at one brief moment in my life but generally designing and problem-solving is done in my head and then I sketch out the proposal pretty much in its final form. I must be an editor's nightmare at times. [*Don't take this literally! I'm just having fun at my own expense.] I know that I drive the folks at the fabric company nuts because it is tough to get it down on paper. [Note to KJ: I am working at it and I think that I can get things down on paper for you!] Thankfully they put up with me. Thanks!

Let's move on to lighter and more creative stuff. I made these last year for the boys' bathroom. So cute, huh? I used my Funky Flowers fabric and cut silhouettes from plain black fabric. Then I fused and framed. It's a quick and easy decorating idea and also a great gift.


A few people wondered what my chocolate colored powder room looked like. It used to be blue with beige wallpaper. The former owner had more conservative taste. Wouldn't she be surprised to see it now. Sorry the pic is not that great. This room doesn't have a window.



Gotta pic up Little A and then back to work. xo, L

Luscious

Whenever I go home to Toronto, I find the time to stock up on my Fleece Artist/Handmaiden yarns. I love the colors and the fibers are wonderful. I bought these two skeins with the purpose of making some sort of lacy scarf and I bought this "kit" to make fingerless gloves. I've a plan to make handmade gifts this year but I'm thinking that these gloves are way too cool to give away.

Thanks for all of the notes on the dinosaur embroidery. I wanted to use it as a pocket on the outside of a tote but I used really nice white wool. I think that I will make him a pillow this weekend. I'll just stitch up another lickety split and use that for the outside of a bag. xo, L

On Display

I love to display artwork by the most creative peeps of all - my kids. It makes me proud and they get such a kick out of seeing their stuff on the wall. I have this art display right beside my dining room table. It is such a quick and easy thing to make. Plus you can dig through your stash and find something pretty to dress it up. As for the frame, you can buy one at a craft store but I have recycled other ones from garage sales.

Here's how you can make your own display board:

1. Buy a frame, a roll of cork and a strong board for the backing if there isn't one that comes with the frame. You'll need fabric of course. I used a piece from my Gardenia line.

2. Glue the cork to the board and let dry.

3. Cover the cork with your fabric and pull to the back. Make sure the corners are pulled nicely and evenly. Adhere the fabric to the back of the board.

4. Place the covered board into the frame. Cover the back with kraft or other paper to make it neat.

5. Nail the hanging hook to the back of the frame and you are ready to display your artwork!

I am lucky.

I live in a transient sort of place in NJ. Clinton is a lovely, charming little place 50 mins. west of Manhattan. People come from many different places because many of the big pharma companies are based here and attract employees from all around the world. Also, since the cost of living is so high in New York, many of our friends and neighbors commute 2 hours each way to the city to work.

The result is an interesting mix of people. I am fortunate to meet people of different nationalities here and I am even luckier when they bring me goodies back from their homeland. My friend Roopa spends a few months in India and she knows that I love quilts. So when she offered to bring back some quilts from India, who was I to say no? I got this sweet quilt a few months ago upon her return. I love the colors and the images. [Unfortunately, the other quilt that she bought me perished to nowhere land because her suitcase fell apart somewhere between Newark and India.]

I am lucky indeed.

A visit to Ottawa

I was in Ottawa this summer and we stayed at the Chateau Laurier. I grew up near Ottawa though I never visited this city much because my parents didn't like it. It didn't matter that Ottawa was only 1 1/2 hours away and Toronto was more like 5 hours away. They just like the cosmopolitan flair and diversity of Toronto and we owned a house there.

I have spent time in Ottawa for various reasons in the past year and have enjoyed visiting. The Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec has always been a favorite architectural site for me to visit. It is located across the river from Ottawa. I took the kiddos here while Reno attended a conference.

The Chateau Laurier is a beautiful, historic building beside the Parliament building in downtown Ottawa. The kiddos want to stay at the "castle" again very soon.

This is the backside of the parliament buildings taken outside of the Museum of Civilization across the river. It is so pieceful on this side because there is a waterfall along the side of the building and you have this spectacular view of the Parliament buildings and these sculptures.

I managed to visit Quilty Pleasures in Orleans. It is a beautiful shop and the gals there are super talented and terrific. I spent some time there and my boys entertained themselves by photographing their Yoshi plush toy [from Nintendo] throughtout the shop. Look at the wonderful book cover that Sam made from "Cool Girls Quilt". Here are the fine ladies, Sam, Leslie and Val from the shop and Michele is a fan of mine [so nice to meet you!].

Sam made this wonderful notebook cover from my "Cool Girls Quilt" book. She studied baking and perhaps the next time I go there I will have to get her to bake some delicious cake for me!

Here's Michele showing off her beautiful work. She's so fun and energetic. I'm sure that all of her students love taking classes with her.

Adam got hooked on poutine. Yum! French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. What more do you want? I prefer the ones from New York Fries but in a pinch, any kind of poutine is fine with me. Oh dear, this can't be good for the cholesterol levels.

When the Better Homes and Gardens folks came to my home this spring I think that they were surprised by the neutral colors in my home. I love color but my co-inhabitants wouldn't go for the following:

I loved these two window displays. I would die for this chair and then regret it after a week because it would turn black, purple and blue from footprints, and popsicle stains. Sigh!

One can only dream and wish!