Day 4: Oh No, Christmas Tree!

I tried to think of a tree story from my childhood but miraculously there were no big stories even with the number of us living under one roof. My family, however, provided me with two funny little stories.

My sons are like mini-Marthas. They love to decorate the tree and they love to do it all by themselves. They even take care of little details like leaving cookies for Santa. Decorating the tree is one of their holiday highlights. They love everything from putting the tree together down to decorating it. Now, my husband, being a scientist, is a practical man at times. [Or it could be attributed to one of those spontaneous moments of his too!] One year he thought that it would be "efficient" if he brought the box in and put the tree up by himself. Luckily, I came walking in as he was doing this and made him take the whole thing down. The kids would have been totally disappointed.

As I said, I let the kids put the tree up and decorate while I supervise. One day though, my little one accidently knocked my entire tree down and broke some of my favorite glass ornaments Ooops! It was like a slow moving part of a movie. "Oh noooooooooooooo" my big guy yelled. It was all fine in the end and it gave us a story to tell.

The kids do an awesome job, don't you think?

Do you have any funny stories? Are your kids as interested in decorating your tree like mine are? Let me know! I'd love to hear. I've enjoyed reading your comments. Thank you for sharing your stories! Now, do go over to Pat Sloan 's site. It is her day. She's got a wonderful project for you. The other ladies have terrific stories to tell too! xo, L

Day 3: Gifts

My favorite gifts are those that are handmade, of course. It touches my heart like an old Bing Crosby movie. I'm the one who will appreciate the gift that you hand over to me and say with pride that you made it yourself. After all, that's one of the reasons that we quilt, sew, knit, or crochet, right? Last year, my friend, Joanne, came up to me and presented me with a gift. What a gift it was! A handmade Santa ornament. I love it and I don't think that she knows how much I love it! Do you have a favorite gift that someone handmade for you?

I am sure that you'll find something to make from all of the designs that we will present here. Check out Terry's blog today! It's her day and I am sure that she'll have something fabulous for you! I also have a few free projects on my website that may interest you. They're quick and easy too. Check them out here.

I am on a super handmade craze this year. I haven't decided what to make everyone yet but I'm hopeful. I did buy these adorable tins at Michael's the other day, decoupaged the top and filled it with little inspirational crafting notions. What do you think? Cute! I have continued with designing little tags for my crafty gifts and I've included some of these in my little tin as well. I have them for you to download too! You can print them on cardstock or fabric sheets. There are two downloads. The first is a sheet of large tags and the second is a sheet of smaller tags.  Just sign your name and stitch them, tie them or fuse them down to your gift. I hope that you like them.

Download Large Tags
Download Small Tags

One of my favorite gifts of all, I must admit, was not handmade. It was a Leica Digilux I camera. I wanted a digital camera and I've always thought that the Leica cameras that photojournalists like Henri Cartier-Bresson  used were so awesome yet so unattainable for me because I couldn't justify spending that kind of money for a camera. The kids have to go to college/uni after all. Plus, my husband and I don't usually exchange large gifts with each other unless it is something that person especially wants. When Leica came out with their new digital camera and it was reasonably priced, I secretly wanted it. Somehow, Santa heard my wish and I must have been a good girl that year because there was one Leica camera under the tree for me.

I was wild for this camera beyond wanting it for the name brand. You see, my husband is a smart man. When my oldest was born, I took a photo of him every day during the first year of his life on FILM! Can you see what I am saying? $$$ Dollar signs flashed before my husband's eyes. Now, with my second son born just before I received this camera, I could take as many photos as I wanted without the processing fees!

Seriously, this camera, the first of many digital cameras for me, afforded me the ability to document my family history. Milestones and achievements are recorded. I love taking photos of people in their element. I carry around my cameras because I am inspired by everything around me and I snap an image of it right away. Take a look around you. It could be the inspiration for your next project. xo, L

Day 2: Yummy Goodies

Today's special designer is Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart. Go and check out what she's cooked up for today! Her free project is darling! Remember too to comment on each of our blogs at least once during the blog hop to be eligible for the grand prizes. There will be gift bags filled with goodies from us!

1st place -  gift bag worth $ 250

2nd place - gift bag worth $ 70

3rd place - gift bag worth $ 40

My Mom enjoys to bake. I didn't really inherit that gene because I take after my Dad in that I enjoy cooking more than I enjoy baking. I have started baking a little bit more now that I have my own family. I enjoy baking sugar cookies with the kids and I love making this cranberry banana loaf because it is so easy to make and the loaf is so yummy when you eat it while it is still warm. I like to make an extra loaf for friends and I especially love to design packaging for the loaves. This year, I designed easy and bright little tags for the loaves. I wrapped them in a paper bag [and parchment paper] and tied the tag with a little baker's twine. So fun, don't you think? I drew up the tags for you and put it in a little .pdf file for you to use. You can use the tags on almost anything. Let me know what you think!

*I couldn't help myself. I was playing around with the tags and thought that you'd like to see them. [Don't forget that all printers and monitors vary in color!]

Gift Tags 
Cranberry Banana Loaf 

Yesterday, I talked about how we had seafood for Christmas dinner. We'd have squid, octopus, shrimp or clams. Delicious! One of the dishes that is versatile and popular in Cantonese cuisine is Clams with Black Bean Sauce. You can substitute mussels here too if you wish. It is easy to make and the ingredients are fairly easy to get in Asian markets. If you can't get the salted black beans, you can probably buy a jar of black bean sauce in the International aisle of your local supermarket. Please remember that I am not a chef and that I am one of those cooks who doesn't usually measure anything. I tried my best here but feel free to adjust to your taste.

Clams With Black Bean Sauce 

Enjoy!

Day 1: Childhood Memories

Today is the first day of the blog hop! Everyone has a wonderful childhood memory to share and today's featured designer is Gudrun. Pop over to her site for her story, her wonderful free design and giveaway.

I don't really have one specific childhood memory. Rather, they're tidbits of little memories of things that happened every holiday. It has been fun remembering all of these little details.

When I was young, we moved from Toronto to a small town in northern Ontario to help take over my grandfather's business - a restaurant. I remember that year quite vividly because we moved around the Christmas holidays. I remember the snow coming down and the snowbanks being as tall as the Rockies. Of course, they were really just ordinary snowbanks that were a few feet high. Everything seems tall when you're 7. My grandfather passed away from cancer and my parents soon found themselves to be the head of a household that consisted of two great-grandparents, my grandmother, an older aunt who was a nurse and 9 young kids [my sister, brother and my aunts and uncles]. 

Christmas didn't seem as crazy as it is today but it meant something. Even though we had a few generations living under one roof, we always felt loved and together as one big family. My aunt was smart whenever she did the holiday shopping. Everything was also done fairly. All of the girls got the same things and the boys got the same on their side.

My Dad's great-uncle and his family lived about 3 hours away. Every Christmas my sister, brother and I anxiously awaited the Greyhound bus to pull into town because there was always a special delivery for us. We were excited to get that lovely wooden jewelry box, the twist-pop curling iron or the make-up mirror.

Our restaurant was open most of the year but it was closed on Christmas day. Our customers couldn't come in to see what we were going to eat. Sometimes one or two customers would come and try the door to see if we were open. The kids thought that it was fun because we were in the restaurant by ourselves and cooking "exotic" food for ourselves. Funny thing though, the food was only exotic because you couldn't normally get it in a small town in northern Ontario and you had to order it in advance. We didn't do the traditional turkey thing. We had seafood, roast chicken and BBQ pork. Yum! Yum! I still don't eat turkey on any holiday to this day. I did try to make it once for my husband's sake. It tasted delicious but we both agreed that turkey wasn't our thing.

My sister and I tried something that we shouldn't have one holiday. There was a bottle of Canadian Club  sitting on the table. No one was around and we thought that we'd take a sip. Our mouths burned and my parents had a big laugh. We never touched the stuff again. Oh my!

Check back tomorrow for Day 2 of our Designer Blog Hop. There are more free designs and giveaways happening each day.

xo, L

And The Baby In The Photo Is ...

Terry Atkinson! Were you right? Well, then you were entered in my drawing for a stack of fat quarters from my Inspiration line and a copy of "Cool Girls Quilt".

Wow, there were lots of guesses and it was a really tough contest. I had lots of fun reading all of the entries. I was told that my baby photo was the easiest to guess. Hey, it's not my fault that most Asians are born with straight, black hair and brown eyes! 

Terry hasn't changed one bit! She still has a wonderful and cute smile. Oh, the winner? The winner was chosen very scientifically! My older son, Adam held the bowl while his little brother, Alex choose the name out of the pile of strips that I cut up from the correct guesses. The winner is Jennifer C [Jenphotogb[a]aol.com]! E-mail me your details and I will post the prize to you!

Go and check out all of the other results. The links are at the sidebar on the right. Enjoy and come back tomorrow for Day 1 of our Cross Country Designer's Blog Hop. There's lots more to give away too! Have fun, thanks for playing along and good luck! xo, L

Are You Ready Yet?

*OOPS. My post disappeared for a little while. I will extend the deadline until 9 p.m. tonight. Sorry!

The other quilt designers and I thought that we'd tease you a little bit while we're working hard to put together all of the fun stuff for next week. Can you guess the designer in the photo?  Could this be Gudrun? Terry? Pat? Heather? Pam? Kari? Terri? Sherri? Carrie? Roseann? Or me? Each designer will have run a photo contest on her blog with a different designer's baby photo.  Contest ends this Saturday night at 7 pm.  I will be drawing a name randomly, the winner will receive of a book and some fat quarters.   Leave your name, your e-mail and your guess in the comments section.

Remember to check out all of the other designers blogs for their photo contest! I wonder who has my photo? It's going to be fun even for me to guess!
Good luck! xo, L

12 Days of Christmas Blogging Bliss

Sorry, I've haven't been around lately. I have had the nasty flu and I've been out of commission for a week now. Today, I have some awesome news to announce. I will be participating in the "Cross Country Christmas Quilt Designer Blog Hop" with 11 other wonderful designers across the US. All of the main festivities officially start Nov. 9 and end on Nov. 20.

To get the excitement going before everything officially begins, there will be a guess the designer from the baby photo contest starting Wednesday, November 4. Each blog will have a baby pic of a designer. You will have until Nov. 7 to guess. So, on Wednesday, hop from blog to blog to guess.

Also, at the end of the 12 days of blogging, a grand prize winner will be drawn randomly from all of the commenters. You must comment on ALL 12 sites to be eligible for the grand prize [value: $360 - wow!]

Each day, we will all have a post about a special theme but you will all have to check out the wonderful surprise that the featured designer of the day will have on her site for you!

These fabulous designers will be in for all of the fun. Check them out!


Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com   
Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart :  http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/
Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures :  http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/  

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com

I hope that you will join us for all of the fun! xo, L

Skinny Quilts

Awhile back, Eleanor Levie asked me to contribute to her book. She had written a Skinny Quilts & Table Runners and this was to be volume II. I just received the project back from her this morning. After I opened it, I thought, how fitting the runner is for the season. The project is wonderful and all of the contributors did a fabulous job with his or her contribution. Congratulations, Eleanor!

I took a photo of a few of the designs from the book. Oooooh, aren't they lovely? Let me know what you think! xo, L

Winners, Please Step Up!

Hey, winners! There are a couple of you who haven't claimed your fabric stacks! Please let me know what your snail mail addys are and I will send them to you! Check here to see if you were a winner. Have a great weekend! xo, L

More Quilt Market friends

Wow, I had lots of photos to go through. I hope that you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed visiting with these designers. 

I met Karla Eisenach of Sweetwater at my very first market. She's a terrific designer and she lets me hang out in her booth whenever I pop by! She and her daughters produce some fabulous designs and fabric with a scrapbook influence. Check out her blog for some great photos of her booth and of Houston.

Marianne Byrne-Goarin of The Cinnamon Patch is a wonderful designer who lives in France. I love her designs! She has a new book, Cinnamon Inspiration and she has a line of lovely felts that she uses in her designs. Her website showcases all of her whimsical designs.

My friend, Renee Plains, of Liberty Star always has a cute little booth. Her projects are darling. Did you buy the latest issue of American Patchwork and Quilting ? They have an interview in there with Renee. Way to go, girl!

Here are some fabulous designers from Henry Glass. Lynette Anderson travels all the way from Australia with her son Eddie. Her designs are so pretty, aren't they?

Michelle Engel Bencsko, of Cicada Daydream made a debut with her fab line from her own company, Cloud9 Fabrics. Dreamy and organic!

Here are the lovely ladies from Lizzie B Creations. They're funny and upbeat! I love their energy and their fun designs. You have to check out their fabric line, Whimsyland. Wow and bright, just as I like it!

Blackbird Designs . What can I say about these ladies? I love them. Talking to Alma and Barb is a treat. We met at the Designer Retreat at the Better Homes and Gardens a few years ago. Their booth is always so lovely.

Robyn Pandolph , is another wonderful designer. We also met at the retreat years ago. Her new fabrics are oh so gorgeous!

Sarah Moon, thank you! I dropped by The Fabric Shop Network booth to thank her for the awesome review of my book, Cool Girls Quilt. Thanks, Sarah.

I chatted with Jodie Davis for a little while at the Aurifil booth. She was busy taping her show, Quilt Out Loud. Can't wait to see the new episodes.

Whew! That's it for now! xo, L

At market I met up with Donna from Fabric Trends Magazine to thank her for showcasing my fabric line, Inspiration, in their gallery. Thanks again! I love the magazine. They do a wonderful job of showcasing the latest quilting fabrics. I know that I am lucky to be working in such a fabulous industry where everyone is so supportive.

  

Have you had a chance to see Inspiration  at your local quilt shop yet? If not, run out and get some for yourself! I love the colors and the images are so fun. Send me a photo of your finished projects!

I had a lovely visit with the folks at Aurifil. I've only been using this thread for a little while but I am hooked! The thread is a dream to sew with but I must admit that the colors are what captures my heart.  I used the thread on a quilt that I did for my next project for American Patchwork & Quilting. I had trouble matching the thread with my fabric when I tried to with another brand. The Aurifil colors matched my fabric perfectly.

Here's a photo of a couple of the Aurifil folks, Alex Veronelli and Elena Gregotti. Check out that awesome display of eye candy. Luscious. The thread is fine yet strong so you don't have to sew scant seam allowances!



For those of you interested in the European quilt market, Alex offers interesting videos on his weblog .

My favorite booth? Alexander Henry. So creative and funky. Nicole is a wonderful designer and their booth is so inspiring. The witch is working so hard. The details are so cool and spooky.

I love this look. I have a certain "goth" side to me. I went through this sort of phase when I was in university.  Reno is still trying to find photographic evidence of it to this day. Sorry, it's all been shredded or burned, baby!

I fell in love with their new Halloween line. Here's a sneak peak [used with their permission only]:

Oh, there's more to come. I have a few loose ends to tie up but I'll be back. xo, L