APQ Creative Circle of Excellence - Part deux

Yes, I a terribly sorry it has taken me forever to finish this post. I do have a great excuse though [at least I think so!]. I am very proud to announce the launch of my new web site www.lindalumdebono.com I designed it and put it up myself for the most part. Hubby provided some technical assistance! More news ... I am excited to launch "Cool Girls Quilt" and "Cool Girls Knit". Stay tuned for new info in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, I need to wrap up a knitting book for Leisure Arts. Enjoy the rest of the APQ Creative Circle of Excellence post.

Here are some more pics from the great time that we had in Iowa with Better Homes and Gardens' American Patchwork and Quilting.

Jo Morton is standing beside the "buffet table". What a treat. Many companies generously donated their products for us to play with. Heavenly.


One of the women I enjoyed talking to at the conference was Nancy Smith of The Great American Quilt Factory. Both she and her business partner, Lynda Milligan, were there. They are both an inspiration to me. I met them in Atlantic City when I did my first wholesale show so I only knew them as "shop owners" who bought my product. To spend time with them in Iowa was a treat. Both are funny and smart and I was inspired by their stories about how they started their business when their kids were still young.

Robyn Pandolph [below, left]and Lila Scott [below, right, technical woman extraordinaire for American Patchwork & Quilting] are two super ladies. It was fun getting to know them.

APQ Creative Circle of Excellence

I was invited to the APQ Creative Circle of Excellence 2006. What an amazing time. Better Homes & Gardens' American Patchwork & Quilting magazine hosted this awesome event to inspire 24 designers to cultivate their creative spirit. Heidi Kaisand, Quilt Group Editor, Jennifer Keltner, Senior Editor and Elizabeth Tsinger, Editor and the rest of their staff did a fantastic job of hosting the event. Thank you.

Here's a list of all of the amazing women who were invited and who inspired:
Barb Adams, Alma Allen, Laura Boehnke, Amy Bradley, Janet Brandt, Amy Butler, Kaye England, M'Liss Rae Hawley, Lynette Jensen, Roseann Kermes, Gayle Kessler, Jill Mead, Lynda Milligan, Jo Morton, Carrie Nelson, Robyn Pandolph, Renee Plains, Jackie Robinson, Lila Scott, Nancy Smith, Mary Sorenson, Cynthia Tomaszewski, and Mary Lou Wiedman.

We were treated to manicures and massages but most important of all, we were challenged with creativity exercises which challenged our individual and group skills. The entire event brought us together as a group and brought out our individual strengths as well.

Here I am with Lynette Jensen of Thimbleberries in the workroom where we each had our own stations to work on our projects. She's super nice and really down to earth. I was lucky enough to get a chance to chat with her because her table was right behind mine. She's got a wealth of experience in the industr and I was grateful that she was willing to share.



Here I am with Roseann Kermes. Great gal and we hit it off right away. She owns an adorable shop called Rosebud's Cottage [www.rbcottage.com] in North St. Paul, MN




The ladies from Blackbird Designs, Alma Allen and Barb Adams, were such fun. I admire how well they work together. I always wonder how two people can form a company together and still stand each other. Maybe it's just me! It is evident that Alma and Barb get along so well and that's what makes them successful.



Amy Butler is one talented gal. I love her fabric [who doesn't?] and her sense of style. It was nice chatting with her.



I've got more pics and I'm going to stop here for a breather because I am starting to look like a celebrity stalker! "Here I am with..." I promise those who are looking for more pics from the Creative Circle of Excellence that they'll be posted soon!

Catching Up

Whew! It has been a busy week or so.

I flew to Minneapolis for Quilt Market. It is always a great time but lots of work. I used to have my own booth but I stopped when I had kids. I primarily go to make contacts, promote my stuff and talk about future projects with my publishers and fabric company. I am happy to say that I have lots of new things lined up for the future. Yes, we work years ahead. When I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, we would book appointments 3 years in advance! So, I guess you can say that I am used to it.

I saw a lot of old friends. Here's Dougal of the Freckles Collection from Alberta, Canada. We had a booth opposite of each other one year. Super nice lady with lots of cute stitchery designs.



Here's Martingale/That Patchwork Place's [my publisher] booth. Happy 30th birthday!



I met lots of new friends. Here's a great lady, Susan Breier , with her hubby, Jeff . She's got a terrific book coming later this year with Martingale. I got a sneak peak of it and she's got some nifty designs.




Lizzie Kate is my sister's fave cross stitch designer. I can see why. She's super nice and talented. She was at Market with some really adorable punch needle designs. Check them out at her web site www.lizziekate.com




New friends are to be made too. Here's a great couple from Patchwork Schoolhouse from Alberta Canada. Of course, I am partial to Canadians!



It is always exciting to see the latest and greatest products all in one place. There was the usual quilt pattern companies and fabric companies, a lot of wool suppliers [addictive!] and punch needle designs. This year though, I was only able to run throught the show because I was invited to the Better Homes & Gardens' Creative Circle of Excellence and had to stay longer for that instead. More about that in the next post.

Old Favourites

I am re-releasing my favourite block of the month designs. Each design will come in one complete package! The first one is ready for sale.

"Believe" was my first block of the month design. It is very whimsical and fun. The pieces are very easy to applique. I had Teresa Fusco, a professional quilter, quilt it for me. She did an amazing job and it was all done on her Pfaff machine!

Trunk Show

I gave a trunk show lecture this week at Kindred Quilts in Clinton. It was great fun. I talked about my quilts, my books and my fabric design. I even showed them my very first quilt! It was a great night and getting ready for the talk made me sit and think about how far I have come along in enjoying this craft.

Most of us in the quilt industry are gearing up for Quilt Market next week. It will be held in Minneapolis. I am soooo looking forward to the trip. I am invited to a Better Homes & Gardens Circle of Excellence Retreat right after the show. That should be great fun. I am in need of a creative jolt. My mind is in a bit of a jumble right now. When there's so much going on, my mind races a million miles a minute because my creative process involves visualizing everything out in my mind first.

Just Released!

I am so excited! My new book, "Row by Row Seasonal Quilts" has been released by Leisure Art [ www.leisurearts.com]. The cover is so bright and fun! The folks at Leisure Arts did a fab job. Thanks!

I self-published some of the designs when I first started my business and a couple of others are totally new. I hope you love the quilts.

I am taking a small break today. I say "small" because the big crunch is coming in the next couple of weeks as I gear up for the wholesale Quilt Market in Minneapolis later this month.

Minneapolis will be one of my "vacations" this year. I was invited to take part in the Better Homes and Gardens' American Patchwork & Quilting Circle of Excellence Retreat right after Quilt Market. FIVE days filled with creativity! Whoo! Hoo!

I will be giving a lecture at Kindred Quilts [www.kindredquilts.com] on Tuesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Come and join me for a book signing and chat. It will be a fun night.

New beginnings

Here I am. I have thought about doing this for a long time [mainly because it is easier than updating my web site for my design biz] and what a better time than when there's whirlwind of activity in my life? There's stuff happening all of the time but this stuff's more interesting than most.

My design life has come around in huge ways in the past 6 months. I started "linda lum debono - contemporary quilt dzynes" almost 8 years ago. I slowed down for a little while but I am getting back up to speed.

I shipped off four placemats for the upcoming "Quilt It For Christmas" issue by Primedia. The week before I shipped all of my designs for my new Christmas decor book for Leisure Arts. In between, I have been designing fabric again. Now you will be able to find my fabrics in quilt shops and in chain stores [JoAnn's and Hancock]. Of course, all of the designs will be exclusive to each particular store.

Our local quilt shops [New Jersey] are having their annual shop hop this weekend. If you are in the area you should check it out! My local shop in Clinton, Kindred Quilts, is a little gem. She's got a couple of my quilts and my latest book, "Color Crazy Quilts" in her shop. I will be giving a lecture there on May 9th. More to come on that.

So, welcome to my journey. I hope that you find inspiration, creativity and passion in making things within this digital framework.