Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead

One of my favorite quilt designers, and blogs to follow is Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession in Australia. Love everything she does. I want to make every quilt in her books Material Obsession and Material Obsession Two.

Kathy also has a great sense of humor.

This picture on her blog made me laugh hysterically. Her intention was to announce all the fabric lines that have been arriving in her store.

But my brain immediately went to a scene from the movie The Wizard of Oz. The tune Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead began playing in my mind.

Anyone else with me on this?

Seeing Kathy's picture brought up a funny memory.

I had a friend (whom I will call "Donna" to protect the innocent) who was a wonderful pianist. She was often asked to play for special meetings and occasions.

Donna had a sister in law who she did not care for at all. (And that is putting it mildly). Unfortunately this SIL passed away, the family asked Donna if she would play the organ for the music at the funeral. Donna accepted, and even played the hymns the family picked out.

But on the day of the funeral, as people were gathering in the chapel, and she was quietly playing the prelude music at the organ, she felt very tempted to play "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead".

I can never hear that song without laughing out loud and thinking of my friend Donna. And now I have a visual of Kathy to go with it.

Thank You Sherri and Dawn

While we were at our quilt retreat last week, I received some handmade gifts.
These "work't by hand" gifts are always such a labor of love. I know how much time and effort go into making these projects and I am so appreciative when I am the lucky recipient.
Thank you Sherri and Dawn!

Dawn (Piece and Love) made these cute linen bags. Fully lined and filled with quilt note cards and treats.

I love the little piece of teacup fabric on the side.

This cute potholder was a gift from Sherri (A Quilting Life).

Sherri did a blog post about making these potholders called Alexander In The Kitchen.

Willow Orchard by Alexander Henry.

As a side note: I had the opportunity of visiting Alexander Henry Fabrics in Burbank, California (see post August 3, 2008) and fell in love the minute I walked into their design studio.

Their artists sit at easels in a beautiful room full of books and art, and hand sketch, and then watercolor each drawing. No computer aided design in the creative process.

If you ever have an opportunity to go on a tour at Alexander Henry, I would highly recommend it. I have no formal training in art, but the environment was so inviting I was ready to ask for a job, even if it was just to hover and sharpen pencils.

Toad stools, birds and birdhouses in bright, cheery colors. Takes me back to the 1960's.

Willow Orchard at Fat Quarter Shop

Dixie Diva Birthday Bash

There are 9 of us in my Dixie Diva friendship group. We decided it was difficult to remember every one's birthday's each time, so we came up with a fun plan.

Now once a year we meet together for dinner and have one BIG Dixie Diva Birthday Bash.

There are some fun rules for this bash.

1.) Bring your own present (wrapped of course). Buy something you love, something that says Happy Birthday To Me. At first we set a $25 dollar limit.

** But last year that rule went out the window when several of the ladies gave themselves new sewing machines. Verny even bought herself a new car.

2.) Bring a funny birthday card to share with the group. We pass the cards around and laugh and laugh. Then take your own birthday card home.

We met at Haven, a wonderful restaurant here in St. George.

The food was double yum.

The chef even offered to make us their specialty dessert to share: Sugar fried donuts with pastry cream and berry compote.

Then it was time to open presents.

Melissa gave herself an Omnigrid bag full of quilting supplies.

Pat showed us the new quilt she is making for a grandson.

Wait a minute Pat! This is your birthday remember? Sometimes we get to that age where we experience more pleasure in giving than receiving.

Although she did show us her latest Bow Tucks Bag (by Quilts Illustrated) made with Texture Magic.

Margaret was the first one to apply Texture Magic to this pattern and now they are being made this way by the dozens.

Ricci just got back from IQF/ Chicago, where she worked the show for Superior Threads. While shopping the vendor booths she purchased this beautiful wool rug (made somewhere in South America?).

I tried to get a close up of the ring Ricci also purchased for her birthday, but the lighting was so dim in the restaurant my pictures didn't turn out. Needless to say she went WAY over $25.

Then there is Bev, who just bought a new lot for her birthday, where she will be building a new home.

We all agreed, Bev's purchase trumps them all.

Meanwhile I opened my meager mixing bowls and kicked them underneath the table.

We tease each other and laugh together a lot. More than the presents or the food, there is the friendships we hold dear to our hearts.

Happy Birthday Divas!

Laminate Bags

Yesterday I taught a zippered bag class at Quilted Works. I've been fascinated by all the beautiful cotton laminates that are coming out by top designers like Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett, and wanted to see how they are to work with.

This was a simple one hour class, and QW provided the kits.

From cutting out to finish, the class was able to finish 1-2 bags in one hour.

Laminates make me think of the oilcloths of yesteryear, except for now they have the most beautiful colors.

Some of the things I have learned:

I went on line to order small quantities to make zippered bags. In order for the fabric not to crush or have bend marks, they need to be rolled on tubes to be mailed. The cost of mailing was as much as the fabric, which felt prohibitive to me. I'm now hunting for small pieces at local quilt stores and letting them pay for the shipping.

Also, you can't use pins with laminates because they will leave permanent holes. We are so used to using pins when we match seams, that it was a little tricky to maneuver. Scotch tape can help hold sections together before sewing.

Some students hadn't put in a zipper in years, and they were a little intimidated. I taught a quick, easy- to -do zipper method that I learned from an Annie Unrein class.

Annie kindly left this additional suggestion on comments:
One other suggestion: When I sew on vinyl which is similar to the laminates, I often use binder clips to hold the layers together. Easier than pins and no holes! I consider the small and medium-sized binder clips an essential part of a basic sewing kit.

You just can't go wrong with this technique.

One student said she felt the zipper lesson was as worthwhile learning as making the bag.

Bags can be made in all kinds of sizes, depending on how you would like to use them. They are much more cost effective to be made than purchased. We brainstormed ideas for gifts: for baby shower (filled with lotions, cotton swaps and bath items) bridal showers, Christmas presents (in Christmas fabrics), birthday presents, Back to School (pencils, erasers), etc.

More Lori Cuteness

The last few days I have shown you some of the fun things Lori (Bee In My Bonnet) brought with her when she came to my house.
Today I have a few more pictures of items that are just so... just so Lori!

I fell in love with her purse. Love the color. Love the design. Love everything about it.

Both Rae Ann and Lori love vintage. There is a wonderful little store here in St. George called Urban Renewal that I knew they would enjoy for a short shopping excursion.

The store is located at 5 E. St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah 84770 and is full of vintage, shabby chic and antiques.

Lori purchased this bowl that she plans on using for potato salad.
(I see a turquoise theme here, do you?)

And then she also purchased this cute crocheted napkin holder that will go in her home office as a place to hold incoming mail.

It was fun for me to go shopping with these ladies and to see their brains working away with creativity.