Welcome to Deb Strain's studio...

Welcome to Deb Strain's studio...

Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year!

Hello Dear Friends...

It is that time of year again, when we can look back over 2011 and count our blessings of the past 12 months.  A loving family, dear friends, good health and a truly joyous year are some of the things that I am grateful for!

I am also grateful for kind people like Lorry Kirschener, of Indiana, who share their incredible talents with others in such a caring and generous way!  Lorry used "Coming Home" panels to create this beautiful quilt in memory of Donna Thacker.

It was given to Donna's daughter and, I'm told,
will be cherished always.


For me, seeing my fabric designs used in such special ways,
is a blessing that I am continually grateful for and
never take for granted.

Another truly inspiring quilt, made with a past fall fabric
"Nature's Harvest" is shared below.  These two ladies
are friends from 
"In Stitches" Quilt Shop in Rushville, Indiana.
Talk about creative!!


Thank you all for your support and encouragement throughout
the year!

Be sure to stop by the first of next week, to see
"Grow With Me."
It is a toddler line that my two daughters,
Arrin and Katie, designed with me,
available in stores in January 2012.
Very, very cute! and very, very
special to all three of us!

Happy New Year to everyone!
Always,
Deb

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hello Dear Friends!

Our stockings are hung!

The decorations are up....

and the presents are wrapped! (My twin grandsons helped!)

We took the twins to see Santa again this year...
Finnigan jumped right up on Santa's lap and asked for a
REALLY BIG motorcycle.



This is as close as Graham would get to Santa!


Everyone is home and our house if full of love and laughter!
From all of us at the Strain home,
we wish you Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!

Always,
Deb



Friday, December 9, 2011

Christmas Gifts Early to....


The Holidays are upon us!
What a wonderful time of year.
Thank you all so much for  visiting my blog during Moda's Merry Christmas Blog Hop and sharing your favorite traditions.  It was heartwarming to read your loving responses.
So many traditions center around family and those we love...sharing this 
special time with them and remembering 
special times together.

Now to announce the winners:
Gift package #1 "Tend the Earth"
goes to 
Angbart, who left her comment at 9:30am
on the Dec. 5th.

Gift package #2 "Coffee Anyone?"
goes to
Tiffanee who left her comment at 5:41pm 
on Dec. 5th.

Gift package #3 "The Warmth of Home"
goes to 
Becky who shared her favorite tradition at
12:55pm on Dec. 5th.

Congratulations to all.
I have e-mailed the winners.
Please make sure you send your addresses, so that
I can send your "goodies" right out.

Thank you all again for supporting Moda and all of its designers
throughout the year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Dear Friends,
from all of us in the Strain family.




Monday, December 5, 2011

Merry Christmas Blog Hop!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Dear Friends!

Welcome to Moda's Christmas blog hop!
Each day, several designers will be sending you holiday greetings and give-aways
as our way of thanking you for your support and kindess throughout
the year.

I've been so excited about this...the blog hops are always such fun! So, first thing this morning, I started 
looking at the designers to see who was blogging on this first day of the hop.
Surprise!!!  One of them was me!
Somehow, during the craziness of the last few weeks, I have missed the
e-mail with the schedule. (So sorry! I am notorious for being
technology challenged!)
Rather than freaking out (too much), I decided "honesty was the best policy" and I am
doing this on the fly....

Please let me explain the "craziness!"
We had our annual Open House at our house
this past weekend...sent out over 400 invitations..

It is a lot of fun to have so many friends visit our home and see 
what we have been up to the past year.
I wish I could have had all of you come!


The Moda designers have provided a special quilt block and their 
favorite holiday recipe as a gift for you.
Please click below for a PDF of my Holiday Basket block
and recipe for Incredible Carmel Corn (truly incredible and quick!)


And now for the Give-aways!
Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas tradition and you 
will be entered in a drawing to win one of these gift packages!
Gift Package #1- Tend the Earth

Gift Package #2 - Coffee Anyone?

Gift Package #3 - The Warmth of Home


I will use random.com this Friday evening (Dec. 9th) to choose the three winners.
Good Luck!

Be sure to visit all of the other designers to see what they have for you
this holiday season!


December 5th
December 6th
December 7th:
December 8th
December 9th


and 
from the Strain family...
Happiest of Holidays

Always,
Deb






Thursday, November 3, 2011

2011 International Quilt Market

Hello Dear Friends!

Scott and I just finished our 22 hour return trip drive from the International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas.  We are glad to be home but had a great time, visiting friends, introducing my new fabric line and being a part of the Moda block of exhibitors.

Thought you might like to see a few pictures from the big event that lasted from Saturday through Monday.

 The night before the wholesale show starts is sample spree...A crazy event that you have to experience to believe!
This is 1/2 of the line to get in!

Moda has stacks of the new fabric samples for stores to take home.

Here is my stack of "Tend the Earth!"

Everyone rushes in at once and the whole floor shakes!!

On Monday, the actual wholesale show begins where many of the Moda designers have set up booths around the beautiful Moda sales block.

Thought you might like to meet a few of the Moda designers.
They are a talented, kind, group of ladies.
I feel very fortunate to work with the entire Moda family...
the wonderful people at Moda and the other designers!


This is Anne  from Bunny Hill.
I have been a fan (stalker?) of hers for a long time!

Lisa from Primitive Gatherings.
Their booth was sooo busy!

Kathy  of Kathy Schmitz Studios.
She is an incredible painter and can quilt, embroider,
do it all!

Jen and the gang from Basic Grey.
I have always loved their scrapbooking products and Moda fabric too.

Alma from Blackbird Designs.
Their blog is addicting and their fabric, booth, patterns, books, etc. are truly inspiring.

Karla of Sweetwater.
Talent and creativity (as well as kindnes!) run in the family, as
she and her two daughters design incredible fabrics for Moda.


Sandy of American Jane.
Her fabrics and quilts are so much fun and so is she!
I am always amazed at the detail and care she
puts into all that she does.

Laurie and Polly from Minnick and Simpson.
The more that I get to know these two women, the more
I admire them and their talent!

Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister.
These two ladies are so much fun!  It comes through in their fabrics and
patterns.  Fun to sew, fun to use, fun to have!

Jan of Brannock and Patek.
A good friend and very talented designer.
One day, I would love to hang something of
hers in our Saltbox home!

Lynne of Kansas Troubles.
I always look forward to seeing Lynne at Market!
She is so easy to talk to and her work is 
followed by many, many , many!

Edtya and Michael of Laundry Basket Quilts.
Yes, they are as sweet as they look and their fabric and patterns are gorgeous!!


This is our booth.  Scott is showing it off with two of our dear friends,
Shari and Carol who own Sulphur Grove Quilt Shop in Huber Heights, Ohio.

Several designers were unable to have a booth at Market, but many dropped in for a
day or two.  Of course, on those days, my camera battery was dead!
Hmmmmm...so much for that plan!

Have a wonderful day dear friends!
Always,
Deb























Saturday, October 15, 2011

And the winner is....

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving your inspiring comments.  I've added many of your bucket list items to mine!

Just wanted to announce the winner of the "Nature's Gift" package......

It is Kris Gray!  
Please make sure you send me your address Kris,
so that I can send your prize right out.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Always,
Deb

Monday, October 10, 2011

The Big Jump!

Hello Dear Friends,

During Moda's Country Fair Blog Hop, we were asked what was on our bucket lists.  I have always wanted to sky-dive and with this being a big birthday year (Can I say 29 again?), I decided it was time to start working on that list!
Yes! I jumped!
My 18 year old son who was leaving for college, wanted to take the
BIG JUMP
with me and how could I refuse that face?

Can you tell who was more nervous?

We both jumped tandem, which means an experiened sky-diver was attached to us and
basically did all the work.

Taylor wanted to go first.....


Then my turn....
(That's Trev, my tandem partner.  He must have sensed
my hesitation, because about when this picture was taken,
he whispered, I've done 3500 of these.  Talk about
being reassured!)





The free-fall only lasted a few moments, but wow! it was incredible!




Once the parachute opened, it was amazing! 

It was so peaceful and beautiful up there....
The sensation must feel just like a bird does when flying.

I even got to steer!

Taylor and I both had a perfect landing....

 (Did I grow antennae?)


A successful check off the bucket list!


Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my blog about taking the plunge.  You encouraged
me and genuinely made me feel that I had alot of support!

Now for the drawing!

Leave a comment by the end of the week, telling me what is on your
bucket list and
one winner will win this Holiday package!
It includes a panel and layer cake from "Nature's Gift",
as well as a matching photo binder and box of Christmas
cards.
I will use random.org Friday evening (Oct. 14th) to choose the
lucky winner! 

Good Luck and thanks again for visiting
my blog.

Always,
Deb