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

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

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

An Inspiring Weekend

Hello Dear Friends,

A couple of weekends ago, my dear friends,  Anne McKinney and  Rochelle Cooper and I

exhibited at the Country Living Fair!  It is put on by Country Living magazine and 

held annually at the Ohio Historic Village in Columbus, Ohio.

  What a inspiring weekend!

The weather was beautiful and it was a wonderful way to get in the

mood for fall.  This is part of our booth.

Unique items from antiques to olive oil were on display and

being sold.  Each booth provided inspiration

for soooo many ideas!

And if you wanted ideas for a Fall display,

they were everywhere!  Country Living does a

beautiful job of decorating the Village.

Especially their annual 

"Great Pumpkin Patch",

which I look forward to seeing every year.

If you get a chance to visit Ohio in

September sometime, be sure to 

stop  by!

Happy Fall!

Always,

Deb

Winners of Country Fair Drawing!

Hello Dear Friends,

Has fall arrived where you live?  It certainly has here in Ohio!  The days are chilly and our leaves are beginning to turn.  They really are beautiful in autumn.  I'll post a picture of the trees around our home when they are at their best.

The Moda Country Fair blog hop has been so much fun!  Lissa Alexander, from Moda, certainly comes up with the most creative ideas.  I've learned a lot about all the designers and collected some delicious recipes.  The projects have all been so creative and fun... can't wait to try a few!

I just want to thank everyone who stopped by my blog.  Your kind words and encouragement have meant more than I can say.  What a wonderful group of people you are!!  Be sure to stop back on Oct. 10th to see if I "take the big jump!" (Do I sound nervous???)

And now for the winners of the prizes I mentioned on my blog day!  Thank you to Moda for generously providing these......

Prize #1 Boy and Girl Fat Quarter Bundles

from "Meadow Friends"

Congratulations  Chiska! who commented on September 22 at 6:31am.

You are the winner of prize #1.  Please make sure you e-mail me your address and I

will get your prize right out.

Prize #2 Fat Quarter Bundle of "Coming Home" fabric

and my 2012 "Coming Home" calendar

Congratulations Sharrieboberry, who commented on Sept. 22 at 7:42am,

you are the winner of Prize #2! Again, please make sure you e-mail

your address, so that I can send your prize right out.

(Winners were randomly chosen, using Random.org.)

The Blog Hop still continues!  Be sure to visit Kathy Schmitz today and 

Liz Scott, tomorrow.

Happy Fall Everyone,

Always,

Deb Strain

A Day At The Fair

Hello Dear Friends!

Today, September 22nd, is my day for Moda's Country Fair blog hop!

Have you enjoyed all of the designers stories and projects this month?

I have!  It is the first thing that I look at each morning.

Country Fairs are so much fun...

From the sewing projects,

to the agricultural projects,

the fair brings back wonderful memories of sewing for Mrs. Prosser, in

the Busy Bees 4-H Club of Clark County, Ohio, when I was growing up.

And of course, there is the fair food!

Lissa Alexander, our creative leader in Marketing at Moda,

asked us, "What is your favorite fair food?"

Without a doubt, apple dumplin's and ice cream!

We look forward to it every year.

Since our family loves them so much, I thought that I would try to make apple dumplins' for

a family gathering.

The recipe I was given from veteran Apple Dumplin' cooks, follows:

Use your favorite pie dough recipe,

Roll out,

Cut into 5 inch squares,

slice a half apple and center it in square.

Top apple half with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar,

Wrap sides of pie dough around apple.

Put 6-8 of these into a glass 9x12 pan,

add 1/2 cup water, more butter, cinnamon and brown sugar,

Bake at 375 for 45 to 50 minutes.

Needless to say, they are delicious (and totally non-fattening of course!)

Other questions asked by Lissa:

What's your guilty pleasure?  cookies!  I love soft, warm cookies!

What inspires your work?  My family, nature, antiques, childhood memories,

color, trends, traveling and everything around me.

What's on your bucket list?

Well, in addition to wanting to travel everywhere in the world,which I haven't done yet.....

 ( Eygpt, Greece, 

Thailand, Alaska, Australia, Africa, and  Cambodia, etc.),

I have always wanted to go sky-diving!

So much so, that I went to get information about it last weekend!

Check back on my blog, October 10th to see if I take

the big "jump" or not!

There will be a drawing that day too.

My simple pillow project is all about sweets at the fair (and everywhere else!)

Instructions for this project are at the end of my blog.

This pillow was created using "Meadow Friends."

My daughter Katie, free-motion embroidered this appliqued center piece using

my "Coming Home" fabric available in stores this month.

Now... for the prizes!

Leave a comment by September 30, telling me if you think I will or will not

skydive and your name will be in the drawing for the following 2 prizes.

Be sure to stop back on Oct. 10th to see if I "take the jump!"

I will use Random.org to select the two winners on Oct. 1st.

Prize #1- Boy and Girl Fat Quarter

Bundles from "Meadow Friends"

Prize #2: Fat Quarter bundle of "Coming Home" fabric and

my 2012 "Coming Home" calendar

Good Luck to everyone!

Did you stop by Christina's blog, Cabbages and Roses blog yesterday?

Wow! A visit from the British Minister of State!

Be sure to visit my dear friend Jan Patek of Brannock and Patek

tomorrow.

I have been a big fan of hers for a long time....

Continue the Country Fair Hop by visiting....

September 23rd Jan Patek of Brannock and Patek

September 24th Lauren and Jessi Jung

September 25th Stephanie from Lily Ashbury

September 26th Julie from Cosmo Cricket

September 27th Kate Spain

September 28th Karla, Susan and Lisa from Sweetwater

September 29th Kaari from French General

September 30th Lisa from Primitive Gatherings

and the fun continues into October

October 1st Kathy from Kathy Schmitz Studio

October 2nd Liz from Liz Scott Designs

LIFE IS SWEET!

PILLOW INSTRUCTIONS

(This is my first attempt at writing a pattern.  Please be understanding!) 

Supply List:

11 1/4" x 6 1/2" fabric for background

Assorted scraps for applique

4- 3 3/4" x 11 1/4" strips of coordinating fabric for border

12" x 17" fabric for backing

Lightweight Wonder Under Fusible Web

Fiberfill Stuffing

Above is the pattern that I have created for the words and ice cream.

(Click picture to get larger size, then be sure to click "fit to page" option on printer.)

You can use scraps for most of the letters and ice cream.

 1/2" seam allowance on all seams.

I ironed "Wonder Under" onto my fabric backs  and then traced the letters out 

on the fabric.

**Remember to trace your letters backwords, if you lay them on the back side of the fabric.

Cut the letters and ice cream out.

Peel off the backing and iron onto background fabric.

I then used a simple blanket-stitch around everything to finish and

make sure they were well attached.

Pin right sides of background piece (with applique) and strips for border together. Do top and bottom

 first and sew. 

Then do same with sides.

Trace entire rectangle onto coordinating back piece of

fabric and trace so that it is 

the same size as image and border.

Sew right sides together, leaving a 3-4" opening to stuff with

fiberfill.

Turn and fill with Fiberfill Stuffing.

Slip-stitch opening.