Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog #28

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 28

Hello Everyone

I would like to thank everyone that came by our booth at the Quilt-A-Fair in Longmont Colorado and our booth at the AQS Show in Des Moines, Iowa. Again, it seemed that nearly everyone loved our new designs. I overheard John telling several women to hold the applause down a notch. He said something about getting a "big head". I promise not to get one. We met so many nice people. I don’t think I could continue on without all of your support.

Our son, Josh went with us to Longmont. He was a lot of help setting up and taking down, but we didn’t really need his help in the booth, so we told him to go take us some photos. We, Josh and I, saw groundhogs everywhere but John couldn’t see them. Josh tried for a hour and could not coax one of the little stinkers to pose....Hmmm. He did take some other pictures. I can’t find them right now so I will have to post them later. Sorry about that Colorado-WE REALLY DO LOVE YOU.

We took some good ones in the Des Moines area. They have this park in the downtown where they have these big works of art. Here are a couple of pics.

And they have these trees that are turning red-Sugar Maples we were told-magnificent. Anyway, here is a pic of one of them.

After the show we went to the town of Walnut, Iowa where we went antiquing. On the way there we stopped and took a pic of this windmill

pretty neat.



We have a lot of new stores that carry our patterns. I am going to try to list them on an upcoming blog.

Right now, I am focusing of the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas. The show dates are Nov. 1, 2, 3 and 4 with a preview night on October 31. Please come if you can. Our booth number is 563. I can’t wait to see my old friends and look forward to making a lot of new ones.

Got to go...As always...enjoy life......ds

PS Our recently engaged daughter Ginny hopes to join us at the show and show off some of her "folded books"

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 27

Hello Everyone:

Sewing with Nancy was a blast...I stayed really busy. I would like to send a great big "Thank You" to all who came by and visited at the booth.

I wanted to go through Kansas and Iowa, so we did. Our good friend,  Denise Sinnwell, owner of Quilter's Window in
New Hampton, Iowa called just as we were crossing the border into Wisconsin from Iowa. She told me that I was crossing the Mighty Mississippi. Something about crossing the Mississippi, just makes me feel good. Anyway, she ordered a bunch of patterns-do pay her a visit. I am going to have to talk John into going by-I have heard so many nice things about her store.

Then, we went through Mount Horeb. I guess that it is a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin. Anyway, some people call it "The Troll Capitol of the World". Pretty neat, they have some trolls lining the streets. We went through several years ago and I wanted to take and share a picture with you.

I wanted to take a picture of the booth but I forgot to charge my batteries. Maybe next time....John kept looking over his shoulder. I think that he thought that we were going to be on TV. We weren't that lucky, but it was a great show and we are planning on Sewing With Nancy again. We met so many nice people and Marla Arndt who owns The Cutting Edge in
Antigo, Wisconsin now carries our patterns. Please pay her a visit. I guess that I need to give a mention to all of the fine stores that carry our merchandise. I will try to do that next time.

Nothing exciting on the return trip. We went through Illinois and St. Louis. We like to check out the downtown sometimes and in Beloit, Illinois we saw something that we had never seen before-an M&M vending machine that was located in an old door. It was sticking out into an alleyway/parking lot in the downtown area. My batteries were recharged, so here it is....

I guess that we like the unusual more than anything else, but you never know when you might just get that craving for some chocolate, so if you are ever in downtown Beloit.

Minutes before the show closed, we got a call from my sister.  My brother, Ronnie was in the hospital.  He had been there a lot lately. His health had been declining for years.  He  was in intensive care in Killeen, Texas. We were able to see him just before he passed. He had a very troubled life and I know that he is in a better place.  Whoever wrote the song," If It Wasn't For Bad Luck", must have spent some time with him. Actually, he has a son and daughter who were both taken from him at an early age and his daughter finally found and visited with him just a few weeks ago. I guess that he finally had some good luck. It doesn't get much better than that.  Through all of his troubles, he had a big heart.  He will be truly missed by his family and friends..

 John says that the best way to cope is to continue working and,so  that is what we have been doing. I have a standing joke with my kids " There is always something to do at Lakadaisies".  With that in mind, we are heading out to Longmont, Colorada to do a show this weekend.  Hope to see you there. 

As always, enjoy life.....ds

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm blog #26

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 26

I would like to thank everyone that came by our booth at Long Beach. It seemed that nearly everyone loved our new designs and that is so flattering. We met so many people-I am horrible with names, so I am not going to mention any because I know I would leave someone out.

I am going to "mention" the stores that now carry our patterns. Ruth, the "Wool Lady" came by and loved our stuff. We went by her store in Temecula on our way home and made some trades. She has so much wool-I was in heaven. Georgia has a Quilting Obsession in Beaumont and she bought some kits. She is taking a little "time off", but should be carrying our patterns real soon. Our old friends, Bob & Debbie, from Carriage Country Quilts in Des Moines, Washington, were there and went home with a few of my Originals. They also took home some patterns for Redwork and Wool Applique. Please, be sure and shop with all of these fine merchants-and tell em that Lakadaisies sent you.

Well, enough of that. We are gearing up for Sewing With Nancy. Actually, it is Quilt Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. I don’t know how John did it, but we are headed north. Please come and visit with us at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison September 6, 7, and 8. I am so excited.

Got to go...As always...enjoy life......ds

PS Took a little trip to San Antonio and found this great Wool Shop. Tricia Travis, of Country Gatherings in Braken Village, showed John a little rug hooking...maybe I can talk him into taking classes. She has a lot of wool and a lot of room. I think I can have a lot of fun with her later.

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog #25

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog #25

Hello Everybody

It is so good to be back home.  We just got back from the International Quilt Festival/Long Beach in Long Beach, California.  It is so nice out there.  A little crowded but nice. It felt so good to get some sand between the toes.  We ran into some old friends and made so many new ones.  It seem that everywhere we go we meet so many new friends. It really is great. I will tell you more about that in a few days.

Right now, I want to let you know our schedule for the next little bit.  We are going to show off our new designs (be vendors) at the Quilt-A-Fair which will be held at Longmont, Colorado on September 21 and 22.  We had such a wonderful time there last year.  Next, we go to Des Moines, Iowa for the AQS Show on October 3, 4, 5, and 6. (first time for us)  After that, we will be in Houston for the International Quilt Festival/Houston on November 1, 2, 3 and 4. (oh yeah-party time)

Next year, we will help our friends in Jefferson Texas celebrate their 10th annual Quilt Show ’Quilts on the Bayou’ January 25, 26,and 27. Then we travel back up North for the AQS show in Lancaster Pennsylvania on March 13, 14, 15, and 16.  That is all I know for now.  I will let you know more when John tells me. 

Well for now ...I got to go ......enjoy life......ds

PS We are planning on doing a lot more traveling this year and I really do enjoy speaking at guilds and teaching workshops/classes.  I just might be in or at least close to your part of the world...Stay tuned to my blog or call/email for more information.

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 24



They say time flies when you are having fun...I must be having the time of my life. We just finished up the Country Living Fair in Austin, Texas. It was a great show for us, a few kinks to work out for Country Living, but that happens. Something always goes wrong. Especially on the first show. Vendors learn to go with the flow...even when the flow blows your booth over....yepper, it happened to us. Thank goodness our neighbors were there to help and we were able to prop it up before the show got under way...Fun times.....

We met a lot of nice people, met up with old friends and missed some friends that we lost. Barb from Hooked on Rugs passed away last year. She was a fixture at the Country Living Fairs as well as Quilt Market and Festival. She will be truly missed . We leave for Spring Quilt Market next week and I know that all of the rest of her friends from the quilting world will miss her as well.

We will spend a day at the Rabbit’s Lair in Rogers, Arkansas on our way to Quilt Market. We will be there all day on Tuesday the 16th of May. I am not exactly sure what they have in mind so check their website www.therabbitslair.com or call 479 636 3385.

It will be good to see Mary Elizabeth and see what she has new. She has the best supply of wool that I have seen in a shop and it is very hard to resist. I have a couple of new redwork designs I will be bringing, so you can see them in person. We have been so busy we haven’t had a chance to put them on the website yet....

It will be a busy summer for us. June will find us at the NQA show in Columbus, Ohio www.nqaquilts.org/ and The Common Threads Quilt Show in Wichita, Kansas www.pqgks.com . John said maybe to Long Beach, California in July...and for sure to Colorado in Sept and Iowa in October....More about those when I know..

Well....I have lots of fun to go before I leave next week, so as always..........enjoy life

dolores Storm

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 23

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 23

We are Back. Yes, we have been home for a few days. Just “catching up” feels great. It sure does feel really good to sleep in my own bed. I just have such a hard time sleeping anywhere else. Everything is so pretty and green, except for those wonderful bluebonnets.  John got up close and personal with this one.

We met so many nice people at the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I would like to thank the AQS staff, especially Laurie and Bonnie, and all of you who came by the booth, for your support.

John has finally completed our schedule for the near future at least.  Still a few holes which he is going to try and fill.

Next up is the  Country Living Fair in Austin, Texas April 27-28-29.  It should be really good. The folks at Stella Shows (the producers) always do a bang up job.  Here is a picture of one of their advertisements.

 And, here is a link to their website  www.stellasshows.com   Anyway, it would be a great time to come visit our fair city.(We live just a Texas hop and skip -70 miles up the road).  I think that most of the show is inside in case it gets too hot/cold/wet/windy.  You never know in Texas.  As always there
are a lot of things to do in Austin.  It is after all, the self proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World”  It seems like John is always sneaking off with one or more of our children to catch some band that I have never heard of.....  It does seem like he really enjoys it.

Then I guess it is “Kansas City Here I Come” for Wholesale Market (May 17-18-19-20). Oh, I nearly forgot, we are going to drop back by the Rabbits Lair , in Rogers Arkansas on May 15 for some more classes with our good friend Mary Elizabeth Schopp.  You can contact her at   www.therabbitslair.com  Sounds like fun and games for all.

June will be a very busy month for me.  We will be at the NQS Quilt Show in Columbus, Ohio on June 14-15-16.  Then we swing by the Common Threads Quilt Show at Witchita, Kansas on June 21-22-23.  I will post some links to them on my next blog. 

John is working on other dates for the rest of the year/next year.  I know that he wants to go all over the lower 48.  He said something about California and Iowa.  I overheard him talking to someone about getting passports (Canada, Alaska?)  I guess that he will tell me when I need to know.

Oh, I better get back to work (I hate it when he cracks that whip)... so I will say good bye for now and as always....
Enjoy Life
dolores Storm

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog 22

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Volume 22

Greetings from Lancaster Pennsylvania

The weather is great and the AQS Quilt Show has been FANTASTIC !!!!

But, that was today. Yesterday we went antiquing. I found some vintage lace and ticking. We were just about ready to call it a day when this old quilt top just wouldn’t leave my hand.     Yeah...yeah...yeah

Oh, and John found some HQV. I kept hearing him use that term with our oldest son and finally he let it slip out (high quality vinyl). Yes, they collect old record albums. I don’t know what he found but he was pretty excited.

Then, on the way to this great Amish Restaurant we saw this man plowing a field. John said that he was actualy sowing something. I don’t know, but I do know that we don’t do it that way in Texas, so I took a picture.

Oh, and here is a picture of our booth.

Well, John says that we have to go, so....

as always....enjoy life

dolores Storm