Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 40

Hello from the coolest spot on earth-the Lakadaisies Farm. A breezy 96 , the sun is shining, and rain is on the way-we hope. We are still in a bad drought.

First, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support. Without it I know I could have never flown to the heights I have acheived. We had a wonderful show at Paducah Kentucky. We saw some wonderful old houses, for sale, that I just loved. Also, the Dogwood trees were in bloom. I have been watching them "dance" in the forest through the car window as we speed along the highway. They look like tiny dancers to me-little small trees dancing, surrounded by the large trees of the forest. I got John to stop the car, a lot.....all day.... so I could take pictures. Here are a couple

 Yes, Paducah Kentucky I might just move there if it just wasn’t quite so far north(cold). We really enjoyed the hospitality. It seems to be the norm now-we meet so many nice new friends and we get to catch up with so many old ones. I love it. 

Our friend Hannah, the owner of Hannah’s Quilts is recovering from her stay in the hospital. She gave us quite a scare but she is recuperating OK now. She assures that-SHE IS BACK-OR RATHER-SHE NEVER LEFT. She and I are planning on doing a "retreat" this upcoming winter in Florida.

Anyway, John has finally finalized our schedule. We have decided to vend at the upcoming Minnesota Quilters' Show and Conference which will be held at St. Cloud this year. The show dates this year are June 12-14, 2014. Here is a link to their website www.mnquilt.org . From there we are going to Chicago again. The fine folks at Quilts Inc. are having a party and they are calling it The International Quilt Festival/Chicago. The show dates for it are June 19-21, 2014 and here is a link www.quilts.com . That pretty much takes care of June. Not sure about July and August, but I am hoping to get the remodels done. Then in September, we will be at shows in Austin, and Springfield Missouri, and Longmont Colorado. I will let you know more when I know more.

Oh, and he has decided to remodel our store. I wanted to move the building to our backyard and use it for "workshops". That sounded like too much work to him so he is planning on opening the shop on some weekends or by appointment. The shop is located on the Lakadaisies Farm so he can walk to work everyday. And l am going to remodel the garage for my "workshops". We are taking a small break after Chicago to get these things done.

Right now, we are working on raised beds in our garden. And landscaping beds in the yard. We are using rocks. They are heavy. They were given to us by John’s cousin, "thank you Tom" . I keep singing "breakng rocks in the hot sun" . Everything is lookng pretty good. Oh, how lucky can you get-it is raining. That is great-we need the rain and I get to goof off.

So, as always, enjoy life ds.

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog #39

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 39

Hello everyone from the farm.

I just get so caught up in everything. I am working on a new design and getting ready to go to Paducah, please do not lose patience with me. I know I promised more blogs, anyway... I will do a short one...because a promise is a promise.

The three shows we just did seem like a blur. John got sick on the way to Puyallup and I had to drive through LA. John was feeling good enough to navigate and we sailed right around. Driving through LA is one of my least favorite things and I am glad it is behind me. I got sick on the way home and didn’t even tell John to slow down once, in the mountains. Anyway, all the shows were so busy. We got to visit with so many old friends and made so many new ones. A big "Thank You" to all who have supported me through the years.

We got so far behind on orders from the three shows I kept looking for a place to hide, but Quinnie kept finding me. Now we are caught up-we just finished dyeing some wool for a lady in Washington. ...YES...all of the kits are shipped out-I even made a few extra for Paducah.

I haven’t had much time to think, but that did not keep me from churning out three new designs. Here is a picture of "Fireworks on the Fourth of July"

I started working on it right before Puyallup. Patterns and kits will be available at Paducah. I still have several designs in my head that I haven’t had time to get out. I will do something about that after Paducah. John is still screaming about the other new ones. I even talked him into doing kits for the last one. He hates it when I give him new ones right before a show. (such a good reason to do it and all the more fun for me)

And, I almost forgot to tell you about the latest edition of Quiltmania’s Simply Vintage magazine. The back cover looks pretty cool because it has one of my designs on it. Again, another big "Thank You" to Caroline and the whole staff at Quiltmania. Everybody is still talking about our "Catch a Falling Snowflake" design which recently graced the cover. I will have a few copies of both at Paducah.

Anyway, please join us at the AQS Quiltweek at Paducah, if you can. The show dates are Wed. April 23 through 26. Here is a link to their website; http://aqsshows.com/ . We will be in the "Bubble" or the pavilion and our booth numbers are 4305 & 7. I have several new designs, and lots of vintage and hand-dyed wool and ribbon.

I haven’t had a whole lot of "me" time lately, so I talked John into buying me some tomatoes and peppers and squash to plant. He had to help me as I have the brownest of brown thumbs. I can almost taste those vine ripened sun kissed tomatoes already..and I bought grey pumpkin seeds. John has promised to not cut the water off again like he did the last time. He claimed that my pumpkins were "taking over" his garden-such a prima donna.



Right now, I have to go--see you in Paducah.

just remember always---enjoy life-------- ds

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 38

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 38

Hello, I hope that the new year is a good one for all. I did not realize that it had been such a long time since I wrote a blog. I know I have made this promise before, but I really mean it this time and John said that he is ready to KMT(kick my tush).
                  I promise to write blogs more often.  

We just got back from Jefferson, Texas-it was fantastic. We felt so much love. Again, my hat goes off to the board of directors for the Jefferson Quilt Show. They do a whole lot of work and take on a lot of worry. Just because they love it.

Our quilt show buddies are in Phoenix, right between two shows, and we are at home fixing to watch the superbowl. I did get through with my new sampler coverlet, and here is a picture of it.

And, John made a trade with Ginny’s boyfriend, to do a new website. We are gonna make it real cool with neat wallpaper and pictures. The old one is open right now but we hope to have the new one done soon. Also, we are going to do a email newsletter. I heard John talk a customer into signing-up. He promised not to overwhelm her with a bunch of junk. You can sign -up now if you would like.

Well, he finally finalized our schedule-at least for the first part of the year. Next show for me is the 30th Anniversary of the Sewing and Stitchery Expo to be held at Puyallup, Washington. This year the show dates are Feb. 27, 28, Mar. 1, and 2. If you need more info, here is a link to their website: /https://www.sewexpo.com/ .We loved it there last year and can’t wait to get back. John really liked the way it smelled up there last year. I don’t know what he is talkng about.

Next, it is back to Texas for the Quilt Celebration 2014 - "Modern Quilts", which is put on by the Quilt Guild of Dallas. The show dates are March 7 – 9, and here is a link to their website:
http://www.quiltersguildofdallas.org/quiltcelebration2014/  .

Then I get a couple of weeks to catch my breath and then we go to Beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to join the fine folks there as A Mountain Quiltfest, celebrates it’s 20th year. The show dates are Mar. 19-22 and here is a link to their website
http://www.pigeonforgewinterfest.com/Pigeon-Forge-Winterfest-A-Mountain- Quiltfest

And, I am pretty sure that we will be at the American Quilt Society’s Quilt Week at Paducah, Kentucky 2014 April 23 – 26 for their 30th anniversary celebration. Here is a link to their website ; http://aqsshows.com/AQSPaducah/



Well, my finger is telling me to quit for a bit---so---just remember always---enjoy life--------ds

PS I had to stop and watch the game. I really like Peyton Manning but they got outplayed all over the field. Congratulations Seahawks...

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog #38

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 38

Hello. I hope that you and yours all had a Happy Thanksgiving. We certainly did. All of our children and a few friends were able to join us for a wonderful day. Our daughter, Ginny came early to help with the preparation and everyone else brought food/drinks/etc. We had the traditional Turkey. John smoked it for a little while and he said that if he had to fire up the pit, he was going to cook a brisket. Both turned out to be delicious.

I am trying to stay busy. My finger still hurts when I hit it on something. That only happens a few times a day. I don’t sit and do nothing very well, so I just started on a new coverlet.

Oh and, right before Turkeyday we got our copies of Quilt mania’s Simply Vintage. Our daughter, Ginny’s folded books are on the cover-just like we were told. She is still taking orders, so get yours in. We had three designs also featured. All of these are in the Winter 2013 edition of Simply Vintage.

I am still excited about being on the cover of Quilt mania, I meant to put a picture on the last blog, but I didn’t, so, here is a picture.

Also, here are a few pictures of my booth at Houston.

I thought John did a nice job-I only had to tell him what to do a million times.

Right now, he is working on our schedule for the next year. So far, he has us going to Jefferson, Texas for the 11th annual Jefferson Quilt Show "Quilts on the Bayou". I love this show and it will be held at the Cyprus Valley Education Center. The show dates are: January 24, 25 and 26 of 2014. Join us there if you can. He keeps mumbling something about Puyallup, Washington and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. And I am pretty sure that we will be at the Dallas Quilt Show in March. I will let you know more when I know.



Well, my finger is telling me to quit for a bit---so---just remember always--- enjoy life--------ds

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 37

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 37

Hello. First, I would like to thank everyone who came by my booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. We "caught up" with so many old friends and made so many new ones. It was so much fun and I am so tired.

It was a real roller coaster ride. We checked into our motel and I told John that he needed to be real careful in the shower as the floor was very slick. Well, I woke him up the next morning with a bang. Yes, I fell in the shower. Fortunately, I was able to "break" my fall with my hand. Of course, one of my fingers did not fare so well. It is broken and in a splint. John has been telling everyone that I will be out of commission for a couple of days(huh). That was the low spot of the ride. We still needed to set up the booth, so I left John to do his magic and went to check on my friends at the Quilt mania booth. I had already heard that my design "Catch a Falling Snowflake" was on display in their booth at Quilt Market and I wanted to see if they were ready to let me have it back. I was greeted by the owner/editor, Carol. She handed me a copy of her latest magazine. My design is gracing the cover. I was so excited I nearly forgot that I had just broke my finger. She said that the staff voted on it and everybody just loved my design. It seems that it touches a lot of people. I am deeply touched and would like to thank Carol and the whole staff at Quilt mania and everyone else for the support. John went running around telling everybody that we made the cover of the Rolling Stone. He said something about wanting 5 copies.

Carol also picked out 5 more designs for future issues. And, she also told us that our daughter, Ginny’s folded books are on the cover of the latest issue of her  Simply vintage magazine.

Well, my finger is killing me--got to go---just remember always---enjoy life--- -----ds

PS: John made me promise to blog again soon and more often.

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 36

Hello everyone from the farm.  I missed telling you a few things on my last blog, and I apologize for that. I am inserting links for your convenience.

I would love to extend a "thank you" to all of you who came by our booth at the Quilt Expo in Madison  Wisconsin, and the American Quilters Society Quilt Show in Des Moines, Iowa.  They were both great shows and we love both cities.

We got to reconnect with so many old friends and make so many new ones. In Des Moines, we ate dinner at a local restaurant, and here is a picture of our friend, Sam Winover of Two Sisters Quilting,  "wrestling with our dinner" which was taken before we could enter the front door. We love to get a little bit of  local flavor when we can.

I would like to take my hat off to our friend, Jan Heddinger.  She  is still doing her Junk Jubilee thing in Des Moines.  It sounds like so much fun, that John is even thinking about going.  He doesn’t normally go North in the winter, so we will see. 

We really missed going to Longmont, Colorado, but we felt that they made the right choice when the Colorado Quilting Council cancelled the show.  It appeared that the flooding devastated the entire area.  Our hearts go out to all who have lost so much, not just in Colorado, but all over the world.

We are getting ready for the International Quilt Festival. It will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.  The show dates are October 31 through November 2.  Those in the know, will not miss the Special Pre-View Night on October 30.  Our booth number is 759.  Be sure and come by for a trick or a treat.  I have several new designs, as well as a lot of vintage and hand-dyed wool and ribbon.

So much has been happening. Quilt Mania Magazine emailed and wanted my design, #610 (Catch a Falling Snowflake) for their November/December magazine. And, they wanted two other designs and one of Ginny’s books for the Winter edition of their Simply Vintage magazine which is now available in English.
    
Right now, I have to go--see you in Houston. 

just remember always---enjoy life-------- ds

PS: It looks like I will be giving some classes after Houston and maybe a retreat or two.

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 35

Down on the Lakadaisies Farm Blog # 35

I must be having too much fun.  I failed to tell everyone that we were going to Grand Rapids, Michigan to show off at the AQS Quilt Show which was held on August 14-17.  Sorry about that.  Anyway, it is a beautiful city and it was a good show for us. We met so many nice people. 

I really have been busy.  I have been having trouble finding the “right” colors for my Wool Applique, so I started Hand Dyeing my wool.  It is hard work, but I just love seeing the colors come to life.  The Wool was a “hit” at Grand Rapids and I hope to have it available on the web site real soon.

John decided to “do” the Sew Original & Creative Expo.  It will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug.  30-Sept. 1.  He said that it would work real well to go from  there to the Quilt Expo 2013.  It will be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, Sept.  5-7.  I like that name.  Maybe I can get some more energy there.  Sometimes, I think that he is trying to kill me.  Well, they say that if it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger-lets hope.

I would love to meet and visit with you at either one or both of these shows.

Right now, I have to get busy...so.....

just remember always---enjoy life-------- ds