Running time: 00:33:55 Size: 11.8MB

Hi to the Sierra Quilt Guild of Tuolumne County members! Ooops -- I'm sorry to have said "Tuolumne Guild"!

Here are Emily and Rich Hinkel.

Emily is a QS listener and friend. They own the Fireside Pizza Company (sorry -- I messed that name up too -- it's not "Firestone") at Squaw Valley, CA. The Firestone is Zagat rated.

Agendas for the week...
Monday: meeting for lunch at Archibald's (mmmmm good, by the way!)

Pictured from left to right: Nique Love, Annie, Karen Anderson, Lauri Drean, Valerie Burton and Kim Merrill.

Pine Needles at Gardner Village located at West Jordan, Utah.
Quilt Haven
Nielsen's Frozen Custard (where it's sometimes more important to have a treat and talk than shop for fabric -- could that really be?!)

Tuesday:
Utah Quilter's Picnic at Liberty Park -- just look at the fun we had!

left to right: Renae Haddadin, Julie Popa's mom (and Diana McClun's cousin -- for real!), Jaclyn Popa, Charlotte Warr Andersen, Karen Anderson, Julie's son, Jenny Wilding Cardon with Jack, Julie's daughter, Carol Adams, Julie Popa, Emily Bailey, Connie Cawley, Valerie Burton, me, and Stacy Anderson with baby.

Here's a little gallery of quilts shared by our friends:

Renae's website is RenaeQuilts

This is a small sample of Charlotte's incredible hand applique, but did you know that she makes other beautiful quilts like this?

Charlotte's website is Charlotte Warr Andersen

Julie's website is Sunflower Hill Designs

Jenny, with help from son, Jack, showing the magazine that has another of her quilts in it -- lucky girl!

and this is the cover girl "Fuzz Ball"
Jenny's blog is WildCard quilts

Carol and Connie's pattern company is Two Peas in a Pod. Their patterns are sold at Pine Needles, Material Girls, and Quilter's Haven to name a few. The shops' online websites offer their patterns for sale.

Emily Bailey's pattern company is Aunt Em.

Valerie Burton's website is Cookie's Creations

Paul and Stacy Anderson's shop, Threads of Time can be found at 158 W. Parish Lane
Centerville, Utah 84014 and Paul's quilt designs are "Uncle Paul's"

Wednesday:
Utah Valley Quilt Guild lecture

and a trip to Quilts, Quilts, Quilts, Etc. -- Sandy, Utah's magnificent quilt shop can be found at
11 East Main
Sandy, Utah 84070
801-255-2666

Thursday:
a visit with Brad, Nauvoo Quilt Festival – send your quilts! – come and visit!

interview with Renae -- here's a sneak peek photo:

Friday:
workshop at Material Girls in South Jordan. Here is a little peek into the Exploring Fabric Choices workshop:

Playing with fabric swatches and the first of a series of paste-ups.

Quilting Stash listeners: Elena, Kim, Valerie, Theresa, Cindy and JoAnn came to take the class. It's SO fun to meet listeners!!!

Elena's "ugly" fabric block is anything but ugly. What a nice surprise!

Chooding ten fabrics for a new Exploring Fabric Choices quilt at Material Girls.

dinner with Barbara Jones at the Sego Lily Cafe in Bountiful.

Saturday:
picking up Robin, Family History center, a quick trip into Broadbent's – the oldest family-owned department store in the USA -- that is mostly a quilt shop.

SLC with Shailee, Robin's new friend from EFY. Here's a picture of them cooling their heels at Haagen Das at the Gateway...

All in all, it was a great trip because I found these cool things:

New Fabrics
Lori Holt’s patterns
New shops that I hadn’t visited yet

Riley’s – my vote the best chocolate peanut butter milkshake I have ever had Riley's Sandwich & Shake Shop 8133 S Redwood Rd 801.566.4855
The Italian Place – best cheesesteak
Parson’s bakery – best brownies Parsons Bakery. 801-298-3059. 535 W 2600 S, Bountiful, Utah. In the same shopping center as Quilter's Haven. Don't we quilters always find the best place for treats in our travels?

More souvenirs from my trip, photos of things that will inspire future applique designs, found in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building:

C J Banks online catalog

Coming up: interviews with Jenny Wilding Cardon, Valerie Burton, Renae Haddadin, and Barbara Jones. Stick around!

Robin and I are packing up the car with his youth conference bag and a huge bundle of quilts for lectures and workshops that will be held in Utah next week.

I really wanted to do a "little" podcast (have I ever been able to do a "little" podcast??) before I left, but there are just too many loose ends I need to get done before I can fire up the microphone.

I do have a long list of podcast material to collect while I'm on my trip. I don't want to tell you quite yet what I will be doing, but one event includes a quilter's picnic, good food, pictures and my iRiver (mobile podcast recorder).

If WebGuy is handy and technology holds together, I'll do something special for your listening pleasure from the road.

Stay tuned... I won't be gone long!

Running time: 00:42:46 Size: 14.8MB

Hi Quilters,

This week has been incredibly busy for me. We finished moving into our new digs earlier last week and now the dreaded unpacking. Currently, I'm in Sonora, California, the Gold Rush Country, presenting a lecture and a two-day workshop.

I thank everyone for their patience. The newsletter is late and I owe you a podcast.

Here's the podcast.

I proudly present to your the Quilting Stash Quilt Market report with listener Phyllis Barnett. Below is the list of links covered in our show this week. Pictures will come shortly.
Creative Textile Zone

Francesca's Creations. Loganville. GA -- no link

The Quilt Company Patterns

SweetWater Scrapbooks (Quilts too!)

Susan Cleveland - Piping Hot Curves and Piping Trimming Tool

Barbara Trombley - Art Glitter

Dianne Springer - Quilt In A Cup

Laurel Anderson - Quilt Designer

Block Butler - Repositional Design Wall

Vanilla House Designs

Judy Niemeyer Quilting

Exclusively Quilters (Classic Cottons)

Robin Kingsley and her sister Tina - BirdBrain Designs

©2008 Annie Smith and SimpleArts

Recently, Annie's Quilting Stash has come under attack by people outside of the quilting community maliciously (and automatically) posting random comments or promoting commercial services to our blog.

Because we don't want to expose you to these often terrible promotions, we are turning comments OFF on all of our current postings. This has been a tough decision for us but with the amount and frequency of the recent spam attacks to our site, we are forced to take this action.

Many of you bloggers have suggested ways to prevent spam on blogs including using a CAPTCHA tool to our blog entry system. Thanks for your suggestions. We are looking into many possible methods (including CAPTCHA) to reduce or remove spam in our blogs so we can turn commenting back on again.

In the meantime,

You may still enter the drawing for the book by sending Annie an email.

Apologies for the inconvenience!

Running time: 00:52:18 Size: 18.1MB

Interview with Terri Thayer, author of

"Wild Goose Chase", a Quilting mystery so good that you'll enjoy the rollercoaster ride of intrigue. It was so much fun to talk with Terri, who is a San Jose native.

Terri's new book, due out in September: Stamped Out. I can hardly wait!

Visit Terri's website for more information about Terri, her books and her blog.

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win Terri's book, Wild Goose Chase! The drawing will happen on June 5th!

© 2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

Quilting Stash - Program 123, Reading about Quilts

Running time: 01:10:05 Size: 24.1MB

I love to read. I love to get into the world that I'm reading about, only to be surprised when someone speaks to me and I wake up "out of the book" to find that I'm still sitting on my living room sofa. I love to drink deeply from the written word, to get intimate with the people and situations in each story.
(WebGuy's Note: Annie's family is happy when she is done "drinking", finishes her book, and rejoins our family. Annie is known to stay up until 4:00 in the morning finishing a book with which she is obsessed -- Annie then has to "catch-up" on her sleep.)

The books I will share in this program:

Robin's book -

"Twilight" New York Bestseller, written by Stephenie Meyer. I have to blame Sandi Henderson, of Portabello Pixie who shared the trailer for the upcoming movie on her blog before she left for Spring Market. ; )
Here's a link to the trailer:
Twilight Trailer
So if you get sucked in to the books, don't say I didn't warn you! Just don't do it if you have a deadline.

To visit author Stephenie Meyer's website, go to Stephenie Meyer.com.

Another great book that I had to read TWICE (and back-to-back even) is featured in this podcast, "The Girl Who Stopped Swimming" by Joshilyn Jackson.

I had the pleasure of interviewing author, Joshilyn and the Art Quilter who inspired her character "Laurel", Pamela Allen.
It was so much fun to talk with these influential ladies, Joshilyn from Georgia and Pamela from Canada, on the phone. Did I mention lately that I LOVE technology?!

Have fun listening to the interview, then come back here to the links for Joshilyn's and Pamela's websites -- and to leave a comment for the opportunity to win a copy of the book.

Joshilyn's website is Joshilyn Jackson.com.
Pamela's is Pamelart.
On Pamela's website, you will be able to see the quilt that Joshilyn commissioned her to make for the book and her "Two Sisters..." quilt that we discussed in the interview.

Coming up very soon... an interview with Terri Thayer, author of the runaway hit, "Wild Goose Chase".

Also, stay tuned for a Spring Quilt Market review with Quilting Stash listener (and friend), Phyllis Barnett!

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win my copy of "The Girl Who Stopped Swimming". I will draw the winner on May 25th!

©2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

Running time: 01:07:03 Size: 23.2MB

Here is the Quilt Border that inspired the new look of the SimpleArts website.
I designed it in 2002 to use in a tribute quilt for my maternal "Gran", Gertude Cantell Smith.

Here's my favorite picture of Gran, as a young girl graduating from grammar school. The 8th grade was as far as she would go, as her father thought it was a waste of time for a girl to get a high school education. That was a luxury only his two sons would get. His daughters all started work in the local cannery to help support the family income. I love my great-grandfather dearly, but I will never understand the logic behind his decision that made a huge impact on the rest of my Gran's life...

A picture with Alex and Ricky on The Quilt Show. Wow.
Picture courtesy of PhotoMan, Gregory Case, 2007.

Daughter, Kirsten is talking embroidery in this show! Check-out her blog Funky Charming to see the links that she spoke about.

My son, Robin plays on today's anniversary show.
What's he doing with his quilting skills? Listen to the podcast and learn!

If you have a MySpace account, click HERE to listen to some songs by the band he's in and see more pictures of the young Turk.

Quilt pattern in the linoleum at our local hospital:

I'm going to make this some time soon. Guy says it looks like someone is playing with Exploring Fabric Choices.

Thank SO much for listening -- Quilting Stash is only here because you listen!

©2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

Running time: 00:28:30 Size: 13.2MB

Sorry about the lack of audio fidelity in this show. I was using a portable digital recorder with a built-in mic and it doesn't sound as good as my home equipment.

Find out what I do when I am absolutely stuck in the driver seat of a company van... not just sleeping, I can assure you.
I tried every way I could think of to bring along a rotary cutter and mat, and a sewing machine -- but no dice! The only things that I can productively work on involve no work surfaces or electrical outlets, so I have to be creative.

This is what I have been doing this last week, as explained in my podcast:

1. Well, recording a podcast, of course!
2. Here is what fits in between the seats, which is not much:

3. Designing quilts, Baltimore Medallion (based on West of Baltimore quilt patterns):

Oh! But I need a better vase, and voila -- here it is at the next stop:

4. Designing a quilt for new fabrics, "Dotty Pickle Dish"... pretty, but you'd have to be kind-of dotty yourself to want to applique all of those little dots on, eh?

5. Designing Exploring Fabric Choices blocks on-the-go, and here is what the quilt will look like:

"Low Tide" made with Marcus Brothers' Surf and Sand fabrics, all done in low-value-contrast. This quilt will be on display at Material Girls in South Jordan, Utah very soon.

6. Designing 54/40 for Fight blocks for a different Exploring Fabric Choices sampler:

I want your feedback as to whether or not you can see the design of the block clearly, which should be a star. Comment and let me know!
As you can see in the pictures, there is precious little room to take photos, and I have to use every available source to secure the block so I can fit it in the view finder.

7. Here is the hand work project that I have been working on, my Japanese "fabric" that I am making for a new backpack pattern. I appliqued the hexagons and am now embroidering little x's to quilt the fabric to the batting to provide stability. I'm using DMC Linen embroidery floss, a little tricky to work with, but I think it has a nice effect.

8. The cover of Cindy Lammon's book that will be out in May:

The correct title is "Gathered From The Garden" -- not the title that I said... Doesn't it look like a great book?!

9. Observing the wild life...

10. Lastly, the containers that I found at Borders for my new sewing kit and floss/notion box:

Out of this world cute, isn't it? I can't wait to line it with cool fabric and start using it. If you're wondering why on earth I would choose something with that design on it: It's because those little drawings look like characters on Japanese trinkets -- you know, kind-of like Hello Kitty? Quirky, I know, but I LOVE quirk!

Wish me luck for this week, where I'll be doing a lot of the same!

Happy Quilting to you -- who can do it in the privacy of your own homes ; )

©2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

I have been unable to view my email for 4 days... You know, I love technology -- most days. Some days, not so much.

It appears that every email I reply to does not appear in your email inbox - thanks to my host, Comcast... who has marked my simplearts email address as a Spammer, so therefore, even if I am replying to an email that was sent to me, they won't even try to deliver it.

So, if you're expecting a reply from me -- I will get it to you asap. I promise.

When I finally got to see my email today, thanks to another Comcast glitsch, I had over 1,000 emails in my Inbox. Ok, so don't think that it's all fan mail -- I am the lucky recipient of every watch, purse, software and sex-aid scam known on the planet.

I have a new podcast planned -- and it's a good one. I will explain all of the details in the podcast, but to give you a headline, I am helping a friend out with her maid service business and came home today so exhausted that I can't see straight enough to sew! And, the podcast has to do with my adventures of the last two days -- and how I could possibly fit quilting into that scenario, along with 5 maids who don't speak a lick of English. It's been fun, I can tell you ; )

I'll be back in two shakes of a fluffy lamb's tail!

Annie

Running time: 01:08:24 Size: 23.6MB

I hope that you will enjoy this interview with Mary Lou, the original Story Quilts quilter.

The pictures below are of the quilts that Mary Lou refers to, and you can visit her website at Mary Lou Quilt Designs to discover so much more about Mary Lou, and catch up with her via her blog Mary Lou and Cherries Too.

Mary Lou's fully beaded Christmas Quilt, a portrait of her family. This is the one that is fully beaded -- I wish you could see the detail. WOW!

"I feel like a Witch when I can't find time to Stitch" -- oh, how I can relate!

The House that Jack Built -- for Mary Lou's 6-year-old grandson. It has everyone in it, including babies that are their way, via the stork and balloon delivery. What a clever cookie!

Check out Mary Lou's shoes at the top of the picture -- her cherry Vans.

Close-up view of the window detail:

Mary Lou and me, in front her classroom at Asilomar. I love the rustic rooms and arts-and-crafts-revival architecture, right on the beach.

Don't forget to leave a comment here if you would like to be in the drawing for a cool prize from Mary Lou. The drawing will be held on April 28th! Good luck!

And, as luck would have it, I got to spend some time with Quilting Stash listener, Diane Loomis and her sister Catherine. Diane is the one referred to in Diane Gaudynski's interview, and here is a picture of Diane and her quilt:

Isn't it gorgeous?! She used Kaufman "Radiance" fabric. I just love the colors that she chose and her machine quilting work is impeccable.
It was so much fun to meet Diane, and Catherine -- I LOVE to meet listeners and get to know them, since you know so much more about me than I know about YOU! Whenever I meet a listener, I feel like I have a new friend.

I'm looking forward to meeting YOU, too!!

One last note: here are the pictures of the projects that I'm working on, like a house on fire.

Here is a picture of all 12 of my new EFC quilt blocks taken apart...

Yep, my family thinks that I am certifiable. I need to make two quilts, one twelve block and one nine block quilt. I bought the first twelve together but didn't find everything I was looking for. Then, when I was visiting the Sacramento area, I found these fat quarters for the second quilt:

So now, I will cut these up and assimilate both stacks into two quilts- much more variety! Do we ever need an excuse?

Here is the new version of "Simple Hearts and Flowers", which was one of the quilts offered in the "Granny Chic" pattern. I hope you like it!

It uses all of the Lakehouse Dry Goods Cherry Baby fabric - so sweet and pretty.

Happy Quilting!

© 2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go .... to the Folsom Quilt and Fiber Guild for a couple of days.

I feel like I've been running a marathon for the last week -- all for good!

I recently posted the interview with Diane, podcast #119. That podcast is being downloaded in record numbers this week, thanks to YOU. I am so happy that you're enjoying it as much as I enjoyed speaking with Diane. If you aren't sure whether to download it, read some of the comments that listeners are leaving!

I recently completed an interview with Mary Lou Weidman. Yessirree, it will post next week.

I'm also getting my taxes done (which is equal to a root canal).

Rumor has it that I will be doing an interview with Penny Halgren this week, when I return from my trip...

When I get home, I'll have lots more for you, including the Quilting Stash Birthday podcast and an all-new April newsletter. Apologies for being tardy with the newsletter, see the above reasons.

Both the newsletter and Birthday podcast will be filled with Quilty-goodness, and a great new recipe.

Until then, Happy Quilting!

© 2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

Running time: 01:04:19 Size: 29.5MB

I hope that you'll enjoy this wonderful interview with Diane. She offers so much insight and inspiration to every quilter. Pay special attention to what Diane says, as there are tips and hints sprinkled throughout what she shares.

Visit Diane's website for complete information about her quilts, her schedule, and don't forget to visit Diane's Notebook.

Here's the link to Diane's Butternut Summer quilt that we talked about.

If you would like a chance to win an autographed copy of Diane's book, please leave a comment here. The winner will be chosen on April 15th!

When I went to visit Diane, I found my friend, Wendy Butler Berns was the Artist in Residence! What a nice surprise.

Here is Wendy, hard at work ; )

Can you see the similarity in these two pictures? This is a self-portrait that Wendy did as a challenge: a self-portrait portraying the artist as an animal... "Wendella B. Butterfly"

Stay tuned... more fun things around the corner this month, as we celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of Quilting Stash!!! Wow - does time FLY!!

©2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved