The Dozen Dazzling Delicious Desserts Blog-able Feast has reached its’ last posting with .Amanda’s blog. I loved hearing about her Runaway Quilting retreat. This has been such a fun project — I hope you have enjoyed it too.

Our venerable hostess with the most-estHolly Holderman has decided to sweeten the pot, as it were, and has decided to pick winners from comments added to her website. For all of the details, and to add a comment for a chance to win fabulous prizes, visit Holly’s website by clicking on her name above. The winners will receive a $25 gift certificate to Williams Sonoma, a pattern for the LakeHouse Dry Goods “Big Pocket Apron”, the LakeHouse fabric of your choice & rick rack embellishment (from Holly’s private stash) to make it — so you can really enjoy making any of the delectable desserts that were offered in our Blog-able Feast. What could be more fun than to win?!

So hurry and visit Holly’s site — the lucky winners will be chosen on October 5th. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my eNewsletter for a chance to win a LakeHouse Sweet Retreats kit, winners chosen on October 1st.

I just got my “Mom’s Apron Strings” quilt back from my most favorite machine quilter, Melodee, and it turned out to be just darling. All I have to do now is add the ruffled border and take some pretty pictures for the pattern cover. I will give you a sneak preview of it once the photos are taken.

I guess there is some confusion about whether I’m still going to do podcasts or not, now that I’m doing a regular blog… the answer is, How could I stop doing podcasts?! Of course I will!! I still have three interviews that need to be uploaded for upcoming shows and I’m doing productions notes for more new shows, and we’re going to begin taping Quilting Stash TV this weekend along with the advent of the all-new Talking ‘Stash eNewsletter.

Whew !! Lots to do! My aim is to bring you lots more fun and exciting quilting content on my website, not to diminish it in any way. We have lots of good changes in the works, and hope that you’ll enjoy seeing the changes unfold.

I always love to hear from you, so don’t hesitate to send me an email at annie@simplearts.com.

So, until next time, Happy Quilting!

I don’t know about you, but my favorite daily exercise is pushing myself away from the sewing machine long enough to stand at the ironing board for a minute to press that pesky seam allowance…

The older you get, the more you have to be aware of swelling ankles, not that I’m a day over 25 myself ; ) I found this out a few summers ago, when I was stitching a quilt top for my good friend Sue Nickels. The top is done using Sue’s brilliant method of machine applique and the entire design for “Jessi’s Holly Basket” is meticulously blanket-stitched in different colors of thread. All in all, it took twenty hours to complete over several days and a severely swollen left ankle (I use my right foot on the pedal).

As much as I love to sit at my sewing center and do anything having to do with quilting, I have to get up and keep the circulation flowing. With Quilt Market, new quilt samples, and new patterns ominously looming, I need to have my nose to the quilting grind stone. No time for even a diversionary old Jimmy Stewart movie to keep me company – I’ve got to work, work, work! I set up my sewing center in a U-shape so the ironing board is on my right and the cutting mat is on the left, with the machine in the middle to be as efficient as possible. I just forgot one thing — swelling ankles and tootsies.

Yesterday I spent six hours at the machine, and today, well, today isn’t over yet and it’s dinner time. WebGuy came in to see how I was coming along, and to show me the layout for my eNewsletter, that will premiere on October 1st (way cool, by the way!). Along with him came our little shadow, Piper, the fat quarter retriever — with her leash in her mouth and a come-hither look in her eyes.
She was so darn cute that I had to take her for a walk, and came back with a new appreciation for a little exercise. I think Piper’s out to save me from myself.

Not only was it hard to get the clog back on my right foot, but my blood sugar was up from too much sitting. A little walk around the block helped the swelling and brought my blood sugar down 30 points. I gotta remember that – especially when all I can think about is the next element to the quilt that I have to get done. So beginning tomorrow, my self-imposed Doctor’s orders will be to set a timer for one hour and will take princess Piper for a walk around the block, and repeat that as long as I am sitting at the sewing center. It’ll make her happy, and save my circulation. You know that old adage, “If your dog is overweight, you’re not walking enough.” It applies to circulation too, so don’t forget to take a break, especially with all of the holiday gift-making coming up.

So, until next time, Happy Quilting!

Quilting Stash Tones Down and SimpleArts Bulks Up

I’ve had requests from potential listeners who don’t have high-speed capability to somehow make the file size of our podcast smaller. I am listening to you! Today, beginning with Quilting Stash podcast #100, we are offering a program that is modem/dialup friendly. The only difference is that it’s not as high fidelity. You can decide which you want to listen to.

All you need to do is click on the correct Podcast icon, and voila!, the magic of podcast technology will stream onto your computer, or be downloadable to your MP3 player. Just scroll down to program 100 below. Cool, huh?

Also — people who don’t have high band-width capability (and just plain fans of the show) have requested the ability to purchase Quilting Stash shows on CD. For the first time, the SimpleArts store will offer three “Best of Quilting Stash” CD’s beginning on October 1st and will be announced along with the winners of the
LakeHouse Dry Goods’ Sweet Retreats kits. To have a chance to win, visit the SimpleArts store and register for the eNewsletter that will premier on the 1st as well.

SimpleArts will now “bulk up” with a blog in-between podcasts. I began with a blog when my website first saw the light of day, back in August 2004 (just eight months before Quiltng Stash was born!). Consider that all of my podcasts are done in a blog format already — it just makes sense to continue to do a blog.

With all of the program show notes, I add links and pictures and have recently been adding additional facts and fun info. I always find cool little things to offer that I’d like to add to a podcast that I sometimes forget by the time I do production notes, or don’t go with the particular show that I’m offering at that time. So, here I go, and I hope you’ll tune in to the blog as well as the podcast. I may even invite some friends to be guest contributors — any takers?

A subscription service for the blog (not just the podcast) will be available shortly, WebGuy is working on the details, and we’ll let you know as soon as we have all of the kinks worked out. Until then, just come back to the site for regular updates.

Remember, if you’d like to give me feedback, suggestions or make a comment, please send me an email to annie@simplearts.com . I have the comments disabled because of the avalanche of would-be retailers of “stuff” that we really don’t want to see ; )

And so, until next time — Happy Quilting!

Quilting Stash is brought to you by “West of Baltimore, Block of the Month” patterns, available at the SimpleArts Store, and in kit subscription through Keepsake Quilting.

Running time: 00:06:24 Size: 5.9MB

I was so happy when Holly called me and asked me to participate in the Blog-able Feast, especially one that begins with dessert first – my favorite motto. I’m thrilled to be counted among the dozen fabulous quilters that are sharing recipes and quilts.

I prefer chocolate, but I want to share my mom’s lemon cake recipe. It’s easy, refreshing, and a family favorite. My mom passed away two years ago and it is comforting for me to make and eat Mom’s cake. It holds many happy childhood memories for me. My mom was an excellent cook, and my sisters and I didn’t realize that our mom didn’t invent all of our favorite dishes herself, but rather used recipes from every available source. (I “inherited” the roasting pan that my mom made the cake in, as well as the meat fork she used to poke the holes.)

Joyce

Quilting Stash is brought to you by “West of Baltimore, Block of the Month” patterns, available at the SimpleArts Store, and in kit subscription through Keepsake Quilting.

Running time: 01:00:00 Size: 55.0MB

And For Our Modem/Dialup Users – A Smaller File!

Running time: 01:00:00 Size: 10.9MB

What could be more fitting than a visit with our quilt community’s ambassador, Alex Anderson, for the 100th show of Quilting Stash? I tell you, NOTHING. I hope that you will enjoy the show, and learn a little bit about Alex that you didn’t know previously.

Here’s a picture of Alex in her studio – which she designed herself, to have all of the functionality that she wanted.

Here are some similarities that Alex and I share:

Quilting Stash is brought to you by “West of Baltimore, Block of the Month” patterns, available at the SimpleArts Store, and in kit subscription through Keepsake Quilting.

Running time: 00:55:56 Size: 51.3MB

What a pleasure it was to interview Ricky. He is a great quilter, entertainer, and all-around great guy to hang out with.

Ricky, in his office at Tims’ Art Quilt Studio. Do you love the wall painting? I love petroglyphs and Ricky took trips to neighboring states to find designs for this wall — and so, yes, Ricky painted the wall. Isn’t it cool?!

Here is a picture of the TAQS, after just finishing the show tapings:

Visit Ricky’s website at Ricky Tims.com to check out everything you want to know about Ricky, especially his retreats in La Veta. You will also be able to see Ricky’s Reality Blog, where he gives you detailed instruction on how to do a Rhapsody quilt — which, by the way, has a giveaway at the end of it.

Ok, so if you haven’t visited The Quilt Show, what are you waiting for?!

This program is brought to you by “Rockets and Robots” original pattern created by Annie Smith, available at the SimpleArts Store.

Running time: 00:51:18 Size: 47MB

Holly’s pick for favorite restaurant:
Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles in NYC.
Megan’s pick for favorite restaurant:
Heritage Grill in Denville, NJ.
I didn’t have the chance to go to Les Halles on my trip, but Holly and I had dinner at the Heritage Grill. My rating: MMMM good!

We talk about the little girl pictures on the LakeHouse Dry Goods website, on the “About Us” page. Well, one good little girl picture deserves another, so here you go:

Me, on the left, and my little sis, Judie.

I hope you’ve enjoyed all of the wit and wisdom that Megan and Holly have to share. I can tell you, we had a great time!

Next up: an interview with Ricky Tims!!

Don’t be distressed if you can’t leave a comment on the blog. I have been slammed with SO many yucky comments from off-shore “merchants” that I decided to disable the comments feature. Send me an email instead. I’ll make sure to post as many of your comments as I can online.

Quilting Stash is brought to you by “West of Baltimore, Block of the Month” patterns, available at the SimpleArts Store, and in kit subscription through Keepsake Quilting.

Running time: 00:43:27 Size: 39.9MB

An interview with Holly Holderman of LakeHouse Dry Goods and quilt designer Megan Johnson, at Aardvark Quilt Shop.

Megan and Holly — what a great time I had talking “quilt biz” with them.

Visit Holly’s blog by clicking HERE

Visit Megan’s blog by clicking HERE

To find out what’s cool to eat while you’re traveling, use Holly’s tip to find restaurants at Roadfood.com

Find out more about gourmet editor-in-chief and acclaimed author, Ruth Reichl, foodie extraordinaire.

Check out this nifty blogsite, Little Cotton Rabbits, where Julie – a knitter – talks about living with an autistic son and knits the cutest darn rabbits with teeny clothing that you’ve ever seen!

Okay — so don’t forget to sign up for the contest to win a kit from LakeHouse! Register for the brand new eNewsletter from Annie – all entrants will go into the ‘Stash hopper to win the kits. Good luck!

Quilting Stash is brought to you by “West of Baltimore, Block of the Month” patterns, available at the SimpleArts Store, and in kit subscription through Keepsake Quilting.

Running time: 00:19:30 Size: 17.89MB

My family life just keeps getting in the way… but now giving me more time to quilt!

Working on some new designs — here is the quilt that I did on retreat:

Using my Mom’s aprons in a creative way, allows me to keep the apron intact and add other heirloom pieces to create a really special keepsake. The instructions
on how to make this quilt will be a part of the Mom’s Apron Strings pattern.

Mom