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 ; )

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!

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!

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!!