Running time: 00:32:36 Size: 15 MB

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? I didn’t, until Liz Hawkins, of LizzieBcre8ive, sent me an email about it — and I got an email full of pictures of the Utah Quilt Guild’s recent QuiltFest, featuring Valerie Burton’s drive for quilts and quilt blocks. They both came on the same day and I immediately knew what I needed to talk about for this podcast. In usual fashion, the message is best given to the Teacher by the Teacher. It’s been 5 years, at least, since I’ve had my last mammogram…

In this show, Valerie Burton shares her passion about easing cancer victims’ stuggles and makes us a little more aware of our need to annually step up to the mammogram plates.

Here are the pictures that Valerie sent to me from QuiltFest:

Proud Valerie in front of the blocks that will be made into Opportunity Quilts for next year

One of the Opportunity quilts. Utah quilters do a beautiful job!

Flamingos, waiting to be filled with tickets... clever!

Have you ever thought about turning a beautiful quilt block into a wall clock? Great idea!

The QuiltFest lobby greeted all comers with these challenge blocks.

Huntsman Cancer Institute is a state-of-the-art facility in Salt Lake City, Utah mentioned in the podcast. If I ever have cancer, this is the place I want to go to be taken care of.

And here is the link to the LizzieBcre8ive blog, where you can see and get all of the details for the Breast Cancer Awareness quilt that is on display in the King of Prussia Brighton store.

Here’s a sneak peek at what the quilt and quilting crew looks like:

You may have the opportunity to win this quilt for a cause! Wouldn’t you like to own this special quilt?

Now, if you haven’t had your “annual” yet this year, go make an appointment!!

©2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

WebGuy and I just celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary. What did we do for fun? A Cruise, a long weekend getaway? Nope! We went to the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville for the day. Oh, we lead such an exciting life!

We love going over to Watsonville for the Fair – a tradition for us ever since we’ve been married. Watsonville is my former home as a little girl, and I love Fall because of living in Watsonville. Apple orchards and strawberry fields were at the end of our street and we loved to play in them when we weren’t supposed to and got run off by a farmer with a shovel — scary!
Childhood memories are some of the strongest we have and that’s what takes me back to Watsonville each September:

Yummy just-picked apples for apple pie and cobbler. Mmmmmm good!

This year, we went to see the quilts and got a pleasant surprise… this quilt that won Best of Show:

Look familiar? It’s the West of Baltimore quilt made by one of my students, Pam Hicks!! Was I ever surprised and proud of Pam! Her quilt is beautiful and worthy of being awarded the Best of Show ribbon (see it in the bottom right corner of the quilt?). Congratulations, Pam!!

Here is a close-up of one block that Pam creatively used plush minkee in the block, giving it a cool shadowy effect.

We met up with Guy’s sister, Pat and her husband, Roger, and four of their granddaughters at the Fair. It was fun to hang out with the young’uns and tour the livestock pens, which included this gorgeous rooster:

Isn’t he a gorgeous specimen of a bird? The colors on this guy are amazing.

One of our favorite traditions at the Fair is stopping by the Cinnamon Roll car and indulging just once, each year.

Klaudia and Klaire (sisters) and cousin Rachel, (who is always a little camera shy) enjoying the Fair

And what did I find, always a little something to put in my photo archives for quilty inspiration… the sign for the Cinnamon Roll car provided a nice idea for applique!

Enjoying the little pleasures of life make life worth living. Traditions, made without conscious effort, make life rich.

Speaking of traditions, the semi-annual Quilt retreat to Cambria just one week later was fabulous. Half of the attendees were returning retreaters and the other half were brand-new and became immediate friends.

I have intended to bring you a new podcast with cool and fun things to ponder… I recorded the funniest story I’ve ever heard about acquiring a sewing machine, and when I went to edit for the show… it appears that my computer hard drive decided that it was full during the recording and just simply switched itself off without notifying me!! Horrors!!
So… a brief delay with podcast #135… while I collect the story again, for your listening pleasure. Soon, very soon!!

© 2008 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved