Vintage Collage & Quilts

Flip Flop Warning

Not that I wear flip flops but if I did, No flip flops for me from this store.   Yikes!  Graphic & icky.  Just an FYI. 

Friends

It's been a busy & fun week.  Saturday I went to Connie's house (CGS) for some artsy time. I did take many pics at Connie's but they are saved & hiding for now.  More on that surprise later.

  Yesterday Pam came over to my house for some shopping & a gabfest .  We went antiquing & a few other places including a nice drive in the rural parts of Oakley & Brentwood.  We realized on our way back that we hadn't taken a single picture so I snapped some of the scenery just so you wouldn't be disappointed. 

Next week I will be getting into mischief with Shirley. 

Organization Ideas:

I ran across this fun blog that had some wonderful tips on sewing room/studio organization.  Hop on over & check the right hand column. Sewing Room Organization Challenge. 

Sewing Room Makeover

My cutting board & tables were so overloaded with "stuff" there was no room to work.  I'd been eyeballing this bookcase at Target for a while now & finally brought it home with me.  Now that it is full of my nick nacks I actually have room to work.  I don't know how long that will last but for now - YEAH!  The bookcase is an off white color called Sour Cream.  My husband & I assembled it & I put the drawer together & it actually opens & closes!

Now I'm wanting more pieces to replace my nicked up maple childhood dressers : )  We smashed up the big cardboard box that this came in & crammed it into the garbage can & guess what I did - forgot to put the can out on garbage pick up day!  Don't you hate it when that happens. 

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I have some things to sell now to make more room for myself.  I have just added some stuffed Scottie Dogs to my Etsy store which were samples for one of my patterns.

Cupcake Quilt Kits

Robin from Paris Bebe is now carrying my Cupcake quilt pattern & has made up kits for sale.  Here is a peek at the one she made & fabrics in the kit.  She also has a  fun blog!

Winter Fun Fest Slide Show

We just came back from 4 days playing in the snow near Grass Valley.  We went with a group of 4 wheeling friends.  Here is a little slide show of our weekend.  The red jeep is ours.  I know.  I'm crazy.  But ... this is what I do for my honey bun : )   Now going on the motorcycle is a whole different thing - no way!  Can you hear me screaming while my husband tries to go up that hill. I stay in the car as much as possible with the heater on & reading a book. 

Our friend Corey (white jeep) slid into a deep drainage ditch next to the road.  All that cushy snow made for an easy tow out with no damage.  He was drinking Hot Damn so he wasn't all that concerned.  Kellie (gold jeep) enjoyed some herself.  We plan to blackmail her with that picture. 

Self Publishing Fun

Not too long ago I was talking to a blog friend who was thinking of self publishing her own book.  I looked up the sites she told me about & it looked fun & easy.  Then my husband's doctor told us about a couple of books he self published of photography through Blurb (crazy name).  I played around with doing a book myself about my collectibles & treasures quilts, etc. (This is what a person does when they are home for a week with the flu)

What the heck, I published it yesterday!  You can preview the first 15 pages by clicking on the book on the sidebar or clicking  here.  The book is 64 pages with 297 color photos.
 

If you want to try it yourself just go to http://www.blurb.com  & download  the free  Booksmart software.  You can even make a book of your blog or your Flickr account : )   

Here is another person's view of publishing his book with blurb.  And another on a few self publishing companies. There are plenty of other self publishing companies out there & they each have their own pros & cons.

Okay, my secret bloggy friend, you know who you are, you are next. 

Blogorama Day

Yesterday Pam & I had our belated Xmas gift exchange.  We tried to get together before Xmas but it wasn't to be.  First she had a cold, then I had a cold but we finally got together.  I went to IBS where she was working & it was like a regular blog fest because other quilt bloggers came the same day.  Of course we all had to grab out camera for a photo op.

Starting from left is our friend Elizabeth , then Kate, Nicole , Andrea  and Pam.  It was so nice to meet the new ladies.  By the way, it is Elizabeth's birthday so hop on over to wish her a Happy Day.   

While there with camera out I took a few more quilty pics. 

Class samples

Yum, Fig Tree fabrics

 

A plethora of purse pattern samples

Fat Quarter Heaven

My cupcake quilt on display

Christmas items on sale

Valentines Day is right around the corner

Elizabeth's cute pillow & quilt

An adorable pillow pattern by Crabapple Hill