Instagram Junkie...and a peek at my travels

I'm ashamed to say...I've become addicted to Instagram and it has been sucking up all my 'computer' time.  I love posting photos to Instagram and getting the immediate joy of having people 'love' my photos right away.  I have pondered the blogging vs. Instagram craze lately and I see the benefit and excitement of both...but, it begs the question, "Is blogging losing it's 'coolness'?  In a time when our society wants everything 'right now', it seems that looking thru Instagram photos is much more appealing than reading a long blog post.  And I have to admit...I LOVE getting the feedback on Instragram from the notes people leave, whereas my blog rarely has any comments left by readers...not sure why...but, in any case, I'm having fun posting my photos over there.   BUT, I say all that to say...I will be better at blogging because I know there are still my dear friends (and mother-in-law) who like to see what I'm up to. ;)  Sorry I've been away for awhile.  My absence can also be blamed for the many out-of-state volleyball tournaments I've gone to lately for my daughter, who is a junior in high school, 6'3", and hoping to play in college.

One of the things I'm currently working on is a Modern Traditional Mini Quilt Challenge thru Timeless Treasure Fabrics and Dear Stella Fabrics.  Quilts are due at the end of the month and the photos below are just a little sneak peak at what I'm working on.  The quilts can only measure 20" x 20", and that is a challenge!

Choosing Fabric for the Challenge

Working on Blocks for Challenge

Blocks are finished!

My travels this last month took me to Spokane and I could not go there without visiting the Buggy Barn - one of the cutest quilt shops around these parts, with great customer service too!

The Buggy Barn, Rearden, Washington

I also got to shop at Mary Jane Butter's Farm store in Coeur d'alene, Idaho.  I have always love Mary's magazine and it was so fun to go see her products in person.  I picked some some recipe issues and her Budget Mix, which I'm excited to use.

Happy Tuesday!

Fabric Giveaway...Show and Tell Tuesday

I can't believe I have been blogging for three years.  I know everyone says this...but, I can't believe how fast time flies, and many say, as you get older it goes faster.  Ack! please no faster.

After three years of blogging...I asked myself 'what do I need to do to boost my blog, and make it more appealing to my readers' (hence, a light bulb moment)...have a giveaway. Yay!

I am giving away a fabric bundle called 'Beach Babes' from Timeless Treasures Fabrics and one of my bag patterns, The Aimee Bag.  In this bundle there is a total of 4 1/2 yards of fabric!

So here's how it will work.  I will randomly choose a winner on Monday June 24.  So be sure and enter and share this with a friend so they can enter too. 

There's three ways to enter.

1.  Become a "Member" of my blog by "Joining my Site" on the right side bar, and post a comment below telling me you are now a follower.
2.  Sign up to receive my new blog posts as an EMAIL, and post a comment below telling me you signed up.
3.  If you are already a member, or already get an email, then just post a comment below telling me why you would love to get this fabric and what you might make with it.

It's important to leave a comment, or I can't enter you into the drawing.

Please, don't forget...I need a way for me to contact you if you win.  Make sure when you leave a comment that I can contact you by email or if you're not sure you can email me your address.  Thank you! visit again on Monday to see if you have won.

International Quilt Market Portland 2013

I know you have been anxious and I'm finally prepared to share....Photos of Quilt Market! - International Quilt Market is a Trade Show for all things Quilting/Sewing/Fabric.  It happens twice a year and this year it was close to home for me so I jumped at the chance to go.

Wow, what an adventure from the first day of set-up to the very last day.  I've been reading a lot of other blogger's experience at Quilt Market and I have to say I feel I missed out on some of the action because there is just no way to fit it all in. 

In fact, I will link up with Diary of a Quilter and you can see some of the other fun stuff that went on at this wonderful show.  Honestly, it was hard to do everything there was to do there.  I took in what I could, but after setting up my booth and driving to Portland each day, I was so tired.  I just can't imagine how people felt who were travelling from all over the US and beyond...they must have been exhausted.

My husband and I had fun setting up my booth.  We even had time for a selfy portrait.

Here's my booth when we arrived...pretty bare.

Now it's looking a bit better...notice how I match so well with my booth...not planned!  I was the 'where's Waldo' of Quilt Market...LOL.

 

Just about all set-up and ready for the mob.

 Close-up of my bags.  The totes you see on the shelf have chalkboard vinyl on the fronts so you can write the name of the contents...sew fun.

 Last day of Market...

 

I am so thrilled to have had this opportunity to go to Market...I met so many wonderful people and made lots of connections with people I had been emailing...now I can put a face to the email.

 

Thank you, Timeless Treasures, who sponsored me and had my bags on their end booth display at Market (which I will post photos of soon).

 

Thank you, Alyssa, from Checker Distributors...you are the best.

 

Random thought...I know a lot of you follow Anna Maria Horner and she was due to have her baby soon, but there has been no postings on her blog for a month.  My prayers go out to her and her family in hopes that everything is okay.





Show and Tell Tuesday...Market Bound

The bags are made, the table coverings are done, patterns are folded and stuffed, flyers printed...phew, I think I'm ready for International Quilt Market!  Can't wait to Show and Tell about it next Tuesday.  Have a happy week and I'll be back here to report how everything went.

Thank you to my husband, family, and friends for your support, help, and encouragement while I prepped for this big event.  I could not have done it all without you.

If you are attending Quilt Market...be sure and stop and say Hi at my booth...I am also featured in the Timeless Treasures Booth, and the Checker Distributor Booth!

I'm in Booth #2143