MARY LOU and CHERRIES TOO

Color Cruising in the Bahamas is so Inspiring and Lovely

2012-02-19T22:26:00.001-08:00

What one sees when they travel to the Bahamas is the intense color of everything from fruit to water to clothing to buildings...it fills your senses and then there is the music and the food and the business of the locals trying to sell you crafts, drinks (mostly alcohol concoctions), fish, beautiful produce and rides in thier taxis and vans to show you the area.

In this blog today I have focused mainly on Aruba. I did not get off the ship there. I have been there before and that was enough. I thought it would be fun to take photos of the people looking as we pulled up to the dock at Aruba....I like looking at the poses of people and how they stand etc. This was on the 10th floor of the ship. The photo I have in this blog of the ship taken from far away was our ship when I was off of it one day. It is HUGE and beautiful. The food is excellent and plenty (no chance to get hungry) and your room is cleaned twice a day. Like royalty really...what more could you ask for? I was gone 11 days and I taught three days and did a demo one day of hoochy hearts -just the thing for Valentine's day! Many of the ladies were from the US but what fun to also meet ladies from Brazil, Canada, York England, and France. Everyone friendly and fun....no kidding EVERYONE.

Clouds and water change every other hour or so and the color and the shape and the waves and the shadows...all enchanting and lovely. Such a nice experience to be around the sun which shows off so many beautiful things! As an artist if I were to start over, I think I would go to the bahamas and paint.....so many lovely things to paint and see. For now I am happy working on a Bahamas quilt....

The ship provided a lovely atmosphere too, to enjoy the trip and safety. The captain was a young man with a wife there and a young child. He was Dutch and a lovely man who was very professional and very nice. Cruising is a lovely way to see the world and there are some deals out there if you search the internet.
Quiltcruises.com is the group I work with as I think it is the best when it comes to quilting cruises. The two girls who run it are fun and professional and very nice. There is a small shop on board that has things one would need to do their projects they are taking classes for.

In the end after any traveling experience, you have your memories. I have lovely memories thanks to the people I was with and the beauty of the area and nature under the sun. I recommend a trip to the Panama canal Cruise. It is lovely.

Mary Lou's FOLK ART FISH CLASS A HIT!

2012-02-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

The diningroom on the Zeiderdam Holland ship provided lots of color and laughs as we created folk art fish for fun! Quiltcruises.com created many happy people as we toured the bahamas and quilted....wonderful fun, friends, food and fabric!

What starts out as Chaos is going to be one COOL Quilt! Stay Tuned

2012-02-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

Plenty of Light Giver fabrics and fun stash favorites make for an exciting border or quilt! Can't wait to show you what I am working on.....

If you haven't seen the next post please read it is is FUN!
Riddle- What do you call a Middle Aged woman with Hula Hoop?
A Sprinkler.....

Take time to Ponder, think, LOOK, and act (as an artist-it's quite easy really....

2012-02-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

The wonderful red and white quilt is made for this month. I am not sure who did this as it was sent to me by a cousin who knew I would love it and I do. How inspiring!

The chicken is by Liz from the Washington State coast-she did a story quilt about canning and this chicken was a part of that quilt.

Everyone who knows me knows I love birds and flowers...one reason is that they are so easy to create in quilts and in simple ways...we all smile with birds and flowers

The sneakers were at Zappos online- I am so hooked on Zappos and usually order 3 or four pair of sneakers to last me a year...I sense my friend wish I had a "good" and "feminine" pair of shoes....I guess I am too old or too lazy....do those ballet shoes make your feet hurt? They look like it. Mel did give me some ballet slippers I love but I don't dance in them or teach in them or run through airports in them....

The photo of the three babes is Mel McFarland, Sandy Thompson and me at Road to California. Lots of fun to be together and enjoy the cow quilts and the beauty of the other lovely things hanging. We all met at Asilomar in the story quilt class and I am hoping YOU will consider taking a story quilt class somewhere to tell the world about YOU for many years to come. What are you leaving as a testiment to your life?

Road to California Great Creativity and Color-Jane Coserelli and her fab jackets and something funny and true!

2012-01-31T14:47:00.000-08:00

Thought I would share more photos of what I took at Road to California with you.
Below I also gave you a little thing about manicures to make you smile- it did me as everytime I walk into my place for a pedicure, they say "hello" and then a long sentence or two and then they all laugh.

Below is photos of Jane Coscarelli's jackets -but she wrote "The Tortilla Quilt" which is a wonderful book. She has such style and like me she LOVES color. This red jacket is fabulous in person! NOTE- Jane buys her jackets at the thrift store and then turns them into magic! I don't think I could find something like this where I live....need to find someone who can make a wool coat...if anyone does such a thing these days.

I have always admired Jane Coscarelli's style of quilting with everything she does-wool jackets, Day of the dead, Hispanic images- Here I took some photos of one of her wonderful jackets- you can see above the red one she wore...wonderful.

Cow Parade, Road to California and Creative Ideas for YOU

2012-01-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

I had to show you what someone can do with the Flower Power book and a little imagination! Isn't this wonderful? This lady was a lovely and fun student and she really was creative!

Wanted to show off my photo of me and my friends- me, De Tina and Mel -we had so much fun together- quilting friends are the best aren't they?

So at the Road to California show we had so much fun and here are the cow quilts from the show "cow parade" that Mel and I curated. The good news is there are other shows we will be doing and the new cow quilts keep coming! Wanna make a cow quilt? Buy the easy pattern and choose a theme- the pattern is in the book "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks"-buy it from me and get a fat quarter, a free chicken pattern and a pin. Marylouweidman.com

Want more photos from the show to be inspired by?
Go to my other blog which is "google "Mary Lou and whimsy too" GREAT stuff to inspire!

Images to Make You Think And Inspire Your Inner Artist

2012-01-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

The beautiful quilt above was made by Sue Cresse. My friend who I met while she took many classes at Asilomar and other places. She inspires me. This quilt won first place and it is covered with crystals and lovely details. Sue and her friend De got into a car crash in Sept, that nearly killed both of them. De broke her neck and Sue broke most of her ribs, her arm in many places, crushed her hand, punctered her lung etc. She is still healing. The loevly thing is she is planning new quilts and what she wants to make next! That has to be healing. Many of us have prayed for her and that her inner artist gets some rest and comes out raring to go!

This girl was photographed when I taught in Galveston last year...I think she would make a lovely quilt! BUT, she needs a bit more color.....

I have two new favorite subjects....farms and farm people and trees. I thought this photo was cool and the following one is a great beginning to your own Tree of Life

The photo to the left came from my files. I am cleaning them out bit by bit and I thought these were very cute and might inspire you to make something very fun! Don't copy it, do your own version.Stay tuned for quilt photos from Road to Calfornia. Please check out my other blog as well. Google "Mary Lou and Whimsy Too"

OHHH the Weather Outside Is Frightful, and Not at All Delightful,I've got Somewhere to GO, Stop the Snow Stop the Snow, Stop the Snow!

2012-01-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

So here I am in Washington State which is basically shut down. I called two business's in Seattle and also called the Washington Tax Commision and they said they are closed because of the snow....wow.
It has been coming down all day long and we are supposed to get between 2 or 3 feet this week. I am flying to LA tomorrow to attend Road to California and I need to get there for photos of quilts to show here! I am sure thwy will be impressed when I tell them this at the airport.

I am always looking and thinking and inventing in my head and my artist is out here so often, she almost never goes back in as I have TOO many good ideas. I have posted some fun photos here and want you to enjoy the artist "Mattie Lou O'Kelly" who did fabulous folk art and not that many people know of her. Since I am trying to get more and more people to do story quilts I like to show her work and give examples of how she tells so much in one painting. This could easily be done with fabric and embroidery which is my new passion....that and free form cutting!
I am teaching alot of longer workshops this year and I hope that you are one of the quilt artists I get to meet. This is such fun and there is so much to say about one's life. Hope these photos inspire you.

I added these two heart blocks to show you something I love to do. The one block has two hearts in it for my husband Mark and I . The other block has three hearts sewn in for my three wonderful children. You could make these kinds of heart blocks to show who and how many you love too! Simple ideas lead to great quilts!

The Costco Diet Plan-Thank you Wendy-I howled at this.....

2012-01-16T14:48:00.001-08:00

MY LAST TRIP TO COSTCO

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Jake, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had an elephant? So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff a poodle's ass and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Costco won't let me shop there anymore. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the World to think of crazy things to say. Forward this (especially) to all your retired friends...it will be their laugh for the day!

Here is another use for those heart Shaped Cookie cutters.....

2012-01-15T13:15:00.000-08:00

Thank you Carol, this was funny.

A Winter BLAH Day NEEDS Color and Happy Inspiration and HERE IT IS!

2012-01-11T14:51:00.001-08:00

I don't know what it is about New Mexico that thrills me so much but it does. I think it is the color and the mix of people-I have said this before, I have never seen such beautiful bone structure on people as I do there. And the color and the subject to create from is wonderful. I am ready to start a couple of large New Mexico quilts again. I am full of ideas and hope that these photos I have given you here of some tree of life sculptures jmight help lift your blahs into "aha!s" and "ahhh's." Color is so much fun to play with just watch me!

You know I would not want to ruin my sewing machine under any circumstances but when I saw the sewing machine here covered with buttons I had to stop myself for a minute and say "NO do not get that glue gun!" Isn't it wonderfully fun?

So, if you have the winter blah's, I hope I gave you a little something to laugh at and to ponder for new projects!

A Little Time and Timeless treasures Fabric Leads to a Sweet Memory Quilt

2012-01-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

This bird above is my new signature in my quilts...I have been putting him in everything-he makes me happy-he is my bird of happiness
After Market I received a box of Timeless Treasures Fabrics. It was especially welcome because they had wonderful colors and even more important the hand or feel of the fabric (cotton) was NOT whimpy as it has been with other companies. I felt the fabric and it had a nice solid feel to sew with. I started four projects immediately and am finishing up all of them this week. The quilt pictured here will look far different soon once it is quilted and bound and embellished...I cannot wait. I have already made changes to the faces of the girls here. It is such a sweet story about my daughter when she was five and her best friend and how they sat outside all day selling lemonade and how thrilled they were with "dollars!"-they looked very much alike and today they are in their 30's and still giggle when they are together just like before. A nice blessing-friendships that last.

It was fun taking some fabric from Timeless Treasures that was French for leaves and it made it far more interesting. The clouds in the sky are script and I love those clouds with the lights and darks of different fonts and play with black and white...I would LOVE a bolt of that stuff for backgrounds and faces and dresses and trees (colored with textile paint).
Don't you love the colors they provide with their tone on tones? SO much fun to work with! Wait until you see my flowers and cats!
I hope to meet you this year in one of my workshops as I travel. I have many new ideas and things to show you how to bring out your inner artist to play! YOU have some great stories to tell in quilts and I want to help and encourage you!

Feeling like creating? Check some ideas here!

2012-01-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

You know how sometimes you have a favorite subject to make? Well, I can't get enough of cats and birds and today my Granddaughter drew me a picture of a cat (which I left at her house) and I have been working on a little quilt from fabric from Timeless Treasures and cats are in it and French fabric is the leaves on the flowers and the clouds are alphabet fabric and you know, my artist came out about a week ago and she is letting me have so much fun! I am getting the border on tomorrow and then will share it once the rick rack is sewn on. This year I am going to have so much fun teaching you new tricks and how to think "artistically."
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Speaking of, the secret to art is below by Andy Warhol who I did many papers on in school. He was NOT a good friend but he was a very good artist. Maybe alot of famous artists are that way come to think of it.

I LOVE good photography and this photo below was sent to me by my friend Pam from Camerillo. Many of you know her as she is a fabulous quilter. She quilted many of the quilts in the new book that Mel and I did together. Anyway, isn't this photo beautiful?

You know when you are in the laundry room and you have socks that don't match? How's this for a great idea?

I took this photo of a quilt at one of the quilt shows (maybe Road to California I can't remember) but isn't it wonderful? I would love a quilt with many of these in it...I don't want to do it, I just want it. :0)

The cat quilt is one that I will be teaching on the Panama Cruise-you can get the pattern in the "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks" Book. Easy, fun and people love it!

Loved the peppers in different colors and this wonderful saying-I can relate though I shouldn't say that....

NEW YEARS INSPIRATIONS FOR YOUR INNER ARTIST-take it all in and CREATE!

2011-12-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

The wonderful dog quilt above was done in a Ruth McDowell class by Mel McFarland-five of us went to Kalispell Montana and took her class-Mel just finished this and I think it is wonderful! Spike is the dog's name.

The quilt above is by Mary Linfesty- she belonged to my swap group on Yahoogroups and we did BEES that time and she took the bees and mixed it up with darling flowers and a beed skep-all done Hoochy Mama method-she is a pro!

The quilt above is my feather tree with many birds and one sneaky cat! I love the cheddar background- it has long been mny favorite for backgrounds because it can be the compliment to many things...wonderful color!

Who doesn't love anything that Maxine says? I think she is so funny!

One year I took a teaching cruise to Mexico and Jamaica and Balize. I did this wool wallhanging of a bird and a pineapple and hung little doodads from Guatamola on it-I love it and don't think the camera caught the great color and effect.

This is a painting photo that someone sent me. Also this guy had this drawing he was doing and I kept it from a letter someone sent. I would love to try this but it might be tiring and what do you do with the drawing once it is done?
I thought it was wonderful but don't know whose it is. It has been in my files for awhile. I am erasing alot of "stuff" and want to share it before it is gone.

My cousin who does beadwork and some scrap booking too sent me the photo above and below. That is about as much as I know but like both of them, don't you?

I think the color and design in the painting here is wonderful....one of the thousands of things in my files....18.000 photos....I am trying to delete some of them so my computer doesn't crash. I can't help it, I love inspiration and design from talented people. Don't you. And how do you like the "UP" house? I have no idea what this is all about but I do know the movie "Up" thanks to my Grandkids and this part is obvious!

As many of you know, my five year old Granddaughter has adored bugs for three years...she just never gets over how much she loves bugs! My friend Laura who is the sister of Chrlotte (amny of you know them from Asilomar and also Florida) thought that it would be a nice gesture to make pillow cases out of this bug fabric. It is the cutest pillowcases I have ever seen and naturally this is what my Granddaughter wants to sleep on every night.....can you blame her?

Creativity Thrown at YOU to Set Up An Imaginative and Artful New Year!

2011-12-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

As we come into the New Year, These Things Could Help You Be Happy! At Least I Hope So

2011-12-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS

2011-12-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

I wish you the blessings of the day of Christmas and each day after that.
I appreciate your kind friendship and support of this blog and my other places I share. May you be deeply blessed and be a blessing in return.

THINGS TO INSPIRE YOU AND MAKE YOU THINK IN OTHER DIRECTIONS!

2011-12-21T17:22:00.001-08:00

Above, this is how I feel after eating for Thanksgiving and for Christmas....how about you? She is heavy but she is cute!

Here I am with Stasi and Tammy and their Mother who took my Asilomar workshop ten years in a row! Can you believe it? They have it down pretty good now, haha.

Here is Stasi, Tammy and Diane (the Mom) -they took my workshop at Asilomar for ten years straight thanks to their Dad who sent them all to be together and create-not much I could teach any of them now....NICE lloking girls..

FREDDY MORAN AND I WORKED ON THIS QUILT TOGETHER-both her Grandchildren and mine call us "Mimi" instead of Grandma......

Delicious Maja Toffee Recipe from Linda Milligan (of Possibilities) last year-IT is WONDERFUL

2011-12-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Linda Milligan December 20, 2010 at 2:25pm
Maja Toffee
Here it is Mary Lou,
It's called Maja Toffee-I'm not sure why.
2 cubes butter (I Use Land of Lakes slightly salted and then I don't add the pinch of salt)NOTE- a pound of butter comes in FOUR cubes in a package-this is what a cube means
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp Karo syrup
1 tbsp hot water
pinch of salt

Melt and stir (constantly) these ingredients together in a heavy pan. I use a wooden spoon, but I'm not sure if that is necessary or just me and my superstition. You also need to hold your tongue just right. ; )

Keep stirring until the mixture boils and starts to turn the color of brown sugar.(If the phone rings or someone wants you to do something for them do not answer them until you add the Hershey Bars--see below.) Take off heat and add 1 cup of diced almonds and stir quickly to mix. Dump mixture on cookie sheet that has been treated with Pam.

Spread as thin as possible. Lay 5 Hershey Bars on the top and spred as they melt. Sprinkle some more diced almonds on top or pulse some in a food processor to make finer crumbs. Let cool--usually overnight to allow the chocolate to harden correctly. Break into small pieces and enjoy!

Also, just so you know--if you give boxes of this away, you will be expected to every year for the rest of your life. ; )

A Mirror to End ALL Mirrors This Christmas and Next! And surprise that is so fun and creative!

2011-12-14T23:45:00.000-08:00

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So I have a friend named Sue Cresse who has a million and one ways to be creative and this is a mirror she made. It is so beautiful in person! Sue can take an idea and always make it tons better.
Do you know someone like her?
She bought a simple mirror at Home Goods and then transformed it into this with the help of a glue gun.
She said it is so heavy, you can hardly lift it to get it on the wall and they had to a real system in place to hold it. So cool!

I got his link from someone and I have spent hours goofing around with it and thinking about quilts made with some of the things I cut out....it is so much fun. It takes a little practice but is well worth it!
http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

Random Acts of Kindness Often Feels Better for the Giver than the Receiver

2011-12-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

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Above are photos I took in Switzerland of candy...lovely chocolate candy.
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So, today my husband stopped at the grocery store for milk on the way home from work.

As he was standing in line, he heard the clerk at another counter trying to tell some man he owed her more money.

My husband got out of line because clearly her noticed the man had some mental issues.

The man had put down a can of spam,something else and some loose tea bags from bulk and he gave her 75 cents.

She was trying to explain that he had to give her more money and he wasn't getting it.

So while everyone else stood there,

Mark took nine dollars out of his pocket and gave it to her.

My husband said it was all the cash he had on him and he thinks that it was still 75 cents short. He said he thinks the cashier gave him the extra 75 cents after she saw the nine dollars there.

The man came over and shook my husband's hand and thanked him and Mark said he obviously had no money, was dressed poorly and had problems.

He came home happy.

My husband said it made HIS day to help someone like that.

It is so cold outdoors and I feel badly for anyone who is walking with no car and maybe no home.
I am counting my blessings today as I cut up some really pretty Timeless Treasures fabric....how about you?

Understanding Art and the Artist and ON Being Kind

2011-12-11T21:54:00.000-08:00

You know, I saw this photo and I thought of how some people don't "get" story quilts and whimsy and it made me laugh.

When I was at Market, we were holding up a cow quilt in front of a group of gals and showing a pile of the different ones and everyone was smiling and commenting and a woman walked up and caught my eye and had a huge frown on her face and she looked sternly at the cow quilt and then back at me and she shook her head from side to side.
And then walked away.

Someone there asked me (later) if that hurt my feelings.

I said "first of all she doesn't "get it" and second of all I would not want to go to lunch with her." Here is the thing.

If you see a quilt or a piece of art, would you stand there and there and be rude and try to get that person to look at you so you could be hurtful or mean? If you would, then there is something deeply wrong.

Art is subjective and that is why some people love Rembrant and some people love Andy Wathol and some people love Grandma Moses. There is room for everything and honestly here is the other thing.

Story quilts have a point and you have to be willing to "think" about the piece just like they teach you in art school.

Your painting should have some kind of point (like the beauty) which could be something the person is doing, a person's gaze across the surface and you are carried across to see what THEY are looking at, a theme (did they carry it?), color etc.

I understand that if a person is deep into traditional quilts which I happen to LOVE and always have, then maybe they don't "get" the point of something that has the theme that one tries to carry across but honestly, why give someone a dirty look, shake your head or call me a "Mary Loonie?"

I got alot of mileage off of that even though it was meant to cut like a knife.

Eleanor Peace Bailey recited a poem once in Switzerland when I was there. I thought it would be boring (I am dumb sometimes I know) and it was fabulous.

The idea of the poem is that people judge you because you use bright crazy colors or do something that they deem weird when in effect God loves what you do because you are continuing His creativity.

And to that point

I remember a guy in church that used to beg to do solos and he was a terrible singer.

I commented on it to someone who was far wiser than I and they said "you hear a person who cannot sing but God hears the most beautiful volice ever because Paul sings it to please God and others.

She was right, he was the sweetest man and he was totally sincere.

As long as you are happy with your work and you work hard then it is the least others can do to be polite because maybe they don't know what you know.
Comments??

Funny from Esther-thanks Esther this made me Laugh

2011-12-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

A minister was coming to the close of his temperance sermon.
With great emphasis he said, 'If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

With even greater emphasis he said, 'And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said, 'And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

Sermon complete, he sat down.

The choir director then very nervously announced, while looking sideways at the minister, 'For our closing hymn, let us sing number 365,
'Shall We Gather at the River'

From My Cousin Lance Who Lives in Mozambque-Merry Christmas (I guess)

2011-12-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

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The cartoon above is from Kristi my girl cousin and her brother sent the joke below...they are both alot of fun, can't you tell?
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I would like to share with you all an experience that I recently had regarding drinking and driving.
As you would know, most of us have had brushes with the law on our way home before.
Well I for one have done something about it.....the other night I was out for dinner and a few drinks with some friends,
having had a few too many, and knowing full well I was struggling,I did something I've never done before. I took a bus
home. I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise as I have never driven a bus before.
=

Two Winning and Wonderful Quilts!

2011-12-05T20:51:00.001-08:00

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I am really excited to be able to share this photo of the quilt called "Coffee Cake Day." Mary who has become a lovely friend made this quilt about making loads of those beautiful yeast dough stollen style coffee cakes on December 11th for friends and family.

I first met Mary in beautiful West Virginia at the Cedar Lakes story quilt class. If you live anywhere close to West Virginia, please consider coming in April to join us while we make creative and fun memory quilts about our lives.

The State owned park is gorgeous with a super room with alot of light and the rooms are nice to stay in and it is just honestly a little like "heaven" as the song about West Virginia goes.

Then Mary came along to my Madeline Island workshop to continue and begin a new quilt.
Mary's artist comes out and does fabulous things but somehow she forgot she said in between the two classes how to keep her inner artist outside. :0)
Then she really went all out and made loads of wonderful things.

Look at the detail of this quilt and you will see the names of people that help and that they give to and other fun things.
I can't wait to see her next project. Mary is a fun, talented and great person. Hope she shows up again at one of the story quilt workshops along the way.
It is a delight to have fun and nice people take these workshops that tell a story about who you love and what you love.

By the way, Two wacky women are hosting a story quilt class with me next summer AUG. 9th through the 13th at a wonderful hotel with great food and classroom in Palm Desert,California.
We would love to get those numbers up and if you have seen the story quilts of mine at Roxanne's or anywhere you know I am doing all kinds of new things.
Please consider coming and enjoying this wonderful class.
And "yes" it is air conditioned.
I plan to going to Monica's quilt shop which I hear so much about too and hope you will go with me for fun!

This second quilt is quite wonderful to me because first it is by my friend Lynne Pennington from Texas who is so much fun and who I have known a long time from many many workshops and you can see her work in the Out of the Box book. She did her husband on a tractor with a martini and all kinds of things in the yard around him. It is wonderful.

But we got her involved in the cow parade and this was what she came up with which I love because it is the perfect quilt to hang this time of year.
I am not sure of the name but think it might be another Mooey Christmas quilt.

If you want to do your own cow with a cow, veal, dairy, Moo, heifer theme the easy pattern is in the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book.
It takes less than a day to do the cow and then you get to do all of the fun stuff to go along with your theme.
It is the perfect "bee" challenge for any group!
We will have seven of these quilts at Road to California in January and then more at the Minnesota Quilters show in June.
I know Mary and Lynne would love comments and I am going to surprise some nice girls who comment here and also commented in the past- stay tuned for a nice December give away to a nice group of friends.

Images Make Us Think "Creatively

2011-12-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

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Making a COW can be the ultimate creativity lesson for you! ASK the 30 people we know who have made them. The pattern is in the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book by Mary Lou Weidman and Mel McFarland. Mooey Christmas was one of the themes you might want to try too!

The large variety of my quilts and other people's quilts on the red were designed by Bonnie for a card showing when I was at Roxanne's quilt shop but it is such a delightful group of photos, I will keep showing it here and there...I love the color and the quilt images-so happy

Peggy Baldwin does it again!

2011-12-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

So, in the past couple of months, I taught my Christmas wreath to both Galveston Texas (where Peggy Lives and Minnesota Quilters. Such fun giving some creative ideas and showing my wreath and wondering once I leave what people will come up with. Mine is done with wool and cottons and some silk too.
This wreath is so Peggy and bright and happy and fun.
I love sharing these with others who don't get to take the class. Peggy always runs with any creative idea. Isn't this wonderful?

He Put Up the Lights and NO Complaints!

2011-11-29T14:49:00.001-08:00

So, how lovely was this day? My husband put up the lights with no complaints (we bought all new ones so he doesn't have to unwrap all of the old ones.....
and he put up the tree this morning and he is a happy camper. Glad the weather is mild enough and then when it snows the lights look beautiful. I am hoping for snow on the 24th of December and a nice melting January 1st. Stay tuned....

My Husband Didn't Do This But He Wishes He Had Thought Of It

2011-11-28T20:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is my husband's day off and he is going to put up the tree and I hear him grumbling under his breath.....I bought new outside lights at Costco and they are by the front door and I wonder if I will have to say anything like "hey, good, new lights, I was just wishing we had some of those...what do you think?
Just wondering if it is easier for you when you have a "honeydo" that needs doing.
I always say it is better to put them up now with no snow because once it snows, who wants to get up on a ladder or on the roof?
I used to have a wealthy friend who hired people to come and put up the lights and decorate the inside of her house....I envied that until I really thought about it and then I didn't envy it. It is in the doing (the journey) that we find the most value. I am hoping to get my Grandkids over to make paper chains this year...I always loved those and they go faster than stringing cranberries or popcorn. Ever do that? What a mess and it takes a long time.....I think I like more color and oomph to my tree also. What do you think???/

And Now It Begins.........

2011-11-25T09:37:00.000-08:00

My Gift to YOU for Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T23:54:00.000-08:00

Click on the link below for true blessings.

http://www.wimp.com/simplegratitude/

Give Thanks for Those Who Give So Much for Us

2011-11-22T22:36:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to say that I am thankful for our troops and hope that most of them can come home for Christmas.

Blessed to Be A Blessing...How About You?

2011-11-21T18:19:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to mention how very blessed most of us are and if you live in the US, 15% of all Americans are on food stamps and many people have lost their jobs and are depressed and sad this November. I would like to first of all say we all need a sense of gratitude for whatever gifts we have such as health, or being able to imagine, or having someone to love like family, friends or our pets, if your house is warm, if you have running water, food somewhere in your home, then please give thanks. I am giving to several food banks in three states because I know I am blessed to be a blessing. If you take stock of what you have then do something nice for someone and ask them to pass it along....if we all did that the world would be a much better place. I am taking the proceeds of my books this month and giving pajamas to the Mission as I often do...it is cold here already and as I drove home from Troy Montana today, the roads were icy and the snow was coming down as fast as my wipers could get it off the windshield. Wouldn't it be nice to know that what you gave which would not hurt you could make a huge difference for some little family or a widow or someone that needs help. This is Thanksgiving week here and I think the food would taste better knowing your helped make someone else's day better.

Count Your Many Blessings and Flower Power Fun From Mary Lou's book....

2011-11-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken the morning I left Montana. What you cannot tell from this photo is all of the snow coming down. I am taking a photo of my view of the Kootenai river from my room and you can't see it due to the snow and the cold. Brrr. It was a slow and tricky drive home (4 1/2 hours) but my goodness Montana is so beautiful in so many ways. I felt really blessed to be able to visit there this time of year and pick up a wreath as a memory. Color, stories and blocks for borders was the theme of the class and everyone there was nice, and fun and wonderful. Just what you want at the end of a workshop. And I will be back to enjoy the area and the girls who were there.

Colored fabrics and cutting excerecizes provided alot of chatter and excitment.

I was blessed to learn that the food bank here needed help and I can do something.
One in 6 Americans cannot provide enough food for their table. I think this is shocking. If you haven't donated to your local food bank, perhaps you would like to think about a donation (anything) to help this time of year. We are truly blessed to be a blessing. Take count of your many blessings today friend.

Images of quilts made from my books, patterns or workshops-I am thankful for the whimsy and color in all of these

2011-11-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

This final sample was made by Shaula Patton from my "Rejoice" pattern. Wonderful to have this time of year.

Roxanne's Quilt shop in Carpenteria a Great Experience (Notice the great COW quilts!)

2011-11-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

I had the best experience visiting Roxanne's quilt shop this week. Pam, Jackie and Joyce came to visit, pick up books and fabrics and laugh along with me about life.

This shop has so much color and excitement in it and you are just giddy thinking about quilt possibilities and color and stories and happy things....it is a hppy place. No down faces, cranky people or boring quilts....it is all positive, happy, color and nice things...I am thankful to be able to go there and visit. Roxanne is a very nice person who has great style. Such fun.

A Trip To Santa Barbara Quilter's Guild- Lovely Girls and Fun Quilts from past Asilomar classes

2011-11-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

Above, I just got this photo from my friend Pam Dransfelt who took this photo-Roxanne who owns a fabulous shop in Carpinteria is pictured second from the left and she has great style and fun and you can see by our faces, we are tickled pink! Now on to the Santa Barbara Quilt guild and their fun-if you live close you should join this fun guild.Jackie and Joyce are on the ends of our nice little group...very fun day with fun friends!

Above, the president of Santa Barbara Quilter's Guild holds up her Flower Power Block from Class-we had 22 lovely students...so fun and all so nice

I love it when I get to see the final quilts from one of my five day story quilt workshops. Here a former student named Linda Estrada (darling girl) and she did a story about the chocolate candy store she works at complete with the two owners and all of the joy this shop brings to people. Note it has a ribbon it and and won a prize which it should have as it is wonderful in every way. And, isn't she pretty? A lovely experience for me to have someone so cute, so nice and someone who loved to laugh. I believe she might have been friend's with my friend Linda Pederson.

It is always a lovely thing when a good friend shows up for a class and surprises me. Sandy, a friend from many years ago did just that this week and it was so nice to see her. Sandy and our friend Ginny took at least two and maybe three Asilomar workshops from me. Sandy brought her adorable quilts with her so I could see them again and I was so glad since we now use digital everything and I can keep the images much easier. Sandy and I share a love of God and family and it was so lovely to catch up with her and talk about our kids and Grandkids...as brief as it was.
I knew YOU would love her quilts as well. Who wouldn't? She has a fabulous color sense.

I am going to pick the winners of the fabric packets tomorrow and send them out-people who comment and are followers are in the running.
It is Thankful month and I encourage you to keep a simple journal and write down ten things daily that are a blessing to you no matter how simple. Do this daily and you begin to see ALL of the bounty of blessings that are in your life and you notice more and are a better artist. Today I am thankful for colorful cups, bracelets, colorful leaves, water, hands, laughter of children, story quilters who tell their lovely stories, hearing lovely music, paintings that are folk arty, sharp scissors to cut out images with, wool, my husband, my neighbor Connie, being able to walk, friends who make me laugh, a note from someone I can hold in my hand and keep, photos of colorful things.....
how about YOU?

Home from Beautiful MN and Finishing Up on Market Photos-PLUS fabric giveaway

2011-11-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

Mel and I show Cows from the Cow pattern in the book which has taken a life of it's own. We have loads and loads of cow quilts people have made and we are booked for a show at Road to California in January and also MN quilters in June. These cow quilts are addictive! We had so much fun showing the many cow quilts and chick quilts and coffee quilts we brought as a result of the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book! GREAT fun and a neat way to get quilter's to learn how to be creative with a starting point! We are holding up Susan Typpi's cow quilt...so great!

Below is Mary Lou and Mel and TWO Wacky Women who Mary Lou is teaching for next year-want to do a story quilt in a beautiful hotel with great hostess's, good food,lovely new friends, ideas for stories and how to's and techniques you haven't tried? Come and join us! Two Wacky Women, Summer 2012, Quilting Retreat
Palm Desert, August 8-13, 2012
http://twowackywomen.com/

As you can see the quilt show portion of Market was outstanding and breath taking. Each quilt wonderful and different!

I have a big stack of fabric here that is perfect for people who love pretty stuff and light givers. Join this blog and comment and I am picking four winners from a box when I get home Sunday night....you will love what I have for you!

Quilt Market makes me happy!

2011-11-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Market was quite wonderful and I have many more photos to show you but no time as I have to get up extra early and check on my handouts tonight also. It was so much fun running into so many special friends. Road to California is going to do a cow show at their show in January (hooray!). Twenty cow quilts on display. AND Two wacky Women are going to have me teach for them this summer and they had a wonderful booth. You can google their name until I get more up. The hotel we are doing it at is awesome. AND Texas Quilting Adventures was there in Houston and took quilts to advertise my workshop there in June when I will be teaching outside of Bastrop and showing people Flower Power and Cow quilt how to's. Such fun! Both are special because of the people who run the events. They are both filling fast (I am not just saying that) so if you are interested, google them and see what the details are. I can tell you I will be doing alot of teaching on getting your srtist out to create new ideas and techniques. I will post more next week when I am home.

As you can see I saw many friends and many wonderful quilts! I got home late last night and tomorrow I leave the house at 3:30 to get to the airport in time to leave at 5am...I am pooped!

This last quilt is one I did with the Flower Power technique from my book. I decided to add bugs to it and a bird and then my Granddaughter on the left. She is five and she said "hey where is my blond hair?" No head so no hair.

Just wanted to mention that I love this time of year because it is "Thankful" month and a great time to grab a cheap notebook at the store and begin a gratitude notebook. You start with ten things and let it grow and by the end of the month you should have 100 things you are thankful for. This gives you reason to think about your many blessings and to keep adding and noticing. We are blessed to be a blessing. If you are not taking account of your blessings, you are missing out on something that makes you a better artist and person! Try it and let us know please.

Creativity Makes Us Happy and Makes for Good Health, Smiles and healthy Cells

2011-10-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

One may wonder what they are looking at but you are seeing all of the plaids from a line I designed awhile ago. Plaids add light and these plaids are designed to bring light to your quilts just like any painter who is an artist wants to bring light to their paintings. WHY don't other quilt teachers teach this????Anyway, kathy Collins, one of my dear friends and long time students used the plaids together for a Mary Lou Quilt she made me. :0)

Above is the very happy and colorful quilt. I LOVE this!

Last week I was in Tahoe and it was so pretty and I met with 10 friends and we had great sewing and creative time together. The photo below is of me high up where we took a hike and below is the Lake....so beautiful!

Above, Kathy Collins who has done many wonderful story quilts is beginning a new quilt with skiers and things wintry, hence the cool colored border blocks done Hoochy type! GREAT fun!

Kathy Collins also brought a great book done with wool ala' Sue Spargo.
I am doing a super wool and cotton folk art fish for the cruise to Panama in February. I will show it as soon as it has more done....Walnut shells will add alot of fun to this!

In many of my longer classes we do what we call fairy gifts. The fairies (students) leave little gifts on people's sewing machine for fun. A fairy named Molly put these darling pumpkins on our machines _ LOVE this!
One of the fairy gifts I got were these cozy and cut Halloween socks....we shared lots of cool gifts...address books, fabric, pens, bags with starbucks cards and candy inside and I need to look and see what else...there were lots of cool items....Fun! I made handmade button bracelets for everyone.

OK I want to share the cows I made and this cow is covered with crystals and I have a peace sign or two to get on him...one for the ring in her nose. She is quite darling and colorful and fun! If you haven't done a cow from the "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book, you are missing out..........they are addictive and super fun. My friend Dawn Tonoili just made a bundle on one of her cows for a nice charity.

Halloween Inspires Us to Come Out and Play with Witch Blocks! FUN!

2011-10-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

I tried to load this last but alas, the blog thing would not let me. Anyway, I bought this amazing fabric and wanted to make wild and fun dresses for my witch. Fifteen friends decided to make fifteen blocks and we gave ourselves one year. Pretty wonderful. This week we swapped and it was so exciting!

Here are 12 of my blocks all put together just to see how it would look....cool!
I told people at first I wanted sashing in between but I think I like it this way with a border...I would love comments and what you think...please!

Below is Deb and Kathy who are best friends and both do fabulous work with two sided quilts...I think they will do a fabulous book. Anyway, they are showing some blocks that they are giddy about and who wouldn't be? SO fun!

The girl above Deb and Kathy is Tina who should be called "Tina Talented!" She is standing in front of her bags that she made up of her block and some See's candy inside...naturally hers is my favorite...boy, how can you beat See's candy?
Tina might be cooking for my next retreat in Idaho and I am very excited about it since she LOVES to cook and I have had her food and it is wonderful. The retreat is almost full....still have three spots.
Autumn is my most favorite time of year....there must be some poetry about Halloween and Fall isn't there?
PATTERN FOR THIS-I do not know where the pattern came from and I think my friend Wendy and her friends changed a garden girl pattern to witches instead. Since the pattern was given to me and I do not know where it came from I do not feel comfortable sharing it. I know many people copy my copyrighted patterns and pass them along thus leaving me with less income on something I have spent alot of time on. I do not want to cheat another designer out of money that she worked hard on-this may not be the case but I am very careful of this since I work hard and right now the economy is making it harder to earn a living doing patterns and books.
The pattern may be for sale somewhere or online....

Images of Autumn

2011-10-13T21:48:00.001-07:00

I am leaving for Tahoe and wanted to leave you with some Fall images for fun....after I get home from Tahoe, I go to Houston for Fall Market...and then I am gone for weeks...........but I can still enjoy the beauty right in front of me where ever I go. What a beautiful country we have and so much to be thankful for too.

Student has comments about Story Quilt Workshop

2011-10-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Mary is alot of fun as you can tell from the Halloween shirt she wore-it says "what did you call me?"

A letter from Mary to my chatroom friends about the story quilt class....

Ladies, she wore me out or maybe it was the 1300 miles i drove. I came home so
full of energy, you know; clean my sewing room, organize all my scraps, sweep,
clean basement, clean yard, wash outside of my house, power wash deck and they I
realized I was exhausted and didn't do a thing for 2 days.

The class was so much fun, I never heard a complaint and I heard lots of
laughter. Wow the stories that were told in class would take a year to make. I
am actually working on my story quilt every day, today I got shoes on my feet
(my DD wondered why I had Duck tape on my feet) and a wooden spoon in my hand,
tonight it is time for the cat. Things just keep running around my head (lots
of emply space there). Tonight one of my DD called and said she thinks she and
I should make a Haloween quilt together. I said, fine, she can do the
emblishments.

I write like I talk, too much. I just want to urge every one of you to take a
class with Mary Lou. She will never run out of ideas.

Madeline Island Photos-More of the Magic of Madeline Island in the Fall

2011-10-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick photo of part of the classroom and my Halloween Witch I did Hoochy style...if you like Halloween and witches and stuff, take my workshop next year on Madeline Island the second week of october-sign up now and save MISA (google it online)

Folk art is everywhere which is simply wonderful and so much fun! This fish was just one part of the lovely metal folk art on the island...

Sunflower Flower Power blocks were a happy and whimsical project of a few girls who were making story quilt borders....loved these for their free design and invention

Folk art is on all of the walls of the different rooms at Madeline Island School of the Arts....I took different photos and will keep posting wonderful free artwork to inspire you. I loved this mask.
There were lovely shops both on Madeline Island Wis. and Bayview which is where you catch the ferry for a quick ride across. The photos below are simply things in the cabins or artwork we made in class or places I shopped....all very fun for story quilt ideas....

Above A view coming into Madeline Island from the ferry....photos do not do it justice...that Lake (Superior) is ao vast and the colors are just magical!

Here is a nice assortment of photos of the buildings, there are many more... it is really clean and beautiful naturally and the buildings make for a really happy environment!

Below is a nice photo Barb from class took of everyone working and deep in thought in the workshop (Story Quilts)- I thought I loaded this photo first because it is so fun to see students hard at work.....and in such a nice setting with lots of light

Cats and Birds and Story Quilts Make for FUN at Madeline Island School of the Arts with Mary Lou

2011-10-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Above Mary has her blocks going for her quilt canvas for a story quilt...nice colors and fun designs.

Here the girls are hard at work making borders to set their color palettes on their story quilts...lovely, well lit room at Madeline School of the Arts. I will be back there same time next Autumn and the place is magical this time of year for inspirations and ideas.

Judy has her sketch of her husband and herself and many things to go into her story quilt about their love of each other and marraige-below her quilt canvas is almost ready for the story to go in. It will be a quilt with a nice story to remember and names and dates and such.

Above Mary has her drawing of her story quilt already to go into her ready made quilt canvas. Her story is a fun one which is no surprise because Mary is fun. It is all about her making stolen's for Christmas-70 of them for friends and family...I want one! She has her family looking in the window and waiting and her mixer, kitchen drawers, flour, sugar, her Mother's recipe and more. A family tradition becomes a family story quilt! Pretty wonderful.

And below is Barbara's border that is coming along piece by piece. She has a lovely color palette set for her story to go into (her quilt canvas). Barbara is a talented quilter and I was honored she came to take this class where you let go and free form piece and get out of the box.

Below is Sue Bright whose name is a story quilt in itself. Sue has lost over 50 pounds and I don't know many people who could pull of laying in this hammock. Sue hasn't eaten sugar in ages and given the choice for apple pie and cinnamon ice cream, she pushed herself away to get some sweet potato fries for her treat. That pie was wonderful. I didn't have her will power.

A lovely class of lovely people- all nice and nice to one another and FUN. We had some really good laughs and shared many stories with one another as well as fabric and other things.

Here Mary holds up her little bird that was so happy. We all cheered when we saw what she was adding to her lovely quilt. Mary has participated in many of my block swaps on Yahoogroups and her blocks are coveted by many of us! She is very talented at making happy things.

I am on my way to the grocery store but wanted to share this lovely photo from my last workshop of jackie who did a cat for her story quilt....isn't she fun? I love great blocks and smiles also...stay tuned for more color and fun from the workshop at Madeline Island...where you can take a five day story quilt class next year. It is in Wisconsin about two hours away from Duluth and close enough to Michigan and other Midwest places to come. You won't be sorry. Stay tuned for more....I need some time.

Mary Lou Speaks on 2nd half of Pat Sloan's Radio Program TODAY!

2011-10-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

http://toginet.com/shows/creativetalkradio

I am so pleased that Pat Sloan is going to interview me MONDAY....I want to tell some things to people about my take on quilting and some funny things in my life...after all why listen if you can't learn something and smile while listening! Right?
Please come and visit....just "click" on her link above

Wendy's Witches

2011-09-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

You read earlier that my Tahoe Chicks Group and I are madly making witch blocks to swap. We got this idea from Wendy Price above who is adorable, fun, kind, witty, and just all around a ball to be around. She and her best friend Sandy Fisher came to the Post Falls retreat last year and are already signed up for this year too. We have a "few" spots left if you are interested, I am kind of keeping it on the down low. It is $600. and you get your own hotel for five days of story quilt, hoochy quilting fun.
Anyway, I had to brag on Wendy because she and Sandy have the most awesome ideas for fun things. I love this quilt and now I will be getting fourteen blocks back-wow, that is one big witch quilt! But a ton of fun...wanna do some easy pieceing lettering from our book....what can one say on a witch quilt?
Please comment. I am on my way to the Apostle Islands and will be teaching on Madeline Island....prepare for lots of beautiful photos next week! Can't wait and I will be teaching there again next year. If you live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan or just in the Midwest you should prepare to come and have fun in the fall! Have a great week.

Nancy's Cocoanut Cake Recipe- Prepare for Compliments Coming Your Way

2011-09-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

Cocoanut Cake-from My friend Nancy
1 pkg. yellow butter cake mix (2 layer)
1 pint sour cream
6 or 7 ounce of angel cocoanut
2 cups sugar
1 large cool whip
Mix cake accordning to Pkg, directions. COOL.
Mix together sour cream, sugar ,cocoanut and cool whip. Split layers, making 4 layers. Spread mixture between layers and over the entire outside. Sprinkle extra cocanut all over the outside. Place in refrig. three days before serving.
I am not sure my family would leave it alone for 3 days so better put it in the back of the fridge where they never look anyway.
You won't be sorry you made this and get ready for many compliments. Yum>

Message with Meaning for YOU and Me Too

2011-09-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Making quilts and doing something that inspires me and I truly love Please read this to the bottom to see my point....

Traveling and being safe.....

Kissing my Grandchildren and family and enjoying the color and beauty of cherries (and taste)

Being thankful for the true beauty around me

The colors,smells and flavors of Autumn

How about YOU?

Message from My Blond Girlfriend....

2011-09-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

New Carpenteria, California Quilt Shop Photos...this is sure to be one we all want to visit!

2011-09-23T19:17:00.001-07:00

Years ago I could hardly wait to go and visit a shop called The Treasure Hunt. This shop was sold and eventually it closed. Now Roxanne who owned the original shop has opened up a new shop called "Roxanne's". She knows color can you tell and she speaks to my creative soul and she does story quilts! Different than mine but sort of the same in that she loves whimsy, color and angels. I am so excited she is open again and welcome her back to this world of creativity and invention. I am hoping to do a book signing there and bring some cows with me to visit....There has to be a cow that comes out of this shop...doesn't there? The shop is in Carpenteria and is a lovely place to drive to and spend the day shopping, planning quilts, eating great Mexican food and nosing around the wonderful shops and darling streets. I am giddy this is going to be open! See the cutting table on my other blog- Mary Lou and whimsy too - Marylouweidman.blogspot. com
I want a cutting table like that one when I win that lotto....

Roxanne is known for her darling people and angels...pretty cute!

She knows how to keep her man happy I guess.....My husband would be looking at me and saying "how much did you spend getting this place ready?" Not really...he pretty much lets me do as I please too.......

Laugh for the Day

2011-09-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

I thought this was very funny...especially since I wonder why anyone who want their pants hanging down...

All Systems GO for creativity to make pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, bee skeps,baskets,and more

2011-09-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

Just sat down to cut out my base fabrics for Autumn quilts of pumpkins and gourds and other lovely things like animals and other harvest things for a story quilt about Fall.

I am swapping gourds and pumpkins in my yahoo groups room and I am teaching alot of fun techniques at Madeline Island...imagine buttons spiders hanging from webs and cats that look like fall. This fabric is for gourds and pumpkins only. Inidan corn, pieced strata leaves and other piles of items are ready to be cut out and sewn. SO much to do, so much to enjoy with every stitch.

Oh the joy of creativity and fabrics! Hope you are enjoying the ideas that Autumn brings...I need some words in there too! Stay tuned....

New- just got a genius idea to draw up several Fall patterns blow them up large and take them to the workshop with me. Makes it more fun and easy to pick and choose........thank goodness for Kinko's!

Comment on last post I think I get it NOW ! DO I? My eyes are old too.... Can you all comment and let me know what you think?

2011-09-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

So, someone wrote in and said I should write a paragraph on my blog postings...is she being mean? OK, I know she isn't being mean or she wouldn't come in here....seriously.

I am wondering if there is something you would rather have me do instead of this.....what is it?

Are my postings too long? Too close together? One of my blogs will not let me write anything until the photos are posted and I cannot see what the photo is...only numbers and letters...

.I am trying to do what I can to please those of you nice enough to come in and visit.

Honestly, I appreciate you coming in and being a part of my life through my blogs. Thank you,

So, is this what you mean? BETTER?

Witch Story Quilt Comes in Handy This Time of Year!

2011-09-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

I would love to do another Halloween type of quilt without using a pattern...it is much better to use you mind and use the invention. Maybe you want to bring out your inner artist to play. If you live close to Wisconsin or Minnesota, come join us on Madeline Island and see the secrets of Easy Piecing Autumn Ideas and other Fun Things!

How Now Brown Cow?

2011-09-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

Well, since the book came out, Mel and I have been making cows like crazy for a Market show. Our friends are all making cows and somehow, I keep thinking of new cows. They only take a couple hours to put together and are simple. I guess that is why they are so addiciting. Dawn who reads this blog and takes workshops from me (my retreat and others) has made four cows. It is going to be quite a show. The cow above was made my Mel who also did "Holy Cow." I am doing the borders for Cow Town, De-Calf, and PsyCOWdelic. Someone said "where would you hang them?" Well, I have a nice place in my entry hall, a place in the tv room and I'd have one for the road. I used cool fabrics and they are awesome and I know people would love seeing them hung up. The cow above would be cute in a little boys bedroom.
I got the nicest note this week. She said that she made a cow from the book for a charity and she showed it to her ten year old Grandson. He said "Grandma, would you save this quilt for when I am married and have a baby?" How is that for a compliment? Very fun. Make a cow, you won't be sorry.
NOTE- "Outside the Box-With Easy Blocks" is the book for the pattern-Martingale.

Berry Gallette-Simple and Delicious! And Rice Pudding with cooked Berries! YUM

2011-09-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile I get a hankering for a good gallette with berries. Tonight for example I know I had plenty of berries in my fridge and freezer. I grabbed one of those pillsbury pie dough things that is already rolled out and started creating. I should have kept the pie dough refrigerated up until the end but I didn't and really it didn't make that big of a difference.
I took three cups of frozen berries and added 2 t. corn starch, a good squeeze of half of a large lime and about 1/3 cup of sugar and a little cinnamon. I cooked the berries for awhile until they thickened over medium heat and watched them...it only took a short time. I took those off the stove, put a handfull or two of blueberries in the middle of the pie crust plus a handful of fresh strawberries and then dumped most of the cooked berry stuff on top. I gathered in the sides and two of the sides tore because I didn't keep it cold through the whole process. remember the number one cardinal rule with pie dough is cold ingredients. Anyhow, I just gathered up the foil it was laying on and made a dam. :0) I sprinkled sugar and cinnamon on it and five pats of butter here and there. I put it in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes and then took it out to cool. It looked beautiful and the berries were firm and the pie crust was crisp and not soggy and when I went to post the photo to show you, either google or aol erased it....NO where to be found. And I had erased it from my camera once it loaded...gone forever...until I make another gallette. We ate most of it and it isn't pretty anymore. We served it with vanilla bean ice cream and it was heavenly while it was still warm! Try it-it's easy and delish!
I wanted to show you something else we do for a treat-for some reason those photos loaded first instead of last. Blog photos sometimes have a mind of their own. I put rice pudding into a bowl and then put the cooked berries on top, and when I serve this to guests, I usually heat a few frozen berries and then put them on for the juice and the wholeness of the berries. It flavors the rice pudding and everyone raves. Easy and good.
Hope you try these....summer is almost gone and I am trying to enjoy the fruit while I still can. I just bought peaches at Costco again...they have been the best I have ever had.

Houston Area Guilds Provide happy Smiles for Everyone Who Wants to Quilt, Do Charity and Have Fun!

2011-09-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

The quilter at the top of this post is Ginger who used to work at Thimble Creek in Walnut Creek many years ago when I would go there to teach. It was fun to see her again and to catch up on California, quilting styles, kids and Houston. She is a really fun and energetic gal.

The group at the bottom is from Woodlands Quilt Guild and it was fun to see Ginger who used to live in Walnut Creek area. This guild did great quilts and lots for charity as did the Bay City Guild above. Both guilds showed many charity quilts and talked about giving. During the time I was there, firfighters were fighting the flames close to Houston and so the guild took up a collection of over $500. to get snacks for them when they could take a break. I find that quilters are the most giving people in the world. We all want to fix things Right? Mona was my hostess at that Bay City guild and helped me lift all of my heavy quilts using her won suitcases to help haul everything. Ever notice how heavy quilts and fabric and machines are? If you quilt, you know what I mean. I taught wreaths at both guilds and hope someday they will try out the "Hoochy" way of letting go and piecing. Texas girls always come in with humor and ready to go and they like color as do I!

Galveston Quilt Show and My Time with Peggy Baldwin enjoying the quilts

2011-09-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

This quilt was one that a friend of Peggy Baldwin's did...and she called Peggy to say her dog "ate it." Peggy finished it and gave it back to her....isn't it funny?
These photos show the Galveston quilt show and the many story quilts. There are quilts there from myself and other quilters and the majority are Peggy Baldwin's work. The show goes until Sept. 30th. Sandy Fisher's daughter's six year old birthday party quilt is there as is Sue Cresse's Mom's quilt (in the bath tub). I love both of those. The room is huge and well lit and it is colorful and happy and a nice experience. Hope you get to see them too and see the beauty of Galveston.

Peggy did a great quilt that I loved about Hurricane Ike and here is a photo of she and her Mother and then the image of her Mother whirling through the storm of Ike in the quilt. Fun and a memory of a time with a date for the future...thnk of storms many years ago, wouldn't you love to own a quilt that was done about that storm? I would!

Julie Quilt Diva took a workshop from me at John C.Campbell and this is one of my all time most favorite plaid quilts! The class is called "Plaid to Meet you." Lots of fun and really gets your imagination and ideas going.

Peggy did a quilt about getting her Christmas photos taken with her Mom. I thought this was my favorite quilt because it shows how you try to look good and to get animals to sit and look good too but they are squirmy and have a mind of their own. The last little frame, the photo is taken and perfect. Maybe you can relate to this.

Here is a photo of Peggy Baldwin, myself and her quilter (I am having a senior moment and forget her name-she is darling and so nice) and I at Peggy's story quilt show in Galveston at the historical Museum there.
We are standing in front of my hippie quilt.

Color at the Cupcakes 12th retreat on Whidbey Island plus a LINK FOR THOSE DIET PLATES

2011-08-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

I thought you might like to see some of the photos I took of the cupcake girls at Whidbey Island. We rented a huge mansion (no kidding) and sewed up a storm. I got new ideas for fabric if I ever do another line (we'll see if there are any takers).
The quilt you see in this blog belongs to Eilene who did a baby quilt for her neice. Darling. I ended this with three of my cow quilts from the "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks" book. I am hooked! You also see the pretty views, the food and the drink that Susan made for us. It was a "bluetini". Mel started some blue/purple strata after drinking this and it became an alphabet! I know the drink had blueberry vodka, lime juice, blueberries and maybe some Sprite.....I am not a drink maker and rarely drink anything other than wine now and again. This drink was fabulous and you didn't know there was any liquor in it....just how I like it. Mount Baker is a beautiful Mountain and you can see what a lovely view we had. :0) We all got alot done and each of us made something for a meal and we did some shopping and some visiting like we always do and now we are looking for our venue for next year. Fun! Did you notice the darling close up's of Liz's canning quilt? Wonderful story quilt!
My blog will not let me see the photos to comment on so you have to guess what is what. This makes this posting kind of like a game. Next year will be our 13th year.

NOTE- THE DISHES FOR DIETING ARE FOUND HERE http://www.fishseddy.com/
And for those of you who have asked if I ever teach at Sister's, I don't because they will not ask me. Long ago I taught there a couple of times. It isn't that I have anything against that area of Oregon as was suggested, silly. Who doesn't love it there? Teachers go where they are asked, they don't choose...though we all wish we could. :0) Now you know.

SUPER SALAD for SUMMER

2011-08-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

The photo above was taken before we added the good stuff....I was too excited to eat when it was time to take the last photo........sorry- Note-YOU need a much bigger bowl than this-we switched bowls three times and we ate this for three days-it kept well with wrap over it at night!
I love making salads in the summertime and this salad was a good one.
One nice bunch spinich
some crisp romaine
2 cobs of fresh corn cut off the cob
1 cup frozen peas that have been thawed
celery for crunch
one can garbonzo beans
one can dark kidney beans
a nice addition of some leaves of fresh basil cut finely
2 ripe pears cubed
dry cranberries
slivered almonds (a small package)
Optional: I had a bowl of gargonzola cheese to add if you wanted and I cooked three beets until done (cooled them) and cubed them in a bowl alone and added some salt and some balsamic to them. We added them to the salad and didn't need dressing although you may want to add your choice of some kind of dressing.
This salad with some good frech bread was lovely for dinner.
NOTE- my daughter in law added some tuna to her salad for more protein. I think the beans and vegies are enough.
Yum!

Autumn Story Quilt Workshop with Mary Lou on Madeline Island!

2011-08-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a lovely view of Madeline from Bayfield. Read along and look of the photos of the possibilities of a lovely week on Madeline Island with all things Autumn...wonderful...just the idea of the colors and the imagination of our inner artists working on a story quilt! Just like an autumn story piece to last generations and all from our viewpoints and inner artists invention. Such fun!
This workshop is the perfect location for you girls who keep asking me to teach story quilts somewhere other than the west coast. AND if you do live on the west coast, come and adventure somewhere else! This is sure to bring smiles to us all. I expect Madeline School of the Arts to be THE new school everyone will want to go to and you can say "oh, I was there in the beginning of the popularity!"

Here is a nice view of the ferry to Lapointe. Imagine this lovely ride in October- ahhh, just imagine the lovely air and the colors of fall working their way to your heart and mind

http://www.madelineartschool.com/Classes_Teachers.cfm?StaffID=105
Contact Kate at MISA@cheqnet.net
Soon I will be doing a story quilt class that will be sure to be wonderful and different in many ways. First of all it is on Madeline Island (Wisconsin) which I understand from friends who have been there, that it is pristine and lovely. The school itself is built on an old farm and it is an idealic setting. The happy part for me is that it is the beginning of october and I LOVE Autumn and all of the things that make it special. Color, memories of leaves, pumpkins, Jack Frost, black cats, witches, ghosts and the many costumes that kids wear as they go out for candy to fill their bags....remember? I do. Bobbing for apples and caramel apples and I remember taffy pulls at girlfriends houses. Scarecrows...so many ideas for those! Thanksgiving ideas and pilrims, turkeys walking around, Indian corn with it's beautiful colors (so cool to piece this-I will show you), corn husks, pumpkins, gourds and squash and all of the beautiful leaves again and the colors...the wonderful colors. These story quilts tell about YOU and what you love about Fall or anytime of the year. I will be bringing some ideas for piecing and embellishments and how to start a great scarecrow (more ideas) and piecing pumpkins and houses and the fun that a little fabric and other bits can bring for a sensational story quilt.
Remember the idea of this is that in 80 years people will know something about YOU and how you celebrate this time of year or simple celebrate in a daily way by building a quilt that is a one of a kind piece.
Come and meet other quilters and see what I have that is a new idea (I always have lots). Some of these ideas I have never shown and you will love how fun and easy they are. It is always fun to get to know other quilters and the way I teach these longer workshops, you will make new friends and they will know you and you them as we share the many things that will make this a memory of a wonderful time in a wonderful time of year! Please come and join us on Madeline Island.

Galveston Story Quilts a HIT with those lucky enough to see them!

2011-08-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

So I just wanted to make sure that if you live anywhere close to Galveston, that you go by and see the story quilts of Peggy Baldwin and many other story quilters. It will not hang much longer and is the perfect thing to encourage you to tell the world about YOU.
Remember, someday when all of the quilts of the world are sitting there, that the story quilts will tell something special about the person who made them-who they love, something funny, something clever, something dear, something that only that person could tell...."remember me when this you see" and these story quilters will be remembered and the people who are the subject of the story will be remembered as well.
What would you like to tell the world about YOU? Perhaps you would like to take a story quilt class and begin your story quilt journey. My schedule is on my website at www.Marylouweidman.com
and also along the side column of this blog. Hope to meet you and hear your story one day soon.

Pretending I am MRS. Gothrocks at Eagle Nest Lodge....pretty nice week for the cupcakes

2011-08-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

Above is Susan and her friend Liz who came to visit for a little while. Liz did a story quilt about canning and putting up vegetables. It is embellished to the hilt and is alot of fun. Maybe you cook and can and bake...how about a story quilt about YOU to leave as a legacy for other to see who you are and what you love to do? Story quilts live on as a diary piece of the women who make them. Hope you plan one...you won;t be sorry.
And above here is more of the story of this week in my life....
Here I am in Whidbey Island...beautiful and peaceful and fun to sew and laugh and adventure out. As you can see the home we rented is wonderful and large and fun to sew in. The boats drive by and look up at us and we wave...I pretend like I own the place and am too important to clean, mow, weed, etc.etc. I am making lists of the things I need to do when I get home however. Then I am a "little person" again as Leaona Helmsly called us. Haha.

A Self Portrait Story Quilt that is a Mermaid's Tea Party-Who wouldn't love this for their home? Awesome!

2011-06-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Mary Lou. I started the blocks and the design in your "Self-Portrait" class at this year's Road to California. My "Mermaid Tea Party" is based on my memories of underwater pretend tea parties with friends. These parties only lasted as long as you could hold your breath but it was fun being a mermaid even briefly.
Most of my quilts are based on photos I take of people/landscapes. So being able to cut loose like this once in a while is so enjoyable. Thank you for giving me a lot of pleasure over the years with your books. It's impossible not to feel good after looking at your quilts.
-Patsy Kittredge

You know, this gives me great happiness to see these wonderful quilts take shape and tell about people. Patsy, your colors, your shapes, your theme and everything else about this quilt is whimsical, lovely and fun! great job and you brought a nice smile to my face tonight! I am so happy to share this with others who might consider doing a story quilt about them.

Story Quilts with Color, Charm and Interest-Great Job Liz!

2011-06-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

I am always giddy when I get to see a story quilt that is in the making and it is fun to post them here. Everyone has a different story and they are all unique and fun for so many reasons. Many of you know my flight attendant friend Susan Typpi. Well, Susan and her friend Liz came to my LaConner quilt show at the LaConner Quilt Museum and Liz was so taken with story quilts that she went home with my books that belonged to Susan, read them cover to cover and Susan helped her begin her very own story quilt. I think it is quite wonderful as I used to can and so did my Mother. The quilt is colorful and fun and I knew you would enjoy seeing it.
It was fun to have two new quilts to post this week- the one Liz did here and the one Pam Toombs did (scroll down). How about you? Are you ready to tell the world something about you? I am teaching a story quilt class in upper Wisconsin in October and would love to meet you there. It goes without saying that soon people will be flying in to start their very own story quilts at my retreat the 13th. There is still room for 2 people. The tiaras this year are something quite special and I bought all kinds of prizes this weekend. Hope you consider doing a story about YOU or someone or something you LOVE! Liz, this quilt is really fun!

"Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often" =A Story Quilt from my Asilomar workshop by Pam Toombs-Great Fun!

2011-05-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

This wonderful story quilt was done by Pam Toombs from Turlock,CA . She and her husband LOVE to entertain and they built a large oven in the backyard and a wonderful serving space and great plants etc. She made her list of things to include and she wanted her husband (and sort of resisted putting herself in but isn't it cute?),some Italian pots, a rabbitt, the oven, the plants, the brick and other wonderful details. It is now going off to the quilter who I hope is really good because this is such a good story. The words on the quilt have such a lovely meaning!"Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often. Pam took my workshop at Asilomar this year and inspired us all with her quilting talents and fun nature.
I hope to post this again once it is quilted. Pam please send me the photo later, we love this quilt!

Painted Stories Make for Colorful Tales....

2011-05-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

Above, I painted a story about my Grandmother during the depression and how she made hundreds of little pies and my Dad and his older brother would take them out in cardboard boxes and sell them to factory workers and anyone who would buy them. She made awesome pies and always had an idea of how to help the family through her skills. She was alot of fun and adored the seven kids and all of us Grandkids too. I even put in her famous raisin pie....(
delicious if you love raisins like I do).
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Below-click on the hippie photo and read some of the things I wrote-quite fun if you lived during the 60's.

Mary Lou's Retreat In beautiful Post Falls Idaho

2011-05-28T19:03:00.001-07:00

I still have a couple of opening s for my retreat in Post Falls Idaho. YThrow caution to the wind and come and get "Out of the Box" and stretch the artist inside you and meet great people, eat great food and be inspired by Idaho beauty. We'd love to have you be a part of all of the fun and discovery. If you are interested in coming click below and sign up!
http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=4776514213384776&Store_id=390&Page_id=17&categ_id=8&parent_ids=0
Or just write to Mary Lou

Western Washington Beauty in May Makes for Happy People

2011-05-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

Teaching in Western Washington was fun for me because I could jam my car with quilts and fabric and fun. It is so beautiful on the coast of Washington this time of year and everyone is looking forward to some sunshine....SOON.
The student above who lives in Friday Harbour in the San Juans decided to play like she was making aprons instead of a flower garden...I laughed and snapped this photo.

My Grandmother came over from Sweden and my Grandfather came over from Norway-my Mother's lefse is the best in the world and sadly she isn't here this weekend to make it for me. There is nothing better than to eat something that brings up nice memories of the past and lefse fills that bill better than almost anything...stollen too.

Peggy Kent's yard in Paulsbo Washington provides lots to be thankful for in the way of beauty. Really, the flowers in the Spring on the coast os Washington State are just glorious!

I first learned about "Scoth Broom" in California and had no idea it is all over Western Washington. You can't poison it and you can't burn it and it spreads and chokes out good plants. I remember a friend had a grape vineyard and the scotch broom was just taking over. It is kind of like dandalions-they are so pretty if you don't know they are weeds.

I don't know what it is about clouds lately but I keep taking photos...everywhere I go the clouds call to me to look and appreciate them and the blue sky behind them...they seem to be different in each state though I know that soounds dumb. Clouds in art are so lovely....alas, I think it is hard to do well in quilts...how about you?

Please please think about showing off your own story quilt in Galveston this summer. Look at the right hand column and contact Peggy Baldwin for the address of where to send your quilt. I am sending some of mine and we wants lots! Please be a part of this.

Elvis Cake Recipe for Memorial Weekend (Delicious) thanks to LIZ

2011-05-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Elvis Fluffernutter Cake
Originally from All Recipes then adapted by Foodaphilia and adapted again by Cookie Baker Lynn

2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
3-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 mashed bananas, about 1 cup
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips> Chopped up peanut butter cups for sprinkling on top

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease the bottom of two 9-inch round cake pans. Fit the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Grease and flour the whole pan.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating just to combine. Stir in vanilla and mashed bananas.
4. Pour batter evenly between the two cake pans. Sprinkle the mini chips over the top of the batter. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
5. Let pans cool for 10 minutes on a rack. Carefully invert layers onto a plate, peel off the parchment paper, then carefully put back on the rack to finish cooling. If the cake cracks at all, don't fret as there will be plenty of gooey frosting to fill in the gaps.
Frosting
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, room temperature
1 cup of smooth peanut butter
4 cups of powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1 cup marshmallow fluff
With an electric mixer cream together the butter and peanut butter until it's smooth. Add the powdered sugar a cup at a time. Add as much of the milk as you need to achieve the consistency you want.
Place 1/3 of the frosting into a separate bowl and fold in the marshmallow fluff till completely incorporated.
Frost the top of the first layer with the marshmallow frosting. Top with the second layer. Frost with the rest of the frosting and sprinkle mini chips over the top, pressing them into the frosting slightly.

Please read the next post because it has great photos, color and women !

2011-05-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent a lovely time teaching a story quilt class and a flower power class at the LaConner Museum. WISH you had been there to join in the great fun and the great girls who were there. We had lunch each day at the Museum and spent time looking at my quilts and talking about techniques and stories and colors and their stashes and why different colors and fabrics work and why others don't. I love a little laughter and also some sweet sentiments and we had both. My show will be there until the 26th of June so you still have time to get over and see it. Some quilts will be retired and this will be your last chance to catch a glimpse.
Hope you can make it so you too leave the Museum with a giant smile on your face and many ideas for doing your own story in a quilt. In 80 years what will people know about you from the quilts you make?
I want a garden filled with these lovely cone flowers!

My goodness is this snail cute or what? This girl had taken one beginning quilt class before mine. Someone said to me "hey what you just taught us is not in the book" and I said "that is why you take classes isn't it?" I am always thinking of new things to add onto the older ones...quite fun!

How talented! She put a spool in the middle of a flower! Fun!

Stripes can do so much in a quilt and isn't this flower whimsical?

A bird takes shape to sit in a quilt...quite fun and this bird will wing it's way back to Vancouver BC.

Sometimes you can sit across from someone and not know they are using the same colors (different fabrics) than you are using. Isn't this fun?

Stephanie shows that stratas make for great flowers in flower power. Look at her lovely smile....and her laugh is quite wonderful too.

LaConner is known for their lovely flowers and tulips and color is everywhere. It is well worth driving to the Museum to see my quilt show, go to Calico Cupboard for a great meal and shopping for great clothes, jewelry and antiques. Awesome place with so much to see and do. I am very proud to have my quilts shown in such a magical town.

I have looked at these whirleygigs for years in LaConner. They were made by one of the girls who started "Bunnies By the Bay" and then a Chinese company bought their rights and now the building is shared by one of the girls and an artist guy. There used to be a lovely garden in front and then they widened the street. Now there are hardly any plants in front that are lovely like the last ones and the fence and whirleygigs are showing their age. It is really a cute spot though and well worth going to look at and enjoy. I always walk over there to look and let me dreams rome.

BattleCreek Michigan puts out great FLOWERS and feels the power of Flower Power

2011-05-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

Above is one of the ladies that lives at the airport (she is paper mache). The artist was wonderful and his stuff reminds me of mine in a way. Very fun!

I couldn't help myself with this little blurb I took from a poster at the church-really this is the BattleCreek Flower Power Hall of Fame! Those girls from Michigan know how to sew and have fun. My one regret is that I did not get a photo of my hostess and her friend when they picked me up at the airport in wild hats and clothes...I was busy looking at the artwork and forgot what was really important-sorry Pat!
-------------------------------
Below are the Flower Power Girls from BattleCreek Michigan. We had a lovely two day workshop and everyone said "we would like a third day!" There are so many possibilities and one day for this workshop is not enough. These make darling quilts and I have added many new ideas and patterns to what I started 6 years ago with hoochy flowers. This is my favorite piecing class because who doesn't love flowers, pots, birds, frogs, butterflies, bees and loads of other fun things?
BattleCreek provided many willing and fun participants. I was surprised to learn that not only is it home to Kelloggs but Post and Keebler too. I got a lovely recipe from Nancy for a cocoanut cake everyone said was fabulous. Stay tuned here and I am going to share it. The trees were all in bloom with many colors and tulips were everywhere. Lots of color and lots of buildings that would be great in story quilts. Many of the girls had super stories and I suggested they put them into a quilt so that in 80 years people would know something about them. Good advice for any quilter.
How about you?

I loved this wonderful t-shirt of Nancy's that had "Flower Power" all over it!

Spring flowers in front of the quilt shop in Marshall Michigan (I think it was Marshall)-if not it was Battle Creek

I used to do stained glass and I fell in love with this beautiful window done by the members of this church. The designer taught them how to do stained glass and look at the wonderful results. Just beautiful and the colors! Wonderful and inspiring.

Joyce's blocks as she got them done....

How sad is this? An Empty bottle tree in front of a quilt shop. Tsk, tsk. I have the bottles to fill it thanks to my friend in Oregon.

Take Me Back to West Virgineeeeeeee-a wonderful place with wonderful people! "Almost Heaven!"

2011-05-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

Above is Rosemary with her jacket and my oesd design. Fun!
Gloria presents Harriet with the most delicious birthday cake I have ever had!

Below is the lovely lady (Gloria) who hired me to come to West Virginia. I am hoping that she will be doing a story quilt the next time I come back. She had the best sense of humor and she had a beautiful heart too. As usual I had my eyes shut. Every single photo of me as I was growing up had my eyes closed including every single grade school photo.

here is the class and we are missing one student who had to go and teach on photo day. Lovely ladies who were fun and shared willingly and we laughed and had sentimental things shared also. Quite lovely.
In case you can't read the sign it is "Cedar Lakes" right outside of Ripley Wrst Virginia.

Rosemary is all set for her second story quilt...can't wait to see it!

Below is Harriet from Chicago who is doing a story about her Grandmother who won a ticket to shoot a basketball at a professional game...cute lady throwing the ball-it is going to be a family and friend favorite!

Below, Terry shares her new border for her new story quilt! All drawn up and ready to be appliqued on!

Below, Linda shares her quilt with us...owls are "in" again and I am so glad..they are so much fun!

Details of Mary Lou's quilt!

Below is a quilt by Mary Lou who also took a workshop from me at John C.Campbell. This quilt is about her Mother and she has bobby pins on the outside blocks and bingo markers and all kind of surprises that draw you eye in. Wonderful!

Above is Terry and below is Terry's story quilt from another workshop she took from me. We have been together at many workshops along with Harriet. The details in the quilt below are very fun and joyful.

Borders and color palette's vary as much as the stories do.

Below is part of a GREAT border.

Rosemary took a class from me before and this is her story quilt. West Virginia is almost heaven. She has her farmer husband who wants her to be a farm wife and she says she wants to be a princess which she is in this quilt. Lots of details that are fun!

Below is Mary with her border blocks and many ideas. Mary is a natural artist and a nice person who everyone enjoyed. She is also very witty and funny.

Karen's blocks are below. I am missing a good photo of her. Imagine a beautiful woman with white (darling hairstyle) hair. Karen's quilt is of her turning seventy and all of the things that she has loved during her life. She is a great collector so this will be wonderful.

Here is Mary Lou and she is creating a new story quilt about she and her husband at their Lake place. The drawing is darling with them holding hands at a table outdoors. I can't wait to see it done.

They moved this bridge built in 1872 to this site to keep it. Isn't it lovely?

I had to show the beautiful capital building of West Virginia with it's lovely gold leaf that glowed in the sun....so pretty and impressive.

Below is June who really got into the happiness and the whimsy of the class.

Fran below is so cute (loved the laughing photo). She has a great picture drawn of her Mother serving a traditional Polish dinner for Christmas eve with everyone in the family doing different things. It is going to be a legacy story quilt for sure.

Rosemary shows off her reversible vest and note the jacket she is wearing -it has my embroidered patterns all over it...so cute.

This property is owned by West Virginia State and is simply wonderful. I hope to be able to go back in the Fall of next year or maybe the next. They used to do many quilt retreats here and now they do a few. It is a pleasure to be creating in such a wonderful place.

A Story Quilt That is Sure to be Lucky!

2011-05-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

This story quilt was started in my Asiomat five day class (Emptyspoolseminars.com)
by my friend Candy. She had a Grandmother who used to take an empty purse and when the moon was full she would say "Full Moon, Full Moon, fill my empty Purse!"
And low and behold, that next month she would win some money, get a good deal on a sale, someone would give her something free or something good would happen.
Candy told us this at Asilomar and when she met with former classmates in Tahoe we all noticed it was a full Moon and wondered if we did this would we get something great! Candy said it works for her. I am waiting until I buy a lotto ticket on the right day and then I plan to win. :0)
You will know it is because of the full Moon right?
Notice the great detail of her Grandma, the money, the colors and the whimsy. It will be at the Sisiter's show and I predict the Full Moon will be good to her because the Story Quilt is such a darling winner! Candy, I adore this darling quilt.

Story Quilts Always Make Me Smile-How Wonderful to Put Who You Are Into a Quilt!

2011-04-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

The quilt above was done by my friend Laura, sister to Charlotte who lives in Florida. Laura has done a number of great quilts with lovely sentiments just like her sister. This quilt was about her Grandson and how much he loved her daughter who has since passed away. Lovely sentiment and Lher daughter is not gone, she will be remembered through this quilt.

the quilt above is from the lady below who wrote me this lovely letter.
I took a class from you at Empty Spools back in March of 2007. I started this quilt in that class and finally finished it this last fall and wanted to share it with you. I am so happy with the way it turned out, in fact I just entered it in my guild's show (Mid Valley Quilt Guild) and it won a First Place Blue Ribbon (Traditional Mixed Wall Quilt) and two special recognition awards (Whimsical/Fantastical and Patchwork Humor).
I have two quick Mary Lou stories to share with you as well.
1) I had no interest in quilting until I saw you on Simply Quilts in about 2001. You were talking about your Angel quilts and something just clicked in me and said "I could do that!". I have been an avid quilter since. And I can not express to you all the joy, creativity, friends and passion it has brought into my life!
2) A few years after that I was at the Sisters Quilt Show and took a picture of the cutest chicken quilt. I loved that quilt, and decided to make it, but I searched all over for the pattern, but finally decided to just make it without a pattern using my picture as a guide. It is one of my favorite quilts even now. About a year ago a good friend gave me your book 'Whimsies & Whynots' and I was amazed to see that very quilt in your book! You inspired me even when I didn't know it was you. Thank you!!!
Anyway I just wanted to share all this with you, and let you know you have an avid fan in Oregon!
With much love and appreciation,
Joanne Swinehart ..............quilt below
Salem Oregon

The quilt seen here is a 50 year anniversary quilt done by Marilyn Wall from South Caroline. She is an amazing artist and did such a nice job on showing the love between she and her husband Kermit. A lovely keepsake.

I was going through my files and finding different story quilt photos that people mailed me. I thought that since I enjoy them so much you would also. I am not sure who some of the girls who designed these are now but they are fun to study just the same. If you haven't ever thought about doing a story quilt, please think about it. In 80 years what will people know about you, who you loved and what is important to you? So many things to say with so many things happening in our world. Pass on people you love, pass along sayings that touch your heart and can touch others also, pass along your favorite pets, collections, your home, your garden, your hobbies, memories of the past and hopes for a bright future. The wedding todsy would have been a fun subject for quilter's from Britain. HOW lovely it was! I enjoyed every minute of it and I taped five hours of coverage. I adore what the British do with hats. How about a hat quilt? Wonderful wouldn't it be? Please think about telling the world about YOU. I thought I would share the postcard from the Laconner Quilt Museum that is showing my latesy quilts there. Loved the postcard they did-so colorful and fun.

The quilt below was done by Jill Monley for her relative for a wedding gift. They liked to ride motorcycles...wouldn't this be a lovely gift for someone getting married and the story will go on and their children or family will have this quilt as a lasting memory of these two people when they got married. great job!

One last thing is it is lovely to see how many of these story quilts are receiving ribbons at quilt shows. People are starting to understand the sentiment behind the stories. Hope you think about the stories you would like to tell the world now and as a legacy. Such fun.

The Golden Rule...........

2011-04-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking alot lately about the Golden Rule. Now I wonder if they even teach that anymore. I bet kids today have NO idea what the Golden Rule is and I think most adults honestly have forgotten it.
There seems in my opinion to be so much of "Me, me, me" lately that many people are pushy and rude for No reason.
Might I make a simple suggestion to set US apart? Next time there is a line and someone makes a bee line to try to get ahead of you even though they shouldn't, step back, smile and let them. Next time someone signals that they want over in the traffic even though they went way ahead of the line in the lane that clearly told them miles back their lane would not be there, let them in front of you and next time someone needs help, holding something, getting a cart or just something simple that might take a few minutes out of your day, please help them.
This proves that YOU know the Golden Rule and are willing to put them ahead of yourself. They may think they won but really, YOU are the winner because you were kind enough to think of others instead of always thinking of yourself. If more people thought this way, the world would indeed be a better place and years ago when I was a little girl this was what I learned in Grade school and Sunday school. Remember how your Mother and everyone els's Mother said "now is that the golden rule?" I wish we had all remembered what we learned. I am at fault as much as the next person but I think that we quilters can show the world what a nice group of people can do. Just my two cents for the day. :0) Bless your day and your deeds.

Come to Mary Lou's June (third annual) Retreat in Post Falls Idaho for Inspiration, JOY, New Friends and Great Homeade Food by Laurie

2011-04-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

I just got this photo of a quilt made in my Asilomar workshop. Laurie the girl who made this for her adorable Granddaughter will be our cook at the retreat in June. This is a great example of how taking Flower Power/hoochy things and putting them together with fun lettering can produce a one of a kind treasure quilt that can say anything you want and be a lasting memory/story. Isn't this adorable? Think about what you would like to say in a little story quilt about you or someone you love. I am so tickled Laurie will be there with her many talents.

Quilt below and above was done by Mary Linfesty out of fun pieced hoochy style blocks. Mari came to last years Post Falls retreat and did some truly amazing things.

Found another great photo of food served for lunch to share

This book is full of information on being creative and we will use alot of the ideas here also.

This year at the Mary Lou retreat (June 13th-17th) you will get this fun cat pattern. You may choose to make blocks of all kinds ala' Hoochy Mama style as a quilt, as a border and for those interested in story quilts, we will be discussing how to's for you to begin a prize winning quilt, at least to you. Many story quilts done in Mary Lou's classes have take first place awards. Hooray! We will be discussing lettering and saying anything you want to on a quilt or doing a title, a holiday name or the name of someone you love OR say something great for your wall or as a gift for someone you love. Shapes, creativity, friendship, composition, color and fabric styles will all be discussed as we have fun in a great place. Sewing time will be number one as we work on our projects and learn just how inventive and creative we can be! So far, I have a nice number signed up but am keeping it open for a few more people to come and enjoy all that we have going in our third fun, inspirational and inventive quilt retreat. The cost of $565. which includes everything except your hotel cost. For those interested, Mary Lou suggests coming in one day earlier and she will take you to the Buggy Barn, the Davenport hotel for lunch and a quilt shop or two and we will
end with dinner somewhere in Post Falls or Spokane Valley. In any case it will be alot of fun and a good chance to make new friends.

How about creating a lovely Queen Bee? Now that is original. :0)

Molly, Mary Lou and Sandi enjoy friendship at the retreat. The retreat is in Post Falls Idaho right between Spokane and Couer d'Alene Idaho. You fly into Spokane. The girls signed up so far sound like they will stay at the Templins Red Lion. There are many hotels close to the facility. The Red Lion is only one mile from where we work and many of the girls walk though there is a large parking lot if you want to drive...which I would probably do. :0)

This is Laurie Latta at the shop and she had cooked all day and she was almost too tired to shop.

Stacks waiting to be cut. Now I have a new secret to make your fabrics look even better. I am working on some new things (don't I always?) and want to share it with the retreat gals.

One evening for those interested, Mary Lou will take you to a local quilt shop and discuss light givers and fabrics that work to pull eyes into your quilt and things that don't. Let's discuss your stash and what you can do to make it work better for YOU. This was a hit and the shop is wonderful. They open the shop only for us.

Mary Lou will be demo'ing new techniques in her style of lettering. You will also get a good look at some of the new quilts in Mary Lou and Mel's book due out July 11th. New patterns will be passed out that no one has seen yet-great fun and a jump on doing great work that is fun, Out of the Box and you get the pattern for it.

The really handy thing about our retreat is that the cooking is right there in the kitchen alcove of the classroom so we can eat and work at the same time-This is very handy for those of you who want to produce alot in the four days we are working. Good light, plenty of room for irons and cutting. A great space with a great history. It was once a church they turned into an Art Center thanks to jacklin Seed company.

This cake stand is our class mascott and she holds great treats and gets happy remarks

Let's talk birds and how many you can create quickly and styles...

Creating makes you hungry (in my opinion and Laurie Latta from Lopez Island is again going to cook for us this year. Laurie has many specialties and has great plans for more delicious food and including her desserts such as cream puffs and cheesecake with huckleberry sauce. She serves great salads and fruits and other surprises as well as a table of snacks each day. Her gourp (homemade snack mix) is a class favorite. I am also hoping to get my daughter in law to make her Mother's poppy seed lemon/lime cake for the group-it is exceptional. The photo below is of one of Laurie's meals last year.
http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Store_id=390&Page_id=17&categ_id=8&parent_ids=0

copy, click and Sign up here........
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LOVE DOGS AND EASTER? lOOK AT THIS!

2011-04-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

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Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday with Salada tea and someone you love

2011-04-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.joyofbaking.com/breakfast/HotCrossBuns.html
Today is Maundy Thursday the saddest day of the year for Christians who worship.
Tomorrow is Good friday. Good Fridy is a lovely memory day for me as my Canadian Grandma who was wonderful would always make hot cross buns to serve with sharp cheddar cheese and tea. She was always very careful to make the cross and not an X. Everytime I see a hot cross bun, I think of her. I only like them when they have currants and candied fruit in them. Then they remind me of her.
I have her recipe but it is so abbrevaiated, I don't think I would do it justice here so instead I found a recipe that is similar and looks the same. I am going to visit my 85 year old Aunt tomorrow who is having troubles to take her some hot cross buns (Grandma was her sister in law) and some chocolate biscotti. A little sugar and a memory of Grandma on Good Friday is sure to make her smile.

Bunny Sisters attend Hoity Toity Houses workshop with Mary Lou in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale Florida-Great FUN!

2011-04-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

this girl wore an authentic Seminole jacket she purchased at a thrift store- lucky girl!

Charlotte and Laura (sisters) are building their homes next door even though they live in Florida and Texas. :0)

Red made an exciting and fun border on this-and now for the story to be sewn!

Isn't this quilt darling? So free and so happy and she is going to add rick rack and buttons and other fun things. I am in love with the choices here!

What a difference a roof makes!

Auditioning a large scale bright fabric sample. I often tell the class to start working on larger scaled prints...so many people are afraid of them and they give your quilts so much! The colors in the quilt were wonderful. This lady was from Denver and Florida.

Such a pretty smile! This is the beginning's of a fantastic castle quilt!

Iris Biaseti's quilt called the Old Lady Who Lived In the Shoe....I can relate. Won;t this be fun once she gets her people in there? Great class-they all took off and created great stuff!