MARY LOU and CHERRIES TOO

PARTY TIME! MY NEW FABRICS-PLEASE ASK FOR THEM

2009-07-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

http://db.benartex.com/storelocator/FMPro?-DB=invimage.fp3&-lay=internet&-max=15&delay=no&-op=eq&directory=partytime&-Format=collection.htm&-sortfield=primarysort&-sortorder=ascend&-sortfield=recordid&-sortorder=ascend&-find
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE PRINTS IN THIS COLLECTION, PLEASE ASK FOR THEM AT YOUR LOCAL SHOP- I DESIGNED THEM FOR BENARTEX. I ALSO DID A BOYS LINE WITH DOGS AND KIDS AND WORDS CALLED "WHERE THE BOYZ ARE". I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ASKING FOR THESE WHEREVER YOU SHOP. THANK YOU SO MUCH-THEY ARE AWESOME PRINTS!

ALL OF THESE GREAT PRINTS GO WITH THE "HAPPINESS IS" LINE.

INCREDIBLE COLORS IN THIS LINE!

GEES BEND! Some of You Wondered About Gees Bend-Here is the scoop and the color!

2009-07-18T15:45:00.001-07:00

So it has been quite a few years since I discovered Gees bend quilts done by a group of poor ladies who lived in Mississippi. I have all of the books, tapes and songs now. I learned more from my friend Susan who is a flight attendant and brought the first tape of the ladies I had seen. Ever since, we start our Lopez/Whidby retreat with the tape of them and we envision ourselves with the same "friendship,spiritual nature" of them. I have some wool quilts my Grandmother did in the 30's that are very close to what they did. She was poor also (Canadian) and used what she had to keep her loved ones warm and cozy and to make designs with what she had.

One of the interesting things about these ladies was when Martin Luther King came to visit there and they felt so important and more loved because such a celebrity would visit their poor town. Then, the whites on the other side of the river made it so they could not come in and vote. I guess politics was the same back then. Sigh.

One thread of "wisdom" in the tape is when a woman says "when we had no money, we was happy and once money hit town, ain't nobody happy." I know this in my own life. Love, kindness, family, friendships, sharing are all what make you truly rich. My son's long illness taught me that you can get by with very little as long as there is love.

NOTE THE BLUE IN THIS QUILT AND THE CHEDDAR IN THE ONE ABOVE- IT IS WONDERFUL HOW POWERFUL A COLOR CAN BE AND IT ADDS SO MUCH!
I encourage you to see these books and hear the tapes- they are great and the quilts are super too. If you don't like them, you perhaps do not understand how you can take simple color and create something exciting, graphic and complex. Keep looking.

Unexpected shapes color, inconsistancies, changes in value-oh, all so wonderful!

Could this be any more wonderful? Who today would have the nerve to put all of this wonderful print into one quilt and make it so great to see and study?

Great colors and scale- think about this in prints-I think you could do something pretty great

Look at those borders and the "windows"-at least that is what I see- different purples, scale, lighting differences....all wonderful and inviting to the viewers eyes!

I was lucky enough to see the Gee's Bend show in San Fransisco one year and then later in another large city (can't remember where). I like seeing them in person but honestly it is so lovely to just be able to look and see so much while sitting in your own home where it is quiet and no one is there telling you what they "think". Do you know what I mean.

I loved how they used an analogous color scheme here but decide to add some compliment for sparkle-it sure worked!

If anyone tried something this "off" and not matching today, I think they would be criticized-I have seen knockoff's but not as successful. We try to hard today to please.

I was so delighted when i found the page above because my Mother just passed away in April and I found a drawing I did in third grade of a house with a flag- I would love to recreate it in a story quilt. Such fun to stretch and use something you actually created that you don't remember.

Just strips...it is the colors and prints that make this so great. :0) I have some pretty primitive quilts from my other Grandmother. I always think that someday I will write a book with both of my Grandmother's quilts and my Aunts quilts included. This would be fun and delightful to include.

Hope you learn about these ladie's quilts and how you can learn from their talents. The books are about history and these women and their faith and friendship as much as about the quilts.

More of Sisters- people, blocks, quilts and fun

2009-07-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

I had to laugh because about fifteen minutes after I took this photo, the street was packed and no way could someone ride their bike without hitting someone.

Ahhhhh, a little oasis in the heat-beauty and coolness in the back of a building.

Are you seeing how the crowd is building up? All ages. And below I took a photo just for the outfit the lady was wearing. Such a great idea for a quilt.

Below-I don't recall so many people selling things on the street in the past. It used to be inside the stores and only the Stitchin Post. Now there are all kinds of people selling things on the street. I got a class of cold lemonade that was just the ticket to cooling off.

The Antique shop got into the spirit and sold all kinds of cool stuff-I couldn't get anything I couldn't get on the airplane.

Above is a better view of the Stitchin Post and the Gees Bend quilts.
Below is more of the walls in the quilt shop.

Above is a pretty display of interior things-lovely colors.

Above is a nice display of fabrics to tempt you....and believe me I was more than tempted

Above is the lovely artist and quilter Lure Schwartz Smith who is married to Kirby Smith- so nice and a wonderful teacher too. We teach together at Asilomar.

Now here is a sample of someone who has alot more time on their hands than I do! Wonderful.
And this is a totally different car! WOW.

Below is the closeup image of a quilt about summer that I loved. So pretty and fun to see.

Below is a mural on the side of a building. Nice colors and graphics too!

Sharing photos from friends is always fun! Check these out!

2009-07-15T16:02:00.001-07:00

This wonderful quilt by Peggy Baldwin hung at the Sisters quilt show and I missed it but I heard from many many people about seeing it and how wonderful it was for a story quilt about the Hurricane in Texas last year and how poor Peggy lost her job and loads of other things. She has an amazing sense of survival and I think this quilt is marvelous and will be a piece of history for many to study someday. Great job Peggy!.

My friend Molly is in Ireland and hey, isn't this funny? The Quilty Tavern-how imaginative! Wonder how much sewing they actually get done?

Here is Molly with her husband who is a professor. They went to England and Ireland to attend the wedding of his pen pal from Grade school. Beautiful photo.

The quilt above is from Peggy Baldwin of Galveston. Who says pumpkins have to be orange?? And isn't her use of my alphabet fabric GOOD? Love those letters and all the things they can say just by cutting them out and stitching them together! Thanks for sending those photos Molly and Peggy! Wonderful stuff for sure.

Sisters quilt show-a success beyond measure and fun in so many ways

2009-07-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Do you wonder why Caren is laughing??? I asked her if I could take a photo of her chest-note the tiara-doesn't she look royal and happy in it? She drove up with Wendy and my friends from California to partake in all of the Sisters joy this time of year.

I had to take this photo of the lady in the wild skirt looking at fat quarters at the Stitchin Post. She needs to be in a story quilt for sure.

I stopped this lady to get a photo of her dress-such fun and so cool to put her in the quilt too!

The quilts on the top and the bottom are Gees Bend quilts as the ladies from Mississippi were there signing their books. Lovely ladies and lovely, funky quilts.

I think the quilts above are Jean Wells quilts that she is doing now. I adored the color and shapes-wonderful stuff.

This building is the Stitchin Post and they have all of the Gees Bend quilts on there for display-pretty awesome stuff.

Here I am with Freddy Moran-I am always squinting in the sun and she always looks like a million bucks-check out the hat and bracelets!

Neal Moran the cutest guy in the world and his wife Freddy. Neal drives a convertible mustang, golfs and plays dominos and keeps himself busy as Freddy does her magic with Gwen. He is a delightful and fun man. I will never forget going to see Shrek with them-such fun to be with those that are always young at heart!

So while I was looking around who do I run into but Gwen Marston and Freddie Moran-so I bought their new book and had them sign it

The quilt above is a Freddie Moran self portrait from her business cards....pretty wonderful

I thought this basket quilt was quite wonderful with the bias handles of black and white stripe.

I like anything that is pieced in an interesting way and this fits. Isn't it wonderful?

Very graphic when you use just two colors! I really like this.

This quilt had the most fabulous quilting of anything I had seen. It was wonderful in every way.

The quilt above had great color and use of fabric and it was so interesting how she used different blocks throughout. I would love this on a wall in my house for the Fall wouldn't you?

Above was another happy, colorful row quilt-lovely in so many ways.

I think my most favorite quilt was this bird quilt. Such fun and brought so many smiles.

The camping quilt above was lovely and fun and I watched a kid hang on it and whip it back and forth until a quilter said loudly, "don't touch the quilts!' The kids Dad came out from behind it, and took the kid away before the quilters could get him. :0)

I got to the show at 7:30 am and was there before the crowds hit. I drove back to Bend against the traffic going into Sisters for miles and miles. I missed the heat and the crowds and had a lovely time see the quilts and shopping at Stitchin Post.

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Below is one of the displays at the Stitchin Post to tempt quilters- lovely

Sisters has so much beauty in the buildings and the flowers that are abundant everywhere.

Below was a line at the Stitchin Post-you can see there was plenty to look at while waiting.

These smart people were sitting behind the quilts in the shade, relaxing and watching people out the side-the men were just biding their time waiting. :0)

I loved the darling wagon on the street-darling and such lovely color.

Everywhere you look at cameras, quilters and quilts.

The crowd is just starting to come and enjoy all there is to see and buy and enjoy.

I loved these poppies as it reminded me so much of my trip to France and the wonderful poppy fields everywhere. Such beauty and inspiration that God provides us with daily!

WOW What a fun week in Bend and Sisters!

2009-07-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

These are the darling ladies that took my "Hoidy Toidy Houses" class. I looked for the first person that had a Bernina machine and showed everyone how to let go "hoochy technique style" and build your house, neighborhood or "crib" (i am not too old to know what this means).
Hand picked students for being fun, gracious and wanting to make new friends and laugh while they sew new story quilts! Each one a doll! They all started their different houses and they have plenty of space to put family and friends in the windows, doors and garage's they created. The color and the laughs were there and I really enjoyed my time at BJ's Quilt Basket. It had been quite a few years since I had taught at the Sisters show and so I was so pleased when asked to come to Bend right before the show to teach something fun.
Vicki and her husband Ron are lovely people and they have a wonderful large shop filled with great fabrics, notions and friendly people who work there. Ron refilled the cooler of free water for their customers and they gave out more than 2300 bottles while I was there. Isn't that generous! This is the kind of people they are. Want to be on their mailing list? Simply send an email to vicki@bjsquiltbasket.com They will be having classes again next year and I hope to teach there again someday during this special time of year.

Above is a photo of the shop and my "Jack House" hanging up. Since I made this I have made three more with my Bernina in full gear and have one in the works-they are so much fun!

Above are samples of the beginnings of two house quilts. Lynn on the left started a house and got a couple done and then she had to go and put money down to buy a house and then she lost focus somewhat but she was still fun and entertaining! Susan whose quilt is on the left just moved to a street called "fruit" something. So her house and everything is going to have fruit in it. It is going to be spectacular!

I shot this photo as she was talking and got her not smiling but her log cabin was really well developed and so fun by the time she left. I was busy talking and signing and doing and I didn't get as many photos as I wanted.

A doorway that I shot upside down....cute!

The girls smiling and looking at what they were accomplishing. I love smiles.

Here are two quilts in the works. The one on the left is a ranch style house that ended up with a barn, fence and pond....very fun!

The quilt on the right by Carole was fun for us all to watch as she chose hoochy shapes and fun whimsical fabrics. Note her awesome fence. Below shows another fence and her honey bee hive before Carole got the bees made. Isn't this fun?

Below is Kathy's dog house for her dog Shea. She got the dog bone on and is working on stairs for the side that will go to the roof and a sign that will say "Shea's Loft." Pretty Creative and can't wait to see it done. Their friend Janel made a great house I don't have a photo of for some reason. She used an awesome graphic fabric and ran it in different directions using the Hoochy style of piecing. It had a front porch and lots of fabulous colors and details.

Here are four of the girls as we are getting started on houses and neighborhoods. I am missing Bobbie's house too-it is a large house with many windows, a music room and plaid rooftops-fabulous! My camera messed up and I am missing photos I am sorry to say. Bobbie is the girl farthest back, then Esther and then Kristin and then Carole.

This quilt by Kristin grew into something quite wonderful and she had one more row of trees I did not get in the photo. Imagine this with family, friends, animals and words...quite wonderful.

Another photo of Vicki's shop above. I had a fabulous and fun time there and hope you visit there if you are ever close to Bend. You will love it, the people who work there and the selection. She has any style of fabric you like and lots of patterns, books, kits, magazines, notions and threads. It was a total delight teaching there.

Here are my wonderful California friends. I have been a friend of Wendy and Janice for about 15 or more years when they took a workshop from me and then kept taking workshops and came to visit me in Spokane too. We went out to dinner in Bend the first night I taught and caught up on everyone's news. Such fun and good food too. I will be giving out a recipe for the best dinner scones you ever ate that Sandy got from the restaurant. Sign up for my newsletter at the top of this page, right side. :0) Sandy is on the left bottom of the page.

Here we all are the night of the Sisters quilt show after a lovely home cooked dinner at the house they rented-they made pot roast and all of the trimmings. Such FUN.

Honestly I am just amazed at how God works with me. There were 30,000 people in Sisters and what do I do? I walk up to this group of ladies for a photo and they tell me they rented the house next door to my friend Wendy from California and they invite us over for homemade berry pie and ice cream. What would the odds be that I would pull these ladies over for a photo? Funny. And the pie and company were lovely. Here they are below after serving us pie-they all went to school as children in Oregon and now live all over the US but meet in Sisters for the show each year. Isn't this wonderful? Sisters brings together many dear friends. There are so many good stories there. Jean Wells started something wonderful when she thought of this show as it brings together people from all over the world who love quilts and quilters and the men who love fishing, golf and the women who quilt. I should say that there were loads of men quilters there too. Such fun to see the whole community doing good and Norman Rockwell moments.

And I had to show this nice photo of our friend Phylis who has a black eye and still looks lovely in the tiara I gave her. I brought them for my friends and students too.

I told Phylis I was going to tell you she got in a fight with another woman over a bolt of fabric. Truth be known she had cataract surgery. But I like the first story better.

Stay tuned as I am going to show Sisters photos tomorrow or the next day. I wish we could all meet there next year. :0) It is a lovely place, with great quilts and lovely people and Bend has lots of excellent restaurants!

And finally here are Wendy and I with a cupcake place mat she made for her Goddaughter- I loved it because one of the groups I belong to is called "the cupcakes." And I love Wendy too. Doesn't she have the best smile?

My Bags are Packed and Ready to go for Bj's Quilt Basket classes and the Sister's Quilt Show-hope to see you there!

2009-07-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I just packed two samples for house quilts, clothes, bracelets, earrings, hair blower, make up, shoes, moisture cream and lots of fabric and ideas and imagination to pass along! Can't wait to see what people come up with in two days. I hope I have enough tiaras for everyone in the class. I think I do. Prepare for photos and also I am going to be giving out two fabulous recipes on my newsletter list when I get back. One is for a rice salad that is the best in the world (no kidding) and the other is for lemon muffins which I made three times this summer. If you aren't signed up for the newsletter scroll down on the right and sign up!

Have a nice weekend friends. Count your many blessings and enjoy what comes your way.

By the way, the fat quarter are on the way to the winners of the comment on my blog contest. I sent them off to those people who won and sent me their address's. Thank you all for commenting. It makes it worthwhile to take time and effort on my blog.

The Castle in Progress-so much to add but will have it for Bend

2009-07-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

OK, so here is the castle so far. I had my Bernina heated up and ready to rock when I pieced this and it is so fun seeing how these houses take on a life of their own. I am going to add a woman on the side top with her hair coming down, flags, stars and birds and many more fish. A Mermaid will be in the moat. The faces on the girls are not done and everyone will have a tiara on including the Mom and little girl. I have rick rack to go around the medallion at the top and candles and crystals for the cake. I have buttons and doodads and all kinds of fun things. There is lettering at the top now and I will be beading it too. This castle is all about quilters-it has a storehouse on the side that will have a sign "Royal Stash". This is going to be loaded with fun images and things to see and enjoy.

Such fun! Wish you could all come to Bend to take the class!

Our World and It's Values are Crazy

2009-07-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else sick sick sick of hearing about Michael Jackson? OK< He was a fabulous entertainer, he died of drug over doses, he lived in opulent luxury spending over a half a billion dollars in six months on things he wanted and his family wants his money and his EX wants his money and his chef wants to tell what he knows and there will be a billion people watching the funeral. There have been over 2 and 1/2 million downloads for his songs this week- like you won't be able to get his music ten years from now and on top of all of this, Neverland may become the new Graceland. Now I see on tv that some woman says that Michael Jackson's head showed up on the trunk of her tree the day that he died and it sort of looks like Jesus too and she says "they are basically the same, they are both important icons."OK, what is wrong with our world anyhow??? Is this what the media has done to people's brains? No Doctor, No soldier giving his life, no nurse, no humanitarian nor any charity worker would ever get this kind of attention (and most of these people made NO money doing what is right and there is something wrong with this whole thing - I don't get this victim mentality that our media portrays for someone so gifted and who had so much and so much more potential. I am praying that God watches out over his children but what hope do they have being hounded by the media too? -Mary Lou

If You Are Signed Up For the BEND Class This Week, Prepare to Have Alot of FUN building houses and doing stories...

2009-07-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

So last week, I handed in a large castle quilt with a mote (is that how you spell that pool around a castle?) to be quilted and I think it is ready today. I still have loads of stuff to put on but so far there are quilters with tiaras in every window and lots of other fun things including a Bernina sewing machine (mine) and a troll under the draw bridge. So, I have started a few other quilts. I am planning on doing a book called "Hoidy Toidy Houses" and have about 3/4 of it written. It is so much fun! This is just a small part of a quilt before the people, animals and fun details get appliqued on. Looking forward to giving out the tiaras and enjoying the week at BJ's. See you in a few days!

A Gift of Love

2009-07-04T23:15:00.000-07:00

So, I think I showed you the angel I painted for a friend who is going through a really sad time and grieving. This painting had messages of friendship, angels, hope and love.
I gave it to my talented friend Mel, who turned it into a pillow and sent it to the person who I think needed it. I thought it might be a nice idea for you to share with someone you love. If you click on the photo, you might be able to read some of the sayings.

A closeup of the things I painted into the angel's dress

This backing fabric that I happened to have on my trip was perfect and hey, what could be better than cheddar fabric for the piping?

AND THE WINNERS FOR COMMENTING ON MY BLOG ARE.....

2009-07-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

I have 15 winners-I was going to choose 12 and then my Grandkids just kept grabbing papers-this is going to break my bank as summers are slow on the website. :0) But congrats to the following people who need to send their snail mail address's to Lattegirl@aol.com

THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING

Tinkquilts,

Sandi from Vancouver,BC

Patty from Southern California (I will recognize your email)

Woolensails

Karen Schmucker

Sharon from Camano Island

Rubyhaze

Kank

Brookeflynn

Gwendiequilts

Nancy from Philadelphia (I will recognize your email)

Jan Richards

Rhondimullens

Dee from Mankato, Minnesota (I will recognize your email)

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR COMMENTS DO FOR ME AND I FEEL LIKE I AM NOT WASTING MY TIME BLOGGING-PLEASE KEEP COMMENTING AND IF I COULD AFFORD IT, I WOULD SEND EVERYONE A PRIZE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

My Garden makes me Happy Today........those Roses and hidden secrets!

2009-07-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

MY MOST FAVORITE FLOWER THIS YEAR IS THESE MIXED ROSES! LOVELY!

This is a folk art angel I bought years ago in Sisters. Her hair is a vegetable steamer...she is quite pleasant and the ivy loves her.......

a VIEW LOOKING AT MY FLOWER GARDEN -KIND OF JULY 4TH (ISH)

There is always something in bloom and now it is the Maltese cross plants and some other things

LIKE ROSES- my goodness my roses are lovely and give me such pleasure........

SOFT PINK AND YELLOW......AWESOME

CORAL THAT YOU SHOULD SEE IN PERSON......

THIS ROSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO BEAUTIFUL AND HAS DOZENS OF ROSES ON IT AT ANY ONE TIME......

This fellow hides in one of my bottle trees-the kids know that if you look close, you can find all kinds of surprises in the yard.....

The bottles even hide nicely in the bottle tree........

Another view of one of the gardens in the back

This bottle tree has new trumpet vine planted around it to replace the ones that died this winter....note the nice bird house that the little birds love to have their babies in......

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LITTLE MINI TRIP AROUND MY BACKYARD........

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT

2009-07-02T01:37:00.000-07:00

Hi Friend,
This week I asked my Aunt to send me a couple of cookie recipes that were my Grandmother's. She did such a lovely thing. She photocopied the recipe cards that had my Grandmother's writing on them. I started thinking about this seriously today and what that hand writing means to me and wishing I had my Mother write things (which I had intended to do) for some additions to my story quilts. I wish I had followed through and had my Mother write out a couple of recipes, a piece of paper that said "I Love You", a little list of things she loved and was greatful for etc.
I want my daughter's to write for me and I have some other relatives and dear friends I am going to ask for a handwritten recipe from.
I am telling you this because I think that you might like to think about this also. Someday someone you love will not be here and wouldn't you love to look at something they had handwritten? With this ever fast paced world we live in, it is nice to see handwriting and to think how individual it is and lovely. We need to keep ever mindful of the things that matter and are lovely right in front of us because the media and our outside elements are taking those things away and we are missing so many blessings right in front of us. I am telling you this because YOU are my friend and I do so appreciate you stopping by.
I will be selecting (out of a box) ten names tomorrow to send fat quarters to to the lucky ten people that commented in the last couple of weeks and shared this blogsite with friends.
Happy Fourth of July and today Happy Canada day to you special Canadians.

TWO OPENING LEFT FOR MY CLASS AT BJ'S QUILT BASKET IN BEND NEXT WEEK!

2009-06-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

So we got a whole new group of sign up's for my class and there are two slots open for the workshop. Come and enjoy the class and on Saturday (free day) go and see the Sister's show. I sure plan to! We will have alot of creativity and fun going....come and join us. See the "House that Jack Built" quilt on the right column and click on it for info! Hope to see you there

Wow, summertime gives me the "grins"-that sunshine does something wonderful

2009-06-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

OK, so I got up early today and watered the yard. We still have hoses and like to water. Maybe we are old fashioned or just weird. But we do love our yard and the privacy and feel of the whole thing. This sign hangs by my door and I love it. I love anything French. By the way I have good friends who are in Europe right now and loving it. My friend Mel is on her way to Wimbleton with her family , Molly is on her way to England to buy a new hat for a wedding, Marie is in Munich which really delights me because she loves it as much as I did -and my friend Nancy is in Spain visiting all of the Museums I long to see one of these days. All of these places have such a rich history of art to offer to the world. And I would like to add that I have always found Europe a friendly place. Spain, Italy and Scandenavia are on my list to visit before I die. I hope I make it. :0)
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SO, my friend Pam Hansen and I attended the Idaho quilt show in Coeur d'Alene yesterday. Pam checked out the quilting up close and I checked out the color and the stories. Such Fun!

I loved this quilt because I used to play marbles when we went to visit my Grandparents in British Columbia often. The maker of this quilt said her Mother modeled for this picture when Norman Rockwell painted it and he took her out for a soda afterwards. Isn't it wonderful? Such a great story!

I believe that this quilt was from "Piece o'cake" book. The one thing I noticed at the quilt show was there was alot of quilts that did not give credit to the designer. There was an expecially glaring one that was from a Barbara LaValley painting and it was a cute quilt but a total knock off and NO credit given to the artist who originated the design. This is so wrong. Maybe she didn't know.

I loved this block.....I love red anyway and thought this was wonderful....great quilting too.

Talk about using great color! Wow. I loved each block. Thought you might enjoy being inspired here too! Below is another block from the quilt....so pretty.

The quilt below is from a pattern and I think it is wonderful. I love Asian influences in quilts.

I have had the quilt below on my blog before but since it is so good, I am showing it again. It is done by Jean Van Bochel and she is a real artist. This is a house she used to live in.

The boat below is also Jean's. It looks just like a photo.

I think the crazy quilt below is wonderful. It was done by the featured artist who I did not know.

WOW the quilt below was amazing.

I love anything (mostly) Americana. Isn't the quilt below pretty?

I thought the quilt below was clever and knew you might enjoy it too.

The quilt below has great quilting and piecing and applique. Those Idaho girls know how to quilt!

So, I painted my entryhall a bright green that I love. This little vase sits on the way out my door.
As a gift, my friend Cherise gave me a large bunch of awesome (fake) cherries. I put them in my angels arms in my entry hall. The thing on the right is the rudder from an old whirleygig.

So, when I was in Tahoe, I started painting a little thing called "I miss the 60's." You can see below how it is progressing and now all of the words are complete so it will be quilted and then beaded. What fun!

Above is the beginning.....and.....

below is how it progressed....stay tuned for the finished product. Hope your summer is great!

Just bought Tiaras for the Bend Class during the Sisters Show

2009-06-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Just put tiaras in a safe place for when I come to Bend to teach the house class. I am just finishing up a castle with girls with tiaras inside the windows, a troll and lots of whimsy and fun. Can't wait to show it to the girls in the class. If you are taking the class during the Sisters show, please comment here! There are a few spots left...don't miss out on a cool class with alot of handouts and ideas. :-+ See the "Jack" quilt on the right column and click on the quilt for info.

I WANNA GO BACK

2009-06-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.billsretroworld.com/RETROLIFE.HTM

My friends sent me this site and I loved it and can see why I love red, plaids, cherries, dresses on little girls, aprons, hankies, cooking from scratch, old car shapes, old color pallettes, funky shapes and old towns....I am old and remember all of this great stuff.

They have marshmallow cream on this and I remember my girlfriend Maureen who loved the stuff and after school in high school, I would go over to her house and we would share a jar of marshmallow cream and she would go out to the field her dad owned and bury the jar-we did this all of the time. Years later he plowed up the field and there were broken jars everywhere...was he ever mad! Anyway, I hope you love this as much as I did.

I had another memory here that when I was young, we lived next door to the catholic church and I envied the girls who wore chapel hats to church with their dresses. You had to have your head covered there. I never see hats in any church now a days. Too bad, they were so feminine and pretty.

IS THERE ANYTHING AS PRETTY AS A BOTTLE TREE? I DON'T THINK SO.....

2009-06-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

So many of you know I have two wonderful bottle trees in my backyard. I have changed them out so that now they have only blue bottles on them. I have discovered that gin and vodka come in blue bottles. I don't know anyone who drinks gin so there I am out of luck but once in awhile one of my good friends gives me a vodka or blue wine bottle they saved. It is always a great gift for me.

Some of you wrote and said "what is the deal with the bottle trees? The deal is that during slave times people got bottles and put them on the trees because they believed that evil spirits were caught in the bottles. I just believe that they are lovely casting blue light in my garden. I used to have a collection of purple old bottles that I got rid of. Oh if only we could hang onto everything we ever had. :0) Does that sound like a hoarder? Good thing I have a small house.

Last year I went into a liquor store looking for blue bottles. I went from shelf to shelf and the guy there said " are you looking for something I can help you with?" And I said "yes I am looking for pretty blue bottles for the bottle tree in my backyard." He said "wow, that is a new one.

My friend Robyn gave me a triangle tequila bottle once and it is cool and I got a cool bottle from Ann in South Carolina that was special. Actually any bottle I get is special and Kathy, Marilyn, Brenda and Molly have both helped me with my collection too. Such fun! I recommend a bottle tree for your yard. :0)

I bought those red water bottles one year and after the winter the paint on the inside was all flakey and a mess. Darn it-they were really quite pretty. I think I have become a bottle snob. :0)

DO YOU LOVE AMISH QUILTS AS MUCH AS I DO?

2009-06-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

CHECK THIS OUT! www.thequiltcomplex.com

2009-06-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

Just wanted a happy photo to start the contest with.......

Prizes to give away- one catch.......

2009-06-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

So, things are kind of slow with the comments and so I am going to have some fat quarter giveaways to get you to respond. I have a pile of them since Kathy and I have been cutting my stash.
The deal is, you invite at least one person to view my blog, name the person and comment on anything on my blog. I am putting the names in a hat and we will have my Grandkids pull out a certain number. On July 4th, I will announce the winners and get your address's. This will be fun I promise you. GOOD LUCK!
Woolen Sails and Sandi, you already win something as you have been great about commenting.

NEW FABRICS, MORE TAHOE, SHOP I LOVED, SHOP I WON'T GO TO NEXT TIME

2009-06-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Look what you can do with the Hoochy Mama book and my "Where the Boyz Zre" fabrics from Benartex. I adore this darling quilt!

So here are some quilts made by Mari Linfesty from my "Where the Boyz Are" fabricline from Benartex. Darling and lots of dogs and trucks and plaids and boys colors-I love this line.......

Please ask for this line at your local quilt shop.

So once Mari made quilts out of the boyz line, she did a fabulous quilt out of the "Party Time" line of mine and using the Hoochy Mama book, she did these wonderful funky flying geese. Mari is very creative and she is also very fun. Isn't it wonderful the way you can use this line of fabrics for a positive/negative look? WONDERFUL!

We cannot grow things like the plant below (where I live) and I loved the beauty of this!

Below is the lovely Miss Mel in painting lala land. :0)

Mel did her little girl for a pillow for her home and below was a scene for a pillow also (Mel's)

Below is an angel I did for a friend who is going through a really bad time.

Who doesn't love sunflowers?

Loved these two guys outside a store.

MY MOST FAVORITE SHOP! RUBICON in Tahoe. Awesome stuff and awesome people too. I will put this on my list anytime I go back there. I bought an great rooster-stay tuned.

The girls look at a handmade quilt that is a Navaho pattern at Rubicon.

Below was another shop with nice things but not the friendliest. Friendly goes a long way.

I thought a better sign might have been "Keep Tahoe Quilted."

Tahoe, Friendship, A Hostess with the Mostest, PAINT, good food at the RED HUT, laughter and summer is here! I am happy.

2009-06-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

So, I packed my bags with clothes and some painting supplies for a week of fun and art in Tahoe.

Molly brought us all flowers from Hawaii for our hair.
Six Friends have a fabulous time painting, eating at the Red Hut, laughing, shopping, talking, planning and designing in beautiful Tahoe at Cherise's Mother's mansion on the lake. How lucky were we? VERY lucky.

This is a photo of the front yard where we stayed. It was lovely getting up in the morning, having coffee and enjoying the beauty that God created and Lynn (Cherise's Mom) works hard to maintain in between her tennis and golf-she is 68 and she puts us all to shame. The little boy in the background is Cherise's 2 year old Grandson. He was fun, darling and entertaining.

The flowers in Tahoe are wonderful right now and I thought this photo of the flower and Cherise were equally as beautiful.

We actually started out with four friends earlier in the week until the others could join us and this was out outing to buy Red Hut jackets from Cherise's friends who own the Red Hut. I am sold on their darling t-shirts-everyone in my family got at least one. :0)

Here are Linzee, Cherise and Mel after a lovely walk on the beach one morning.

Cherise and I having breakfast at the Red Hut the first morning. I am still half asleep.

Here are the girls in a photo while we are shopping in Truckee (which is close to Squaw Valley)-great shopping, restaurants and beauty.

So, this week we painted on canvas and cotton and other stuff and we learned how to mix a small amount of paint in each little well so we don't waste paint....well, I guess Mel LOVED green so she didn't follow the rules as closely. :0)

I am busy painting my background while Lynn Cherise's Mom cleans up, this was the perfect place to paint and be inspired.

Robyn painted this cat with the goldfish-these are just the beginning photos of our work....

This is the beginning of a painting that Molly did. I was working on ideas for the bags for my retreats here in Idaho next year- they will be cool!

NOTE- the design above as with all of my designs is copyrighted (may do bags and other fun stuff) Marylouweidman.C09
I am doing a series of these and have a huge full size quilt appliqued that is underway for showing. I was a hippie in the 60's and want to show why I miss those years-this turned out darling when it was completed. Stay tuned.............

Cherise has two darling and well mannered girls. I did the drawing and she did the painting and it turned out wonderful! This was the beginning

Mel as usual was the most prolific. She did two wallhangings, a bag, and an apron. Plus she took my angel home to make a pillow into for a gift for a friend of mine who is sad.

This was Linzee's piece and it is her backyard. It turned out really cool. AND she loves applique and she did all kinds of little yoyo's. Very fun week for her and us!

I loved this photo-the shop isn't going any longer but I loved the sign anyhow.....

The bathroom wall at the Red Hut- I loved how things are falling out of one of the purses-clever!

Jack came to the airport with his Dad to pick me up, he spent the night and today his sister came over to spend the day-I was tired but elated at spending time with my 2 little Grandkids.....

Mary Lou Hosts Her First retreats in 2010! Get OUT of THE BOX!

2009-06-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

So, I put my cash where my mouth is and have dates for my retreats next year in sunny Post Falls Idaho. The location is between Spokane Washington (airport destination) and Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

May 1,2 and 3rd we will be creating an awesome (original) quilt with ALL THINGS HOOCHY. We will be working on blocks, flower power flowers, dogs and cats, and many other surprises that are brand new to this fun and creative technique. We will have all kinds of prizes and homemade desserts everyday along with other fun things you won't find other places.

August 20,21,22,23,24 we will have a story quilt class! This will be after my new book called "Out of the Box" is released and we will be using alot of the creativity excercizes in the workshop. If you want to stretch as an artist and quilter this class is for you. I will have further information in two weeks. Stay tuned and keep checking back. I expect these to fill fairly fast.

Above are the buildings we will be using for the workshop. This is a wonderful art center. I took Susan Shei's class here and was so impressed with the light, the kitchen and the grounds I had to plan my own retreats!
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My flower garden and yard is growing by leaps and bounds. What joy it brings to me to come back and enjoy nature and the work we have put in.

This bike was given to me by my daughter for Mother's Day several years ago. It was for a wine display. I love it. I haven't planted flowers in the pots yet but I will be soon.

Just one of my bottle trees before the vines grow up and around it. I love blue bottles!