Barb just finished the Anniversaries of the Heart #10. I love this one. It has a wonderful golden glow and the frame is just the right shade.

I've been working on the pattern cover today and thought I would show you a peek. I might rephotograph the piece....the winter sunlight is a bit harsh this afternoon and maybe I need to photograph it in the early morning light. It would give it a bit more dimension.

The pattern will go to the printer this week and then we will ship it out to the distributors Jan. 7th, 2011. We plan to get the next two patterns out quickly. We originally wanted them to be in book format, but have changed the plans due to lack of time. Market is quickly approaching and we need to move on to a couple more projects.

It's quiet around here now. A bit of time to rest and remember family fun. Hope you are sitting in your easy chairs reading, stitching, or just dreaming!

Until later,

Alma

I wish I could give everyone the book by Richard Bertinet. Especially since finding out how nice this author is....he even took the time to write a comment on this blog. Can you believe it? Barb and I don't even know this man!

So glad you have been enjoying the book.
You can check out my technique and try a recipe from Dough at
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/video/2008/03/bertinet_sweetdough
Merry Christmas to Blackbird designs and all your followers.
Richard Bertinet

Barb watched the video and she said not only was it informative....but he's quite the "hunk." I'm sorry to be the one to dash Barb's fantasy...."Barb, not only does he live in England...but I saw a wedding ring on his finger as he worked the dough."

But if you happen to be the fantasizing type, he really is quite dashing. Watch the video, and when you hear his accent you will understand why Barb is thinking of baking bread too.

Ok....back to the entire reason for this post. We've got three winners. Send your shipping addresses to alma@blackbird-designs.com I have a wonderful book by Richard Bertinet to send to you.

#23 Phyllis
#55 Debra..Life is a Stitch
#132 Carmen Isaccs

Wishing all of you much happiness this Christmas season.

Until later,

Alma

I've been baking up a storm. My new thing is bread. I've just about purchased every bread cook book available. At night I look through the pages and read the recipes. I've even read the introductions and all the "before you begin to bake" information. (Usually I'm all about looking at the pictures.) The book pictured above has transformed my baking skills. Dough by Richard Bertinet. It's a must have.

My son Greg and I have learned how to make these baguettes. The dough is easy....make the dough, let it rise for an hour and shape the dough and then bake. Just kneading the dough is fun! Finally a bread you can make right before dinner. The past two nights we have sat down to warm baguettes with dinner and plan to continue to do so every night for the holidays. So tasty! My daughter Laura is going to make them next. I'm going to make sure all my kids are able to make bread before they leave after Christmas. (They are all rolling their eyes...but I don't care! Roll on baby....at least you will be able to make bread before you are 60 years old!)

I'm not even going to show you how to do this...the book comes with a DVD that you can watch. Richard Bertinet is a genius! Now I am beginning to feel confident and want to try all different kinds of bread.

I want your life transformed too!

There will be three winners....contest ends Thursday. I'm sorry but these books will ship from Amazon..so only enter if you live in the U. S. Leave a comment and it might be your lucky day!

Winners from our fabric contest part 2

#203 Valerie
#212 Kathy
#215 flop (Florence)
#232 Pajudie
#239 Gerta in Canada
#255 Catherine
#262 Kristin
#270 Anonymous (Trudy)
#282 Jill
#290 Becky K in OK
#298 Roslyn in Australia
#359 Anonymous (Miranda)
#364 Lovetoapplique Debbie
#380 Wysewoman
#395 Kathleen Brown
#400 Kaaren
#402 Tina
#404 SilkLover
#416 Barb
#420 Pam stitcher2009@gmail
#441 Kshackabq
#457 Janet
#461 Melva
#463 Tamera

Please send your addresses to alma@blackbird-designs.com

Conny from the Netherlands sent this picture today:

Yesterday I finished my Home Sweet Home quilt. Thought you would like seeing it. I loved working on this quilt!



Wishing you all time to enjoy the season!

Until later,

Alma

I'm trying to finalize a project for a magazine....I'm sending it off today and will have more time to blog after it's sent....but here are the first half of the winners.

I need to have the responses numbered. I haven't figured out how to do that yet....so I have to count them.

I spun the random number generator and here are the winners:

#2 Lizzie
#3 Staci
#9 Jenny
#15 Louise
#23 Viv
#35 Cornbreadandbeansquilting
#39 Jeannette
#47 Niina
#38 Pam 1228
#51 A.B.
#57 Melody
#73 Gretchen
#108 Patti
#111 Luned
#133 Conny's quilts
#155 Anonymous (Dec. 16 3:02pm)
#179 Cathy
#187 Carol

Will post the rest of the winners tonight!

Winners...e-mail your address to alma@blackbird-designs.com



And Anke sent this note to me today.

Read in your blog the other day and was taken by the antique sewing roll.
It’s fabric’s pattern, that has me intrigued; was it a piece left over and if so, what had been made? Or had it been salvaged from an item no longer needed or usable and if so what had that been? Like its slightly wavy/puckery looking sides.

Taken to such a degree that I tried and made one myself. Used some cotton fabric, a bit of calico, doctor’s flannel, some polyfibre fill, a bone button and a piece of twine. A fun little project and very happy with the the result.

(The pattern for the needleroll is in Garden Club our latest quilting book.)

Until tonight!

Alma

A bit of an update on Sarah's visit. We baked up a storm, started a quilt and saved time for shopping. (always a favorite!)

The picture above illustrates the finished candle (from our last posting) wrapped up and ready to give. Sarah picked couple of boxwood branches, a sprig of tallow berries, white ribbon and a cellophane bag to gave an elegant finish. It was all I could do to resist from keeping one for myself!!!




We kept the cooking projects simple. She filled this tin with goodies made for her Grandmother. Homemade marshmallows and a couple of packets of hot chocolate mix, toffee and a pretzel recipe that I will share with you tomorrow. (A quick and tasty discovery of mine! Of course, Sarah already knew about this recipe and actually showed me how she made them.)

She began a quilt. I purchased a kit at a local shop several years ago. It's Tula Pink's fabric by Moda. Here's the first block. Sarah and I have to get together again to finish this. She did great for her first sewing project.

And now, for a bit of cheer to share with you, I have 36 prizes to give out. To celebrate our new fabric line shown at fall market, we will give 4 each of these mini-cuts per winner.


Leave a comment and you could be a winner. Will announce the winners on Saturday.

Until later,

Alma

My niece Sarah is here for a visit. When she visits during the holiday season we try to do some seasonal baking and crafts. (I'm all about torturing my relatives!) This morning we worked on some candles we welcome you to "Sarah's candle shop."

We used soy wax flakes. You can purchase a 2lb. bag at Hobby Lobby or any craft store. I like soy based wax as it's easy to use and burns clean in the candle holder.

The first step is to pour the flakes into a pyrex measuring cup. Place the cup into the microwave and give it 45 sec. to a minute on high power. Take out the cup and stir the wax flakes. Microwave the flakes again until no flakes are in the liquid wax.


We purchased wick and the metal holders at the craft store too. I like the zinc lined wicks. Thread the wick through the metal holder as shown above.




Pinch the opening in the metal holder to secure the wick. (Note Sarah's cute nail treatment! She is learning how to paint motifs on her nails. I might need her to do mine.)



Place the wick into the container of your choice. Trim the wick about an inch longer than you will need.

Add a bit of hot glue on the base of the metal holder. It helps to secure it into place and keep the wick centered.

Position the wick in the base of the container. We are using some glass sheberts I picked up at an antique shop.


The zinc in the wick helps the wick stand upright. It's now ready for the wax!



The wax is melted and Sarah is adding a bit of fragrance. We chose "sugar cookie." Stir to blend the scent into the wax.


This is really easy and fun to do with teens and younger kids....all you have to do now is pour the wax.


Make several! They will be so cute with a bow and a bit of greenery around the stem. Just right for a teacher or a house warming gift....or just to bring a bit of light into the long dark evenings.


I filled a couple of empty votives from last year too. See how the wax is beginning to cool in the glass sheberts? We didn't add color to the wax. You can purchase color chips at the craft store and make your candles any color you choose. Don't forget to trim the wick after the wax has cooled.

While the wax cools, Sarah and I are heading out to Crown Center to see the Gingerbread House exhibit. Local chefs have been busy and we want to see the results!

Until later,

Alma and Sarah

Ok....I know it's been a long time since my last post. I was in the recliner for about a week, but I did eventually get out.

I took some cooking classes at the local Culinary Center of Kansas City. What a fun and relaxing way to spend a day or a couple of hours. Someone demonstrates how to make the food....you watch them cook and get to taste everything.

I've learned how to make toffee, cinnamon rolls, pasta and some sauces. After watching the chefs cook, I came home and began to experiment. I've made toffee a couple of times, and now I'm claiming to be the queen of cinnamon rolls. (After baking them one morning my family even let me win at scrabble....because now I'm the queen.) Can you believe I've never made them from scratch before?



The bread at the beginning of the post is a rustic olive bread I found in a baking cookbook. Now that I'm not too afraid of yeast I'm daring to try something new. I even experimented with cutting the bread to make a motif on top. Next time I will try a leaf or something a bit more imaginative.

One evening, when all the kids were home for Thanksgiving, I made Bolognese sauce and pasta dough. I demonstrated how to use the pasta machine to the kids and had them make the noodles. It really made a fun meal for all of us.

Mostly, I've been cleaning and getting things in order here. I had to work for about a week to get the house ready for Thanksgiving and now I'm getting my studio ready so I can work again.

My niece is coming for a visit this weekend to work on some projects. We will take pictures and share.

My big project for the next week is shown on Curious Sofa's blog. Take a look at her post for November 17. Debbie took one of her 6-7 feet metal trees and wrapped it in yarn. She's selling the one she made, along with the vintage ornaments decorating it. Believe me, if I had the money I would buy it....because it's the most whimsical tree I've seen in a long time.

The picture was taken by Debbie Dusenberry, the creative force behind Curious Sofa and used with her permission. Take a look at her site for more pictures.

The staff at Curious Sofa is the best! After helping me with instructions, I bought one of the black wire trees and now have the yarn to wrap the thing up. Will show pictures when I start and finish. I've got some vintage ornaments that will look great on this tree.

I'm back to work and will post more often!

Until later!

Alma

I'm in my recliner! After market, I just had to take some time off. I've been reading books, going out to lunch with friends, playing the piano, watching my nails grow. taking cooking classes and in general just acting like I don't have to get the house ready for the holidays. (And believe me I've got plenty of work to do....but it's hard for me to get interested in a vacuum, dust rag or even a dish washer.) Are you feeling the same? I think if anyone can get me out of a chair to make them peanut butter and toast they would be lucky! La de da ....right? Dave was hopeful there might be dinner after my great cooking class. But I think the class was more about watching someone cook a meal for me....not about me cooking.

I finally had the energy to get out my camera and check the pictures I took at market. And I knew I had to get on-line and share some fun ones with you. I know you've already seen just about everything there is to show from all the real bloggers....but just in case you missed something, here goes!

Guess who dropped by our booth at market?

Mark Lipinski! He's a favorite of ours. His sense of humor is really over the top. I love him even though he had the audacity to call me and tell me he was going to fly me to New York City for a make-over. I was so excited! (I could really use a make-over too.) Then, he casually asked,"How old are you?"

Right then I should have known trouble was brewing! I replied, "55."

He said, "Nevermind, you're too damn old. I need someone younger. Do you know anyone else I can call?"

Can you believe it? I love him nevertheless. This is really a poster of him. (One of those where it looks like he is looking at you no matter where you stand.) He wasn't able to be at market....but it was fun pretending....Hi Mark!!! Love you!!!! Would you like to come to Kansas City for a make over? Barb and I have one planned for you. hahahaha



Building a booth can be hard work. I built two stud walls and added 4 - 4' x 8' panels of homasote to cover the stud walls. The homasote panels are covered with pages from old books. Dave got involved and built a couple of ladders. One for the top that held the second ladder in place. A bit of garland, some twinkle lights and hanging candles and you get the idea!



The table was covered with a quilt of Barb's.


And guess what? We were really lucky and won a ribbon for best single booth! There are so many wonderful booths at market. (I told Dave it was because he built the ladder!)

All of the projects in the booth are in our newest book Garden Club.

The two featured quilts hanging on our back walls are done with our fabric line "Wild Rose" (Moda fabrics of course!) The only exception is Barb's dark background. It is a brown/black woven check....which is not in this fabric line. "Wild Rose" is shipping to your local quilt shop this month. Just in time for you to make one of these quilts.

Barb made this sweet basket pattern from the fabric line shown at quilt market. It's "Antique Fair" and will be released to shops next spring along with the pattern.

Go to Moda's blog and see the small movies about everyone! I did a segment for Blackbird Designs too. (I get so nervous doing those! But everyone does I guess.)

Lissa from Moda fabrics sent me some pre-cuts of our fabric line "Antique Fair." Look for a contest soon!

Until later dear friends. I promise to get out of the recliner soon.

Alma

The car is almost packed. I'm hitting the road again. First I'm driving to Spring, TX for a class at 3 Stitches. Should be lots of fun! Pam, the shop owner, really knows how to have a great time. Barb isn't able to come to this class as she couldn't get away from work. (Darn it anyway!) But she stitched the project so she will be in Spring, TX. in spirit. The pincushion above is our class project. Love the long bird legs!

My van is full of everything needed for our booth at quilt market. So, after a quick visit in Spring, I'm driving on to Houston. Barb will be driving down on Friday. She's bringing the quilt books. (We really need those or we won't have anything to sell.)

Couple of quick answers to questions:

1. A couple of people have asked about the above quilt. It will be in our new book Garden Club.



2. The above needle roll will be in the book too.

3. Although Barb and I are taking a break from teaching next year, we are not taking a break from doing books and patterns. We will continue printing quilt and cross stitch books and patterns and maybe even add a rug hooking booklet.

I'm taking my camera to quilt market. Hope to have some good pictures for you when I return.
Will be back in about a week.

Until later dear friends!

Alma

Barb and I are just about ready to go to quilt market in Houston, Texas. Our book went to the printer today and we should have copies by next Monday. I am thrilled to say the least. I'm always glad to make a deadline. This baby is 84 pages! (Being an old labor and deliver nurse I feel like I can call this project a baby....lots of labor and at the end of the process you are thrilled with what you take home...or in this case, what we will take to market.)

I had my first baby the "natural" way. By the time I was almost done with the labor part and ready to have the baby, they could have thrown me off of the top of the building and I wouldn't have cared one bit. I would have screamed, "thank you!!!!!" all the way to the ground. (Luckily, this project wasn't that painful.)

When Barb and I go to market, we stand in our booth and look like we are smart, organized and very creative. But it's a lie.....we have the help of many wonderful people to get us anywhere. WE could never make our deadlines without them. Edie McGinnis, our editor is one of the people that makes us look and sound good. I know I've written a small paragraph about her help in our books....but really, it seems inadequate when I think about what she does for us. Her creative writing skills add much to our text. It was her idea to replace my subtitle "Quilts and Projects Inspired by Our Love of the Garden with her catchy phrase "A Bouquet of Quilts and Projects". Much better, right?

Jane Miller does our technical edits. I'm so grateful for her. No one wants me to do a technical edit and no one is calling Barb and asking her to do one either. Plenty of people are calling Jane though.

Jeanne Zyck our quilter....we really don't know why she answers the phone when we call. (She has caller ID too!) She gets the quilt from us in the evening and has it ready the next day for us. And it looks fabulous! She quilted 5 quilts for us in 5 days so we could make our deadline.

Eric Sears does our drawings....he was up until all hours last night getting the final drawings done. And he never complains. (You are probably wondering where we find these folks!)

Alissa Christianson charts all of our cross stitch patterns. She never fails to get them to us quickly. We wouldn't have any cross stitch patterns without her. Barb and I don't have a clue how to chart a pattern on the computer.

Barb's Mom is in her 80's. She works all hours of the day and night trying to get the applique and sewing done for Barb. Barb couldn't get it all done without her mom's help.

And many thanks to our printer. You have no idea how I abuse those folks. I've been working with Kelly Shanks and Terry Ward from Boelte Hall for about 11 years. Terry even offered to drive the books to Houston if they couldn't get them done in time.

And last but certainly not least....we thank all of you for your readership, suggestions, support and for sharing your projects with us. We are inspired by your work and grateful for all of you!

More about our fabric line in the next couple of days!

Until later,

Alma

My car pulled into the garage last night around 9:30pm. The leaves were just turning while Barb and I were in Spring Green, WI. What a wonderful trip we had!!! We really enjoyed Jeanne Horton of Country Sampler, her shop gals, Maggie, Stacie and all of the wonderful women who came to the retreat. Just wish we could have been there longer!!!!

I've been taking some pictures for our new book Garden Club. I went out into my yard to see what has gone to seed and what's still blooming. I found my last two roses....I can hardly believe that summer is over and winter is fast approaching. (The small orange fruit are rose hips. My husband and I picked them earlier this summer from roses at our local movie theater. We get them when the movie is over and it's dark outside. I pretend I'm helping them by removing the hips so the shrubs will bloom again. I hope the security guards don't get us for picking them....I would hate to see Dave spend time in jail. I need him working in the garage! hahaha...you know I'm kidding right?)

Thought you might like to see the latest Anniversary of the Heart pattern. This one will be at the printer tomorrow...so will be in the shops in 2-3 weeks.

Barb did this one for her grand niece J.J. I love the puppy and the moth. Perfect for a sweet little girl!

When I got home there was a couple of boxes waiting for me from Moda. Our newest fabric line has arrived ready for us to begin making some samples for market. I can hardly wait to begin working with this line! Will show you some pictures soon.

Wanted to let you know that we are going to release a book in Feb. with all of the cross stitch patterns from our class projects....so not to worry about missing out.

Thinking of you all and hoping you are saving a bit of time to relax, stitch and enjoy the weather.

Until later,

Alma

My car is loaded up and I'm almost ready to leave for Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI. Barb and I are teaching a quilt and cross stitch class. We will be gone for 4 days.

I wanted to write a quick note and say don't give up on this blog! I know there hasn't been much excitement here on-line but I will have more time to post after quilt market. (Oct. 30)

Barb and I had a great time in Park City, UT. We were there for the Shepherd's Bush retreat. The small sewing tray pictured above was our class project. Just the right place to keep your scissors and other small sewing items. The frame is from Sharon Crescent's line. (Crescent Colours) The silk floss is from Thread Gatherer.

The small quilt above is one of our Country Sampler projects. It's perfect for a winter table or hung on the wall. We also give a sewing guide for a much larger quilt.


The small sampler above is the cross stitch project for the retreat.

Hope you are enjoying this lovely weather. Great time to get out and walk and collect acorns and autumn leaves!

Until later,

Alma

We are getting ready to print 2 new patterns. Waiting for the Harvest just spooky enough for the season! Barb gave me the projects late last night. We did a "open the car door and exchange things" in Panera's parking lot. (We really meet in a lot of great places. Barb says it looks like we are doing drug deals....but we would never do that....just cross stitch and quilting deals.) She just finished the last stitches....and I had just left a mystery book club meeting so a late night meeting was perfect. (Will have to write more about my new ventures in attending a book club later....)


The second pattern is Flowers of the Field. Both the small sewing bag and pincushion are in this pattern. I love the soft faded colors of this one. I'm still working on the covers...so there might be some small changes in the patterns...but they will be ready to go to the printer early Monday morning. Look for them in your local shops in about 2-3 weeks!


Hope you all have a great weekend!

Until later,

Alma

Barb and I discussed some ideas for our next class over lunch on Saturday. She thought we could show a sewing exercise book we purchased several years ago. The book was a class project for girls at the Kildard Place School in Ireland. These schools were established throughout the country to educate the poor. The idea was that every individual should have an opportunity to read, write and do arithmetic. Just because you were poor didn't mean you had to be illiterate too. The young girls also had classes to develop their sewing skills.

We know this sewing exercise book was considered important to the young woman as it was not left behind when she immigrated to Australia. I don't imagine she was able to take many things with her on the ship....but she made room for this item. It then traveled from Australia to Kansas where it is at home for now.


The sampler has suffered a bit through the years and I thought I should sew it to another piece of linen to prepare it for another trip.

Then I noticed the pin. I thought, "What the heck!" How had I not seen this before?

The pin that held the sampler in place on the book page is rusted to the linen!



This reminded me of a quilter that came into the shop where I worked years ago. She held up her quilt block and showed me a couple of her pins that had rusted to her quilt fabric. (She hadn't worked on her project for quite a while!) She asked me what she should do.....now I'm in the same mess. What to do?

I think I'm just going to leave it for now.

Back to the sewing machine!

Until later,

Alma