Archive for April, 2009

My Garden: The Last Week in April

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

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This time of year I spend more time in the garden than quilting, thus my report.

Last year we were in a terrible drought. (The lake that was in the news in Georgia is in the next county over.) We were on total water restrictions, so we planted nothing, moved nothing… and now we’re doing double duty this spring. But we are NOT complaining. We’ve been getting at least and inch of rain each week. Happiness is!

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This is the entrance from the driveway to the backyard. The path leads to the pond and the deck and porch.

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Native dogwoods and azaleas in the front yard.

I should have  taken a picture of the manure pile. It’s going down.

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This is what you see when you pull in the driveway. Can’t guarantee Rimsky will be there each time though. Mr. Scaredy Cat. We just planted blue daze and angelonia in the bed and added another pyracnatha to match the one that you can just see to the left in front of the sundial.

Time for another trip to the nursery. (Blossom and Bloom)

~Jodie

Visit to Winterset

Friday, April 24th, 2009

The day after taping Love of Quilting at Iowa Public Television (see last post) I spent the day at our offices in Winterset, Iowa.

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The Fons & Porter shop is the second building from the right. The editorial offices are above, and customer service is at the back of the building.

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This is the Court House which is across the street from the shop. It’s in the center square of the town. Winterset truly has small town charm.

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The conference room is upstairs at the front of the building. The view of the town square and Court House is delightful. What a great place to have meetings to discuss all the wonderful new things we are cooking up!

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And last but not least, the shop. The APQS long arm in the back is where you just might find Marianne quilting. She’s become quite good at it!

~Jodie

Taping TV

Friday, April 24th, 2009

 

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Last week I taped two episodes of Love of Quilting with Liz Porter and Marianne Fons at Iowa Public Television in Des Moines.

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Here Marianne and I are looking at my Dimples and Duckies quilt which we taped together. I designed the fabric and had it printed by Spoonflower. The Dimples fabrics are by Anover, designed by Gail Kessler.

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 Jo Morton taped an episode between mine. Here are (l to r) Cindy Hathaway who is the floor director for Love of Quilting, Jo Morton, Ande Coyle from IPTV and Liz. The Star of Bethlehem quilt on the wall was made by Cindy. You can find the pattern in the Jan/Feb issue of Love of Quilting. The fabrics were reproduced exactly from the original quilt at the Quilt Study Center in Nebraska by Andover Fabrics. It’s gorgeous! Now you know what Cindy writes so cheerily on Facebook every morning that she’s off to play with fabric and thread.

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These are some of Jo’s quilts which she brought for her segment. Jo loves little blocks and has some clever ways of constructing them. Watch for her episode in the 1400 series!

~Jodie

Check Out This Wallpaper!

Friday, April 17th, 2009

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This is wallpaper! Looks like pages from a fabric sample book. Yummers!

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When I emerged from discovering it in the ladie’s rest room at Keepsake Quilting Deb Comeau the store manager smiled and said, “The pattern was discountinued long ago.” She didn’t have to ask when had me so worked up.  I bet she could sell bolts of it!

~Jodie

Spring in Georgia

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

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We’re already past daffodils and into the second round of cherries blooming. The wood hyacinths are almost done. Love those happy little guys!

Saturday we got our first pickup load of plants. We couldn’t go into the glass greenhouse at Blossom and Bloom–our favorite place to get plants–because the hail Friday night had broken some of the glass which was hanging from the roof. Yikes!

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My crabapple espalier bloomed while I was in New Hampshire and then was stormed upon, so I missed getting a picture. But the sugar snaps are up in front of it and only half bunny eaten. And you can just see radishes coming up in front.

This espalier pattern is called a Begian Fence. I grew one at a house in Virginia using apples and loved it, so had to do so again here.

~Jodie

Taping at Keepsake Quilting

Monday, April 13th, 2009

 

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What a store!

Ivan Machiz, videographer, Jean Nolte, editor of Love of Quilting and producer of the PBS show, and I arrived at Keepsake Quilting Monday morning to tape for several purposes. I had visited Keepsake about ten years ago when they were in a smaller location. Talking about expanding–oh my! These shots don’t show show the fabric avenues and cross streets.

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As we were reviewing a piece of video we taped, the store manager Deb Comeau commented that she liked how we were making the store look big. Not difficult when there is row after row after row of FABRIC!

This store is reason enough for a quilter to be tempted to move to Centre Harbor NH!

~Jodie

Spring Cleaning Sale at ShopFonsandPorter.com!

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
ShopFonsandPorter.com Spring Cleaning Sale

ShopFonsandPorter.com Spring Cleaning Sale

If you’re looking for some discounted quilt project to keep you busy this spring be sure to stop by ShopFonsandPorter.com and check out the Spring Cleaning Sales!

Autographed Quilt Celebrities Shirt up for Auction

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

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The April online auction of Priority: Alzheimer’s  Quilts is underway. This time, in addition to some great quilts, there’s a unique item up for bidding–you can wear what you win!

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From Ami: “Sue Stewart brought this men’s XL denim shirt to the Bernina teacher reunion and asked everyone attending to autograph it (see below). Somewhere on this shirt are the signatures of these famous quilters, designers, teachers, Bernina educators, and quilting/sewing magazine editors. Thank you all for lending your names to the AAQI’s mission of fighting Alzheimer’s disease. I know the winning bidder will be inspired to create great things just wearing this shirt!

Jenny Raymond, Kimerberly Eimmo, Mary Ray, Lynda MH Faires, Pokey Bolton, Jenny Raymond, Jackie Robinson, Jodie Davis, Debra Beadles Young, Alice Kolb, Linda Stewart, Anita Shackelford, Elizabeth Spannring, Gayle Hillert, Li Hertzi, Nancy Eha, Bobbie Aug, Pat Holly, Kim Deneault, Sue Nickels, Linda Fidler, Kathy Kansier, Vickie Tracy, Claire Shaeffer, Paula Scaffidi, Kathy Delaney, Pamela Mostek, Cathie Hoover, Rochelle Harper, Elsie Campbell, Yvonne Porcella, Paula Reid, Linda McGehee, Susan Deal, Judy Hahner, Susan Stewart, Jeanette Pie, Jane Sassaman, Robbie Joy Eklow, Luana Rubin, Jane Garrison, Susan Cleveland, Jennifer Gigas, Joanie Zeir Poole, Allison Stilwell, Tracy Stilwell, Linda Teufel, Kay Hickman, Sheila Rauen, Judy Simmons, Mary Martin, Barb Valck, Susan Schrempf, Kerry White, Melody Crust, Susan Beck, Virgina A. Walton, Mary Stori, Linda Lee, Louise Cutting, Judy Neukman, Helen Gregory, Lezette Thomason, Carolyn Lowe, Mary Mashuta, Roberta Horton, Renae Haddadin, and Ami Simms (inscribed to the highest bidder)”

Bid on it now!

~Jodie