How Does Your Garden Grow?

It's ready to go!  The new pattern and it's floss kit are up on the website and if you haven't received your email announcement about it....you must not be on the mailing list! YIKES!!  We can't have THAT!!! 

I just love this cheerful quilt........It's going to International Quilt Market with Nireko from Lecien, so if you're going to be there...pay it a visit in their booth and say "Hi!" from me!!

xo  Meg

It's almost time for the Autumn Retreat!!

 We've been working on all of the retreat surprises and spiffing up the studio & the house to get ready for everyone's arrival on the 22nd.  We're all SO EXCITED!!!  As you can see... we're also getting alot of help from Honeybunny.......every piece of wool we'll be using for this kit has been 100% quality control checked for napping comfort!!!  It has his stamp of approval (and a few hairs!)

A couple of nights ago (from L) Cindy, me, Jan and Sheila went to the "Girl's Night Out" Halloween  event held at Beaverbark Garden Center (OH....it's so much more than just that!).  There were about.......hmmmmmm....... a jillion??? people there!!  We had so much fun!  Before we left we got our picture taken in front of this old hearse with the tall, young vampire behind us. 

It was so funny because after the picture was taken and the "photographer" started to leave our vampire said in a very UN-vampirish voice to him.........."Thanks grampa!"..........SO cute!!!

Next, I just took some pictures in the house...just a little bit of Halloween deco!  Have you made Zelda's Fancy Hat?  I LOVE mine!

Yes... I'm MADLY in love with mercury glass!  It seems to be a new addiction..........like I NEEDED another one! LOL!!

 I just love this tiny little pumpkin pail!  There's something so cute about mini things....don't know why?!.....maybe that's why mini cupcakes are so darn appealing..........it's a conspiracy!!!

The next picture is just a "teaser"!!!  This is part of the stitchery we're going to be doing at the retreat.  I've decided that I'm going to draw up several more blocks on this theme and put them together in a quilt for release next spring.  I'll show you the rest of the stitchery after the Stitching Sojourn Retreat is over!!  I will say tho.... it's alot of FUN!!! (do you like the candy cornflowers???)

We're working feverishly to get the new pattern "How Does Your Garden Grow?" released.  In fact Sheila is working today (Saturday) at printing them up...yes, she's a VERY good girl! LOL!!!!  We'll be shipping to the distributors and then we'll send out info about the pattern to shops next week and get the pattern up on the website.  I'll send out a little message to let you know it's ready!
I hope you're having a GREAT start to Autumn!  Talk to you later!
xox  Meg

Beautiful La Conner Day!

Well, La Conner was gorgeous!  The weather was perfect and there were farm stands EVERYWHERE with pumpkins and the last of the harvest fruits and veggies.  The roads around were lined with sunflowers and black eyed susans and they all had signs that I'd want hanging in my LIVINGroom!!!  La Conner, itself, looks like a seaside old town on the coast of Maine or something!  Crab pots were stacked here and there and almost every building looked like it came straight from a movie set!

The class was so much fun!  Everybody was so nice...AS USUAL!!  We had a teaching assistant (Jane from Anchorage, AK) who was SO much help and made the day go off without a hitch!  I love that the photos all show the sun pouring in the windows onto everyone.

After the class, we went for a short drive to Anacortes on Fidalgo Island (Check out a map of Washington, we're right off the San Juan Islands) and I took a few pictures of the water...(I PROMISED I'd get water pics this time!!)  I got kind of turned around so I don't know if we're looking inland or toward the San Juans in these..........HEY!  I'd been in class all day and I was TIRED!!!  .........well, sun sets in the west...SO, we'll have to do some CSI type forensic photo work to figure that out! LOL!!!

I'm sorry, I'm sort of punchy from working on writing "How Does Your Garden Grow?" all day.  The diagrams are BRUTAL!!  Hope you enjoy this pattern!  It will release next week (if all goes as planned that is!)
Talk to you later!
xo  Meg

La Conner Here I Come!

We're packing up the trunk show, making floss kits, putting together door prizes and goody bags and heading for the La Conner Quilt Fest!  I'll be teaching there this weekend and I just can't wait to see everybody!  I wish that Sheila had been able to come with me to help with the class but she's busy with kids etc.... DARN!  I'd bring Cindy along, but she doesn't stitch or sew.....so much for THAT!  LOL!!!!  I'd have asked Jan, but she's going to be with her sisters all weekend and I don't want to ruin her "girl's weekend"!  So.... it's just me..................maybe I could get Phil to sit in on the class????  He HAS to have picked up SOME stitching skills over the years, even if just by osmosis!?  No.... he refuses to learn to stitch............just CAN'T understand why NOT!! LOLOL!!
I'm sure that it's going to be just gorgeous crossing the mountains (lots of fall color!) and we'll be staying at a campground that's right on the water... YAY!!!  I'm meeting a friend there and we're going to go to the quilt show on Saturday!  Usually I miss all the fun because I'm in classes the whole time, so this will be a real treat!  The show is focusing on applique (don't know quite why they invited ME to teach!  I think somebody made a mistake?.... well, I guess I do a LITTLE bit of applique.... hmmmm......)  ANYWAY!!!!  I LOVE applique and can't wait to see these quilts!!  Every one will probably be a work of art.  I'm so excited about it I just CAN'T STAND IT!!  Maybe I'll see YOU there???! Tho I guess you'd walk right by me without saying "Hi!" because I don't plan on wearing a big sign on my back that says "I'm Meg Hawkey".  I'll just have to say hello to EVERYbody and hope I get lucky?..... or get arrested for being obnoxious???........maybe that's not such a good plan.

We've been busily preparing for the first Stitching Sojourn Retreat.  Today I tried out a brunch recipe that Jan gave me...I brought it out to the studio so that Cindy and Sheila could taste test it this morning and it got a "thumbs up"!..... Cindy & I think we're going to have to doll it up a little bit tho....can't leave well enough alone...EVER!!! LOL!!!  We're having so much fun preparing and planning... I wish you could ALL come and visit!
See you in La Conner! 
xo  Meg

Time passes SO quickly!

The past few weeks have just flown by..... I've totally lost track of time!  I looked at the last post and realized that it's been almost an entire MONTH since I last wrote!!!  We've all been so busy.  Between finishing and writing the new "How Does Your Garden Grow?" quilt and pattern, getting ready for the retreat in October, classes, and doing all that "guilt" cleaning (the cleaning you only do when you realize that somebody's coming to visit? LOL!!!), decorating for Autumn..........oh, and a million OTHER things....there just aren't enough hours in each day!  Add to that Sheila and Cindy's childrens' school and sports activities and we're up to our EYEBALLS!!!  We talked it over today and decided that we need a week..... all to ourselves that nobody else has.... just to catch up.  That could only happen in a movie!  Yeah, we need a "Groundhog Day" week!  Just today we had the photographer here to take pics of "How Does Your....", 2 copier repairmen (not at the same time... 2 separate calls!), 1 computer dude, and a partridge in a pear tree!!!    

THESE GIRLS NEED A BREAK!!!!!

The pictureis one of the first test shots that Rich (Breshear...our photographer) took this morning.  I'm just SO in love with this quilt!  The pattern should be ready to release in a couple weeks. I'll send out a little note about it when it becomes available!

Later!  xox  Meg

One step closer to Spring!

I tried SO hard to finish the center block this weekend!!!  I still have most of the verse to stitch...PROMISE I'll have it done tomorrow!  This has been so much fun!  I really like the little circle flowers done in a buttonhole stitch.  I'm thinking that we may need something done to go along with this, that uses JUST those flowers.....Hmmmmmmm...........!
xox  Meg

Time to think Spring??

The newest patterns will be up on the website at the first of the week, so now it's time to start working away on.....well,.... the NEWEST new patterns! LOL!!! I have all of the patterns drawn up for our first Stitchery Sojourn Retreat in October and Sheila has started stitching on them (they're SO MUCH FUN but a BIG secret!) and now work on the new patterns for Spring has begun! This is a little preview of "How Does Your Garden Grow?" (as in..."Mary, Mary, quite contrary etc....") It's so bright, sunny and cheerful it makes me happy just to look at it. I'm going to start stitching today... hopefully I'll have it done by Monday and I can start on the pieced blocks (they'll have some stitching on them too!) Then we can send it to the quilter so that it will be ready to release in October!                                                                                                            It's so exciting to start new projects! I feel like a big breath of fresh air just swept through the studio!!
xoxoxoxoxo! Meg

Des Moines!!!...the one in Washington!

When you start off your weekend by passing through THIS gorgeous scenery, you know it's only going to get better!! This is our beautiful Mt. Rainier in all it's glory. This is where I most love to be. It's just amazingly beautiful here! We passed by on our way over the mountains to the class at Carriage Country Quilts in Des Moines.....(beautiful too! Right on Puget Sound...sparkling water...sailboats....big ships............nope! Didn't get a SINGLE picture!) You can see the water right out of the front windows of the shop too! The class was held at a church nearby, so I didn't get to visit the shop until after class. Isn't this just the cutest shop you've ever seen?

Now.... for the class!!! The girls at Carriage Country Quilts really know how to spoil everybody! I think that even if you didn't really care much about the "class"... it would be well worth it to show up just for the flowers....and the food....and all the little (and NOT so little!) special touches that they provide!

Aren't these beautiful??? They were freshly picked from two of the CCQ ladies' gardens, and were arranged in these lush bouquets ALL OVER the room!!!

These were the "goody bags" they had made for everyone attending the class..... I got SO lucky!...they gave ME one TOO!!!!! These are pillowcases....all of them were different...there are snacks and provisions inside (their kits were in here too) and then it was all tied up with a wired ribbon bow. On top of each pillowcase "bag" was a hand embroidered, stuffed nametag! Susan (you'll see her pictured later) had designed and made ALL of them!!!! They're SO pretty!!! Such a perfect, special little touch, huh?? I love mine! I think I'll find somewhere to pin it up in the studio, maybe on a lamp?

I'm sorry....caught everybody eating in the next photo! This is "naughty girl corner"....no, not "knot-y girl"...these ladies are actually trouble makers! But in a very good way! They met at a class a few years ago and are BFF's now! Isn't that cool???

Busy, busy! Everybody's getting to work!.......it's taking a while to go through everything in the goody bags tho!

More lunch scenes.....or was this the continental breakfast? Bagels, muffins, homemade cinnamon rolls, orange juice....WOW!..... everybody finished just in time for lunch!!....by the way...come hungry to a CCQ class....just a hint! LOL!!!

Carol and Sandy checking out the new designs I'd brought...

HERE is Susan (who designed and made the nametags) and Kathleen showing off their pretty smiles!

OK!!... it's time for the afternoon snack!..........after all, we're all getting weak from lack of food (lunch WAS a whole 2 hours ago!!) and all this hard work! Emily and Wendy are all ready to make rootbeer floats!!! YES!!! Rootbeer floats!!.... They also had little cupcakes in different flavors.......not positive what they were.... I was busy and didn't get over there until all that were left were the rootbeer float and orange cremecicle flavors. They were REALLY good! I didn't even tell you what they did for lunch!!!!..........oh, it was really all about the food!! These girls need to put together a cookbook!!! Thank you to Debbie for such an enjoyable day! I didn't get a single picture with Debbie in it!.... darn!!!

Here's the aftermath of my trunk show.... ready to pack up again. What a mess!!!

Thank you to all the lovely ladies who came to the class, and thank you, THANK YOU to Debbie and all the girls from CCQ for such a special day!

XOX Meg

New Designs

Hi again!

I've had lots of questions about the new banner and the designs shown on the home page of the website...YES!! They're new designs that will be coming out in a couple of weeks! The ones shown on the homepage are all going into the same pattern...3 designs....two needle packages and one button card. I have them all appliqued to their backgrounds and will be framing them tomorrow. I'm SO in love with them!!! There's also a stuffed heart that will be released at the same time..........geez!...come to think of it, I'm in love with IT too! LOL!!!

We'll send out an announcement when the new stuff is available. Watch your email!

xox Meg

August Begins....

Scissor Charms!!! Cindy's been busy, busy...and had made some beautiful scissor charms! Kathi will have them up on the website within the next few days. I'd like to keep them ALL!!

We have some new photos to share!!! This is "Winter Wonderland" made by Diane Ashley from Yakima, WA. (Just down the road!!) She has won a blue ribbon with her quilt... congrat's Diane!!!! It just looks beautiful!!! She writes that she'll be starting work on "Snow Days" soon....can't WAIT to see it!!!!

The next "Forget Me Not Bedding Set" pics were sent in by Leslie Fehling....she made these for her daughter.........Her work and her sewing are PERFECT!!!! Want to see WHY?????.... Want to really get jealous because you don't live where she lives, in her house????? Go to her blog at www.lesliefehling.blogspot.com and after you've read EVERYTHING there....go to her other site that shows you pictures of her Summerhill Retreats!!!! OH YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT!!!! I SO, so want to go to a retreat at her home.....lampshades!...I want to do the lampshades!!! Already know how to make slipcovers......YUP, LAMPSHADES!!! Check out the one with all the little pleats! I wish I lived right next door .....well, a forest and a few acres away!...and Leslie was my new BFF!!!!! Thanks for sending all this in Leslie!

This friday I'm heading to Des Moines (the one in Washington!) to Carriage Country Quilts. Can't wait to see everybody! I know we'll have fun!! I'll try to take plenty of pictures while we're there...CCQ's classes are always so nice!!

Bye for now!

xox Meg

How I Spent My Summer Vacation...#1

What a busy, but fun and relaxing weekend!!! I made jam (isn't it pretty with the sunset shining through??? We'll be set for raspberry and pineapple/apricot for the whole year!
Then I made some "artwork" for the house. I've been putting this off for MONTHS....just waiting for the right time to get everything out and make the mess! LOL!!!

I have an old, torn up, coverless compilation of the Ladies Home Journals from 1923 through 1924 (I can't WAIT to do something with the Christmas editions!!!). I used some of the pages for backgrounds etc... This was SO MUCH FUN!!

The next picture is in my livingroom...I wanted to give you an idea of how big these three botanicals are. Phil and I went up in the mountains and picked a few stems of roadside plants and then I pressed/dried them between paper towels and a couple big pieces of plywood. We stacked heavy boxes of paper (for patterns) on top. It just took a few weeks, and VOILA!!!!

I had wanted....(not a descriptive enough word for what I felt....)....COVETED some botanicals like this that I had found on the Wisteria website last summer. They were smaller than these and cost over $300 each. Yeah....just couldn't justify THAT much no matter HOW cool they were! LOLOL!!!! All three of these together came to under $100 (not counting the gas to drive to the mountains....It was so pretty that day....sigh!!) Not a bad deal! I think I like these better anyway. Local flora, good memories... WOO-HOO!!!!

I found out too late that the glue would show through the leaves....I'll stick something in front of this one to sort of cover it up... it'll be OK.

I've decided that I'm going to have to dry/press more and do a few more of these for here and there...........smaller tho! I'm thinking wild roses, wild lilacs, phlox....stuff like that!

When we had to move out of the house to have the floors re-done we moved Honeybunny out into the studio. He's been so happy out here! He greets everybody when they walk in....demands attention even if it means lying down on the keyboard or right in the middle of YOUR DRAWINGS AS YOU'RE DRAWING THEM!!! YIKES!!!.... and he takes great joy in helping Cindy with the shipping...(everything she does makes SUCH fun noises!) Anyway, I think he's now a shop cat so you may find cat hairs in with your orders! Sorry!!

Well.... I'm off to new adventures. With the whole day empty and ahead of me I can do whatever strikes my fancy, huh????

xoxox Meg