Be it ever so humble, there's no place like HOUMA!

Especially when LSU is playing OHIO and it's MARDI GRAS time!

I was met at the airport by a posse of 3 quilters, ready and willing to whisk me off into the whirlwind of bayou life! Our first stop?

THE VOODOO BBQ!! *LOL* (I am doing images small because there are lots of them, so click each one to get the full version)



Louisiana BBQ trumps South Carolina BBQ in my book! No funky yellow mustard based sauce! I had the brisket that was so fork tender it just melted in my mouth! And look at the shrimp appetizer...and this huge plate of onion rings! I knew my diet was in jeopardy so I just simply turned off the guilt and dug right in!

My side orders? Corn pudding and mustard greens of course! Mmmmmmmmm!

We left the restaurant more than full and satisfied and made our way to the QUILT SHOPS! I did a bit of damage....any fabric with BLUE in it was 20% off, so a couple shirtings with blue doo-dads in them came home with me, along with some quilting stencils (love those, they are light weight and easy to get home) and some needles! Two shops and a Joann's to do coupon-damage and we were happy travelers!






Our drive to Houma took us through Thibodaux (and yes I just had to recheck and recheck to make sure that is spelled right, because spell check said it was wrong!!) where we passed plantation after plantation. Sugar cane is still grown here, and we took a side trip through Laurel Valley to see the remains of this plantation. Google gave me this information about Laurel Plantation:

Laurel Plantation was a sugarcane plantation owned by Matthew Ramsey. It consolidated properties of George Mather, who arrived in the Baton Rouge district about 1775 and was a party in the West Florida Rebellion of 1810. The property has been bought and sold several times; a few of the plantation outbuildings, including a late nineteenth centry Acadian-style overseer's house and tenant shotgun cabins from the early twentieth century, are extant but dilapidated. Two live oaks suggest the possible site of the former big house.

We finally made it back to Mary Lea's house, unloaded the car except for the huge duffel bag, which stayed in the trunk of her car! Oh funny thing on that....when taking the bag to the Xray station at the airport...the officer asked "whatcha got in there, ma'am? A dead body??" So ever since that moment, the duffel has been nicknamed "the body bag". :cD

From Mary Lea's we went to their friend's house for a great night of LSU football where they slaughtered the Buckeyes! (sorry Ohio!!) Food food, more food, OMG...MORE FOOD!! Including a whole crockpot of to die for gumbo...mmmmm!


I also experienced my very first KING CAKE and the tradition behind it!
The King Cake is unlike any other cake. Imagine cinnamon bread coffee cake topped with sugary goodness and decorated in the traditional purple, green and gold of Mardi Gras! Three days of King Cakes and I'm ready to have Mardi Gras become one of my favorite holidays. (But not the diet that comes after it!)

Needless to say, LSU won to the relief of all the people at the party. It was so fun being part of a group so vibrant and team spirited! (Okay,plenty of the other kind of spirits were involved too...of the alcoholic variety!) I slept like a baby, raring to go for workshop day number one....

And I'll post about that tomorrow..I just got a call from the realtor that they want to show my house in about an hour and a half and I haven't unpacked, and stuff is kind of..well..dishelveled? ACKK!!

Step 6 of Mystery quilt....

Hi All! I am back from Houma, Louisiana where I had a fabulous time!!

I don't have time to post everything about the trip, and this is being sent as a special notice for those who only want special notices about the next step being posted!

I know there is lots of speculation of what the final design will look like. I hope you all like it as much as I do.

Yes, it's a lot of little pieces, but I think you should be proud of what you have accomplished.


Maybe future mysteries need to come with the # of pieces listed like puzzles do? 500? 600? 1000? Anyone want to count all these up when we are done so we know?
Click here for step 6!

I apologize ahead of time for any typos.....if there is anything you don't understand, ask!

Next installment will come next Thursday!

More about the china..

I've had several people email me about my china! Thanks to you guys I've found out the following:

It was made by Hollinshead and Kirkham who were otherwise known as the Unicorn Pottery. They were based in Tunstall after 1876. The word Davenport refers to the name of the pattern. The mark that appears on your earthenware dates it between 1900 and 1924. The colour combination of blue, iron red, a dash of green and gold is a colour combination utilised extensively at this time by several British pottery manufactures. It appears most commonly on earthenware intended for everyday use although occasionally one may find it used on bone china.

I love that this china was intended for every day use! Of course it won't go in the dishwasher, but I'd like to use it at least once a week. I've also been directed to a place that makes replacements. Awesome!

Thanks everyone!

Military Duffel Bags...AWESOME!!

I love these Military Duffel Bags! I am just hoping that they don't qualify as "oversized luggage" due to their length, but 50 lbs of quilts and quilt tops can be rolled and placed into one 50X30 duffel with room to SPARE! So I might not have to carry my clothes in a carry on bag after all..*LOL*

I am packing unquilted tops to show, because they take up less space and weigh less than a fully quilted quilt...so this will give me different eye candy to show during the workshops..and an incentive to get them quilted when I get back.

I weighed myself on the scale, then weighed myself holding the duffel just to make sure it doesn't go over the 50lb weight limit. I definitely need a diet!! (Maybe AFTER Louisiana!!)

I Simply Remember My Favorite Things.....

Change is hard. Moving is hard. No matter how much I am trying to be upbeat, and I AM unbeat..I'm excited about moving to Winston Salem, complete with ready made quilting friends....but it's still a stressful time.

I've been thinking of the Julie Andrews song "My Favorite Things" From Sound of Music (One of my all time favorite movies!....Forgive me reverend mother, but I have sinned!!!)and decided to take some pictures of a few of my favorite things.

One of my favorite things will have a new place in my new home...and instead of being banished to an UNUSED or rarely used, out of sight dining room...it is going to be front and center in my new dining space. This I am thrilled about. This post will have lots of images, so I am setting them to "small" click them to get the full view :c)

This antique hutch I found in a one room school house in the middle of nowhere in Idaho. It had been used as a grange building, but was being torn down. I got it for TWO DOLLARS. No, I am not kidding. It is pine...and it had about 14 layers of paint on it from white to turquoise to coral pink, and back to white again. So much paint that the scroll detail in the top moulding was not visible at all! The paint had filled it all in. I took it to a furniture restoration place and paid plenty to have it stripped, but I am so glad I did. I didn't even stain it after, just oiled it and left it as is. It has the original glass in it, and I love the brass hinges. Some of the shelves still have white paint in the grain that wouldn't come out,but I left it. I love beat up well used functional antiques. It's going to look great in the new dining nook!

And since it will be right there...I have been thinking about using my favorite pieces of china more. This year? They didn't get used at ALL because we had Thanksgiving and Christmas at someone else's house. I love this china. They are mixmatched sets, but the memories of using them with my grandparents and my parents take me back to my earliest childhood memories.



I'm sure many of us have favorite things that we save for "some day" and then the some day never comes. My kids probably don't have as many memories of using the "red china" (as my dad referred to it) as I do, and how special it was to dress up and eat off these wonderful plates.

I'm not sure on the age of this china. I know from the label it is English, and at one time belonged to my great grandmother, but I can't tell you if it was my grandmother's side of the family or my grandfather's. I need to talk to my dad to find that out so I will be able to pass that story on down to my kids. It was handed down to me as a wedding present, then went back to my Dad for a while so he could use it (I didn't have place for it, and it was in storage...) and finally came back to me. Every time I have unwrapped it from packing paper I find myself running my fingers over the detail, the areas of flow blue...the gilt edges. I always remember thinking my Grandmother must be rich to have gold on her plates. :c)

Does anyone know about finding out about china patterns and dates? Here is a pic of the back of one of the plates, it has some info, but I don't know how/where to find out more.

Another favorite set of plates I found at auction and paid a whopping $10 for. I've used these for Thanksgiving because I love the autumn colors and the leaf theme. I don't think they are all that spectacular, but I love them regardless. Again, an incomplete set..way too many saucers,and no cups to go with them..I don't know their history,but my kids do have memories of using them, so we are starting our own history with them I guess.

Then there is the collection of red/white that I started myself as a newly married. Most of these were found at yard sales, and are definitely mix/match...but I guess being the scrappy lover I am, I love combining the different prints on the plates within the same color scheme. Fun for red holidays like valentine's day.

What little girl doesn't like having tea parties? I used to have parties with my friends and dolls using my great grandmother's demitasse cups and tea cups. I was always thrilled with the colors on the outside, and the prints of flowers on the inside..the curly dainty handles on some of the cups, and the matching little saucers. Hours of fun...lots of memories. These don't come out to play anymore,but I dream of granddaughters and the fun tea parties we will have as we create memories using the same cups I played with as a child.

So I'm feeling sentimental today...and wanting to USE things in my new home, my new life, instead of just storing or displaying them! Do I dare pack the everyday "corel" away? Can I use these special things more every day and enjoy them instead of saving them for "good"?



A couple other special things while I was feeling camera-happy! Who can resist a just showered 17 yr old boy with beach bum hair and incredible blue eyes? Definitely one of my favorite things to remember today! Of course, his brother is every bit as favorite as Jeff is,but he isn't here to take a pic of.

Oscar was bored of my whole photo shoot thing going on...but he is on top of one of my other favorite things!! A WHOLE LAUNDRY BASKET full of fabrics I have pulled ready to be cut into strips/bricks/squares and 10.5" squares for scrappy backs! I'm trying to do some organizing ahead of time so when I move...I just MOVE! Scrap taming is an ongoing process...there are strips left from trimming quilts after quilting, there are left over border pieces...this stuff piles up! there are loads of FQs that I think could be put to good use if I cut them up rather than keep them whole, making room for more appetizing fabrics in the FQ bins, and spicing up the scrap bins which are running low on color variety. Spice up the mix! More of my favorite things.

One other thing I learned this year....while in Falls Church, I had a wonderful lunch with Amy at her house before taking the metro into the city to see a quilt display at the museum. We had a terrific lunch, and used cloth napkins that she had made out of leftover fabrics. She had a whole basket of colorful cloth napkins sitting there, so inviting....and I want to do that for my new house. Less paper waste. Lots of napkins. I understand Mrs G is a serger pro with the rolled over cast edge hem thingy....I'm going to have to get her to help me with mine. My serger hasn't been used in years and I'm not sure I remember how to thread it..but napkins would make a great gift, be very fun and useful in my new home, and make a small dent in the fabric stash, allowing me to use my favorite fabrics EVERY DAY!

Another favorite thing always saved for special, but that time never comes around...I know many people are allergic to perfume. Luckily I'm not one of them. How many of us have cologne bottles in our bathrooms or by our dressing tables that were given as gifts, that we love the smell of, yet we don't USE them...and they sit and go BAD! I've been cleaning some stuff out and some favorites have gone blah with age. Sad really. I am allowing myself after I shower to use a perfume/cologne, even if I am going to be home alone all day, just because I like to feel feminine! I know not everyone can do this, nor can some people stand to be around perfumey people. I'm not talking about over-using it so that it scares people away with a migraine...and chances are whatever I put on after a shower will be gone by the time I go out in public anywhere..but I want to enjoy it for ME. Those I've found that are bad...tossed in the trash. But those that are still good..use them and enjoy them. Some things don't last forever.

Wow this has gone on longer than I thought....But one more thing...those half-burned candles in a jar that you forget to light?? LIGHT THEM! Use them! I've even been burning one here in the quilting room. I love the ambiance it gives. I love how they make me feel peaceful inside. The fragrance is lovely, subtle..candles were meant to be burned. And for those with fragrance-sensitivity, there are unscented candles too!

Do you have favorite things that you haven't been incorporating into your daily life journey? Share some! Let's use them, and create memories to cherish!

Saturday Stuff....

Thanks for the help on the powerpoint stuff! It's going to be fun! It's a bit overwhelming with all the fun effects you can do with pictures,but I'm starting out simple. So far I don't need to do it until I go to Colorado for their state guild thing in July....so I'll have time to practice!

I hope everyone has a quilty weekend, or a least some designated quilty time planned. I've got a few errands to run....I need to head to an army/navy surpluss store that has those huge duffel bags so I can take as many quilts to louisiana as I can without going over the 50lb weight limits. Thanks to the internet, I found a store that has what I need! These are 30"X50"!! I should be able to roll up several quilts and stuff them full.

I have to drop some stuff off at the printers to copy/collate/staple so I don't have to do that myself...all the hand outs for the two workshops next week.

I have to go by Sam's club and take care of DH's contact lens prescription and some other prescriptions (I love calling in advance so I just have to pick UP!!)

All this needs to be done before DS Jeff needs my car to go to work.....but while he is working, I'll have quilting time at home....

I checked some FUNNY DVD's out of the library.....I had never heard of this show before, but it is called "The Vicar of Dibley". OMGoodness...hilarious....It's a BBC production, and I guess it ran about 12 years and I never heard of it! But it is just so funny, and I don't usually get into sit-coms, I'm more of a murder mystery/CSI type girl (with a lot of 19th century romance stuff thrown in..what a combo!) but this was great.

Right then! So on with it!

Bonnie

The Kindness of Quilters!

Quilters are SO generous and giving, so eager to help! Why, just this morning I have received multiple posts from those so graciously willing to HELP me with the mystery quilt if I would just show them the finished product! *LOL*

Your kindness overwhelms me! And to thank you for your caring consideration, I'm going to show you a couple of photos.....to whet your appetite.....


Of the BACK of the quilt! *hehehehe*

I am having so much fun with this, really I am. There have been a couple hiccups on instructions, and everyone has been so great at allowing me to make mistakes without getting all over my case. It can be intimidating to put your self out there on a whim when 1789 people (!!!!) have joined the quiltvillechat list to make this mystery along with me! It's almost like quilting naked in front of everyone. Okay, not quite...but you know? Mistakes, warts and all,you guys have been great! I hope to do more of this in the future. It is a way to take those "dream" quilts off the drawing board and into reality in a way that takes the drudgery and turns it into fun and laughter! And I love seeing what everyone else comes up with as far as fabrics and color combinations, etc.

I'm working on the instructions for step 6 which will be posted Thursday afternoon or Friday...depending on how I feel when I get back from my Louisiana Tour :c) (Houma, here I come!!)

P.S.
I got a new laptop for Christmas! This, and a projector for the laptop is for when I travel via plane to places for trunkshows/lectures, and can't take the whole trunkshow with me!

I am now in the process of working on a power point presentation, and learning as I go. What I need is some basic hints. If any of you have done power point presentations, what is the pixel or inch size that I should shoot for as a "FULL SCREEN" shot of a quilt? Is there a size that works best for you?

I have a lot of things set at 8" wide for my website. But I don't know if this is too small when it is shown on a wall or a screen through the projector to be a good display, you know?

I'm just looking for any info that you have found helpful!

Fun Time In Florence!

I wish I could say it was Florence Italy....but it was a very chilly Florence SC as my destination today! It was 19 degrees when I got up, and the car thermometer read 23 degrees on my drive to Florence! Brrrrrr!

The Florence Swamp Fox quilters are a very fun group! They are a day guild, and it was a full house! Lots of great show and tell, a terrific batch of ladies!

Afterwards, we all went to lunch at a mexican restaurant....and the fun and laughter continued! Quilters just are the best people around. We've got threads that tie us together and I just love it!

I came home energized, inspired...and promptly took a nap..*LOL* Okay..so I didn't get to sleep on time last night because I was worried I'd forget something and I get so nervous talking in front of big groups, and afraid my alarm wouldn't wake me up and I needed to leave the house at 7:30 am to get there in time..you know how it goes?

The only thing I forgot was my camera, so hopefully someone from that group will send me their pics :c) In the mean time, I googled for florence, sc pics just to have something to keep your attention here and read this far ;c)

It's a good thing I didn't take the mystery quilt with me!! There was someone there following along with it... But I can tell that yes, it is DONE...the binding is on...and the sleeve is sewn down...and I hate not being able to show it for a few more weeks until the mystery is revealed! Bleak House was perfect to stitch by! Tomorrow I will go back to the library and pick out some new choices for the coming weekend :c)

Step 5 of Carolina Crossroads Mystery is up!

I'm not going to be home tomorrow (thursday, USA time) because I am doing a trunkshow/lecture in Florence, SC!

Because of this I have posted step 5 a day early..besides, it's already thursday in Australia, so why not? :c)

You can find step 5 HERE!

Next week, I'm going to be teaching in Louisiana, and won't be home until thursday....so I will try to do step 6 on friday if I can't get to it on thursday evening!

I think this is where my life gathers up speed. However, step 5 is the last of the units,and with step 6 we start putting things together, so it should go fast from here! :cD

Happy 2008!

AUUGHHHH!!

It's only a little "AUUUGHH!" don't let it scare you. This is just me venting my frustration over the fact that I finished a GREAT book on MP3....went to my library's website to download another...and their library site won't let me through the portal to net library! WHHHHAAAAA! I know the LIBRARY is closed for New Year's Day..but who would have thought that the site would be inaccessible?!?! I sing with a gal that works at the library. I'm going to have to razz her about it.

Never fear though..I'm doing things the old fashioned way! I had a 19 CD book in the car...and I am desparate enough for something to listen to while quilting that I am putting it disk by disk onto the MP3 player. (Yeah, this is like the stone age! *LOL* How spoiled we get!)

I *LOVE* The Richland County Public Library. This is one thing I'm really going to miss about Columbia. I'm in there or by there at least once a week. I'll have to ask the gals in Winston Salem about the library there. Who knows..maybe THEIR library won't leave me stranded unable to download books on MP3 on a holiday! :cD

The new house we are moving into is just over the county line into Davidson County..not Forsyth County..maybe that is going to cause me issues? Anyone?

I finished the binding and hanging sleeve on the "food chain" quilt last night. I have 4 more episodes of Bleak House to entertain me tonight! In the words of Mrs G...life IS good! And so is whole wheat toast with real butter and strawberry jam, and a huge steaming mug of vanilla cappuccino! (Instant..in the big tub from Sam's club...industrial size..mmm!)

And now that I've typed all this, and searched for pictures and uploaded them..and finished my cappuccino, how is the progress on the MP3 uploading going? Hmmm...still working on disk 13 of 19. At this rate I figure at least my MP3 player will be fully recharged by the time I am done!