Crisp, Colorful, Cold

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Trish

Just a few words to describe “here” lately.

The weather went from summer to winter in the blink of an eye.

Last Sunday, we went with our church to enjoy the Apple Butter Festival at our church camp.

It was a beautiful day. The last one we have had this week.

It was crisp, colorful and a bit cold.

The apple butter was delish! The crafts were fantastic.

I talked to a lady in her 80′s who makes rag rugs. She said it takes her 4-8 days to make a rug that was maybe 4′x3′ or 5′x4′, over 18 yards of fabric cut into 1 inch strips and she sells them, for $25-$35! What a bargain, really! They were so beautiful and I so enjoyed talking with her.

We ate apple dumplings.

We watched the process and smelled the aromas of apple butter cooking in the outdoor kettle.

We listened to the most amazing bluegrass music – talent like that is truly a gift from God. Acoustic guitars, violins, mandolins, and more – their sounds whispered into the breeze and just made you want to hum along.

The fire inside the cabin was warm and crowded.

My girls said they were happy. Me too. They really enjoyed hanging out with friends from church.

And little pea – she rode in the backpack almost all day – happy as a clam.

Can you smell the apple butter in these pictures? Hear the leaves crunching under the horses hooves? And the bluegrass music wafting through the air and tickled laughter all around?

It was a good day. God don’t make no junk.

Our day in pictures, our joy to share.

the most wonderful hayride I've ever been on

little pea, i love your wonderment

ok, yes. i took a lot of photos on the hayride. funny thing is, i never looked through the viewfinder for any of them. just hold it up and clicked away so I wouldn't miss any of the sights.

the two peas

the ride through the woods was magical

the sun dancing on the falling the leaves

yep!

pumpkin painting

scarecrow building

will you marry me? isn't this creative?

Happy Fall!

xoxo,

Trish (ps keep your eyes peeled here – I’m moving to a Typepad blog soon. More features and room to grow – I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you to visit me there! )

Two Peas Sewing Bee

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Trish

Loves fabric just like Momma...

Ok ladies…pull up a chair, warm up your machines, put your foot to the pedal!

Pink Fig's Twirl Skirt pattern - this is one I made for one of the peas from Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom print

Join in on the “Two Peas Sewing Bee”! We’ve been having some fun and I wanted to share a little of what we have been stitching away in our Sewing Bee…

Almost done...

My dear friend and neighbor, Barb, has this awesome craft room in her house. A separate entrance, loads of great lighting, plenty of space and tables – she typically teaches a stamp class there. She’s a Stampin Up sales rep. I’ve been leasing her space from her to teach my sewing classes. Most everyone in the class is a beginner, some a bit more advanced than others, and our first class we made a whole bevy of projects for beginners.

A tissue pack cover. A lanyard. Val Wells petal pouches. And a little wallet, also by Val Wells.

Apple harvest time! This print from Timeless Treasures - so adorable for fall!

Our second class, we tackled applique shirts and the twirl skirt by Chelsea Anderson of Pink Fig.

Beth and Kim - you rock! What great seamstresses!

There is a designer in all of you! I loved the fabrics that everyone choose. So dang cute!

It is really hard to take a photo of yourself with an iPhone! Let me try without me in it!

AND next, in November, I’ll be offering an all day “Santa’s Workshop” sewing bee. We will be tackling 3 projects in one day!

Love this new fabric!

And it's reversible!

We will be making an apron, like the one seen here on me (this one is a take on one of the aprons from my husbands grandmother – you can see this apron on “jane” up at Harvest Moon. I gave it to her in honor of the awesome cinnamon rolls and bagels she whips up daily).

Project 2 will be a patchwork pillow.

And number 3, a quilted table runner.

All great projects for gifts at Christmas. The pillows and table runners can be made with all kinds of manly fabrics for a boys room or a brother or Dad might like a nice throw pillow for their couch. Or some frilly fancy fabrics for a sister.

Anyway, lunch will be provided as well as some of the materials. I’ll have more details later so if you are interested in one of the seats – let me know asap!

Happy Sewing all!

xoxo,

Trish

PS Just added the class to our schedule. Santa’s Workshop Sewing Bee will be on November 14th – all day, 9am – 5pm. $125 per person with a $20 discount for early birds who register by November 1st. Just email me at twopeasinapoddesigns at gmail dot com

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Trish

So I heard a little rumor from Kaye that this quilt blog festival was going on. They time it so that it is going on during the International Quilt Market . The Fall market is the BIG one of the year. There is also one in the Spring but the Fall one is where most new releases on fabric lines, etc are launched or revealed.

If you’ve been with me for any length of time you’ll remember this.

The result of that is that I am STILL working on designs. Here’s the thing. I had 3 companies that were promising. One who sent me an email when I got home and said they loved my stuff and they would be in touch very soon. That sounds good, doesn’t it?

Well, a month later I got a short note from them that said “they decided to go another direction”. I was ok with that because there were still 2 others in the running. Both of those said that I needed to tweak some things, work on colorways, etc but that they really loved my designs.

Last week, after not being in touch with those companies since May, one of them emailed me again and said they were really impressed with my presentation, really loved my designs and looking forward to my resubmits.

Again, sounds promising. Really.

Problem is, I’m not a graphic designer. SO…I’m slowly trying to figure out what I need to be able to do this myself and I’m asking for help from some friends. And I continue to network with others who have done this before me. Sandi Henderson and Bari J and Lila Tueller – all very kind in offering me advice and encouraging me along. Networking is so very helpful.

I was in such a hurry before to get “there” but now, I just put it in God’s hands. If it’s meant to be, it will. If I’m blessed enough with talent and skill that can grow into a career to help support my family – then it’s God’s plan and it will happen when the time is right. I’m much more relaxed about the process now.

For months, I’ve been planning to take November and December off. I just submitted an article to a magazine for publication. I have 3 publishing companies that I’m working on book proposals for and I’m actually pulling in some all new sketches to build my collection that I have now named, designed my selvedge edges for and have a few sewing patterns to go with…and I will actually have, before Christmas, the first of those patterns for sale and ready for distribution.

In God’s time. Not mine. If it’s meant to be. It will. If not, then I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. Sewing for my friends and family and loving every. single. minute. of it.

Which brings me back to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival.

You are supposed to write a post about a quilt and tell it’s story.

My first nine patch...my mom taught me how to do this one.

The first quilt I ever made, I made when I was about 10 weeks pregnant with the peas, my twins. I didn’t know it at the time that there were two of them in there so I was only making one. I actually haven’t made a second one yet. And they are now, ahem, 8 years old. It was a nine patch with a flannel back of bears with angel wings. Adorable.

It’s been loved…to pieces. I’ve told them I’ll have to cut it in two for them and make them into little wall hangings or something.

the Christmas quilt

And then last Christmas, I made my parents a big throw quilt. I also put a flannel back on it because my Dad is always cold. The front I did just giant blocks and put a cute vintage cowboy flannel on the back.

Had to read in a book how to do the corners

There really isn’t any story to this. Except I was so busy working filling orders that I didn’t get to make this until the week of Christmas.

And I had a new baby at home.

And I stayed up into the wee hours after everyone was in bed asleep sewing.

And piecing.

And quilting.

I have alot of respect for quilters. It’s a big job. But the results are timeless.

I say that because in the baby’s room, framed is a quilt square from a quilt my great grandmother made. It had started to fall apart and so each girl in my family got a square of it framed.

And I made Christmas stockings for my parents from it.

And I still have more left. There will be some other sweet projects to come along, I’m sure.

xoxo,

Trish