Verna Mosquera Retreat Day Two

Neta (table mate) and Pam (Verna's Assistant Extraordinaire)

Having the time of my life!
 It is such a happy experience and Verna Mosquera has a wonderful talent - first and foremost she is a happy woman, who puts her family and mothering first and then she shares her passion for design and applique so abundantly that everyone feels uplifted  and excited to be there.

 

She is so beautiful while she appliques!

I have to get names tomorrow - sorry. 

All the women are so talented and joyful!

Amazing talent! 

Check out her needle case.

Two of my table mates collaborating. 

Our Watering Hole 

So much to see and learn and do 

but this girl's heading for bed.  

There is another full day tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Guess Where I Am????

Wish you were here!!!

Primitive Angels - Part II

The other day I was having problems with saving my post - 

I am sure it was operator error ...  

These are the rest of the pictures that I wanted to share.  

Between Mona, Cookie and I we had quite a pile of fabric to make choices from.

And there was a pile in the chair too.

Can you see the vase, flowers, leaves and dragon fly?  LOL

The tracing was done, and Mona loaned me her snake pattern so I did not have to trace that one.  Mona and Cookie tutored me in threads and needle turn applique and were very gentle in their critique.  Before I went to bed that night I had one snake appliqued and the other one ready to applique. 

This is going to be fun.   

Primitive Angels

Friday was one of those rare days - I had it off.  Called up a couple of girlfriends, Mona and Cookie, who were interested in primitive quilts and who had also shared some of their treasured "stash" with me (Kim had a Mother daughter date) and she was missed.

Mona made this yummy quiche and salad for lunch.

And the best carrot cupcakes - all from scratch!!

Blogger won't let me save this post - I will try publishing it, to see if that works.  Story to be continued.  At least I have shared on of the best parts of the day - the food :o)

Going Primitive

Garden Club Quilts

 by Country Threads, Inc., Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene

does anyone know where these two talented ladies are now?

circa 1967 (yes before I was born ...)

Picture of the quilt I am "learning Primitive" with.  

And from the best teacher in this discipline - Gretchen Jennings.  Gretchen lives in our area and has taught the "primitive art" for years on the West coast.  When we opened Fabric Garden Gretchen was a must have on our schedule.  We are blessed to have all of her 70 years with us and her vast experience in the "art of primitive."  Her kindness, and energy are an inspiration to us all.

From time to time I will share this primitive journey of mine and the fun it has been and is.  i.e. field trips with Kim and wonderful days spent around my kitchen table with friends who have walked the "primitive walk" before me.

Have you dipped your toe in the "waters of primitive" and learned the things I am now getting excited about?  I would love to hear your comments. 

Wow - I Won a GIVEAWAY

Last night when I came home about 9 PM after teaching my wonderful students (we have so much fun) in the "Tea Towel and Red Work Class" at my Fabric Garden, look what was on the kitchen counter waiting for me!

Basic Grey picked my post number with their Random Number Calculator during the recent Moda - Blog Hop.  

THANK YOU BASIC GREY.

Another exciting thing about my "win" was when Melanie at Basic Grey notified me she said I could pick a friend to receive a prize too!  My friend Kim came to mind here.  If you have not read her blog you might check it out - I love to read her ramblings ...  I expect to hear any day she received her "prize" too.  


You can check out Basic Grey and their wonderful presentation on September 11, 2011  Right HERE  and see why I love Basic Grey and took the time to comment.

I would also like to give a Big Thank you to Moda too!!!!
You can still catch their Moda Country Fair Bog Hop HERE.


It feels good to be back in the Blogland groove again.  I hope to post more often now, not feeling so "numb" after my mother's death, and the "win" sure "snapped" me out of my slump and I want you to know that you are important to me and I look forward to your comments and friendships.


Tootles

Ten Things Women Should Know About Men

Grandad sharing a quiet moment with Tinkler Bell

 and admiring her pink cowgirl boots

 (that she wore constantly from sun up to sun down, rain (mud) or shine ...)

This morning after reading Kelly Guy's blog post Ten Things Women Should Know About Men, I knew that I had to share it with you.  It is a must read and a must see the pictures - her  last two pictures are my favourites!!!  I have a link for you - 

Kelly Guy's - Charming Chatter Blog post September 08. 2011


Let me know what you think.

Fabric Garden Has Gone Live

  

Our Fabric Garden Quilt Shop's website

 has gone on line.  

We are so excited.  

As an old radio broadcaster

 used to say,

 "Stand By For News!"

Link to Fabric Garden

Missing My Mom

This is a picture of one of my sweet sister's saying a last goodbye before leaving. The dust is settling (no pun intended) and all in the family are back in their own homes scattered here and there in different cities across North America.  


The turn my mother's  health would take towards the end of March was a surprise to her and to all of us.  She and our son had planned a road trip touring the Canadian Rockies.  She came up with the idea - He was still recovering from his health issues and she was going to enjoy being driven to see some of the land that she loved.  Relaxing, no stress ... It was not to be, she fell a few days before he was to fly there, and he decided to go instead to be with her in her recovery (no broken bones, thankfully) and perhaps take her on little day trips after her hospital stay was over.  The hospital stay was good, in that tests were done to understand more about her fall and a diagnosis made.  


Mom passed away July 8th.  Her journey this last three months was a hard one.  Seems so short a time looking back now, but it was long and hard for her.  Between my sisters and my step-sisters and brothers she was never alone.  Her doctor in the hospice unit said to me, "Dying is hard work for her and hard work for those attending to her."  It was.  For me it was a blessing to be with her the last weeks of her life and to be with her when she took her last breath.   


Ever a mother to the end the lessons she taught me will be treasured always until we meet again.  

A Message Meant Just For You

Slowly I am catching up on reading my favourite blogs.  Opening Fabric Garden a little over a month ago has been wonderful.  If you have stopped by - thank you.  Our web site will be up and running in the not to distant future - when that happens I will let you know here.

In the middle of the Fabric Garden Adventure my mother's health has continually declined.  She who was one of my biggest supporters from the inception of Fabric Garden has never seen the shop.  She now is in hospice and struggling with the loss of her independence and that she is not going to be going home.  So many of you have faced these same experiences with your mothers, so many of you have learned the lessons my sisters and step sister are learning now.  Each of us, but one, live in a different city, and we share the latest needs and changes via email and phone, as each of us takes a turn flying to be there with her.  

Sitting for a bit this evening and reading blogs was meant to be - I read Becky's post at Sweet Cottage Dreams and it was just as if her post was for me.  I got to pondering and thought that you might think the same after you read her thoughts from her heart.

Take a moment to follow this link - it will not take long to read Becky's post and just maybe it will lift you, as it did me, just when I needed it most.

Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams

Tomorrow I am going to buy some flowers!  Thanks Becky!

Tootles

God Bless Those Who Have Prepared For and Gone to War

God Bless all those who have returned and God Bless those who mourn the valiant that have not returned home.

My heart goes out to you who care for loved ones that have returned from war.  

My heart goes out to our son who works hard and long hours on the wounded who return to Bethesda Navel Hospital.   My heart goes out to his sweet little family who carry on while he is away from them.  

My heart goes out to the beautiful quilting angels who make quilts for our wounded warriors.  Their time and talent being given freely.  It is an honour to host them at our quilt shop - Fabric Garden.

My heart goes out to my father, long dead, and who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force all through the second world war and beyond.

My heart goes out to my dear husband who served with honour for six years during the Viet Nam War.

All brave and true to their commitment to serve others.  

I remember and our family remembers, we will never forget.


Thank you.

Collage of Fabric Garden

One of my partner's proud daughter's sent this collage to her this morning.   Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought that I would send it on to you - since I have not been using my camera a whole lot and just having fun running behind myself at the shop - Fabric Garden.  Enjoy.

Open, Open, Open Fabric Garden is Open

The dust is starting to settle, and we had a wonderful three day Grand Opening.
The following are some of the photos in our early morning preparation before we opened the doors.  Enjoy.

It was a wonderful three days!  

If you are in the area stop on by:

Fabric Garden

Town and Country Village

2623 El Paseo Lane

Sacramento, CA  95821

Tootles.

Three More Sleeps

Until FABRIC GARDEN is OPEN!!


Saying, good night, to all you kind blogettes who have commented and emailed me.  I am flying home tomorrow from "the Old Country" where I have been for the past four days.  My mother took a turn for the worst (cancer), is stable now, and under very good care.  She has enjoyed hearing about my Fabric Garden journey all along the way. And she informed me she wants to hear updates about our Grand Opening.  She has been my cheerleader.


If you are in the Sacramento area come on by and say, "Hello".


My previous post has the dates and times.


Saying Good Night from the land where the snow has just finally gone and the promise of Spring is knocking at the door.  

Fabric Garden Grand Opening

We are all so excited - our Grand Opening is Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 5, 6, and 7th, 2011.

Our hours for those days will be 10-6.  Come on by and enjoy!
Fabric Garden
Town and County Village
2623 El Paseo Lane
Sacramento, CA   95821

Phone number 916 - 483 - 2955

Come on by for inspirations in quilt making and embroidery.

PS - The Knot-y Embroidery Lady can be found there stitching away or having a "Knot-y Good Time!"

Fabric Garden Temporary Web Site Is Up

Our temporary web site is up while our permanent one is being created.  Stop by and leave a comment and your email address so we can keep you up to date.  These are exciting times.  

The link to Fabric Garden is here - Fabric Garden

We Are Building A Quilt Shop

We are building a quilt shop

A wonderful quilt shop

Inspirations abounding

Excitement surrounding

My blogging got pushed

to the bottom of my list

You thought I was in hiding

That is not surprising

I am bursting to share

My partners are extraordinaire 

Oh, it will be so inviting

A place of good tidings

I am building a quilt shop!

A most wonderful quilt shop!

Something Worth Looking At

National Film Board of Canada - Film Called Quilt