Bari J.

All filled up with creativity and inspiration... Sisters recap, Part I

 
There will be an overload of fresh quilter's and sewers at Sisters next year if I have anything at all to do with it. Because even if I'm not teaching there (which I hope to be), I'm going to start a movement to get all of you there! Ladies and gentlemen, Sisters is Mecca for sewing and the needle arts. 

Led by Jean Wells-Keenan and her daughter Valori Wells, The Stitchin' Post has been around for 35 years, as has the festival which was founded by Jean. Jean is about to be the 40th person inducted in the Quilter's Hall of Fame. A huge honor for her and her family! The Stitchin' Post itself is a dream of a place with pretty much everything you can imagine you'd ever need to do what we do. Patterns, books, fabric, notions, yarn... and the best of it all. 

 

 The Quilter's Affair is a five-day program (M-F) before the start of the festival which is always the second Saturday in July. It was a huge honor for me to teach there. As I quickly found out, the teaching staff is world class. I would gladly take a class from any of them. And the students are so excited to be there, it's just a pure pleasure to teach. I taught two projects from my upcoming book (Inspired to Sew; to be released January 2011), an apron and a pillow, plus I also taught a two day class on my Garden Tea Party Quilt (see sidebar) and a handbag class. That was five days of teaching, and each day I learned something new and felt blessed to be sharing what I love.

I am overflowing with creativity and inspiration from my trip to Sisters. I met so many wonderful, talented people. And words can't describe how Sisters and the spirit of community there filled me with joy. This is going to take like a month to re-cap! I have so many photos, and so much to say. So, I'll begin at the beginning and wind my way through the trip. 

Due to lack of direct flights, I arrived in Sister's pretty early in the day on the 4th of July. Kind of a crazy day to land as everyone in Sisters it seems was in Bend for fireworks that night. After checking into the hotel... which has llamas, the first order of business was finding a shoe store where I purchased a seriously Oregonian, but surprisingly cute, pair of Keens... a necessary evil I found out. BTW, llamas spit, did you know this? I did know, but I was reminded the hard way. I know! That guy looks really nice, doesn't he? But truly, he needs to learn some manners!

After recovering from the spitting incident, I was then able to walk around before all became quiet and still. And I found my dream home. It was for sale too! Sigh.

I also stopped at Sisters Bakery. Don't be judgmental again. I was instructed by my brother, a U of O Duck, that I was to stop there and eat a chocolate covered, chocolate donut. I was just being compliant. Ask my brother. I do anything he says... ummm... yeah... and so... where was I?

 

So I ate my chocolate donut and then walked and walked and walked because I was sure I'd done some serious damage with that donut. By time I was done walking it was time for dinner, of course. But it was the 4th of July, so almost everything was closed by time I remembered that it was a holiday. Therefore, I was forced to eat at a BBQ. And they forced me to eat Danish Babyback ribs. It was all that was left, I swear. And I did have to walk back to the hotel and all. I needed to be nourished for the trip.

 

Ok. So. Tomorrow I will start in with some sewing photos for you! You are going to love what my students did in their pillow class. They were so cool! 
 

 

 

Vintage Stash Rehash

I have issues. Vintage bling hoarding issues. Even when I say, "Man, I've totally run out of vintage goodies for my bags". That really means, "There's nothing I feel like using... right now.".

Last night I was searching online for a piece of jewelry to go with an outfit that I want to wear at market next week. And I soon realized that even if I did find that fabulous piece, it was never going to arrive here on time. So... because I have SO much spare time, out came the goodies and the old jewelry making materials... (Did I ever tell you I used to make and sell jewelry from salvaged pieces? No? Wellza, I did. It was like a thousand years ago. My youngest was two or so when I started so let's see... it was almost a decade ago.)

Anyways, I digress... I got out the old jewelry making materials and fussed and mussed with it until I came up with a couple options. 

I like 'em, but I am super pleased because Anna called dibs on one (didn't matter which one) for "When you get back from market, Mom.". 13 year old girl likes it. Now, that's a compliment (Don't tell her I said so... she'll take it back.)

 

Market report part I

Oh, you guys! Did I ever have fun. I Tweeted and photographed and socialized my way through quilt market. And I have so much to report back to you! It's going to take me days to report it all. Day one: just a few of the WONDERFUL sewing patterns that were at this market! You are going to loooove it! Links to all the websites are below.

LINKS:

Favorite Things

Sue Spargo

Indygo Junction

A must see!

Yay! Good news. My friend Jennifer has opened her new Sis Boom web store with home goods, childrens, women's and more made from her own fabrics. As expected, it is super beautiful. The site, first of all, is just so Jennifer. She has the most wonderful (I'd say classic/vintage-modern) style...

I am especially happy that she decided to sell her tunics in finished form. Methinks I'd look super-cute in this one! I think it's going to have to be a gift to myself when I loose that last 10 lbs. When am I going to do that?

And I'm also thinkin' this pillow would look really fluffy fun on the little settee in my living room.

This is one of my favorite Jennifer Paganelli fabrics. There's something so not-too-sweet-but-just-sweet-enough about Jennifer's designs.

So, if you haven't already stopped by the new site, it's definitely a must do/must see/must shop.

sewing mondays

I love Mondays. It sounds funny to say that. It used to be that Friday was my day... seems more logical. But some time last October I started making Mondays my day. I spend the entire day at a drop in sewing class at my local quilt shop. Sometimes just a couple of us show up, and some days there's up to ten of us. It gets crowded and crazy, but there's nothing like sewing with a group of women of all different ages from different backgrounds. We laugh and we sew... and we eat. Everybody does their own project with help there if you need it from Margaret and Janis. Plus goodness knows, I'd never leave my little studio if I didn't have a plan, so Mondays is also salvation from talking to the walls.

Last week I worked on my little shoe pin cushion, and this week I went back to work on my King size quilt of heavenly Anna Maria fabrics. I'm taking my time and making it up as I go along. I finished what I'd call the center of the quilt in November or December. Now I'm recreating what I did in that portion except flipping the left and right and top and bottom. Then for the top where the pillows go, I think I'm going to do random vertical pieces for a little contrast. I'll figure out the borders when I get there. 

I did score some of the pieces from AM's Good Folk line too and added them in with all the goodies from the last group... they blend in seamlessly as I believe she intended.

You'd laugh if you saw me trying to figure out what to do next. Going back and measuring each square, sometimes coming up a 1/4" short here or there, and then having to make up something new to compensate. Or cut and re-sew. I'll never ever be able to recreate this without going blind, I think. And, I'd certainly never be able to tell you what the heck I did. It's kind of a hoot.

Next week I'll bring my camera (I always forget it), and I'll take some shots of what the other girls are up to. You'll be amazed by some of the applique, paper piecing and goodness knows what else they are doing. I know I am. And I am learning so much. If I ever move away from here, I'll have to check the city I'm moving to first to see if they have a good quilt shop with a Monday morning drop in and fabulous ladies to hang with. 

Sigh.

Have a great night!

On Camera... Oh, Boy!

 

Let me tell you, there is nothing that makes me more nervous than having my picture taken. But, when the fabulous Deb Kennedy asked me at Farm Chicks to be part of her series on the giftandhomechannel.com,  I was more than happy to oblige... The video is now available to view  here, (I think you have to sign up to get to the video, but there's nothing to it and there's lots of cool info on the site). 

Of course, me being me, all I focused on was my weight and the way my voice sounds and my haircut... all I have to say is thank goodness for Weight Watchers... I've lost 20 lbs since then. Holy potatoes! Literally. Super Husband, being Super Husband, said, "It's not that bad, you just look really nervous. Uh... Yeah. Just a little. 

PS... A side note... The Farm Chicks now have a beautiful new blog that you have to visit!

Therapy

As you might know from my previous post, my family has been in need of a little of this. Thank goodness it comes in many kinds... we could use all the therapeutic treatments we could find... My sister and I found some of it when I visited her this weekend in Arizona. One of which was getting some blond highlights in her hair by a super fantastic hair "therapist". I have to say, Lara looked amazing, as did our mom. She needed a little treatment too.

I am relatively scared of hair color and thank goodness, I unbelievably haven't but a few stray grays. Plus, I actually like my hair color (hmmm... now that's unusual. I said aloud that I liked my hair.) Which makes me think... why didn't I go get the alternative and much-needed nail therapy? I shall indulge later this week, me-thinks.

In addition to beautification therapy, we also spent time getting some of our most favorite therapy of all... retail therapy as it is commonly known.

Amazingly enough, we didn't indulge in food therapy because we figured that would have been therapy that eventually would have made us feel worse. Plus, of course, the thought of weighing in at WW and weighing more is enough to scare me straight any day... Good girls...

The retail therapy was as expected very, very satisfying.

Below... a goodie from that part of our adventure... at Paris Envy, a shop in Phoenix that carries my bags... and btw, is undeniably "Wow.". I'm not just sayin' so because my bags are there either, it really really is. And the prices are reasonable too which I'm finding unusual (someone remind me later to show you the little spread about it that was in the Arizona Republic a couple weeks ago... it looked incredible).

There is also Puppy Therapy ... Lara has much of this... Roxy, our girl, will not leave her side and barks at anyone who comes near Lara these days. Amazing how animals know when we are vulnerable, isn't it? I threatened to take this cute potato home with me... She's the most amazing rescue dog ever. We think she had been abandoned... who in the world could abandon this???

Then all said and done I came home tonight finding the squeezing of my little peeps and Super Husband quite therapeutic as well... Then, unexpectedly... an added bonus... my own personal form of therapy... my Very Own Fabric Therapy... it arrived while I was away. I did really cry too. Very, very good therapy.

My most favorite therapy of all however... My Family. Seeing my Lara, hugging her and knowing that everything will be alright. There really is something to be said about the connections that siblings have. The shared experiences, all the ups and downs. I'll never know anyone like I know my sisters and brother. They are undeniably the best friends I'll ever have.

We have our mother to thank for that. She has always said, "I always wanted four kids, because I wanted you all to always have each other." And we do (she said through happy sad, sad happy tears.). Thanks, Mom.

Awww... darn. That was a sort of emotional post. Off to hug the squeezy girls some more!
Thanks for listening... Hmmmm... blog therapy too! Good stuff!
XO,

Brocade Home Goodies

I'm in love love love...

All from Brocade Home. Yum-delish!

Phoenix Shopping XOXO

Friday they all went on "The Boat". My mom and I were going to go, but there were 11 of us. So, we claimed capacity issues and went shopping and to lunch instead. Muahahahahahahahaha.

The first stop on my list was Melrose Vintage which I had heard about on the blogs of girls who were at Sparkle Bella this June. And it definitely lived up to it's reputation. Gorgeous displays, paper delights, vintage lovelies...

Next up... a couple doors down to Rust and Roses. I'd been here on Tuesday. I'd dragged my whole family out to so I could go to Melrose Vintage which turned out to be closed on Tuesdays, and happened upon this store. Too fun. I had to take my mother back.

Then off to lunch at Willow Bakery. A must do. And to an antique store where I gathered a slew of goodies to put on bags.

We were having a great time, but we started to worry that the others would make it home before us. We didn't want them to think we'd had so much fun, so we raced home. Perfect timing. They'd just walked in.

"Oy. What a day. I'm sure you all had much more fun on the freezing cold lake."

Muhahahahahahahahaha.