Bunny Tales

Moving onto Christmas

2009-12-08T07:48:00.001-08:00

While you were out shopping, going to holiday parties, or sewing those last minute gifts, I was surrounded by computers. Bunny Hill became “networked” over the weekend and it wasn’t fun. A love/hate relationship for sure! I got a little sidetracked from decorating, so back to Christmas…

Remember the picture of the snowmen in front of the vintage dough bowl?

Here’s a peek inside the bowl!

It’s filled with silver and pink Christmas balls with a few pinecone balls for texture.

Filled is actually an understatement.

The bowl is a large size and it took about 8 boxes of ornaments to fill it.

Using the containers you already have is a quick way to decorate for Christmas. Fill those wood bowls, glass jars and baskets with anything Christmas!

Pink is a basic for my decorating, but then I mix in a lot of brown, red, white and silver.

Look around your house. Do you have containers waiting to be filled? Put a little Christmas in them!

Hugs,

Anne

Block Twelve

2009-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

I just can’t believe a year has gone by since we started “A Tisket A Tasket”! A year! And here we are at block number 12! I started with a snowman and I’m ending with a snowman (ok, a snowlady). Welcome December!

I can’t wait to see all of the finished quilts! Take a peek at all of the blocks in my Flickr group! So many of you have made me smile and I’ve loved seeing your work! I hope you’ll add pictures of your finished quilts! I’ll be checking in to see them. And keep posting your blocks as you finish them. I’ll be looking at those too!

And finally, I can show you my finished version of the appliqué and redwork quilts!

See the rick rack in the binding? I’ll be posting a tutorial “how to” soon, so please check back!

And the redwork! Ohhhh, sweet embroidery!

As for next year, did you think I would just drop all of of you cold? You, my blog readers? My favorite people in the world? You’ll be getting a little treat every month in 2010, starting in January.

As always, you can see the wool version of block 12 over at Cottons ‘n Wool. The finished quilt will be coming soon! Anne’s waiting for flannel to arrive! That’s right, we decided to go with flannel for the sashing. It’s going to be so cute!

If you’d like to purchase wool to make your own wool quilt, I found the best web site for you! Woolies will love The Wool Basket! I’m sure I could spend some time and money in this shop.

Happy December 5th everyone! I feel like a grand reunion should be on the agenda in 2010 LOL!

Hugs,

Anne

Glitter Me Pink

2009-12-02T15:02:00.001-08:00

I had such good intentions. I purchased special German glass glitter, made a Bitty Lamb from French General linen, and set about to make a pink glittered lamb.

I think I’m better at appliqué. Here’s how she’s supposed to look, powder puff white, sweet and innocent…

Here she is in linen. Still pretty cute and certainly innocent. There’s the bag of glass glitter…

Now add the glue. Glue + glitter = mess. Bad, bad stuff! Glue is sticking to my fingers, the lamb is sticking to my fingers and the glitter sticks to any darn thing it wants to.

Had I thought this out I might have done something with those buttons before I started with the darn glitter.

Not my best work. I’m in awe of those of you who can make glittered treasures. For my little ornament, here’s the story I’ll tell: She’s a very old lamb, belonged to my grandmother (I know, those awful buttons), and over the years she’s lost a bit of glitter. She’s worn, but still has a special place on our tree every year. We’ll never give her up.

More decorations to come…

Hugs,

Anne

Christmas Decorating

2009-11-30T07:13:00.001-08:00

The weekend went by too quickly. Holiday weekends seem to do that! I spent part of the weekend decorating for Christmas. I’m not sure why this process takes so long, but it does. All over my neighborhood people were busy decorating. Thousands of lights went up on houses, and front yards were filled with snowmen and other delights. The neighborhood took on a new look! Isn’t it amazing what we do for Christmas?

I try every year to change things around a bit and not duplicate the previous year. Do you put everything in the same place each year, or do you change things around? Do you have a decorating plan? Tell me your secrets!

Last year, Brigette gave me this wonderful pink sign for Christmas.

This year it became the focus of my dining room hutch. These pink lambs are feeling right at home!

And speaking of pink, the snowmen that you saw in an earlier post, are at home on my dining room table, in front of a bowl full of pink…

…you’ll have to wait to see inside the bowl. Too much of a pink fix for one post. I’ll show you more later!

Happy Monday everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

A Squirrely Name

2009-11-25T00:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry, but this post is a bit squirrely. Long and squirrely. Stay with me through the story for the winner of the “name that squirrel contest”. Maybe grab a bowl of walnuts to munch on while you read . It’ll help. I HATE long posts, but I just couldn't help myself…

--------------------------------------------------------------------It was dark in the Bunny Hill Studio, and everyone had gone for the evening. “Shhhh” said Bitty Kitty, “be quiet or they’ll hear us! We HAVE to talk”. Bitty Squirrel, Bitty Dog, Bitty Bunny and Bitty Lamb were wide awake and listening, but Bitty Bird was sleeping in her nest.

“Have you noticed what’s been going on around here for the past few weeks? All I’ve heard is squirrel this, and squirrel that”, whined Bitty Kitty! “I for one, am sick of it!”

Bitty Squirrel squirmed a bit on her cushion. The talk was making her nervous, as the topic was about a relative of hers.

“She’s a rodent! That squirrel is a rodent, plain and simple”, Bitty Kitty meowed. “Look at all the attention she’s getting! I’m a cat with the highest of pedigrees, and no one goes on and on about me!"

Bitty Squirrel was upset. She didn’t want Bitty Kitty mad at her, and being part of the squirrel family just might do it.

“Stop!” said Bitty Dog. “That squirrel is getting attention because she’s on a quilt! She’s appliquéd! Why, we’re just stuffed! An appliqué squirrel should have a fancy name. She’ll probably be around a lot longer than we will. She’ll be loved by a family and hung on a wall, or maybe used to cover a bed. We’ll be stuck on a shelf, stuck in a drawer, or, stuck by a pin! Besides,” said Bitty Dog, “you already have a name! Bitty Kitty is a great name!”

“Stuck in a drawer” said Bitty Kitty? “You’re kidding right? Why would anyone stick me in a drawer? I’m the perfect body!”

And so on it went throughout the night. Jabbering away about the squirrel’s new name and what it should be. Bitty Bunny wanted the name to be “Biscuit” and Bitty Lamb thought it should be “Penelope”.

It wasn’t until the sun was coming up that Bitty Bird finally awoke. She stretched her wings, and hopped out of her nest. “What’s all the fuss about”, she asked and all the animals told her. “Weren’t you listening last night when Anne left the studio?” asked Bitty Bird. Anne said something about “Henrietta Whiskers” being a perfect name for a squirrel!”

“Just great” said Bitty Kitty with a whiny little meow. “I guess the name is cute, but not as cute as me!” She gave herself a little lick and tried to look as pretty as ever.

And so it was. The Bunny Hill squirrel finally had a name! Henrietta Whiskers!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Twila Dockter you are the winner of the gift basket! I loved the name and the story you submitted…here’s Twilla’s story…

“Hi Anne,

Many years ago, my son found a baby squirrel, cold and half dead. He brought it home and begged me to save it. I knew we needed to get it warm first, so while I prepared a basket with a hot water bottle, my son tucked the little fellow inside his shirt.
We raised this little guy to adulthood and the name Tyler gave him was Henry Whiskers. We never really had any squirrels in our neighborhood, but after releasing Henry I noticed the population grew quite a bit. Tyler always said Henry found a “quirrel friend”. I think he was right!

My son passed away 10 years ago at the age of 14, but I swear I just saw Henry the other day. You see, Henry had an accident where he lost most of his tail, and the squirrel I saw had just a stub of a tail too.

You call your squirrel a girl, so I would like to submit the name Henrietta Whiskers. I’d like to think there are several squirrels out there, related to our little Henry”

Thank you,
Twila Dockter

Twila, this basket is on it’s way to you and Henerietta will make her debut in a future Bunny Hill pattern.

For the rest of you, if the name you submitted was mentioned in the story, send me an email, along with your address and you can choose ANY Bunny Hill pattern!

If you’d like to see some of the names that were submitted, click here and click on the file! Be sure and enlarge it to at least 150%. Makes reading a lot easier.

It was amazing to see all these names! Nutmeg and cinnamon were the most popular of all. I loved them too! Oh if only I could pick them all!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. My family is feeling a little better, but we’ll still be having a quarantine Thanksgiving. Some of my family will be here and the “sickies” will have food delivered to them!

Hugs,

Anne

Turkey in the oven…almost!

2009-11-21T19:01:00.001-08:00

So, back to tradition. I really am a Thanksgiving lover and yes, I’ll be cooking just like most of you . As of today, it’s a bit questionable who I’ll be cooking for. Both my grand-daughters just came down with the flu, now my son has it too. So far my daughter-in-law is fine, but from what I’ve heard of this nasty bug, she may be next! I don’t know if it’s the swine flu. They no longer test for it. Have any of you had this horrible little creature visit your home?

On a happier note, If you haven’t entered a name for the little squirrel, you have until 6PM Pacific time Sunday! One of you is going to win this basket on Wednesday! I’m getting awfully close to announcing the winner!

I’ll be back on Wednesday morning. See you then!

Happy Thanksgiving shopping everyone!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS CONTEST! NO MORE SQUIRREL NAMES EVEN IF THEY ARE THE BEST EVER! BEST OF LUCK EVERYONE!

Hugs,

Anne

I’m skipping Thanksgiving

2009-11-19T15:18:00.001-08:00

I’m think I might just skip Thanksgiving. Haven’t told my family yet, but when they all show up, wouldn’t it be great if I handed each one a box of Christmas decorations? Get to work and they’ll get a “bite” to eat later; maybe a pizza or something like that. These little guys are just waiting for them, along with hundreds of other ornaments packed away in the garage!

Think how fast it would all get done! No dreaded day after Thanksgiving, when my husband drags himself out to the garage, groaning the whole time, to get the decorations down.

No standing for hours cooking food, no stacks of dishes in the sink, no spending way too much money on the big feast, and I could have the weekend just to fluff the decorations and do blog posts about them!

Ahhhh in a perfect world, one can only dream! Great idea don’t you think?

Hugs,

Anne

Photographing Chelsea

2009-11-17T20:48:00.001-08:00

Digital Cameras are so wonderful! They open up a new world! To think that we can take as many photos as we want, and simply delete the ones we don’t like.

I was working away at the computer today and I happened to look over and see Chelsea sleeping about 2 ft. away. I decided it was a photo moment. Camera was right next to the computer so I grabbed it and did some practice shots!

Here she is, sleeping in her little bed. Cute photo, but too many distractions in the background. That sewing machine cord looks unattractive and yes the window is blurred, but still not the best frame for the photo. Even if I crop it, I’ll loose some of the photo size. Time to go in for the close up!

Close-up, but where did those ears go? Yes, it’s a dog, but wouldn’t she be much cuter with ears?

So I got in really close, and made sure I had ears in the frame! It adds personality to her photo. It also adds a few little stray hairs to her face! Humm, where did those come from?

No worries. I can Photoshop them out using the clone tool! I enlarged the photo and took out the little hairs.

Isn’t she cute? Pretty near a perfect dog, I mean perfect photo.

For a good pet photo, get down on your pet's level, and get close! Get them when they’re sleeping and you’ve got it made!

Try it with your camera. It works on anything, not just pets. Get in close and see what happens! What have you got to lose? You can always hit delete!

Hugs,

Anne

I Love That Color!

2009-11-14T13:29:00.001-08:00

What’s in a color? Amazing when you think about it! Do you say “I HATE that color” or “I LOVE that color”? Click here and see how you respond to this color wheel. (There’s an iPhone color app on this link too!) Have you painted a room one of these colors? Are you a brave red type or a shabby pink?

As the new studio addition draws near, I’ve been thinking about wall colors. Lurking nearby in the garage, we have CANS of paint. Palest of pinks, the freshest blue, a green I’ve decided I “Hate”. Test colors, used colors, colors we bought too much of. My hubby is the frugal one and of course wants to use the garage paint. He’s picked the pale pink. “It’s already there” he says, and “we won’t have to buy any ”.

I’m the extravagant one. I want a color that makes me feel “settled in” right away. One that lets me mix in all my distressed, vintage finds. I want a neutral color on the wall. I’m going with “Devine Icing” ! Love or hate the color, you have to love the name!

Now, want to have a little fun with color? Click on the link below and find your color horoscope! Skip the intro, find your birthday, and ta da! You’re a color! I’m Lilac Snow. Can’t believe it. I hate Lilac!

Pantone Colorstrology

Hugs,

Anne

Project week

2009-11-11T20:48:00.001-08:00

It’s project week at Bunny Hill. The tables are a bit cluttered, and there’s fabric everywhere, but that’s a good thing. It means I’m working! I never have enough room. If there’s a spare inch of table space I fill it with something. Things look orderly in my photos, but if you could see what I copped out you’d laugh!

Here’s the fabrics for a new quilt I’m working on. It’s the new line from the French General & Moda Fabrics called “Rural Jardin”. I’ll add some basics and a few other fabrics and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a new quilt!

And how about this little stack of wool and other goodies? Gotta love this wool! I’ve even mixed in a fat quarter or two of “Martinique” !

These are the makings for the next Bitty Pincushion! This is a fun one I’ll be sharing for next market! I’m so proud of myself for working ahead. Normally the pincushions get left until last! But not this little one!

Remember to keep those squirrel names coming! Mrs. Beasley, Nuti, Nutty, Poppy, Sassie, Bitty Grace, Beatrice, Jewel, Scamper, Amber, Chloe…

Hugs,

Anne

Super Squirrel!

2009-11-07T07:56:00.001-08:00

Ok, she’s not really a squirrel, but that’s our neighbor’s nick name for Chelsea. She’s about the right size, and I have to admit she’s beginning to look like she’s storing up for winter! Yes, I’m still trying to control her eating and I’ve added two walks a day. Walks as long as those little legs can go.

Both Chelsea & Bitsy are loving all the names coming in for the real Bunny Hill squirrel. Some clever names out there! I’ve received lots of emails with the cutest stories! Seems feeding squirrels is a popular past time. Amazing how many of you have them eating from your hand!

Here’s a handful of names so far: Calli, Olivia, Butternut, Muffin, Netty, Ginger, Clover, MiraBelle, Fleur, Hershey, Hazel Nut, Tillie, Sadyee Squirrel, Topher, Daisy, Miss Nellie, and on and on! This is so much fun! Thank you one and all. Keep them coming!

Remember, you have lots of time to think of a name. Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away. Yes, you can submit more than one name and it can be on any blog post through November 24th.

I’m sewing all weekend and finishing up my first “little” pattern for spring market! Hope your plans include some sewing time. Remember the holidays are coming! Think of the things you still have time to make! Here’s an idea of something to make; hop over and look at at Rebecka’s stocking using the bunny from “Rabbits Prefer Embroidery”! Really cute Rebecka!

And, if you’d like to know more about photographing your own dog, click on the link below, enjoy the pictures, then click on the “how to photograph pets” link. You’ll get some great tips! (Scroll down into the comment section and you'll see the cutest hot dog!)

25 Inspirational Dog Portrait Photos

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

It’s Tisket A Tasket Day!

2009-11-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Were you expecting a turkey in the basket? Well here’s the problem…I can’t appliqué a cute turkey. At least not inside a basket. Just can’t do it. You’d be asking each other “what happened at Bunny Hill?”.

So, because of my turkey problem, you get a squirrel in your basket! She’s a staple here at Bunny Hill. I’ve used her in several other patterns, and there’s no doubt you’ll be seeing her again. She’s got a bushy tail and she’s plump. Pleasingly plump! And the best thing is, she’s EASY to appliqué!

If you read my newsletter this morning, you already know about my contest. If you don’t get my newsletter (you can sign up on my blog), here’s the information on the contest:

Name this little squirrel, and you could win a Bunny Hill gift basket! Post a comment or email me with the name you love. If we choose your name, you’ll win this gift basket! (If you already have the pattern, you can choose another.) I’ll announce the winning name on November 26^th. You’ll be seeing my squirrel in future patterns, only next time she’ll have a name!

Good luck! Employees and family members of Bunny Hill Designs are not eligible to enter regardless of how brilliant the name might be.

And to see the beautiful wool version of A Tisket, A Tasket hop on over to Cottons ‘n wool!

Hugs,

Anne

Diversions

2009-11-03T11:10:00.001-08:00

November has arrived can you believe it? I’m a few days late, but I just turned over the calendar to November and let out a gasp. It’s a short month, made even shorter with Thanksgiving. Christmas is barreling at us full force! Are you ready?

When I get too busy with projects, I have a tendency to wander off for a bit and create diversions. A really bad habit, and I admit, part of my character. I was thinking about the newsletter I have to write, the projects I should be working on and instead, I picked up the camera and took few shots in the studio.

Here’s my first glitter house purchase for the season, right from EBay! Yes, it’s pink and it’s occupying a place in the studio right now!

How about this one? My jars of buttons on the studio work table. See the jar in front? It’s a vintage refrigerator jar and it’s filled with glass buttons (also an EBay purchase). I angled the camera not the table, don’t worry.

And then I thought, I wish you could see how beautiful the Cosmo Multi Work floss looks in my antique cabinet….so click went the camera.

It’s hard for me to even sell these! And to think we have three drawers like this! I love looking at them.

What do you do when you get “overwhelmed” with things? Are you the diversion type like me?

Hopefully I’ll be back on Thursday with block number 11 (just kidding on the hopefully part). I’m going back to work. Right now. I promise! Ok, I’m going!

Hugs,

Anne

Orange toenails

2009-10-31T10:36:00.001-07:00

Roxie is our neighbor’s dog. She’s a love. Even Chelsea thinks so. Chelsea watches from the studio window and not once has Chelsea barked at Roxie. Roxie passes all the “Chelsea” tests.

Roxie also has orange toenails…

and a “bad dog” hat.

Chelsea wanted one too when she saw Roxies’s hat.

She gave us the “look” we can’t resist.

So Ross went on the hunt to find her a bad dog hat. Well, when he got there, the cupboards were bare, and so the poor dog had…

…A spider collar? We’re kidding right?

Nope!

I promised next year we’d get her the “Bad Dog” hat or I’d even make her a “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” costume . This made her a little bit happier.

As for the treats? Chelsea and Bitsy both got treats in the mail this week from our friend Christine.

It’s going to be a good Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! May you have lots of treats and NO tricks!

Hugs,

Anne

Gift of Words

2009-10-29T15:25:00.001-07:00

If, as wee babes, we could each select our own special attributes, I would have chosen the gift of words. The ability to write what we want to say with eloquent, flowing words. Priceless!

Now, please don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’m “horrible” at writing, but I really have to work at it. I write and then re-write everything. And, then sometimes I go back and write it again! If you have a blog you probably know what I mean. It’s not easy. Unless you have the “gift”.

As I read the article written by Patience Brewster, in the current issue of “Where Women Create”, I realized she has the gift of words. I read her article three times and each time I was inspired or moved by something that she wrote and how she said it. If you haven’t seen this issue of the magazine go to Barnes and Noble right away!

Patience is featured on the cover of the magazine and her studio and artwork are simply beautiful.

Jo Packham, the editor of “Where Women Create” also has the “gift”. I read every editorial she writes, and I love her style. She always says something that inspires me to keep on creating. And, now she has a blog of her own! You can find Jo, and more pictures from the photo shoot with Patience here!

And, in case this isn’t enough excitement for the day, click here and you will be at the new web site for Yoko Saito in ENGLISH! You can order her books and products online from this site!

Today is a good day. Get inspired by these wonderful artists!

Anne

Studio Stage One

2009-10-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Often when you change one thing it has a tornado effect.

While I was at quilt market my husband, Ross, built IKEA cubby shelves in the studio closet. Building shelves in a closet = chaos. Everything has to come out. Everything!

Remember that built in ironing board I had in the closet? It’s now sitting in the center of the studio. Hard to iron when it folds down to the floor.

And the cabinets that were calling the closet home? They made their grand entrance into the studio and are now sitting in front of the bookshelves. No reading for us!

At first I was going to give these cabinets away, and then I thought, if I can only make them look a bit more shabby chic, I can use them in the addition.

Having an obsession with knobs, I ordered these from Anthropology…

And settled on this one…

Soon it will be replacing these wood knobs for a bit of shabbiness…

Do NOT call or email my husband to tell him what these knobs cost. He would NEVER understand about pink knobs, and chances are he won’t even notice when the wood knobs are gone.

And the new Ikea shelves? I love them! They let us SEE what we have. A novel concept to see what you have in a closet, don’t you think?

And when we don’t want to see, we can close the closet door and it’s bye bye cubbies!

Yes, Ross painted the panels on the doors to match the room. His special touch!

Brigette and I are having a great time working around the extra cabinets in the room. We’ll have to live with them in front of the closet until the addition is built. Something tells me this is the easy part.

If you have an Ikea near you, the shelves with the cubbies are wonderful. You can store a LOT of fabric in them and see it all! I think they cost less than the knobs. Slight exaggeration! Maybe.

Back soon,

Anne

I must be nuts!

2009-10-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

I swear I must be nuts. I hate change, I need quiet in order to work, and I hate clutter around me.

I’m guaranteed to have complete chaos in my life for the next several months. I’m walking into the lion’s den and I’m doing it willingly! We’ve decided to enlarge the studio!

We’re going right through my design wall and into the attic space! At the top of the stairs, where you see the “Arnie” quilt, will be the future French doors leading into the new addition.

The trouble with additions is everything; from the architect, structural engineer, permits, construction and the noise. Oh no not noise!

I’m taking it one day at a time. I’ll be showing you progress along the way. The actually “destruction” should start in about five weeks. In the meantime Brigette and I are working in chaos already. She calls it the transition stage. I don’t have words for it yet, and I haven’t told Bitsy and Chelsea although I think they suspect something is up.

Anne

Craft Iron

2009-10-24T09:35:00.001-07:00

Good news! While I was at market I spoke to the people at Cl0ver asking why they discontinued their craft iron. I love my Clover craft iron and the thought of going without isn’t appealing.

Apparently some of the irons are making a buzzing sound. They didn’t say what the buzzing sound means. I guess the moral of the story is don’t ever trust an iron that buzzes! My iron seems to be fine, but I’ll be extra careful not to leave it on all day.

The good news is that Clover is replacing the iron with a new model that should be available by next market! They promise the same type of iron with that wonderful pointed tip. New and improved, coming in about 6 months. Hope it comes in colors don’t you?

Have a great weekend everyone! I’m sewing some little “Allie” dogs for my Christmas tree! Pink dogs!

Back soon!

Anne

You are amazing!

2009-10-22T07:22:00.001-07:00

Oh my, I never really expected so many comments! Thank you one and all. If I win the lottery I’ll buy each and every one of you a fat quarter bundle, rent a hotel and host big sewing party! How’s that for dreaming?

So let’s get on with the drawing!!! I did one drawing last night and one this morning so that even people posting late (after bed time) would have a chance.

Martinique, by Three Sisters, Moda Fabrics

The winner of the fat quarter bundle is:

Donna of Brynwood Needleworks! She wrote on Monday, October 19,

“What a lovely post of gratitude. Moda is my favorite fabric company, and sadly, our LQS is dropping it from their lines. I'll be needing to find an online source for my Moda fixes!
Please enter me in your drawing. I'd love to own some of the new line.
Blessings,
Donna”

Congratulations Donna! Email me your address and this wonderful bundle will come your way. You will love it!

And the winner of the Layer Cake/Jelly Roll is:

Kathleen, who left this comment on October 19th!

“Such delicious fabric! Thank you for designing such lovely things and bringing such inspiration into our lives. I signed in to look at little patterns to make a special Christmas gift for my daughter. So fun to sneak in some surprise sewing”

Kathleen, email me your address and you’ll be sewing for your daughter very soon! Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who entered. If you didn’t win just remember, this fabric ships in March! It’s not that far off!

Hugs,

Anne

Thank You!

2009-10-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

I believe in serendipity. Opportunities, that may seem accidental, but never really are. One thing leads to another and before you know it you’re reaching for a dream and touching it!

This post is to say “thank you” to all of you who have helped me on my serendipitous travels! Thank you to all of you who read my blog, purchase my patterns, or visit my web site. Thank you to all the shops who buy my patterns, have become friends and support me over and over again. And a special thank you to two shops who helped me get started:

Thank You Thimble Creek!

This is the shop where so many designers began their journey; Joanna Figueroa, Verna Mosquera, Sandy Klop, Denise Sheehan, and myself of course. Many others have followed including the shop’s owner Joe Wood! Sandy and I were talking about it at market, and we’re still amazed at how many came from that shop! Thank you Joe and Roxie for all the support you’ve given all of us!

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop!

Kimberly Jolly of the Fat Quarter Shop not only purchased my first patterns for her shop, but she hand carried them to Moda. Hand carried! She took a chance on a newbie!

We’ve been good friends ever since. And today she’s still helping new designers get started! Her support and friendship made it so much easier for me in the design world.

New designers remember, when she offers her hand, she wants to help. She is an amazing woman both professionally and personally, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you Lissa Alexander and Debbie Outlaw from Moda!

Without you we’d all be lost. Thank you for providing the fabric that makes it possible for designers to do what they do! Without the two of you, it would never be the same.

Thank you to all of you! Let’s have a giveaway!

At market I purchased a fat pack of the new Three Sisters “Martinique” from Moda Fabrics. When I got home I found an extra Jelly Roll/Layer Cake combo. Soooo, two of you are going to be lucky winners. One will win the fat quarter bundle the one will win the Jelly Roll/Layer Cake! !

Look at this fabric! It’s beautiful. I think it may be my favorite line from fall market.

I’ll do a drawing on Thursday so be sure to leave a comment.

See you Thursday!

Hugs,

Anne

Goodbye Fall Market 2009!

2009-10-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

The Bunny Hill staff had so much fun at market! It’s like coming to a party after all the hard work getting everything ready. So many friends, memories, laughs, tears, and exciting things happen.

Brigette and Nancy were on a mission to find a Michael Miller Nome tote bag. As always, when they combine energy, success follows. Here they are in front of the Nome at the Michael Miller booth. I’m really surprised this guy wasn’t on the airplane with us on the way home!

This market was also a bit sad for me. I said goodbye to Henry Glass Fabrics. My last line of fabric with Henry Glass, “Petite Maison” will be in the shops soon. It’s a sweet line, and the little houses on the main print were all adapted from my Autumn House quilt.

As we close one door, another opens. I have a line of fabric, premiering at spring market, with a new fabric company. More on this as we get closer to market.

Walking the aisles reminded me I never tire of market. Never. There were fewer exhibitors this time. Sad to see, but the ones who were there, put their hearts into everything they did. The booths were amazing!

Kaari Meng from The French General, came by to see the block of the month I designed with her fabric. I heard she was out visiting all the designers who used her fabric. Isn’t that sweet?

She named her newest fabric line “Rural Jardin” and my quilt is Le Jardin. A complete coincidence I swear! She left me with a beautiful flower made from her new fabric! It’s now on my inspiration wall in the studio! Thank you Kaari!

We flew out of Houston Tuesday morning, with suitcases filled with so many things. When we got to the airport I was frisked. Yes, me! They said it was random, but pleeeeease. My iPhone was around my neck when I went through security and it set off the alarm! I was doomed.

While I was being frisked, Brigette (who, I might mention, had rice vinegar in her carry on and it went right through security), was dancing around taking my picture.

And so we said goodbye to Fall market 2009. It’s good to be home after market. The exhaustion sets in for a few days, and then the planning for the next market begins.

I bought a treat at sample spree for one of you. I’ll be giving it away soon so stay posted.

And if you’re in the “market” for wool, all of our Weeks Dye Works wool is on sale at 25% off on the web site. I’m streamlining and making some changes. You benefit, but quantities are limited.

Back soon,

Hugs,

Anne

Yoko Saito Visits the Bunny Hill Booth!

2009-10-16T19:49:00.001-07:00

So, I’m in the Bunny Hill Booth, and two lovely Japanese women walk in. They start talking and smiling to each other about my Scottie dog quilt. I leaned over to get them a pattern and when I came up I saw the name tag; Yoko Saito.

First came a gasp, then tears, and then the bowing started. Back and forth we went, bowing over and over. I wasn’t sure when it was polite to stop, so I just kept going and so did she! I felt so graced just to have her visit my booth! She is, in my humble opinion, the best appliqué designer ever.

There she was, this fashionable lady, dressed so nicely with a beautiful scarf around her neck (note to self; get a scarf for market and try to remember to wear it.)

A picture was called for, in front of the Scottie dog quilt of course! Note to self; think about red glasses too.

For those of you who are not familiar with her work, I’ll share some close-ups with you. Think itty, bitty tiny pieces of fabric, appliquéd, and then hand quilted with rows of quilting 1/8” to 1/4” wide. It is amazing to look at her work!

Not only is she known for intricate work, she is also known for her light hearted whimsical style! Just look at her little appliqué tote that was on display at market!

I am fortunate enough to have almost all of her books in my personal collection. A very special friend has given me one of her books for almost every birthday. To have met Yoko, and own her books, is a dream come true.

Have a safe trip back to Japan Yoko. I loved meeting you!

Next post I’ll wrap up my market pictures.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

We loved it!

2009-10-14T22:00:00.001-07:00

We arrived home yesterday, landing in a huge storm. The passengers all clapped after landing. It was bumpy, rocky and the pilot flew right through the thick clouds on a wing and a prayer. I’m so glad to be home!

If you have fun, meet a lot of new people, and laugh a lot, it’s a successful market! We had a great market! Here’s a few of my “cutie” pictures from market.

We ran into the APQ girls the first day, wearing PAJAMAS! They had a kick off going that was clever and creative. Slippers too, oh my how cute is that?

And remember that cute trailer with the red dots I showed you in the Michael Miller booth? Look at the finished version! The back is open and filled with water bottles! It’s surrounded by large trees and I swear you’d think you were camping. It was darling!

I ran into Pat Sloan in the hallway. She’s as cute as ever. Don’t know how she does it!

Then Mark Lipinski came along. I’m sure he’s been called cute way too often! Must be the eyes. Looking good there Mark!

And speaking of cute, just look at my friend Kimberly , owner of The Fat Quarter Shop! She is just so dang cute and can you believe she just had twins?

And Jennifer from Shabby Fabrics! She’s another friend and a “cutie”.

Here we are packed up and ready to leave. Anne B ran over and addded the pumpkin. Cute!

And just before we left Anne Bryson handed me this birthday card…

Chelsesa’s not so sure how cute it is!

Next post I’ll share the one person who I admire so much I cried when I met her!

Hugs to everyone!

Anne

Sample Spree and Day 1

2009-10-10T20:56:00.001-07:00

Quilt Market is the treat after all the hard work. It’s just so much fun to see everyone and you can’t imagine the creativity and production that goes into making all this happen.

We spent the day trying to assemble our booth. Brigette and Nancy were in charge of putting up the bed.

And remember the chandelier with the missing candles? We tossed the candles and added jelly strip bows.

And slowly our booth came together.

Lynette Anderson came by with the cutest Keds ever! Did you know you can have shoes made out of your own photos or fabric? This is from one of her fabric lines! She promised to send me a link to the site. I’ll share when I get it.

Then it was off to sample spree…

Here are my bunny helpers setting up our table! And see the crates of boxes at the end of the room?

That’s Moda fabrics and bundles just waiting to be unpacked.

Fabric…

and more fabric…

and then the tables were empty,

because of a certain person who shall remain nameless, but she did come to market with me and we do have the same name.

She’s helping the economy!

Hugs,

Anne

We are here!

2009-10-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! We’re in Houston and happy to be here!

I have two rooms at the Hilton. Here’s the view from one room…

The convention center…

Downtown Houston….

And here’s the view from the other room…

Top of the Toyota Center and the air conditioning/ducts.

Guess what view I have? This one! The good news is we don’t spend much time in the room.

Here’s the walkway from the hotel to the convention center.

And then of course once you get inside the convention center, you see lots and lots of crates and boxes….

And we just happen to be right across from the Moda booth…fun to watch the set up…

And the Moda Home booth…

And all over market you can see the most amazing props being set up.

Walls are being painted!…

And at our own booth, we have so many things to do! We brought this chandelier to hang, but only 5 candles, so now we have to figure out how to make it work. Candles are impossible to find right now.

And this little gal is going to fit right in our booth. Isn’t that the cutest bow?

We’re waiting for boxes to arrive at our booth so we can finish set up.

More to come from market as soon as I get a chance to post. Sample Spree tonight!

Wish you were here!

Hugs,

Anne