Thursday, October 1, 2009

Hello to all you quilters out there in the land of blog. I'm finally taking the techno plunge - with much help and prodding from my kids and grandkids - and starting my own blog page. It hasn't been easy. My daughter, Nicole, had to call to talk me thru my first text message a few months ago; my 8-year-old grandson, Cooper, showed me how to find cool wallpaper for my computer screen a few weeks ago (I still had the Windows logo that came with the computer) and my son/webguy, Brian, set up this blog for me so all I had to do was type. Now maybe I can shed the title of "Most Techno-phobic Gramma on the Planet". Join me here each week and we'll navigate the muddy waters of blogging together. Watch this space for a giveaway each month!

We're packing up the car and headed to Houston next week for International Quilt Market to peddle our new fabric line, Butterfly Garden, and the patterns we created to go with it. The collection is a pretty mix of florals and geometrics in my favorite KTQ colors - barn red, true navy, black, mossy green, eggplant and gold with a few tans for contrast. The featured quilt is called Butterfly Garden with Jelly RollTM piecing and raw edge applique.

For our family, Butterfly Garden has a several meanings. While I was working on the quilt and playing with the possibilites for appliqued flowers, my 3-year-old granddaughter, Delainey, came to visit. She was helping me in the garden when she inquired about a particular tall, purple, fuzzy bloom, "What's this one, Gramma?" I replied, "It's a butterfly plant - the butterflies love to come and smell them." (As a novice gardener, that's the extent of my knowledge.) About this time, her older (and much smarter) brother, Cooper, 8-years-old, piped up with, "Yeah, Lainey, that fuzzy purple stuff is actually a caterpillar and will turn into a butterfly if you sit and watch it long enough." Delainey pondered that bit of information, sat and watched the flowers for a while, then went on her way. Later that afternoon, she spotted a butterfly perched on the purple, fuzzy flowers and exclaimed, "Look, Gramma, we growed a butterfly!" Of course, she had to tell Grampa and her parents that she had helped make a butterfly out of a fuzzy purple flower despite her Daddy's attempts to set her straight. So, of course, purple fuzzy flowers are included in my Butterfly Garden quilt. I will smile and shake my head in wonder every time I look at this quilt and remember my delightful afternoon with the grandkids. Were my own kids ever this entertaining?

21 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see you in Houston and follow you in blogsphere.

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  2. Welcome to blogging Lynne! See ya at market!
    Kathy Brown

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  3. can't wait to see what you design!

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  4. what a great story! kids have the best imaginations & say the darnedest things!! welcome to blog land & see you soon.

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  5. HI Lynn! Yea for you - for taking the 'plunge'! It will be so fun to keep up with you here! . . .
    (My Mom used to day that having grandkids was so much more fun - because she knew enough to slow down & enjoy everything more. . . !)
    xo, Bren

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  6. Hey Lynne, welcome to blog land...now I can stalk you online as well as at Market. Your Butterfly Garden will find a home with me for sure...See you next week!

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  7. Welcome. Maybe I'll see you on the road to Houston. I'm driving this year too. See you in a few days.

    Laurie

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  8. ooohhh yayyy!!!
    welcome to blogland.
    we'll see you in houston.
    :)

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  9. Lynne, I am new to blogland too! Let's motivate each other. I started mine last week. I will follow you and you can the same with me and we can try to promote each other. Have fun. I have had a few days off to work on this so I am getting some of my old photos/quilts added. Hope to read more as days go by, Stephanie from Maryland

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  10. Welcome to blogland, Lynne. I'm a Nana new to blogging also. I still don't have the hang of it. Unfortunately, my kids and grandkids don't live close enough to help me out. My daughter has had to walk me through a lot of things on the phone! Still trying though:) It will be my first time at Market. Hope to get to meet you at there.

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  11. Welcome to blogging! I live in Manchester, England and I'll be following your blog :)

    Nikki

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  12. I can't wait to see the new line and the new patterns. I love it when I know there in new in the works. Have fun a Market some day I too will go. :) I have a Cooper too but it is my son. They sound alot alike. Can't wait to read more on your blog

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  13. Hi Lynne, welcome to blog land. Have been an avid follower and purchaser of your fabric for many years for my store and myself.
    Good luck with your blogging and I'll look forward to seeing your samples of 'Butterfly Garden' soon, here in Australia.

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  14. Hello There Lynne... A Big Welcome to Blogland & don't worry you will be Blogliterate in no time @ All !!! That was such a cute Butterfly Story... Grandbabies sure can make you Smile.

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  15. I'm excited about your new line and welcome to the blog world!
    Blessings,
    Gayly
    quiltnmamaquilts.blogspot.com

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  16. Welcome to blog land. I'm adding your blog to my links! I can't wait to see what you have for us to see in the weeks to come.

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  17. Welcome to blogging! I enjoyed your butterfly story. Children are a joy! Can't wait to see your new fabric and patterns.

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  18. Hi
    Be seeing you soon - some things actually do get better with age - good sense. I am flying into Houston tomorrow and will beat Laurie/Leigh Ann I think - they are on the road, near St. Louis last time we chatted. Oh my that is one long drive. Will be fun when we all get there. Se ya - think we are neighbors at market
    Polly

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  19. HI & Welcome to blogging! I am sure you are in Houston having a blast-as I write this! Can't wait to see what you have to show! Did you know that 10/1 was actually Polly M's b-day...

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