Perkins Dry Goods

In the heat of quilt market preparation last month, I was saved by chocolate.  Last minute and me are not good partners.  If you know me, you know that I am methodical and organized.  I don’t do harried and rushed well at all.  I was late getting my pattern covers for new stuff to the printer, which meant I might be stuffing bags in the hotel Friday night before market opened.  YUK.

I phoned Jane at Tri-State Printing and groveled a bit - she was so very nice and didn’t make me feel bad at all.  She was calm, she was kind and would overnight a partial order to me so I could bag enough patterns to ship ahead to Houston.  Low and behold those covers came, crammed into that overnight envelope along with two mini chocolate candy bars.

Okay, fast forward to a month later…… Market was great.  I think  mentioned in my Middle Name Game post that I met some fantastic new people and connected with old friends.  Better than a college reunion!

Now for the new stuff… I’m very excited about these four new designs.  I hope you like them!

Twist and Shout Tote is a fun little pattern that has a ton of options. Two styles and three sizes for each style!  I did these with Jelly Rolls and Charms.

Three for Tea is another jelly roll project that you could adapt to charms too.  Two runners and a small topper can all be pieced from one jelly roll with a bit of yardage for borders and binding.  I also included scalloping instructions for the corners on the topper.

Summit Square is a very traditional scrappy project that has two quilt sizes and a quick runner that you can make from your scraps.  I use the Civil War Classics line from Marcus Fabrics and just love how it turned out!

Country Lane is my first effort using the Sweet Sixteen (TM) charms from Maywood Studios.  These are a fat sixteenth of a yard and cut at 9 x 11 inches.  It was kind of fun to see the secondary pattern emerge.  Two main blocks and a simple pieced border in this project.

Thanksgiving was at my house this year.  I love to make the turkey dinner and it is really hard for my husband to stay out of the kitchen.  He normally cooks. Period.  I’m not exactly sure how it all started way back when 20+ years ago, but his cooking has evolved over time and he is in charge in the kitchen.  He is an excellent cook. Except on Thanksgiving. It’s my turn.

In the days prior to Turkey Day, I was busy finishing up  a new color way for one of my new patterns.  With some help.  I have three assistants, you know. 

Zola, the lab who loves her beanbag bed.  She mainly woofs when I need to pay attention to her.  Sometimes it’s just a “let me out, mom.”  Other times it’s “we need to play tug with my blanket.”

Then there is Rosie, one of the siamese kittiots.  She is a machine quilting expert.  Very helpful.

Cleo on the other hand prefers to watch from afar.  She sits atop the machine with the thread running under her.  Amazing.

Happy Holidays!