It's Official

It's been a long time coming, but it is now official - we have written our first book (yes, that does mean we plan to do a second)! Tributes and Treasures: 12 Vintage-Inspired Quilts Made with Reproduction Fabrics will be arriving at your local quilt store around October 6th.  We are so excited and honestly can't believe we really did it!!  I have to say it is like giving birth and it was a long pregnancy!!.  We would like to thank the wonderful people at Martingale Publishing for believing in us and helping us through the entire process. We will be the guest bloggers on the Martingale blog on Thursday, October 8th.  I will be sure to share the link when I have it.

We each received our advance copies yesterday and of course, had to take a picture with it!! Isn't that what you do with your first book???  

That's me - looking a little proud!!

Paula and her proud moment!

Our plan is to get it on our website in the next couple of days and you'll be able to pre-order your copy.  We will also have autographed copies in our booth for Festival (#1033).

In the meantime, we've been hard at work getting ready for Market and Festival. I'm working on a new quilt featuring Paula's Heritage Reds and  when it's finished I'll be piecing a re-do of Gettysburg in Latimer Farms.  All are packed and ready to go because this weekend is our retreat at Camp Blanding.  Paula and Ronda are driving in from Texas and I'll be leaving from here tomorrow.  Can't wait!!  Friends, fabric and food = a great weekend. I'll take pictures of the quilts and post when I am back home.

Until next time, happy quilting,
Mary Ellen

Game Day Plan

It was a big day in the Barnes' household yesterday - day 1 of college football, but most importantly day 1 of SEC football.  These ladies (Paula, her mom, and Paula's daughters) are all avid SEC fans, but particularly Georgia, Alabama and LSU.  Paula wasn't going to sit and watch these games, no she was going to work while the games were on and she planned appropriately.  She set up her cutting table so she could see the TV!!!  I've always said she was a smart woman!

If you look closely at the TV in the picture, you can tell which game she's watching! Yup, that's the Georgia Bulldog.  At first I thought she was watching a dog show!!

The fruits of her cutting efforts are additional kits for our website inventory and Festival, but also a new kit on our website - Union Tents.  The kits include fabric for the top, backing and pattern (template included).  Paula designed this pattern using 10" fabric squares from her Historical Stripes collection.  You will even use these squares for a pieced backing!

Union Tents is the small one draped over the screen. Left-Tanner Legacy, Right-Sherman's March.

Now, I'm not a football fan, so my Game Day Plan involved Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer - yes indeed I am watching all of the past seasons of White Collar on Netflix and I am truly enjoying it!!  I spent the afternoon with some hot men and a new quilt for Fall Market from Paula's new Carolina Blues collection.  I'm about halfway done, so you know what I'll be doing this afternoon - after all, I still have 2 seasons to go!!  Matt Bomer also starred in Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL.  I also have Monday afternoon planned - The Librarians marathon!!!  New season starts November 1st, so I have to catch up!!  Maybe I'll even be working on another new quilt - I have 2 or 3 calling my name!!  After all, it is pre-Market and Festival season!!

Until next time, happy quilting,
Mary Ellen