Rebecca's Tea House

What's new.......

I have added a link to the 'Jolly Jabber' for those of you that are into quilting.  I have been a customer of the online Fat Quarter Shop since they opened a few years ago and I still rate it No. 1!  Even though I haven't bought any fabric since my trip to the Houston Market, I still browse their site and when I need something, I know they will have it.  I have recently started a quilt by designer Karen Stone, of Dallas, Texas.  It is her 'New York Beauty' quilt and should be a challenge as it is made by paper foundation piecing.  I'm new to this technique, so it may take some time to finish this quilt.  Love starting the new year, with a new skill.  New mantra for the new year....Do something creative everyday!

A few things before the new year........

We had a great Christmas.  Quiet with lots of family time.  We had a quiet Christmas eve dinner with chocolate fondue for dessert......yum

Christmas Favorites

Wanted to add this video of Band Aid from a few years ago.  Go, view and remember.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoJf-9j2kNs

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Look to the right and you will see my new Christmas quilt for 2007.  This has been a very big project for me this year and I completed it yesterday.  Too big to hang on the wall where I usually hang my new quilts, so this one is on the guestroom bed.  I was thinking how long it took me to complete, as everyone always asks, "How long did it take?", and I estimate 100 hours.  It is hand appliqued and there are 252 small cactus blooms and the 9 large cactus blocks, so............then the three borders and one of them is pieced........and finally the binding which is hand sewn.  So, I would estimate 100 hours, maybe more.  I finished it just in time to start an online class , Journal your Christmas, at www.Shimelle.com .  I'm looking forward to working with paper for a while and setting my quilting aside to work on other projects.  I hope you have something to do that is creative for the holidays.

A Chill in the Air ?

Not exactly.  It's November and we are still having warm weather.  Hopefully there is a cold front coming in tomorrow so we can start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Hard to get excited when we are still in our summer shorts and flip flops!  Happy Holidays!

Time is flying.........

I just realized that I haven't posted anything since October 5!  I promised  that I was going to be better at posting this time.  So, I will bring you up to date on what I have been doing.  Just returned from the Houston Quilt Market.  This is the wholesale show before the Quilt show that is open to the general public.  My friend Janice, invited me to ge along with her this year and it was a great treat!  As well as being able to preview the new products that won't be available in shops until Spring '08, we got to meet some of my favorite needlework designers.  There was also a full day of talks and presentations from the designers and the large manufacturing companies.

To begin with, I met one of my favorite designers that has been around for many years, Kaffe Fassett.  I have loved his needlepoint and knitting designs for many years.  I have a needlepoint cushion kit from 1992 that I still haven't finished!  But never mind......He now designs fabrics for Westminster and has written many books on quilts.  He is fabulous!  Lots of color.  Very inspiring.

I also met another favorite designer of mine, Susan Branch.  She does the 'Heart of the Home' series of books.  I have almost all of them, but couldn't resist buying another one so that she could sign it.  In the last couple of years, she has designed a new fabric line that reflects her style.  This year it is called 'Tea Party'.  And who doesn't like a tea party?  You can see her at www.susanbranch.com  .  It is worth a visit.

My favorite new designer is Amy Butler, who has a new book.  It is a lifestyle book as she and her husband are graphic artists and they have some great ideas to implement into your home and life.  She has a great line of fabric and patterns to accompany her book.  I got to meet her and chat to her as well.

And the best for last, Blackbird Designs, Barb Adams and Alma Allen.  What can I say about these two ladies.  They are embroidery designers, they are quilt designers, they are lifestyle designers, they are really fabulous!  And they are really nice and seem to enjoy meeting their fans!  I want to move to Missouri/Kansas to be able to take classes from them and to be inspired by their creativity.  Maybe I could just start with visiting and taking a class from them!

That just covers the hightlights, for me, of the quilts.  Then there were wool designers, Civil War quilt designers, applique, embroidery .............it goes on and on.

I felt like I had met a new group of friends and I was very tired when I got home.  This was also F.H.'s first time away from home and he had a great time at his canine resort.  He was tired and dusty when he got home, too much fun with his new Lab friends!

Until next year............I'm off to work on some new ideas.

A Rick Rack Day!

My day started with great anticipation.  I planned to go to the local Chisholm Trail quilt show sponsored by a quilting guild in Round Rock, Texas.  This is one of my favorite shows as it is very organized and full of ladies with lot of talent!  They always display the quilts with great care, and I must say, I was not disappointed.  There were many quilts made by ladies that I have taken classes with over the past two years that were displayed and many won awards.  It is an excellent show and well worth a visit.  But that is not the best part of the day.  I met up with a friend of mine, Janice, to go to the quilt show.  Now, if you know me at all, you know I love rickrack.  And to my great surprise, Janice has been 'downsizing' her quilt stash and had a bag of rickrack for me.  Yay!  All colors and sizes as you can see in the photo.  Thanks again Janice!

Happy Fall!

Almost.........It's my favorite time of year.  I love fall colors, and the cool mornings and evenings.  I have had several requests to feature some of my quilts that I have made, so you will find a photo album on the right side to browse.  These are just a few of my quilts and I just finished an orange and black one for Halloween so I decided to get this album started.  I will post more, I just have to take photos of them.  Also, visit my Flickr site, again just click on the Flickr photos at the bottom and you can browse my photo albums on Flickr.  I am learning to use Photoshop so I am a little slow in adding photos, but there are more to come.

Here's some eye candy!

My bassett hound, F.H., recently had his portrait done by my friend Katherine Robertson, who is a photographer.  See her work at Katherine Robertson Photography .  While in town for a photography workshop, she stopped by and snapped some photos so I wanted to share one of them with you.  Yeah, he's handsome!

Welcome to the tea house

I have been inspired over the past few weeks to start a new blog, so here it is. I am planning on writing about some of my favorite things: quilting, paper crafts, needlework and anything new that takes my fancy. I also want this blog to inspire me to take more photos of my creations so that I can share them with others. If you have a favorite site please let me know and I may include it on my blog. And along the way you will find book recommendations and recipes that I have tried and would like to pass on to you all. Keep coming back and I hope you enjoy the journey.