To the South and Beyond!

Well hello it has been awhile huh?  I am sure some of you were wondering where I have been… or at least I hope so!

my booth in Atlanta

Well first there was the sister Country Living Fair in Stone Mountain, Atlanta!  Like last month in Columbus Dad loaded me up with shop in the pig trailer and we tackled the 13-hour trek down there.  It was a successful fair with quite a different feel.  I think that all who attended had a great time and as always I met a lot of nice people! I have to say though I think Columbus is my favorite but then again I am partial…. I am an Ohio girl!  I had quite the entourage this time… Mom, Dad, Judi, cousin Tiffany (from Prattville, Alabama) and Uncle John (from Harrisburg, PA) all came down!  I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I took.  My favorite it the little southern baby girl with the giant bow! If you didn’t know the mama’s in the South love them a cute bow for their daughters hair.  The weekend in Georgia went super fast which lead to the long haul home… don’t ya just hate long drives home?   Well we made it back to Fowler, Ohio and within 48-hours mom and I were off again to Fall Quilt Market in Houston, Texas…

Dad

So with a couple quick loads of laundry and another pack of a suitcase mom and I were off to the airport!  The last four days were a whirlwind in the state that everything is bigger.  We started off on Friday at school house for those of you don’t know what that is it is a full day of 30 minute classes in which all the new patterns and fabric companies show their new products off. I love going to them because I feel like it’s important for me to know what the hot new product is to share with you when I get home! Oh and shopping spree…let just say it’s a crazy evening in which there is a lot of grabbing of fabric and patterns that is not out yet! Then Saturday and Sunday mom and I shopped and ordered fabric!  Although the fabric won’t start rolling in till the beginning of the year the good news is I have been finally receiving all the fabrics I ordered at spring market! I am a little disappointed my favorite Australian designers were not there but yesterday I met a new one and very excited to share the new patterns I bought! I ordered some awesome kits from Moda that I am going to do a class on this spring and I can’t wait!  It incorporates two of my favorite things hand appliqué and stitchery!!!!

Edyta Sitar from Laundry Basket Quilts... the funniest quilter I think I have ever...she stood on a table at school house!  The quilts below are from her new book...I am going to have them and plan on doing a fun club along with it!!!!

 

This Lecien Fabrics new Designers!  So excited I am getting some of thier fabrics and most importantly going to be carrying the FULL line of COSMO floss!!!!

Sara Fielke and her new line of fabric and will be getting her new book in Material Obsession 2!!! Oh and I am getting some of the fabric and will be doing this free pattern as a kit!!!!

This is Roslyn Quinlan... I am really excited to have brought some of her new patterns home!

So excited about this quilt!!! I ordered the kits and going to have a class can't wait!!! Below are some of the fabric designers from moda.  Can you figure out who is who?

I’m going to say bye for now because the pilot is telling us we have to put our computers away.  Landing in Pittsburgh in a few…. then back home to  Fowler I am hoping to get some rest before opening the shop in the a.m.! (I didn't get this posted till today you will have to forgive me)

P.S.  If you stop into the shop this week please excuse the lil messy going on I have lots of things to but away still from my trip to Atlanta… I am hoping to get it all done tomorrow! 

Country Living Fair 2010 and a Sprained Ankle to Boot!

So I can't believe it has been two weeks since being in Columbus at Country Living Fair!  The time has flown... it was a great weekend and it was so nice to meet new people and see my shop customers at my booth.  Set up started off a little crazy being evacuated to the church because of tornado a warning was interesting and Friday setup was pretty hot! Other than that booth was booming all three days and it was a nice addition to have Amy Barickman there signing her new book Vintage Notions. If you plan on going to Atlanta CLF she will be back to the booth with more books to sign... so come see us!  I don't have as many pictures as I would like but here are a few. I went to take pictures on Friday morning before the early bird rush and realized I forgot my camera battery!  That's what happens when your up till three in the morning finishing up last minute projects.

It was a great weekend and so happy that it cooled off Saturday and Sunday.  The weekend went so quick. It was so nice Josh came down to spend the afternoon with me on Saturday. He helped out although at one point mom wanted him to man the booth and he freaked a little and expressed that he didn't know what I fat quarter was!  Abbie (one of my best friends) came to see me on Sunday it was so nice to see her.  I just want to mention though without my mom and dad the weekend would have never have worked.  They honestly are the hardest working people I know... man do I love them! By Sunday at 5 though we were beat  we got back home on Monday evening... Mom and I did some antiquing on our way home which was fun! Although getting home to unload not to fun... 

I was doing so good and my momentum was awesome unpacking and etc. Then last Thursday I had an altercation with a walnut. Yes you read this right... a WALNUT got under my foot and took me to the ground!  Well, while laying on the ground looking at the rainy sky and thinking literally I think I just heard (and felt) my ankle break. So next thing I know mom and I are on our way to Urgent Care one X-ray later I found out it was a sprain and the doctor so nicely mentioned that a sprain can be worse than a break!  I took the day off on Friday to rest and Saturday I tried as hard as I could to get the shop organized but realized it will get done another day. The shop is still a little messy but getting my ankle better I guess is more important. I saw my doc today and well I am getting a air cast boot to take to Atlanta for protection reasons and so I don't hurt it further. On a HAPPY note  I have some great new stuff!  Breakfast at Tiffany's by Fig Tree is here and I have some awesome new civil war reproduction fabrics from Wyndham come check them out.  The ENTIRE new French General Line is on the way and cant wait to see it in person. I hope to have that cut to take to Atlanta.  Well I hope this blog finds you well and a word of advice if you have a walnut tree in your yard watch out for those rounded ankle busters they can take ya out at any time!  

Mom and Dad... starting the setup process

The pig trailer turned into a Olive Grace Shop on Wheels!

All ready for customers....

 

 

Live Music and Dancing!

The best Home Made Cobbler...this is were the line starts!

Josh enjoying the Cobbler and more important his favorite ICE CREAM!

Mom...without her I don't know what I would do!

That is a lot of PUMPKINS!

P.S. here is a great blog that blogged about me at the fair CHECK IT OUT!!!! http://serendipityvintagestudio.blogspot.com/2010/10/country-living-fair-2010.html

3 Days and counting...

Well, it has been a few weeks since I have blogged... and let me tell ya A LOT has been going on.  Number one reason is I have been working really hard to get ready for this weekends big event...

Country Living Fair in Columbus!  

 I have an awesome announcement! Amy Barickman (some of you know her as the founder of Indigo Junction...yes as in the patterns!) called me up and asked if we could team up and I would be the retail spot/booth to sell her new book Vintage Notions!  So if you plan on coming to the fair come to my booth #365F to check it out and just maybe Amy herself will be there to talk to you and sign a book! Just so you know that if you can't make it to Columbus or Atlanta I have the book in the shop.  I have been thoroughly enjoying this very special book.  Amy will be speaking and doing a book signing at the Country Living Main Stage on Friday at 1:00pm! It is such a huge compliment that Amy decided to team up with me there are sooooo many amazing talented vendors at this fair I feel well words can't describe!  Hence I am really excited about the weekend!  Dad still has to pressure wash the pig trailer to put all precious cargo in. Yes that's how we get everything to the fair and it's awesome works out great...and NO it doesn't stink PROMISE! Well with that being said I have lots to do only 3 days left really only one day left here at the shop...EEEK! In the meantime here are  some pictures of whats been going on and a sneak peak at a few things I have been working on... 

My cousin helping me tag stuff...awesome helper!

printing of the shop newsletter hope you all enjoyed or enjoying!

I even fit in a small quilt show last weekend in Warren... Thanks Crazy Quilters Quilt Guild for the invite!

The booth that day and mom stitching on binding!

Last but not least...I thought she was chewing on that sock.

But, really it was my orange Pearle cotton...

her deciding to pounce it... Libby you are not a cat your a BULLDOG!

she is so cute it's hard to be mad at her... and I have tons more pictures of my sewing dog in all her glory with a ball of thread!  It was worth the break to take these!

Well I am off to sleep now.  I hope that I see some of you this weekend in Columbus!

P.S. Don't forget to check the website for Shop Hours while at the fair and upcoming Atlanta Country Living Fair! www.olivegracestudios.com/news

Up at the Crack of Dawn

sun comin up over the sewing machine

So I am typically not a morning person but today I decided to roll out of bed at 6:00 a.m.  Just so you know my eyes actually opened at about 3:30 a.m.  On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings I have been staying at mom and dad's house in preparation of the upcoming Country Living Fair'S!  Yes not just one but two...  Anyway I don't know if it's just my nerves getting the best of me or the 50 pound bulldog slash little old grandpa who made her way into my room which then proceeded to snore all night.  She slept on the floor and I think both the echoing of the old house and vibrations of her breathing made for not a good nights sleep.  I think that is just an excuse though.  20 more days till the Columbus Country Living Fair and lots to do.  My fat quarter folder and myself have been busy in the shop getting shop stuff ready such as fat quarters plus working on product that that I make and tagging all the vintage things I have for the booth!

Over the weekend for a little inspiration and few minutes away from sewing I met a couple special girls at the Meadow Lands Flea Market outside of Pittsburgh.  What a great flea market wow... that is a TRUE flea's hideout.  Old school style actually it was all antiques no socks or out of date mayonnaise for goodness sake.  Last Sunday was another early day we left here at 6:30 a.m. (5:00a.m. wake up) and arrived pretty early and by 11:00 a.m. we were hot and tired.  Great treasures in hand we blew that hot box of a flea market and decided on going to an antique shop then lunch... in A.C!  

P is for Piggie

So that is a wrap up of what has been going on around here!  So nice to see Abbie and Debb...it had been almost a year exactly.  Last year at this time all my best friends came to see my shop come to life in a celebration that in my heart will never be forgotten! If only there were more hours in the day and Seattle, Savannah, D.C. and even Columbus were just a wee bit closer.

P.S. I almost forgot... today is the official start of college football... Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Marshall 7:30p.m. Big Ten Network... I only hope I am awake at that time! Go Bucks!!!! O-H!!!!

The Fat Quarter Folder

The fat quarter folder eating lobsta in New England on a trip to Center Harbor, New Hampshire... to all you dedicated quilters what is in Center Harbor?

 

 

 

 

 

So my mom has dubbed herself the fat quarter folder!  Last Wednesday I had a class and mom worked the shop so I wouldn't have to go back and forth from shop to house.  Mom gets a little nervous about working in the shop I have no idea why but she does.  I have been cutting half yards of fabric to turn into fat quarters for the past few weeks in preparation for Country Living FairS'!  I told mom that day just fold the fat quarters and that would be a huge help! So as she is folding customers keep coming.  I guess the name dubbing went a little like this... customers' walk in and are greeted with " ummm Hi uhhh Kori's not here she is in the house teaching class so you will just have to deal with me I am the fat quarter folder" in a nervous voice says Mom.  Say that 5 times fast and it's a real tongue twister.  Anyway during all this I get a hundred calls in the house mom asking what she should do, how much is..., where is the... etc etc. Just so you know mom made it through the day and did a great job in the shop...she always does. A group of ladies who wanted to see what we were making in the house and informed me that I needed to give her a raise! She does deserve one that is for sure but the payment is going to be in some sort of gift and I haven't quite figured that out.... 

 
In the meantime though while I am in the house with Dana, Beth, and Judie elementary school teachers from the Canton area (I am still in shock that these ladies drive an hour to come here what a compliment and what a delight to have some new sewing friends) were in here making this cute little box and of course its a Hatched and Patched project! Pretty cool huh?  You can either use it for your favorite jewelery or to put thread in for an on the road project. To top this fun day off Judie brought these amazing S'mores Bars to share and I thought you all needed the recipe.  They are a MUST make people... my mom horded them from me and I actually had to ask where the were.  What can I say we a a couple of foodies... 
 

S'mores Sandwich Bar Cookies (from Hershey's)
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 Hershey's bars (1.55 oz. each), unwrapped : - )
3 cups miniature marshmallows

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8 x 8 glass baking dish.

2.  Beat butter and sugar until well blended in large bowl.  Add egg and vanilla; beat well.  Stir together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until blended.  Press half of dough into prepared pan.  Bake 15 minutes.

3.  Lay candy bars evenly over baked dough, breaking as necessary to cover.  Sprinkle with marshmallows; scatter bits of remaining dough over all.  Bake 10 to 15 minutes or just until lightly browned.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.  Yield:  16 bars.


Enjoy the recipe and hope this blog made you smile and or laugh.  I still laugh about mom's new nick name if you could have only heard her tell the story!  

P.S.: Come see these cute little boxes I am telling you you will want to make one!