I guess I’m Catching the Wave…..the Word of the Year seems to be the topic of conversation in a number of circles I travel in. So….I’m going to announce mine. PLAY!!

Here I  am “playing” with my two wonderful daughters…..as you can see, we’re playing in Paris.  Let’s face it…if you can’t play in Paris, you’re in pretty sad shape!

My focus for the year is to play regularly……maybe not EVERY day, but very often.Now that might not seem like a challenge for many of you….after all, playing is fun!! But for we neurotic, compulsive, workaholics, taking time to play can be something to work at.

I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but maybe I’m just realizing how fast time goes by…..and each day had better be a delight. Of course, I love working at my art so that makes it even more of a challenge to make time for simply enjoying day to day things like going for a walk, visiting friends, reading (rather than always being productive….) etc. etc.

One thing that has always come first is playing with my grandchildren…no problem there. They’ve always been at the top of my Playing Priority list. It’s the “going for a walk in the woods by myself”  kind of things I’m focusing on.

I’ll keep you posted on how it’s working. For now, I’d better get back to work. Late night is my best working time!!!

Check it out……Pantone has announced its color of the year……Tangerine Tango. A yummy, soft, orange/color color that I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of this year.

Here’s the link to see examples and shades of the new hot, color…

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/category.aspx?ca=88

You know…..this color….soft tangerine….is part of the orange family, with which I definitely have a history. As an artist and designer there were two colors I simply DID NOT like or use for many years….probably 20 years. That would be brown and orange. Ironically, I use both of them know and even wear brown!! Can’t believe it. Neither can some of my friends….in fact, I remember teaching my darling first grandson (now 12) that I didn’t like brown. I did feel a little sheepish when he told me one day, “We don’t like brown, do we, Grama.”……nothing like passing on your prejudices!

But today I include them both in my pallette. Actually, it’s the shade (amount of dark) in a color, not the color itself that makes the difference for me. The shade of Tangerine Tango is very nice.

Moral or the story……keep an open mind. You never know how your taste will change. Be open to it!

One of my favorite things about the season….and there are many….is the excuse to pile on the glitz and glitter. I’m a sucker for anything that sparkles, shimmers, or shines…and if it’s gold, even better!

That’s my holiday home look…..here’s a couple of looks. It’s amazing how simple objects like gold balls and snowflakes can create an elegant glitzy look.Check out these amazing wire lights I discovered….just a little twinkle of light on a gold wire. No bulbs.

 One of my decorating tips…..I’m excessive in seletive spots….the rest I leave as is. In other words, I don’t try to cover every possible surface with holiday stuff…..just in a few places but in those places-total excess!

One thing about the glitz…..it seems to be a little addictive. More is always better…..

Hi  Everyone….here’s a bouquet of roses for you. Probably the last blush of summer. How sad. I hate the fall day I wake up and all the flowers are black and frozen…..it could be tomorrow.

I’ve said it before but I’m determined to be a Better Blogger. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I’m going to be spending less time at the computer and more in the studio….and I’ll share with you. More to come. I promise.

Here’s a little something I read the other day. You probably know I love to travel….(slight understatement)…….I can’t remember who said it but…..

Life is an open book. If you don’t travel, you never get off the first page…..

Something to ponder. I like it……..until next time (which will be soon!)

Here’s a fun look and traditional quilt blocks with a twist of todays technology. It was sent to me and I’m passing it on to you. What’s old is always new again! Enjoy.

Check it out at http://www.nfb.ca/film/quilt/?ec=en20110209

Hi everyone……once again I have to apologize for being such a bad blogger. Or I should say an infrequent one. Lately I’ve been contemplating the merits of blogging vs. Facebook…….and have come to some conclusions.

After resisting adding one more thing to my very full plate, I took the leap and went on Facebook. I was already blogging, I told myself, so why did I need to add one more form of electronic communication. But it seemed the thing to do…and besides, my daughter was here and (strongly) encouraged me to to do it.

After my brief 10 days  experience on FB I think I’ve got the merits of each figured out. At least for me.   Blogging is an opportunity to really express myself and share ideas, photos, laughs, whatever with people who actually come to my website and are at least mildly interested in what I have to say. There’s an opportunity for me to share creative ideas, projects…..and nothing is too long or too short. Kind of like a novel….

Facebook, on the other hand is more like a book of quotations. A little of this and a little of that……and they are coming in from any and all the folks I’m friends with. Even if I can’t quite remember all of them. What comes in on my wall are the experiences, thoughts, humor etc. of a variety of people….and there’s a limit to the length of those messages. It’s perfect for quick comments and one-liners……not room for in depth ramblings (like I’ve been known to do).

Both are great places to promote new product and deliver information. Just in a different form.

So….now that I seem to have that figured out…I wonder if I can keep up both of them. I did think FB would be a good place to introduce an idea ….with follow-up on my blog. Hmmmm….that would mean doing both of them at about the same time. I don’t know if I can keep up that standard!

Thanks for all of you who do read my blog. I’ll, once again, try to be here more often. All my best….Pam

Here we are……the start of another new year. I’m always excited by the possibilities ahead and have this giant surge of organizational energy. It’s like a clean slate…….the year will be what we make it.  Hey, I’ve even cleaned my closet already and it’s only January 2!

I refuse to use the term “resolutions”…… I prefer to set goals rather than make promises that don’t last…..for me, anyway. Goals just seem more positive. Even if I don’t make all my goals (Ok, I usually don’t…) it gives me something to focus on.

Personally, one of  my goals is to make time to focus on garment sewing. Thre’s so many great fabrics out there for garments and I love doing it. It’s just making the time.  Exciting news…..I received the Bernina 830 this week and I’m really looking forward to learning all the tricks of this magic machine. I’ve never been really interested in learning machine embroidery in the past…..but at this point I’ve seen so many fabulous things done with it, I’ve been bitten by the bug! I’m actually signed up to take lessons on it….which is a pretty amazing for me. I’m pretty much a jump-in-and-learn-as-I-go kind of girl, but in this case, I’m going to take my time and learn all the fabulous goodies that go with the machine. I’ll keep you posted.

I’m also doing less traveling and teaching and more editing this year. I love teaching, but dragging around 100 pounds of luggage as a traveling teacher is getting a little old. Maybe I should say, I”M getting a little old! I’ll still do some but am cutting down on my road time.

How about you?  Do you have any goals for the new year? There’s something in the January air…….it’s just the right time for thinking about it. And…..don’t forget to write them down. For me, that works sooooo much better. It’s not enough to just think about them. Putting them on paper is an actual committment! Go for it!

To all you…….my best wishes for a lovely Holiday and all the joys of the New Year to come. For me, it will be spending the day with my family which I’m very excited about. It’s not often I get them all in the same house for an entire day! What a treat.

In case you can’t decipher it…..the photo is a stylized shot from my tree. Front and center is a Paris ball that I purchased on our family vacation ther last summer. It’s always so fun to remember each ornament as it goes on the tree…..one of my favorite parts of the holidays.

There’s always a nostalgic part of Christmas for me…..remembering those Christmases past with parents who are no longer with us. I think of them often as I grew up in a large family were Christmas was more than a day….it was a total event! Lots of laughter, food, love, and joy. That’s the mood I try to recreate in my own home.

Enjoy the blessings of the seasons. It’s a day that will never come again. There I go, waxing philosophical again. Time to get busy cooking!  Thank you very much for all our support and interest for the past year……See you in the New Year!

No surprise…… I love bling for Christmas. The more sparkle, the more shine, and more glitz and glamour, the better! I mix gold and silver…..I’m a nondiscriminating bling lover!  I also gather these little glitzy goodies throughout the year….wherever I find them.

Above you see a shot of my living room mantle. I assemble a collection of golden goodies that have come from everywhere…..from the local Goodwill to far-away travels. There’s something  magical about the gold……it makes me feel like I’m living in a magical world….even if I’m just folding clothes on the couch!!  I believe in bringing the work to the decor whenever possible!

My tree is covered with vintage looking shiny ornaments  which I adore. Again, there’s a little sparkle and shine there. My grandchildren love looking at them time and time again. Even though there are hundreds, they know when I’ve added a new one and search each year for the favorites.  When I travel, I try to pick up an ornament wherever I go…..which I’m sure many of you do as well. I just love pulling those out of the box and reliving the trip memories. Even if they suffer a little in the storage (translation: break) I tuck the remaining pieces into the branches. I just can’t bear to throw them away! 

As long as we’re doing the Christmas tour….here’s my dining room table. Glass is another thing that I love using at Christmas time. It’s got that shine and reflection that shimmers when the candles are lit. I always use this red and white quilt on my table this time of year…..it’s one I made probably 15 years ago….but it’s still perfect for Christmas. That’s the great thing about quilts…..they really are timeless.

I collect Santas…. and I display them in the dining room along with the table you see above. I take all the dishes out of the corner cupboard (yuk….the worst part of the job) and replace them with my mix of Santas of all kinds. Once I get them up there…..they stay awhile. I probably put them up in late November and leave them well into January.  As long as they aren’t full time residents in the corner cupboard, I want to leave them there long enough to enjoy. I love stopping as I walk by and remembering where they’ve all come from. Again…I collect them when I travel and as you can see, I have many Jim Shore Santas . I particularly love the way he covers the surface with patterns of all types. My kind of look!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour……have fun with your own holiday decorating. It’s amazing how a few added precious treasures can bring  joy and fun to your home. A word of advice….take a few minutes each day to actually sit down and enjoy them. I’m trying very hard to do that!

Seasons best!

OK….I know I’ve been a very bad blogger. Or rather, a very absent blogger. My apologies…..it’s just that I seem to have periods of time now and then when I just can’t get blogging into my schedule. I apologize…….it’s been a busy couple of months. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!!

Let’s see what’s been happening……a great summer. Not enough time to enjoy the weather and the grandchildren, but I don’t think I’ll every have ENOUGH time!! One big news…..next month is the release of my latest book…..Blended Borders. The photo above is the cover quilt….how about that for dramatic, huh. I love it. It’s definitely on my short list of favorite pieced quilts I’ve every made. Of course, it’s all about finding the fabulous fabric like this one. For details on how to create a Blended Borders quilt, check out the book when it hits the quilt shops about the middle of October. I’ll have it on my website as well and I’ll be happy to sign if you like.

Also….quilt market is coming up next week so I’ve been busy getting ready for that. It’s a busy time for those of us who work in the business of quilting, but always a great experience. It’s exciting to see what’s coming up in the next year….and I always enjoy seeing the friends I’ve made over the years whom I rarely get to see except at market. I promise to fill you in on any trends I spot or great products when I return.

And…I recently finished up work on a new book coming out next summer. Remember my Bali trip? My friend Susan Nelsen, who was also on the trip, and I are coauthoring a book that combines a fun technique we call Superstrata with the beauty of Bali which was our inspiration for the look of the quilts. Not only did we have a great time on the trip….but working on the book was fun too. Really. I’ve coauthored several books, and have always had a good experience sharing the role of author. Of course, I’ve coauthored with some of my favorite friends so that makes it a pleasure.

Teaching is always part of my routine, and I just got back from a week on the road. I was the featured quilt artist at a great show in Walla Walla, Washington…..and I went from there to a teaching gig in Coupeville, WA. Also a great group….the challenge for me going to that part of the country is dealing with the ferries. For those of you who don’t know the area (probably most of you) Coupeville is on Whidbey Island of the coast of Washington. Very charming…..

And, as always this time of year, we spend lots of time at soccer and fall baseball games watching our grandchildren. All are involved in sports and it’s absolutely one of my very favorite things in the world to do to watch them. A little stressful at times……our grandson is a pitcher (no pressure there for parents and grandparents) but still a joy. All the granddaughters are great soccer players….do I sound like a proud grama? I am.

SOOOO… that kind of wraps up my news….It’s amazing how fast fall arrived, isn’t it. I love the autumn season…but I’m sad that another summer has ended. It’s such a distinct marking of time going by. Ok….I’d better say good night. I’m starting to get philosophical so I know it’s time to call it a night.

I’ll be back soon. Promise.