Monday

Greetings to you on MLK Day. Maybe you have the holiday off - but not me! Work - work - work. I am excited to say that I finished a quilt last night - a 2 color quilt from Kim Diehls newest book. I will have it to take it to the Winterfest retreat next week. Kim is the guest teacher this year. I will be teaching 2 fun classes - Burgoyne Surrounded and a Disappearing 9-patch. It is always a fun retreat - lots of familiar faces, fun vendors and good food. I am taking Zephie with me this year - she is taking a class from Kim and then taking care of the booth while I teach. I am really looking forward to our little working vacation.
We love it when the UPS truck stops at our back door. Today he brought 3 boxes of cloth - "Sent With Love" from Moda and "Liberty" from Windham. It has a big red toile that I love.
I must get down stairs to see and touch them. That always inspires me.
We are suppose to get snow this week - I hope it comes and cleans up our nasty air. Have a great week, Kaye

Good Morning

Happy Monday - I am starting my week with a better attitude by hell - It is a beautiful cold winters day here in happy valley! I really do love the sparkle of the snow in the sunshine!!!!
Mary is busy on the Gammill - Zephie is as productive as usual - (she finished 3 projects this weekend) and I am about ready to do something constructive! There are so many things that need to be done - but they will wait while I cut out a quilt project that I need to have done in 2 weeks so I can take it to Winterfest. Like my friend Mariann tells me - "if you would just APPLY yourself......"
I did try to make some rolls from scratch this weekend - they were awful. I started with new yeast and flour from Kitchen Kneads but choose the wrong recipe! I will try again next year.
Have a great week - Kaye

Brother - where art thou?????

My brothers cremains are missing! He was shipped from Cumberland Maryland on Nov. 9, and then shipped back to Cumberland after 3 unsuccessful tries to deliver him to the Logan Cemetery. After we figured that all out, I gave the funeral home the address to the shop and asked that he be shipped here because there would always be someone here to sign for him during business hours. He has yet to show up. In death, as in his life, he is surrounded by trouble.
That is just one of the many things that has been racing through my mind these days. So many unanswered questions - the whys and what ifs - I can't stop the worrying. If you could go back in your life time and change one thing - what would it be? That is the burning question this week. My insecurities are showing - enough about me!
We have started on a class schedule - a beginning class with Marie Isrealson is set for Sat. Feb 6th - call and let us know if you want in. More to come!
Zephie and I are going to Winterfest the last week of this month. I will be teaching 2 different classes at the retreat. We are both busy working on some new projects to offer at our both in the vendor mall. This is always a fun retreat - held up in the snowy mountains close to Park City. at Daniels Summit Lodge. I am looking forward to the fun.
Stay warm this weekend and take time to do some quilting. Kaye

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Can you believe that the year is over? Even Zephie commented today about how fast time is going by. We had a wonderful Christmas at our house - and passed the stomach flu through the crowd! Feeling much much better and looking forward to a New Year. I spent last evening sitting alone near the Christmas tree, enjoying the lights, watching the tele and being thankful that I didn't have to be doing one single thing. I think I will do the same thing tonight!
As in all the years since the Red Rooster was born, we will be "closed" on the 31st and 1st. But I will be here on Saturday - trying to come up with come new ideas for the new year.
My hope is for us all to have a peaceful, content, grateful and creative New Year - my best wishes to all and a sincere Thank You for all your kind support. See you in 2010 --- Kaye

Goodness Gracious

Greetings - Well I spent Sunday making fudge, peanut brittle, cookie dough and hand quilting! I will be ready for this holiday - no matter what! I have so enjoyed my Christmas tree this year - having only the tree lights on in the room makes it feel so Christmasy - I love seeing all the ornaments - remembering who made them - when it was given and received. I have a few ornaments left from the first Christmas with my daughter Stacy - hand sewed from felt with beads and sequins - photo ornaments from Rob in grade school, special ones from friends and loved ones. The holidays are really meloncholy for me - missing my husband and my parents - remembering all the crazy family holidays. I am hoping that this Christmas will add many more happy memories for my children, their families and yours too. Remember to always "KISS" these times (Keep It Simple Stupid)- a customer said that to me one day - I thought it was so funny !
Something work related - I currently have 2 great trunk shows hanging in the shop right now. My featured local quilter is Diane Marvin. She let us borrow her wonderful cathedral window quilt and a beautiful yo-yo coverlet - she is very productiveand severl other great quilts. We also have the traveling trunk show for the Winterfest Retreat that is being held in January. Lots of fun ideas to see and be inspired by!
Check out this website www.bakerella.com - its cute.
I must get to work. I wish you all the happiest of holidays - be safe and enjoy! Kaye

Winter - The purple princess party, Nov 17, 2009

These are the piggies of a purple princess - the night before her birthday - having a wonderful time while Stacy and I slave over the cake - it was so cute and delicious too. The party was a success and the purple satin cape I made her was a hit - I need to get a better picture of it.

Then there was Thanksgiving - I cooked a very good meal - if I do say so myself - with one big exception - my pies were AWFUL. My pecan pie didn't ever set up - but it looked pretty and I over seasoned my Pumpkin Praline pie - nasty! I took only one picture all day - it was of my daughters appetizers - so I won't share it!

Now - it is Christmas time - the most happiest time of the year! NOT ! I am starting to feel the stress of it all already - too many thoughts running in my tired brain - do this - do that - make this - make that for her. Do you listen to the voices inside your head? My inner self is not my friend. I have just about figured out how to work on the "level of Priority " - what has to be done today - tomorrow - and what can I put off until next week. As always, life goes on whether I am ready for it or not. I wish I had the energy I had 25 years ago to keep up with all the ideas I can come up with in my head today. So I am going to try real hard to keep the spirit of the sharing, giving and gratitude, and try to not beat myself up over everything else. Who knows - maybe someday I will really bare my soul!

What ever state of mind your in - I hope you are productive and happy. Have a great day.

Red Friday

My Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful if I do say so myself - with one very big exception - my pies were both failures. My pecan pie looked beautiful but is was totally runner inside and my praline pumpkin was too spicy (except for the bottom praline layer that was yummy) . I will not give up - because pie is great!
Something strange has gotten into my son - his lady - Katy - had that man up and shopping at 4 a.m. today. They must be right for each other! They were both asleep at my house when I got up at 7 and there is a big stack of gifts in the kitchen - they were successful. I hope Katy wasn't injured in the process.
I started knitting a hat for new granddaughter yesterday - so I guess that means I have officially started my Christmas holiday preparations. There have been a few people in the shop already and they are in shopping mode. I hope I have something they want. We are having some great specials for the next 2 days. Hope you are enjoying your weekend - Kaye