Friday, October 26, 2007

It's been awhile!

Hi all!

I know I promised that I'd post often...however it has been extremely busy for me the last few weeks. The classes at the store are going very well and the little free time I've had has been spent in my studio trying desperately to catch up on commissions and future samples.

I've been getting some feedback on what classes I should teach in the near future. I've already submitted my next series of classes covering January through March. I already have to amend it since a lot of people are asking for doing memory quilts. I'm probably going to try to do a large class event (one day) where everyone leaves with a small wall hanging or pillow with their photo on the project. I haven't figured out the nuts and bolts...and as usual, I'm open to any and all suggestions on how you all would like to see this be organized. I figured it would be more fun to have a large event. That way not only will everyone learn how to do this definitely treasured project but have fun at the same time with other event participants. So everyone.....time to give me your ideas!

Bob and I will be doing some tinkering with the site and I should have the first of my tips posted very soon. Eventually there will be video clips of the tips. Also, I'm working up the free block projects for the site as well. Nothing like biting off almost more than I can chew. At least I'm not bored!!!

Piece in piece to all,

Pat

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Setting Spring '08 classes at Stony Brook

Hi all!

Yesterday, we (Lynne, Sally and myself) were pouring over some new Hoffman fabrics that we are ordering for December/January delivery at the store. Wait until you see some of these fabrics, they are GORGEOUS! We ordered some fabric collections which have patterns to go with them. I basically have set my January through March classes already based on the fabrics we ordered! And with the fabrics arriving in December...I'll actually have samples ready ahead of time!

One of the classes is based on an Asian collection from Hoffman and the quilt pattern to go with it will definitely appeal to those of you who love Asians. It also lends itself to be a masculine quilt so for those of you who want to make a quilt for their special someone (male) this might be the quilt. We are also getting more batiks to fill out our batik wall at the store.

Since I am setting my classes for the spring....if you have a burning desire for a specific class, please let me know quickly!!!!

I hope you all have a great weekend...my rest of the week after last Monday was quite nice. I got all the annoying stuff out of the way on Monday (see my previous posting) :-)))

Piece in peace,

Pat

Monday, October 1, 2007

Did I ever tell you I hate Mondays?

Hi all!

Today was a perfect example of why most people hate Mondays. I got up this morning ready to go to work at the store and work on some class samples. First, my daughter Meaghan was already up at 5:30am working on her essays, she went to bed around 1am trying to get the essays done (she was away for the weekend). She's got a cold and she's miserable and can't get her essays printed on any of our printers in the house. Chris (the son) gets a phone call to come into work at 6am (he forgot to check his schedule when he was away). Sabrina, (the other daughter) leaves the house at 7:00am, leaving her lunch behind. Justin (the youngest) wakes up with a headache and stomach ache. The husband is home, getting ready to go to a fundraiser golf tournament. And I have to be at my physical therapy by 8:20am.

First, I get Chris off to work, get Meaghan to dump her files onto a floppy and also to email her essay to her account at the high school. I call Justin in sick, then I get dressed and drive over to the high school to drop off Sabrina's lunch. Of course, no one tells me that the main office has moved to the other side of the building! Then the bell rings and I'm awash in teenagers. Luckily a teacher who knew me took the lunch and promised she would get it to Sabrina.

Next, I'm driving away from the high school...I then find out my route to the therapist is closed and I have a ten minute detour to negotiate. I was then late for my therapy. While there, I get a phone call from Meaghan who is now ill and wants to come home. She tells me that the school's internet was down and she had to go to three different areas in the school to find a computer that had a floppy drive (note: we are definitely getting memory sticks for the kids). After my therapy is done, I go back to the high school to get Meaghan home. I called Lynne to tell her I was running late and that I had a great story to explain why. I then proceed to hit EVERY RED LIGHT from my house to the store. At this point, I look heavenward and say "OK God, whatever I did, I'm really sorry can you stop now?" The only thing I thought was that my hubby would have a much nicer day.

Guess what, the hubby had....let's be delicate here....a wardrobe malfunction while on the golf course. He was able to continue playing but he was very careful about moving around. Needless to say, the O'Brien family was definitely having a baaaaad Monday! Makes you want to not get out of bed. The only bright side is, since everything happened today, the rest of the week can only get better (we hope).

Here's to a better week, I hope you had a much better day today than I did.

Piece in peace, Pat