It is FIG TREE CONTEST time!!

.... amazing prize for this contest from the lovely folks at MODA for all 6 winners!!

Welcome to April and the Fig Tree contest in the line up of MODA's 12 Designers/12Contests!!

We are so glad to be participating in this year long MODA adventure of creativity and contests [so far we have seen fun contests from French General, Sweetwater and Me & My Sister].For those of you who are new around here, welcome! For those of you who "talk" to me everyday on Instagram or elsewhere, welcome back!

I sure hope that you all join me for this… yes all of you… I want to see a serious amount of blocks my friends!

So here's the scoop, the skinny, the dirt…..

WHY:

You are creating & sewing a block to be used in one of our Mystery BLOCK OF THE MONTH programs- either one of our current programs Nantucket Seaside, Red & Cream, Vintage Baskets or perhaps a new upcoming one!!

Each year, we run a number of popular Block-of-the-Month programs and are in constant need of fun, traditional feeling blocks that will work in one of those programs.

... photos of a few of the blocks from our Mystery Sampler Quilt from 2015.

 

...images from the Yuletide Sampler BOM quilt that we ran in both 2015 and 2016.

 

...photos from last years Mystery Sampler BOM.


CONTEST INFO AND RULES

RULES:
1. You have to use mostly Fig Tree fabric but you can mix in any Bella Solid or little cream background prints you like. I do that all the time so its only fair that you get to do the same thing LOL! If you don’t have any cream left from any of our latest collections, my "go to" Bella solid is IVORY.

2. Your block has to be either a 6”, 9” or 10” block since those are the sizes that we are in the greatest need of as of right now!

If you want to do a grouping or a smaller one to compliment a larger one…. go for it! YOU CAN MAKE AS MANY BLOCKS AS YOU LIKE…. the more, the better... you have all month to submit them! Who knows, you might end up making your own Fig Tree Sampler in the process!

3. You have to email me a picture [if you’re not on Instagram] and I will post it or post it on IG with the hashtag #12contestsfigtree sometime during the month of April.

4. It can either be an original block that you create or a traditional quilt block that happens to be one of your favorites. Either is great since we use both in our samplers!!

5. As a little bonus, the first 16 entries will receive a mini charm in the mail, as soon as I see the photo! We also have little “contest baggies” available if you need some fun scraps to get you started. Each “contest baggy” has a piece of cream and some MODA scrap goodies.

WHEN:

The contest runs from April 5 through May 1. All winners will be announced on May 5.  We will have 6 winners... YES 6 WINNERS... and the winning blocks will be included in one of our Block of the Month programs! You will be given credit for the block in the program, you will receive an awesome prize from the amazing folks at MODA [yes that is the prize in the picture above] and we will be besties for life :-))). Oh yeah… and you will get special “early bird” sign up privileges for any Fig Tree program for next year! That’s worth it just right there I tell ya!

So get your sew on my friends!! And @yardgrl- since we all know you are the most prolific quilter in the world, we expect to see a few blocks from you for sure or a few hundred! Maybe we should have different rules for Susan… a block a day… what do you guys think??

Thanks for playing along this month! Now let's see who has the first 16 entries. Ready, set, go!!

Teaching Adventures

Hello my Quilty Friends!

Its been a while since I have blogged and I sooooo want to get back into a better habit of doing this because it really is a place where I can share so much more than I am able to do on Instagram, which is where I am most of the time these days. Why? Because it is SO MUCH EASIER for me and with the totally insane schedule I seem to keep, EASIER is sometimes the only way it will happen!  I would love it if you would join me there if you haven't already. I am figtreeandco !!

Anyway, I have been getting A LOT of questions and requests lately for teaching and folks wondering why I don't seem to be doing it so much anymore. Well..... traveling to teach takes a lot of time and energy and frankly a lot out of me. True confessions.... I hate to travel alone. Really, really hate it. I absolutely LOVE BEING IN A NEW PLACE and there are places in the world and in the United States where I have been that I would love to return to on a regular basis. But for me it is the process of traveling that makes the whole thing distasteful enough that I say NO to it more often than I say YES. Its not a logical anxiety and not one that has anything to do with a fear of flying... it is all about all of the things that could go wrong, the things that I could forget, the things that need to happen before I go, the things that might go badly at the airport, the fear of being completely out of control.... etc, etc., etc. That is probably more than you ever wanted to know about my issues with travel.  But the next you might wonder, why I don't seem to be teaching as much as I used to that is a big part of it.

The other thing is... well, its about the munchkins. As we transitioned our oldest child out of our home and into college this past year, I realized once again how short life is and how much I don't want to miss the little things that I still have left with the other two. They are both at such wonderful ages and are so full of life and wonder and activities and energy and questions and on and on... and I just don't want to miss too much of it. The time will come when it will be just me and the hub. I think I will enjoy traveling to teach much more then... at least that is the plan!

But all that to say.... I have agreed to teach in several different places this year and I am looking forward to these venues quite a bit.

March 23-15: Thimbles & Threads in Draper Utah.

I can't wait to stay at this amazing lodge and teach some really fun classes! I am dragging the family along for a part of this one and they hope to ski while I work!

Click HERE for more information. I will be teaching my awesome Blue Ribbon quilt with a wonderful secret variation only for class members [trying to tease you just a little LOL] and I will be sharing all of my wool tricks of the trade while teaching one of the FIGS AND WOOLIES. I sure hope you consider joining me next month at this beautiful venue! I do believe that there are still spots open!

 

 

Summer, 2017: WORKSHOP FOR CARQUINEZ STRAIGHT STITCHERS in Benicia, CA.

We are still working out details for this one and if you are not in the guild but are interested in the workshop, you would need to contact Laurie Grant, Program Chair, to see what you can do. I am not sure of the rules on non-guild members etc in this situation.

 

September 19-23:  QUILTFEST 2017 "RUBY JUBILEE" in Layton, UTAH.

I will be 1 of 4 national teachers teaching at this wonderful event. We are still firming up which classes and on which days but it sounds like its going to be a wonderful event full of classes and opportunities! Stay tuned to their website if you are interested in this one. Sounds like its a favorite of you Utah folks! Click HERE for more info.

 

September 28- October 1: Quilting with Alex Anderson Retreat in Pleasanton, CA.

Have been looking forward to joining these ladies for a few years now [scheduling here takes place 4 years in advance LOL] not only because I know more than a few of them but because this particular retreat experience happens to be 45 minutes from home for me!! Click HERE for more info.

 

Hope to see some of you there!

 

joanna

 

 

 

 

MODA Country Fair!

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend filled with the outdoors, BBQ, popsicles and friends!

We did a little bit of all of the above and managed to get in some fabulous flea market shopping while we were at it, an overnight teaching trip to Las Vegas for me, some Cafe Rio with one of my favorite designer friends, some football and whiffle ball in the street and an impromptu play with original song lyrics and guitar playing, performed by three 6 years olds sitting up in our tree :-)!                                                                 

But I guess all of that will have to be a post for another day.                                                                             

Mostly I am just checking in with you all here to make sure you know what is starting today.....                                                                                                                                                                                                         

It's the

 

Starting today and continuing for the entire month, all of the MODA designers are banding together to bring you a fantastic Blog Hop of grand proportions! Every designer will have some great questions to answer, some fun projects to share and some yummy giveways to hand out. You won't want to miss a single day, I promise.                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Now I am sure that when you think of us MODA designers, you think of professional, design artists, working hard to bring you the best work they can all the time.                                                                                                                  

Well... sometimes we are that surely. And sometimes we are, well... I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA AND NO RECOLLECTION of what we are doing and what we are talking about here below.

But this picture just makes me laugh every single time I look at it. Thought I would share it with you. It feels a bit like one of those sitcom outtakes, doesn't it?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Presenting the "real" MODA designers.... LOL!

 

 

 

Okay, okay... this is the picture that we were trying to take.                                                                                 

 

 

So to see these lovely ladies, come back here or to any other MODA designer blog each day, to click on the blog for the next day. And be sure to come join me here on September 15th!                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                

You can also read more about it all here, at the Moda Cutting Table.                

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL LIST:

 

September 6th Sandy Gervais of Pieces from My Heart

September 7th Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

September 8th Barb and Mary from Me and My Sister Designs

September 9th Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms

September 10th Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts

September 11th Basic Grey 

September 12th Polly and Laurie from Minick and Simpson

September 13th Sandy Klop (Post will be on Moda's blog)

September 14th Liesl from Oliver + S

September 15th Joanna from Fig Tree and Co.

September 16th Lynne from Kansas Troubles

September 17th Barb and Alma from Blackbird Designs

September 18th Aneela Hoey from Comfortstitching.com

September 19th Barbara Brackman from Barbara Brackman

September 20th Bonnie from Cotton Way

September 21st Christina from Cabbages and Roses

September 22nd Deb Strain

September 23rd Jan Patek of Brannock and Patek

September 24th Lauren and Jessi Jung

September 25th Stephanie from Lily Ashbury

September 26th Julie from Cosmo Cricket

September 27th Kate Spain

September 28th Karla, Susan and Lisa from Sweetwater

September 29th Kaari from French General

September 30th Lisa from Primitive Gatherings

October 1st Kathy from Kathy Schmitz Studio

October 2nd Liz from Liz Scott Designs

 

See you soon!

 

xoxo Joanna

Are you coming to MODA's Country Fair?

If you are a MODA customer, you've probably already heard the fun news and you have already received your special little ticket and the fun commemorative towel.... aren't they fabulous?

 

If you are a Fig Tree customer, then you are most likely a MODA customer. So by one of those math properties we all learned in junior high school.... if you are a  Fig Tree customer, then you are invited to the party of the week!

So to all you Fig Tree customers out there, please join us on Friday night at the place to be....

that would be the MODA COUNTRY FAIR!

 

 

 

Hope to see you there. I'll be the one who is finally taking a breath and relaxing a bit after way too much work and prep.

I'll probably have a glass of wine in my hand and at some point I will most likely be dancing. A lot.

My hub, will most likely be watching. But not dancing so much. Be sure you come and find me. I'm always looking for willing dance partners!

xoxox

Joanna

One of Those Days

Actually, its been one of THOSE weekends. Too much going on. Too many needs to meet. Feeling pulled in too many directions and not really being "in the moment" enough to do any of them well. I guess April is one of those overwhelmed months anyway in my schedule but I just can't seem to conquer it today.

So in the midst of it all, I tried to get some perspective. I went outside with my clippers and smelled and picked the jasmine [which is completely in bloom and completely covering many of our fences] along with some herbs. Its my favorite kind of bouquet.

... the simplicity and color of it made me smile even if I was feeling cranky!

 

Then I spent some time looking at the teeny, weeny little pieces I have of my upcoming collection. More on that later.

Then I made my favorite iced tea in my favorite brand new mug [I am in love with the shape of that thing] and had a few chocolate covered espresso beans.

I think I might be feeling a bit better.

It helps that the house has been quite for a few hours for the first time in days. And that its beautiful outside. And that I spent a bit of time taking in all of this loveliness, here and here. Oh my goodness! Just beautiful and stunning and inspiring all at the same time! Part of me wants to do nothing but make red and white quilts now!!

Okay, I'm feeling better.

It sure would be great if I could just finish a couple of these project today. Crossing things off my giant TO DO LIST always makes me feel better. Wish me luck.

 

BTW, A giant THANK YOU to all of you who commented or emailed me advice about my new status as a mom of a teenager! You are all so sweet and helpful and I know that all I can do is take it one day at a time. Thank you!!

Junk Bonanza... could have moved in!

  

Besides teaching and meeting up with all the wonderful women from the previous post, the thing I was most excited to do while teaching at the Creative Connection was to attend the Junk Bonanza. It was a fair that I had heard about in the pages of the Country Living magazine for years and it surely did not disappoint. The vendors brought a wonderful mix of flea market finds and accessories/art made with "junk" and old stuff. I really could have moved right in. Really. And was seriously mourning the fact that I didn't have a truck to transport all the treasures I would have acquired had I driven one!

... Bingo cards seem to be really in. I even got some ideas from them and purchased a few fun ones.

... the largest onions I have ever encountered were available for sale in the outside farm stand.

... I am a sucker for old books, typography or anything related to old books. Loved this display!

... loved the texture of these.

      

... and this was my piece de resistance! I wanted this cubby table so badly. I came back to look at it like 17 1/2 times! I could visualize where it would go, what I would put in it, what I would put on top it & how I would decorate it. Sadly, it would not fit into my luggage. Isn't it just so beautiful?

More goodies later. Talk to you soon.

Creative Connection...

I have been a bit MIA. For a few weeks. It seems like longer I think. I have been prepping for one too many events I do believe. 

Quilt Market at the end of October. Our only retail quilt show of the year, Pacific International Quilt Festival, in the middle of October. And The Creative Connection in Minneapolis this past weekend. Wow that's a lot of prepping, a lot of activity, and just so it doesn't sound like I'm whining, a lot of amazing fun. Remind me of this insanity the next time I eagerly say yes to an event scheduled in September, would you?!

First Up... The Creative Connection

 

The Creative Connection was a 4 day whirlwind of classes, panels, keynotes, parties and get togethers. Yes, lots and lots of get togethers! I had such a wonderful time catching up with good friends and sharing meals with Camille, Lissa, Kaari, Jennifer, Nancy, Mary & Connie, Amy and others that I am now in my "post event haze" probably blanking on! 

It was also such a great opportunity to meet many wonderful women that I had admired for a long time or only "knew" online like Jen, Serena, and Heather. My classes were chalk full of wonderful conference attendees and I had so much fun with  Melanie, Heather, Paige, Shasta, Carrie & Jana and others who I know will join the blog world soon! I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Wendy, Marcia from Tinsel Trading, and to admire the beautiful work of others such as Jennifer, the ladies at Hutch Studios, April [fell in love with her owls-especially the ones she had made from our Whimsy fabrics] and others.

I got a chance to teach these little yummies to rooms filled with eager students. You gotta love folks who really want to learn a new skill or hone an old one! Thank you ladies for joining me this past weekend!

 

At the HANDMADE MARKET.... I fell in love with Jen O'Connor's Earth Angels booth. See the beauties below.

Note: All the ladies mentioned below are linked in the lists above so go take a look at all of their inspiring businesses and blogs....

 

... I am now the proud owner of that quilt. It will soon be a pattern so stay tuned. I just couldn't resist it from the moment I saw it.

... these little blackbirds had so much personality!

... painting by Jennifer Lanne that I fell in love with several years ago and have them hung all over my studio walls!

... the charming Country Threads booth of Mary and Connie. Just makes me think of fall.

 ... the sweet work of the Hutch Studios. It was instant love at first sight for me.

 

And of course there were so many more that I  just didn't get a chance to take pictures of. See other posts for more info.

 

Of course, when I arrived back home exhausted and worn out, this is what was waiting for me.

 

 

And then I really did wonder why  I had ever left to begin with.

 

Talk to you soon.