Fear less, hope more . . .

I may have a Danish heritage but I liked this Swedish Proverb.

Fear less, hope more,
eat less, chew more,
whine less, breathe more,
talk less, say more,
hate less, love more,
and all good things will be yours.



(Above) Hand Quilted work in progress ©

Stash Organized - Before and After

Here are a few of the boxes containing my fabric stash.

Here is the shelving system I like to use. This

has been assembled and reassembled into

may configurations for fit a variety of spaces.

And here is the finish stash re-organization!

And Yes, I used this fabric folding method, its easy!

Let sleeping dogs lye . . .

Even if it's in the middle of your paper piecing mess! This is my view looking down from where I sit at my sewing machine. Such an ever faithful friend!

Travel along with me as I shop hop across the USA!

I would like to invite you to travel with me as I shop hop Quilt Shops all across the USA. You can follow my adventure at: Quiltshops.blogspot.com

See you on the road . . .

Minnesota Quilt Designers Day Off

Minnesota Quilt Designers took the day off and did what???? Well, we got together at Rosebud's Workshop in White Bear Lake, MN. After a round of introductions and reunions, we went to lunch! Of Course!

We are fortunate to have many designers in Minnesota so, "Who attended", you might ask? Or "Who could get away?" might be another way of putting it. This time it was, Celine Perkins - Perkins Drygoods, Gudrun Erla - GE Designs. Roseann Kermes - Rosebud's Cottage, Debbie Bowles - Maple Island Quilts, Genii Lehmann - Lehmann Quilting, (me) Jamie Kalvestran - Scrap-bags, Kari Carr -New Leaf Stitches , Linda Hohag - Brandywine Designs, Marilyn Foreman - Quilt Moments, Susan Nelson - Prairie Sky Quilting, Terry Atkinson - Atkinson Designs, Lynette Jensen - Thimbleberries.

I hope I didn't forget anyone ???

Some came early . . . and stayed late!

Some stayed for lunch . . .

Some told stories . . .

Some listened . . .

We ALL ate!!!

And then we made stuff.

Rosann had the plan . . .

It was paper stuff, not fabric stuff.
Here's mine below.

The results . . .
A good time was had by all!!!

Revisions, Revisions, Revisions . . .

REVISIONS! One of my favorite parts of pattern publishing, (kidding). BUT certainly one of the most important parts, (NOT-kidding). And I am in the thick of it today.

Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Our products are currently featured on the Robert Kaufman website! Look for PROJECTS when you get there.

"Quilt Making in the 80's"

Check out this post "Quilt Making in the 80's".

On the Road . . . Jamie's Giant Shop Hop

I've been on the road selling patterns. I call it, Jamie's Giant Shop Hop. Don't worry I'll have new ideas to post shortly. If you are interested you can follow me on my shop hop just visit Quilt Shops@blogspot.com. These are shops that sell Scrap-bags Patterns and Kits. So check it out!

The Kindness of a stranger! aka Sewing Angel to the rescue!

Last night I had a heart warming experience. I stood in a long line waiting to purchase a bolt of heavyweight fusible stabilizer. I was purchasing the whole bolt. 10 yds. The price was $7.99/yd. The check out lady was sure that price was too high, so she paged some one to check on it. I was secretly hoping it was on sale and that's why she was checking. Well, it wasn't on sale and that means it would cost me $79.90 plus tax. She asked me if I had any coupons, I said, "No".

Then out of my peripheral vision I could see someone waving something. And YES, a perfect stranger, standing in that long line was waving her 50% off coupon at us! The cashier took the coupon and announced that she had just saved me 40 bucks!

I actually got goosebumps right then and there. I was pretty speechless, but did manage to say thank you. I really wanted to hug her, but thought that might be too weird. A quick business card exchange and I am looking forward to hearing from this sewing angel soon! Thank you again!

etc.

We have to be ferociously dedicated to the cause of beauty, truth and love keeping our imaginations wild, hungry and free.

Quilt Shop Blues . . . Ray Bonneville in Concert

Have you got the Quilt Shop Blues? Well, my friend Lucy does! She regularly schedules musicians for house concerts in her quilt shop, in Avon Minnesota. We've been going there to see Ray Bonneville for the past two years.

" . . . gritty storytelling and deep-grooving blues style . . ."

Juno Award Winner (Canadian Grammy)
Listen to Ray online!

1. 

For a concert schedule contact Lucy.
Visit Ray's Web Site.

Another Girl At Play

Good advice from Another Girl At Play

Quilt Fabrics - Stash Perspectives

From the blog True Up, authored by Kim Kight, fabric aficionado, "Are you a quick-turnover user, a guilty stasher, or an unapologetic archivist? "

How does your fabric stash represent you? I love the perspective on fabric stashes in this post.

Creative Business Owners Advice

A few tidbits of advice on owning a "Creative Business" from Design*Sponge contributors and other sources.

Business advice from Creative Business owners

. . . thinking of getting into this crazy “creative business” . . .

Artists - Making A Living Full-time

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Agneta Ekholm of Sweden! Visit her blog.
Agneta reports about quilting in Sweden to Jodi Davis at QNNtv.

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So here are the tagging rules:

1. When tagged, place the name of the person and URL on your blog.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write 7 things about yourself.
4. Name 7 of your favorite weblogs.
5. Send e-mail letting those bloggers know they have been tagged.

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7 things about me.

Many of you know me as the Scrap-bags™ pattern designer, fabric designer, or toy designer.
So I am giving you (7 Things) you won't find in my bio.

1) I started my first business when I was 17 years old. I opened a dog grooming business called The Bow-Wow Boutique.

2) I was a banker for many years. I worked as a teller, collections officer, loan officer and V.P. Managed a Credit Union before going to Art School at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.

3) I have been a 'horse girl' all my life. I studied classical dressage with Colonel Albrect Von Ziegner of Germany for many years and started the Three Rivers Pony Club.




















4) I studied Massage Therapy, Shiatsu, Chinese Medicine, and owned a business called Timeless Body.

5) I created one of a kind handmade dolls under the label - Kalvestran Dolls.
























6) I am a Ray Bonneville fan! - Listen to Ray Bonneville online.

7) I'm a dog person. Bastian (airedale) and Heidi (daschund) are my constant companions.































7 favorite weblogs.
1) Print & Pattern

2) Design Watcher

3) Pink Chalk Studio

4) Designs by Linda Thiltgen

5) Jane Sassaman's Idea Book

6) Art Heart - Musing on the Intersection of Art & Life

7) Studio Notes - Peek inside creative struggles of my double life.