I recently returned from Jupiter Island, Florida, where my family celebrated the life of my beloved grandmother, my “Gran”–Anne Bassett Stanley Chatham, the classiest woman I have ever met, and Quilting Arts’ #1 fan.

Anne Bassett Stanley Chatham
1920-2013

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The matriarch of my family, she was an amalgam of Jessica Tandy’s character in “Driving Miss Daisy” and this lady that many of us “Downton Abbey” fans have come to adore…

The Dowager Countess of “Downton Abbey”

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Although petite in stature, my grandmother was a huge influence in my life. She is the one who taught me to stay firm, to never settle, and to follow my heart…even if doing so meant ruffling some feathers. You see, when she was just 17, she eloped with my grandfather, a no-name from North Carolina. When her father, a prominent Virginia businessman who served in Congress and was also the former Governor of Virginia (and not someone to be crossed) firmly told them they couldn’t get married, my grandmother trusted her instinct and my grandparents were officially married on October 2, which just so happens to be my birthday. They were married for 49 years until my grandfather passed.

She also loved to go exploring, and when my grandfather died–ever wanting to instill strength and adventure in others–she said to me, “Pokey, I am going to take you to some of the places your grandfather was too afraid for me to go.” So off we went to safari in Kenya, to visit Srinigar and Agra in India, to sight see in Hong Kong, and to go gorilla tracking in the densely forested mountains of Rwanda at 14,000 feet above sea level. She was 68 years old at the time.

Below is a shot of my first trip with her when I was 11, the same trip where after being so excited watching the Lipizzaners in Vienna, I went back to the hotel and started jumping on the hotel bed. Instead of reprimanding me, she joined me.

If you are wondering if my grandmother spoiled me rotten, you are exactly right…

Ristorante Alfredo in Rome, 1982
Left to right: Me, Susie Chatham, Gran 

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She also traveled high and low to attend every grandchild’s graduation, whether it be from elementary school, high school, or college…even if said graduation took place in Yankee territory. (I’m kidding…sort of.)

Boston College, 1993
Left to right: Gayle, Crockett (Dad), Me, Kathy (Mom), and Gran

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And when it was time to celebrate, celebrate, she did. Here we are attempting to dance at my wedding. I remember this moment so well…

My wedding in Boston. (Hey quilters…notice the flower girl? That’s Lindsey Murray McLelland!)

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Years later, when I got a crazy notion to start a quilting magazine, she was my biggest supporter. Although she never quilted, every time she received her copy of Quilting Arts, she called me to let me know how wonderful the issue was, and what her favorite articles were. One time when I went to visit her home in Virginia, she had ripped up all of her flower beds to rework them so they resembled patchwork blocks in my honor.

Ah, Gran, we all miss you. Just look at some of your legacy…

Charlotte and Mary Anne Groton

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Some of the Chatham cousins
Left to right: Chris, Heather, Davy, Me, Mary Anne

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Some of the great grandchildren rolling on the hills of the golf course when the memorial service ended. Made so many of us smile…

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My cousin Bud Chatham and his family (in their 49er gear!)
Left to right: JC, Bud, Hyla, Kelly

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Chris, Heather, Matt, Bud, Me, and Davy all rallying around Jackie Stone–my grandmother’s assistant, close friend, and champion until the very, very end. We are forever grateful to you, Jackie…

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Love to you, Gran! Give Gramps a big hug and kiss from all of us. Thanks for so many wonderful years, for so many incredible memories, and for instilling strength in all of us.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone…

Pokey

Virginia Spiegel’s  A Year of Art   launches tomorrow, Tuesday, February 12 and continues on Wednesday, February 13.  It’s two days of fiberlicious fundraising for the American Cancer Society. Here’s the line-up of contributing artists:

Pamela Allen
Pokey Bolton
Linda Colsh
Jane Davila
Vivika DeNegre
Jane Dunnewold
Jamie Fingal
Karen Stiehl Osborn
Yvonne Porcella
Virginia A. Spiegel
Laura Wasilowski

I am contributing this market tote I made, and filling it with lots of goodies:

I’m stuffing this tote with the last three seasons of Quilting Arts TV, an assortment of books and magazines from Interweave, a fat stack of screened and printed fabric created by Yours Truly, among other fiber treats.

Furthermore, I will match the winning bid for my tote, so that’s double the amount for ACS!

I recently had a short interview with Virginia Spiegel which can be found here.

Mark your calendars for tomorrow and bookmark this page to win some great art to benefit the American Cancer Society!

Happy Monday, everyone! I am indeed happy for the most part…except last night’s New England Patriots’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens was hard to take. But no matter, my home team, the San Francisco 49ers, are going to the show, and that is something to be elated about!

In non-football-related news, we are gearing up for our first two International Quilt Festivals this year, the first in Cincinnati (April 11-13) and later in Chicago (June 21-13), and I am helping with getting instructors who would like to teach one-hour workshops on the show floor at Create On The Spot (formerly known as Make It University). This is a lively, interactive portion of the show floor, and we are looking for quilters and artists who would like to teach a short, one-hour workshop on anything from stitch and surface design techniques to quick projects like ATCs, small purses, etc.

Students taking a stenciling workshop at International Quilt Festival/Houston in 2009.

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Do you have a process, project, or technique you’d like to teach for an hour at one of these shows? We would love to hear more about it!

Here’s what you need to do…

Email me (pokeybATquilts.com), with the following:

1. Proposed title of your workshop

2. Two-three sentences explaining what you would like to teach

3. A  low-resolution (72 DPI) picture of your proposed project or technique

4. In the subject line please (in CAPS) write: WORKSHOP PROPOSAL/CITY (either Cincinnati or Chicago). This is pretty important so I don’t miss your email!

Deadline: The sooner the better!

Once I get your proposal, I will give you more details and particulars.  Please share this blog post with your friends who you think may be interested in teaching a workshop!

Anyone who has had their quilts exhibited at our shows over the past several years has dealt with one of our very special people in Special Exhibits, Carmen Valls.

Rose Reyes and Carmen Valls

Well, I am happy to report that she is now happily married to one very nice (and dapper) gentleman, Mr. Jon Beck!

Meet the new Mr. and Mrs. Beck!

Don’t they look beautiful? We are all so happy for them, and her wedding was such great fun, as proven by the many smiles…

Carmen Beck with Rhianna Griffin

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Allison Cooper and Amanda Schlatre

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There were a number of pictures on display at the reception, but this one of Carmen and her chihuahua, Fernando, was my very favorite!

Most of us at Quilts Inc., are rabid Downton Abbey fans, including Carmen, and last week, the first episode of season three premiered in the U.S., featuring the wedding of Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary. (I don’t think I am spoiling anything for anyone, because even before season three launched, the actors were on a cross-country promotional tour and confirmed that there indeed would be a wedding!)

I love Matthew and Mary’s story line, and in this episode there is a very touching exchange between them on the eve of their wedding. They quarreled earlier in the afternoon, and Mary had sizable concerns about marrying him before she went to bed. In this scene Matthew reassures her, and says something that is so very sweet…it just sums matters up.  (Make sure to turn the volume way up on your computer and watch it to the very end!)

So I want to dedicate this brief yet poignant exchange to Carmen and Jon, and hope all of you will join me in wishing them both years and years of happiness…

UPDATE! Mary’s segment aired this past Friday on The TODAY Show, and you can view it below!

News flash! I learned today that fiber artist and activist Mary Fisher will be featured on The TODAY Show tomorrow (Tuesday) morning! I believe it is the 9:30 segment so if you are unable to watch, make sure to set your DVR! The news I got was that just before the holidays, Jenna Bush Hager went to visit Mary in Sedona and they spent a fun day together. I can’t wait to watch her interview tomorrow!

Blog update!I loved reading all of the resolutions and I hope we all attain them! I would love to see pictures of works-in-progress or works completed so feel free to email them to me, and I can post on the blog. The winner of the fabric is Brigitte Baierl. Congratulations! I will email you for your address.

I think y’all know how this works by now: I ask a question, you answer, and I randomly select a winner. The first free loot in 2013? How about a stack of fat quarters from Riley Blake Designs!

Aren’t these colors yummy?

They kinda’ remind me of my breakfast this morning (before I turned all this stuff into juice):

Since it’s only the second day in 2013, I’m going to ask the queen of cliché questions, but ask it with a twist:

Question:

What is your quilt-related New Year’s resolution that you will ATTAIN by year’s end? This mean that what you write in the comments area–whatever goal you type down–you WILL accomplish by the end of the year. And at year’s end, I am going to check back in to see if you actually attained your goal.

My attainable goal: I will start and complete two art quilts by the end of the year, one of which I would like to enter into a juried exhibition. Maybe making two art quilts doesn’t sound like much, but I have two ideas in mind, and I would really like to see them through…not just keep the ideas in my head.

Now it’s your turn. Leave your attainable goal in the comments area and on Friday I will post the winner in this same post. Think hard and think lofty (but attainable)…

I hope everyone enjoyed some rest and relaxation with loved ones this past holiday season! I had a very mellow, quiet, and restorative break; the highlight was visiting my mother for a few days just outside of Las Vegas where she lives.

Above is a view of “The Strip” in the distance, just beyond her rose bushes in her backyard. This is as about as close as I ever get to The Strip, because the only gambling I can handle is hedging my bets on how well I will free-motion stitch a quilt I have to make for someone!

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Bogie on his very own quilt.

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My mother picked up quilting again exactly one year ago, and she has been prolific ever since. I think she showed me about 10 quilts she has made in the past year alone, and the one above is one she made for her rescue pooch, Bogie.

From left to right: Dianna, Bonnie, Kathy (my mom), and Sonia.

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Just after I landed, my mom told me she wanted me to meet her quilting friends, so off to the “Sewing Club” we went, which is a room in her local community center. It’s a pretty slick quilt/sewing facility outfitted with massive cutting tables and ironing stations, a long arm machine, and at least a dozen Janomes and Berninas. I was very impressed!

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My mom’s dogs, Tee and Bogie, resting on two of my mother’s quilts.

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On the first full day of my visit, my mom and I enjoyed a pumpkin facial (which smelled lovely!) and a deep tissue massage (which hurt like hell!) at a local day spa. Afterwards, we visited my mom’s favorite independent quilt store, Quiltique, where I loaded up on fabrics, and we spent the rest of the time quilting in pajamas while the dogs supervised. (I even caught the remake of “King Kong” with Jack Black, but I couldn’t watch the last 10 minutes and chose to go to bed because there was no way I could watch King Kong die.)

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By the time I left Las Vegas, I had finished this tote that will be a part of a fundraising effort. (More on that soon.)

Today is January 1, 2013. A new day, a new year, a new chance. Here’s to cramming in as many positive, healthful, creative, friend-filled, and quilt-filled moments as we can.

Happy New Year,

What!? You don’t believe in Santa?! Shame on you! OK, let’s pretend for a minute you do believe in this guy…

Besides asking Santa to come to our Quilt Festivals next year, here  are nine other things I recommend asking St. Nick for the holidays. (Just click on all the photos to take you to each product website.)

1. The Portable Gidget II Sewing Table by Arrow

The Gidget II is sturdy, has an adjustable, drop-down platform so your sewing machine is flush with the table top, stores easily, is relatively inexpensive, and requires no assembly. Here it is in action in my living room:

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2. A suitcase of Auriful thread. This really requires no explanation:

3. A Mack truck full of Marcia Derse fabric. Who could ever have enough of this stuff?

And Marcia’s fabric makes for fine home accents and upholstered furniture!

One of Louie’s last photos, posing on a Marcia Derse-upholstered mini rocker.

4. A  stitch retreat with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn

What is not to adore about these two?

And they are teaching in Puglia, Italy next May! I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind stitching poolside drinking chianti…

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5. A weekend trip to Art Cloth Studios in San Antonio with Jane Dunnewold. Talk about a playground!

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6. A new Bernina sewing machine! I saw this 750 series machine’s debut at Fall Quilt Market and was blown away by all it can do.

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7. And heck, since we are asking for premium gifts, let’s ask Santa for a sit-down, mid-arm machine, too,  like HandiQuilter’s Sweet Sixteen. I have played on this machine and if you like to free-motion quilt mid-to-large-sized quilts, this is a dream.

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8. Now on to stocking stuffers: All quilters need a set of reliable, sharp scissors, and I really love the rotary cutters and scissors by Havel’s. Always sharp, always reliable, and well priced:

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9. And no studio is complete without a studio pet. This little gal can fit into a stocking, too, although she would probably squirm a bit.

I am thinking of adopting her.

“My little dog. A heartbeat at my feet.”–Edith Wharton

UPDATE: Fabric winner…Congratulations to Amanda Kattner! I will email you for your address and ship these Ty Pennington fabrics to you!

It’s an exciting time of year here at Quilts Inc. headquarters, as the last of the quilts on loan for Fall Festival are being shipped back to their makers, many of us are busy stitching holiday gifts for loved ones, and we are pleased knowing that Friends For Life is putting the money raised for Festival’s Pet Project (more than $20,000) to good use saving animals!

From left to right: Meredith Wierick (Communications Manager), Me, Clarence (my pooch from Friends For Life), and Salise Shuttlesworth (Founder & Director of Friends For Life)

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It’s also (past) time for me to announce the three book winners from my previous book post:

Congratulations to: Patricia S., Tetonmountaingirl, and Hueisei! I will email you all individually to obtain your shipping information.

Monday’s Fabric Giveaway

I have an assortment of fabrics designed by Ty Pennington to give away. (Sorry, Ty doesn’t come with the fabric.)

Answer the following question and I will randomly select a winner tomorrow (Tuesday).

Question: What quilt-y gadgets are on your holiday wish list?