New Directions

Hi everyone:

Warning: This is a lengthy personal post with little quilt content. Just saying...

This summer I've felt quite overwhelmed by all the things I want to do and how difficult I find it to accomplish any of them. 

I had high hopes of finishing several quilt patterns and adding more videos to my youtube channel, however I didn't accomplish either of these goals. I did design several new patterns and have samples of some of them and finished a submission to a quilting magazine for a pattern that will be issued in a month or two, but these weren't what I expected to be doing this summer. 

Fabrics cut and ready to assemble
for a magazine pattern submission

As you know, my primary focus is on pattern designing. I also blog, maintain a website, am on Facebook (too much) and operate an Etsy shop. Add on the quilt videos that my husband and I are now doing and the book(s) I'm working on and well, it can sometimes become a bit overwhelming. I often wish that I had a clone who could take the ideas in my head and translate them into quilts, patterns, videos - well, you get the idea. Now I'm back at work at the school and still haven't crossed off many things on my quilt to-do list that I had hoped I would've accomplished by now. So... it's time to take a hard look at what I WANT to accomplish and what I CAN accomplish - a distinction that I often find difficult to acknowledge. It should be obvious that I can't do everything, but unfortunately I've always been an "I want it all" type of gal, so it's difficult to change at this stage of my life.

I know that I need to become more efficient and focused to achieve success in the projects that I do take on. So... here's what I've decided to do:

• I will continue to blog and my goal is to post 2 times a week. My blog will continue to have book reviews and giveaways, as before, but will focus on my quilting projects as well as my design process, so you can follow along with me as I create new projects. I hope this will help keep me on track with my pattern publishing.

• I will continue to create videos for my youtube channel. These will focus on information for beginner quilters, including pattern tutorials, as well as information about my designing and publishing process. If you have any suggestions for future videos, I would love to hear them.

• I will continue to design and publish patterns. I'm hoping that the new direction of my blog and videos will reinforce this goal.

• I will minimize my Facebook time - which should free up a few hours each day to put towards one of my other goals. My Chatterbox Quilts fan page will feature quilt and quilt related posts and I will be asking my quilting friends to "like" that account so they can follow me there. If you don't see me on Facebook as frequently, you can expect that I'm blogging or designing instead - at least I'd better be :)

• While I hesitate to do it, I think that the book idea will have to go on the backburner for now. I'll still be keeping it in mind, but I need to focus on my other goals at this time.

Whew! I'm glad I got that all out -  I feel more focussed already! Now I'm off to decide which pattern I'll be finishing first. Check back with me in a few days to see how I'm progressing.

Teeka guarding fabric chosen for a pattern project

Martingale tour

Hi everyone:

During my recent summer vacation, we travelled to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington in the United States. While there I was fortunate enough to have a tour of Martingale's offices in Bothell, Washington, near Seattle. 

Martingale's offices

If you're not familiar with Martingale, they are a book publisher of crochet, knitting, craft and quilt books. You will find their titles at various booksellers on-line as well as at most local quilt shops. They also sell their books through their website, which has recently been revamped and includes a blog, free patterns and tutorials. 

Front entrance at Martingale

I'm fortunate enough to be one of their book reviewers, so I was eagerly looking forward to seeing where it all happens. 

Yup, this is the place!

The tour gave me a chance to see their offices and meet some of the quilters who work there. Quilts from recent books published by Martingale were hung in the building. Due to copyright, we weren't allowed to take photos, but I was thrilled to see quilts from many of the books that I have in my library. I was especially delighted to see two quilts from Kay Mackenzie's recent book, Scrap-Appliqué Playground. You may recall that I was a stop on Kay's Book-A-Round 3 tour and made her Crazy Hearts project from the book.

I was also happy to finally meet Mary Burns, Marketing Coordinator, at Martingale. Mary and I have been emailing back and forth for awhile, but we've never met in person. As I walked in the front doors, Mary was there to welcome me - okay, I think she was actually unloading some books, but still... We had a great chat prior to the tour and she graciously allowed me to take some photos of the two of us. 

Mary Burns and I in her office at Martingale

Do you recognize the quilt behind us? I knew it looked familiar and Mary confirmed my suspicions that I'd seen it in one of Martingale's publications. It's Flying Shuttles from A Baker's Dozen, which is a collection of quilt patterns from the staff at Martingale. This particular quilt was designed, pieced, and hand appliquéd by Mary, with the quilting being done by Karen Burns, who is the Acquisitions Editor at Martingale.

Photo courtesy of Martingale

After the tour, the fun really began as we were given the opportunity to purchase books that had been published more than 6 months previous - at a substantial discount. I managed to add a few (more) books to my quilt library at great prices. Surprisingly enough, I didn't duplicate any of the books that I already own - I say surprisingly, because with over 300 quilts books in my studio, the chances were high that I might buy a book that I already owned. 

I thoroughly enjoyed finally seeing Martingale's offices and meeting several of the staff. I appreciated them allowing us to interrupt their workday - it can't be easy to concentrate with a group of quilters oohing and aahing their way through your workplace. 

If you ever find yourself in the Seattle area, be sure to book a tour of Martingale's offices - and bring some cash and a large bag.

Summer's End

Hi everyone:

Today is the first day back to school for most elementary school students in Calgary. As we head into the busy fall season, I'm posting a few photos of our recent summer vacation to the Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington areas. I hope you enjoy them.

Enjoying the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon

One of the many varieties at the
International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon

At Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon

The fog rolling in along the Oregon coast

A peek out from the Sea Lion Caves near Florence, Oregon

Some of the residents at the Sea Lion Caves near Florence, Oregon

The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington

A curious sea otter at the Seattle Aquarium

Sea anemones at the Seattle Aquarium

Tide pool at the Seattle Aquarium

Flowers at Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

Marina on Bainbridge Island, Washington

Victorian architecture at Port Townsend, Washington

Victorian architecture at Port Townsend, Washington

Hope your fall is off to a good start!