It's always wonderful to see so many friends - at retreats. The retreats in New Mexico have been going for 19 years! Many long-standing friends!

Arrived back in Kalispell on Friday afternoon to discover that my Dad had taken a bad fall in the wee morning hours, and fractured his hip. It was daunting to arrive at the Care facility and find an empty room! He was back in the hospital. Took two days to thicken his blood enough for the surgery on Sunday. And now, he appears to be doing well, mending on both sides of his body (the original left knee and now right hip).

Tomorrow morning we head to Portland, Oregon for Spring Quilt Market. It's about 10 hour drive from here, part of it through the Columbia River gorge that is Gorgeous! You know, the driving is going to be relaxing compared to what all has been going on!

We did it!! Everything that came back last week, plus the quilts that our designers have done . . . they've all been photographed! Whew! And patterns printed --- and shipped to distributors . . .

This morning I'll close my bags and head to Taos, New Mexico for my Two retreats there.

Retreats are my favorite workshops of each year. Many retreaters come back every year, and we've all gotten to know each other. It's special . . . warm friendships and fun quilts!

ALL the tops are stitched and in the hands of the fabulous quilters, we are fortunate enough to call our friends! We have 6 quilters helping us through the 'slam' this time . . . with SO MUCH talent.

Today is the local Scraps & Threads quilt show - and I'm off to be in the booth promoting our Outdoor Quilt Show - this year on August 2nd. We've entered one of our new quilts in the show -- Peaks & Valleys in the Traditional fabrics, as it came back from the quilter on Wed. and is now bound, photographed . . . . ready . . .AND it was pieced by three of us (team effort, remember!), all of us being members of the guild.

Also -- ALL the new patterns, PLUS the older ones we've made in the new fabrics are posted on the web page - WHEW! http://www.animas.com/AQPpatternsPoinsettia.html

We hope you like them! The Poinsettia fabrics are absolutely, incredibly stunning --- even if I do say so myself . . . both palettes. They are shown on the fabric pages.

So - no new photo here today . . . and tomorrow I'm heading to Kalispell to check on my Dad and Mother (Daddy is making slow progress) and pick up quilts from quilters!!

What a day we had yesterday. We totally completed the Peaks and Valleys top AND it's on its way to Carole Moseley for quilting. We also have a great start on Joy and on Weaver Fever . . . . both of which will hopefully be finished today. This morning, I'm also cutting Eureka -- no idle moments here!

The Traditional palette of our new Poinsettia collection has landed!! That is, our advance air yardage -- here just so we can stitch the new quilts for market. It's absolutely GORGEOUS!

The 'team' arrives this morning, and we're underway. We'll begin with Joy. She's a Queen, and I got her all cut out yesterday afternoon. Will also begin with Peaks & Valleys.

OH SUCH FUN!!

Since my previous post I've been to Durango, CO to teach, seeing many good friends from our years of calling Durango home. And, I've been working on the web page --- it's amazing how long some of these pages take to develop!. And, being a daughter to my parents.

My Dad is in the hospital. He's had difficulty with a replacement knee almost since its beginning 2 years ago. This particular knee replaced an earlier replacement knee . . . i.e. it was his third new knee. He simply wore one out! Finally it was discovered there was an infection which had attached itself to the appliance, causing the constant discomfort, so it's been removed and he's healing with a stiff leg (no knee). The biggest difficulty is he's 89 and also over-reacts to anethesia. We'll all be glad when he's 'back!

Hopefully the new Poinsettia fabric will arrive later this week so we can begin stitching. And, until then, I'll keep Photoshop painting the new quilts, and getting the new web pages ready to launch.

I truly had a fabulous weekend. Six of my Eureka quilting friends and I went to Smokey Bear Ranch, near Glacier National Park, and stitched our hearts out for THREE --- count 'em - 1-2-3 DAYS. WOW! It was grand.

This first photo shows Marilyn & Mel. Marilyn finished a quilt she'd started as a mystery of the month - stunning. Mel finished her Eureka blocks, and then totally assembled a memory quilt for a relative who is fighting Breast cancer -- really a special quilt.

Looking down from the top -- on Mel, and across the table is Deb, who assembled and created some individual effects to a mystery she wanted to finish. It came out really super.

Barb and Kay and Lori -- only Kay is looking at you. Barb spent most of her weekend building a spectacular log cabin for her sister. Lori - who stitches with incredible speed and accuracy, completed her Eureka, then quilted two quilts for some special little people. Kay put the Caboose block for our upcoming Outdoor Quilt Show together, then made a one block wonder using my Pink Fuchsia II fabric.
As I mentioned, we were right next to Glacier Park. They've had a bit of snow this winter, and we had even more while we were there. On all three days I enjoyed a walk in the fresh air -- and their wonderful 'pup', Smokey, a 150# Newfoundland went along. He's truly special!

It was a wonderful BREAK. And, yes, I stitched. Made a scrappy blue and yellow Hunter's Star and then played with beads for a while.

Anxious to return there!!

I'm amazed at the amount of time it takes to get 'on top' of things - each time I return home! There's always a bit of catching up, the laundry and unpacking from the trip, and then the things that didn't get done while I was gone . . . always amazing.

This week also needed to see the new patterns be finished so I could order the 'air' yardage from the first Poinsettia fabric printing in Asia. Then . . . the Booth drapes... gee, it really was a 'math' kind of week ;-)

Chevron Posies is one of our most popular patterns. The 'posies' are cut to finish 4" wide. . . . . we;;, that won't work with the Poinsettias --- they need 5". Here's the 'wider stripe' version . . . titled Peaks & Valleys, Photoshop painted in the charming soft palette. Look at the depth that's created! As we get closer to actually having fabric, I'm getting more and more excited with how beautiful it is!

Tomorrow we'll begin cutting the surprise kits for my Retreats. Marilyn is sworn to secrecy, as this time she'll know what it looks like. We do still have a wee bit of space in the Montana retreats.

And today -- I think I'll try to find an Easter Bunny to take a walk with . . . .

It's been absolutely fabulous working with the quilters at the Gulf States. And dinners with fellow teachers Mary Stori, Mary Sorenson, Charlotte Angotti, Harriet Hargrave and Mary Ellen Kranz have been a hoot! We truly know how to have a good time .

So, today is travel --- all day. I even get to head out the wrong way to get there. 3 flights ahead of me, going first to Atlanta, then to Salt Lake, and finally home to Kalispell around 9:30 tonight.

Laptop batteries are fully charged -- I'm in 'design' mode . . . . wonder what today will bring ??

I have quilts scattered about -- getting organized for tomorrow's departure for Baton Rouge. I'm heading to the Gulf States quilting party this weekend. Since I 'get' to leave on the 6 am flight, I'll spend Tuesday eve in Kalispell with my parents. That truly makes for a nice visit as I head out. I can assure you, though, I won't see them on Wed. morning, as I'm up and out the door by 4:30 am, and wouldn't wish that on them!

My Mother is recovering nicely from her broken leg incident. She has about 2 more weeks before she can once again walk on it some. She's REALLY excited this ordeal is almost over. And, I'm certain Daddy will be glad to not get to do all the shopping.