Stuff-a-holics Chapter now forming!

Hello Out There in Quiltyland!

I confess, I’ve been really out of touch lately. I got eaten by my stuff. I have a fair-sized house, complete with a full attic you can walk around in, but after 7 years of complacency on my part, all my stuff had expanded, had stuff babies, and in the case of my sewing scraps, well they had clearly been multiplying like mice. (I really think all those systems that are supposed to organize your scraps are vain attempts to separate the female from the male scraps so this doesn’t happen, but the trick of telling one from the other has eluded me.)
And it’s not only my problem! My husband is a keeper (well, I’ve kept him for 38 years, but I really mean that stuff sticks to him, too.) Here’s my whole statement about my husband’s stuff:
Wires are to Tom what scraps are to me.
He’s always going to use them sometime. But when that time comes he’d rather have the excuse to go to the electronics store than dig through all his plastic boxes of neatly bound bundles that never seem to be quite the right one or the right length or whatever. He thinks if he puts stuff in a plastic box, it is somehow conquered. Better yet, they should be in a plastic box within a plastic box. I guess this is all just some kind of giant condom to keep his wires from multiplying in the night, but he has no more success than I do. His stuff was out of control too.
And don’t get me started on Allie, our ten year old. Girls invented the whole concept of stuff. Especially stuffed stuff. Allie has a stuffed radio. Stuffed chairs, tiny stuffed couches for her tiny stuffed toys. She has lots of tiny stuff too, which used to be endearing and is now kind of annoying, but she was pretty malleable, as long as I agreed to buy her more stuff.
Over the years here is a partial list of what I have collected at one time or another: beaded purses (I have about 80), buttons, china spice sets, pottery planters, Christmas ornaments, stuffed bears, chairs for the stuffed bears, sequined satin boxes, Christmas tree toppers…..you get my drift.
Now that I design fabric, I’ve gone into the whole world of antique paper goods, (oh yes, I collect antique pull toys), books, fabric and memorabilia.
My name is Mary Anne and I am a stuff-a-holic. I’m just taking it day by day.
Over the last year, and especially the last few months, I have divested myself of a massive rocker, several huge rugs, several small tables (gone to Classy Flea for their dog rescue groups), a bookcase, several receivers, woofers, tweeters, and many boxes of wires, many boxes of fabric, a half dozen framed whatevers, two carloads of girl stuff (teeny tiny tents, teeny tiny bedding, teeny tiny inflatable trampoline, teeny tiny clothes, shoes, books, etc.) a carload of gardening stuff and coming soon, a carload of blankets and pillows to MUST Ministries.
I can breathe again. I have triumphed over my stuff. I have 15 empty plastic tubs and boxes to prove it! (These must be removed immediately because yesterday Tom grabbed a couple of them, feeling they cried out for stuff.) Now I can settle down for the Fall and quilt to my heart’s content. Our Thursday night quilt group is doing a scrap project for the next Humane Society sale and I plan to chew up scraps like a wolverine! Come join us for a sew in at the store August 27, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until whenever! Produce more scraps! The cycle goes on…

Floorcloth Fun!

Here is the floorcloth that Jan made, it's right in front of the cash register. Yes, I know its upside down, but when I rotated the photo, it looked like it was hanging in the air! I guess it's that "perspective" thing.

It was easy to do, according to Jan. We have the floorcloth fabric, you don't have to prime it or anything. Just cut out regular quilt fabric in whatever pattern you like, and Mod Podge it down.

We will have a demo on Friday, July 9th, 10-noon. Come and see for yourself!

Quilt Raffle to benefit Humane Society

Here is the beautiful "Queen and her Court" quilt that we will be raffling off this weekend!

Tickets are $1.00 - still available! Raffle will be at 3:00, on Saturday, June 26th, during our

"Going to the Dogs" event to benefit the Humane Society of the United States.

We have lots of items for sale, made by the owner, staff, and friends of Red Hen: quilts, aprons, totes, placemats, you will just have to come in to see it all!

We will also have a White Elephant Sale with lots of books and patterns looking for new homes!

Hope you can join us!

Our Customers are so Talented!

Sarah, a high school student, came into the store a few months back looking for a mentor for her senior project. She was so enthusiastic and excited about the prospect of making her first quilt! I watched as this very talented young lady turned out this beautiful quilt! It's an A+++!

Have you seen the pattern for the Birthday Runner in the store? It's adorable. Anne C. added her own touches to the pattern, notice the cute fabrics of the presents, and the extra border she added to the end to make it a bit longer. Also, she zigzagged around the presents and the cake, which made them stand out more, and also was the quilting!

Thanks Anne for bringing it in and sharing with us!

International Quilt Festival - Houston 2009

We had a great time at Festival last year! A group of us went together and shopped, ate and gawked at all the beautiful quilts! Here's a link to Sue's pictures of it all. We'll be putting another trip to the Festival together! Watch for more news!

Atlanta Shop Hop

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe.

We are the focus of their love and faith and trust.
They serve us in return for scraps.
It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.
Roger Caras

This weekend our shop is full of dogs and people! The popcorn is popping, the fabric is flying off the shelves and everybody is smiling and wagging their tails. It's a dog gone good party!


Our shop hop quilt was inspired by this small piece.


The quilt is hanging by the door, twinkling lights, yards and yards of tulle and heavenly dogs with angel wings hang from the ceiling throughout the shop.





We all don doggy-themed aprons and dog bone name tags.


Sue and Brenda all gussied up!


And our resident angel, Allie handed out popcorn, treats and smiles to the customers.

Tucked under a table is this lovely angel, Evelyn who, until now, has been patietly playing and waiting for mom to finish shopping. Is there room for me under there? I might need a nap at the end of this weekend!

Beautiful new fabrics arrive!!

Sitting right by the front door are two new fabric lines that just arrived!
Come in and check them out. They are simply stunning.

Dancing Horses collection by Laurel Burch - 15 gorgeous bolts of horses and coordinates in bright colors!

Marabella by Henry Glass - 10 bolts of sweet florals, paisleys and stripes in pink and bright green! A little piece of spring for those who just can't wait for it to get here!