Friday, September 24, 2010

Here's our Charity Video!!!!!!

I'd first like to thank everyone who donated to our charity, whether by sending a quilt or by sending us money. I just returned from Romania with my father, and had the opportunity to hand out all 50 quilts donated by all of you, to kids in need, and was also able to use the money donated by all of you to buy large amounts of school supplies and large amounts of food. I can't tell you how blessed I feel after spending time with so many needy people. We visited kids living on the streets and families crammed into tiny homes. The families we visited were living in small homes the size of an average bedroom - 12' x 12'. That includes a tiny bathroom and tiny kitchen. These kids have no yards, no grass to play on, no room to run around in their little humble homes, and very little food to eat - but above all, very little to call their own. They were so grateful to receive a beautiful quilt. Those we gave school supplies to were beaming from ear to ear to have such nice new school supplies to improve their chances of increasing their education. And those we gave food to were so grateful to be able to have some good meals. I hope we can all remember how blessed we are, and how lucky we are to live in our secure homes with food and clothing. Thanks again for all your help, I hope you like the video!

Clint Madsen

Thursday, September 16, 2010

What a week!!!

So, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Seriously, don't move when you have a tight time frame and make sure that your internet company can service you at your new house!

It was supposed to be a smooth transition, I take care of the orders while Clint is away and everything would be great right? Well, change of address and UPS can't find us with all our inventory and customers waiting for it. Add on the fact that I didn't have internet the whole weekend because our internet company couldn't service our house, who ever heard of that? Must be a smaller town thing, but I didn't think I lived in that small of town. It seriously took me three days of begging to finally get someone to come and install internet, now I am up at the craziest time because I spent all night getting 40 packages ready for our customers. I am exhausted and I am not done yet!

Oh, and the A/C doesn't work upstairs, it's not that fun in a hot place, good thing it's starting to cool down at night or I just might go crazy!
Clint left Monday for Romania, my mom came down to help out and I am so grateful she did because I couldn't have gone through this week without her.

What else - oh, I didn't know my daughter had a short day at school on Monday, so the teacher called me to tell me she was waiting in the office - I felt horrible. Then the next day was my daughters first picture day and I didn't send money with her, so another phone call from school. They must think I am a huge spaz!
I guess I could go on and on about what's going wrong, but Clint wrote me today about his trip so far and he helped me remember that I have soooooooooo much and that I really shouldn't sweat the small things because I am so blessed.

Here's what he wrote:

Well, today was a long day. We slept in until 9:30 or so since we hadn't slept for so long, then we went down to breakfast, met the car rental guy, showered, then quickly met Gica down in the lobby. We loaded the bags with all the quilts, then drove straight to a large supermarket where we purchased hundreds of dollars worth of school supplies like backpacks, notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, markers, rulers and other stuff. We also bought hundreds of dollars worth of food like cheese, salami, oil, potatoes, bread, juice, milk and a few other things. We then went to lunch, then to Gica's office where we sorted everything into dozens of bags to give to each individual group or family. We loaded everything into his van, then started off on our deliveries. We first visited a group of people living out by the canal, living in large metal tubes used to bury water underground. They had cardboard laid out in each one for beds. We gave them some food and quilts which they were very grateful for, then went off and visited about 10 families in their humble homes to deliver each one a bag of food, and quilts for all the children. Each family was living in a home no bigger than our guest room. It put a lump in my throat in one house as we visited the mom and her children. She took care of 6 kids, all of which slept on the floor. I watched as one girl Lili's age walked around seemingly looking for something to do. She only had one tiny area to walk since there was a bed on one side and a couch on the other. In the back there was a tiny stove and fridge which fit in a 4 x 4 foot area. The other side of the back area was the bathroom. They had their kitchen, bathroom and bedroom as their entire house in a small 12 x 12 foot room. Each family we visited was this way, and it broke my heart thinking how spoiled our kids are. I hope they realize some day how blessed we all are, and how lucky they are to have so much room to run around in the house, to have a large yard with grass, and to have plenty of food. Please let them know how lucky they are. I was choked up as I talked to my dad about it. It's just not fair that some people are born in certain situations. Anyway, we visited each family, gave them food and quilts, and finally finished around 9:30 pm.


It made me cry when I thought about the situations that people are in and I am going to try harder to make a difference and also to remember how blessed I am. Thanks again to everyone who donated to our charity - money or quilts - it means a lot. We will have a video as soon as we can when Clint gets home.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Help with my insanity!

Think about this - finding out about moving 2 weeks ago, saying goodbye to friends you don't want to leave, having to pack up boxes being big ole pregnant, and knowing that you will be in a new place when the husband leaves on a trip.

I'm a little stressed! But it's going to be alright. Just don't expect too many quilting pictures in the next week or so because I will be the one running around with my head cut off doing Clint's job - he does everything with the website and all the orders - watching the kids, and trying to get some quilting done. Not to mention I need to come up with a couple classes for a quilt show in June and the deadline is October 15th. Seriously - can there just be more time? Why can't there be more time - oh and mix that time with energy because I seem to be lacking it..

Anyway - it really will be alright, I keep telling myself that because I will finally get a studio - and a bedroom. Nothing to complain about there. Oh and I want to win this, but since it's my sister I probably won't win it! But go check out her giveaway because your little girl or granddaughter will want it!

Oh and here are some of my quilting pictures that I want to put in my studio......... some how, I will show you when it's done.




Tuesday, September 7, 2010

I love love love this quilt!

You know when you have a spectacular quilt and you just don't want to give it back when you are done quilting? Well, I am having that problem with this quilt. I love how it turned out and I don't want to give it back. It's fabulous and it was so fun to quilt. Monica did a wonderful job putting the quilt together and I was lucky enough to quilt it. I hope you enjoy the pictures!



I mixed swirls, feathers and pebbling in this quilt to come up with the design. It really works well together I think.






The back is a favorite too. I used yellow, white and blue thread to match the top of the quilt and of course the thread on the back of the quilt makes a whole new reversible quilt. I love it!




Well, we are a little crazy here - moving this week and Clint leaves soon for Romania. Thank you to everyone who donated quilts this year, what a blessing to have so many of you help. We had over 40 quilts donated and the quilts will be going to those in need. We can't wait to share this years trip with you.

Oh, and like always, we have great deals going on in the shop. So be sure to check them out!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

A Finish!!


This is a quilt pieced by Virginia - it's incredible. So much paper piecing involved in this quilt. It's also huge - 105 x 108 inches. It took me a while to quilt this, so it's nice to have it finished.


I love how the sunlight hits the quilt and plays with all the quilting. I love the simple straight quilting in the border. The leaves in the green break borders and the feathers. I just love it. I used gold thread on this quilt - I think it turned out great.



Well, there you go. I am still playing catch up, but it's tough and we have added a move to the stress of the household - one good thing about the move will be that I will have a Studio (I can't wait!) and a nursery for the baby.