Pickles, Patches and Babies - Oh My!

I've started wondering exactly WHAT is going on in the world lately! Pickles and Patches has been one of our best selling quilt patterns since I first designed it a few years ago. But lately it's like the Stork is working overtime!! For the past two weeks, we've had so many orders for this pattern. So, just in case you also have a bundle of joy headed your way, this is one easy-to-make baby quilt that works for a boy or a girl.

Pickles and Patches, as shown above, is simply adorable made with wonderful brushed cottons, but I can also envision it with all the beautiful brights and mod 60's fabrics - cute, cute, cute!! It is beginner-friendly, easy raw-edge machine applique and simple embroidered names. Introduce your baby to: Lester the Lion, Ed the Elephant, Pickles the Pig, Marbles the Monkey, Duke the Dog, Betty the Bunny, Dolly the Duck and Georgie the Giraffe. Pickles and Patches measures 57" X 64" and the pattern is only $8!

Click here to place your order and you'll be ready when the Stork arrives!

Our little angels love tummy time, cuddle time, and nap time on their special quilts.
As Great-Grand Minnie, I just have to show you!!

This is our little Lily Grace learning how to sit up on her Good Morning Starshine Quilt!
(pattern is in my Turning Twenty Feelin' Groovy Book)

Lily is such a little lady, sitting on her pretty pink & purple Beez quilt. Lily Beelieves in Sitting Pretty!

Our sweet baby Jude is sleeping all cuddled up under his Jingle Jangle Jungle Quilt!

Looks like Jude's in the dog house now!! He's playing on his Jelly Bean Quilt.

Last week Gary and Scott manned the office, while Michelle and I were making a lot of new "Friendfolks" at the Martha Pullen Show in Arlington, Tx.  It was espeically great seeing old friends again.
We are thankful to be blessed with the most wonderful customers and friends.

There was a lot of energy in our booth each day, of course it might have been the bananas and coffee we kept hidden under our table!
We appreciate all the enthusiasm over our new Embroidery Disks and new Redwork patterns.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by, and for being excited with us as we enter the world of:
                                                  Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Be sure to "like" us, "tweet" us, and "pin" us!  Just search Friendfolks on each site.

To all of our Arlington area friends - it was great to be with you again and thank you for a wonderful show!!

Until next week,
Blessings,

We are exhibiting at Martha's Sewing Market

We are so excited to be exhibiting again this year at Martha's Sewing Market in Arlington, Texas, June 20-23!

I have been very busy designing several new patterns that will be introduced at this market.  You can view and order them now from our site, www.FriendFolks.com or, if you are planning on attending Martha's Sewing Market, we will have them there as well.  We have three new whimsical Snowmen patterns for you:

Each of these patterns sell for $9.50.  They are simply adorable - perfect for snowman collectors, redwork collectors, winter/Christmas home decorating, gift giving, etc.

Be sure to stop by our booth June 20-23 in Arlington, TX at the Arlington Convention Center.  Gary, Michelle and I would love to see you!

Blessings,

My Mama - Louise King

For as far back as I can remember mama worked with her hands.  As children, she sewed our clothes, kept a garden to feed us, scrubbed our dirty faces, and tried to teach us right from      wrong.

Mama grew up during a difficult time, and learned how to make ends meet, regardless of what she had to work with.  There wasn't a job she wouldn't tackle, and not a person that she did notcount as a friend.

I learned a lot from mama.  I learned to sew at a very young age, I could cook by the time I       was 10 years old, and I sure knew how to wash dishes!

Mama didn't take up quilting until she had grandkids, that was when she actually had some timeto do things just because she wanted to, instead of because she had to.

I'm blessed to still have mama with me.  She's 80 years young, facing a few health challenges,but still can play a mean game of Chickenfoot.  As my own life changes, and I grow older, I      only appreciate and love her more and more.  Her sacrifices, love, and nurturing have had an   impact on my life in ways I can't even express.  I'm proud to honor my mama during this          special month.  This world is a better place because she is here.

I love you mama.

Mama - Age 15

Mama - Today, Age 80

Organizing Tips

It's the time of year when birds sing, flowers bloom, and people everywhere are Spring Cleaning!  The cleaning bug bit me a few weeks ago and I began a complete reorganization of my sewing room.  But, as quilters often do, I could not stay away from creating new projects!  The fabric calls me...I know you understand what I mean!  There is just so much inspiration around in springtime!

This does mean I have MANY new projects that will be ready soon; but alas, my poor sewing room is still in disarray.  I will get back to it...soon.  I just have to finish one more project.  Or, maybe two!

I did come across some wonderful ideas to help control the clutter that so often runs rampant in crafting areas.  Enjoy and happy cleaning!

• You can use pizza boxes to store quilt blocks.  They are easy to stack, take up little room and keep your blocks organized.  Just ask for an extra box the next time you pick up your pizza.

• Have an empty Altoid box laying around?  You can make it into a magnetic pin holder!  Just get a peel and stick magnetic strip at any craft store.

• You can use vinyl trading card pages for storing needles.  Just cut felt to fit inside the pockets and insert your needles into the felt.

• When taking quilt blocks to your next class, you can use a large piece from a flannel backed tablecloth to roll them in for easy transport.

• Empty prescription bottles are perfect to store thread spools and matching bobbins.  You can also keep one by your sewing machine to toss used needles into.

• Using a silverware tray is a great way to organize your sewing tools.

• An acrylic suction cup hook on the side of your sewing machine is a handy place to hang small scissors or thread clippers.

• Put a drying rack by your sewing machine to organize fabric strips.

BONUS TIPS

• To brighten colors and remove age spots and yellow discolorations from quilts, combine 1 gallon of water, 1 quart of buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.  Soak the quilt in the mixture and then hand wash it with a mild soap for a bright, reconditioned quilt.  The ingredients make it safe and there is no danger of damaging your quilt.

• A wooden cuticle stick is a perfect sewing stiletto.

• Rather than buy an expensive reducing glass, buy a door peephole from your local hardware store.

• Parchment paper works the same as expensive fusible-webbing sheets and also prevents glue from adhering to the surface of your iron.

Blessings,

The newest member to our FriendFolks family

He's finally here!!

In my last post, our granddaughter Hailey, was almost ready to have her sweet baby.  We actually thought he might show up that very day!  He decided to wait just a little longer to make his grand appearance.

With what had to be the easiest labor and delivery in history, Hailey and her husband Lucas welcomed their new baby boy, William Jude Byrd, into the world.

Our sweet little Jude was born on March 16 at 4:37 PM.  He weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.  Mom and baby are perfectly healthy...and Dad made it through as well!

This now makes me a GREAT Grandmother twice over!  And I couldn't be more happy.  We are blessed indeed!

Meet our sweet blessing, Mr. Jude Byrd....

First Family Photo

Our precious little peanut

Coming home from the hospital

Precious little toes

Already saying his prayers...he loves Jesus!

Mommy with her blessing from God

Turning Twenty is Turning Ten!!

Over the years many of you have asked about the back cover of my original Turning Twenty book.  As we celebrate Turning Twenty's 10th anniversary, I thought this would be the perfect time to update you on our precious grandchildren, Kyle and Hailey.

Here is the picture of Kyle and Hailey from the back cover of the original Turning Twenty published in 2002. Aren't they just adorable?! Oh, and that is Pearl in the middle - sadly, we laid her to rest in 2007.

Kyle was 11 and Hailey was 9.  Pearl is 6 years old :-)

Today is actually Kyle's 21st birthday!  He married his sweetheart, Bailey, in August 2010 and in October 2011 gave us our first GREAT grandchild.  Lily Grace is just the sweetest baby girl, and already brings such joy to my heart.  Kyle just graduated Army Basic Training and is now training to be a combat medic.  Here we are with him on graduation day.  Our hearts swell with pride as we watch our grandson become a strong man of God.  Happy Birthday Kyle!

Here are Kyle and Bailey on their wedding day.

Here's Kyle with his beautiful Bailey, on graduation day.

And, here is little Lily Grace.  What a happy baby and wonderful blessing!

Hailey is now 19, and a ballroom dance instructor. She dated her beau for 3 years in high school and in 2011 she married that marvelous young man. Lucas and Hailey are expecting baby Jude on March 23rd, but looks like he plans to make an earlier entry into this world. We just got word that Hailey is in  labor, so our first GREAT-grandson, William Jude, may arrive today!  Congrats to Hailey and Lucas Byrd!

Here is a recent photo of my little pumpy-umpkin. Hailey Nicole Barnett Byrd.

Hailey and Lucas just after he proposed.

Hailey and Lucas on their wedding day.

And so, here's to celebrating Turning Twenty turning ten! Thanks for encouraging me to share photos of the grandkids today...posting this blog was fun, and also brought tears to my eyes as I once again realize how quickly time passes.  We treasure each day and give thanks to God for all of our blessings.

Happy Anniversary Turning Twenty!

Sugar Dumplin' Update

I have been busy working on the second Pattern for our Block of the Month (BOM), Sugar Dumplin.  Pattern 2 will include February, May, August, and November.  

Each one I do I just fall in love with - they are so adorable!  They are all 24 x 24 and I chose to make mine two ways: First I made each block in color using a crayon technique.  These can be hung as wall quilts and changed out with each month.  This is what I was working on in the pictures below.  Second, I thought they would be beautiful in redwork, so I made a redwork quilt with all 12 blocks.  I will post a picture of that quilt next week.  Color or redwork, wall hangings or quilt - they are precious either way!

Here I am quilting February.  I did not want to use traditional Valentine colors, so I chose this beautiful pink and green floral fabric and paired it with a buttery yellow.  I just love the way she turned out!

My May Sugar Dumplin' is all dressed up for Mothers Day.  She was picking May flowers for her Mama as a special surprise and got a little boo-boo on her knee.  Such a sweet little Dumplin!

Here is August.  She looks forward to apple pickin' time - she LOVES apples...apple pie, apple fritters, apple dumplins, caramel apples, candy apples...Yum!  Think I'll make apple cobbler for dinner tonight!  Looking for a recipe now!

Gary is busy working on the CD.  It will be released in February.  I'm sure he's up to having some Apple cobbler tonight!

Our January To Do List

Happy New Year!!  I thought I would start 2012 off with a laugh...after all, laughter is the best medicine! I also thought this would be a great way to introduce you to everyone at FriendFolks - in case you haven't met us yet.  So, the idea of this post was born.  Here is a project from each of our individual January To Do Lists!

Scott Cribbs
Our son Scott takes care of many different things, but he decided the most important project on his January To Do List was to make sure that all of the orders were shipped out for our new Block of the Month, Sugar Dumplin'.  I snapped this picture of him and his "baby" Quigley as they were double checking the books to ensure all the orders were shipped on time.  How cute are they?!

Michelle Barnett
Our daughter Michelle has just recently joined our business.  After working 20 years in the corporate world, she is convinced there is not a creative bone in her body. So, she told us the most important project on her January To Do List is just to learn anything she can about this new business venture.  I took this picture of her as she was pleading with me to explain a Fat Quarter to her one more time.  She's going to be just fine!

Gary Cribbs
My husband Gary is deep into all of the year end figures.  He shared that the biggest task to check off his January To Do List was to reconcile all of the accounts and get things prepared for filing taxes.  Normally Gary is such a strong and composed man, but I happened to have my camera at an especially trying moment and was able to catch this picture.  No worries though, he quickly came around!

That brings us to me.  I have been busy completing the remainder of the Sugar Dumplin' patterns and kits and working on a new fabric design, so my family has reminded me that I need to add something very important to my January To Do List...time for rest.  Gary caught me "playing dress up" at the mall.  All I can say is we should never really grow up!!

Here is to a new year full of laughter, friends, family, quilting and never growing up!

Blessings, 

Merry Christmas

What a special time of year this is.  I love to hear the laughter of children and see their faces shine as they tell their secret wishes to Santa.  I love to drive through our home town and see the lights and decorations.  I love to have our family all together sharing memories and making new ones.  Most importantly, this is when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus and that is what truly makes this such a special time of year.

As all of us here at FriendFolks prepare to celebrate the holiday, I want to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas!  May all your Christmas wishes come true.

Blessings, 

Sugar Dumplin' Block of the Month

I'm so excited to bring you FriendFolks' first ever Block of the Month - Sugar Dumplin'!  We introduced Sugar Dumplin' at Fall Festival in Houston and we sold out!

                                                                             January

Sugar Dumplin' is perfect for anyone who loves hand embroidery.  If you machine embroider, we didn't forget you!  We will have the patterns available for machine embroidery in just a few weeks.

                                                                            April

Each quilt measures 24" x 24" allowing you to change the quilts each month without redecorating your walls.  Only basic embroidery stitches and beginner-friendly piecing is required.

                                                                               July

There are three patterns: Pattern 1 includes January, April, July and October; Pattern 2 includes February, May, August and November; Pattern 3 includes March, June, September and December.  Collect all 3 patterns to create a unique crayon and embroidery quilt for every month of the year!

                                                                                October

Click here for more information, to join our Block of the Month Club and to find out how you can get November and December Kits FREE (a $50 value)!