Not About Groceries

Hello everyone. Yes I am still blogging. I was thinking about closing down this blog, because quite frankly, I don't have much to say. But upon visiting with fellow designer Laurie Simpson I found out it is okay not to have anything to talk about - and at that point you just take pictures of and talk about your groceries. Hmmm never thought of using my groceries as a blog subject.
However, today's blog is not about groceries as I really do have something to talk about. I thought I would share with you some of the places where you can find Sandy Gervais these days.

The fine people at Fons & Porter invited me to participate in an episode of Quilt with the Stars.
Sandy Gervais - a star - yep it's a stretch - but apparently they think I am a star - or they were desperate.
For this gig I worked with Mary Fons, Marianne Fon's daughter. Mary has many talents that expand way past the quilting world. I love her quirky, artsy personality and it is truly a joy to work with Mary.
Go to this fun little video to find out more about the fabulous Mary Fons.

Quilt with the Stars has three parts
Part one talks about the project that I made for their magazine For the Love of Quilting.




You can find my project in the July/August issue of For the Love of Quilting - on stands now. Check it out.

Part two is a small trunk show.
And part three is about me and my studio.
Go here to watch the three parts.

Like I said before it is always very painful to watch yourself on tape. At least this one they have me planted behind a counter and on a chair - no need to dance around like a dancing bear!

Have a great day.

From my heart,
Sandy

A Painful Youtube

Hello everyone. I have no market pictures - remember no lens. I managed to get my booth all set-up the first day of set-up so I could lens shop on the second day of set-up. Unfortunately I woke up with a migraine - so no lens shopping for me. So the only pictures I have of my booth are what are on this youtube video. It is so very painful to watch yourself on video! Notice how I dance around trying not to get a butt shot in the video - I must say - hard as I tried - I did not succeed. :-(
KC booth video


I am sure by now you have found many posts with very nice pictures of market. Fat Quarters Shop is one of the shops that posts pictures every day of market. Check it out here.

Happy Quilting.
From my heart,
Sandy

Market Bound

It is 10:00 PM and I am still at my studio. We leave tomorrow morning at 6:00 for Kansas City. I have to get this blog posted and pack yet tonight. Typical market craziness. I have been such a bad blogger lately that I have seriously been thinking about closing this blog. It is just one more thing to add to my to do list - and I really don't need more on my list.

Sooo this will be quick.
I was downloading pictures off of my camera when I managed to get tangled up in the cord. Camera and myself went crashing to the floor. I am okay but sadly the camera lens is ruined. So once again this will be a no picture post. You cannot buy a camera lens in Algona, Iowa. I am hoping I can pick a new lens up in Kansas City so I am able to take some market pictures.

We will be showing 8 new patterns featuring my new line of fabric Everlastings.
Just imagine you are looking at 8 pictures of quilts.
I will also be showing:
This Block of the Month Series


And this Month By Month Series.



If you are a shop owner stop by my booth #127 to see the completed quilt and month by month projects. If you are a retail customer get all the details at you local quilt shop after market.

That's all for now.
Good night.
From my heart,
Sandy

Hired!

With the unseasonably warm Iowa weather, the lake season started earlier than usual this year.
There were boats out on the lake in March - unheard of for Iowa.
We have be wanting a greeter for our little lake cabin.
Someone to stand under the big oak tree by the front door to greet people.
Since the season has already started I thought I better get to searching for that perfect person.

I ran an ad in the local newspaper.
Wanted:
A greeter to welcome people to our lake cabin.
Must be cheerful and friendly.
Must be neatly dressed and have a good sense of fashion.
Must enjoy the outdoors.
Sunscreen and bug spray will be provided.

We received quite a few applications.
We rejected quite a few before we found just the right person.

I had one applicant come to the interview carrying a set of golf clubs and wearing golf shoes.

Obviously she would rather be golfing.
Rejected.

I had a duo apply - with one you got the other.

I have two grand dogs - Labradors -

I don't need any more doggie doo doo in my yard.

Rejected.

Another applicant came roaring in on two wheels.

Hell raiser.

Rejected.

Although I never specified whether we

wanted a male or a female, I only received one male applicant.

Can you say grumpy old man.

Rejected.

I had one who was really trying to play the fashion card.

Fashion?

Well she is right on with the color trends...

but did she break the one or two or

three too many accessories rule???

Rejected.

I even had someone apply who was driving a pink Cadillac.

Hmmm...I wondered - if we were gone for a weekend...

would there be some sort of a wild party going on at the cabin??

Rejected.

I was about to give up when Lola applied.

I liked the fact that she knew that wearing

a pretty blue hat would enhance her very blue eyes.

And who could refuse that cute pug nose and that big welcoming smile.

She wore a classic knife pleated skirt

in a very age appropriate length to the interview.

Just the right length to show off her long lean legs.

She was also wearing my favorite color - red.

And she has a purpose in life - to re-purpose.

Hired!

Lola now hangs out under the old oak tree

greeting everyone who comes to the cabin.

Go find something to re-purpose and have some fun!

From my heart,

Sandy

March Madness

Temps in the 80's, birds are building nests, flowers are popping out of the ground, and there are leaves on the trees.
March Madness for sure.

Occasionally we do get temps in the upper 70's and 80's in March and it feels a little spring like but you can still feel the winter and you know the warmth is not here to stay. Right now here in Iowa it is in the 80's and I am not feeling any winter. Do you suppose winter is really over and the nice weather is here to stay?

We celebrated daughter Abby's 30th birthday over the weekend.
Her birthday is March 20th - the first day of spring.
In all of her 30 years she has not had a birthday that was this warm.
The spring almost summer like weather allowed us to dine outside on the patio at Zombie Burger to celebrate the big birthday.

Happy Birthday Abby!
Of coarse I forgot my camera - so no b-day pictures.
Usually when I forget my camera i just draw something.
This time I am using something that Abby drew.
It is a self portrait that she did in a high school art class.
I have always loved how she captured her
beautiful green eyes and full dark eyelashes.
I have framed it and it hangs in our cabin.

This unusually warm weather has also made me want to...

Tend to my long neglected toes.

Buy fun shoes - even though they cover up my new pedi.

Buy a new article of clothing in one of the new bright colors of spring.

Design fabric with more bright pops of color.

What is this unusually warm weather making you want to do?

Happy Spring!

From my heart,

Sandy

Nobody Guessed Fur Boots

Today is the big reveal of our vintage items and the winner announcement at Fat Quarters.

I can't believe not one person guessed fur boots as my vintage item.

Well almost all of you were right. Indeed my item is not fur boots but

a short fur coat.

This length of coat is known as a Stroller.

I have been told it is mink.

They say the camera adds 10 pounds.

Put on a fur coat and you just added 20 more.

Yikes!

This snippet picture made it so easy, you really did not need hints but I did give you a few anyway.

Hints:

The item was purchased at a store that is called by a different name today.

Some of you made a very good guess of Dayton's - now Macy's.

I grew up in Minnesota and Dayton's was a place I went to often - but sadly I could not afford a fur from the Dayton's fur salon. My coat was purchased at a Used Clothing store - now called Vintage Shops. One person did get this right.

The item was purchased 30 years ago.

I bought it used and I am thinking it is from the 50's era.

I paid just $30.00 for this gem.

Audrey would have only worn this with brown - but not brown diamonds.

Audrey or any other movie star at the time would have only worn this coat with brown leather gloves.

Wearing it with bright purple gloves puts the modern into Vintage Modern.

Someday my daughter might wear this item.

I feel this fur is as in style today as it was when the first owner wore it.

And when I hand it down to my daughter - it will still be in style.

I actually wear this coat quite a bit. Back in the day it would have been saved for special occasions.

Not me, remember I am not a saver of treasures, I wear it to dress up and I wear it with jeans and boots.

If it is freezing cold outside, it is the coat to wear. Cozy warm!

Hope you are all having a cozy day.

From my heart,

Sandy