Conversations with a Two Year Old

I've been spending a lot of time with little Clare and she has a lot to say.  She knows all the words to the songs in the Sound of Music and when she can't do something, she says, "You frustrated."
She's obsessed with a little, beautiful video that my sister put together of our childhood movies.  She loves to watch them and see the funny things that "Grannie did when she a girl." I guess I'm just not very exciting now, but when I was "a girl," Clare says that "I ride a horsie all by myself. And Grannie throwed dirt!" She imitates the action and says, "That bad." Of course I agree. Love it that the sins of my youth were captured on film to be viewed by subsequent generations. Sigh.

She started calling her stuffed animals after my sisters, Stefy and Gloria. Gloria (a brown bear) stands on her head. Stefy plays "Ring Rosie" with Clare, because according to the movie, we got very dressed up and did that a lot.  I'm glad Clare likes it; I can't watch it without getting choked up and now even more so.

Pop and I were staying with Clare while her new sister had to go quickly to the doctor for a check up, I was getting dinner together. Clare came into the kitchen "to help."  I saw  her sit down on the floor and I heard her humming to herself. I glanced at her a few times. I figured all was well.

just so you know, this picture is from another time... I didn't stop to take a picture during the crisis

Not so much.
A few minutes later, Clare made a funny noise, like a squeak.
"Are you okay?"
I noticed her nose running, so I got a tissue. She's good at blowing her nose so I held the tissue up and she squeaked again, then said, "NO!"
I was startled. She looked upset and... guilty.
What's wrong, Clare?"
Now, remember her toddler use of pronouns when I tell you her reply...
"You put a bean up you nose."
"What?" I cried.  I looked but could see nothing.  Her nose is so little! "Let's try to blow it again," I said, as calmly as I could wondering if both sisters would end up that evening at the ER.
Don't you know, she blew her nose as hard as she could and out popped a coffee bean! Yep!
All turned out well, though and Violet came home, safe and sound, too. The next day, when her sister woke up and was looking around, Clare said, "Look, Violet is awake in the manger!" We all agree that version of the song actually makes more sense.

Talk about cute!

New Classes, Great Fabric, a Special Pattern... and more at Cottonseed Glory

Fall is a wonderful time to take a class. Cottonseed Glory has a wonderful list of classes just posted and the samples are on display! 

Star Struck

This fascinating quilt with perfect slender points looks very difficult and intricate--but it isn't. The technique is straightforward and easy to do and it is NOT PAPER PIECED!

Beginning Sewing: His or Hers Aprons

Choose any of our wonderful batiks or novelty fabrics to make these quick and fun aprons. How about a coffee-themed apron for your favorite barista? Our sample uses our wonderful new crab fabric to celebrate our wonderful Maryland crab recipes. The lined bib apron for women has a wonderful double ruffle trim; the man apron has a divided pocket with piping. The apron can also be made in children's sizes. Learn how to make ruffles and piping; practice using your ruffle foot or your piping foot while you make adorable gifts for one and all.

Teen Sew

This class is for young BEGINNERS to learn and experience all the joy and fun of quiltmaking. Part of the fun is picking your favorite fabrics and we'll help you. Make this charming quilt and learn how to finish it in this great class. Make an exciting quilt for yourself, a friend or boyfriend, or your grandmom.

Paint Stick Fun

Students will learn how to use oil-based paintsticks to make rubbings onto fabric. 

Dragonfly Wallhanging

Quilt and appliqué in the same step as you cut & sew these beautiful dragonflies learning continuous line machine appliqué with Pat Brousil. This piece is beautiful and the techniques are like no others.

Stack and Whack Is Back!

It's hard to believe that just one large scale print fabric is used to make all the fans in this quilt--and all the fans are very different from one another! Pick one big print that you love and learn this great technique. Once you start, you just can't stop making the blocks as seen below:

Smart Shopper Discount Bag

Make this beautiful take-along shopping bag pictured below. Save the environment and, best of all, GET A 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL YOUR REGULARLY-PRICED PURCHASES NOW THROUGH 12/30/11 at Cottonseed Glory when you take the class and bring your completed bag in for your purchases! Sounds like a great deal to me.

Stack the Deck

In making this dynamic quilt you will learn to layer stacks of your fabrics all together and cut through them all once. Then you will reshuffle the stack with a plan so that all the blocks have one each of all the fabrics appearing in different places in each block! Sounds complicated? It really isn't---it's both fun and easy and a great new experience in quilt-making. Showcase a collection of batiks as Pam Harrell did or pick any other fabrics that you like. 

Party on the Block

It is a party because the quilt and the methods used to make it are wonderful and exciting! Pick some great fabrics and "party" with us! Love the gorgeous sample by Sue Luddy!

Make either of these wonderful table runners or wall-hangings. One is made with a unique panel that shows Christmas traditions throughout the ages. The other is made with oversized half-square triangles. Both have cheery, re-imagined yo-yos, and a bit of machine appliqué. You'll learn the fastest and most accurate way to make the triangles plus a speedy technique for perfect yo-yos.

Though I'm not crazy about Halloween, I know  a lot of you are. If so, here's a quilt project you might like: Haunted House Wallhanging:

Here's a lovely Christmas or Winter quilt kit.  You do have time to make it!

I love blue and green at Christmas. Here's a snowman quilt made of soft flannel. Your family will love it.

And guess what? The pattern for my sampler quilt that is based on the novel Solomon's Puzzle. The pattern includes instructions for 12 blocks and the border plus reflections on the connections to the novel ... such as why I chose the chapter titles, explanations of symbolism, etc.   It will make a great gift for a quilter who has read the novel. 

Even better for an utterly unique and very Annapolis gift... a copy of Solomon's Puzzle (the second printing is in), with the quilt  pattern, too!

more class descriptions and pictures to come!

Charlotte's Tea Room

If you live in northern New Jersey or the Warwick Valley in nearyby NY, I think you might like to take an afternoon off soon and visit Charlotte’s Tea Room. 

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A Case for Smiles

One of the most wonderful things about working at Cottonseed Glory is the people I meet.  Last week, someone came in. Karen looked familiar because she works at my grandsons’ preschool.  She asked about the boys, remembering their names and all about them. Karen had two huge shopping bags with her. In them were nearly 200 pillowcases that she’d made during the summer. The pillowcases are to be given to children who are being treated for cancer. Anita Stroud distributes them through the ConKerr Cancer

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