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Last show of 2013

Hello, Friends!

   For those who came to visit us at Noel last month, thank you!  It was a lovely show and every vendor had goodies galore!  Funny that a few of them found their way home with us.  I did, however, not bring home the one item I must have looked at every hour, on the hour for two days!  Alas, I fear it might haunt me for the remainder of my days as the one that should be at home here.  Oh, well.  Give me a moment…

 

Thank you.  On to current events!  I have been slowly and laboriously working for my final show of 2013.  This is the trunk show in Carmel hosted by my friend, Pat Tillson.  This is the third year we have done this.  Pat is a lovely hostess and everyone enjoyed a sip of tea and a cookie and visits and shows the treasure they found while the sounds of ,”where was that?” echo around.  She assured me I could send out invitations for folks who might be interested in seeing what madness left my head and reappeared in another form entirely!  It is from 1:30 to 3:30 this Wednesday, December 11.  It is a perfect time to finish (or perhaps begin?) that one thing you need for your holiday giving.  If you are thinking of attending, drop me an email or give me a call and I will give you the details at to where all the fun will take place.

 

Okay, this is short, again.  I have one dozen things to finish tonight, lists to be made and sleep to be had!  Take care.  Thank you for reading and be kind to yourself and someone you have never met.

Come to Noel!

This coming Friday, November 22, I will be in Roseville, CA at the Placer County Fair and Events Center located at 800 All America City Boulevard, Roseville.  For more info visit http://www.theoliveandrose.com.  There is priority shopping and live music on Friday evening from 5 p.m.. to 9 p.m.  Saturday the show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

 

It is a terrific way to kick off your holiday shopping BEFORE Black Friday and have wonderful unique items made right here in America.  I have all sorts of new things hot off the needle!

 

Stop by and visit and we will share our latest adventures with you.  Take care and happy holidays to you and yours.

Quick Reminder

Hello all – Just a quick reminder of the Gypsy Threads sale this coming Saturday.  I have been sorting and packaging all sorts of goodies.  At last count, over 300 rubber stamps, lots of ephemera, thousands of beads, many old linens, ribbons, trims, and lace, display pieces, cutter quilts, old quilts, fabric and of course, wool – plus who knows what else!!!!!! 

So, we hope to see you on Saturday 4/20 at 8:00 a.m.  @ 660 East Sixth Street in Chico!

So, I was thinking ….

Hello, Dear Friends – both new and long-time!

Thank you for visiting with me today.  I have been busy in my studio packaging up things and pricing for my upcoming Studio sale.  The date is set for Saturday, April 20 at my home in Chico.  I hope you will come and help me pass along treasures, both old and new, for you to add to your arsenal of “needfuls”.  I have lots of wool, cutter quilts, non-cutter quilts, display pieces, organizational pieces, books, Somerset magazines, Bead and Button magazines, beads, fabrics, rubber stamps – well you get my drift!  Plan a carpool with several of your friends.  I promise it will be worth the drive.  Please tell your friends, organizations, and anyone you pass on the street to come help me out!

I know several of you are wondering as to how my health is these days.  As of this writing I have only twelve more radiation treatments remaining.  My skin is a lovely array of colors ranging from pink to raspberry and according to all the medical professionals who see me, it proves that I am right on track for where I am in this course of treatment.

I had surgery the beginning of this year following chemotherapy prior to.  I am so grateful I have not had any of the horrible effects that often come with either of those two.  Each and every person who has been a part of my experience was kind, efficient, and caring.  Everyone.  David must be tired beyond belief!  All I can say is thank you.  We had friends who cared for Pearle and her sister, Ruby, who joined our household the beginning of December.  They are like two peas in a pod.  Pearle likes being “the boss” of Ruby and Ruby is (mostly) okay with that.  A huge thank you for the ones who were brave enough to welcome Trouble One and Trouble Two into their homes for days on end!

Oh, I could go on for awhile, but, I always feel it is best to leave before you are asked to do so!  Please email me if you have any questions about the sale on April 20.  It will begin at 8:00 a.m. with no early sales and conclude at noon.  Cash only, please.

Be kind to yourself, thank you for reading, and be certain to come see me April 20!

Fall Back

In battle sometimes an order is given for the troops to “fall back” during a battle.  That order comes for a reason determined by the commanding officer and generally is issued for the good of the troops.

 

In the fall of the year we “fall back” and set our clocks so we can make the most use of the daylight hours and save energy.  This takes a little getting used to.  None of us like the long nights that come so early. 

 

I am at the place where I am forced to “fall back.”  When I last posted I announced I am undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.  I am now down to my final two treatments!  Through all of this I have learned that kindness and a sense of humor can take you places you never dreamed possible.  Three weeks ago I went and did a sweet show in Willows.  David did the lions’ share of the setup and teardown.  It was good to be amidst folks and not consumed by doctor’s appointments and having blood drawn!  I was not feeling at my best and ended up in the hospital for five days.  I am grateful to say I am much better now, but still not back to my new “old” self – but I am working on it!

 

My next scheduled show is in February in Watsonville for the PVQA Quilt show.  This will probably be my last show for some time.  As it is looking now I will probably be unable to continue doing shows.  At some point in the spring I will host a huge sale in Chico to sell my remaining inventory, display, and things I use to  create Gypsy Threads things.  I will send out a post as to that date.

 

Thank you for reading.  For now I am “falling back” and grateful for good days, a caring spouse, and loving children.  If you wish to email me, do so @ buttons42@comcast.net.  I am having computer problems and cannot access my other account and cannot get to the Apple store to get it straightened out as it is 1 1/2 hours away, plus the “class” and travel back – too much!  Please be kind to yourself and someone you do not even know – even if it is a caring smile or gentle comment.    

Time and Tides Wait for No Man (or Woman)

Hello my patient friends.  Many of you are aware this summer has brought some unexpected changes into the rhythm of the life of Gypsy Threads.  I have been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and begin sixteen weeks of chemo starting tomorrow, August 20.  About three weeks following that will be surgery and then radiation.  The up side is, I will have lots of free time now that I don’t have to worry with those pesky chin hairs that suddenly show up when there is no tweezer in sight and loads of time not having to shave my legs!  I am sporting a cute SHORT haircut to show off my earrings and hide the patches as my hair leaves me for awhile.  What a terrific excuse for some cute soft hats!  What an opportunity to shed those pesky pounds I have nearly given up on!  See, there IS a bright side to all of this!

Guess you know that means my show schedule has been suspended for the foreseeable future.  Yes, that has been a tough pill to swallow.  I hope you will continue to keep David and me in your thoughts and prayers.  If it is a good day I plan on sharing some of what I will be up while on this journey.  I am very much at peace and trust the best outcome for my life.  All the doctors and every single person I have been entrusted to have treated me so kindly and professionally.  And, since you are wondering, Pearle is my greatest companion and very rarely leaves my side. 

Until we next meet, thank you for continuing your friendship and support – truly.

Late to the Party

Well, here it is, just three weeks (+ or _) from the official start of summer!  How did THAT happen?  It has been a wonderfully busy spring.  We have done three new shows these past few weeks, which means more time in the studio!

 

The van is nearly packed and accommodations have been made for Pearle as we depart for Turlock tomorrow for an Open House at American Country.  This is just the most charming little shop, out in the middle (no exaggeration) of farm country!  The shop proper is a log cabin from my neck of the woods, Ohio.  They had it dismantled, shipped to California and reassembled!  What a treat it is to hear the floorboards creak, echoing the steps of others who spent time there before us.  There are all sorts of goodies for us to drool over.  If you want to come join the fun we are there on Friday, June 1 from 10:00 to 4:00.

 

Are you ready?  We are leaving Turlock on Friday evening and driving to San Luis Obispo to spend the night.  The next morning we are heading to Remnants of the Past show…not as a vendor…yet…but glad to visit with all our vendor friends there!  We went to their very first show and nearly died.  Now it is five times larger so I am hoping I don’t pass out from shear pleasure!  Oh, and the best part is…it was David’s idea!  Sigh!

 

The following week I head to Los Altos to do the American Country Antique show.  This is my tenth summer for that show.  Our group has changed in size a little but we all have something yummy for your home or person!  That show is also from 10:00-4:00.  We are in the back corner where we have been for the past three years, right in the show!!!!

 

Okay, time for me to finish all those things I “need” to get done before going to bed way too late tonight!

 

Thank you for reading, telling your friends about Gypsy Threads, and leaving me a comment so I know I am still connected to the “real” world!  Be kind to yourself and do something kind for someone you don’t even know.

In the Silence

While I am sitting here stitching and thinking in the silence there are thousands of things that I want to share with you.  Witty thoughts.  Touching memories.  People who have traveled through my life and left an imprint on my heart.  Sad things.  Things that have changed and I ponder why that has happened.  Thoughts of friends and challenges they are facing.  Far away places I have traveled and lived.  Many of them I long to return and revisit.  

Today I choose to share the experience I was so excited by two weeks ago.  As you may know I follow a blog called Tongue in Cheek.  The author writes EVERY day.  Amazing photos grace her words.  For a time I had to stop reading as the beauty of the expression of her thoughts via word and photo was just too much for my heart to handle.  ANYWAY she came to Chico to have a meet and greet with her public.  It was my honor to meet her face to face.  As I sat there listening to her share I felt like somehow she was speaking MY thoughts, MY heart’s desire, MY  passions and desires.  I have never had an experience like that before.  Not a live one…  It was sublimely wonderful and I shall treasure it always.

This coming weekend will find us at the Three Speckled Hens event in Paso Robles, CA.  It is Saturday and Sunday.  This is such a wonderful show.  I cannot wait to see all our old friends – both customers and customers.  The promoters are top shelf.  I am grateful for such a great opportunity to share what we have created with all who come to visit.

Thank you for continuing (or beginning) to read.  Please share this with others and help me get out there with my creations more.  Be kind to yourself and someone you have never met before.

And so it begins!

A Tasty View!

Well, we all know change is not easy!  As you know, our computer, after ten years of service was experiencing problems, which meant I too was experiencing problems.

We have proudly welcomed the new computer, an iMac, 21.5″ screen into our home.  All I can say is, “Oh, MY!”  As usual there is a learning curve.  That is, in part, part of the delay in posting.  Along with a new computer for blogging, my etsy site needed to be revamped.  Yeah.  None of this can be done by me.  It isn’t that I have not tried!  My attempt today resulted in nearly an hour of trying to figure out how to get out of Mission Control.  Which, I had to call my son and ask for help.  I did finally get out of Mission Control (as you can now tell), but try as I might, I still cannot get a photo loaded.  Yes, it is back to begging my daughter to try to learn me how!

I got a book to help me with my iPad, which I still adore, one year after purchase.  Here is the thing.  Books for some folks are just the ticket.  Apparently I lost my ticket somewhere between here and there!  I lay the book out and very carefully do exactly what they say and ta da!  Yep, it doesn’t work.  The worst part is once you update your product the stuff in the book is out of date because your system isn’t configured the way it was when you bought the dang book!

I have begun work on the items traveling with me to my next show in February!  The show is the PVQA Quilt Show, the final weekend in February.  Watsonville, CA.  New things are coming forth.  I am HOPING to complete a new pattern.  We will see how long the learning curve is for the computer.  Guess the computer needs no curve, it is I who needs a nice, gentle, gracious curve!  We will also see what my frustration tolerance level is coming in at!  I will be discontinuing several patterns.  They will be on sale at the PVQA show and I will have them listed on my etsy site, just as soon as it is all up and running!

Thank you for being patient and supportive.  Please share this with your friends via Twitter or your own blog or Facebook.  Leave me a comment so I know how you are doing!  Remember, be kind to yourself and someone you have never even met!