A Tadd More

"Girl's Night In....."

Once a month, here at TTD we have "employee-sew-in-night" on a Friday night when the store is closed. It's really fun to all be together to share ideas and projects. And, no-one has to run the store, everyone waits on themselves and we all help each other out if needed. I decided to take some pictures from our recent "night-in" to show you.  Here are Nan (front left), Deanna (next to her), Cindy (one of our show and special event helpers, in the pink tie-dye. She actually has a real job, she's a PE teacher.) and Miss Sherry (front in the blue hoodie). That's Jane in the back, diligently sewing away!

Some of us wore our delicious wool slippers from Garnet Hill (Christmas presents). They were irresistable in pink and green! Don't you agree? Let me tell you, these slippers kept my feet warm all winter long at home. Sometimes even too warm!  Although I'm finding that I'm having more and more "personal summers" as my friend Mindy would say (I think that's from Menopause The Musical).

So I managed to complete 4 flannel pillowcases for my kids, Haley and Garrison (aka; Buddy), AND I finished this New Girl purse (thanks to my friend Mary Lynn) that I started for Haley back in August. So it was a productive night inspite of my kids calling me every hour wanting to know when I was coming home!

This fabric line is called Metro Blue by Michele D'Amore for Marcus Brothers. It has been a really good seller in the store. It went like "hot cakes" when we got it in the store. 

Haley's not a real "girly girl" like her mom, but she liked this fabric alot. Probably because it wasn't PINK!  If you know what I mean! I'm not sure you can have too much pink? It's kind of like lipgloss! You know how much I love lipgloss!

So, we are off to another show! We leave on Monday for The AQS Show in Paducah. If you are planning to go to the show, come look us up. We will be right next to the pool! Woo-Hoo!! It will probably be like a sauna!! I am packin' plenty of fans! And not just the one I have to have next to my head to sleep!

Anyway, I'll try to take plenty of pictures in Paducah and put them on the blog in the next couple of weeks.

                       ****Thought for the day****

"Cheerfulness, like spring, opens all the blossoms of the inward man."    Jean Paul Richter
"An optimist is the human personification of spring."    Susan J. Bissonette
                               and finally.....
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."       Herm Albright

I couldn't resist. The last one was too funny!
Have a pink day! God Bless,
Tammy

P.s. "Happy Birthday Nickie! I love you!"
                                                                            

What's cookin'.....?

Ok, while I'm at the show this weekend in Rosemont, working very hard! That's the truth too, we don't usually get a break the first two days of the show. The attendance is usually somewhere around 20,000 over the 3 days. Ok, sorry, as I was saying.... while I'm at the show in Rosemont, I thought I would put up this picture from Easter Sunday dinner. I LOVE this one! These are three of my beautiful children. The three oldest ones. Olivia is on the left, Nick in the center and Stephanie is on the right. I bought them these adorable aprons at a shop here in town; Moxie's. Well actually, the one Nick is wearing is mine, but he felt a little left out, so I gave him the girliest one with all of the ruffles. Let me tell you, he didn't mind a bit! He's a real HAM! Like the plate of ham that he's holding!

They didn't actually do any of the cooking or much of the clean up either, for that matter. But I'm not complaining, I was just happy to have them home and in my kitchen. And, hey they look cute, and that's what it's all about isn't it? Who cares if you can cook or not if you're that cute!

             ****Thought for the day****
"Dinner, a time when.... one should eat wisely
but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely."   
                W. Somerset Maugham

Have a great weekend everyone!
God Bless You,
Tammy

A sneak peek....

Ok, so I have some good news and some bad. Which do you want first?  I usually say "give me the bad news first, and get it over with" that way the good news is that much sweeter. Well the good news is this; we are working on a new book!  It's called A Tadd More. What a great name for a book, right! Here is a sneak peek, just a little "teaser"!

We have been working hard on it for months. Now, here's the bad news.... we had planned to have it ready for Spring International Quilt Market in Portland in May, but that's not going to happen. We were running behind schedule and really putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to get it done, when my brother passed away. So, the decision was made for me.

Watch for more sneak peeks in the weeks to come and the new book will be out in June. I will let everyone know when it's available. We are getting ready for the Spring International Quilt Festival in Rosemont, Chicago this weekend. So if you are able to go, stop by and see us in booth #1109. We will be home for a week and then we leave for Paducah! April is a busy month for us!

Some of you know that I am a "magazine junkie". It's a sickness I have. I confess! I LOOOOOOOVE magazines and books. I could start my own bookstore or at least library. Well, a couple of weeks ago, I found this magazine that I want to tell you about. It's called Life: Beautiful Magazine. It is truly that.... a beautiful magazine. Go to the link and check it out. It is not only spiritually inspirational, but also in every other way; decorating, cooking, gardening and more. The photography is beautiful!  There is a section on book and music reviews too. I'm tellin' ya, I was so excited after I got it home and had a chance to really enjoy it, that I went and bought every copy they had. I knew several friends who would love it as much as I did.

So, I just rolled them and tied them with pretty spring ribbon and gave them as little Easter gifts.

Anyway, let me know what you think about the "sneak peek" of the book and the magazine, and I'll be showing you pictures from our show at Rosemont when we get back.

****Thought for the day****
"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime."
Martin Luther

Happy Spring everyone, God Bless,
Tammy

 

My Brother, My Friend....

In all of our lives we have people who influence "who" we are, and who we will become. For most of us, those earliest influences come from our families. This is my older brother Roy, ("Scooter" as he is known to family and friends), and me with my grandpa in 1960. My brother and I were only 15 months apart. He has been a big part of my life as you can imagine. I could tell lots of funny stories about how he influenced me for the good and "not-so-good"! But THE most important story about my brother is what happened to him 4 years ago. He went into respiratory failure (as a result of multiple medical problems and a long history of smoking) and was fighting for every breath. The family was called to the hospital, the doctors and nurses didn't give the family much hope. As many people began praying for him, God miraculously spared his life. Now, I know that there were many doctors and nurses who took care of him and they deserve alot of credit, but without God's intervention, he would not have lived. My brother, knew that God had touched him physically and he was a thankful man. He also came to realize that his life was a gift, and he prayed and asked God to forgive him and come into his heart. I saw the transformation of my brother's heart and life right before my eyes. My big tough brother became this teddy bear of a man who wasn't afraid to cry and tell you how much he loved you. He lived 4 more years, saw his son married, and lived to see his first grandchild. My "big brother", Roy "Scooter" left this earth on March 29th. Although I am so sad for the loss that my family is experiencing, we are also rejoicing, because we know that we will see him again! I know many of you have read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, here is one of my favorite quotes: "Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better." I believe that! This life is not all there is! I loved my brother, and I look forward to a great family reunion someday!

Here is a poem that my nephew and his wife had printed on cards to give away at the memorial service and I think my brother would have liked it.

When I come to the end of the day
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared
Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Maker's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me, but let me go.

           Roy W. Grubbs  "Scooter"
           Born: December 20, 1958
           Passed: March 29, 2008

                            

                      ****Thought for the day****
  "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
          Remind me that my days are numbered,
               and that my life is fleeting away."    
                             Psalm 39:4

                 "Precious in the sight of the Lord
                     is the death of His saints".   
                           Psalm 116:15

Thanks so much to all of you who have sent cards and e-mails. You have all been so kind to me and my family. It is truly times like these, that you find out who your friends really are. Those that are "there for you" when you really need a shoulder to cry on. For those of you who have asked what we need, just keep my sister-in-law Vickie and my mom in your prayers.

God Bless,
Tammy