Pat Sloan's Blog

Donut or Doughnut?

I ADORE the cakespy blog.. so so fun!  The other day they wrote about the difference (if any) between Donut and Doughnut.. also a bit of history.. check it out! 

http://www.cakespy.com/2008/05/donut-speak-sweet-talk-about-iconic.html#links

Quilts by You!

I'm here in Little Rock with my publisher, Leisure Arts. It's our last day of photo shoots and video production... and I THINK we might be having a cook out too!! I ADORE THESE PEOPLE!!! I've taken photos and been REALLY GOOD about it this time (I know. I know... you LOVE photos).  Going home tomorrow (Sat).

Here are some GREAT photos...

first is Audrey's basket from my Wild and Free workshop. She had a terrible time finding lights that didn't shadow for the flowers... but she was successful when she got home and corned a piece to use.. woot woot! Quilt is in my Take the Fear out of Color book

And here is her crooked cabin quilt (techniques in my Crooked Cabin Book) made for her grand-daughter. It has LOTS of t-shirts!! Isn't is awesome. NOT Audrey's college.. but for this kid she made it anyway... hehe! And close up of the center block. See the neat blackboard fabric... it was perfect!

Rachel sent me the most AWESOME note! She made her version of Celtic Crossings (published in McCall's Magazine) for her bestest gal pal in the whole wide world, Mandie, birthday.  SO SO SO Love this Rachel!

What is this???

The other day I made a trip to the computer store with Gregg. This is right up there with making a trip to the auto parts store with him. Maybe going to buy new tires would be even more exciting.. or having the oil changed... mmmm..

So... I'm trudging through the computer store people watching ... this is because I used to WORK in computers for over 20 yrs.. I wanted to see what type of people go to the computer store these days.

Mostly men. Lots of men. All ages of men (if you need a man.. hang out at the computer store).

Most of these men (and some women..) were reading boxes. Everyone was reading boxes. Picking them up, putting them down. Picking up another box. Peering at the boxes.

It was lots of fun... yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

We finally get to go to the checkout counter. I'm browsing the checkout isle to see what they offer geeks on their way out of the store. Memory stick, cd cases.. and soap

WHAT????? Soap???????????????? Not only soap, but mints and power drinks. Do these people grocery shop LESS than me??? I KNOW they eat junk food so they must go to SOME OTHER store for that (maybe they get it at the office supply stores??).

There you have it.. your local geek buys their SOAP in the computer store.. this is beyond me.... What do you think?? Have you bought soap in a computer store checkout isle... lately???

Ma-Ma's Garden in Fall

Carol R. sent me a photo of her Ma-Ma's garden.

She said it felt like 'fall' so she changed out the bottom right to leaves. And I see the word 'Fall' on the right

.. isn't this totally awesome!

Want to make your own Ma-Ma's Garden?

Click HERE to pick up the pattern

"The power of imagination makes us infinite."
– John Muir

About John Muir

American naturalist John Muir is remembered as a passionate champion of the natural wonder of Yosemite; he was instrumental in turning the land into a national park. Born in Scotland in 1838, he immigrated with his family to Wisconsin in 1849. He dropped out of college to walk 1,000 miles from Indiana to Florida. After falling in love with Yosemite, he took a job herding sheep nearby. He developed the theory that the valley was created by glaciers, which is now accepted as fact.

Quilts by You!

More Sunday Drive blocks coming in... Woot Woot! 

Be sure you do one block, any block, to be in the drawing for a big prize! The prize package is -
--One of my books - your choice
--One of my patterns - your choice
--a little 'goodie'
--And a signed quilt label for your Sunday Drive!

All you have to do is make ONE Sunday Drive block and send me a photo... or link to your photo album... easy peasy!  Don't have the pattern? CLICK HERE

Oh... love hearing so many are getting 'cute crocs'... I will NEED MORE! Heidi was it Denver airport? I'll be there next weekend.... shopping is good!

This is Monica's wreath

The bird house is Evelyne's!

Memorial Day

Memorial day is our day to remember those who served our country and those who still are.

There are so many powerful images on a day like today. I was curious about the poppy and how that started. I always buy some today... the ones the local veterans group sells.

A little google searching told me -

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" by (John McCrae, 1915) Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women.

This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
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From - http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html