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Well ... it's been a busy, mixed-bag sort of a week here at the Meares Madhouse! My Beloved Geek Boy started a new job this week (a bit stressful for all involved!), something happened to make me question whether I should keep designing (a huge dent to the self-confidence and a crying jag in the corner!) ... and then a couple of nice things happened to round out the week - and I decided not to go looking for that bridge to jump off after all. Just kidding - Toowoomba doesn't actually have any rivers that require the building of bridges, so that was never really an option ... besides the whole fact that I'm a CHICKEN! :0) Just one of those "BLUES" moments that we all have from time to time and then get over - I'm over it now, I promise!!
So ... on to the good things!! The first came when I collected my mail on Thursday. There was a totally unexpected postcard in my box - hmmm ... who do I know who's travelling and skiting about it at the moment?!?! It turned out to be from my lovely Italian Angel blogging buddy, Cristina! Those who've been tuning into the adventures and foibles here at the Meares' Madhouse for a while will remember that when my Stitchers Angel package went astray last year, Cristina was one of three lovely ladies who sent me a make-up giftie and we've been popping into each others blogs and emailing back and forth since then. It seems Cristina is enjoying a holiday ... in France, so I now have a new 'pretty' to look at on my inspirational pin board in the office ...
Look at that blue, blue ocean!! It was such a lovely feeling to know that Cristina was enjoying a holiday and thought of me! In fact ... she said she saw a little something that reminded her of me and will send it when she gets back! Oooooooohh!! I LOVE fun surprises!! Thanks for my card, Cristina - I know you won't read this til you're back from your holiday, but I hope its a great time away for you and your family!!
The second 'good' thing that happened this week has been a little while in the pipeline, but much-anticipated. The pattern for my "Fairy Bears & Butterflies" quilt has been PRINTED!! YAY!!!
Here's the photo I ended up putting on the pattern cover - good thing our bed got made that day! Tee! Hee! Hee! The pattern WILL be on my web site by the end of today ... I was going to do it myself, but ran into a little technical hitch, so am waiting til my Beloved GB comes home from work and deals with it for me! :0) How lucky am I to have my tech support so close at hand!! Tee! Hee! Hee! So that is very exciting, but even MORE exciting is the fact that the lovely Marion at my home-away-from-home Quilters Angel is not only stocking the patterns for "Fairy Bears & Butterflies", she has my quilt on display!! Ooooohhh!! HAPPY DANCE! HAPPY DANCE!!! It's VERY exciting to walk into my fave fabric haunt and see one of my projects on display (Marion also has the patterns for my "Girl Stuff Bags" for sale and the samples on display!!) So exciting, in fact, that I just HAD to take a photo to show you all!!
Ooohhh!! More Happy Dancing!! Marion, who celebrated her shop's fifth birthday this week, has been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO supportive and encouraging as I've stuck my toe into the quilt-designing pool - not to mention the fact that she stocks soooooooo many yummy fabrics that help the inspiration keep flowing - and the play money running out, Oops! Tee! Hee! Hee! Thanks Marion!! So for all you local-to-Toowoomba gals, next time you pop into Marion's shop to be tempted by her huge range of fabrics, you can take a peek-in-person at my Fairy Bears!!
Now the other exciting part of a new pattern launch is, of course ...
A GIVE AWAY!
But this time, I decided to make you all put your thinking caps on a bit. Since the theme of this quilt came about because I was thinking of the fairies who live at the bottom of gardens, I thought it would be good to hear about YOUR favourite story about fairies. So ... To be included in this pattern give-away, all you have to do is leave a comment on THIS post and tell me a little bit about your very own favourite fairy story or story that has fairies in it. OR post on your own blog about your fave book/story about fairies with a photo of the book, then leave a comment on THIS post to tell me about it, and that will count too - just don't forget to tell me!! The cut-off for this will be
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,
eastern Australian time, so overseas blogging buddies will have to make sure they comment by their Saturday. I'll be giving away a "Fairy Bears & Butterflies Quilt" pattern to two of the entries, so get commenting and story telling!
To help get you all started, I thought I'd tell you about one of MY favourite books that has fairies in it ... except, these are FAERIES! To me FAIRIES are the cutesy, pretty, whimsical creatures in 'nice' children's stories and they are usually good, while FAERIES are the creatures that appear in myths and legends, magical beings who are often more likely to be mischievous or malevolent than nice - they're the fun ones! Tee! Hee! Hee! The book is by one of my favourite fantasy fiction authors, Raymond E. Feist.
You can see by it's battered and tattered cover that it is a VERY oft-read book! :0) I got hooked on Feist's fantasy "Rift War" series in high school. When I first saw this book was set in modern-day times, I wasn't overly interested, but eventually bought it - and was HOOKED! It looks at the question of what could happen if the faeries we thought were only characters in myth and legend REALLY existed ... and still DO!! There's lots of folk law and Celtic mythology, a lot of suspense and mystery, murder and mayhem, humour and even a little bit of romance - a bit of everything really!! I just don't recommend you read it by yourself at night! Tee! Hee! Hee!
There you go ... MY fave faerie story - now tell me about yours!! In the meantime ... I'm off to run some errands and do my usual Friday-chores-catch-up. Hope you've had good things happen to you this week to balance out the bad ones a bit and that you have some fun stuff planned for the weekend! Til next time -
Bear Hugs!
CHEERS!
KRIS
27 comments:
Fairies were never really my bag as a kid, I was more of an adventure type/reader. Until my small son developed a 'thing' for Barbie Fairytopia. Being a concerned parent, I sat down to watch them (so far there are 3!) with him...and got hooked. Arrrghhh! At my time of life! Now, if I need a brainless feel-good movie, I stick on Mermaidia (the no.2 in the series!)
Love the new quilt and rick rack !! Wonderful!!
Happy stitching, P
Well guess were I'm off to this weekend? Of course that home away from home. Can' wait to see Fairy Bears and butterflies in the flesh and of course part with some of that play money as well. Should I really be doing this before finishing some other things? Of course we can never have enough things on the go. Hope GB had a great week in the new job and you have a terrific weekend. Ann-Maree - H'fields
well of course my favourite fairy is Fairy Girl.........and she has such a passion for fairies and she is even beginning to think she has some fairy powers.........
well done of your achievements.....
Hi Kris! :-)
All looking good sweetie, looking good! :-)
Now! Fairy/Faerie stories! Where do I begin?! I am of course, fairy mad!!!Or could that be fairly mad?! Either one will do!
I love Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Coifer, and The Fairy Killer... by an author I'd have to look up. I tend to go more for Wizard stories though and am currently reading a book by Terry Goodkind called Wizard's First Rule. It is excellent. My son and I both read the Deltora Quest series by Emily Rodda (books aimed at older children). And I am also a Harry Potter fan! I guess I'm a wizard gal eh? Although, I prefer to make fairy dolls rather than their male counterparts.
I'll shut up now!!! lol
Hugs! Vikki
Back again!
I've just read Debbie's post and I am so relieved there is another adult out there who watches Barbie movies to feel good!!! EXCELLENT!!!
I watched them before I even had a daughter!!!
Hugs! V x
#1 lake annand has a bridge (from memory) but the stinky brown water might just turn your blue day brown :)
#2 congratulations to your bg on his new job
#3 congratulations to YOU on the show casing of our fab work for all to see
#4 we have fairies at the bottom of my garden and every now and then they visit my girls and leave them 'notes and gifts' and in turn my girls leave them notes and gifts. it so sweet and i blog about it from time to time.
#5 you are sweet!
%*_*%
Well, I think Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. I remember watching the Mary Martin version on TV (that's showing my age) and the Disney version and the Hook adaptation with Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell--altho the idea of the very TALL Ms Roberts as a tiny fairy is a little odd! I can remember clapping and clapping to save her life! I like the fairies and Bears quilt very much and I'm so happy for you that's it's being shown at the shop, wish I could see it!
Kris congrats all around to you and GB on all the good things going on.
My favorite stories with faeries has to be the Dresden Files novels written by Jim Butcher, it has both good faeries and bad, they have amazing powers and are as powerful as vampires, werewolves and the like.
HUGS! Carin
Hi Kris,
Always nice to read your exciting blog.
I'm glad your week finished on a high. Sounds like you really had the "Can't Be's"
Hm, I love fairies and elves, however I don't really have any favourite stories. Maybe I'll do a painting instead.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Anna
I always loved Enid Blyton's "Folk of the Faraway Tree" and "the Enchanted Forest" and all the rest of the series....I would disappear in her stories....very British, I know, but I could easily transport myself down to the bottom of the garden..!!!!!
Aaaaaahhh, those were the days!
;o) Wendy B
The world is full of people who are different from us and like different things, so how boring would it all be if we had the same thoughts, designs and ideas? So what one person may not have been fussed about may be just the bees kness to millions of others!
I am a Raymond Feist fan from when my Ex used to read them, and I would snaffle them off him for something to read and get hooked.Rift Wars was a favorite...
No fairy stories from the bottom of this garden, only carpet snakes & scrub turkeys but that doesn't mean I don't love the quilt, look forward to seeing it next Sunday, when I go to the Stitchers dream w/e. Of course I'll have to go into Quilters Angel. Are you there Sunday
Congratulations on your new pattern Kris. It looks lovely.
I've loved fairies since forever!
The very first book I ever received from my Grandmother in England, many, many years ago, was a book of fairies.
Hiya Kris! My favourite Fairy Book is called Fairies from A - Z. It was a special part of my children's growing up. I've just written a post about it in my blog. I would LOVE to win a copy of your gorgeous pattern. toni :o) xxx
Enid Blyton filled my childhood and I am so grateful to still love reading !
Kris, Your quilt is just adorable , I love bears !I would have to say my favorite fairy story is Tinkerbell , loved that movie .
Sure wish I could see that quilt in person .
Sheila
Congratulations Kris...no doubt about you...busy, busy, busy....
Kris,
I am not sure that there is any cooler fairy than the fairy godmother in Cinderella. She is loving as well as kind..
Hook the movie has a wonderful fairy that Julia Roberts plays beautifully.
The other fairies I think of are the tooth fairies .. there are a few books about tooth fairies -One is called What does the tooth fairy do with all those teeth?
Your pattern is wonderful- perfect for a lovely little girl....
Regards,
Anna
Hello Kris, Congratulaions on all the goodness that is happening to you. You deserve it. Gotta love fairies. I am a true believer. The Tooth Fairy has buried all our childrens teeth in the front garden. I have a fairy statue right there as well. Heavens knows what the next owners will think if they go digging and find all these teeth. Happy days to you.
Congratulations Kris, hmmm not sure if The Three Billy Goats Gruff qualify...Lol....hugs lyn
Hi Kris,
so pleased your week turned around for you! Rowing man is into Raymond Feist and Terry Goodkind, he is so into this non-fiction, makes up for may lack of interest. However, I do believe in the fairies at the bottom of the garden, and Cinderella is my all time favorite fairy-tale, next to Sleeping Beauty that is!You enjoy the rest of this week then, and well done with the quilt, BEAUTIFUL!
This isn't a book about Faeries per se but is along the same lines. It is about a boy who is kidnapped by hobgoblins. They substitute another boy for him. One of their own. It is a novel that looks at the history of Changelings. Is it a myth? The book is The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue.
It isn't a children's book. I read it in 2007.
Can I be entered in your contest?
Mama Bear
Hi Kris, I love the Cicely Mary Barker Flower Fairy books (and fabric). I also love the part in Peter Pan, "Clap your hands if you believe in fairies." to save Tinker Bell. It'd also be quite fun to borrow Cinderella's Fairy Godmother occasionally. I also like your quilt pattern..... ;>)
The tooth fairy, the good fairy from Wizard of Oz, and of course tinkerbell. The disney version, so tiny and magical.
I do like fairies and I love Raymond Feist, but have never read Faerie...must rectify that omission. I certainly love magical stories and of course the tooth fairy was a great favourite.
I remember the tooth fairy forgot to collect my youngest sister's tooth when we were on holiday. Deb & I had to come up with a suitable story to explain that omission TWICE :) We had words with the tooth fairy...am just laughing remembering it.
Hugs,
Sharon
BTW your quilt looks great, especially the bear fairy :)
Hi Kris
Enid Blyton was my all time favourite childhood author. Her books are filled with fairies and other magical beings. I now read these to my own children who are big fans of the books as well.
The quilt is of course beautiful!
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