How does your garden grow?

This past weekend, my husband and I enjoyed two gorgeous days outside doing yard work.  Most of the time I am in such a rush to pull the weeds, dig the hole and plant the flowers... This year... I approached it differently.  I really used this time to appreciate the process.  It really turned into a great family weekend of laughter, (as my oldest daughter hates worms/bugs) getting dirty, Arne Palmer's and getting sprayed with water (accidentally, of course!!!).  Plus all the neighbors were out!  We have two neighbors who have daughters graduating so you can imagine the chaos in our neighborhood!  I have to say, our block is looking pretty spiffy right about now!!! 

Here are a few pics of my gardening so far!  I still have my flower gardens in the back to get cleaned up and planted.  But I have to say.. the front and sides are looking good!!!  I hope to get out there again this weekend but I have a designer event at Millie P's on Saturday (starting to feel like this is spring has been all work and no play!!!!) 

 

Back to gardening... Do you notice my Lily of the Valley flowers?  I swear they budded and bloomed just for me, as I gardened those two days!!! Great Grandma Lily must have been smiling down on me as I was working my magic in my flower beds!!  Those flowers are from her where I grew up.  Very near and dear to my heart!  I am sure many of you can relate and have flowers from a special member of your family!!  If you get a chance go to my facebook page- Buttermilk Basin and post pics of your "special" flowers! 

I would love to hear about their story!

 

I will leave you with this lovely little quote as we head into another weekend of more gardening... Enjoy..

 

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness. ~Dalai Lama

For LOFTY ideas, shop in the barn at our Autumn in the Country Event!

For lofty ideas, shop in the Barn at our Autumn in the Country Event. Lofty by definition means:

• Extending high in the air – that fits, the Barn is a high structure for sure!

• Exalted in dignity – another perfect fit – the quilts and quilting patterns on display are not only dignified but also unforgettable.

• Elevated in style – our lofty ideas are definitely stylish!

For more information visit our website!  

Just hanging with more Rock Stars!!

Here are a few more pics... Gail Pan again (one can never get too much of that girl!!!)  Marie-Claude Picon-Iperti who is the most gorgeous French gal you will ever meet!  She is so sweet, brought me some cool goods and I am happy to be working on a project with her!!!  Then, does anyone not know who Tim Holtz is?  He is just great!  Had a blast catching up with him talking about junking!  Ordered his fabric line too for the Basin!  And then the loveliest gals, also from France... My Simply Vintage Magazine gals!  I could just listen to them talk to me all day long!  I love those gals!  So yes, you can expect to see more of my designs in the upcoming issues!  I am a lucky, lucky girl to be able to hang with all these cool peeps!!!

Frineds from Far & Near!

Haha!!! If you don't know by now.. I am such a people person!  And in this industry I really have found some great gals that I am blessed to call my friend!  First off is Sheri from Calico Moon!  Do you see those awesome new hooked rug designs?  Well, guess who hooked them for me?  Miss Sheri!  If you love my work and primitive goodness... Go check out her facebook page Calico Moon!  You should see the cool stuff she does with my patterns!!!

 Then there are the Cali girls!!!  The first one on the left is Kathy from the Cottage at Cardiff Farms!  You should see her barn quilt!!  IT IS AWESOME!  She will be coming to my BARN EVENT and bringing some great models including that new quilt!  She is working hard to get it released in time for that event!  You all will love her!  Then there is Joan from Bits & Pieces by Joan.  She is just delightful!  Her and I go way back!  You might know her from those tall/skinny designs I have in frames with kits at the shops and shows!  She did come out with a few more new designs!!! And her son just got married!!! How exciting!  Then there is the adorable Suzanne from Suzanne's Art House!  I am in love with her new owl/crow patterns I picked up!  I even scored 2 models!!!  Can't wait to show you those!  And then there is my pal Gail from Gail Pan Designs... She is my FAV Aussie!  All I can say is that she is awesome and I am lucky to teach with her this fall at the Buggy Barn and see her again in October at market!  Did I mention she brought me candy from Australia!?! She has a new book out so please go check out her book and the other fabulous designers for their new product!   

Does spring inspire you to clean?

I love spring cleaning; now I didn't say I was good at it, just that I love the thought of it. It is a time when I can:

• Find items that I've temporarily misplaced! I think I'm not the only one that has as black hole where things seem to fall into. Spring cleaning allows me to reunite with many things!

• Take the opportunity for maintenance of small things. Periodic cleaning helps me catch small problems before they get out of hand. 

• Make more storage space - for quilting and patterns of course!

• Feel in control - ok, it can be fast fleeting, but being organized does help me stay in control over my home and my time. 

• Did I mention ..... make room for more quilt patterns?

Happy Spring Cleaning everyone!

Booth at Market Pictures!

I know this is what you all have been waiting for... Booth pics!!!  I am a girl who loves anything vintage!  As I mentioned before... I always bring wayyy too many props - but I would rather have too many then be short!  I just love the little cubby I scored for my Pinkeeps thru the Year!  That might have been my fav new piece.  I usually haul the heaviest sewing machine and stand I can find too!  LOL!  Among some of the 82 new designs there is a Basin Cotton Club (small, darling quilts), With thy Needle BOM (each block is displayed on a sewing keep made out of wool, cotton quilt or simply framed), Folkart Mats thru the Year (great new spin on the normal mat - check out the floss we used to feather stitch around the edges), Door Greeter bags, (made out of toweling which we will be selling on the site - they are adorable!), Basin Banners (which are wool bordered in cotton and they hang!)... There are also many stand alone projects in both cotton and wool.  I really feel we have something for everything with our new line!  They sold so great... I hope you love them too!!!!  Again, check the website and email me if you have any questions!  swest@buttermilkbasin.com  Up next will be some pics of some of my awesome designer friends!!!  Good times!!!

Side view of the booth.

New designs in cotton & wool!!!!



Close ups of new designs!

Can you spy my booth?!?!

Meet my SIL, KIM!

This market was the first time I flew in additional help!  I can not tell you how great it was!  Since GW has to spend as much time with the person as I do, we thought we would have his sister Kim come out and help us!  For her first rodeo, she did GREAT!  I know you all would love her!  Here we are at the wine bar while we waited for our table.  Sorry I can't remember the restaurant... but I can tell you they had the best gnocchi's I have ever had!  Totally melted in your mouth!

My lovely sil, Kim!

Love checking out the local fav places to eat!

YUMMMMO!

Sample Spree

For those of you have don't know what sample spree is... It is 2 hours of complete shopping madness!  It is held from 8-10 the evening before the show opens.  The pictures below don't even do it justice!  Shop owners rush in to get the latest samples, fabric bundles, kits and patterns to bring home with them to kick start the excitement of new product coming in!  Many shops bought every kit and patterns we had there!  We even sold out of quite a bit!  It was crazy busy those entire 2 hours!  Along with the kits, we sold Buttermilk Basin key fobs, wool, and funky hangers to go with our new lines!  We will be carrying all of this on the website as well!  Shown in the pics below are the new Basin Banners thru the year, Folkart Mats thru the year & Year of the Pinkeeps! 

{Hope these patterns are up by the time this posts! You are going to love them!!!}

  

Back in action! Quilt market pics coming your way...

Hello!  First of all... thanks for all the emails checking in on me and the basin!  I can not tell you how awesome my customers are!  I love my job!!! 

With that being said, I am going to jump right back in to blogging and let you know that we have so many fun and exciting things coming up that you won't want to miss and hope you can attend! 

I am working so hard this year to not only make it a great year for BB, but for you, my customers!!!  To go along with the 82 NEW designs I just released, I have hired help and assistance where it is needed!  So hang on and enjoy the ride!  It is going to be awesome!  Let's get started!

 

As many of your know this this time of year means International Quilt Market!  I had the opportunity to exhibit once again, this year in Pittsburgh, PA!  We headed out late last Monday night.  We hit rain and flash flood warnings along the way... but all went well!  We got in on Tuesday and started setting up on Wed.  I released 82 new designs!  I think that is the most I have ever released at one time!  What a job to get them all done and print ready for market!  And let me tell you - they were all a hit!!!  Start checking your local shops and our website as they are ready to go!!! 

 

I will be posting more daily until I have posted all my pics from the trip! 

Market it always a great time and it is even better with great designer friends, awesome shop owners and wool!  Lots of wool!!!  {Yes!  I bought a boat load!!!!}

 

BTW...Can you believe the COOL Event I have in store for you gals this fall?  I can't wait for you to come and experience it at the barn!!!!  I am SOOOO excited!

Dusty, Mr. Basin's truck is gassed up and ready!

I had a double booth - and again, I brought too much props! LOL!

Each time I exhibit in PA, I make a stop at the yummiest sandwich shop in town!  Primanti Bros.  As you can see from the photo below- not a date night sandwich!!!  It is meat, cheese, French fries and kraut stacked up on homemade French bread!

AUTUMN IN THE COUNTRY

 

Save the Date!

While spring is finally in Minnesota, we are already thinking of fall!  Please  SAVE THE DATE for the “Autumn in the Country”, a weekend immersed in memories of friendship, cloth and fiber.    

                When:   Friday, September 19, 2014 to Sunday, September 21, 2014
                Where: The Brickhouse Getaway in Centuria, Wisconsin
                Why:  Enroll in creative workshops, enjoy the Quilt Show, make friends, savor delicious foods and experience shopping in “the Barn”.

 For More Info/Sign Up   

Please go to www.buttermilkbasin.com to print of the registration form for classes and quilt show inquires.