Countdown to Open House

Just popping in to remind you guys of the Christmas Craft Open House this weekend. All are welcome. Here are the details:


You are cordially invited to attend our 11th Annual
Christmas Open House Craft Show on Saturday, 12/15/2012, from 10:00-5:00, and on Sunday, 12/16/2012, from 1:00-5:00, at the home of Pat Guilliams, 2287 Sawmill Rd., Ferrum,  VA.
Come for refreshments, fun, and shopping for last minute Christmas gifts for family and friends.
Be sure to check out our Custom-Made Family Ornaments with FREE personalization.
God bless each of you and we hope to see you there. Come hungry, and bring friends!!

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
                              Pat Guilliams    Psalm 37:4

This is always a very special occasion at our house.  Everyone has such a good time each year and nobody leaves hungry.

Blessings to all!
Pat

Busy Season

Dear friends it is the busiest time of the year for me.  I am currently trying to ready the house for next month's Open House Craft Show.  I don't have a lot of time today to chat, but wanted to post a few pics of the decorations that are going up.  

The Open House is on the 15th and 16th of December.  There will be a few of my artisan friends set up with all their lovely creations and refreshments will be served.  We look forward to seeing all our customers on Sat. Dec. 15  from 10-6 and on Sun. Dec. 16 from 1-6. 
We always have a wonderful time!  It's just so much fun!  Mark your calenders, come and bring friends!

Blessings,
Pat

Sunday Drives

My husband and I have always loved taking Sunday drives in our very rural area.  We live in the country, which affords opportunities to enjoy lots of scenic beauty.

Yesterday we took one such drive up the mountain in search of old buildings and colorful vistas to photograph.  L.B. is a photography buff and I like to experiment with it as well.

We encountered this old abandoned house and could not resist taking some pictures and exploring a bit.
I could just imagine a family sharing this space in the day.

You just gotta love it!
A Blessed Day to you!
Pat

Craft Shows coming up!

I have been very busy getting some extra inventory ready for the upcoming craft fairs.  At the last show my biggest sellers were my Christmas ornaments, so I have decided to add to the line.

Some best sellers in the recycled light bulb section

And some new painted spoon ornaments

And a couple of wooden hand painted ornaments that are cut from recycled birch plywood from local cabinet shops.

If you are interested in purchasing ornaments this year, I will be set up at the Franklin County High School on  Nov. 3.  Then at Bassett High School on Nov. 17 & 18.  The last show is my open house craft show on Dec.15 & 16.  Come see me!  You are also welcome to email or visit my facebook page!

Thanks for visiting with me!  I love reading your comments!
Pat

This weekend at the craft show

I had a lovely weekend at the Floyd Co. Craft Show!

There were lots of people and hundreds of vendors.  We had such a great time.  

A couple of pictures of my set up

Lots of folks came by to visit and I got a lot of positive feedback which makes it all worthwhile.  I just love the creative and artistic vibes you get at a craft fair.  So much talent in a small space.  Pure inspiration!!

My 'adopted daughter' Carly Burke and her classy precious metal jewelry were set up adjoining me and we had an absolute blast.  She makes me smile all day!  And my very good friend, Leonora Bridges and her photography, and Sharon with her Christmas arrangements, and Cathy Shockley with her prim creations, and Pam Kesterson, with her quilted bags, and Melody with all her artistic talent, Cheryl with all her Christmas decor, etc, etc, etc,

I just love the atmosphere at an art show. This one is a good one, and if you couldn't make it this year, you need to try for next year, first weekend in Oct.

Here are some pics of the show

My husband took these.... you can tell what interests him...the wood arts.
He is a woodworker himself.  
Overall the show was a roaring success.  Loved it!

My next scheduled show is on Nov. 3 at the Franklin County High School. My husband, I, and all my kids graduated from this high school.  I am excited that this show is growing and that it is so close to home.  It's a good one, so you need to come and enjoy the day.  

Hope your Monday is a blessed one!  I feel very thankful for all the blessings that God sends our way!  

Pat

Floyd Arts and Crafts Show

I am set up at the Floyd County High School this weekend.  Come see us today 9-5 and tomorrow 12-5.
If you are in the area, I highly recommend this show.  It's a good one!

Happy Day!
Pat

Joy!

On Monday, I received a package from Cheri @ Quilts by Cheri.  When I opened the box, there was an explosion of beautiful fabric scraps and it looked like this on my cutting table.

This kind of thing makes me soo happy!  I love fabric.  I love seeing it, touching it, and piecing it into quilts.
I could hardly wait to get busy, but I had orders to fill.  Yesterday, I finally finished quilting the quilt for my sister-in-law and I finished up the crib quilt in the frame, so I dove into this lovely pile of scraps for some applique.  The colors lended themselves to Fall.  So, here is what I did.

What do you think?  There are lots of projects to do with these fabrics.  I use everything.  The tiny scraps left from these projects go into my dolls as stuffing, so nothing is wasted.

Thanks Cheri!  Can you tell I'm a fabriholic!
Happy Day Everyone!!
Pat

Lovely Weather We're Having

It's so nice here in Virginia at the moment.  Loving the cooler temps. and the beginnings of the colorful Fall season.  

I've been battling a severe cold/flu like illness, but am on the mend with only a lingering cough to contend with.  I very seldom get sick, so when it happens, it knocks me for a loop. 

This week I have finished quilting a full size quilt for my nephew's room.  Just finished the binding yesterday and got it delivered this morning.  No pictures.  Just didn't enter my mind to take any before I sent it on it's way. 

I am currently working on a crib quilt to sell at the coming shows.  My next show will be the last weekend in Sept. at Floyd County High School.  This is a much anticipated show each year.  It's has grown into a pretty large show.  We fill up 2 gyms and all the outdoor space as well.  This is a very organized show and a pleasure for the vendors to deal with.  They shuttle people in and out all day and do a great job of taking care of their artisans and crafters. The traffic is great and I usually am very successful at this one.  Pray for us, that this year will be such.

Please check out my facebook page Humble Heart Designs and "like" me.
Happy Day and Blessings to all.

~Pat~

Just Rambling

Wow.  I just can't seem to get around to posting in my blog lately.  Been busy with veggie garden, canning and freezing for the winter to come.

Last weekend was my first show of the season at Steppin' Out in Blacksburg, VA.  It is a large show, but the rain came down we had major flooding in our tent and sales were not great.  I think I might rethink outdoor shows because of the fabric crafts that I have.  Everything has to be dried out after shows and I did suffer some damaged merchandise.  Just may not be worth it.

On a lighter note,  I have been doing some quilts and finishing up some unfinished projects.  Just posted a new crib quilt on Etsy.  Normally, I do my own piecing, but this little panel reached out to me on a recent shopping trip and I just had to quilt it.

Isn't it adorable!  I machine quilted this on my longarm in a swirl pattern.  It has Warm and Natural batting inside and there is a flannel backing that makes this a snuggly warm quilt.  If you are interested check it out here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/106629123/soft-flannel-puppy-dog-baby-crib-quilt

Hope you are all having a blessed and happy day!

Travel Tote

This tote is great for travel, crafters, quilters, teachers, professional workers, and makes a great diaper bag as well.  It has all the bells and whistles that a good sturdy handbag/tote should have.
Check it out in my Etsy shop: humblehrtdesigns aka rccharm.

I am currently readying myself for my first craft show of this year.  It's a big one: Steppin' Out in Blacksburg, Va. near the campus of Va. Tech.  The show runs on Fri., Aug. 3 , and Sat., Aug.4 from 10am.-10pm. each day.  If you can get there, don't miss it.  It's a great show with lots of vendors and activities.  I will be on Draper Road, beside the farmer's market.  My booth number is MSP3.  Please come visit and join in on the fun!  Mention my blog and you will get a free gift!

Happy Day to all!
Pat

Autumn Art Quilt

This is my newest listing on Etsy.  Getting a jump on the fall schedule and trying to list some of my crafts for the season.

You can check out the details here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/104699835/hand-quilted-autumn-fall-art-quilt-wall

This past weekend we hosted a family dinner for the Guilliams clan.  Family is so important.  Almost everyone attended and we entertained around 40 people.  Larry and I did the burgers and hot dogs and everyone brought a lovely dish for a pot luck event.  The children had a large yard to run and play and we only had a couple of bumps and one to fall into the pond.  No harm done.  She's a first grader and she said that the rock was wobbly.  hehe!
I waited to give my son his special graduation gift until the family could be here. Here is what he received.

It was a folded quilt with a note in the folds.

It was a note from a very special grandmother: Grandma Carrie~

And this is the quilt.  You see, Grandma Carrie hand pieced each one of her grandchildren a quilt for their high school graduations.  All the other grandchildren had graduated except for Eric.  In May of 2000, she boxed up this quilt and wrote the heartfelt note for Eric.  He was then 6 years old.  She passed away on Sept.  12, 2001.  I have kept it just the way she gave it to me since then.  And this Saturday I finally got to see him open the best graduation present ever.  Needless to say we were all overwhelmed with emotion.  Especially Eric.  That night he told me "Mom, that made me tear up!"
I hope your day is as blessed as ours.
Pat

God Provides!

God provides all our needs according to his riches in glory!
We have been blessed with the first fruits today.

By Saturday, we should have a bumper crop of green beans.  Better get the Mason jars ready!
We will be canning this weekend!


I had a little helper with the harvest this morning.

This is my 5 month old nephew.  He is the sweetest baby ever. (Except for my own 18 years ago)
Such a happy baby all the time.  A real pleasure to keep!


Hope you all are having a wonderful week.  Thanks for the visit!


Be Blessed!
Pat

Organizing and Storing my Fabric Stash!

I like to store my fabric on shelves.  My husband works at a cabinet shop in this area, and is a very talented carpenter. He installed 2 walls full of shelf cubbies with adjustable shelves for storing fabric.  I like to see at a glance the approximate yardage of each cut.  And this is the best way I have found to do this.

When I buy my fabric, it is cut from the bolt measuring 44-45 inches with the fold on one side and the selvages on the other. It looks something like this.

I like to fold it a second time longways so that it looks more like this.

Then I start folding from the right side in 9" sections something like this.

I then continue to fold the 9" sections all the way to the left side.  And I wind up with something like this.

I use a shape cut ruler a lot and this makes it convenient to use when I need to cut the fabric.  Like this.

It also makes it easy to check to see how much fabric is in each cut. Since each fold of the material is 9" (1/4 yard) you can then count the folds and  figure the yardage pretty close.  Just count folds from the middle--2 folds = 1 yard.  Easy!

And the stash looks great in the shelves.  Well anyways, it works for me!

Let me know what your thoughts are!

Blessings 

~Pat~