Debut!

Well, it has been a very exciting week around

my American Homestead!  On St, Patrick's Day

my first book was released and on Saturday I

gave my first lecture about it.

The lecture was about how I became a quilt and

craft pattern designer including all the influences

I have had in my life that brought me here and

of course it was the story of my first book and a

trunk show of the quilts.  It was so wonderful to

have had the chance to debut my book while

 being surrounded by so many of my friends.

And it was extra special since my daughter Katie

Rose was home for Spring Break and she could

share the day with me.

Afterwards, I signed books in The Quilt Shoppe's

booth and I'm happy to say we sold out of the 

first shipment.

Images courtesy of Silva Photography.

My friend Irene Silva of Silva Photography

captured these sweet images of people reading 

my book.  I'm so happy she did this because I

didn't get to see this since I was signing books.

What is so special about this is, this is exactly

what I envisioned as I was planning and 

designing this book.  I wanted more than just

the quilts and patterns.  I wanted people to be

able to enjoy beautiful photos that gave a feel

of each of the homesteads where these quilts

live.  Each quilt design has a photo of the house,

a landscape shot showing a scene from the area

where the house is located and a still life showing

decor or collectibles that would be in the house.

And then of course, there are all of the beautiful 

photos of the quilts.  Most of the landscape and

still life photos are mine, I took them in my garden,

on my travels, at Mounds Park, in my hometown.

The photo of the 2 kids in colonial costume for the

Colonial Saltbox quilt is of my kids, Katie Rose and

Brennan, in the costumes I made them when we

used to visit Colonial Williamsburg for our Spring

Break every year.

And then a few nights ago, a friend of mine sent me

a message on facebook with this link:

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/2014/03/24/new-books-2/

A review of my book!  How very exciting!