My Big Brother

My brother just turned 40!

When we were kids we fought like crazy... oh man- our poor parents. We fought alot in the car (and everywhere else too, but this is a car story). The backseat was "divided" in half, with an invisible line down the middle.  I would be innocently minding my business and my brother would poke me, or pinch me, or steal my beloved teddy bear and hang it out the window, or wave his hand back and forth over The Line and I would scream, "Moooooommmmmm! He's on my side!", or WORSE, he would LOOK at me!  Oh!  the horror of it!  On and on it would go... for who knows how long.  Hours probably.  Eventually mom's arm would come flying into the back seat, wacking blindly.  We'd smoosh ourselves up to the sides of the car to avoid her flailing arm.  There was nothing like getting into trouble to turn us back into the best of friends.  And then we'd be all like, "what? us? we weren't doing anything- we were just playing a game.  geesh."

My brother is awesome and super cool, and I wouldn't trade him for the world.  Love you Matt!

An Ode

Oh, sweet, sweet vacation- how I love you.  In my life, I've always gone from job to job straight away- no vacations in between.  And, when I've taken vacation time it was generally with a purpose in mind: going here!  going there!  visiting you!  visiting them!  seeing that!  doing this!  (with the exception of a day here or there just bumming around)  This is the first time I've had an extended amount of vacation time to just be, and hang out with no real agenda.  and OH!  Do I ever love it!  I'm giddy with freedom.  So, while vacation is short lived, I'm gonna soak it up and enjoy it to the max.  Just you watch out vacation, cuz here I come and I'm gonna love you up!!!


(Don't be fooled though- I do have a to-do list and it goes like this: sleep in; eat cake for breakfast; watch funny morning TV (Ellen Degeneres, you crack me up); take the dog for a walk; nap time; clean the house wash the dishes organize closet sort out the basement plaster the hole in the ceiling touch up the paint replace kitchen baseboard mow the lawn; visit with friends; watch the sunset; enjoy a margarita... you know, stuff like that.)

The Boss of Me

I live with these characters...

Louie. 

What a handsome devil he is. 

Fern McGillicuddy.  

Her last name carries on the legacy of a cat I once knew, named Brian McGillicuddy.  The cat Brian was named after a soldier who lost his life fighting in WWII. 

And Bella Jean.

And boy, oh boy, are these guys task masters.  Get my food!  Where's my water?!  Clean my litter box!  Take me outside!!!  Pet me!  Where's my toy!!

And I do it all.

gladly. 

cuz I love em. 

Where, oh where, did you come from?

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, in a land, not so very far away, there was a quilt shop. It was owned by Amy (that’s me!), and it was a lovely little place filled with color and laughter and so many very good things. After over 4 years of fabric and fun, a darkness descended over the delicate economy of the area, and alas, the shop owner decided it was best to close the lovely little shop. While there was sadness, there was also joy- in friends and family and fellow creative enthusiasts, and the opportunity to start anew.  And so, this is where we begin our story…