We are moving our BLOG to a new address.  Click link below to go to the new BLOG:

http://www.friendfolksfun.blogspot.com

Most of the entries on the old blog are moved to the new blog.

 Have fun; see you there.

I will be posting over the next couple of weeks to tell you all about our new designs. One thing for sure, our Sunday School Singers did a good job at market and are so happy to be back at home.  Zacchaeus begged to be the first one to blog and went out on a limb to say “howdy” today.    

I started designing Sunday School Singers in January 2009, but I get side-tracked from time to time so this collection was a little slow in getting to the finish line.  However, when our singers made their debut at Quilt Market in Houston, they were a hit.  Several ladies, and a couple of gentlemen as well, gathered around our quilt and sang Sunday School songs they remembered from their own childhood.  Lots of smiles and good memories!  There are 12 embroidered blocks in my Sunday School Singers quilt PLUS 13 embroideries of kids at play.  The embroidery is just basic stitching, I colored with permanent fabric markers.  Sunday School Singers is also digitized for machine embroidery…..hmmmm….wonder if I really DO want to have an embroidery machine someday.  Lots faster and the designs look great!

With boxes to unpack and laundry to be finished, I’ll call it a day here and be back with more very soon!     Blessings, Tricia (and all my Sunday School Singers)

It was Hailey’s third Christmas, her eyes widened as she opened her gift from Uncle Scott. As she pulled out a huge  (actually – gigantic) teddy bear, it was love at first sight. She wrapped her tiny arms around that squishy bear and her little body got lost in all that fluff.
Mr. Bear became Hailey’s constant companion, even going along to the hospital to have ‘their’ tonsils removed.  Years have passed and Hailey is now engaged to be married.  The wedding is scheduled for June 2011, and I’ve heard a rumor that Mr. Bear will be in attendance!  Guess I’ll need to sew a custom tux for the big guy.  Here’s a typical Day in the Life of Mr. Bear….

The center of the quilt showcases Hailey and Mr. Bear.
Such simple embroidery and so much fun to stitch!

 The two begin their day with a stroll to the park .
Not being much of a morning bear, Mr. Bear thinks a carriage ride suits him very well.

 Mr. Bear truly enjoys the wind whooshing through his fur as
Hailey makes the swing go higher and higher into the sky…………..

Until a sudden fall sends them rushing back home for bandages
and a dose of tonic!

Hailey knows Mr. Bear so very well.
Baking cookies always soothes his woes…..

Besides it’s great preparation for an afternoon tea party.
What fun this has turned out to be!

After tea comes Hailey’s favorite – indoor games!  Sometimes they put together a
favorite puzzle and they sometimes play hide ‘n seek. But today it’s BLOWING BUBBLES!
Hailey reminds Mr. Bear that there’s just nothing better than spending the whole day
with your bestest friend and of course
Mr. Bear agrees……

But everyone needs quiet time, just to wind down before calling it a day.
It’s story time for these sweet pals, and oh the stories they’ve shared…..

When the lights are dimmed and prayers are said, the friends decide once again
“ It’s REALLY been a good day”!

Good night Mr. Bear…….Good night Miss Hailey. 

Story telling is fun for us grandmothers!  If you’d like to view the entire quilt, click on this link http://www.friendfolks.com/store-detail.php?ID=688
And, if you decide to order our pattern, please send a photo of your own Mr. Bear quilt to share with all our friends!

Blessings, Tricia

When I saw this new Dolly Dress fabric at market I began to dream of  the quilt I’d make. Aren’t quilting dreams so much fun? I changed course three times before settling on the design for this cutie.  Once the plan became final, it didn’t take long at all to complete the project.

Why of course, it’s a Turning Twenty® quilt! Did you expect anything else from me?

I pulled from my Lakehouse stash of yellows and reds for accents and border. I used the two different Dolly Dress panels, fussy cutting the dresses and machine blanket stitching them onto yellow backgrounds with RED thread.

The Cribbs ladies love red & yellow together. Our daughter, Michelle, has an absolutely delightful red & butter master bedroom. I’ll post pictures here someday.

But this quilt is just for ME! It will be so cute hanging on the buttery yellow wall just behind my sewing area when my new studio is finished next spring. 

Turning Twenty Red & Butter Doll Dress Quilt

By now you all know how I love fantastic looking quilts, but they simply must be quick and easy.  The pattern I used  is in my newest Turning Twenty book, it’s called Button Up Buttercup. I added red rickrack, some really big red buttons, and lots of tiny red buttons for embellishment.

The Lakehouse fabrics are from the new Dolly Dress collection and some from Lakehouse past collections. One thing I love about Holly’s fabrics is how well they blend from one collection to the next. I collect Lakehouse fabrics as they become available, so there is always a great quilt just over the horizon.

If you’d like to purchase my newest book, click on this link Turning Twenty Slapplique 

Key “Dolly Dress Blog” in the Special Instructions section of the store check out page and we will provide FREE shipping!  (free shipping applies only to orders shipped within the USA)

When you place your order, select First Class Mail as your shipping option.

The amount for postage WILL appear on your order form.
We will deduct the postage amount before your card is actually charged.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
May the New Year bring blessings beyond measure, more than your heart ever hoped for.

Tricia, Gary & Scott

This is a huge 8 gallon jar that sits in the center of my kitchen table.

Things are sure different now, do you know even ten people who would replace a missing button rather than just buy a new shirt?  So when I see stray buttons that go unclaimed I bring them home, clean them up, and put them on display.  My button jars serve as a reminder to me that the tiniest thing can be used to ‘hold it all together’.  Surprising when you think about it, huh?

Antique jar of buttons (next to our wedding picture) on top of a cabinet.

Antique button jar in my bunny bathroom.

Old coffee jar - again in my bunny bathroom.

Union Suit button pin sitting on top of old coffee jar.

Vintage bird waterer filled with buttons - yes! on the back of the toilet (in my bunny bathroom)!!

Fat Belly Button Jar in the center of our family room table.

Antique pharmacy apothecary filled with buttons.

Water dispenser - spigot does not drip buttons

My favortie Beehive jar is almost full now!

Button jar hidden with other collectibles in stacked cubes.

Baby dress buttons, military buttons, and the big black buttons from Grandma’s church dresses. Rhinestone buttons from a fine Easter bonnet, and simple wooden buttons from granny’s field bonnet. Pearl buttons from silk gloves, and metal buttons from grandpa’s overalls. Buttons just remind me of all the times when something was about to fall apart, but someone rushed in with just the right button to help hold it all together again.

Assorted button jars on my stacked cubes.

Heart pin filled with white and pearl buttons hand sewn by mama.

I just love BUTTONS! 

We were fortunate to be there on the same day they have their monthly gathering and got to view their Show & Tell.  Quilters from all around the area showed off their current works.  I asked permission to snap a few pictures for you to see.  I wish I had thought to write down each ladies name to go with her picture, and we met so many nice ladies…but I guess we’ll just have to call them the Gifted Quilters – I know you’ll agree. 

This first photo is a lovely lady and her Turning Twenty around the Block quilt.  She not only used our Turning Twenty pattern, but the stitcheries are from our Love Covers book!  Isn’t it pretty?

The lady holding this quilt is the talented quilt maker.

The next two were made by the same quilt maker.  She used a pattern from our Turning Twenty Just Got Better book to make the same quilt in very similar color ways.  What an outstanding example of how fabric choices really make the quilt!

Turning Twenty Just Got Better

The quilt maker is shown here in the red plaid shirt. I found out that she and I have the same ’favorite color’ — RED!

Turning Twenty Just Got Better

This next quilt took my breath away! What a great surprise when the quilt maker unfolded her smashing quilt made from the Monster Machines fabric collection that I designed for Northcott Fabrics.  Her quilt was SO cute!  If you’d like to order any of this fabric, this link will take you to Monster Machines on our website.

MONSTER MACHINES fabric by Tricia Cribbs - whoo hoo!!

This next photo is the last one I’m posting for today. But I’ve got lots more Show & Tell from The Flying Needle so come back soon!

I was excited to provide a door prize for the day.  I prepared a 20 fat quarter kit to make a Snowman Turning Twenty Quilt.  The lucky lady holding the package was our winner, that’s Anne in the center, and me on the right.  What a fun day!    It’s late here tonight and I’m pooped, but I promised to post more of these in a couple of days. 

And We Have A Winner!

I think I’ll catch on to this blogging thing pretty quick.  It seems like I’m always a slow starter.                     Blessings, Tricia

Gary and I are headed to Quilt Market in Houston tomorrow and will return on October 14.  At that time, I’m determined to learn how to post pics and keep a blog going.  Hopefully it will be interesting enough to keep you coming back to see what’s new around here.  I’ve got lots to share in the coming months – my grandkids say there’s nothing to it.  So I guess the first thing I’ll share will be a pictorial report from Houston!  See you soon.  Blessings, Tricia