Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Best Laid Plans

I'd been trying to get into my sewing room for days now. But errands, appointments, oil changes, groceries, cleaning projects--the list is endless, as you know--had all conspired against me. So it was with great determination that I called my friend Anne on Tuesday night and asked her to come over and sew with me the next day. I knew that if Anne was here, I would be committed to sewing the entire day! We would do an all-day sew-a-thon! I wouldn't answer the phone or clean anything--I would sit down with Anne and sew for eight hours straight. It was gonna be great. Anne would be over by 9 a.m. Wednesday morning and we would sew straight through until 5:00 p.m. Whoo hoo! I would finish quilting the border on my Kisses quilt! I would finish quilting my UFO Friday flower wallhangings! Perhaps I could start on one of those skirts in my new skirt book!
On the set of Simply Quilts, with Alex and producers
Alas. It was not meant to be. Unbeknownst to me, while I was sleeping, my Simply Quilts episode re-ran. I didn't know it was going to re-run (no, no one lets you know) and it aired across the U.S.A. during my middle-of-the-night. This morning, right before my sew-a-thon was to commence--I opened my inbox to an avalanche of pattern orders!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE pattern orders. Well, except for the bow part, as you know. But I LOVE pattern orders! It's so exciting that someone is actually reproducing something I designed in Australia or Germany or Tilden, Nebraska! Thank you all so much for your orders--I'll tie bows for you any day! And thanks for all the pictures you send of your completed quilts. They make my day.

Unfortunately, though, instead of working on my quilts or a skirt during my sew-a-thon day, I worked on this:

These were just the orders that came in before noon! Afternoon brought a whole new batch of orders. And as quilters across the USA finally manage to watch the Simply Quilts episodes they taped during the week, more orders will be rolling in, especially this weekend.

The Simply Quilts show is phenomenal. Even though they stopped producing it, the reruns are still being watched and loved by quilters everywhere. We filmed that episode five long years ago, even before I wrote my second book! And yet every time it airs, I get a walloping batch of orders from all over the U.S.

If you haven't seen my slideshow of the filming, you really should click here or on the Flickr link on my sidebar and see some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. All the pictures were taken by my sister, Jane Ann Munroe.

The experience itself? I'm still recovering. When I left the studio that day, I felt like I had been run over by a train. It was all very intense and I felt entirely out of my league, quilt-wise. But I survived, and I'm glad I did it, even though I can't watch it without cringing! Alex Anderson was such a sweetheart--I think the world of that woman.

So my sewing day with Anne didn't exactly turn out like I had envisioned it, but that's okay. Anne got some sewing done while I tied bows and stuffed envelopes. Remember this picture from last week of Anne trying to figure out her Japanese Puzzle quilt?

I'm happy to say that she got it together and added a border:
and she'll be quilting it any day. I, on the other hand, might be tying bows all week. But that's okay. You're totally worth it. But TOMORROW, I am DEFINITELY going to SEW. And tie some bows. But mostly sew. I hope.

19 comments:

Joan J said...

I had to go back and read your previous posting about the bows. Made me LOL. I have this saying -- "Never do something once you don't want to do over and over again." I apply it to so many things in life (mostly to do with my kids when they were young and now my grandson)...and it seems to apply to your bows! Sorry it's too late though! Just try and picture the days you weren't tying any bows at all :)

CONNIE W said...

Well I'm glad the show still does re-run in spite of the fact that when it does you're stuck with the bows. ;)

Enjoyed the photos. Would have to agree that tossing one's cookies while filming whould have added a very dorky element to the taping...glad you were able to refrain from that one.

I'm gonna' have to mosey over and take a look at your patterns myself.

Have a good sewing day when you do manage to squeeze it in. :-D

Mom IsAmagpie said...

I love that show! So does Thing 2, she think watching the process of "pretty fabrics" is so cool. I'm glad you got a ton of orders in, even with the bows.
The evil part of me mwah, haha, is excited to know you are not some masterful quilting machine. That vision of you not needing sleep due to the power of thread, fabric and inspiration is now replaced with you sleeping, and having to grab a latte. Very comforting.
Hope you have a great weekend bows and all.

Suzy said...

I'm glad the show re-ran. Now that I actually "know" you, it was fun to see you on the show. You did great! Congrats on all those new orders! I feel for you on tying all those little bows. LOL! :o)

SandyQuilts said...

How exciting to have your mailbox full ... I hope it continues to flow in. I missed the re-run. Happy Quilting.

Sally said...

Yeah, for the orders; Boo, for the bows! I simply do NOT understand why HGTV quit doing that show. And they've taken Knitty Gritty off, as well. They must have a bunch of men running the station (sorry, Herman). Sorry you didn't get any sewing done. Will hold out good thoughts for a day filled with the sounds of your machine going full-blast.

Anonymous said...

I love your description of everything in your day, and hearing how more orders will come in over the weekend from those of us who tape the show and watch later. (that would be me!) haha.

Keep on having fun!

Unknown said...

First, could you please tell Anne that her Japanese Puzzle looks fantastic? Thank you.

Second, just so you know, I didn't untie my bow. I broke the plastic bag around it, because I know you worked hard on the bow, and I wanted to preserve your work. ;)

And third, thank you for sharing the photos of your filming day. That was really fun to see.

Hugs,
Melinda

qusic said...

greetings to busy Ann, I love her quilt. and hope for you that you will find a bow tier which will work for pocket money and get your orders out while you enjoy a sewing day. I know that's an illusion but dreams are totally allowed:)

SuBee said...

That show made me a Lisa fan when it first aired; now when I read your blog I can "hear" you talking! (eewww -- creepy much?) I totally sympathise with the post TV taping coma - I'm always a wet noodle afterwards. I don't know how the pros do it. Oh - "pros" - I get it!!

susan said...

i am glad to hear you are okay...i was beginning to wonder. yeah...selling patterns is a real bitch huh? :-) i talked with candace last night and we talked about you. she is doing well on her farm in mississippi. when we go to austin in september i am going to see if we can take a easterly course before we head back up north so we can spend at least one day with her.
as for the end of simply quilts...i really like the "quilt show". okay, you do have to pay for it, seems to be the new thing these days, but they have really good guests and you get to watch the program for a year and also have access to the older series. ricky timms cracks me up and for his sidekick bart.....
it snowed again yesterday but it is 22 and the sun is out. only bummer...the snow is melting on the highways...snow still up to grassy shoulder which is now exposed so the stupid dear stand on the edge of the highway to get to what little grass there is. i guess this is a really scary time to drive...coming home from my quilt group i saw a small gang of 6 and it was pretty creepy

Tine said...

Oh! I was looking forward to seeing some of your sewing ;-) But it's not bad to have something to look forward to, and I promise you, when I get around to ordering patterns from you, they don't have to have bows on them :-)

Under the Lychee Tree said...

That's great they aired your show again. I guess you are a real celluloid queen just think they might show it 10 years from now!

Anonymous said...

Lisa!!! It was so fun to see you on Simply Quilts. You are such a stitch!! I thought Alex was going to faint when you wanted to leave your gnarly snarly thread blob. I LOL!!! Wish I had taped the show.

Jenna said...

I'm so mad I missed the show! I always try to watch it, but it's on at 7:00 am and I'm usually making breakfast. I would never have started quilting if it weren't for Simply Quilts. I wish they still made new shows. How exciting that you got to be on the show.

Salem Stitcher said...

I hate I missed your show but...I never get to see Simply Quilts. Work gets in the way of so many things...

I did enjoy your photos of the filming. Your captions cracked me up! (...still not vomiting...HAHAHAHA!)

Vicki said...

OK, I tape Simply Quilts every day, so I can watch the episodes when I get time. I'm going to go look for the one you are on. Sounds like it is probably yesterday's. And as for the bows, I wish I was your neighbor, I'd come over and help tie them with you. (Yep, I'm anal and love doing silly things like that!) I also took the like to you post delivering to the quilt shop on hte island. I was lucky enought to visit there a few years ago. Your posts always bring back so many memories. Thank you so much!!!

Val said...

I had no idea that Simply Quilts was reruns. I tape it every day and watch it when I can. I love that show. I enjoyed my visit with you.

Adrian said...

Lisa,
My heart bleeds for you, and I'm shedding a little tear as I type this not. You poor thing, having to sell so many plans. What a burden it must be to decide what to do with all that extra cash!

My suggestion is that you give the money to the cute little bloke who bunks with you.

(p.s. please don't tell anyone that an Ozzie bloke reads your blog)

Adrian