Happy Anniversary Girlfriends! MUSICA
Today is the day we’re going to begin our June celebration for two wonderful events ~ It was June 11, 2009 that we started connecting with our wonderful Friends on Facebook. Two years 
later, on June 9, 2011, the Blog went live (still quiver when I think about it) and our connection to our Girlfriends began! That’s pretty good! But it makes me wonder, why June? I didn’t plan it that way, in fact I was kind of surprised to see how close the dates were. Maybe we were inspired because it’s such a pretty month. I’ll tell you one thing, it smells like heaven here on the island. The Beauty Bush and the Mock Orange are in bloom (to name just two), I picked my first four strawberries today and look at the foxgloves!
Magic.♥ One more reason to celebrate.
Three years ago, when I first started blogging I had NO idea how it would go ~ “going live” was so scary! I wondered how people would find me, and if they would even come. I knew how I wished it would go and tried my best to make it something 
everyone would like, hoping everyone liked dishtowels, dishes, and old movies as much as me! Any of you with a blog knows exactly what I’m talking about. Saying to yourself as you are writing a post or putting something up on Facebook, “I hope they like this!” then letting the chips fall where they may! Scary! And first time you’re “liked!” Or, then, to be “shared!” How wonderful it is to get your first comment! How amazing to have your first give-away! And that excitement and amazement really hasn’t gone away. Traveling to England together put the frosting on the cake. I loved it so much, we’ll definitely do it again (yes we will!). I just wish there were more hours in the day for blogging. Such a creative way to connect with kindred spirits. So how do we celebrate? Easy: By saying “Thank You” to everyone who helps to make this dream come true. Which would be YOU, thank you very much.♥
As many of you know, it has been my dream for years, way before there was any such thing as a blog or even the Internet, that the people who’ve written me such wonderful personal 
letters (since 1987 when my first book came out and I started getting mail), could meet each other. The letters were so nice, so full of love, I always thought it would cheer people up to know that despite what we see and hear on the news, the world is filled with wonderful home-loving, creative, family-adoring people, in all countries, all parts of the world, and even in countries where we might think our “enemies” live.
Even there, the cities and towns are filled with regular tea-drinking, flower-growing, music-loving, tender-hearted, 
soup-making, peace-loving kinds of people just like you and me. You just don’t hear that much from them because the other kind are so obnoxious and loud. But there are many more of our kind of person in this world than of the obnoxious ones. Truly. No matter how different we may look from each other on the outside. And we need to band together in our appreciation for beauty and a gentle way of life. It must be scary to live in a land where the maniacs have the keys to the castle. You would probably feel trapped and worried about your children all the time. Let’s pray for them, and then give them this 
place, and each other, to meet and celebrate the little things that make life sweet ~ and especially, all the ways we are so very much alike. They like apples, we like apples. They like gorgeous blue tablecloths ~ we like gorgeous blue tablecloths. They like picnics and the sounds of nature and going barefoot, and we do too! They like starry nights and big moons and us too! It’s an amazingly wonderful beautiful world.
Imagine all the people, living life in peace ~ You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one . . .
So, to celebrate all of this and all of us, we are having not One, not even Two, but Three Give-aways in this blog post, and this contest is open to everyone everywhere on the planet! If someone in a faraway land is chosen in this drawing, we will mail their package to wherever they would like it to go. Because it is true, we are the world. What the Internet has brought has surpassed my wildest dreams . . . I thought it would be good, but I didn’t know it would be this good! So here we go, let’s start off with some inspiration! Mas Musica? Frank? Oui!♥
You should probably get a cup of tea or something cold to drink . . . this could be a long one! The inspiration for this giveaway came from a request in a Girlfriend’s comment a couple of months back ~ she asked, “Could we see more of your quilt collection.” Oh boy, yes, you can! Here we go!
From the very first quilt I got, which happens to be the one my Great Grandma made for my Grandma who then gave it to me, it’s always been the colors. I love the old-fashioned fabrics, the soft pastels and simple patterns and I love that they used lots of white. These are the colors that inspired my watercolors.
A little worn, a little faded, and never signed. Just so lovely and artistic, and humble and oh, if they could talk. You know they were made by creative women, and often in groups. Could we please listen in on one of those conversations, oh dearest back-in-time genie?
All those tiny little hand-made stitches. I have so much appreciation for this art.
It’s easy to relate to the hearts that made them.
I made a few quilts when I was young, never as beautiful as this one, but then I learned to paint, so I painted quilts instead, and I learned to go to antique stores and there I found old quilts . . . which I’ve collected for years . . . now I drape them over sofas . . .
It’s not a huge collection, and I don’t have all the scientific information on them, I just like to drape them on bedroom chairs . . .
at the ends of the beds . . . so I can look at them and be charmed and feel happy.
I like them in the kitchen in the winter, folded over the back of a chair, even though it really doesn’t make any sense, I just like to look at them . . .
At one time I had a “Heart of the Home” store on the Central Coast of California where I sold a few vintage quilts whenever I could find them (or part with them). These were in a pile in a corner of the store, they weren’t for sale, only for inspiration, so my shopper Girlfriends could see how pretty a stack of quilts can be and begin the search to get a stack for themselves.
From the beginning, my watercolors were influenced by the beauty and the colors of these quilts. I painted what I loved. I don’t make stitches so much anymore, I paint them.
You can kind of see quilt-influence in the things I’ve made in the past . . . everything feels a little like a 1930’s quilt.
The other big influence on my watercolors was the dish variation of the quilt. To me quilts and dishes have everything in common: home, practicality, love, beauty, history, delicacy and most of all, that color again. They also reach out when I walk by at a flea market, take my hand and say right out loud, I’m going home with you. And I say, thank you, I could not agree more.
I love painting my own rendition of pattern ~
Almost as much as I love finding and collecting old dishes…
You see? Dishes ↑ and Quilt fabric ↓ ~ See the resemblance? Kissing cousins.
Especially when it’s me choosing the colors.
This is fabric from my long extinct “Tea Party” Collection of fabric.
And lots more than quilts was made from those designs. These were made at the wonderful embroidery studio at Crabapple Hill. They sell the great old-fashioned embroidery patterns you see here and in the photo before this one and lots more.♥
Even this Tea Tin is a “sub-unit” (made that up, like it) from the design of quilt fabric.
And because of the fact that all of this fabric is now gone from the market place, and there’s no more available anywhere . . . except right here in my hot little hands, the First Give-away turns out to be everything you see here . . . except of course Jack. He is not included. He is a sub-unit of me.
I hope everyone likes yellow, because the words “everything is included” means this bolt of several yards of “Honeybee Yellow” fabric.
In addition, I found a yard (or maybe a little more) of each of these three fabrics, from my “Sweet Baby” collection, the dot, the check and the lambs with the hearts. In they go!
And yes, “everything” includes a complete set of the “Tea Party” Collection in “Little Fat Quarters.”
Little Fat quarters and the bolt of bees (and the little lambs), and also a gift card from me to the winner of the drawing with love.
You can see better some of the fabrics in the pile of Fat Quarters. I hope someone out there can put them to good use! OK, so that is Giveaway # 1! This officially puts us on . . .
. . .’cause here comes the rest of the Give-aways!
Next? OK, this is Give-away number #2. Again, the cat is not included (but try taking a picture without him in it!). What these are are the unbound proofs for our brand new 2015 Wall and Mini Calendars ~ you can’t hang them, but they’re just too nice to throw away. The color is beautiful, they’re on heavy paper so I thought possibly, someone would like these, maybe to do some scrapbooking with?
Here is Jack with the Mini Calendar, you can see, the pages aren’t hooked together . . . every time I try to take a picture, he jumps into the middle of it, he makes me laugh. Kissing occurs.
But here’s more of the inside of the Mini Calendar — lots of bookmark-making or card-making possibilities here too! Knowing you, there are a 1000 possibilities!
And here’s some of the art from the Wall Calendar. Both calendars have been approved and the finished products should be arriving at the Studio any day now. So this is Give-Away #2, both of these brand new calendars, and both signed.
(Oh, don’t worry, in case you were, the big Blotter Calendar is still on schedule for shipping in late August.)
And Now, Number Three Give-away to celebrate our FOSB Girls and our Blog Girlfriends, this 53″ x 74″ quilt made with my “Martha’s Vineyard” Collection of fabrics, also quite extinct and no longer available (except for today, here).
The pattern is called “Hearts and Flowers” ~ I designed it and it was made and presented to me by the fabric manufacturer.
And I signed it with the year it was made . . . this little quilt is behind door #3 of our Drawing. I hope one of these doors suits your fancy!
And FYI, we still do have a few bits and pieces of some of the fabric collections, still have a few patterns for aprons, pillowcases, and appliqued dishtowels, many of which are free (especially our really cute gored apron). Just go HERE.
Girl Kitty thinks it’s all just lovely. She likes quilts too.
One more rather exciting thing! My AUTUMN book went to the printer yesterday! I’m so very proud to announce that the Tenth 
Anniversary Edition of AUTUMN from the Heart of the Home will be in stores by October first! Autumn will be published in the USA by Spring Street Publishing, and just so you know, this new edition is exactly like the first edition in every way except this one comes complete with a ribbon bookmark and will have a different publisher. (We weren’t completely in charge of the ribbon the last time, this time we are, so voila, we get one!)
All my most favorite recipes and most inspiring ideas for Autumn fun, both indoors and out, are there. Pumpkin Cheesecake! Corn Pudding!
Including crafts and sewing, because Autumn is the most creative time of the year, all that good Back-to-School energy never goes away! First whiff of September and I want to make something! And Yes, we are having a Pre-sale for the book, beginning TODAY. 
We have ordered an early shipment of books to be sent to the studio just for our Girlfriends. We always seem to run out of everything (no matter how carefully we plan), it seems to be our M.O. but if you have ordered a book in our web store, you are guaranteed to get it the minute they come in, before we begin shipping to the bookstores and Amazon. Although the publication date is October first, we will start shipping your books by the middle of August and maybe even sooner if we get lucky! Perfect timing, because by then, we are going to be yearning for those fall breezes. (But not yet.)
And one more thing, if you are the kind of person who likes to do their Christmas Shopping early, here is a combination that will give you something to give away and something to keep, a win-win. To celebrate our Anniversaries, we’ve bundled the two books for a very special, limited-offer, thank-you-for-being-here price.♥
You all know how to enter the drawing ~ it’s easy, just leave a short comment below and in a few days we’ll draw names. (For those to whom the blog is mailed, you should click here www.162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/, scroll to the bottom of the post, look for the tiny letters that say, “comment” ~ click there and leave your comment. I don’t know why, but the senders of the email blogs do not include a way to leave a comment.)
I will warn Vanna to exercise a bit more this week, clear her head, get that arm pumped ~ she has a big job choosing three winners! The first name chosen will win prize number one (fabric bundles) the second name chosen will get the calendars, and the third will have the signed quilt. And I’ll email the winners and let them know the minute I know.
I’m going back to the garden. I’m reading Gladys Taber in preparation for next week! Very exciting! Makes for a very nice life, reading this book, and smelling the flowers. Hope the same for you. Love you, Girlfriends. Happy Anniversary! XOXO
Congrats on the blog anniversary, Susan. And–THANK YOU!!! You are such a blessing to my life!!! OMG!! I loooove the quilting fabric. That is absolutely beautiful! I would be torn between making something wonderful out of it or just keeping the adorable little bundle!!
Yay! You’re my first comment, and you liked it! Thank you Amy!
So excited!!! I’ve been watching for the new post!! Can’t wait to order every 2015 calendar also. They look beautiful!!!!!
Should be in soon now!
I am a quilt fan.a.tic, and I loved vicariously enjoying your collection. I would die for your fabric; most of all, that amazing quilt would be an ever so perfect addition to my collection! I loved your store in Arroyo Grande, sad day for me when it closed 🙁
Me too! Happy to see you here Christy!
Congrats on the blog anniversary! And what a beautiful quilt collection, thanks for sharing it! 🙂
Thanks Margo!
Hi Susan, I Just finished major house cleaning for my nephew’s graduation. Your blog and a glass of ice treat are my reward for getting my work done. It’s an exciting time of year for families and friends. Here’s to happy celebrations. Soon life will return to a slower pace and there will be time to sit by the lake and hand stitch. It would be delightful to use your fabric. You are an inspiration. I would love to join you for the friends of Gladys Taber event, but alas, I found out about it too lake. Wishing everyone there great joy! Kay
Happy Graduation Kay, such a happy occasion!
Susan – you are just too good to us! Such wonderful items to celebrate the anniversaries. And as soon as I finish this, I am ordering Autumn from the Heart of the Home. I have mourned over not having that book for a long time – I am so excited. Have a wonderful weekend, Susan in Atlanta
How wonderful Susan, thank you!
wow!!!! and, as usual, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t comment toooooo much right now…have to make a salad-supper, using the FIRST RADISHES from our veggie-garden….FIRST VEGGIE GARDEN as well !!!! mmmm. but, it’s ok, cause I’m always told I “go on and on” tooooo much!!!! ha, I say!!!!! this is a very wonderful “visit”, Susan….soooooo, i’ll say “thank you! oh! thank you….for being you!!!!!” and I’m hoping to win one of your MOST GENEROUS GIFTS!!!!!!! what a wonderful treat that would be!!!!! pleeeeeeeeez, pick me—pick me!!!!!! meanwhile, after enjoying our radish-salad-supper….i’ll be back here to re-read, and enjoy even more!!!! thank you! have a great weekend!!!! all love to you.
First radishes and first garden. That’s a red letter day! xoxo Chris!
This is an exciting Give-a-Way………I can see Beautiful
tea towels that I could sew with your treasured fabric.
Framed pictures of your “calendar” pages. I have my
fingers crossed I will win. Thank you Susan~ Jody xox
I hope you do Jody!
I think that this is my favorite blog post EVER! You have included everything that I love… Fabric, dishes, your books, and most, most, most importantly QUILTS!
I’m going right now to order my Autumn book… Have a fantastic weekend girlfriends! I will. My four Grandchildren are on their way to spend the weekend with me!
Fabulous Michelle, enjoy!
So fun for you (from the previous post) to be walking along and see a painting of your home in a shop window. Congratulations on anniversaries of facebook and blog – they bring joy to so many.
Including me!
Oh Susan! What a terrific girlfriend you are – the prizes are amazing! Thank you ever so much for a chance to win.
P.S. So excited about your Autumn book – if I don’t win I will be buying one for sure!
I am a quilter! I must take a chance on that lovely fabric or any other SB anything. Your newsletter always inspires me to take a moment and enjoy the beauty around me. Thank you.
What a fun give-away! I enjoyed reading about your inspirations! Congratulations on your anniversary!
Congratulations Susan, you are Awesome! Silly Happy, Happy that is the way I am after reading your blog today , What a gift! June is such a special month if I say so, the 9th is my birthday and I am like a kid waiting for the Day, going away for the weekend but Monday will be home making your Polenta cake, YUMM, cannot wait. Again thank you for making our worlds so much special XOXOXO
Happy Birthday Patricia!
Happy, happy blogiversary! Or maybe it should be to your lucky readers. Your site is always a lovely place to spend some time. Thanks so much!
Congratulations on your “blogaversary”! Thank you for sharing your photos and words – they truly are inspirational and brighten my day. Your giveaways are so generous, I hope Vanna picks me!
Oh My!! What a fabulous give-a-way!! I am so giddy with excitement!! Happy Happy Anniversary!! Love to you!
Wow! In the craziness of still moving back into my apartment, and the rehab/remodel of the building, I missed a blog. So I got to visit NYC with you and return to your home all in one big lovely read today. Workmen didn’t show up today, so a lovely treat: peace and quiet and an opportunity to relax and enjoy your blog! And enjoy I did. NYC was spectacular! And kitties waiting behind the screens in the door looking utterly abandoned is priceless. You have such a plethora of beautiful things. All the quilts and embroidered things and lovely fabrics reminds me of home where I grew up, where every pillowcase had embroidery or crocheted trim and there were dresser scarfs and table cloths. Fabrics soften a living space, absorb sound, keep things pretty and quiet. I luv all my little things, but am having to pare down a bit, since the men who redesigned the building “don’t get it.” The building was built in 1924 and has been ‘modernized.’ No more built in storage! On the bright side, it is clean and new electricity and plumbing and much healthier than it was. So long as I have my breezes and lovely view; although it’s lost some of it’s former ‘screened in porch’ feel. However, truly, I’m not complaining. It will be so wonderful, a year from now, when I’m all settled and nestled in again. Meanwhile, what a pleasure to visit your lovely home! I’m so glad you do this blog. It’s another one of life’s wonderful pleasures/treasures.
Happy Anniversaries dear Susan!… June is certainly the month for them… I just celebrated my 5 year blog anniversary, and even better than that, my 37th anniversary with MY Jack (who is not a cat, but pretty darn cute nevertheless!)… I love how Jack jumps into all of the photos!… (Jack the kitty, not my Jack, tee hee hee)… and so nice to see Girl Kitty too on her stack of quilts… I LOVE all of your beautiful quilts in your collection… I am blessed to have two that my great~grandmother made well over 100 years ago… and I am blessed to own your tea tin!… and yes, it reminds me of quilt colors too!… today is an anniversary also of a different sort… 70 years ago today my daddy, along with thousands of others, arrived at Normandy… I want to salute all of our wonderful veterans past and present on this day… especially my daddy… who is in Heaven now, and I believe is sharing some memories and a shot of whiskey with his comrades… hope you do not mind that I mentioned this anniversary as well as my daddy was a Colonel in the US Army and I am so very proud of him… I would love a chance to win any one of your beautiful gifts… Happy June to you dear Susan, xoxo Julie Marie
Susan I was one of the lucky ones who visited your store in San Luis O. I spent hours that day shopping in your store because I was afraid I would not be able to come back. I just loved it!
Thanks for everything…with love from my home to yours❤️
Any of the prizes would be grand! But I’m a big believer in 3rd time’s a charm, so I’m hoping for door #3! If I win, you can even save postage and bring it to the the GT Reunion. Thanks, dear heart! ☺ ♡☺♡ ☺♡
Happy anniversary! I love reading your blog (and cooking from your books, I just acquired another one at a lovely book sale!).
Thank you for having fun giveaways, too – seeing the photos of everything is so much fun. Gorgeous fabrics! I, ahem, just used some lovely green/pink floral to to braid up my horse’s tail – she did look very cute and summery.
Thank you Susan, you are Incredible…Congratulations on your 5 Year Anniversary. We are blessed beyond measure that you share your talent with others. Keep inspiring.
Congratulations to you (and to us) on your anniversaries!
Those fabrics are so cheerful and inspiring. Just like you!
How beautiful and thank you, Susan! Coming to your blog is like a trip home even though I’m both in and from Florida. The picture of our kitty with the little tongue stuck out makes me smile every time I scroll up….painting idea maybe 😉
Happy Anniversary! I love your blog and always look forward to your new posts. It’s always filled with beautiful images, like your lovely quilt collection. It always makes me smile to see Jack too.
How marvelous to celebrate five years by sweetening the lives of your fans! Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and artist’s soul. You have been adding cheer to my life for more than five years, Susan! I am so glad I discovered you. May you have many many more joy-filled years!
Happy Blog Anniversary! LOVE this post! Everything in it makes me sigh. Especially the kitty!
Sweet Sue! Thank you for sharing your quilt collection with us. I have a small collection of quilts made by my husband’s grandmother, and really appreciate all of the work and love that goes into each one. Please include me in your drawing. I would be pleased to win any of the prizes you are offering. And congratulations on the anniversary of your blog. xoxoxo Sherry
Susan, I have loved your art for a long time. I was given one of your books back in ’95 and enjoyed your artwork in Country Living magazine. Then recently found your site and blog and FB page. So Happy Anniversary!
Julie
You are such a darling with such a generous heart! I’d swoooon for any of the above, but, truth is, I love wallowing in your world any old day. Hope it’s as glorious in Vineyard Haven as it is in Middle Indiana today. I came in “for a spell,” and now heading back out. Spraying the roses, moving a few plants, fussing and tucking and clipping. And then stopping over the tomatoes for a little pep talk. Dinner on the back porch tonight. XO!
I love reading your blog and I’m so excited about all of your give-a-ways.
Thanks!
wow! first happy happy anniversary! now my beating fast. I try not to drool. your give away is awesome. i wanna win but I know there will be thousands to choose from…so I ‘ll just dream about it for a while. no harm in that, right? as always your art inspires. have a wonderful weekend !
Happy Anniversary, Susan! Your blog is inspiring and lovely as well. The quilts, well, they just make me happy. So lovely, who wouldn’t want to snuggle up in one of those beauties. Wishing you many more blogging days !!!!
Oh my gosh! What wonderful giveaways! I loved seeing the abundance of yellow in the fabrics! When I was young I was never partial to yellow. But now I just can’t get enough of it. I can’t wait to see your calendars. Happy anniversary!
Happy Blogiversary! I always enjoy your lovely and entertaining blog posts! Thank you for your generous Anniversary giveaway! I’m crossing my fingers!
How exciting! A five year anniversary AND a book on the way!( I must go and preorder!!!!)
I am also very envious of your Gladys Taber experience, best wishes for a great time, Stillmeadow almost seems like home now, what a wonderful place!
All the giveaways are truly wonderful ( Jack not included
So many, many lovely things. Wrapping up with a quilt always seems like a hug.
Wow such nice gifts! Thank you !
Dear Susan, I am so glad I found you 2 years ago!!! You make life so much brighter!! I had the pleasure of meeting you in Wilmington, OH at your book signing, such a wonderful treat!! Your quilting materials are beautiful, I would love to learn how to quilt!!! Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives!! Fondly, Kim DeMichele, Dublin, OH
Any of these would be better than the lottery. You are simply amazing!
Susan, you have outdone yourself! I’m an old, old quilter from way back when and do the traditional patterns with lots of quilting too. I would be over the moon to win your fabrics ( or anything else) and they would go into more than a few heirloom quilts. Have a fantastic time at the reunion with all the Glady Gals you’re going to meet. You will love them and I know they already love you. Wish I could be there this year too.
Susan, you are so generous! Beautiful gifts to give away. Happy anniversary to you and I can’t thank you enough for your life giving blog. You have no idea how much joy you have added to my life especially during some very difficult times. Your talent and most of all, your great big heart have been grace. The girlfriends are lovely too. Thank your dad and Joe for being a wonderful part of this blog. Wouldn’t be the same without them. Congratulations on all your success! Can’t wait to hear of your Gladys Taber adventures!
well, now, being the quilt and fabric lover that I am, and seeing as how I also love your fabric designs in particular, not to mention your art! – how can I not cross everything and throw my name into the hat for this wonderful opportunity? ♥
Only problem is, it’s pretty hard to type with everything crossed, hahaha!!! 😀
Your whole day of work was well worth it, another lovely blog. I have been working in the yard and garden all day, what a treat to sit down to after my luxurious bath. May we girlfriends have many more anniversary celebrations together as we share and cultivate all things ‘home and heart’.
Oh Susan, your posts thrill me, I wait anxiously for each one, they are just the best. I love seeing the world through your eyes, we share the same “visions”, but you remind me to slow down and notice the view! I would be thrilled to win any of these giveaways, but especially the fabric one…I’m a quilter, my favorite color is yellow and my home is FULL of all things sheep, so you can see why I’d love to have this give away!!!!
I very much enjoy your blog with the pictures, recipes, and CATS. I still have many of your
earlier books as well as the current one and savor them. Keep blogging, painting, writing, and
sharing your life with all of us. Oh, and by the way, I also collect Beatrix Potter figurines, but
have just the rabbits. They’re on my kitchen windowsill, too.
Perfect.
Hi Susan,
Happy blog and Facebook anniversary! So happy to get to celebrate with you. Love the quilting fabrics. You are oh so kind and generous with your gifts! Hope Lady Luck smiles for me. Hugz!!
I don’t know which makes me happier, the generous give aways or that your book will make a reappearance with a ribbon to top it off.
Congratulations. You and your blog have inspired me more than you will ever know.
As a child I was forced by my mother to sit in on her quilting bees. I would rather have been outside playing. In hindsight I realize it was a wonderful experience for me and I would love to go back and do things like that over again. I remember a lot of gossip going on too! 🙂 Thanks for the memories and Happy Anniversary!
Wow! Just Wow! I love all you say and do. It gives me chills ythat someone loves beautiful little thing like me.
One of the things I love so much about your books are your quilt drawings. Every one I see brings back so many memories of the quilts my grandmother made. She made and sold them during the depression, that was how she fed my mother and my uncle. They were masterpieces. Luckly I have several. One in particular she made for me when I was four. I still have it. Your drawings bring back such wonderful memories of her talent. Like you said if those quilts could talk!!
Thank you for very generous prizes. The real prize is receiving your blog, with all the quotes, illustrations, recipes. and creativity. It is very comfy and cozy to read. It is very uplifting on days I have sinking feelings. (That is what we say in the south.) I would love to win. Most of all I want to say thank you to you and Joe
for all you do to make my my days cheerful. Enjoy your day at Gladys Taber’s. I
have read and enjoyed her books through you.
“Sinking feelings” that’s so cute. xoxo
You’ve outdone yourself yet again. Beautiful work, incredibly generous giveaway. A true celebration for your accomplishments!
Cheers to many more,
Heather
Happy anniversary! Love it!
CONGRATS ON YOUR BLOG!
Always enjoy your posts+paintings>so special!
Wow! This is a giveaway to end all giveaways!!!!
Thanks so much ♥
Felicitations on your anniversaries! I am so thankful you took the leap and started your blog & Facebook page. It is always such a blessing to my day when there is a new entry and I am so looking forward to hearing all about your adventures at the Gladys Taber reunion! Crossing my fingers that Vanna will draw my name!
Please put my name is this most precious giveaway! Love you, S.B.!
Such an inspiring blog and your books are wonderful. I discovered them just when I reached the doldrums of homemaking and viola! – I am once again inspired. The prizes look wonderful – I do wish Jack was included! 🙂
I’m thinking on how to get him cloned! 🙂
Oh, I have loved you for such a long time. I love everything you write and the lovely things you create. Thanks for making my world a better place to be! I have many of your books and your cookbooks are so beautiful that even if I didn’t enjoy cooking, I would still enjoy seeing the beauty inside each one!
Your beautiful quilts are truly the heart of the home. Nothing says love and warmth and snuggle like a homemade, handmade quilt! Thanks, Susan!
Susan – you are so generous to all of us – seeing your quilts has inspired me to have my G. Grandmother’s quilt tops completed. I’ve carefully kept them in my cedar chest for many years, thinking “one day” I would get them quilted ( or learn to do it myself). Why am I not enjoying their beauty every day? Most of hers were made with just fabric scraps (sometimes of her old dresses and flour sacks) but made with love! And they are the same faded lovely colors – I can visualize them quilted ~ all fluffy and folded like your inspiration stacks! See…I’ve “won” already – Thank you for sharing! ~Cindy~
How LUCKY you are to have those, Cindy!
I have to say that the “Hearts and Flowers” quilt is one of the prettiest quilts I’ve ever seen! Many congratulations on the success of your blog—it’s just the best. I’m also reading Gladys Taber right now (The Book of Stillmeadow) and just can’t wait until the reunion—
Hope it’s a sunny day with bees and a breeze. But no matter, it will be wonderful!
Yes, I’m hoping for the same thing! I’m going to just close my eyes and feel the presence of Gladys, Eleanor (Jill), all the dogs and all the cats—I know them all so well from reading her fabulous books—-I’m just going to soak it all in. And I can’t wait to meet you—-i’ll be bringing my copy of “A Fine Romance” along for the ride. It will be a wonderful gathering of kindred spirits—I’m so excited!
Me too Eileen!
Happy Anniversary!!! 🙂 🙂 Quilts are just so LOVING. I have a few stacks from both my mom and dad’s side of the family and consider them one of my blessings. I’ve considered trying my hand at it – Yours are beautiful! And the heart shaped kitten is a perfect ending to the blog! 🙂
Congratulations on your Blogiverssary! And thank you so much for these lovely giveaways. The fabric would make for great backings on the quilts that I am making or my 9 FOSB Pen Pals, but I am secretly dreaming of that quilt. Either way, congratulations to whoever wins as they will have a treasured piece of you.<3 you Susan
You’ve been a part of my life for around 25 years, gal. This new-fangled social media stuff is just icing on the lavender polenta cake. You are in our hearts and our lives every day whether we hear from you or not and each of your blog entries is anticipated like a long, hand-written letter from a dear, sweet friend.
Thanks for the memories and happy anniversary, Susan.
From a kindred spirit,
Gin
“Icing on the lavender polenta cake!” Cute, Gin!
What beautiful pictures of all your quilts! I don’t quilt but I certainly appreciate all the work and creativity that goes into making a quilt. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us. I look forward to reading your blogs and feeling that all is right with the world. You are a true blessing to all of us.
I too am a collector and lover of quilts. A dear sister-in-law made a friendship quilt for me many years ago. She sent out squares to my friends and relatives to embroider on and then she put it all together with a print fabric . My husband even did a square as did my daughter who was about 12 at the time. Women from my sister-in-law’s church quilted it and I treasure the beauty, the friendships and the hard work involved in such a project. I agree that June is such a beautiful month and your description of the island as well as your quilts makes this a special blog.
Congratulations and thank you! I love your work Susan, and I hope some day soon you will be able to publish some of your earlier books. I do have your Autumn, Summer and Girlfriends books, but not the older ones. I think it is important to be reminded that there are mainly good and kind people in our world in spite of all we hear about on the nightly news. Thank you for that! Anne Frank had said something like that in her famous diary but much more eloquently than I, that people are basically good. Thank you, Susan, for all you do!
Yes she did. And coming from her, so young, and in such dire straits, it’s always touched my heart.
Although Jack would make such a tremendous prize for any kitty-loving soul, I can certainly understand why he is not included! No one could ever part with such a treasure once it’s captured. I recently was blessed by the addition of a “tuxedo” kitty to our household. He is an adorable spitfire named Ace, sporting a bow-tie “moustache” and three white paws and tummy, who was rescued by my son’s girlfriend when she found him alone in her garage. He was only about a week old at the time. I helped her bottle feed and care for him while she worked, and then she made a gift of him to me on Mother’s Day. What a sweet gift he is. A quilt for him to curl up on would be lovely, but just having him to call my own is the perfect gift. Good luck to all the girlfriends!
You lucky thing! Sounds just heavenly.
Wonderful post and I LOVE the fabric…you signed my Autumn book at Vroman’s in Pasadena 10 years ago!!! Where did the time go?
That is a very good question!
Oh, I hope I am picked first because I would love to have the fabric. I can imagine a wonderful quilt made from this goodness. Congratulations on your anniversary. I hope we will continue to hear from you for a long time.
I was so excited to find you on Facebook. Have long been a fan. My first book was the Christmas book. My favorite by far. I take it out every Christmas (and sometimes in between) to wander through. Love your blog and your love for quilts. By the way I just found you.
Perfect timing! So happy to have you here Pat!
Dearest Susan, Your blog, writing, photos, books, are all a source of great joy for me, a chance to escape to my dream life, and surround myself with beauty and joy. Thank you so much for all you share with me! Blessings & Peace, Shari Witt
Congratulations on your “anniversaries” and thank you for contributing so much “wonderful ness” to the world!
Susan this is a wonderful giveaway! I adore your fabric collections and have a small stash that I am slowly adding to when I happen to find some for sale. I plan to make quilts for my future children from it.
It’s a rainy day here in northern BC and I am making your French Onion Soup and scarpbooking using your scrapbook kits.
I love your books and they are my cozy place. Your words and recipes are very comforting! Thank you for everything you do.
I just adore your quilt collection. Thank you for sharing your home with us!
Much happiness to you!
Jennifer Seale
Susan, I love your blog and I am not sure how I came upon it but it is part of my life now! I check all the time for inspiration and a “”good feeling” about the things we both enjoy.
I am excited about your give away because I am a quilter. Like you I enjoy the look of a vintage style print with lots of white. These quilts always feel soft, fresh and charming. I would be thrilled to create a quilt with your fat quarters.
I just re read A Fine Romance. I want to rent a home in England and travel to some of the places you have written about? It’s on y list and I am going to make this dream come true.
You would love it so much Nancy .. it would be such an inspiration for your quilts too!
Susan, when I see a new post has been listed by you I SMILE. You make my day GIRL. How sweet of you to give us a chance to win your lovely prizes. I love your quilt collection – so pretty.
Love, love, love your blog, Susan! You have been a girlfriend of my heart for more years than I can remember. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us.
Peachy , my cat would love to slumber on any of the pieces! Congrats on the blog anniversary I look forward to each and every blog!
Oh boy, would I love to have door number one, two or three. Anything Susan Branch speaks Wonderment. I will ALWAYS be a fan. Love you so much!
Happy Anniversary to you and to us…my husband and I are celebrating 44 years of wedded bliss on this very day…June 6…today was a beautiful day in northern Michigan…just like June 6, 1970…our wedding day…I loved your blog as always…no strawberries here yet, but my bleeding hearts are blooming and I can see the first lilac blooms…happy happy day…xoxo…
The way I see it, we’re all winners here, whether or not Vanna happens to pick our name:) I’m re-reading Gladys, too…The Best of Stillmeadow is on my nightstand right now. See you next Saturday! Hugs
Hi Susan…THANK YOU for the years of smiles and inspiration. As always you are a generous gift elf, sharing such special items with your girlfriends. I must tell you that I have a giddy grin on my face and song in my heart when I see a new blog entry or facebook posting. Thank you so much!
Oh, my your quilts are so beautiful. I have started a small collection of your fabrics as I find them. Just love, love, love the prints. You are so sweet to share so much. Happy Anniversary to you, Joe, and Kitties.
Hi Susan! I am new to your blog but a long time admirer of your work. I loved the post and I love the same darn things you do! Just throw in cross stitch and doilies and its a wrap! Thanks for being an inspiration! Annie
I am so grateful for you and people like you who bring so much JOY to the world!
Thank you for continually making me smile 🙂
Congratulations on your Blog Anniversary!!! Reading your posts is always the very best part of my day. I can’t imagine my life without it. Love you Susan!!!
Happy Anniversary, Susan! So glad I found your fun and beautiful blog. Your creativity is amazing! Yes, please enter me in the give-aways. The blue quilt will be what I am hoping for. 🙂 I also picked up 2 books by Gladys Taber today at my library – Stillmeadow Seasons and Stillmeadow Daybook. Thank you for introducing me to her. I am reading the Seasons book now in anticipation of your Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion and hearing all about it. What delightful reading so far of her descriptions of life at Stillmeadow. Love you, Susan! From one of your Girlfriends!
You’re reading Gladys Taber…I just knew you were a kindred spirit!!
Yes, and I’m going to speak and sign books at the Friends of Gladys Taber yearly reunion and we all get to tour her house in Connecticut next weekend! I’ve never seen Stillmeadow so I’m very excited.
Happy 5th Anniversary!! I love reading your blog! I just introduced my friend to your site and she loves it as well! We are going to read your book this summer and enjoy all the extras you have provided on your website ! So looking forward to that! The books are supposed to be delivered today! What wonderful giveaways you are offering! Thank you!
So much fun to see SB products from years post. I hadn’t realized you’d done fabric, but wow–serious quilt love. And of course your calendars & books–I love the detail you present. Thank you.
Happy Anniversary to you our talented Susan. All your favorite things as well as mine there in all its glory. Beautiful fabrics that are a treasure, the dishes that beckon us over to that lonesome cup or plate, calendars that we love and can hardly wait to turn the page, books that enrich us with words and pictures, and stacks of quilts made with love and treasured by new generations. Ahhhh, Susan your heart is bigger than all outdoors–a phrase my grandmother-Nanny used. We are blessed that you took the plunge with your blog.
Love and bunny hugs,
Shirley
Wow, that is an awesome giveaway. I’m a passionate quilter. I cannot sit down without needle, thread and fabric. My hands just have to be sewing. I love your old dishes collection also. I’d love to know what that pattern is called. It’s always a treat to visit your blog home, everything is so lovely, with so much nostalgia, sigh, it’s just like a lovely relaxing visit with a girlfriend and a cuppa.
The pink are Rose Chintz by Johnson Brothers. Thank you Robyn!
Your fabric is wonderful and I have made a quilt for my special girl friend from it and your pattern… she loves it and would take it with her wherever she would travel… even though it was rather large…Thank you for your generosity and encouragement.
Happy Anniversary!!!
Congratulations!
What a give-a-way. I’d be crazy not to enter. #1, #2, or #3 are fabulous gifts.
First, congratulations on your anniversaries! There is such a peaceful feeling that I get when I read your blog posts. It’s like I can take a break from this crazy world and – sigh – breathe and immerse myself in something that connects with my heart. I’m a quilter and I know what you mean about how old quilts make you feel. I have one made by my great, great grandmother who was probably born around 1860! So you know I’d love to win the fabric or that lovely wall hanging. It almost matches the colors in my quilty guest room where I have another quilt hanging from a “famous” quilter. Proud to call myself one of your “girlfriends!”
It’s always such a heavenly pleasure to read your blog. Pretty pictures, pretty musica, pretty art and writing. What more does one need to brighten the day?