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
Hello Susan ~
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! The things in your life that make you happy like cheerful quilts, pretty dishes, and yummy recipes are the same things that make me happy too. The colors, photos and quotes are a gift to me when I open your blog. Thank you for the wonderful things you do and say that makes a difference in the many lives of your fans.
I hope you have many, many more years of sharing your personality and talents.
We are enriched by your efforts.
Best thoughts to you~
Happy Anniversary!! Last year I got my friend A Fine Romance for her Birthday(which you signed personally on your tour : ) Now I can give her The Autumn Book and I get one too…. Thank you xoxo
Happy Anniversary! Just love keeping in touch with you, hearing about your projects, your garden, trips, friends, the Island, your collections and best of all….JACK, the King of All He Surveys! Let’s hope for many more years, girlfriends…and can we be so fortunate to have a chance at three sweet giveaways? I think not! Now where did I put my sewing machine….
Wow…so many responses left already for such a wonderful message and an offer of lovely gifts! Thank you so much…your blog makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and after a day out and about, I am so happy to be home now and to get all cozy with my two bearded collies, Molly and Max…
Susan, once again, you’ve said everything perfectly! Your blog IS the place for all of us home-loving, tea drinking, garden-tending people – women and man (men?) alike. It’s been such fun to be a part of your journey, and it’s a nice time to reflect on what the last years have been in our own lives. Thank you! You’ve been a refuge for so many people and, of course, a TREMENDOUS inspiration! You’ve given me such hope and encouragement as I’ve tried to make a new and more creative life and career. Thank you, thank you! And here’s to many, many more years!
Same to you Jake!
What a beautiful anniversary blog. You bring so much happiness into the lives of all your “girlfriends”. Your spirit of generosity sure excites us! So any comments so far. I do love your collection of quilts and ideas on how to use them. I will be ordering the new Autumn book! Thank you for sharing your daily life with us. Look forward to what Vanna reveals. And that Jack, he is just the cutest!!!
Happy anniversary! Lovely post, pictures and fabrics. Cant wait to get the new edition of the book.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!What an exciting giveaway. You come up with most
wonderful things to share. thank you.
joyce
Reading this beautiful sweet post with my precious granddaughter sleeping in my arms. We could make the most wonderful memories together with these fabrics! Love you, Miss Susan!
I love everything you do and would love to win any of it! Wish you could do a Girlfriends England Tour! Thanks soooooo much for your wonderful words and picture. You brighten our days.
Bev in Oregon
I, too, was raised with the writing of Gladys Taber. The way that my mother always spoke of her made her seem like a personal friend. Loved looking at your quilts, and totally agree that those of us who love quilts and dishes are kindred spirits no matter how far apart we may be. Love from the corgis and me.
Loved all the quilts!
I look forward to getting your blog so much. It is such fun to see all your beautiful things and info. I’m not a quilter but I am a collector. I have introduced your blog to a good friend and we correspond long distance and talk about you each time your blog comes out. Such good fun!! Thanks, Susan.
Happy Annisversary! Thank you for sharing your life with us. I can smell the flowers and the fresh laundry on the line. I look forward to seeing Jack and Girl. They put a huge smile on my face.
Fingers crossed! My sweet baby planning to come out in August needs some cute stuff made with that fabric. 😉
OMG 2,114 comments! I guess you know how loved you are, and I read one of the comments that said everything that you have shown us makes her happy. Your blog always makes me happy. When I come here, I can almost smell fresh biscuits baking in the oven. I love quilts, and you have quite a collection. My sister, Lynne is always making me quilts, and I love them more because she made them.
Well, I hope that you have a lovely evening. Thank you for being you.
Karen
Right now, it’s actually roast chicken you’re smelling! I know, I do feel loved, I hope everyone feels it back . . . xoxo
Hello Susan,
Every time I leave a comment,it disapeares–so I’m trying again:all good things comes in three as they are saying.
Congratulations with your new book coming up in october!
Love the fabric and the quilt that you are showing. I’m making quilts since 1985 an I’ve made also one for my 2 grandchildren.
have a nice day
greetings from the Netherlands
Trudy
Is this one showing up Trudy?
YES it did Susan!!
The sun is shining here,hope for you too
have a nice day
Trudy
I love, love, love your website! I’ve collected your books and calendars over the years. We are kindred spirits! Having taken care of an elderly parent over the past four years, looking at your website is the highlight of my day. My mother especially enjoys your music selections. Hope to be a winner of one of your wonderful giveaways! Thank you for being you!
Happy Anniversaries, Sue! You’ve accomplished so much and you keep gaining momentum! Could you have dreamed all the wonderful things you’ve done in just the last five years? It’s exciting to think what the next five will bring. I wish you many, many more Happy Anniversaries, dear Sue!
Love you always,
Janie xoxo
What lovely fabrics and papers and the quilt is very nice as well. I would love to use the yellow fabrics to make a wall hanging for my grand-daughter Isla. And the fat quarters are a delighful mix of colors. I would love to win so that I could create some fun projects for my family.
Love those quilts! I have a couple passed down to me from my grandmothers, too. This is a wonderful giveaway, Susan. Thanks so much!
What beautiful things you have for your giveaway! I particularly love the fabrics since I do a bit of quilting. Always enjoy your blog, Susan. Thanks for being you.
Wow, your fabrics quilts and story are amazing ! Happy Anniversary and thank you for including us ” out of towners” in this giveaway opportunity that’s super generous….thanks from downunder in Melbourne Australia .
I love “out of towners!” xo
Love love love the yellow fabric colors! They just scream “summer”! I just don’t remember what I did on the internet before your blog! Its always an exciting day to go to your website and see a new blog post! Keep them coming!
Hello Susan,i was also in NYC last week and had a GREAT time!Thanks for the photos of ABC store,it was on my list but never got to it.I also went to the Morgan Library,we must have missed each other!Isn’t NYC beautiful?And Central Park was so gorgeous and GREEN.As you know we have a drought here in California,our trees are very stressed and not so lush.Now,i love all your quilts!I am a quilter,and made quilts for my family for every birthday.I usually start them in early autumn,when i get my”feather my nest” fever.Too hot to quilt in summer,but a great time to shop for fabric! I am so excited about your so generous give aways,and even if i won’t be the lucky winner,i’m sure the one who gets it will make wonderful quilts with that beautiful fabric!
I agree so much with what you say about people around the world,and i am sure that many women around the world enjoy your blog as much as we do here in the US.Thanks again for this wonderful blog and many more years of Bliss.
Central Park!!! Isn’t that place just a miracle? Talk about bliss!
What a wonderful blog and such a large range of beautiful fabrics. I would love to be one of the winners. Can’t believe I hadn’t found the blog before Linda fro Inklingo shared it.
Be sure to tell Linda Thank you for sharing!
Happy Anniversary! I have been enjoying your blog since the start!
I love the older quilts.
I’m a traditional quilter and I often
think I should have been born in the early 1900’s,
but alas that was my grandparents time.
Linda from Inklingo wrote about this so I decided
to join in the contest. Even if I don’t the journey
through your quilts was well worth the time.
Thanks so much Verona!
Happy Anniversary! June is a great month to celebrate anything. I always get lost day dreaming when reading your blog and have to go back a few times to make sure I took it all in. Books and blogs to celebrate what we love. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Susan,
You are so generous to part with your treasures. I would cherish any of these special offerings. I am a great-grandma, so I have several generations to share with if I am lucky enough to win.
Love, Nancy
I am so excited your book is being reprinted. I would love to get all of them.
Hi Susan
Your blog is always the highlight of my day. I’m a quilter, embrodier and dish collector so anyone of your gifts would be very appreciated. Jean
Hi Susan! Happy Anniversary to you. I’ve been receiving your blog by email ever since my mom introduced me to you. For years I’ve been on the lookout for calendars and books for her as gifts to make her day. Lo and behold you stole my heart as well. I look forward to your blog posts and Willards with anticipation. I get a phone call from my mom every time they appear to see if I’ve read them so we can chat about them and the crafts you inspire between the two of us! Keep sharing your enthusiasm and creativity. It’s such a bright spot in our lives.
Love being part of the mom and daughter connection . . . thank you!
Wow, I am dearly hoping that I could win one of these amazing giveaways, but every time I read your blog, I win a few moments of delight,escape and beauty, so it’s all wonderful. Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing your heart.
Am Not A Quilter, But Enjoyed Seeing All The Lovely Patterns And Thoughts Shared About Women Of The Past Who Stitched Pieces Of Their Lives InTo Quilts To WaRm Loved Ones Long Ago.And Your Kitties Are Always The Purrrfect Accents Used In Any Picture. Thanks Oodles!!
Happy Anniversaries Susan 🙂 You have really outdone yourself this time girlfriend! The giveaways are FABULOUS and so YOU. Glad to know that you like out-of-towners. I’m in Canada.
🙂
Happy Anniversary! June is such a great month to have anniversaries in — I’ll be married 34 years this month!! Thanks for entering me into the giveaways — they are all wonderful!!
I love getting your blog..your writing is so uplifting to me..You are truly blessed
Thank you for your creativity….you are inspiring. This is my first visit to your blog. I’m a watercolorist wanna be and seeing how much you love what you do makes me want to do more. Look forward to reading more and winning one of those lovely prizes….however, if I don’t win….you see I won anyway…I found your blog.
Nice to meet you Caryl!
Happy Anniversary Susan! Ooooh, the goodies are amazing! You’re so lovely and generous. Usually I don’t enter, but just couldn’t resist this time. Thank you for all the inspiration over the years and the Autumn book looks beautiful…so hard to think about my favorite Autumn when your sweet Summer book is what I’m enjoying at the moment. 🙂
I’d love to be one of the winners! Just reading the Happy Anniversary blog makes me happy!!:-)
Happy Anniversary!
WOW!! 3 give aways!! yipeeeeee!! So grateful that you started your blog–I so look forward to them and always enjoy that you share from your heart. <3
I come from a long line of women family members that quilt, however, I've never done any myself-maybe it's time I start. I love your fabrics, so beautiful!
All the best and happy summer!!
Happy Anniversary. I am excited to be apart of the bff blog, and be included in your wonderful contest.
BFF Blog. Our new name! Thank you Susan xoxo
Oh Susan! Your big, tender heart is so apparent in your words! Thank you for all that you are. Happy Anniversary!
Elizabeth
I always love your giveaways. Thank you so much for the opportunity <3
Great post! I agree that there are more people like us in the world than the other kind, it all goes back to the saying of the squeaky wheel getting all the attention. I don’t care that much for the attention so am happy to be quiet, plus I have found that you learn more about people by observation and letting them tell you what they want you to know. Wonderful anniversary giveaways! Some day I hope to have a stack of quilts for display I love that idea.
Your quilts are just lovely. You have inspired me to add to my small collection of quilts.
Have a happy summer!
Happy Anniversary! In spite of your concerns of how those original posts would go I’m guessing that I speak for all the girlfriends here when I say “we knew it would be a blessing and would really hit the spot”
I’m a quilt maker but they all go to former street children and other really disadvantaged kids in Uganda so it would be lovely to be in the draw…….I would get to keep something 🙂 🙂
Thank you for that lovely contribution! Those kids must LOVE what you send.
Happy Anniversary Susan! Your blog brings me joy, warmth, and coziness. So many reflections of what makes you happy, and what we all, as fans, find common ground. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and events with us. How amazing it would be to win one of your giveaways! Stay well and enjoy each day!
I have loved your style forever and Jack too,
Pick me, pick me! I love them all! Thanks for a chance to win! 🙂
Happy Anniversary Susan! You inspirer so many and I am one of them! Love your style and outlook on life and happiness! Thank you for sharing all your talents, travels, recipes and basically all your posts with us. Blessings to you and Joe, xoRobin
Such an amazing collection of quilts….Happy Anniversary! I would live to sew some of ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ fabric in ‘Corrimal Australia’ sitting on my front steps…
Wouldn’t that be just wonderful and amazing, considering? — thank you dear Internet!
Actually there are no “out-of-towers” here …. We are all partners in a magnificent coalition of a warm and loving time made possible by computer Internet communication . We all have a home base known far and wide as the Susan Branch Heart of the Home Blog . It’s here where Susan’s warm and caring talent shines her light on everyone in a special way that generates all kinds of new relationships , pen pals and girlfriends. The loving light is a living force , you just have to let it shine on you.
My dad likes me. ♥ He loves this blog as much as I do! xoxo Thank you Daddio. xoxo
So beautifully said Blog Daddy! ♥
Beautiful and wise words Mr. BD J. Stewart!
Oh, please include me in your drawing! I spent the past seven days reading AP European History essays, and it does my eyes and soul good to see these beautiful patterns and especially colors. Thank you for your doses of inspiration!
Happy Anniversary to a fellow quilt enthusiast!
I’ve just found your beautiful site.Congratulations on your anniversary.I too love all the old quilt patterns, fabrics and embroideries from the past.It’s people like you who keep the traditions alive.That’s very important. I wish you well in your future endeavors. 🙂
Susan: Again, your beautiful inspiration. I was out in my garden this morning, before the rain taking in the amazing colors of the Iris mixed with the Poppies and Peonies. The magic of nature survived our very cold winter in Ontario, Canada. The spring is my favorite time of year. June is even more special now that I share my birthday with my amazing granddaughter. Over the years I have moved from paint and paper to beautiful and quirky fabric combined into quilts.
Thank you for continuing to inspire me to enjoy the journey.
Elaine
Happy Anniversary!! I look so forward to each and everyone of your blog posts! I have read A Fine Romance 3 times cover to cover and often reread portions of it when things gets me down. You are so inspiring and your kindness and love enriches all of our lives. Thank you so much 🙂
Another lovely post with beautiful flowers, fabrics and inspiration. I am a quilter and love fabrics, the quilting and the community of quilters. Thank you for sharing beautiful things with all of us.
Hello Susan, You have made us all happy with your blogs over these years, so Happy Anniversary!!! The prizes have been loved and created and approved by the kitties and now the fabric, calendars and unique books are waiting for Vanna’s pick for 3 lucky bloggers. Good luck to us all.
I love your blog! It’s my little own vacation reading it and this time about quilts!…which I absolutely love quilts! So much warmth, comfort and history! Thank you, Susan Branch!
Thank you for another beautiful blog — I can’t tell you what a repose for my soul I feel in seeing all of your beautiful quilts and dishes and fabric …ahhhh… I really needed to “visit” with you today, dear Susan. Oh, how I love ”Hearts and Flowers” …from afar the flowers look like pansies, which I love as they were my mother’s favorite flowers and she’s been gone 35+ years (two days before my 22nd birthday). Again, thank you for the love and peace of visiting with you today, and thank you even a few tears remembering my mom. Sending you lots of love, m’friend! Pam
Dear memories . . . xo
I love your comments at the beginning of the blog. There are those of us all over the world who love apples, blue tablecloths, picnics, full moons and something soft to cuddle under. Peace and goodwill to all is not just for Christmas time but all seasons.
xoxo Ellen.
I have loved your books since the seventies. I have almost all of them. I do admire you. Whenever I go shopping at your store, I want everything. lol Thank you for having a drawing!
Not the seventies, 1987, I’m already old enough right now 🙂
Happy anniversary!!! Girlfriend, you are so special to all of us, and thank you for celebrating this wonderful anniversary with all of us! Treasure your friendship, love the quilt, the fabric and the original works of art. Thank you for being a “homey” lady, and tapping into my heart –
Carol
My Mom gave me your book “Christmas from the Heart of the Home” in 1990 and I knew I had found a kindred spirit in you! Thank you for sharing your love for and enjoyment of the simple things in life. I always come away from your blog and books with a cheerful heart. Thank you.
Dear Susan,
I wrote a hand-written letter to you when I had just turned 40. Imagine my delight when I received a hand-written letter back from you! (I still treasure that letter!) I am now 54 (oh my!) and look forward to reading your blog as it is such a bright spot in my days.
I have tried to enter comments previously so as to enter giveaways and simply say ‘thank you’ to you in various ways. For some reason, I never have seen one of my comments post, and not sure if they are ever received…at any rate, here goes another try….and again thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your heart and your love of home and this beautiful world, with all of us.
I’m sure they are, but I hope you see this one. Thank you so much Hilda!
Yea! My comment did appear this time! Thank you, Susan. You are a treasure!
Oh, Susan, you are such a thoughtful and generous person! Thank you for making the world more beautiful.
Hi Susan! I submitted a comment but can’t find it so I don’t think it went through. If you find me twice, please eliminate one so I won’t have two submissions. I will be retiring on July 31st and I’m so excited to be planning to start quilting again. I asked for a new sewing machine for a retirement gift. Winning the Susan Branch fat quarters would be so wonderful for my first “back to quilting” project! LOVE this blog. Brings back so many wonderful memories. Thank you as always! 🙂
It’s OK, our “random number generator” — better known as Vanna, knows to only choose from one of each entry! Thank you Asha!
Happy Anniversary! You are so very generous in your giveaways- such wonderful things. But undoubtedly the very best gift you give is your cheerfulness and your lighthearted way of sharing your life, your art, your thoughts and heart in todays world. It’s such a lift to read what you write. It’s just what we all need sometimes….Thank You!
Can’t wait for the drawing! Love thing about you! Thanks for sharing your life with us.
JoAnn Petersen
Hi Susan. What an amazing giveaway. All of the gifts make my heart swoon. Looking at Jack in the pictures, make me long for a new cat. My beloved Mabel died two years ago in June. I miss her. A home is incomplete for me without an sweet cat or dog.
I have rambled on enough. Happy Anniversary, my friend.
Get one, get a kitty! You will be so happy!
I love your blog. It is very uplifting. I always look forward to your thoughts!
Susan, this is like taking us to a candy store and buying us EVERYTHING! As my 4-year old grandson would say, “me next, me next!” Thank you for this wonderful, over the moon, out of this world opportunity to share your treasures!
Really lovely! I envy your artistic results! Thanks for the opportunity to share in a portion of them.
Happy anniversary, Susan ! Still have lovely memories of your stop in my hometown of Bakersfield, Ca. at Strawberry Patches. Such a thrill to have met you and to get your signature in a copy of your book, “A Fine Romance”. Looks like a great giveaway for several lucky readers.
Susan, Happy Anniversary! I too enjoy dishes, old linens and quilts. Your blog and pictures are inspiring. Thank you for sharing:)
Jack and Girl Kitty are irresistible, such cuties! Have always loved your calendars, artwork, books and anything your creative self designs. Your blog is a special treat. Happy Anniversary!
Oh Susan….what a lovely email to read! I have been a quilter for a long time and love seeing the ones you have collected. I am sad that your fabric collection is out of print and hope some day in the future you will produce more fabrics. I love watching Girl Kitty and Jack snuggle on your quilts. My cat stretches on the back of my “lazy girl rocker” but when I spread a quilt over my lap….he hops right down and snuggles on that quilt. I call it his kitty ‘welcome mat’.
Your fabrics are so beautiful, I just love looking at them. Not sure I would ever cut them, lol. The chance to actually own them and fondle them is so wonderful. Thanks for making beautiful things, the world needs more beauty.
Susan,
Love your blog, and always feel connected to the Island. Some of my favorite family memories are of trips I have taken with my mom and sisters. Last visit was with the dog–he loved the island and all of the wonderful smells!
Summer is a joy here in Illinois. We are enjoying such pleasant weather and not quite ready for a cozy quilt, but your collection reminds me of keeping warm under a special quilt or blanket on those fall evenings that brings a bit of chill to the air! Thanks for keeping in touch!
Cathy
Happy “Blog” Anniversary Susan!
I check your blog almost every day to see if there is a new word from you. Can’t live without our “Sweet Sue” and a letter from home and see how the kitties are doing and if there is a new recipe or some new decorating ideas or if you are taking us on some new adventure. I absolutely love the quilting material. It’s been awhile since I have made any quilts and seeing the darling patterns got me in the mood to make another one. I too, collect quilts. Don’t have too many but enjoy what I have as you do. You turned us on to the world of Gladys Taber and I bought two books and finished reading them already. I also bought her cookbook which I am crazy about. I just ordered two more of her books on line and can’t wait to get them in the mail! You just bring so much joy to our lives and introduce us to so many new things, we just want to say thank you and again…Happy Anniversary and Congratulations to the success of your Blog. We all love and appreciate what you do for the girlfriends! You enrich and inspire our lives so much!!!
Judy Ann from Georgia
Are you kidding???!!!! You are so generous. Seeing the quilt fabric makes me drool.
Congratulations on your Anniversary!! I was so excited to find your blog post in my emails again!! Especially since you have such great gifts to give away! Due to a few life changing events in our lives in California, we were fortunate enough to sell our house before the market took a dump and we now live in Lancaster, PA! Where Amish Quilts are everywhere!! How can you not want to learn how to quilt around here so I joined a Quilting Guild! One day soon I hope to be making beautiful quilts like yours!!
Thank you for your wonderful blog!
Love,
Margie
Happy Anniversary! I have been a fan since “Heart of the Home” was first published! Currently passing “A Fine Romance” around the family, with the request that each reader sign/comment on the back page of the book! We have quite a lovely record going. My 13 year old recently had to prepare a “quote collage” for an English project, and yes, your book was her reference book! Received a perfect score…thank you very much!
You bring us much joy, thank you.
That’s a great idea, signing the back pages! Hi to your daughter!
I always enjoy your sweet words. I’m a fellow Massachusett resident and feel as if you live ‘next door’. Your seasonal comments are what I see out my window but you say it SO MUCH BETTER.
Your fabric giveaway intrigues me. A few years ago I made a quilt using your MV group of fabric and would love to do it again with some of your ‘stash’. As a passionate quilter my fingers are itching!
Congratulations on your Anniversary! It’s amazing how quickly the time passes. Thank you for all the inspiration & fun! I’m still giggling over the eyeglasses vs tea bag a few weeks ago. Here’s to the next decade!!
(Oh, and love those kitties!!!!)
Me too! Every time I look at that picture … because of course I kept it — I just laugh!
I just love your color choices! Your paintings make me smile.
Happy Anniversary! It has been my pleasure to be a fan of yours since “way back when.” You never fail to cheer me up and inspire me. Don’t ever stop writing, painting, cooking, sewing, traveling and inspiring!
Oh!!! Ohhhh!!!! How I love fabric, especially YOUR fabric… what a wonderful giveaway. Consider me one of the hopefuls, please!
And may I also say, the first part of this post, about how the world is filled with peace-loving, home-loving, life-loving people, was so simply profound and touched my heart in a deep way. We so often forget the lovely human beings in all the political and nationalistic discussions.
Love the quilt stories! I have a favorite one of my own, and it is the perfect companion for a cool afternoon – or a long car trip (both a blanket and a picnic cloth!). So glad you do have the blog — enjoy the Spring!
This is one of my favorite blogs, I love all the quilts and fabrics etc. Happy Anniversary!
This post and the one before it are so much fun. My daughter and I want to go to ABC Home too! Thanks for sharing your trip and your island home.
Oh, wow! You are so generous with the giveaways. They are all so lovely. Thank you for giving me a few chances to win! As always, I love to read your blog posts.
Oh my~ another giveaway….I just love these fabrics and everything else on this blog! Congratulations on this Anniversary! Please count me in!
I agree that quilts are the most beautiful treasures ever! I have a quilt from my husband’s family that is truly a scrap quilt – made from leftover pieces of fabric as the person made clothes for the family. Every square has different fabrics. My mind goes wild with imagining the wonderful woman who did all that work!
Lovely…that sums up this blog posting…so excited to see the Autumn book reprinted 🙂 thank you for the fun giveaways…hope to be a winner!
You are a blessing in my life! Thank you so much for the joy and contentment you have brought me. Your writings, your designs, your calendars, your life, all of it, is an inspiration! Such joy when I visit your website/blog. All the best to you, your hubby, and kitties!
Happy Anniversary! Your beautiful quilts inspired me to bring mine out for others to enjoy everyday.