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
Happy anniversary! All of us girlfriends are so lucky to have this blog to stop by and have a cuppa together. Thank you for giving us a peek at your lovely part of the world and thank you for sharing your cheerfulness with us.
I would cherish any of the three treasures you are offering, but mostly it’s good to know that whoever Vanna chooses will do the same. We ARE a great community.
From one Susan to another….I have so enjoyed your blog and this post about quilts was a feast of color and creativity. I can’t wait to see your post after your Stillmeadow visit, as I have been a fan of Gladys Taber’s for years. My husband and I were in Connecticut one summer and we were so happy to find Stillmeadow. It was serendipity that her granddaughter, Alice was there and gave us a tour of the house! I would love to be there next week, but it is my last day of work before I retire as a children’s librarian. I will be thinking happy thoughts for you next week.
Susan — Love your name! Love your blog — have been reading it since you started blogging. Love your books, too. Will be ordering Autumn (don’t know how I missed it the first time). Thank you for all the inspiration. SusanZ
Happy anniversary! I can’t wait to see and read all about your trip to Gladys Taber’s home!
I am SPEECHLESS….all those delicious giveaway. You are one generous woman. Thanks for all the love 🙂
Hi Susan! Crossing fingers and toes, hoping Vanna picks my name! I’d especially love to add your quilt to my collection. I would of course give it a special place of honor. Thank you so much for your charming heartfelt blog. It’s much appreciated. I go through withdrawals in between entries. Good luck on the Autumn Book. I have a first edition and it’s one if my favorite books of yours. As soon as I feel fall in the air which is usually by Labor Day, I take it out and reread it. It puts me in the mood to set out the Pumpkin Spice candles and potpourrie, the pumpkins and bittersweet. Hope you have a wonderful weekend putzing in the garden. That’s where I plan to be, drinking in the scent of peonies.
Congratulations and thank you so much for all you do for beauty and the home arts. I have most of your books and have read every entry over all these years. I’m a quilter and a tea lover so especially enjoyed seeing your collection of quilts and fabric.
Happy Anniversary. I absolutely love the quilts. It reminds me of being at my grandmother’s house. I love the colors you choose, your photographs and drawings. It makes me smile!
Susan..fyi hope you have had a chance to catch the quilt exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston…I went tonight with my kids and it was spectacular.
Oh happy day! Thanks for your generousity with beautiful words, photos, inspirations, and special things. Your blog is truly a treasure to read.
WaHoo! Yippee!! Hooray!!!
So excited! IF I win any of them Jack and Girl Kitty can roll all over whatever it is :0)
Susan,
Thank you for your many years of Heartfelt Inspiration! I treasure all my goodies from you especially my books you signed in Pasadena, CA several blue moons ago! I already feel I have received so many gifts from you, but to get one directly from your hand would be heart touching. Love to you and all you do for all of us.
Joanne
Susan…Happy Anniversary! I am so glad you decided to do a blog! I knew it would be a success! (And yes, I had the same feelings when I hit “submit” that first time…would it be read by anyone? Etc…lol) You are such an amazing lady to offer such beautiful gifts! Your quilts are exqusite! I love them too, especially the ones like our grandmothers hand quilted.. Your water colors are beyond reproach! Absolutely gorgeous! You are so gifted… I thank our Father for you! Enjoy your trip to the Gladys Taber house!!
Wow! A beautiful blog post as usual, and beautiful prizes. Count me in,
Oh your quilts are beautiful! My mother and grandmother used to make quilts. I remember sitting under the quilt rack as the church ladies did the final stitching to put the backing on. I make mini quilts as prayer flags to hang in my garden. Love watching the colors wave in the breeze! Enjoy your weekend and thank you for your kindness!
Congratulations on your anniversary Susan! I just love your blog and especially A Fine Romance. Definitely an all time favorite. A desert island book. I’ve never had much luck with Vanna, but it never hurts to try. Cheers!
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for taking that brave plunge into the blogosphere.
You bring so much joy to so many people. We all need more beauty in our lives.
I’ve loved your art from the very first book.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being you. Your talent sings to my heart & soul. May you grace us all with many years of beauty from your brush.
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! It is such a pleasure to read your blogs and I believe I have all your books except your last one on England. It is on my presents list. Some years the only thing I ask for for Christmas is your yearly wall calendar. I always receive it. I am a quilter and your collections of quilts is absolutely beautiful. I, too, love having my quilts all over my house just because they make me happy. I have been collecting teapot/teacup fabric for years and would love to receive your fabric. Wishing you many more years of successful endeavors.
Congratulations! Happy Anniversary! What wonderful gifts! Your blog is so inspirational and a pleasure to read! So glad we are girlfriends!
Hi Susan,
I love your giveaways! I’ve quilted for more than 30 years and your fabrics were great. Cats and quilts go together. The minute I put a quilt within one of my cats’ reach, it’s on it! They like the love that’s layered in a quilt. I always order your calendar. Must have it. Can’t plan my year without Susan. Thanks for the opportunity to see some of your collection. (I also collect handmade pot holders since ladies today don’t seem to have the time).
You are such an inspiration. I also love the old 30’s prints and have sewn several quilts of reproduction fabrics. It would be a wonderful blessing to receive some of your fabric. Or anything. I appreciate your book being published in the good old USA. May God continue to bless you. I expect to enjoy your beautiful blog for many years to come.
Hi Susan! Happy Anniversary! I love your blog & your work. I have almost all of your books. I remember the first time I ordered items from the website, I was so amazed at how lovingly wrapped each item was! I almost didn’t want to unwrap them!! But I did! Except for one set of the pink jammies in the cute house box! I’m still wearing the green ones – how long ago was that? Anyway, all the best to you! Hope you come to Savannah, GA for a book signing some day!!
Ooooh….I would love to be one of the winners! I’ve followed you for so long and collected all your books. You inspire me. I still have a card you replied to me when I wrote you years ago. Don’t ever stop; keep showering us with all your wonderful stuff.
Please enter me.. I would love to win any of your beautiful prizes.
Thank you for years of beautiful content and illustrations!
I love everything here’s hoping I win something. God bless you Susan you are truly a kindred spirit.
What fabulous items! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing such wonderful things. I would love any of these but that stack of fat quarters and other fabrics… I cannot imagine a better giveaway!
Happy Anniversary!
Pick Me! Pick Me! Everytime I sew a with a piece of your fabric I want to sing and cry. The project talks happy thoughts to me and I’m sad because there is a little less to use. I would love that pile of fat quarters — but would I be able to cut into them????? LOL Your blog gets me through the darkness of winter and brightness of summer. Your positive attitude and love of the simple joys of life are inspiration that get my wheels turning. The comments the Girlfriends leave are so wonderfully full of life, different or the same as mine. Definitely as much fun to read as the blog, itself. Thank you for being the one who jumps in with two feet while I dangle my toes. Happy Birthday Blog, Happy Birthday FOSB!
What a great giveaway and congratulations on the milestones. I enjoy following you. My Mom used to share your recipe emails with my sister and I before Facebook. We bought your books for her for Christmas and Mother’s Day. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Your books and blog always help with the transition of the seasons. Cannot tell you how many times I have smiled while going through them. Hope to see or meet you one day, you are an amazing lady and I will always look up to you for inspiration and guidance in troubling times. Love you, Susan Branch!! xoxo
Congratulations on your double anniversary!!! I especially enjoyed your post about people everywhere being alike. A few years ago I hosted students and a teacher from Russia for several weeks at my home. The teacher had grown up in Russia during the Cold War and was taught Americans were the enemies. When she had the opportunity to come here years later, she was fearful of how Americans would treat her. To her joy, she found us to be just like her friends and family at home. We want to work and raise our families, share our joys and sorrows. We all deserve to live in peace. May that come true someday. Thank you for sharing your quilts and for the wonderful prizes!
Reading your blog is like taking in the fragrance of the sea air, hearing children laugh, gazing into the heavens, feeling the soft fur of your favorite pet, and reading an endless romance novel! Thank you for sharing your written thought, your creativity, and your love of vintage things. Happy anniversary.
Light. Fun. Loving. Beautiful. Playful. Hopeful. Words which describe your blog. I have loved your art for years. I used stickers when I scrapebooked. I read your blog for inspiration. I treasure the goodness you share in the world. Thank you. I am glad that the blog is now a pleasure and not a chore. I am glad you transcended the fears to try something new!
Susan, Congratulations on your blog anniversary! Your artwork is amazing!
You are such an amazing artist! It was so much fun to see a review of so many things you have created thru the years! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Susan, you never cease to amaze me! Your wonderful blog, your stories, books, calendars, your cats, your dishes, everything! Stay with us, and keep being us lovely moments and making our days lovely. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! xxoo. Love, JO
Susan, I am a quilter and am salivating over your beautiful material. I look forward to getting your new book because Autumn is my second favorite season and your book looks just wonderful. I may be wrong, but those flowers you called hollyhocks may be foxgloves (or digitalis.) If it’s digitalis, be careful with your kitties as it is poisonous. I have some in my garden and keep my dogs away from it.
Your fabrics are so bright and so cozy…all at once. I would be so very happy if I had some to use in a project. You are so generous and kind to us who love you back!
Happy Anniversary! I loved seeing your great quilt collection, they are so lovely!
I’ll throw my name in the hat and keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for being so generous; it would be swell to win any of those prizes. And thank you for keeping this wonderful blog!
I always have a smile when I see a new post from you. All of your giveaways are wonderful…as wonderful as you are. I love quilts and I too love the old used ones best. My family room is called the “quilt” room because I have so many displayed there as well as other rooms in the house. And I so get it when you said, I just like to look at them. All of us who enjoy your blog are girlfriends united with love for Susan Branch! You make all of our days happy and bright with your words, your pictures, everything! God bless, Nancy
Autumn was the first Susan Branch book I ever owned. Now I have them all. I return to that Autumn book every September for inspiration. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and your book captures exactly why I love it so much.
But…I’ve been peeking into Summer for the last month or so, getting so excited about sunshine and fun-time!
Happy anniversary. Thank you not only for the creative inspiration to make our lives pretty and delicious, but for the reminders about joy, peace, kindness, and love.
Hi Susan
This is the first time I have responded to your Blog, I still have a lot to learn about computers so it will be a miracle if you receive this. I just wanted to congratulate you on the Anniversary of your Blog. I enjoy the positive and calm that reading your blog brings to my day. I love your books and even have your first one Heart of the Home that I bought back in the late 1980’s I especially like A Fine Romance and am looking forward to your next one. I love that you write about the ordinary things in life and enjoy books, quilts, china and nature and the seasons. I live on the other side of the world in Australia and our seasons are reversed I’m enjoying your spring flowers as we go into Winter. Thank you for the joy you bring and the beautiful photo’s on your blog. Love from Kay
The miracle has occurred Kay! 🙂 Thank you so much Kay, such a sweet comment.
Susan I am so glad that you received my comment and thrilled that you replied to it, it made my day. Love Kay
These are such sweet gifts! What a fun celebration!
Happy Anniversary! I have one of your sweet patterns to sew.
I’ve never considered myself the homemaking type, until, that is, I came across your heart and art via this blog. All of a sudden, I was buying pickling cucumbers and looking at water colors at the craft store. I began to dream that maybe I, too, can discover some hidden talents “later” in life. You are a sweet soul and so very generous to share your life with us.
It’s the MOST creative thing, being a homemaker, it’s never-ending in the creative department. 🙂
I just love color, books, flowers, tea and sewing. Love the quilts. Happy Anniversary! I already have the Autumn and Fine Romance books and enjoy them all the time. I look forward to reading your blog everyday. You are such an artist and a renaissance woman, making all of us feel good about ourselves and thinking more about PEACE. It’s also my wedding anniversary today…. Thank you for being you.
Love all the eye candy. What a generous bunch of goodies you are giving away! Anything would be a valued treasure. Absolutely!
What lovely giveaways! Your blogs are always an inspiration.
I would be sooo thrilled to win any of the giveaways. How generous these are Susan. Happy Anniversary. Please keep up the wonderful creating!!!
Congratulations! This blog is always fun, uplifting, and educational. The cats are always smile worthy. Your quilts are in such good condition, and just beautiful. I love the soft pastels. Thank you for sharing these with us…a special treat. Oh, the fabric is so special. I chuckle, because I can never get enough of it. I just gave away five boxes of fabric to our community quilters, as we are moving across country and I can’t take it with me…but here I am, leaving a comment, in hopes of acquiring more colorful cloth. The calendar and book are lovely too. Thanks, Susan. Enjoy Spring on the island!
Wow Susan, such exciting giveaways!! I thought I died and went to heaven looking at the beautiful quilts in your collection. Fun to see the inspiration for your wonderful watercolors. Love the colors in your watercolor palette.
I love your work and all of your products. Would love to win the give away especially some of the beautiful fabric as I am a quilter.
Susan,
Congratulations on your blog anniversary! I’m so grateful for your blog posts and your words of encouragement and fun! I love quilts, but don’t have many. You’ve inspired me to begin collecting them! Happy Spring to you and Joe and the kitties!
Wow! What a post! All the lovely things. You are so generous to all of us.
I hope I win one of them, but if I don’t….it’s really nice to see all these pretties.
Thank you Susan!
Dear Susan,
Wonderful Post! I enjoy each and every one! 🙂 But aren’t those flowers foxglove and not hollyhocks??? I thought these were hollyhocks: dianeschuller.com/2013/01/06/free-hollyhock-seeds-just-for-you/
But either way they’re beautiful!!
I agree!! Doesn’t the world smell absolutely heavenly this time of year??
Happy Anniversary! 🙂
— Alison in “Little Rhody <3
You are so right, I fixed it! I knew that, but I have hollyhocks on my mind (not blooming yet though!)
Haha. Foxgloves are glorious!! I love hollyhocks!! 😀
Dear susan, I have been quilting for over 25 years and read your pages in Country Living Magazine when they first appeared… really love your blog and all the sharing you do with us.. Cat lovers are the best !!! Hope I can add some of your treasures to my collections.
What lovely prizes. I have been enjoying your work for awhile now. Thank you so much.
Happy Anniversary! My heart gets filled with such joy when I see beautiful fabric and quilts. This was a beauuuuuutiful post. Thank you so much for sharing your quilt collection with us. I’m filled to the brim!
Dear Susan,
Congratulations on your blog anniversary! Your postings brighten my days and motivate me to finish my projects! I live in the SF Bay Area was lucky enough to visit Arroyo Grande and shops in your charming store. It was like being in one of your books!!
That beautiful yellow fabric would make a lovely quilt for my sewing room…fingers crossed!!
PF
*Happy Anniversary*, Susan! This is definitely a year to remember. Including your anniversaries, my parents and my fiancé’s parents both celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries! This all makes me smile.
Thank you for bringing your beauty into this world.
I’m a beginner quilter and I love the feeling of giving the quilts away. A few years ago all of my “girlfriends” (mom, god-mother, aunts, sisters, and friends) got lap quilts for their birthday gifts.
My quilting started when my Mom purchased me a double wedding ring quilt as a wedding gift. You see my Mom and Aunt both quilt and I told them I wanted them to make me this quilt. Because of age, the complexity of the quilt, and luck of finding an antique one, my Mom purchased me it. Although I have not married yet because of illness Mom gave me the quilt because she wanted to see me use it and enjoy it. I absolutely cherish it.
Your giveaways always have such special meaning. The heart quilt I *absolutely love*! My Grandfather’s last name was Hart. Anything “hart” is special to me and “harts” are easily spotted in my decor. When I give homemade gifts I always add a note… Made with love, from the “Hart”. Your artwork often contains hearts and I love all of it!
I’ve enjoyed every post since I signed up and always look forward to the next one. Thank you.
So glad to hear the Autumn book will be back in print. I’m in need of a copy to complete my collection! Thank you for all you do for your fans. You have inspired me in so many ways. : )
Happy Anniversary Susan, must tell you , you have inspired me to get back to writing/printing in longhand. There’s something therapeutic about it. I can’t do calligraphy very well, but do enjoy forming letters in my very own style and not rushing like I do when I take notes. I would so enjoy learning to draw and watercolor, but at my age I will just enjoy reading and marveling over your paintings.
Just down the street on a neighbor’s yard, I spotted several life-size stone sheep that look surprisingly real at first. They reminded me of something you would collect. I’ll take a photo and send it along. God Bless:)
What does it mean that my comment is”awaiting moderation”?
By the way I HATE “moderation” !
I’m so sorry, but my blog is a spam magnet! I get tons of it so if I don’t “moderate” then all our comments would come sandwiched between stupid ads and commercials. Right now there are over 10,000 pieces in my spam folder! So I’m kind of stuck, but I also love to read them all ~ which is another reason it sometimes takes a while to get to them all. I’m working on it, right now we have 307 comments awaiting moderation. Here I come Girlfriends!
Sue,
Thankyou for explaining the whole “moderation thing”. It must warm your heart to be hearing from all of us vintage-loving, quilt-loving souls.
I still hate “moderation” especially when it comes to old dishes….and ice cream !
I am in complete agreement! 🙂
Susan, you are the BEST. GIRLFRIEND. EVER. Thank you so much for this wonderful giveaway. As a quilter, I’ve always admired your quilts casually slipped into a photo, here and there, and I love all your fabric collections. It’s also what I love about your calendars, the borders around the pages always resemble the cutest fabric. I also want to say, congratulations on your blog, and your presence on facebook. Your cheery voice is always so uplifting, even when things might not always be so great. BTW, I love the photo of Jack on the pile of quilts with his little pink kitty tongue showing. He is such a sweetie. And Girl looks very placid on her pile of quilts. Quilts really are the best, what would we do without them?
What lovely quilts. Happy Anniversary.
Madonna
MakeMineLemon
I wish your blog had a post everyday!!! I didn’t get any of my grandmothers quilts. I so wish I had so I’ve had to learn to quilt myself but I only make small ones or baby ones. LOVE YOUR FABRICS and everything else you do !
Your posts are such an inspiration and comfort. They make my day ! Hugs, Connie.
Dear Susan,
Happy Anniversary!
Your blog, your books, your calendars, your thoughts, your ideas, your art….everything you do that you pass along to us is such a gift in itself. So, thank you Susan Branch, for you.
Hooray for Susan – I love this blog and always feel happier after reading it – and enjoying the pics of Jack and Girl Kitty. I would LOVE to win anything! But being a quilter from wayyyyy back (1972) the Susan Fabric calls to me.
PS
I had to laugh at the post about the Merritt Parkway. I was born and raised in Southington CT and at that time (in the 60s) the Merritt Parkway was the only way to GET to New York…. brought back many memories. luv.
MaryO (Mary Osborne)
San Pedro, CA
Happy 5th Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been a fan forever and LOVE this blog. Happy anniversary!!
I’ve loved your sense of hope n love from the beginning. You make all my days so much better! Thank you.
Happy Anniversary! My first SB book was “Girlfriends” , when I was a teenager. I wore that book out just looking at it and dreaming of one day having a girlfriend like you had. It’s still my favorite, with “A Fine Romance” a close second. It was lovely to see England through your eyes.
I look back at Girlfriends and think I might have written it for the twelve year old that lives inside of me. 🙂
Congratulations on the two anniversaries. What a wonderful idea you had to connect with all the girlfriends. I have enjoyed reading your blogs and the snippets on Twitter and Facebook. Each day I look for your comments and thoughts as well and feel a kindred connection with everyone. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. Love the collections of fabrics. I have a few of yours in my stash as well as an embroidery CD called Home & Garden that you designed for OESD.
Thank you, Susan, for keeping me grounded by reminding me what is truly important in life.
Oh, such lovely fabrics and kitties and dishes and all. Always a good day when there is a new post. Thank you, Susan, for brightening this rainy day~ especially with all the yellow “fabric sunshine.”
Congratulations on the blog anniversary. I have so enjoyed reading each post. It is like a welcome letter from a dear friend when I see ” Susan Branch Blog”
when I check email.
thanks for giving us all a glimpse into your world.
mary
Congratulations on your anniversary. You are so generous with your prizes. Hope I get picked! 🙂
Happy, happy, happy that another blog arrived from you today! And happy, happy, happy if I win one of your wonderful gifts! Such creativity just waiting to happen… Thank you for your generous spirit once again.
I have been reading and loving your blog for several years now-not from the beginning, but almost, and I love each and every post!
I really enjoy your sweet enthusiasm, and of cource, the art! I tell folks most everyday that they need to visit your site and be inspired!
Keep up the great “work” and I will be one of your “girlfriends” always!!
Your posts have a calming effect on many of us. However, if my name is drawn as a winner of any of the three give-aways I definitely won’t be calm. I’ll be ecstatic! See you next week at FOGT!
See you there Milanya!
Happy Happy Anniversary! I have just a smudge of your Martha’s Vineyard fabric ( I think it was from that collection). and have just used it in a sweet wall hanging…I can send a photo if you like. It was just the perfect fabric to set off the little origami blocks!
Love to see it, maybe you can put it on Facebook?
❤️ Your art – been a fan since I purchased “Heart of the Home” and “Vineyard Seasons” years ago. Have books, prints, fabric, scrapbooks, recipe books and buy yearly blotter, wall and wallet calendars! 🙂
Susan, I have loved your style since I first acquired “Heart of the Home: Notes from a Vineyard Kitchen” a bazillion years ago. I’ve collected much of your work since then. What a delight that the internet has given you a wider platform to share your creativity and inspire so many, including me! Best wishes for continued success for many years to come! [BTW, if my name should be drawn as the fabric winner, I don’t know if I could withstand the shock. I’ve longed for (and tried to track down without success) some of your tea party fabric. Love it!]
Love your quilt collections and your dishes..2 things I am always on the look out for. Thank you for having a give away with 3 chances to win !! Happy anniversary and maybe vanna will send a package to my door..
Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog. I always wait for a nice, quiet time of day to sit and read it, savoring every word! Thanks for making my day a little more beautiful.
Your artwork and photos are so inspiring, they bring to mind a time when hearth and home was the center of the family and times were simpler and nature was celebrated.
I too love quilts. As a child I napped under quilts that had been passed down fron the depression era. I made up stories for all the different prints. I have a dear friend who has recently made me a couple of quilts, unfortunately my naughty little poodle chews them as I sleep.
Love your blog and ,thanks to A Fine Romance ,I am off to Great Britain in a couple of weeks.
Happy anniversary! Julie
Bon Voyage Julie!
Happy Anniversary Susan! Your blog has brought me so much happiness. I look forward to them all the time. I have all of your cookbooks. I will be adding the ribbon to the Autumn book! Thanks again for all of your wonderful inspiration. Love you, girl!
Happy Anniversary, Susan! You never cease to amaze me. Such happy, creative gifts you have assembled for your giveaway. You give and give with your insightful posts and now you continue to give more. We should be giving to you! Thank you so much for creating this blog where inspiration is never lacking. Thank you for being beautiful you!!
Happy almost Summer!
Nancy (from Bakersfield)
I would love love love the fabrics!!!! I would love to make those darling tea towels and pillow cases!!!! Choose me!!!!
Wow, what a fabulous give away. You are the best, Susan.
Congratulations Susan! You are such a bright star in our world. And yes, the good people do outnumber the bad. I’ve made curtains for my kitchen window out of some of your fabric (God respects me when I work, but loves me when I sing) so I get to see your artwork every day. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us. Enjoy this lovely month of June.
Your blog makes my day! Congratulations on your anniversary. I so look forward to checking each day to see if there is something new. Keep up the wonderful work!
You are such a gift Susan Branch. Your joy and love of your life come through your words and art vividly. Thank you.
Erin
Susan, I want to thank you for your blog–I grew up spending summers on the Vineyard and you bring back such happy memories of that beautiful place and all the childhood wonders, like the Flying Horses and the band concerts and Illumination Night. I love the color and joy you bring to life–you are an inspiration! May you have many more blog anniversaries to celebrate!
Hi Miss Susan, I’m in Virginia Beach and I feel closer to you being on the Atlantic Ocean. Me and the husband, Michael, hit the road w/our granddaughter, Gabriella on her 1st road trip. She has never seen the mountains or the ocean so she has had a great start to her summer vacation. My 2 guys who dance on Richmond Ballet came home for a visit so we gave them a ride home to Richmond then headed for the Outer Banks, NC and now we stopped in Virginia Beach before heading home. Just was reading your blog and I would love to get on of the fun give aways. No matter though Miss Susan, your blog is still a great read. Love, Patti <3
Happy, happy anniversary! What a plethora of a give away! I would be thrilled to have my name drawn for any of those terrific prizes! (Are you sure Jack can’t be part of the drawing?) Looking forward to seeing you at the FOGT reunion!
I can’t wait for each new blog post! I would love to make a new quilt with the fabric and back it with that wonderful bolt of yellow. No matter how my day may go I always feel good and encouraged after reading about what you are doing. I’m so glad you are here!