Hello to everyone popping in from Willard (or wherever you’re popping in from)! MUSICA (sorry that the Musica doesn’t work unless you can open two screens at a time on your device. If you can, click on the link, then come back to this page while it plays) . . . Welcome to my pink kitchen!
Well, it’s not really pink. But there’s yesterday’s sunrise . . . see what it did to my kitchen . . .
You can see the reflection of the sunrise from the windows directly across from these . . . turning daffodils, walls, and Beatrix Potter People sunrise pink!
The stove was splotched in pink too . . .
Morning sun sent rays across my dishes cupboard . . . had to grab the camera! Such a nice way to start the day! 
Later on, a breeze came up from the harbor and under blue springtime skies, out went our sheets for . . .
. . . a little flight in the cool salt air . . .
And that reminded me, of a really good idea I had, of the perfect 30th Anniversary Giveaway for some lucky person . . . I thought perhaps a vintage quilt would be just the thing! The Grand Prize I mentioned in WILLARD. . .
I actually decided to do this way last summer . . . you can tell by the leaves on the trees and the green . . . to give away this quilt, the one closest to us in the picture, white with the patches of color . . . I’m not sure where I got it, I’ve had it for so long. Be sure to sign up for it at the end of this blog. I do this A. because I have lots of quilts and it’s fun to share the wealth. B. It’s the 30th Anniversary of Heart of the Home and that would never have happened without YOU ♥. And C. In honor of my dad who told me to 
Here I am in 1999, thrilled because I had just gotten my first collection of fabrics with Springs Industries. They put me on the cover of Giftware Business (which I don’t think exists anymore), wondering, in the headline, “Who the heck is this person?” So this was an unexpected thrill. I never imagined my cookbooks could lead to designing fabric (I couldn’t even imagine cookbooks!). We won a prize for our booth at the 
International Quilt Show in Houston that year.♥ My corner of their huge showroom was set up as a bedroom, furnished in white wicker, a bed (the headboard), chairs, desk, even a hope chest, and the Springs people had made everything in it from my fabric, pillow cases, duvet covers, throw pillows, dolls, dresser scarves, cushions, quilts, book covers, wall hangings, lamp shades, table toppers, you name it. At a time when so many quilting fabrics were tea stained, we stuck out, not like a sore thumb, more like a rainbow on a sunny day. I’ve always loved sewing and quilts and embroidery and every kind of needlework so designing fabric with my watercolors just seemed like a natural to me, and now they were actually letting me do it! How could it be anything but fun?!
And it was fun! After Springs Industries, I was lucky again to be approached by RJR and I designed fabrics and quilts for them for several years. The only thing about fabric designing I didn’t like was that they would print the fabric only once and after it was sold out, that was it, they didn’t make any more. You’d blink and it would be gone. Like everything you see above, all gone. So it wasn’t all roses in that respect. And it was hard to get the fabric stores to know you existed, because consistency was impossible.
See those cute little teapots? I was heartbroken when they sold out and no more were made. “Why?” I wailed . . . But, it was fun while it lasted and I did love having fabric, I loved designing.
I had so much fun piecing together quilt design ideas with paper on my living room floor.
I’ve loved quilts ever since my grandma gave me one that her mom made. That was it, I was hooked, and since then I have looked for old quilts wherever I go, antique stores, flea markets, anywhere and everywhere.
I used to quilt a little bit myself, but then I learned that I could paint quilts faster than I could sew them. So when the time came, I was thrilled to design my own fabric. I just wished it could be around longer.
But no, I was not in charge, it was all gone, no cupcakes, no blue flowers, no hearts with teacups in them, no flipping tea balls. Months of work, on the parts of so many people, only six months on the market, it was all gone.😳
The licensing business has gone topsy turvy in the last 15 years, along with many manufacturers and many fabric houses. Huge wonderful Springs Industries, for all practical purposes, doesn’t exist anymore. So I have waited, still getting letters all the time from you asking for fabric, wishing and hoping and thinking, maybe someone will find me again someday.
Gone↓
But so far I’m still waiting. And while they were not finding me, wonderful things were happening on the Internet. New ways of doing things were being invented. Even our small studio could give you free bookmarks and stationery to 
print out. We could send you patterns, via email. A new world was opening. And somewhere else, genius people were learning how to print fabric on demand. ON demand!!! Which meant a designer could put a fabric design onto their website, a customer could find it there, and get just what she needed, a quarter of a yard, 10 yards, whatever. The customer had a choice of designs that were available in no other place. And those print-on-demand sites have just been getting better and better.
And now, in case you haven’t heard of them, I’d like to introduce you to Spoonflower.com. Because all by myself, with no contract to sign and nothing standing between me and you, I can upload any fabric designs I want to this site, and you can get them there, in a magnificent almost unbelievable choice of 20 (twenty!) different fabrics. And you know what else? Not only can I do this, YOU can do it too! You can design your own fabric, and they will make it! Anyone can! Your child’s drawing could be fabric! They will send you one of their little swatch books for $1 (like the one above and below) so you can see all the different fabrics, check the quality, touch it and feel it. Too good to be true.
Not only can you provide your own designs, but you can shop Independent Designers from all over the world. And they have twill, they have organic cotton, they have silk Crepe de Chine, they have poplin, they have stretchy! You choose the fabric you like, and then you choose what weight you would like it in. You can cover chairs in their fabric! You can line picnic baskets! And you know what else? Let’s say you like a fabric so much you wish it was wallpaper. Guess what? You can have any of the fabric designs in wallpaper! AND in wrapping paper!!!! I am beside myself.
So I asked them to send me a fat quarter sample of my Martha’s Vineyard Toile in “Linen-cotton canvas” so I could check the quality, and this is what they sent. I wish you could feel it. It’s gorgeous. Digitally printed, eco friendly. You could make a bag out of it, or heavy drapes, or thick pillow covers. But you can also get this design in quilt fabric, you could make poplin jammie bottoms, it could be curtains, it could be wrapping paper. It could be wallpaper. And you can do this with any fabric on their site. All of it designer, all of it one of a kind.
My samples came fast too. Took maybe a week.
I asked for samples of my birthday fabric designs . . . and here’s what they sent. I thought it was wonderful. And this is a new design for me, it was never made! So we’ve decided to go ahead and let this fabric make its debut on Spoonflower! I see napkins, I see pillow cases, I see an apron. I see wrapping paper! I even see wallpaper used as drawer paper, polka dot drawer paper!
I’m a pros and cons person, so I really thought about it ~ the pros for doing fabric this way far outweighed the cons: Spoonflower fabric is made in America! No one can discontinue my fabric but me. I could wallpaper, make drapes, cover a chair, and make a duvet all in the same pattern. It ships internationally so my Australian and German and Japanese Girlfriends can get some if they want!♥
(Does anyone recognize those shoes on the window sill in my sewing room! Agnes!)
The other thing is that Spoonflower isn’t my business. They will sell my designs, but Spoonflower is responsible for the business side, not me. They take care of the customers, answer questions and are responsible for quality control. Once I upload the designs, they take over. And they carry so many choices of fabrics, they even have patterns you can buy that come with the pieces all cut out for sewing. And believe it or not, there is no minimum order! The Pros go on all day. I think they offer an amazing service. And they started their business the same way I started mine, at their dining room table. So I get to support a small business.
My wheels keep turning . . . I can have a line of Baby fabric again! My Teds! Lamb wallpaper! Lamb wrapping paper! Lamb curtains!
There is only one con that I can see, better known as a drawback . . . but even that has a pro side. It’s the price. Print on demand and “made in America” doesn’t come cheap. And their fabric isn’t available anywhere else! But prices aren’t really as bad as you might think, especially for the heavier weight fabrics ~ compared to other designer prices, it’s 
affordable. And the bright side of this “con” is that Spoonflower does not compete with all the wonderful little quilt stores that we love and want to stay around forever, because for all of this amazing service, they really can’t compete with quilt-store prices. The good side of that is that the shops don’t carry Spoonflower fabrics, and Spoonflower doesn’t carry the shop’s fabrics. They are the same yet entirely different.♥
And you can make a lot of pretty things with just a little bit of fabric. You can edge pillowcases, and make tiny quilt squares . . .
You can have sweet little appliquéd dish towels with way less than a quarter of a yard.
You can appliqué cupcakes for almost nothing. You can line a bread basket or make a window valance, or a scarf (because they also have 100% silk). You can cover boxes or line your shelves in the peel and stick wallpaper. You can use the wrapping paper as scrapbook paper. And I’m sure, with your kind of creativity, you can think of a jillion other things to do with it.
A little fabric goes a long way . . . someday I’ll design an I Love England collection. I’ve been playing with paper ever since I learned about this. I love the birds, that will be next.
Gone, but not forgotten. ↓
Just so you know, this is not paid advertising, or even unpaid . . . I have never spoken to anyone at Spoonflower, we’re not connected in any way. They don’t know me from Adam. I just like them and knew that if you didn’t already know about them, you would want to. You can follow them on Twitter, along with their 33,000 other followers, of which I am one, at @spoonflower. So NOW:
As of today, we’ve put up three collections, 15 designs, HERE. And we’re just beginning . . . The first is called “They Say It’s Your Birthday” ~ the second is the “Martha’s Vineyard Watercolor Collection” ~ and, lastly, just in time for the think-
ahead people, our “Christmas Watercolor Collection.” And we will just keep adding on . . . we’d love to hear what you want, you want the big Santa face that looks like Joe? No problem! We will always do our best. Slowly, over time, when we are not crazy with new books or on the road traveling the country, we will add more collections and build up a nice little store where the fabric designs stay up forever and ever and ever. Ahhh, the Internet, how I love thee, let me count the ways.
And here are a few more reasons to love the Internet ↑ Giveaways! And we can connect in a way we never could before. This back and forth we have together is just amazing.♥ When I was in my twenties, I had to have my wisdom teeth pulled, and they gave me some sort of knock-out drug. While they were waiting for it to go into full effect, I started talking to my mom in a drugged-up-loony-bin-way about how someday, la-la-la . . . I wanted to have a knitting store, la-la-la, Mommy, where all my girlfriends could come and we could sit around and knit and embroider and drink tea from a tea pot and watch soap operas and teach each other things. The idyllic world. And guess what? If you count Downton Abbey as a soap opera, which I do, I got my dream! Pretty darn close, anyway!
So Girlfriends, Happy my Anniversary! Please be sure to leave a comment at the end of this blog. Just any little comment will enter you in the drawing . . . there will be three winners, three names drawn in a week or so, each getting a set of books (the trilogy) PLUS a well-used paintbrush, a pencil stub, a blotter bookmark, and a seed package from my own driveway . . . And then, ONE MORE name will be drawn, for the Grand Prize . . .
This gorgeous old quilt ~ and of course, a package of wisteria seeds. Because I know you. ♥ Happy Almost Mother’s Day! ♥ See you at the bookstores! ♥ Lots to look forward to in 2016!
Dig and be dug Girlfriends! Wob you!
Oh Susan, How exciting! I love how you are bringing old treasures back for us to enjoy all over again. And, giving us newer girlfriends the opportunity to get in on the great fun of past creative pursuits. I am always energized when I come here. Oh joy, oh bliss! Bren xox
Thank you Bren, Happy Tuesday!
Good. Morning Susan,
You are amazing! I am a quilter and have bought some of your fabric from earlier days. I am definitely going to check out the Spoonflower site and add some of your new fabric to my stash!! Safe travels to you and Joe on your book tour!
Quilting in NH,
Faye
Nice to hear from you Faye! I’m so excited to be “back in the biz!” You’ll love Spoonflower if you haven’t been there yet. Thank you! xoxo
Good morning dear Susan from Norway, where Spring is on her way, slowly and a little shy, just the way I love it. We are having our anniversary this week and I got my first little Magnolia tree, so sweet and adorable pink.Thought about you and feel so grateful for your books and blog.
Dearest love, Emma
Thank you Emma, I’m so happy for you, Magnolia’s are amazing trees. Thank you for writing from so far away! Have a wonderful day! xoxo
What a wonderful Willard it was! So many surprises!😍I love quilts and the one your gracelously given away is beautiful. I loved all the fabrics you used to have but never was able to get any in my area. Now, maybe I can get some to make the grand babies something cute.
Wishing you and Joe the best on your journey around our beautiful country on your book tour. I’m sure you’ll experience many wonderful things on this great adventure. Hoping to see you at one of them.
Happy trails, Cindy
You haven’t gotten Willard yet, that was the Blog . . . Willard starts going out in about an hour and a half! Thank you Cindy! xoxo
Good Morning Susan. Your enthusiasm for our shared delight w Spoonflower & this beautiful day brings a fine tune to start this day with. Cheers & Happy Anniversary . DC
Thank you DC! You used the right word . . . “delight!” So happy to hear you say that! xoxo
Happy, happy, joy, joy! What a wonderful gift this morning! I have been dreaming of baby fabric and a little quilt for my new little granddaughter who is so perfect and exceptional! LOL I knew just what I wanted, but it wasn’t available. Now, let the quilting begin! Wallpaper?? I am over the moon! I love your hearts and the lambies!!! Sigh…. Thank goodness there are only 13 days (not that I am counting or anything) left in my semester and then I have the entire summer off to play and create! Oh! And to see you in Asheville! Our sky is dot and dashes this morning! Have a glorious day!
Thirteen days! Hallelujah! See you in Asheville! Dots and Dashes, oh my!
Oh Susan, what a wonderful lady you are! Your blog inspires me and I have gone back and read every single post. I wish we were neighbours! What fun that we can finally get your fabric and make some really cute quilts. You are so generous with your giveaways and really listened well to your Dad. Have a great book tour. We are coming up to the Cape from Canada at the end of the month and I am so sad to just miss the start of your tour, but I hope you have fun!
Thank you Julie, have a wonderful trip, and happy quilting!
Hi Susan. Your excitement is catching. I don’t really sew but because of this blog, I want to pull out my grandmothers very old machine and start sewing. Straight lines anyways. Looking forward to the new Willard.
Straight lines can take you a very long way Jo-Ann . . . take it from one who knows! Curtains for one thing! xoxo
Isn’t Spoonflower amazing? How fun to see your fabrics there!
It was such a FIND. . . I hope we bring them all new viewers!
Oh my. I just told my guy “The world it is a changing!” How exciting and congratulations on a new and exciting endeavor. Good for you Susan (and good for us!). 🙂
Such a wonderful way to start the day! Thank you Susan!
What a wonderful post! Love to hear that your fabric is now available again!! Have a fabulous book signing tour, Susan.
Thanks Joy!
Thank you for the nice surprise this morning. I never expected a new post but when I clicked on I saw the pictures of the beautiful sunrise in your kitchen. Your post got better and better with the news of the fabric. Thank you Susan for sharing your time and talents with all of us. Have a great book tour!!
Thank you Mindy!
I am a quilt lover but not a maker. People like me are here to appreciate the creative and artistic efforts of others-so that’s what I do! Love that this company is both small business and products are American made; double win!
The world needs both kinds, the makers and the appreciators. We’d be nothing without each other. xoxo
Your blog makes me so happy and energized for the day.
Thank you so much.
Pat in Kansas
Happy you are here Pat!
❤️❤️❤️ One of my first purchases from your online store was a little pin cushion made from a vintage tin mold. It’s topped with three bits of your fabric…green with tiny yellow squares and dots, blue with dark blue dots, and a little “counting our blessings” snippet on top. So sweet, it’s one of my favorite things! Now I’m off to check out Spoonflower!
I have one too, also one of my favorite things . . . Sheri (at the Studio) made those for us!
Wow, I’m bedazzled by the bazillion SB fabric creations possible through the spoonflower.com website. And so glad you did the research on it for us, thank you very much. And really love the photos of your kitchen beautifully illuminated in yeesterday’s gorgeous sunrise – and the sheets billowing like ship’s sails on harbor breezes is a snapshot of poetry in motion. OK, now I’m ready for the sun to come up here on the West Coast Happy Anniversary to you. xoxo
I think flapping laundry is poetry too Christie! It’s the way to see the wind! xoxo Thank you.
Wow, wow and wow again. Everything I love. Quilts, pretty material, it’s all gorgeous. Spoonflower sounds brilliant. xx
And wow again! Thank you Pam, love to see you here!
Good morning Sue! I can not even imagine that such a site exists! That is truly amazing. I haven’t popped over there yet to check it out….but I will! My mind was racing as I was reading…..what can I do with the fabric? What wonderful thing can I do!
You have been too kind with your giveaways! Vanna is going to ask for a raise!😊
See you soon! And my 93 year old mother will be coming to Austin with me, she lives with me now. Still gardening and working in the yard! She is amazing.
All our love from this house,
Chris
So much to take in so early this morning!!!! I love it all.
Love your chats, products, and enthusiasm! My girlfriend gave me Heart of the Home as a wedding shower gift way back when! I’ve been enjoying your cookbooks and delightful pictures, fabrics, stickers, books,etc. ever since. There have been so many changes over the last 30 years. I hope you continue to share your wonderful stories of the way life was and should continue to be (at least for me 🙂 Sandy
Hello Susan,
So many wonerful news!! Happy Anniversary!! Congratulation to your fabric line at spoonflower. What a great possibility. I always love to read your blog posts and Willard since years and certainly your wonderful books which I ordered here in Germany. Many many thnaks for all the lovely hours you brought to me. Dankeschön!
What wonderful news!!! This makes me want to start sewing again. You have given us such great ideas for use of these fabulous fabric collections. What will you think of next? I think I might make a book cover out of the Martha’s Vineyard fabric and add some rick rack for decoration. I think your new book would be nice and cozy with that cover :-)) All the best for your travels. Say Hello to Joe, the Kitties and Petey for me.
Susan you are amazing. thanks for all you do. i read your blog early every and you totally maker my day. Arlene
Susan ~ I am so, so excited about your fabric designs on Spoonflower! I have ordered from them before and loved the quality of the fabric I chose. What a lovely giveaway and thank you for your generosity. Enjoy your book tour!
Oh.my.goodness, sweet girl! So exciting to read of the details of your new fabric venture! Will never run out? How thrilling! I love every single print that you have offered so far on Spoonflower’s website! Any chance if flannel? I went and ordered the birthday print right away yesterday because I thought that once you announce it to the girlfriends it will be gone! But, that’s not the case! Yay! I would love to see Santa Joe (I have the outdoor flag that I put out at Christmas) and your Christmas tree is my fave watercolor one ever! That bluebird print!!!!! Coming next?! The lambie in prints!! Be still my heart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! So excited about the new giveaway! Another chance! ♡♡♡♡
Somehow my screen name got changed (on my end)…..should be Karen P – (Wisconsin)….not that it matters, I suppose.
Susan, Thanks for all you do! arlene
Hi Susan. What a wonderful idea. I have a collection of your fabrics and now I can add to it using Spoonflower. It has inspired me to pull out your fabrics and start quilting. I hope you have a wonderful and safe trip.
Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for the wonderful news! I can’t wait to go over to Spoonflower and get myself sewing again! You are such an inspiration!
And I can’t help but think of these adorable designs…..especially the birthday collection….as a gift from you for my birthday today! 🙂
Happy and safe travels to you and Joe!
Today is my birthday and a new quilt would be wonderful!!! Thank you for your beautiful ideas and even more thoughtful posts, look forward to each one.
Judy
Good morning from sunny central Virginia! I can only echo all the posts here and say what wonderful news! It was always sad to see your fabric lines disappear and attempt to grab a yard or two (or three lol) on eBay or etsy. Now! Spoonflower!!! Such a wonderful choice – yeah! The possibilities are exciting, and the fabrics you chose for your opening are just at the heart of all you are and all we love.
So…a new day, a new blog, a new Willard week – all this and a quilt giveaway? What a wonderful place this is ♥♥♥ Thank you, Susan! Have a fantastic day in Boston with Joe!
HOLY COW (especially ones that are so cute and almost eat your Geraniums)! I am beside myself too! This is simply . . . too good to be true! I was just thinking . . . as I am reading Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams (doing my best to take it slow and enjoy every single sentence – I am in New York City with you in Chapter Twelve) . . . wouldn’t it be nice to have wallpaper for a cute little Powder Room with all (maybe not all, but most anyway) of watercolored quotes from your books. Pro: Everyone would love your Powder Room. Con: There could be a line to get in because everyone would stay in there too long reading all the quotes! I am not even a quilter, but I have always wanted to be one. I do have a few pieces of your fabrics that I have purchased on Ebay and Etsy over the years. One is the little “Homemade by” Squares and the other also squares with quotes and “Homemade by”, but larger. I also have one roll of the country blue shelf paper that I got from your store and I have always kicked myself for not ordering more when I had the chance because within a couple of months of my purchase, it disappeared from your online store. The possibilities are endless for wonderfulness that you have shared with us today Sue. YOU are . . . AN ELF! Thank you Sue and Blog daddy, Jack.
Good morning Susan! Love your pink kitchen! I live in NC very near Spoonflower. I love the concept and have tried their fabric once, but now that you have designs there, I will go back and check it out again. I am an avid quilter, having made almost 200 quilts in my quilting lifetime. I only make for friends or family and people in need of hugs and love due to life events. You are so right that you can do so much with small bits of fabrics. That’s why a quilter’s favorite cut is a fat quarter. You get lots of variety that way. Still chugging away at the new book. Half way through it and loving every page. Have a beautiful day.
Dear Susan,
Oh what wonderful news! I can’t wait to go over to Spoonflower and start sewing again! And I can’t help but think that your beautiful designs…..especially the birthday collection…..are a special gift for my birthday today. How did you know?!?!?!? 🙂
Safe travels to you and Joe!
So sorry about the double post. My computer battery died and I didn’t think the first had gone through. Have a wonderful day!
Good morning, Sue! I don’t sew much but I have my husband’s grandmother’s old machine and it’s what I use to make (only) easy projects like valences and pillows. I love the fabric shown, so beautiful and I love the concept of design-your-own fabric. What a fabulous idea.
Dear Susan,
I always enjoy reading about your latest and greatest adventures on your inspiring blog. Since I have gotten “crafty” again (sewing, knitting and crocheting), I will be checking out your fabrics at Spoonflower. Happy anniversary to you!
Kathy
Good Morning, and Congratulations! The fabrics will be wonderful. And speaking of wonderful, I LOVED Martha’s Vinyard, Isle of Dreams! I have read it twice already, and yesterday reread the part about getting started on dreams! “To begin, begin.” I am working on a writing project (dare I say, a novel!!!!) and felt a lot of inspiration and encouragement from your book! I have lots of gratitude for you, and will take the advice to follow my heart(thanks to Diana, too). I wish you were coming closer to Stockbridge on your book tour, but I do have an autographed copy (thank you)! Have a wonderful tour. I am looking forward to Willard soon.
XOXOX, Ann
What wonderful surprises await! I LOVE all the detail about your fabrics. Even more I LOVE their availability! Do you remember when we were talking about learning curves a couple of years back? Well… This is a FUN learning curve ❤️
I’m counting down to Willard!
XO
Georgie from NJ
Good morning, what wonderfully, fun, whimsical fabrics, cannot wait to check them all out and know I will find plenty of projects to use them in!
Oh my….so much beautiful fabric! My husband will be so happy…not :). Fabric is one of my favorite swoons. I have been looking for a fabric to border a quilt I am making and can’t seem to find just the right thing. So spoonflower may be just the shop. I have been looking for small prints and just haven’t had any luck. Also need small prints for little dresses for two little granddaughters. But then you gave me the idea for jammy bottoms! And wrapping paper? How wonderful! So many fabrics so little time! BTW the quilt is just beautiful.
Hi Susan, What a great post. I love the tea pot fabric, actually I love them all!
Such a fabulous give-a-way. I am almost finished Isle of Dreams, I can’t seem to put it down. Love, love, love the book. So fun to see Agnes’ shoes. Thanks for the tip about Spoonflower.
What a generous give-away! We toured all over England using your Fine Romance as a sort of guide. Of course, Beatrix Potter’s home was the ultimate prize for me and when I got home I changed our guest room into the “Peter Rabbit” room with a cozy overstuffed mattress and wonderful bed linens. I was able to use my Gran’s bedroom furniture which is very sweet and sprinkle the room with my Royal Doulton Beatrix Potter and Bunnykins figures which I have collected just forever! One of the best parts of that room is cuddling underneath a cozy quilt. Thank you for your books and artwork…you are just my style and whenever I read your blog or Willard or your books I know we would be kindred spirits.
All I can say is “How absolutely amazing!!”
Susan Branch designed fabric with a few clicks of the keyboard? Life doesn’t get any better than that! Unless you count reading SB books while you wait for delivery!
Susan — you have absolutely made my day!
Thank you!
Susan, you are such an amazing and inspirational person! I am a quilter and I love old vintage quilts. I love to see how they sew together all different colors and patterns in a quilt. Loved your blog this morning and so excited for Willard to come out. I’m going to check out your fabrics now!
Happy 30th Anniversary!!! So GRATEFUL you followed your heart! I am in the middle of “Isle of Dreams” and I LOVE IT! Quite frankly I LOVE ALL OF YOUR BOOKS, CALENDARS, ETC…..
I hope that you and Joe have an AMAZING trip across our BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!
I am a quilter and love that you are making your wonderful designs available to us in fabric. I just looked at the spoonflower site and the process looks so easy!
A new blog entry always inspires me to get busy cleaning house, do some baking, and phone a friend! Thanks for always motivating me!
So much excitement! Bless you, dear Susan, for all the joy you share!
Congratulations on all your dreams coming true! I also love fabric. It makes my heart smile.
Oh my goodness!! Oh my goodness!! So much loveliness in one post!! I love Spoonflower!! Have bought some of their fabric! Now I can buy some of YOURS! I could jump over the moon right now!! I was hoping your news had something to do with Spoonflower. This girl who was never able to order the Santa needlework pillow is getting very excited about the thoughts of now being able to make the pillow myself!!!! AND if that wasn’t news worthy enough…..now MORE delish giveaways!!! WOW!!! There are going to be some VERY excited girlfriends in the very near future! How very kind and thoughtful of YOU! A quilt from your very own collection, that I am sure has been sat upon by your sweet kitties, blown in the breeze of Martha’s Vineyard, graced many a photo!!! Be still my heart!! You are one busy bee who deserves a vacay!! Love you and thanks so much!! I cannot wait to meet you in person in Georgia!! I have Georgia and Susan Branch on my mind!!!
I am going to have a terrible time just keeping up with comments today, I know it, especially because I want to answer everyone, This was so nice Belinda! but I am going to force myself Not to, just to keep up!!!
You do a WONDERFUL job! No worries! We KNOW you are such a BUSY BEE and we appreciate anything you do!
Thanks for doing this Susan! I’m still hoping your Jammies will make a comeback some day! Mine are still comfy and so cute!
What a delightful surprise, a new blog post and Willard all in one glorious spring morning!
Thanks Susan.
Oh Susan. I’m so excited, I am overcome with Pathological Enthusiasm!!! The creative possibilities are endless. You are the gift that keeps on giving! I love that sweet little blue bird fabric. Have a wonderful day xx oo
Love that Pathological stuff Mary!
Oh what excitement for you!
I first heard about Spoonflower from Soulemama.com also. What a wonderful way to create your own fabric/patterns. I’m ready to start two new quilts for my grandsons, one blue and one red. Such creativity here!
Dear Susan, I have several of your Cookbooks and Love each one dearly, I hope to meet you someday. I will keep my fingers crossed for the Movies, too. How wonderful. Have fun on tour, Cindy
Martha’s Vinyard Isle of Dreams, New fabric!!! My cup runneth over!!
Thank you Susan for making nesting cool. I love your books so much!!!
XOXOXO
Thank you for Willard and wonderful blog post! Excellent!! Love the fabric, too!
Thank you from a fabric lover. I just finished reading Isle of Dreams. I don’t have words to tell you how wonderful it was!
LOVE hearing that Martha!!
Double surprises this morning! Susan’s fabric and we had rain and the tulips not only doubled in size over night but the buds popped out. Amazing! Could you write us every morning? 😆, makes the day sooo much better.
I love quilts! I’ve actually made a few baby quilts, a very simple pattern that uses 5 different patterns and you only need 1/3 yard each plus a yard and a half for backing. This post has me thinking about making another. Please enter me in the drawing, I would just die if I won your quilt! Blessings! ~Lina
Good morning from NYC, Susan. Such beautiful fabric!! You were in my thoughts the other day when I was cleaning some silver using the aluminum foil method you wrote about – magic!! Have a wonderful day.
Magic! xoxo
It always makes my morning when there is a new blog from you. What beautiful fabric designs! I collect brown transferware and love (and need) the “Martha’s Vineyard Toile.” In today’s world, it is so uplifting that you are having both your fabrics and your books made here in the United States. I have read and loved your new book, Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams, twice. You are so inspiring!
Wow! Wow! And – Wow! Super giveaways! Such wonderful designs that can be used in so many ways! I may have to uncover my sewing machine and bring my feeble creations to life again! Certainly much motivation to do so!
There is nothing quite like a sunrise on Martha’s Vineyard. We spent a mere three days there, but it was more than enough to fill me with homesickness whenever I read your blog.:-) I like the morning hours, too. There is something so very special about being able to watch the world awaken.
Sending along sunny wishes for a very good day – shopping! Yay!!
xo Nellie
Can’t wait for the “new” first book–I was at work and there was a Book Fair in our office building–whenever a coworker showed me the book I had to have it. I have been a fan ever since and am very grateful that you brought joy into my life at a time when I really needed it (newly divorced). You were an anchor in my work and reminded me of happy things. Thank you!!!
Oh Susan I am speechless such pretty fabric…. and this new post made my lunch time at work very special… I’m in the draw, never give up on your dreams, that’s all we have, most of the time x
XOXOXO
love, love to see pictures of your kitty cats! what would live be without them?? enjoy your ride across America!
Not near as fun! Thank you Kelly!
another great blog! Spoonflower sounds so cool. I never got any of your fabric (boo hoo) as I think I discovered you after that. But I love the stickers, which are sadly, also all gone. Great way to get the fabric back out there. I am a quilter and love to make things for the house as well – in fact I am off to visit my quilt shop in a few minutes. Have a great day!
Someday there will be click and print stickers! I hope! Have a good one Biz!
It is a joy to read your blog and to look at all your pretty things, Susan, Have a nice day!
God bless, Kathy in Illinois
What a talent to be able to make quilts or even sew. I do knit but that takes a bit of time as I usually have a few projects going at the same time.
I was thrilled to be able to read the Willard that arrived in my email this morning. I have so enjoyed your books and look forward to reading the new ones.
I also look forward to attending the tea in Illinois.
See you there Maureen!
The FABRIC!!! Oh my–who would have thought that this was possible? To have a fabric line that was not printed just pictures on the world wide web that you could click on and voila–it is printed and mailed right to your doorstep. The world is an amazing place! Thank you for the giveaway, the fabric, the books, and just you yourself.
I’m so excited your fabrics are back! I’m not very handy when it comes to sewing, but my college bestie Linda made me curtains for my craft room from some of your fabrics. She also has taught me to embroider so maybe one day I’ll become a full fledge sew-er! Thanks for the Willard AND the Spoonflower news.
Peace, Love and Creativity!
OH! Me, me, me! I am so excited to get your newsletter in my email box. It’s as close to a real letter from a friend I receive there anymore.
We are blooming and rushing through Spring here in the South, much to my chagrin. Soon it will be the dog days of summer and so hard to enjoy.
So glad to hear of your trip- I hope it’s spectacular.
Kim in NC
I’m so excited about the fabric and gift wrap! I remember your fabric collection well. Something gets cut from today’s To Do list so I can check that site out. My copy of Heart of the Home is from the 12th printing. Love that book; it’s like an old friend. Happy 30th anniversary!
Good morning to you, Susan! Beyond excited for your post this morning! I am just learning how to hand quilt (all thumbs at this point!) but I’m loving it! I don’t own an antique quilt, but I so appreciate them. What works of art! I have finished Isle of Dreams and it’s my favorite of the trilogy. I’m starting the reread today! Great news about Spoonflower……love the name! Thank you for being so generous and good luck to us all!
What a wonderful idea to share about Spoonflower. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.
What wonderful news about your fabrics being available again!! Thank you so much!
Have a great book tour! 🚙 📚
Got my Willard this morning and have been reading it and this post. LOVE your fabric–sent for my sample swatches yesterday after you announced it on Twitter. I’m SO excited for you!
Anxiously waiting for the new Willard, know it will be a treat to read. The quilt is so beautiful as is all the wonderful fabrics. Will have to check out spoon flower.
Good Morning Susan ~ So Excited for You !! I have Read all your books & could not put them down ~ So Sad when I finished 😢 We made your Lemon Linguini with Shrimp last weekend for company ~ Everyone wanted the recipe!! Hope to see you in Autin or Memphis this summer !!
Hi Susan,
Thank you for sharing Spoonflower.com with us! I am getting ready to move and can’t wait to check out the fabrics available for new curtains and such. (I’ve also admired your quilts for a while now, so I am crossing my fingers over here! ;-P).
How wonderful! Susan, you’ve outdone yourself on this post. I am delighted. Speaking of delighted, what a wonderful book, Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams! It has encouraged me into more quiet meditative time and an appreciation of all things as gifts to us. Blessings!
Yippee! I’m hereby entered! What fun!
Indeed! *hugs*
Kelley Dibble
Good Morning, Susan…..So glad to hear about your fabrics. I do crazy quilting and your fabrics would be great for that. Plus I tend to collect fabrics that I love…..I take them out every once in a while just to look at them and imagine what I could turn them into! Have a great day!!
Wonderful news about Spoonflower! I just ordered the Vineyard toile for kitchen curtains! I can’t wait! So glad you found a place like this and can’t wait for more patterns to be uploaded! Thank you for making my day!
You are wonderful and print on demand sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to check it out.
Thanks for all that you do.
Kay
I am a quilter and lament the very short shelf life of certain prints. I love the whole concept of Spoonflower, and now I can have SB fabrics any time I want. Yea!
Oh, that is exciting! What a lovely way to kick off Spring:) I’m off to check the website now and do a little quilty dreaming!
Happy Days,
Jennifer Moroziuk
This is just like Christmas! Thank you for more opportunities to win precious things, and thanks also for the fabric tutorial. So interesting! Can’t wait for my Willard too. ❤️
Susan, you have made my day. I wasn’t aware of anything like Spoonflowers. It’s amazing!
And to think I can buy your fabric designs. I am beyond excited. You are such an inspiration in my life. I check your blog in the morning before my e-mail! I pray that you & Joe will have a safe trip. See you in Asheville. Karen
Love your blog post this morning and the sunrise pictures of your kitchen. I love sunrises and sunsets. And, fabric—-be still my heart. I think I just collect fabric, I never have to use it but I do love just looking at my stash neatly folded in the cabinet. My little piece of heaven and now I can get some of your fabric at Spoonflower. That is fantastic. Thank you for making my day brighter! – Donna H.
Hi Susan! So happy there’s a way to get your fabrics again! I have been reading and re-reading your trilogy books….soooo inspiring 🙂 My hearts beats for many of the same things yours does, it’s nice to know there’s more of us out here
I love how your blog posts seem so much like a letter to a friend. I heard about Spoonflower recently and will check out your fabrics there. Happy spring!
p.s. I love vintage quilts.
OH, OH, OH, OH – I have been chanting that to the delight of my grandchildren the moment I started reading this blog! I was on board for the first (and second, and third) round of Susan Branch fabrics! I am soooo excited to explore this new way to provide your lovely prints. Wallpaper??? Be still my heart!!!!!
My anniversary gift a few years ago was a trip with my husband to the Learned Owl in Hudson, Ohio to meet you and have you sign my books. I am so fortunate to be registered to come again this year, this time with my very best girlfriends from high school! It is a banner birthday year for us, born a scant 60 years ago, and everyone has gotten the day off work and we are ready for our 75 mile road trip! I am busy making our “Girl Friend” name tags and planning some surprises! Can’t wait to see you again!
Me too Maryellen . .. and yes, wallpaper? Be still my heart too!
What a thrill to learn about the availability of your fabrics. I have slowly used my stash of the Vineyard and Baby Love ones I purchased and now I can get some more! Thank you. And thank you for all you do. Your creativity and generousity are an inspiration.
Congratulations on your Anniversary!! And what a wonderful post this morning; I am so excited for you and this new venture. I love, love, love quilts, but have never created one of my own. It is one of many on the can’t wait until retirement list of things to do; hopefully, I am in count down mode now at less than 5 years (can that be so? where did it go?) Your blog is such a relaxing, beautiful place. I check each day to see if you have a new post or to simply read the comments from girl friends. Thank you for all that you do with your talent and your positive outlook. Best wishes for a safe book tour; I look forward to your posts from the road.
O Susan! Congratulations!!! 20 years! And to imagine you’re only 35…. 😉 You were soooo young when this wonderful book came out.
And where to begin! I love, love, love all your books.
Great to hear that you’ve invited all of us to come to the picnic in England. I promised my kids to go to London this autumn. I’m sure they won’t notice until the picnic that we’re going somewhere else (gna gna). Shall we all dress up Downton style??
I’ll be checking out the spoonflower site, I know them already, have even had my own fabric printed 😉 how fun is that, you know you can even make a pillow out of a painting made for mothers day…
I would (of course ) love to win, but first and foremost have fun on your various trips!
I haven’t sown in years and after seeing all the fabulous fabris, I just want to make pillows and lots of adorable things. It has been a joy to read your blog and I recently read A Fine Romance which was so enjoyable and pretty to look at to boot. When I see your home and landscape pictures, I remember visiting family in New England (my mother and her family from New England, through French Canada) and brings back lovely memories. And of course, I so would like to be included in the drawing !!!
Thank you Susan….for your generosity & news about Spoonflower! You always, always give me such energy…you are truly an amazing woman.
This is over the top! When I saw Willard in my mailbox this a.m. (I heard the little “ding” on my cell phone) I was thrilled since I just poured a cup of tea, never expecting your newsletter to be SO full of news and then the fabric designs, the give-aways . . . on and on (in a good way, of course!). I almost forgot to put my vote in for Zoey Deschanel to play Susan Branch. When I heard her voice on YouTube, I said YES! That deep voice will be a good match. The eyes and the bangs are a no-brainer. Go for it!
It must be that Island air that keeps you going full speed ahead!
LOL! Going for it Jackie! 🙂 Thank you!
Cannot WAIT for the new book. Actually have had it in my calendar since “The Fairy Tale Girl” came out! Congrats!