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!
Happy 30th Anniversary, Susan! Love everything you do … and your blog always makes me feel like I’m at home. ♥
Congratulations!
We get goodies for your Birthday and Anniversary? I’ll bake the Cranberry Cake and have a piece to celebrate your special year!!!!!! AND a trip to the UK too?!!!!!Oh Susan, you are generous and spoil us!!!You deserve a wonderful year for working so hard and being so kind to us.Thanks for sharing your sunshine!!!!
Hi Susan, I always look forward to your Willards and this was a great one. I’m also a quilter,sewer and lover of cats lol and I’m so glad you shared Spoonflower with us. I plan on checking it out this weekend between laundry,garden chores and housework.
I’m really enjoying your latest book, I read a little every night before bed so I won’t finish it too fast. I also scored a near perfect copy of The Heart of the Home at the used book store and I’m loving it. I’m hoping to meet you when you come to California for your book signing and I can’t wait to get ahold of some of your new fabric line. Keep up the good work and have a safe trip.
Christy R.
Oh….and see you at the Tattered Cover in Denver!!!!So excited to meet you in person.
Susan, your new fabrics are beautiful. I can barely sew on a button, but I have great appreciation for quilting and textile arts. Thank you for sharing the Spoonflower site. Ironically, I was sitting beside a woman on a flight yesterday who asked if I knew how to have custom fabrics printed. Now I know!
I have treasured your books calendars, notebooks, etc for years. Thank you!
Oh Susan, no matter how much distance between us there is just some feel of connection each day with you. It may be a sweet little bird singing, a fallen leaf, a hot scone from the oven, a textured piece of fabric, a kitty or a cup of tea. i am grateful for our friendship although we have never personally met. I am hoping that will change in a few weeks. I hope to meet you when you are in Asheville, NC.
My prayer is that you come, NC needs you. As you know our state is in the midst of such ugly political turmoil and so many have refused to come. NC is Home and I love the ‘ole North State. It is beautiful and has beautiful people. I do not understand why these people have bailed coming. I personally have lost much respect for them. Why not come and be a representative of love and graciousness to the ones who appreciate and support them. isn’t that what it really is all about, being kind and loving to all God’s creatures. I am so excited to think that I may just meet “my friend” face to face. With love, Janie
I do know, and we thought about it. But we know what side the bookstore is on, and want to support them, you are so right, it’s not fair to punish everyone for the deeds of a few. Also proud of Bruce Springfield for NOT coming, because he makes such a noisy difference. I’ll be there Janie! xoxo
Thank you, Susan, for thirty years of joy from your books. We (my husband and I) look forward to the book signing at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA on April 30th. One of my dearest treasures is a handwritten note card you sent to me in 1997 in response to a thank you note. Your first book as well as your new book will be along at the signing. Your recent post about the quilt has inspired me to start a quilt project from your fabrics kept all these years. The return of the 100 year old christening dress last evening was an evening to remember. Land !
See you there Linda! Thank you!
Happy anniversary & Happy Belated Birthday! I love the quilt and am delighted to see that some of your designs will be available in fabric. One of my favorites is a red check with little flowers in the middle of each check – this is on a recipe box you designed – I just love it; hopefully it will make it into the collection on Spoonflower.
Thank you for sharing your many talents!
I’ll make sure to include that one Karen! It’s going to be the cover of the new version of Heart of the Home! We think alike!
ooooh (squeal, squeal)…new fabric! and new peonies..be still my heart! I first found 162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/ because of a quilt (I am a quilter) and have followed ever since and that was EONS ago! it was the oh-so delicate pinwheel, which I loved at first sight! and a giveaway too???? how wonderful!
I had no idea you had so many fabrics – I’m going to leave my browser open today so I can keep coming back to explore and look at the beautiful patterns! I’ve always enjoyed your books (I have most of them) and am looking forward to these new ones, too. Thank you!
Thank you Susan! Hope to see you in Ohio, I live in Michigan, so it’s just a short trip to be with you, so excited. Love your blog, so inspirational! We’re the same age so I relate to many of your sweet memories, see you soon!
Betty❤️❤️
I love spoon flower ! And would love your gift! See you in Pasadena at Vrohms Bookstore May 8th!!!!
Your books and your blog just make me so happy! I am reading and savoring Isle of Dreams now. I enjoy your impressions of your first winters in New England. I had forgotten the joy of making snow angels, sledding and ice skating as a kid living in western New York state. Love all the quotes, the photos, and your humor. And your blogs are like a great letter from a good friend. Plus, I look forward to new photos of adorable Jack, in each blog. That face!
love,
Diane R from northern Kentucky
Congratulations on 30 years, Susan! I remember getting your first book like it was yesterday! Looking forward to your book signing here in Santa Barbara 🙂
You are a breath of fresh air, a blessing to your readers.
I just finished you book Isle of Dreams, it was just wonderful!! thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am going back and re-reading A Fine Romance as I am sure I will find something new in it that I missed before, LOL.
And the quilt give-a-way is just awesome. I try to rescue old quilts as I appreciated all the hard work that goes into them and that they belonged to someone who once loved them, now I can love them!!
Love your blog, books and fabric!!!!
The fabric is all so adorable and pretty! I love Spoonflower, good choice!
Any way of you getting the Queen’s 90th birthday Emma mugs like we did with the Charlotte ones?? I desperately want one but the mug is $36 and shipping is $30! Yikes!
Crazy prices, shipping across the world has gotten to be ridiculous (shipping next door is ridiculous). I think we could hire a private plane and have things shipped that way for cheaper than it is in the regular way! I’m not sure about the mugs, we should be getting them, but I haven’t been paying close enough attention to know . . . write to Sheri at customerservice.com, she’ll know!
My two artist daughters and I love your blog, books, creativity, well, EVERYTHING! Happy 30th, Susan!
Loved the info on spoonflower! I hope to order some fabric soon.
Happy Anniversary! Your beautiful blog and wonderful spirit of optimism and joy has helped me through many days when discouragement knocked. Here’s to celebrating life! 🙂
Wow!! The Internet is so amazing, Susan! I am very happy for you! And I loved your blog post that I just read today! Thank you for sharing your nor for life with all of us!!!
Meant to say love for life, not “not for life!” Darn auto correct!!!!
Sorry!!!
Hate it. 🙂
🙂
Susan your blog brings me such joy…I ask myself, “why can’t I just live here?” but alas there are dishes to do and children to run hither and yon. Fabric and quilts O’ my…they are some of the loves of my life. And embroidery! Both of these passions I got from my Grandma’s. My Grandma Lucile was an avid quilter and my Grandma Margaret was an avid embroiderer. So my house is loving decorated with both. My house will never be featured in a magazine but it is full of love and fabric art. Just the way I like it. I can’t wait to check out Spoonflower. THANKS!!
Hello Susan,
Loved every word. Just got back from a trip visiting my mom up in Oregon and was so happy to be able to see a new posting. Going to read my Willard next. I totally agree about the fabric industry. When you see a fabric you like you HAVE to buy it as you know it will be gone before you know it. How much to buy? And for what you will use it doesn’t matter as it is now or never. Silly.
You are so very sweet to give away this beautiful quilt.
Thank you for everything you do. I love it all!
Oh, and I LOVE Spoonflower. Would have no clue about it if you had not shared it with us. Just popped over and ordered your Birthday in wrapping paper and 1 yard of cotton. Thank You!!
Hugs,
Debbie Johnson
A most excellent way to celebrate your 30th Anniversary – YOUR FABRIC. I am thrilled that we can now purchase. O.M.Gosh. Happy indeed. Just brilliant.
Thank you Susan for doing this for all your girlfriends that love your style and love quilts. We can now combine both. Oh happy day !
Jumping with Joy
Your fabric is lovely, I can tell you are very excited to be able to print it again. You are so enthusiastic you are infectious!
WOW! Love the Spoonflower shop! So exciting and limitless!!!! Love all your creations! Thank you so much for the awesome giveaways! I hope this isn’t a duplicate entry, thought about checking but no time to go thru 2,000+ entries!
So wishing I lived closer to one of the bookstores where you will be stopping. Have a wonderful trip and thanks again for being the best girlfriend and blogger in the world! Blessings! Cathy in north Idaho.
I just received my signed copy of Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams I am so excited I will get nothing done today as I begin to read your book. Last night I got out my first edition copy of the Heart of the home to re-read and enjoy. Its like seeing and old friend again. Thank you Susan for the many hours of
happiness and memories of your items I hold most dear and treasured.
Quilts, tea pots, and wisteria! Aren’t they just some of your favorite words? And books…books. Ah. What a great giveaway, Susan. Your blog is just so much fun. What a wonderful world!
Susan, I found your first book my sophomore year of college in 1987, and found a kindred spirit! A whole shelf in the family room is devoted to your books, a whole drawer in my craft area to everything else, and every morning I drink my tea from my brown bird tea cup. BUT, the best/worst was when my mother called a few years ago from the big family vacay on the island I couldn’t go to, and they were all staying AT YOUR HOUSE!! I made them take ALL THE PICTURES, especially of your garden. And this year, my best friend persuaded me to pursue my dream, and we are going to Carmel-By-The-Sea for a week long watercolor class! I will probably never successfully paint a person, but I can do some pretty good flowers! On to books, tea pots, and landscapes!
What a wonderful class that will be, in such a gorgeous place. You’ll be surprised what they can teach you in a week! Have fun and good luck!
Susan, what kind of notebooks do you use for quotes? I want to do that too! 🙂 so wondering what type is best? I just purchased a used older copy of Bartlett’s Quotations and am ready!! Thank you. Rose
Mine have never been fancy . . . but it would be fun to collect them in a special little diary-type of book.
Susan I love, love, love everything you create!! Vanna, please pick me!!
Is there no end to the creativity from Sue?!? We sure hope not! I’m having one small problem…do you think my “original” Heart of the Home will be mad if I bring the new one home? 😉 I knew you would understand my predicament!
Norine
Wow! That is so cool that you are able to do fabric again. I can feel your excitement! I will have to check all the designs out. 🙂 Re-reading, A Fine Romance. Even loving it more, the second time. Have a great weekend! Kit
Congratulations on thirty years! I’ve been collecting your books that long. So excited I can get fabrics again through Spoon flower fabric. Never can get enough of your designs. I hope I win the trilogy so I can give a set to my daughter graduating from college. Hope to see you on your book tour too. So exciting!!!
What a beautiful quilt! Happy anniversary! and thank you for another giveaway :-)….your pictures make me wish Spring was here (woke up to 8 inches of snow this morning)!
Of all your lovely pictures in this blog, I have to say that my favorites are the sunrise kitchen ones! Isn’t that such a special time of day? I’m just now catching up to this blog entry and Willard – we’ve been out of the house for four days. A moving van is coming on Tuesday ( eek! ), but we had a last – minute decision that the house had to be tented. A common SoCal problem! Losing four days of packing about did me in, but the forced hiatus turned out to be good for us. My husband and I were wound pretty tight, and getting a room with an east-facing balcony where we could sit and watch the moon rise was perfect. And in a little over a week, I’ll be the Ohio gal finally home from SoCal! Blessings to you and Joe as you start your journey soon!
LOVE you new book and looking forward to Heart of the Home. I have the original and want to add the newer version to my Susan Branch Collection!
Happy Birthday & Happy Anniversary! It’s so exciting about your newest book being available & about your fabrics on Spoonflower! Thanks for all of the wonderful blogs, Willards, illustrations, quotes, & giveaways!
Love the fabric! Hopefully there will be lots more. Finished reading Isle of Dreams in 2 days — just couldn’t put it down. Thank you for the wonderful read!
Bless you for the joy you give to people with your books, your blogs, newsletters, giveaways, and your fabric! Thank you for 30 years of joy.
Happy 30th Anniversary!! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
Susan. I enjoyed the recent Willard. I only wish I had been a subscriber back in the days when you mailed them out via the postal service. Can’t wait to read Isle of Dreams. I have requested that a local county library purchase it. I had also requested they purchase A Fine Romance and Fairy Tale Girl when they came out. So soon they will have the entire trilogy for other patrons to enjoy. I am also excited for the 30th Anniversary edition of The Heart of the Home. There is a space on the bookshelf waiting for it to join the original version. The books I refer to most often are Heart of Home, Autumn, and Christmas. They are my favorites. I look forward to reading about your first East Coast winter and introduction to snow. I am a California Girl, too. Having grown up in the Central Valley, spent my college years and after in the Bay Area, and now residing on the Central Coast near the Pacific Ocean; I have never gotten to enjoy the dream of at least one snowy winter. Can’t wait to hear the story of how you “accidentally” bought your cute first little house. I love your current home. I enjoy all the photos you post of it and the glimpses we catch of your neighbor’s homes. You have been so busy all year on all your projects and I look forward to reading your words and seeing your art. You have amazing energy. Hope to get to Morro Bay when you are in town.
How exciting is this! Spoonflower is the kind of shop you could only dream about and now it’s happened! I’m going to need some ideas as I am a great copier, but don’t have much creativity of my own. Love the pillowcase idea, and I’ve done some quilting, but I’d love to see some finished products using your fabrics! I can see the possibilities would be endless! So fun, I’ll be waiting! Love the pictures of your sunrise. I envy your ability to be up and able to enjoy it as much as you do, thanks for sharing with us night~owls!
Susan! Happy Anniversary to you and to us! I bought Heart of the Home when my husband proposed and used it to help plan my wedding, give showers and cook in our early years. Even if I dreamed it all up in a dream, your books, calendars, writing and art couldn’t bring me more joy. I’m a nurse and when work life gets hard and stressful, all I need to do is look up at my 2016 Susan Branch calendar, and I feel happy and blessed. Don’t ever change!
You’re a doll Kristi, don’t you ever change either. ❤️ Thank you for the work you do. 👏
Love, love, love the blues, yellows and birds… got to have them! You have inspired me to get busy once again! Thank-you, thank-you! How will you let us know when these will be ready for ordering?
I’ll announce in the blog every so often when new things go up . . . hope that will work. Thank you Judy!
What a generous give away! Lovely blog do you have with so many beautiful things to look at
Just when I think you have done it all! You still come up with more lovely surprises. I cannot imagine a world without YOU! Happy 30th and to years more of loveliness, kindness and generosity.
Dear Susan,
I was Reading about the fabrics, what a great idea! The birthday fabric designs, would look great in a tablecloth. You should start a Christmas design too and One for every holiday! I´ll bet they will be a success. The design with the blue bird is awesome!
Happy anniversary, Susan!
Oh, I’d love that beautiful quilt! But, of course, the books would be wonderful, too! 🙂
Happy Anniversary,Happy Birthday,and Congratulations on the fabrics! I’m sure,like everything else you have a hand in,it will be gold in no time!!! You have extreme talent and it is so nice to see it being put to good use…so we can all enjoy it! Best of luck in your sorta new endeavor 🙂
I have many of your books. I love the pictures, recipes, little decorating hints and quotes in them. I have received Willard for many years and look forward to it. Thank you for sharing so much with us. I have shared your bookmarks, recipes and stationary with “girl friends” too! So happy you will have fabric available again. Please come to Michigan.
Finally read all the comments and got my answer — a different house.
Thank you for all and every little thing. I preordered the revised Heart of the Home.
Dearest Susan, I finished reading your wonderful new book and did the next most natural thing: ordered one for my friend Ruth in Chicago, IL. She just called to say “thank you” and was so happy. Each time you added new life back into Holly Oak it was this wonderful journey of renewal, healing, and strength that I felt every step of the way. We’re all grateful to Agnes…..and there’s a special place in heaven for Carl. Thank you, Susan, for sharing so much and for connecting to our hearts so beautifully! Happy book signing!
Thank you, I will tell Carl you said that, he will love it! xoxoxo
A late wish for a Happy Birthday!! Love your blog and the new Willard. Love the look at your fabrics.
I am a sewer and quilter. My mother taught me how to sew. I love fabric and find inspiration from your pages. I also love your calendars! Thank you for sharing your gift with us. Happy 30th Anniversary! Here’s to 30 more!
Susan, Received your new book and sat down immediately to read it. On top of your wonderful life story, there were so many inspiring tidbits and lovely lessons tucked right into the story. It was delightful! I am starting at the beginning and going right through all 3 books again!! Thank you!!!
Thrills me to hear that Shelly! xoxoxo
I remember loving those Country Living magazines when they had a page with your hand-painted recipes and artwork. I tore each page out and saved them. Then when you had the cookbook, well I got that too, and more and more and it’s never ending. Thank you Sue for all the lovely art and the wonderful recipes. The world needs more like you. A true ray of sunshine!
It may seem silly but you inspire me to relish spring cleaning, opening the windows wide and putting linens out in the breeze to breath.
I would so like to win. Such fun.
Your trilogy is on my to-read list. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to win them!
I’m going to miss you (just!) in both Cincinnati and Chicago, but will have to content myself with following you on the blog. Have a wonderful, fruitful trip, and return home safely to your kitties.
Happy 30th! Would love your giveaways!!!! See you in May in New Hope, Pa. <3
Hi Susan,
I remember when Heart of the Home came out the first time, and I look forward to the revised version. You may not remember, but we did a phone interview in 1990 for your Christmas book when I was the food writer for the paper here. I remember when you answered the phone, you said you were sitting on the floor making dried herb stem bundles for gifts for friends to put by their fireplaces. You continue to be exactly that kind of creative person.
Come visit Richmond, Virginia, on your next tour!
Funny! xoxo Nice to hear from you Jann!
Happy Anniversary to you, love all that you do! Bon Voyage on your book tour, Isle of Dreams was enchanting!
I am NOT a quilter though I have made a couple grand baby quilts that I tied. I got really brave and ordered your DARLING sailboat fabric about 3 years ago for a baby blanket and it turned out respectfully. Thanks for all the JOY you spread sweet gal.
I thought I should read Fairy Tale Girl quickly before Martha’s Vineyard came. A little thing hit me. You mentioned Dan Hicks(and his Hot Licks). I never run into anyone who has heard of them. I named my 2nd kitty Shorty after the songs Shorty falls in love and Shorty takes a dive. I still have the album. Love the books(old and new) and calendars and blog and oh the notepads!
Loved (and still do) Dan Hicks . . . just listening to THIS ONE the other day . . . Thank you Linda!
lHey Susan!
What a DELIGHT to be a part of your Creativity…and to join in your story!
You said you’d love to hear what we want in your new designs???
Well, forget the big Santa face that looks like Joe…
…and give us the dangling wet tea bag hanging from his eye glasses!!! HAHA! Wouldn’t that be adorable???
Little tea cups, tea bags, eye glasses interspersed with “La De Dah!”sss all over the fabric…and Joey Hall’s face that reveals flickerings of facial intelligence as the truth is revealed!!! What a look!
I still chuckle every time I think of that scene! Such a GIFT to LAUGH in this world of ours!!! You give us EVERYTHING, Susan!
xoxo
Wasn’t that just the funniest? I’m like you, just thinking about it makes me laugh! xoxo Thank you Beth!
Visiting your blog is like sitting by the fire with a cup of hot tea and a good book on a rainy day. That’s the feelng I get when I visit. Hoping to make it to one of your California stops im May.
Happy 30th Anniversary!
Dear Susan Branch – I Love that quilt – you have such nice giveaways.
Can’t wait to meet you at the St. Charles, MO book signing. I’ve been a fan for a long, long time! I was finally able to track down a copy of Gladys Taber’s Stillmeadow Seasons. What a lovely, peaceful book. Can’t wait to find more. Thanks for the recommendations.
Pick Me! Pick Me! Congratulations Susan, I can’t wait to see your fabric designs, I wear your pajamas every night. They’re pink with cupcakes!
Susan, I loved your book…. Could not put it down. Thank you…
Please, oh please, “Let it be me”
Can’t wait to buy some SB fabric at Spoonflower!
I love the fabric. How exciting! I especially like how you can get the print made into wrapping paper. Such creativity. Thank you!
You probably hear it all the time, but let me say it just once more: “You are such an inspiration!”
What’s not to ❤️ . . . it’s my dream come true. xoxo
Love love love your latest book! I read it in three days. I have read all three and shared The Fairy Tale Girl with my dear friend who lived in San Luis Obispo during the same years you were there. She said her husband remembers the music shop.
I am so inspired by your fabrics! I own some that I bought at the Ontario Quilt Show in California and anxious to include them in my latest quilt. One is like the water that you included on the cover of Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams, and one has little sailboats on it with a quote from Ben Franklin.
Can’t wait to get sewing!
“Little boats should keep near shore.” xoxo Thank you! I love your name!
Excited to see your fabrics!
Thanks for this opportunity.
Susan- I am delighted your fabric designs are available on Spoonflower! Can’t tell you the joy you bring to my world with your online posts, books, recipes, designs, photos, and now fabrics! Hugs!
Just today I finished your new book. I loved it – read it straight through in 2 days because it’s that good! Thanks for the giveaways and always being so cheerful.
Love, love, love your stories and pictures about quilts. I love them old or new, small or large, worn or not worn.
I bought your Summer book as an 18 year old at the local (tiny) library sale… Was hooked. Checked out all the rest of your books from the library and bought them when funds permitted (not Beatrix Potter figurines, but Susan Branch books for me)… So excited for the 30th anniversary copy! Huzzah!
Your name is Elf! You must be a very busy girl! xoxo
Happy Anniversary! I’ve been devoted to your art from day 1… You and Ms. Potter 🙂
See you in St. Charles MO for your book signing (as long as they let me bring my four-legged traveling companion Sally in). Hugs…
I hope they do because there is nothing like a sweet petty-pet for people who are traveling and away from their own.
Great news! I phoned the bookshop in St. Charles and they assured me they are very dog-friendly. Sally’s tail has not stopped wagging.
That’s fantastic! Can’t wait to meet her — and of course, you too! 🙂
I love your blog and your new book!!!!
Happy Anniversary!!!
Oh Susan! What a glorious 30th year! I am so happy to have been touched by your beautiful work at least 20 years ago & my best girlfriend and I share a LOVE for all things SB! I am thrilled about your designs being offered on Spoonflower! YIPPEEEE!!! I can’t wait to really check it all out. Thank you for sharing your talent & generosity. You truly spread sunshine (like in your sweet morning pictures) all over everyone & everything you touch!!!
I love the way you paint! You have the wonderful gift of bringing painting to life. Thank you for sharing that gift with us.
Happy spring! Safe travels!
Susan, you are like a tutor- teaching us how to live a kinder, sweeter gentler life everyminute of every day. Thank you for that!
There should be a class taught in the first 12 years, “how to be happy.” Just a little simple thing like that. On TV yesterday someone was talking about the American Dream but it all seemed to be relating to how many cars were in the driveway. It’s way more than that, and way less. If people only knew about birdsong, embroidery thread, and sheets hanging on the line! xoxo
Good Morning Susan, Just wanted to let you know I have been telling all my girlfriends at work about you and your blog and wonderful books. (We are Oncology nurses). I even lend out my copies of your books. Once they see your books or look up your blog they too are hooked they want their own copies of all your books. Personally I am amazed there are a few people who haven’t met you yet but what are friends for if not to share goodies? Hugs from Louisville, Your friend Jacilyn.
You’re a doll Jacilyn! Please thank your Girlfriends for the guardian angel work they do . . .💖 Would be a terrible world with out them/you xoxoxo
So many things in your blog make me happy-the Downton discussions, the photos of the pink light in your kitchen, the inspirational quotes which always remind me of what’s important in life, your spirit! Thank you for creating this “happy place” where we can focus on the good things in life. One of the quilts in your photos looks just like the quilt on which I based my son’s nursery. He’s now all grown up but I can still so clearly remember the trip in Vermont to visit a quilt shop and the excitement of finding the perfect quilt with neutral colors of teal and yellow! You help to create joyous memories in so many ways. Thank you!
Good Morning Susan,
Belated Happy Birthday!! Just finished reading Willard, enjoyed it very much. I look forward to your posts. My sister and I will be attending your book signing at R.J. Julia’s. Wishing you safe and happy traveling.
How lovely it must be to have so many fun activities to look forward to in the next half year.
I just heard about Spoonflower a few weeks ago! As I was reading your blog I totally agreed with what a wonderful “fit” that would be! Can’t wait to see all of the designs you send to them. My creative juices are stirring away with what I will sew with them! Thank you again Susan!
Hi Susan,
I am always SO happy to see a new email or Willard from you! Happy 30th Anniversary!! May there be MANY more!
Donna