So a lot has been going on at Morning Star. Mark and I went to the Auburn Quilt Show April 8, 9, and 10. What a great bunch of ladies. I thought you might like to see some pictures of our booth and some pictures from their quilt show. Friday after we got our booth all set up we went to the High Hand nursery in Loomis. A new favorite spot for me. If you like plants this place is great, plus they have a great cafe. Hats off to the High Hand Nursery. We celebrated our 38th anniversary while we were working the show. What a blessing to have such a great marriage and still enjoy being together. Love you Mark.

Home on Monday and Quilt Rush Shop Hop started on Wednesday. Whew! The rush was fun, fast and furious. We met a lot of new friends and reconnected with old friends. Thanks to all who made Quilt Rush successful.

Jen and I are starting to count the days till Market. I love Maket. It's so exhilarating to see all the new goodies and new fabric lines. At least I still have a few weeks to pray for self control. If there is something new you would like us to carry let me know and we will check it out.

Hugs,

Marsha

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the Game. Michael Jordan

Is It Spring Yet?

Happy Spring,

How is it possible that April first is already here? It seems like we just put away our Christmas decorations and Christmas fabric is starting to make an appearance. Time surely goes much faster today than it used to. Mark and I have been traveling a little more than usual. It's nice but then I get nervous about the store. So home it will be for awhile and I am happy with that.

Mark, Kelly, our nephew Ben and girlfriend Briana

We recently went on a trip to Tempe Az. to see our son and his wife. Spring training was in full swing. We weren't able to see a Giants game but we did see the Oakland A's play with the Rockies. Mark caught a fly ball! We had a great time. We also managed to go to The Arizona Quilt Guild Quilt Show. It was a great show with lots of pretty quilts. We are considering the possibility of vendoring the show next spring. Of course we managed a few trips to the mall.

Lots of good food and time spent with family. All the cactus were getting ready to bloom, of course the first bloom opened the day we left. Mark was able to help our son Mark put in a sprinkling system for their garden. They like to do projects together when we visit, and a lot of great cooking. What a gift to be able to visit with your kids and enjoy that time together. We love you Mark and Kelly!!!

Two days after we got home we were off to vendor the Yuba City Quilt Show. What a great show and a nice bunch of quilters. We leave in a few days to vendor the Auburn quilt show. We are both hoping for sunshine this time instead of rain.

Lots of fun new fabrics, projects, and thread have arrived at Morning Star Quilts. The store is in full Spring mode and waiting to welcome you when you come to visit.

The annual Quilt Rush Shop Hop starts on April 13 - April 17. There are great prizes to be won as well as 14 shops to tickle your fancy. Hope you plan to atend. For more information go to www.quiltrush.org.

God Bless,

Marsha

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most throw away. Charles Caleb Colton

Aloha

I know I am the worst blogger around town. There always seems to be so much to do and so little time. So blogging gets put on the shelf. So here we go.

Mark and I had a great vacation in Hawaii with our friends Gary and Cinde. The swells were up so we only did 8 scuba dives, followed by a lot of snorkeling. The whales were out and about in great abundance with their babies tagging along. We did quite a bit of whale watching since everywhere you look there they are spy hopping, breaching and flapping their tails. We weren't lucky enough to see any whales while diving but we could hear them singing underwater - fabulous, just gives you goose bumps. Here are some of Mark's underwater photos.

Marsha and a Sea Turtle, A White Eel

White Tip Reef Shark, and a Leopard Blenny

Green Sea Turtle

Our condo was great. It had a great kitchen with a barbecue on the lanai. Which means we did all our own cooking. After a day in the water it is always nice to come home shower, put on jammies and fix dinner. Our evenings are generally quiet. I got a lot of appliqueing done.

I plan on blogging again this week to share a lot of our new samples with you. So take care and have a great week.

God Bless,

Marsha

Just living is not enough...One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower!

Hans Christian Anderson

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas,

I thought it might be fun to share a few pictures of my favorite Christmas decorations. We have always decorated most every room in our house for the Holidays. Most important of all are our nativity scenes - the best gift of all Jesus. There is no present greater than everlasting life and the promise of an infinite future.

Our Christmas tree is a collection of ornaments that reflect our life involving family and friends. I have had a Christmas party every year for the past 33 years which include the same ladies. As their daughters have married they have been included in our party. We all share in the cooking, and we all bring an ornament. Then the ornament game begins and we squabble for the ornament of our dreams. It's a fun night and a great tradition. Some of us only see each other once a year but the love we share is always present. So when I sit and look at our Christmas Tree I am reminded of many of my friends, those still here and some who are now with the Lord. Friendship is one of the most important parts of my life. At this age I cherish my friends and know without a doubt that they are my support system and encouragement . I only hope that I am as good a friend to them. So my advice - love your friends deeply and hang on to the gift of friendship.

I would like to thank all of you who supported us this year! You are great customers and great friends. Times are hard but we can and will survive this economy. We have a great country and this will get turned around. Thanks for your support and love.

Merry Christmas and God Bless you all,

Marsha

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:11

Congrats to Cat!

I know you all think we have probably forgotten our drawing, but have no fear we are here!

Thank you to all of you who entered! It is fun to hear what other people like. My personal favorite Bali Pop is always changing. Every time a new line of Pops come in it changes. This time my favorite pop is Mango Margarita. Last time Green Tea was my favorite.

I would also like to thank our "Wednesday Girls" for drawing our winner. Every Wednesday these lovely ladies comes to visit us and sew in the classroom. We love having them, and have really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.

So our lucky winner was Cat! Cat please send us an email with your address and choice of Bali Pop (mocha mint or berry bliss) and we will get it in the mail for you!

Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

Jen

Oh, What do I hear.....

Oh, what do I hear…. Christmas Bells ringing! The store office party is planned and Christmas spirit is happily here at the store. We are so lucky here to have such wonderful employees (they are my family and I am proud of each and every one of them). Just like home!

The store has many hard working elves and they have hidden a new product in one of the photos on the blog. Can you find it?

That’s right it’s the new Hoffman Bali Pops! They are so beautiful, and so exciting we decided to have a giveaway!

Rules:

-tell us your favorite Bali Pop

-Become a follower of our Blog

-Tell your friends about our giveaway

Good luck! We will close the give away Friday, December 3^rd at 3:00; winner will get to choose

from a Mocha Mint or Berry Bliss Bali Pop.

Happy Holidays,

Marsha

The She's Back at it Again!

Ah friendship, the best gift you can give to a person is to be a good friend. I spent the weekend with the best of friends quilting, laughing, crying, putting my foot in my mouth, eating humble pie and being forgiven. The older I get the more my friends mean to me and the more I crave their company. It's such a comfort to know that there are people out there who have your back, love you, forgive you, laugh with you and give you wise advice. I am already counting the days until our next sew weekend. To The She's - I Love You!

Marvin Collins with Renee Waelbrock sharing his newest quilt with The She's. The half square triangles in this quilt were small and point perfect. Good job Marvin!

This quilt was fun to make and a blast to quilt. Fabric line is Pure from Sweetwater and the pattern is from Quilt Soup. Of course we have this quilt available in a kit. The fabric requirements were a little excessive so I was able to make a scrappy back. When I was quilting it a lot of experimenting was done with my computer and a lot learned. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Have a Great Week and God Bless,

Marsha

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright