Merry Christmas, babies...

And so, the 100 Quilts for Christmas Challenge has been a huge success. By Kate's account, over 120 quilts were donated to shelters for babies and children around the country- and that's not including the 7 we made at Musical Squares Night! The tops are done, thanks to family (including my daughter, husband, niece and nephew!), friends, friends of friends and neighbors.Even star designer- and dear friend- Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom fabrics came to sew! What an honor.
Some of these folks had not sat behind a sewing machine since middle school home ec class, and some like my husband Tim,(in hat) and his friend (award winning musician) Chris Brown had never sewn before. I cut the fabric ahead of time so that part was done. I had different bags filled with fabric for different quilts just waiting to be sewn together and thrown on the design wall for completion. There were also 3 quilts constructed of squares made by my friend James Bosco (fashion Editor at Vogue and Butterick Patterns) and his colleagues Pam Brooks and Laurie Jackson- Murray. They were so beautifully made- maybe I should take a few lessons from them!
It was a mad dash to get these done with wine and cheese and really great music- I can't wait to do it again in February for Valentines Day, and in the Spring with Denyse Schmidt and her Greenfield Hill Collection.
I go off to quilt and bind on Tuesday, so check back before Christmas eve to see them all finished, and before they go to find a place with a child at The Bridgeport Center for Women and Families.
Special thanks to Mark at Trackside Teen Center for letting us use their "Big Room" and for Brett's help preparing for the musical event! Looks like we will be coming back!

My husband, Tim Geaney.

Our local publication, Wilton Magazine, did a quick ten minute interview with Tim (when Christopher Walken cancelled at the last minute!)... thanks, Chris.
Carolyn Rundle Field did a great job, and I love the portrait by Pam Barkentin- so pensive!
What they couldn't cover in ten minutes was what a great dad and husband he is. He is passionate about gardening and has even started an eco-friendly way to compost horse manure- "The Entre-Manure" blog to come! We will have a booth at Wilton Go Green Festival on May 2nd. In the meantime, check his blog, "The Light Whisperer".
He plays the piano, learning as an adult, and now devotes many hours playing with Acoustic Wilton, which is a group of fabulous musicians on a mission to cure cancer and raise funds for Relay for Life. The next concert is May 14th, an all night vigil at Wilton High School.
He loves wood working and helps me whenever I need power tool abilities for my crafts... I'm limited to the glue gun for good reason!
Did I mention he make the best Mexican food? His Mom, Clarita, was from Sonora.
Thirty years is a long time to be with someone, and I can tell you he never stops surprising me, or making me laugh. A true renaissance man... at times my knight in shining armor.
Keep in mind , however, my favorite saying:
"Behind every great man there is a woman... rolling her eyes!"(Jim Carey)
(The picture at the bottom was taken 30 years ago by Bruce Weber in Barbados, on that fateful trip...)

Kate's Plates!

Has anyone seen "Verna"? Well my friend, home dec star Jan Lemonedes, passed this New York Observer Home magazine onto us because my husband Tim had a picture he did in it. He photographed the "9 by Design" Novogratz family and it was published for this article. FYI, episode 2 airs tonight at 10 on BRAVO! Watch what happens...
Flipping through the pages of my new favorite publication, I see these plates. Kate Spain had just shown them to me on Sunday when we delivered a load of our finest aged manure in their driveway. (Happy Birthday, Kate.) They are available at Crate and Barrel. Way to go!

Posh pillow.

Our friend and Tim's super talented vocalist for Acoustic Wilton, Kim Troy, needed a pillow for her friend who evidently needs encouragement to do certain things and take chances. These are the words that Kim finds her self repeating on a daily basis, and thought a little reminder when she's not around wouldn't hurt.
"Just say yes!"
Her friend loved it, especially the black patent leather piping. She thought it would look great in her bedroom, but after reading it again, decided it might not be such a good idea! Looks like the living room will be it's new home.
(Kelly Wearstler fabric).

* I will be raffling a quilt at the next Wilton Acoustic performance for Relay for Life on May 14th at Wilton High School. Their goal is to raise $15,000 for the American Cancer Society.*