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Page 164 of Mark Twain's autobiography, which I mentioned previously, I am reading, starts "The Beauties of the German Language" an indescribably funny account of the German phenomena of stringing words together. You can go read it here for yourself...just scroll back one page to get to the beginning of the essay.

Yes, that IS a word above. I highly recommend "hearing" this read on the Autobiography recording. Funny, funny, funny.

In the meantime, I'm almost at my goal of 65 items in the quilt shop. I'm officially at 63 today, with two more items to list tomorrow morning bringing the total, finally to 65! At last. Not that I plan to rest on my laurels at this point, as I hope to sell some of these goodies before long.

The shop is busy with three custom quilts in various stages of cutting and piecing. Surely, I've got lots of extra time on my hands to construct interesting and wonderful blog posts. LOL.

In other news, I've also started photographing my prints, from www.brianataylor.etsy.com which I've included here so you can see. The listings for my prints have only had the image, and I thought it would be nice to actually show the print and what it looks like. The paper is so nice. It would be hard to imagine the quality of the paper without seeing its edge, in my humble opinion, and I think these photos really are getting that point across. You can see it's not just a sheet of photocopy paper, it's a really nice, thick cotton rag paper, with a nice tooth to it. My printer, Evolv Printing in Easthampton, MA, does such a great job. I'm never unhappy with the prints.

It's been a great year! Word for the new year: Time Management

(New coasters in the shop... well soon to be listed..see these for now)

So much better than 2009.  I shouldn't complain, but seriously, 2009 really sucked. This is really the time of year to take stock, look back at what worked, and look forward to new ideas, projects, and plans to make it an even better year than last. 2010 was pretty darned good.  I'm ready to make 2011 even better. Now all I need is the time to make it all happen.  I don't know about you, but I'm constantly trying to figure out how to fit this in or that.  Recently it's been trying to paint my kitchen, making new Kindle 3 cases, or reading any one of the great books I have stacked up to read.  I need better time management skills.  Or maybe I need less of a social life (I didn't just say that out loud).  I'm not sure what it is, but there is never enough time to do everything I want and plan to do.  It's the age old song that's been sung for time immemorial.....

(New Pot holders in the shop) 

....I've just started listening to the Autobiography of Mark Twain (yes, listening, because the only time I have is the time I spend in my car from work to home and to the store, etc.)...and even before they've reached Chapter one, the narrator is talking about how Mark Twain started an autobiography over and over and over again during his lifetime.  Sometimes dictating it, sometimes writing the words down, agonizing over how honest to be or how close to play his cards.  He never really finished it, although he managed to write a tome of over half a million words when he could focus on it.  He also had the foresight to have his autobiography published 100 years after his death (1910).  Another unknown fact to me was that it took him, on average, a total of 3 to 7 years to write each of his major works.  It normally took him this long because he inevitably had trouble keeping focused on a project and often put it aside for long periods of time. He mused on time a lot.  Things don't change......

I find myself wishing I lived in a simpler time.  1910 for instance.  But it wasn't any simpler than it is now, maybe worse, not sure, on the cusp of World War I, everyone realizing some of the fallout from the industrial revolution, etc. etc....  Maybe the 1500's....  Only if I could be nobility in some rich, stable foreign country.  Honestly, all I want is some time to read a book.  

In my reading stack now:

Just Kids - Patty Smith

The Murder of Bunny Monroe - Nick Cave

Packing for Mars - Mary Roach

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk  - David Sedaris

The Sea Glass Chronicles - Christophe Brunski

The Mind's Eye - Oliver Sacks

Meanwhile, I teeter on 499 sales!!

It's true, and I feel like I'm reaching a big milestone with the shop, and of course, want to have an excuse to get excited and celebrate...even if it's something small and only means a lot to me :) You guys get it! My next sale will mark my 500th sale in my quilt shop! Yay!

Meanwhile, my wonderful and most excellent friend, Jeff Derose, has taken some photos of some of my quilts in a gorgeous field in Amherst, MA. Nicole, at Lillyella had so kindly interviewed me for a featured spot on her blog, so I needed some really nice shots of the quilts, and an actual photograph of me to include. Thanks, Jeff :) Check out his websites. It's great to get someone else's perspective on your work, and hiring a professional photographer is pretty amazing. I highly recommend it, because they really see things that you just do not. Or, as in my case, I have a certain way that I photograph my items, for consistency in the shop and all that. Anyway, here are some of the photos from that shoot... enjoy!

Come and See Me! At the 24th Annual Cottage Street Studios Holiday Open Studios and Sale

December 3, 4, and 5. Friday 12-5, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5. Come and see me and forty-four other artisans, when we open our studio doors for the 24th Annual Cottage Street Studios Holiday Open Studio and Sale! You'll find me in Studio 420 with my quilty items and paintings!

Get in on this giveaway, People!

Photo credit: Jeff Derose

My shop is being featured on the wonderful Lillyella blog... Thank you, Nicole!

Be sure to check out her many interesting posts, including recipes, cool projects, and fashion ideas. I'm offering a giveaway from the shop, so check out the post to find out how to enter to win something cool from btaylorquilts!

Awesome weekend

Participated in the 1st Annual Easthampton Studio Tour Day on Saturday, Oct. 2. We totally lucked out with the weather, after two miserable days of steady rain it was more than awesome to wake up to the sunshine. I was not intending to be outside with my table, but decided to move it outside when the weather just kept getting nicer. I've never set up my machine to sew outside before, and it was really fun...a little bright, you can tell by the sunglasses, but still completely fun.

New Camera :)

It's pretty exciting around here...I've gotten a new camera. A Canon, EOS Rebel T1i 500D. It's a digital SLR and is really beautiful. A friend has lent me a lens to try and I'm just starting to learn functions, etc. The last camera that I really enjoyed was my Canon AE1, 35 mm film camera. It was simple. Basic. I loved it. It was easy to use, everything was aparent, with no menus or complicated settings. A short novel came with the new camera and with some time I hope to be able to take some nice photos, including images for my Etsy stores. So far I've only had one willing model:

Thomas

He's going to read the manual while I'm at work today and let me know the fundamentals when I get home.

Shop news: I've been busy lately taking some time for vacation and relaxing. I haven't mowed my lawn for about 7 weeks (it's actually not that bad..only in spots). I'm also busy with a personal sewing project that is taking an inordinate amount of time. Soon I will be listing new things in the shop....soon :)