I saw a good friend today...

I saw a good friend today

while on my morning walk

she ran up to me to say hello

and as I sat down, she curled up in my lap,

looking for a hug

giving me kisses
we were both making quite a fuss
over each other
we were both exchanging quite a bit of
happy

she had a little more grey showing

I guess she thought the same of me

neither of us said anything to each other

other than to be so glad to have the chance to visit

every morning, she would jump up on the bed,

starting the day with happiness and energy

and a little doggie snuggle

I taught her how to play frisbee

this game, and toys, were new to her

she was the kind of friend who indulged you

on your birthday

or on girls' nite

she'd never miss a party, an event

or even a quilt show

a true friend

"isn't it amazing, how they remember,"

her walking friend asked?

(hULa used to live here, but one day, moved away)

"Remember," I asked?

"How do you forget love?"

BeginAgain

natalie

Where's Natalie? aka Kit KONTEST!!

Where's Natalie?????

While I'm on the road, and "the Vickster" is holding down the fort at the studio,

I thot I'd challenge you all.

you know, beyond the reef

becomes a shop

 at a quilt show

So I started thinking while I was driving, driving, driving...

If you can guess the locations (in general, of course) of these four photos, and you are the first to post those locations in the comments,  (with your email)  I will contact you and send you a free "Happy Hour" kit with Alexander Henry prints!!

Here they are...in order...

Good luck!!

Happy hunting...

Natalie

Making Friends aka Summer Quilt Festival by Quilts Inc. in Long Beach

I must take just a moment here to thank all of the friends I have come to know along the way.  

Some like these, in the pics, are new friends - and friends for only a short moment.  Others are dear, dear, longstanding friends.  

Friends for a moment, are friends at a show, on the dock, a security agent at a convention center site.  At a show, on the hospitality team, the vendor chair or a whilte glove volunteer.

At the studio, the UPS, fedEx or DHL delivery team.  At the studio, my helpers - those who come out of their own lives to be 'creative design director' or 'financial advisor' or...

So when we were asked to teach at Summer Quilt Festival in Long Beach, California, hosted by Quilts Inc. , we were proud as peacocks.  

So we decided on teaching:

LITTLE QUILTS - LANDSCAPES OF THE HEART

I called the education chair at Quilts Inc. to confirm.

"We're not really hard sell," I said.

"We don't have a widget or a gadget," I said.

"We're more relationship driven."

There was a pause.

"That's okay," she said.  "That's good too."

So on this belated blog day, I say thank you to all of you that have let me be the one "Making 

Friends" - - at the shows, in the studio, and along the way.

Here's to friends!!!

be.do.create

2008

Thanks for thinking of

b e y o n d   t h e   r e e f

Natalie.

(and hULa)

natalie@beyondthereefpatterns.com

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

www.beyondthereefpatterns.blogspot.com

Road to California - the gift of friendship

Road to California is a California Quilt Show.  Quilts are juried in to be exhibited and vendors are juried in to be a 'show shop' during the show.  There are classes and hotel rooms and restaurants, and taxis and airplanes and all the things needed to get this many people into one place for one thing. 

Quilting.

beyond the reef is pleased to be chosen as a vendor for this show.  We are happy.  Playful.  Joyful.  But I am a sole proprietor and you notice I use the word 'we'.

I must take a moment to thank my customers.  Who come and stand in the aisle and smile, looking at my new set and the booth.  Or comment on the new layout.  I must take a moment to thank my suppliers.  Who greet me once or twice a year as a friend, but who make, pack and ship their fabulous things to me in time to bring them to you.  Who make the bamboo batting - who bring us Amy Butler's new fragrance Sola.  Who year after year come up with great ideas for our industry.  

And I must take a moment to thank my friends - Suzanne who leaves her home in Arizona to come be a part of my home for a while.  Lisa, who cuts straight, folds well and is always of good counsel.  Jill, who made this - the largest show in southern california - her first quilt show.  John who drafted for moondoggie & gidget and who loaded bins and boxes.  Patrick who continues to push chain.  Jeff for my little red wagon, for the painting, and for the loading.  Greg, for his incredible talent, and for sharing it with me.  I am the sum of all of their parts, and I thank them for that.  

Recognize the gift of friendship - of sharing between each other.

And smile.

With our friends, we truly can be. do. create.

Thanks for thinking of 

b e y o n d   t h e   r e e f

Natalie.