August/September 2011
Hi Everyone ~                                            
    This week my priority is to you, giving you an update on the Ballard household and for Let’s Quilt!  Let me start with the best news …. Elle Durand Ballard came into our lives on June 20th …. a darling, sweet, precious baby sister to Blake and his family.  We’ve seen her already two times and let me tell you the kisses and ‘I love you’ is pouring out of our mouths all the time.  You can’t walk by without giving her a little touch and a smile.  While Blake was with us in March, he made his sister a quilt and he did a fine job …. loves the sewing machine and playing on the wall.  Yes, I finally have one person who might continue my passion for this.  So with all the hubbub of new one in the house, having guests, settling into a routine, the family is finally at home with just them and getting their lives built around a 4th person.  Congrats to my kids, to all the family and to the world for embracing Elle.

    The newsletter/registration form is jammed pack this time.  I’ve got lots of retreats scheduled, all the same wonderful locations and still adding one more to the mix.  You will find Let’s Quilt Retreats located in Chico, Paradise, Williams, Weaverville, Grass Valley, Trinidad, McCloud, Ventura and now introducing Redding (my own backyard).   I’m always so excited to have the retreats and to share my love of them with all of you (if you don’t like mysteries not a problem, bring your own project to work on, I’m good with that).   I realize there are many others out there offering retreats, but hopefully experience counts for something.  So look over the paper’s, read my newsletter and look at your calendar and see if there isn’t just one retreat that can get your quilting juices all fired up!

    From the business side, Linda Ballard & Co. has been very busy so far this year.  I’ve been flying here and there, had a blast and a half with the Texas girls in July …. yes, they’ve taught me some Texas slang and I must say, I don’t have the “y’all” down very well but will practice.  They were delightful and hopefully one day I get to return.  Retreats galore, whether I sponsored them or someone hired me, it’s all good!  Brookings was the best having two retreats back to back.  Shady Cove, what can I say but you guys always amaze me!  Fresno is a new treasure retreat wise, the sponsor and the girls attending are terrific …. we’re headed back again next year!  One big pleasure for me was to teach for Empty Spools Seminar’s at Asilomar.  I’ve waited a long time to do this for them and I had a remarkable 5 day conference class.  I was the ‘rogue’ of the teachers, teaching something traditional (with new ideas) rather than art/contempory, but I was well received and hopefully one day they’ll have me back.    Also had fun playing with the group at Harmony Ridge …. they are an exciting group and I look forward to our 3rd annual retreat.  Here are some highlights for the upcoming months working into next year.  Of course you can visit my website at www.letsquilt.com and see all the particulars.

* Retreats every month whether I sponsor them or a group/guild/individuals hire me.

* September …. Off to Mammoth Lakes, CA for our 16th Annual Retreat, stopping long enough to teach at Windy Moon in Reno, NV.  Have some guilds and quilt shops to teach at …. Broadway Quilts in Sonoma, CA will be my home for the first time for a two day class.

* October …. More retreats in Weaverville, CA and then off to quilt shops sprinkled in and around northern CA and southern OR.  Toward the end of the month, you’ll find me at Tillamook, OR for Ocean Waves Quilt Camp (something like my 12th) and then head right to a retreat sponsored by Cece called CJ’s Dream Retreat.  Yes, you can’t miss this one …. On the ocean, large log home, plenty of space and pampering.  This will be a treat for me to teach at … openings there, come one come all.

* November ….. More retreats and then to Medford, OR to present 3 days of fun to the guild.  Off to Ventura, CA to do a retreat at the ocean house I rent in May.  My buddy Trudy will be working with me on this, and yes this is an add-on retreat and truly excited to make this happen.  Find me wrapping up my year at The Fabric Patch in southern CA.

* December …. Time to spend with family and friends.  Clean the sewing room and hopefully make some new quilts!

* January …. Starting my year a great way with a long main stay guild, VQG.  See you then!  There will be retreats (Chico, CA has this month), quilt shops and more guilds.

* February …. Paradise, CA will be the first of the retreats this month with Williams coming at the end of the month.  In CA, it’ll be with the Fresno and Stockton guilds for some special sharing.  Also a little R & R for myself.

* March …. Retreat in Redding, CA (first time).  Guilds in and around CA.  Fresno Retreat is coming this month, oh boy!  Backup for Laura Nownes at Asilomar (if it doesn’t happen, I have a week to kick back – ha-ha).

* April …. My retreats are continuing.  Guilds and quilt shops abound.

* May ….  Ventura, CA retreat at the ocean for four days, what could be better!  3rd Annual Retreat at Harmony Ridge, CA.  Maybe a few other things like a conference, just not sure at this moment, watch calendar on website.

* June …. Oh my, more retreats!  Elle’s first birthday and some get away time for me.

* July …. Of course the main thing is Blake turns 6.  I’m teaching at Bend, OR for BJ’s Quilt Festival.  Off to CO for Quilt Colorado Conference …. I’m so excited to do this for them, hope you’ve seen the ad in the magazines.  Ready for the annual Brookings Retreat and then off to Quilt Odyssey for their conference in Hershey, PA (if you haven’t been there, you need to go, great people).

* August …. Find me with my girlfriends of Shady Cove, OR.  Back to CA to quilt guilds and quilt shops besides the retreats.  Going to Zephyr Point in South Lake Tahoe to teach at a retreat with another teacher.  This is a spectacular location, one used by many quilters.  I hope you can come … watch my website for more details or contact the sponsor at LisaMarieSobolik@att.net.

       We’re in the process of updating the website (what a long haul for Dave), but the current one is still in operation.  I’m continuing as always to have new items to sell on my website.  Check out the STORE folder and see what’s there.  You can count on me having the rulers I ask for in my classes, project bags to store those fabrics/unfinished projects in, and who knows what else.

       As always, I give you a little update on my family …. So here goes:

        Dave …. Other than being my right hand person, he’s busy being grandpa of course, wants to babysit those two kids!  He’s taken up photography and finding he has a passion burning there.  He’s taken some awesome pictures of his last trip through UT and CO and hopefully one day he can turn this into a little business for himself.

        Jim and family …. Well you already know about Elle, so it’s all about Blake right now.  He’s going to be a great big brother, but I’m sure as time marches on, he won’t want his little sister hanging around.  Blake will be attending a private school getting him ready for kindergarten next year.  He does love being busy and Lego’s is the thing right now.  Jim, he finished his residency and is now on the last leg of his journey, doing two years of fellowship in his field of choice. Where he ends up with his practice, can’t say …. Don’t think it’ll be in the Portland area, I can see them moving back to UT.   We hope his time goes quickly and it’s all over.  Courtney, what do we say except she’s a wonder to this family!  How she deals with all that’s thrown at her, she’s absolutely the best.

        Cheri …. Can you say quiltmaker?  Yes she’s made a few baby quilts for friends and who knows where this might lead?  Blake got the best ever Batman cape from Auntie Cheri …. I’m smiling at the possibilities.

        And for myself …. Dave is trying to get me up on Face Book.  I don’t use it, but maybe one day ‘you can be my friend’!  I’m keeping the passion burning for my quilting.  I love what I do and I think it shows.  More is always better is my line of thinking, whether it’s business or personal.  I’m trying hard to keep myself open to my friends for the special ‘sew days’, travels and the week-long getaways.   Renewing me is always priority so I can keep working hard for all of you.

        Finally for my mom …. yes, the tree is blooming with wonderful color and I always smile when I look out my backyard and see it.  Do you have a special loved one in a special place?  Mom was quite the character and I miss her and all her adventures.  I wonder if my kids will think kindly when I leave this earth.  Oh yes, they’ll say some interesting things about the ‘crazy, passionate quilter that had tons of fabrics and quilts everywhere’, but I know there will be love in their hearts, a shake of their head and a smile on their face.
    
       So that’s it for now.  Please look over the flyer and see if you can fit one retreat into your schedule.  I promise you a fun time, a great quilt, great fellowship and lots of laughter.  Thank you so much for your support and know I don’t take it lightly.  I look forward to seeing you sometime soon.
    
   Enjoy!
   www.letsquilt.com
    
    
    
   Next cruise …. Fall Foliage October 10th (my birthday) to October 20th, 2012.  We did this cruise in 2007 and had a blast!  For those interested, we will play in NY first for 3 days as an ‘add on’, staying in Time Square, seeing a play, doing all the tourist things …. Oh boy!   Further information, see my website or drop me an email at linda@letsquilt.com.