Saturday, August 27, 2011

Toot, Toot!


Yes, that is me, tooting a horn! I'm kind of excited here. For some reason, I am often mistaken for a person who can't keep a secret. Not so, Moe! I've been sitting on one for months! Months, I tell you!


I have had the honour (note my Aussie spelling there, LOL) of being asked to submit something to one of my favorite publications. Australian Smocking and Embroidery published by Country Bumpkin. Then to make the cover! Well, wowza! That was fun.

As the story goes, I was checking my email one last time before boarding the plane for Italy last fall. I was a bit surprised when I discovered a note from Susan O'Connor, editor of AS&E.  Upon opening the email, to say I was "surprised" is an understatement when I realized she was asking that I consider submitting something for the magazine. I fired back about a dozen questions before the plane even took off! I do remember one statement she made, "Don't let that word original scare you." She knew me well, it was the exact thing that made my spine go zing! It sure made that flight a tad shorter as my brain went into overload.


As I traveled through Italy, every painting, stucco and tile took on a new purpose as this impending project swirled through my head. Not that the submission looks like any of the above, but it did push me into looking at things in a new way. I would say perfect timing. I am not sure I would have had this new perspective as clearly at home in my own environment. Thank you Susan, for helping me stretch in new directions.


Here is a sneak peak at "Cherry Pie." I am not going to give you the whole enchilada! I want you to buy the magazine from either your favorite heirloom retailer or better yet, subscribe to the magazine. We want to keep our beloved publications in business to keep our creative juices flowing. Which in turn keeps us buying from our favorite retailers. We are all in this together. Watch your mailbox, magazines are beginning to arrive to subscribers down under. They should be arriving here in the States in the next few weeks.


I hope you like my inaugural submission. And if you don't, that is okay too. My hope is that it will help you think in new ways and with a new eye.

So to celebrate, here are a few more horns tooting. Seventy-six to be exact.


25 comments:

  1. Congrats! What a great honor! Enjoy!

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  2. Congratulations! I was one of those following the FB conversation. Just love the dress!

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  3. Congratulations, Martha! You do lovely work; I was thrilled when I read that the cover outfit is yours.
    Be prepared to have people asking you to autograph their copies of AS&E at convention. I know I will be!
    - Kathy

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  4. Congratulations. I know that you were worthy of the task.
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

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  5. Bravo! Awesome piping! Can't wait to get the new mag! Congratulations!

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  6. I'm so happy it's you. I had plans to make the cover dress anyway, but now that I know it's from you, well, that changes everything, I just HAVE to stitch up the dress! I'm giving you a ginormous cheer!

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  7. Martha
    that is wonderful!!! I can't wait to get my copy!!! It is about time you got your gorgeous work published!!
    many congratulations!!

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  8. Oh, how wonderful! I 'zipped' over to the Country Bumpkin site to see more of the dress. It is just gorgeous! Congratulations!

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  9. That is Awesome!!! I am so happy for you! I cannot wait to get the magazine. Your work is just beautiful!

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  10. Congratulations! I can't wait to get my issue and see the dress. I'm so glad CB is reaching out to new talent. I hope you'll frame the cover!

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  11. Congratulations from a Missouri neighbor! I've enjoyed seeing your gorgeous entries at the Fair for years and look forward to seeing the latest AS&E, with the beautiful cover picture. No wonder you always win all those ribbons at the Fair!
    Janet Nuse
    Show Me Stitchers

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  12. Congratulations! Can't wait to see it!

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  13. I'm so glad that I just bought a subscription; now I'm doubly eager to receive my first copy!! And the Music Man... how I loooooove that movie!

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  14. Fantastic! I had already seen the magazine preview and loved the dress. Thank you.

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  15. Congratulations, Martha!! :) I love your dress! :)

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  16. Congratulations to you!! How exciting!! Hopefully it is the first of many. After all, that beautiful baby is a pretty good sewing muse:0

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  17. Congratulations, Martha! Your work is phenomenal and this is well deserved recognition. Can't wait to see your submission.

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  18. What a thrill! I heard those 76 trombones and wondered what glorious event was being celebrated. Now that I know, there were too few and too quiet for THIS!!!! I can't wait to see the issue.

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  19. Congratulations... I adore AS&E!

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  20. Congratulations! I think I'll have to go buy this issue to see more of the dress. I am getting ready to make my first bishop for our baby girl for her Christmas dress (she'll be 10 months old at Christmas, but she's our 3rd child so I have to start early), so hopefully all will go well. I've been poring through your back posts looking at all your beautiful work now that I have a girl to sew for (albeit with very limited time).

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  21. Congratulations; what a thrill for you!!! As i am in the land of Aus I already have my copy, so can confidently say the dress is lovely. Well done!

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  22. Congratulations Martha, and to think we knew you when...beautiful bishop it deserves the cover.

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  23. Got my issue today. Gorgeous dress. Can't wait to make it! Congratulations!

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  24. I received my issue yesterday and crowed to my husband - I know her!

    Congrats on a job well done!

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  25. My issue finally arrived, and I can admire it up close and as often as I wish! Congratulations!

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