Saturday, September 24, 2011

Giveaway! From Ghana by way of New Orleans and Virginia...

Hey, Erin, it's your birthday!!!

40 - WOO HOO!!! So far, I'm loving this start to my fifth decade of existence. I attended two conference sessions this morning, and then set off exploring. Yesterday, Wendy commented that I should find a store here in New Orleans that sells fabric and goods produced by women in Ghana, so that is what I did. If you are ever in New Orleans, I encourage you to visit their store, but even now, at home, you can visit their website:
http://babablanket.com/our-story.html.

I was awed by many of the handicrafts there, but went in with the sole purpose of buying fabric to:


A) help support keeping young girls in Ghana in school (proceeds from sales help the SISTA - Stay In School Tuition Assistance - program; what better tribute to my commitment to access to education, the topic of BOTH conference sessions I attended this morning!) and

B) to share these lovely fabrics with YOU, my blog readers!

So, simple giveaway here - leave a comment on this post by the end of the day, Wednesday, September 28, and I'll enter you in a drawing to win half yard of each of these batiks that I picked up at the store.


As a hand quilter, I rarely use batiks, and even then, just in small doses, so this fabric is for YOU!

Once I found the store and made the purchase, I wanted to explore some more. I headed down St. Charles Avenue to take some pictures in the Garden District. I discovered that those beautiful homes are hard to photograph because of all the greenery that surrounds and shields them, but I've shared some photos here. My favorite architectural features are the working shutters, the two levels of porches, and the wrought iron detailing.



I ended up walking more than 4 miles, finally taking refuge in a public library where the book that caught my fancy was The Cottage Book: Living Simple and Easy by Carol Bass. After looking at all these fancy homes, it was refreshing to go from looking at what incites my curiousity to what feeds my soul. I may marvel at the fancy pants homes, but simple, country living is what appeals to me most and where I feel most at home.

Rested, I hopped on a streetcar for the ride back to the hotel. What fun! After that ride, I was hoping to find that I could watch A Streetcar Named Desire on Netflix, but alas, it is only on DVD, not streaming. Another night, I guess.

Now, I am resting my feet before heading back to Cafe Du Monde for my third round of coffee and beignets. YUM!


(the menu...)


Here's a shot looking out over Jackson Square (across the street from the Cafe) at the Saint Louis Cathedral and a museum. Can you see all the carriages lined up to take tourists around? And behind them, the artists selling their wares along the fence?

And this is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co that I've passed several times on my daily pilgrimage to the land of beignets. I love the colors, those circular details under the windows, and those arches over the windows.


Lest you think all I am doing is walking around eating beignets and photographing the homes of unsuspecting private citizens, here is the Birdie Stitches BOM for August that I finished during the conference sessions.

I'm working on September now, and hope to have it done by the time the weekend is over. Speaking of which, I should probably stop typing and start stitching!


Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...

35 comments:

Linda said...

Happy Birthday, Erin! We've never met or talked, but nonetheless, I read your blog regularly, so I feel like I know you.
Linda in Southern Illinois

Taryn said...

Coffee and beignets...I am so jealous. The last time I was in New Orleans it was a typhoon - well sort of. Remember that massive February snowstorm in 2010? They got the precipitation in the form of rain first and everything was closed - no beignets. So, you enjoy them!!

Bailey said...

What beautiful fabric and for a wonderful cause. Happy Birthday, I hope you continue to celebrate and enjoy!

bernie said...

Happy Birthday Erin! Enjoy.
Thanks for sharing the great pictures. Bernie

Janet said...

Happy, happy birthday Erin! Sounds like you are doing it in style. Love that you're spending some of your day donating to those in need - and to us :)

Lynn said...

Happy Birthday! Coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde - yum!

jirons42 said...

Happy Birthday Erin. I read your blog regularly and just want to tell you what an awesome mom you are. I always chuckle at the pictures of you and your twin sister - so much alike. The fabrics are beautiful and what a great cause.

Shay said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN! It sounds like you're having a wonderful weekend. Go you!

Those houses are simply gorgeous. I'd love to live in something that looked so fine and fancy. I'm not sure I'd like to clean it though.

Becky said...

I "birthdayed" you on Facebook, so I am just going to share that New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. I'm so glad that we got to go there to visit a few years back. You are enjoying the same thing we did...but dang it, I didn't know about the Ghana shop! I am going to visit their website though. Happy stitching!

Char said...

Happy Birthday Erin! Looks like you had a wonderful day. I thank you once again for the great tour.

Gill said...

Happy Birthday Erin!
I hope you had a great day
Your Birdie Stitches BOM is wonderful - I wish I'd joined in!!

Sallie said...

Happy birthday, Erin! Thanks for sharing NOLA with us.

The Cozy Quilter said...

happy 40th! I also love walking around, looking at old buildings. I like to take pictures of windows--always lots of variety on historical homes and businesses! I hope there's cake when you get home!

Julie Fukuda said...

So glad you got to treat yourself to more than just the conference. The pictures are great and the birdy block is too.

Mommarock said...

Well, Happy Birthday!!! I've never used a Batik either, I don't know how they are different, because I've never had one..I'd love to find out :)

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Happy, happy birthday, Erin!! I hope it was marvelous. Sounds as if you had a wonderful time in New Orleans. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway for that gorgeous fabric.

Jocelyn said...

Love the pictures! Thanks for the lovely giveaway :-)

Joanne Lendaro said...

Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures!! Love seeing new places!Thanks for the fun giveaway!

Anonymous said...

You know how to enjoy life! I am with you about country living...very happy with that! Love the red batik fabric...what fun. Glad you had a Happy Birthday.

krisgray said...

New Orleans is such a great place to explore - and I've been to the library you spoke of - wonderful! All the pictures makes me want to go back. Thank you!

Caroline said...

Happy Birthday! I would love to go to New Orleans someday! Thanks for the chance to win.

Michelle said...

Happy birthday!! What a wonderful time enjoying the sights!!! I hope that weather stays great for you!!

Hilachas said...

What beautiful fabric. I love New Orleans. Thanks for the opportunity to win your giveaway.

Deborah in Atlanta said...

Happy Birthday, Erin! Beautiful fabrics. And loved the tour - I felt like I was right beside you as you made each step of your journey.

Catskill Quilter said...

Happy birthday, Erin! Forty was my favorite age -- enjoy it! Thank you for the wonderful tour of New Orleans - I have never been there, and now I have actually seen more of it!

Val Laird said...

Happy Birthday for last Saturday, Erin. And what a lovely idea to give something away to celebrate your birthday. Thank you for the opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Erin. I love that you're making the most of your trip, enjoying the many sights and yumminesses that New Orleans has to offer. You've got great spirit!
Debbie R.

robin said...

LOVE the pics of the big white house. :) A porch is on my wish-list.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Looks like you had a wonderful time.

Bev C said...

Hello Erin,

Best wishes for the coming year. You had the perfect day for your Birthday. Love those old homes,lots of character and finding the library,that is what I do when I visit a new town, you never know what you can find.
The fabric from Ghana looks so lovely. The ladies did a great job,thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Happy Birthday! I've never been to New Orleans but it look beautiful. Lovely fabric also1
Quilting by the River

Kim said...

Happy Birthday Erin!
thanks for the chance to win those beautiful batiks......are they gorgeous!
Looks like you are having a great time too.

Happy Sewing

Marcia W. said...

Happy Birthday! Great food and some interesting architecture. That's NOL. Love batiks so thanks for your giveaway. It's great you are having a really good time.

beth said...

Happy Birthday! Looks like you had a wonderful trip!

Carla G said...

Happy Birthday to you! What cool looking fabric! :)