Meeting The Pioneer Woman

I had the opportunity to attend the Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) book signing on Sat at my local Barnes and Noble. I'll be honest I was shocked she was coming to Columbus, Ohio, and even more shocked when I found out about it early last week...shocked that I found out about it before it happened...lol. Usually I find out after the fact.

 

Ree was amazing as usual, and was signing both her cookbook and her memoir, and was graciously taking pictures. I was lucky enough to get at the store at 9 am that morning to get an early ticket (the signing was at 2 pm), so I was in the 2nd group of people, so my wait was only about 45 mins or so.

I'll be honest I was so nervous to go up and talk to her. I wanted to tell her how much I love her cookbook, her blog, her memoir (which I had just finshed the night before), her dog Charlie (love bassets!!), but I think all I manged was "hi" and "thank you". Of course I think there had to have been at least 400 people there that day, so they were keeping us moving, but allowing us to have however many books we wanted signed, and to take as many pictures as possible.

I am so glad that I got to go and meet her! I am going to do a couple of posts this week in honor of her, so if you are a fan (and who wouldn't be), please stop back over the next few days.

Meet & Greet with Amy Butler

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend a Meet & Greet with one of  my favorite bag/pattern/fabric designers Amy Bulter at one of my favorite fabric stores Sew to Speak. A good friend of mine introduced me to Amy's patterns and fabrics about a year ago, and I just fell in love with her cute bag designs and her beautiful fabrics.

I'll be honest, I have never been to a Meet & Greet or a book signing before, so I really had no idea what to expect. The event started at 6 pm, and I arrived shortly after 6. There was a pretty decent amount of people there, and it was so fun to stand around and talk to everyone. Of course everyone was a huge fan of Amy's and some had even brought projects that they had worked on using her patterns and fabrics. It was kind of like a fun little community of people and we all kind of bonded while waiting in line to meet Amy.

Here I am with Amy. What I thought was so unique about this event was that Amy took about 5 mins and sat down and talked to each and every person that was there. I just assumed I would hand her my book, she would sign it, and we would be on our way. At first I had no idea what to say to her, and I was a little nervous as I really looked up to her in the sewing world. But we had a good chat about where I was from, how I got started sewing and what projects I had worked on. If you notice behind us and on the table are some of her projects using her patterns and fabrics. I want to make them all of course!

I have two of her books -- In Stitches and Style Stitches, and she signed both of them for me. She was also giving away a free pattern to everyone and I got an extra one and had it signed for my good friend who I was planning on going to this event with, but she had to work late at the last minute.

If you are into sewing I would check out her books, patterns and fabrics. I have made a few or her projects, and they look complicated, but her instructions are so thought out and if you take the time and really follow them, they are almost fool-proof!