I got a call late Saturday night.
In a covert voice I heard, “Hey! It’s me Carol (Browne), I’m at Chapters downtown. They have two copies of Love Patchwork & Quilting. They have issue 17 but it’s covered in a plastic bag. So I’m not sure if this is the one you’re in? Do you want me to pick up a copy for you?”
I’ve been waiting… I check last week but no copies were in… I was worried I’d miss it. 17, it’s the issue I’m in. I can feel the excitement flood me… Somehow, since I’m on my cel phone, I’ve managed to press my face so I’ve hit some numbers making the buttons beep. Then somehow I inadvertently hit the mute button at the same time. Carol can’t hear me. All I can hear is Carol saying, “Hello? Hello? What is going on?” She giggles and I hear her say, “Hello?” one more time as I try to figure out how to un-mute my phone. Quickly I abort the call, I hang up and try to call Carol back.
“Hello?” Carol giggles “What happened?”
I now have the task of explaining my whole excitement face to phone, button mute thing.
Yeah, I’d like to be all nonchalant… Sigh, yup, no biggie, I’m just in a magazine (like it’s an everyday occurrence) but clearly, that’s not me! Carol graciously picked up the magazine for me then posted about her buddy (that’s me) who was in a UK magazine (Love Patchwork & Quilting) on Facebook. Loads of lovely comments and likes came in. My husband shared Carol’s post on his feed, again lovely comments and likes.
Since, we were in Vancouver yesterday for the Chinese New Year’s parade we thought (okay I insisted) we stop at the Chapters on Granville and Broadway, to see if they have any more copies. They DID!
We picked up two copies. The one from Carol, I’ve decided I’d give to my Mom. Another copy I’d thought would be fun to giveaway on my blog! And one I’d keep. So here I am with it in my hand, unopened. You think I’d want to tear into. That’s how I assumed I’d feel. For some reason, I feel reluctant to open it. I’m not sure why? I am slightly nervous about seeing myself and my work… My son even brought it to me this morning as I was making lunches and said “Here’s you magazine!” I said, thanks, can you put it over there so we don’t get anything on it.
This is my year of living fearlessly, right? Okay, it’s you and me together, here I go…
I’m looking at it. It’s so beautiful. Is that why I’m so weirded out? I mean I’ve always dreamed of being in a magazine but this surpassed my wishlist! Big breath… savouring.
The plastic is off.
Ooo, the Sew your own sewing set book and diamond paper pieces, very cute. I should learn to English paper piece with this kit! … Putting aside.
Looking at the front cover. God it’s so pretty! … Ooh, spool bunting (hello Darlene Barns!)
Opening.
Three pages in… feeling shaky…
BAM! My face! Ack! giggle!
WHAT! Get out I’m under the same section LOVELIFE, that Lisa Congdon is in! Get OUT! I love her! … Oh man I gotta check out Mabel & Bird and Peony & Thistle… oh look at the cute little crabs, I want one….
OMG, I’m sitting beside Lee Heinrich patterns from Freshly Pieced!
Ooo, Skinny La Minx? What’s that? (just googled it! It’s awesome!)
Okay, the coast is clear, I can check out the rest of the magazine now. Flip, flip, flip…
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this BIG moment with me. A big thanks to Florence from Flossie Teacakes for the blog post that lead to all of this. And of course BIG, BIG thanks to Love Patchwork & Quilting for this opportunity!
I wish I could give EVERYONE a copy. Sadly I only have one to give and the only way to decide who gets it is by a random draw. Which will require you to leave a comment. I know it seems like a trick doesn’t it? Sorry about that, it’s the only way I know how to contact you and to get your address to send it to you. No big burning question to answer, but that is fun… hmm, how about this, I love middle names, I’m always so curious about people’s middle names. Feel free to leave a comment saying what your middle name is… or if it’s horrendous and that’s a comment deal breaker, feel free to just say hi and maybe where you’re from. How’s that? Thanks so much for popping by!
P.S. And as an added bonus I sold two packs of cards from my Etsy shop! (Note to self, relist) How nice is that? Lisa Congdon is right “Today is going to be awesome!”
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Yes…I was the very lucky person that nabbed your BEAUTIFUL note cards!! I am having some friends to my camp to quilt in April and my hope is to find some beautiful frames to frame the cards and give to them as a gift. Your work is wonderful, beautiful…words fail. You so deserve to be in this magazine. I am so happy I happened upon your blog via another blog (that I can’t remember at the moment). Enjoy the success! Live fearlessly! Continue to create the beautiful works of art that you do.
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Aw, thanks Liz! That was an easy comment to approve!:D What wonderful encouragement!
I sent out the cards yesterday, they should arrive safe and sound shortly! Thanks again so much!
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Wonderful! I usually can’t find this magazine, so would love a copy. Thank you! Love your art too
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I should read more careful. Rae
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Thanks Carla! Or should I say Carla Rae
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It’s so fun to share in your excitement, Lysa! It’s exciting for me just to be in the same guild as someone who is in the Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine! I wonder what other magazines you will be in:)
And I would love to have a copy of the magazine so I’m going to tell you my middle name. It’s Ellen. And for a little bit of trivia, my husband and I decided to use our middle names for our business name, symbolic of us being a “ma & pa” shop. So, we are “Wesley Ellen Design & Millwork”.
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The best photo ever o you Lysa with the Magazine. Huge congrats . You know how I love your art.
Jane , very simple middle name.
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Thanks Baaaarbrra! You know I love your name! Baaaarbrrra Jaaaane!(You’re going to wish you hadn’t told me now!)
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Thanks Marilyn! Oh you, you make me blush! I’m excited to be in the same guild as you, you Creative Stitches winner!
See, that’s why I love middle names, they always have a story to them!
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It’s so exciting! I know the artist in this magazine!
Now I do wish I had a fascinating/fun/creative middle name to share. I don’t. It’s Lynn – but the best thing about that is that my granddaughter’s middle name is also Lynn.
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Aw, that’s so sweet! Just like you!
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Note to self, get more notecards from your shop. I love them and and nearly out. I technically don’t have a midd name-just a really long first name
So very exciting that you’re in the magazine! It’s a hard thing to describe all those feelings: happy, thrilled, scared, proud, humbled, excited, nervous. I’ve been in two now, and neither for crafting/hand arts/art 
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You got it! Will do!
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Lysa! I am so excited for you!!!
And, ohmygosh, I am a freak about middle names! I have to be secretive about my ways of procuring them because people think I am so weird! But…it’s just something I must need know! Haha, how happy I am to find I am not alone:)
My middle name is Lynn. (My first name is Rebecca, and that is how I ended up as “CaLynn”, you see.)
P.S. I love paper piecing – you really must try it:D
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Thanks you!
Oh good, I’m not alone either!
I’ve been eyeing the paper piecing for a while now. I know, I just need to bite the bullet and do it!
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What a start for your YoLF! And you shared the glory with lots of other contributors in your wonderful (and exciting) story. My middle name is Marie, as was my Mother’s and as is both my daughter’s and my grand-daughter’s. We are a family of either grand tradition or very little imagination.
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OK, you’re on the same page as Skinny laMinx AND Lisa Congdon??!! I rest my case – you are bloody awesome!! See, I told you, didn’t I?
That would also mean that for today I have to change my middle name from ‘Danger’ to ‘Jealous’.
Sincerely,
Esmari Jealous Taylor
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Congratulations, Lysa! My middle name Marie is a version of my mother’s name, Mary, which I passed down to my oldest daughter. Now, my oldest granddaughter shares it as a middle name as well!
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I love your pencil drawings!!! They are as exquisite as the fabrics! I rushed over to your etsy shop to see your notecards. There were no notecards, no drawings! Oh, no!!! Now my middle name is Nell which I don’t use, but if it helps me to win a copy of the magazine…Oh, well! Keep up your beautiful art!!!
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Big congrats to you for being in print!! I love this mag but can’t ever find it. Boo.
Bonus points if you can pronounce this name properly: Aimée
Hint: does NOT sound like “Amy” and I won’t bore you with the tales of having incorrect ID and having to fight with every level of gov’t.
But hooray to you!
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Congratulations again! My middle name is Ellen….now you have to figure out my first name.
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Well done Lysa, you are very talented and so deserve to be here. Middle name Karen. Lyn
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Congratulations Lysa! I am so proud of you.
Didn’t know your cards were for sale, love them, will head over to Etsy.
Middle name is Nadene…it has grown on me over the years.
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So excited for you Lysa, but I must say it’s well deserved and it’s also about time that the world finds out about you!
Laura
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well, you did it. Big congratulations to a very talented you. What an achievement ! I am so proud of you and what you create Well done Lysa. And for my middle name, I don’t have one. Never had and never will.
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I totes want your autograph on mine! Ha! Well done to you!
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yes! Realist! So happy/excited for you. My boring middle name is Lynn just like every other Jennifer born in 1973. Boo.
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Congratulations! You have much to be proud of!
My middle name is Ruth, after my grandmother, and it’s my granddaughter’s middle name, too. Sometimes I get called Lindaroo.
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Amazing! I keep thinking the Dr. Suess quote is perfect here ‘Oh, the places you will go’ !!! My middle name is Maria