The Creative World of the Crazy Haberdasher

We're blogging live from the retreat. 9 students are busy with the first steps of their crazy quilts.

You'll be seeing posts from me, Aunt Dee and my partner, Kevin. We'll try to convey the feel of the weekend.

First thanks goes to the fantastic conference staff here at St. Mary's. Not enough good things can be said about Julie White. We started working with her back in March. Mom, Kevin and I made a visit in April. We fell in love with the campus and saw that the facilities would be great for a retreat. Julie was so responsive and accommodating--we just knew that we'd have a great experience. And a few hours into it, we certainly haven't been disappointed.

We met Julie Worthington, the first Julie's co-worker today and she's been wonderfully funny and helpful too.
If you're looking for a quiet, beautiful, reasonably priced retreat facility be sure to give the Julies a call.


More to come soon. . .
Brian
Reposted from Retreat blog on 9/15/11

Hey everyone, I want to introduce you to a very special friend. She is the person responsible for all the practically all the quilting in my last book and is helping me currently on the new book. Very sadly she has moved away from Indianapolis where we both lived, to a new location in Atlanta, Georgia. She has a wonderful home which I am helping here design from Indy and soon will be traveling to help here there. She is a one of a kind sweetheart.
I MISS YOU MELISSA SEE YOU SOON.
This is a photo taken the day before she left for her new life in Georgia. It was a happy day, I gave here her copy of the book before everyone else at the book launch party because she left town before all the festivities happened. Sadly she was not able to attend and hear all the great comments. Also, she missed the cry fest.

Just a friendly hello here I have been so wrapped up in the package of the new book its been hard to find time to Blog. I miss chatting with you all.

I just needed to tell you about this wonderful group of friend that i stumbled upon that have given me new enthusiasm.

They are my friends from Needle Fever they were instant friends and inspiration. They give me what I was needing a nudge to strive to be better you really cant ask for more then that
.
The owners name is Debi you have to go bye and say hello and just see what great work they show case and ask for the hugs that she so freely gives out, she is the best
.
If you find Sally in you have truly found a jewel so helpful and kind and a breath of fresh air for your Sol.
There are to many more to mention so you just have to see for your self. Thanks Girls for the dally lift to a persons sprit and Sol.
thanks for the chat Brian

I just wonted to share with you a good a fellow dealer at the Antique mall where my shop is let me take pictures of this great Crazy quilt in the mall so i toke a boat load of pictures to keep a record of ideas that were on it. i get inspiration from all kinds of thing. I have said this before if i get stuck or need something to create a new feel for what i am doing i just go walk through the Antique mall and it give me all kinds of new thoughts and ides to work from. so the next time you need inspiration go through your local Antique mall and look at linens, art work, old quilts, lace, and look at the shape and form of furniture legs, cabinet doors etc.etc etc. I would also let you know there is a great mall in southport where i work and live the Southport Antique Mall it is full of the good stuff that makes us all create new things from old. chat soon friends.

I will keep you all posted and I will be posting pictures in the coming days and just show how all this unfolds. keep your fingers crossed.

This little baby doll found a good home sleeping on my new quilt some times you need to look out side the BOX. Hope this will give you a Idea.

This is the glove that Sally my friend gave me on one of the new pieces that are going to be coming next year in book two just a bite of a sneak preview. I hope you like. Thanks Sally for the piece that inspired this.

This is a glove that I was given as a gift from a friend I meet at my new stitch group, just by chance I stop ed in the Needle Fever Shop at Keystone at the Crossing and meet the nice group that I now have gotten to stitch with.
What a nice group and the owner Debbie is the best if you get a chance to stop and meet her you should she can sure brighten your day.
She has made great strides with the store sense she took over the shop.
My new friend Sally that I meet there is also a button collector and a kindred spirit what a sweetheart we just hit it off and its like we have been together a life time. Thanks to Sally and Debbie for the gift of friendship. You both are a great gift.

Well here we go Lady's and gents never though this would happen the idea that some one would wont my signature is a bite surreal I have been getting great feedback from people writing me and telling me what they think, and in person. Its all a bite overwhelming and yet i am so grateful. I do think that they get it.
There was a report from The Back Door quilt shop that they sold out of two cases in 11/2hour at the Kokamo shop hope. that was a cool day.
Just wont to thank all the people who take the time to let me know there thoughts how kind of you.

Here is a little better View.. I hope you like.

I have been a busy boy s of late I have been trying all kinds of new methods of dying things and new ways to use lace and trims I hope to share with you all inthe new book to come sone in the fall of next year. cant wait. YAAAAA......

Here is the ceiling of my new Master Bed room do you think its to much, LOL just kidding it from a great hotel in Kentucky where we stayed. The Brown hotel its a must see and stay on the Club Floor. Wonderful

Here are some dear friends that gave a great group of employees a great Laugh so i had to give you a good laugh as well, all dressed from the closet of your truly.. LOL always try to give one person a day a smile.

Well it is a little late to share this its for my moms birthday cake It is made from the kitchen of Mr. Kevin Head it is Italian Cream cake and then I put a bite of a twist on it I make marzipan fruit and bees on it painted with chocolate.
Cute Haaa.... Oh the glass dome was to make it like a bee hive, crazy ha..LOL

You know how we all go through life with so much to do we some times don't stop to be grateful well I am here with a very open heart at this moment, and I am so Grateful that I have been given that person that gets all of my crazy. Despite it he still understands me and embraces it and rolls with it. So in this I have to say I am soooooo Grateful to have such a wonderful person in my life and I can only hope you have the same in your. If this hits home with you today as you read please tell the ones you love before its to late.
thanks for reading Brian

Here is the dogwood necklace made from dye cut circles and there are small blooms that trail down the back. Probably not the best thing to ware for the IN weather right now LOL if would how ever collect the sweat just fine.

Hay check out the patterens of necklaces that i have now for sale love the use of wool balls and leafs cut from a sinple circle its all very easy and fun try it. You can get them through brianhaggard.com there will be more.

Well it's been a couple weeks of crazy here as of late I am going to be moving my studio and my home in one location, Ya ya cant wait.
I just wonted to make a note to you all the first book signing is going to be held a the
Back Door Quilt Shop Greenwood IN
Off us135 it is Saturday Aug 6Th my Birthday how crazy is that it all happened at once come say hello would love to share this time with you.
It has sure been a long time in the making.
Hope to see you all there. This is one of the Quilts in the new book
Crazy Quilted Memories by Brian Haggard its called Love Letters.
chat soon Brian

There'll be an article coming out very shortly in the south side times about the release of the book if you're the chance to grab a copy of it does little to the background where it all began hope you enjoy!

Well it happened again the studio is under water again this whole myth about the hundred year flood is exactly that a myth. I was called by the antique mall next to My building today and told that I should come down and check my building that the water was close to the door, only to find out that when I open the door waves across the floor I cannot tell you how that feels well I could but it wouldn't be nice. The wonderful thing is I've been through this for with the last hundred year flood everything is on wheels and off the floor. So I carried all the quilts out through the water to put them in my car safe from harm. Think happy thoughts were going to need them in the coming days. Chat with you all soon make a great day.

Well its going to be here soon the book will be in my hands soon cant wait it can be in your hands in augest, cant wait also the new news the second book is in the works. Yes you herd me it already in the work hoping to be released in the fall of next year. yes it seams like forever to me also. Its going to be on the patterns. I have been working on it already cant wait to share it with you all. well rambled on long enough. Chat soon my friends.

Hello to you all my new friends in the quilt challenge this is all very cool
cant wait to see what all of you have come up with for Power suit.
What does it mean to you???? this should be really great seeing how
it all comes together.

Here is a cuttie called Opal meet Charolett my grandmother on my dads side
and a 1700 t0 1800 froven Charolett doll with a few bone and pearl buttons.

If you like what you see check out mt book crazy Quilted memories.

Here is one of the many new patterens i have been working on its a necklace made of wool flowers, If you interested in it just email me and let me know I will be glad to get it out in the mail.

Well here is the cover of my new Quilt book I hope you like it, if you see it on shelves take a look let me know what you think.
Or if you wont to buy a copy I will have it available on this site if you like I would love to sign it for you.
Its is all about technique stylizing and creating you own piece of art.