It is Fowl Friday and what a fowl day it is! Fran here, Freda is just too upset to speak let alone squawk or blog! Well we were all packed ready to head off to the West Coast with Debra. New bikinis, sunhats and dos all in our bags, passports up to date and off we went to the airport. Then the "fowl" ups began, first of all we were not allowed to travel in our own seat, we had to bear the humiliation of a "pet" carrier under the seat. Two with it chicks stuck under the seat like a common household pet, did they not notice our designer luggage!? Security next and the nightmare continued, I guess wire legs are not a good thing when going through a metal detector, removal of legs not an option so....we had to remain behind as the three of them with non metal legs whisked off in style in the cool new executive pod seats. They were as happy as three peas in a pod and not at all sad to see us left behind. They said they were but ...they lied. sniff sniff! So Freda and I are left behind with the cats at home, such stimulating conversation awaits us, I can hardly wait, umm like which litter box did you use today or how many balls did you chase under the couch? There had better be some great souvenirs coming our way at the end of this trip! Freda promises to be back next week once she has stopped blowing her beak and crying. Poor chick she is bathing in despair literally, her feathers are soggy, the new do is done! So off to console Freda with some popcorn and a good chick flick, maybe ask a few close peeps to join us for a pity party. Next trip thick leg warmers and stowing away in the baggage compartment, these chicks were meant to travel, if a garden gnome can do it then look out world here we come! Fran & Freda!

I am getting ready for two days of travel, flying out of this small part of Canada often entails a bus or car ride before the actual plane which is often three connections. It is always interesting and leads to an adventure often. Sometimes my luggage has a more exciting trip than I do ending up in a city I have not even visited! Travelling the web is a much easier trip however where you end up often has nothing to do with where you thought you were going! After being at CHA in Orlando I got a chance to meet up with some favorite web connections and some new ones. My first Facebook application in spring 2006 was Scrapblog, their first month in existence. How they have grown and what a wonderful group of people! You can create a beautiful scrapbook on line and have it printed into an actual book using the most current and popular designers papers, stickers like Claudine Hellmuth. In fact the whole Scrapblog team were featured as a group of Claudine's Poppits in the books they had printed especially for CHA.

I had a chance at the show to meet Rebecca Peck of the Fiskateers, actually it was the evening Fran & Freda made fools of themselves. I believe they ended up in a shot involving several beverages and mouse ears! Rebecca interviews interesting crafty, creative types and of course Fiskars have the best products, 350 years in business! So Fran & Freda will have lots to talk about when they return from their travels when Rebecca interviews them (us, their vocabulary is sometimes limited)

So off to finish packing and round up two teens who would rather be travelling alone hopefully I will survive and as the Eternal Optimist win them over! If you roll your eyes too much will they get stuck?

Welcome to Terrific Tuesday! It has been a rich full family weekend, reunion, Memorial and yesterday my brother Bob spoke at an event announcing a gift to the University of New Brunswick, UNB. The Quartermain Sports Medicine Center will be part of a marvellous new health and wellness complex, the Currie center at the University. My brother attended UNB getting his first degree here, the solid basis for his career in geology. His heart remains close to home as he travels the world and to see his first professor now in his nineties sitting in the large crowd that attended yesterday was very special. Bob spoke of our Dad and an injury he received in school which remained with him all his life. This new facility will enable anyone to receive the most up to date diagnostic and treatment available today. Fitness is imperative to life quality and injuries happen in everyday lives so this facility is part of a huge initiative in improving the health and fitness of the students, faculty and residents of our city. Both my daughters are attending UNB and are inspired and motivated by their uncle to make a difference in this world as they go forward in their lives. I am continually inspired by my brother and feel very grateful to call him also my best friend. I know both Mom and Dad are looking down so proud of this fine man they raised who never forgets where he came from, who he is and with a vision to make where he is going better for everyone he touches. He speaks genuinely from the heart and is the finest man I know, my brother Bob, Robert Quartermain.

Since Fran & Freda were so impatient this week following the CHA they already posted their marvellous interview (well it actually was their interview with the Marvellous Margot Potter!) I am taking today to post about the weekend coming up.

REMEMBERING with LOVE

We are going to a Quartermain family reunion Saturday and then on Sunday is the Memorial for my Mom and Dad. My Mom passed away the end of March this year and my Dad in August in 1979. They had thirty wonderful loving years together. They met where the Memorial is taking place in St. Andrews by the sea on the east coast of Canada. They met sixty years ago, on August 5th, 1949 at a dance. It was love at first sight, the tall slender man with smiling eyes and the dark haired beauty. My Dad commented to his sister he was going to marry the prettiest girl in the town! On August 20th just 15 days later my Dad proposed to my Mom, she wrote in her journal it was the happiest day of her life! They married in December 1950 on a Friday afternoon following work and went a short distance away for their honeymoon.

We never had much, my Dad was in the hospital often as he was a haemophiliac (which ultimately took his life very early at age 51) but my parents were so much in love and so happy together that life was rich. My Dad was grateful for every day he was alive and his eyes were always smiling and full of love. I was conceived in love and JOY on Valentine's day and my brother a warm summer evening by the ocean they both loved. Who I am and what I believe began with roots of deep love and JOY, for those precious gifts I have been truly grateful!

To my Mom & Dad with love, now dancing together among the stars!

One of the highlights of the summer CHA show was catching up with some of my most favorite people. I got a chance to spend an evening with the very talented Margot Potter. She is both witty and wise, a creative dynamo with an energy that lights up the room. Fran & Freda were starstruck upon meeting her and when they heard she was a fowl lover they were over the moon or coop so to speak! She very graciously granted them an interview. She even posed for pics, thank goodness their feet were clean! (considering they insisted on being carried everywhere their feet should have sparkled!) They also tried to talk Margot into making tiny tiaras for them, so embarrassing.

Margot, what has being creative meant in your life?

Being creative is my life.  I have been creating it since I can remember!  I believe we are all of us crafting our own realities, successes, joys and also our challenges.  Having a tangible way to express the creative impulse is such a powerful thing for anyone, and I???m so glad I get to do that every day in my studio.  I like to think of myself as a LifeCrafter?.  I???m inventing every aspect of my reality and it???s a total blast.

What is your favorite crafting pursuit?

I am a restless creative type, so I love many crafting pursuits.  In fact, I can???t seem to stop expanding my repertoire, even though my studio has run out of room to store the supplies!  I was so happy when I first heard the term Mixed Media because it fit my creativity perfectly.  I love to add a dash of this and a smidgeon of that and see what might happen.

What inspires you?

Absolutely everything inspires me.  I find the world around me endlessly fascinating and infinitely interesting. 

What is your favorite food, book, craft tool, store?

My favorite food is cheese.  I also love filet mignon, crème brulee, dark chocolate with almonds, butter, cream and a variety of other terribly fattening and wonderfully delicious things. 

I love so many books; it???s really hard to pick a favorite. 

My brain is my favorite craft tool.  After that...I???m going to have to say my Flexible Shaft Drill.

I???m a thrift store/flea market kinda gal

Freda is dying to know, does a tiara make you more divine?

A tiara reminds me that I am divine...as is everyone.  I???m a big believer in tiaras...and in self confidence.  We can???t expect others to hand us our joy or our success, we have to make it happen.  So to me, a tiara is a symbol of our divinity and our fabulosity!

You always look stunning at the shows, how do you decide on the do and frocks before the show?

My hairdresser and I work out the do and the outfits I shop for a few weeks ahead.  Then I make jewelry and accessories to match.  I think it???s important for a designer who specializes in jewelry to be fashionable.  I think it???d be hard to instill confidence in people to hire me as a designer if I didn't???t look like I could even design my own outfit!

THANK YOU Margot! for taking the time to chat with Fran & Freda. Visit Margot Potter.com, where this best selling author & celebrity designer inspires creativity with a mix of wit, wisdom & talent! Her blog The Impatient Crafter TM a must read and Fran & Freda are beside themselves with excitement you can purchase Margot's magnificent jewels in her own Etsy Shoppe!

Back from the CHA show! Well I ran into technical glitches and so could not post from show. Fran & Freda were not impressed, impatient and impervious those two are but the fowl duo had a blast at the show. We had three plane delays on the way down due to weather, they complained the whole time and of course were annoyed with what the Orlando humidity did to their feathery dos! Next time they get their own room, they both snore, hog the mirror and eat toothpaste. I was lucky to be sharing a room with the ever so sweet and patient Vicki Schreiner, HER Bazooples gang are well mannered and quiet. Gertrude giraffe even sat on Vicki's shoulder for a picture in the Expo booth. Check out my CHA coverage . Fran & Freda got to hang out one night with the famous ducks at the Peabody Hotel next door and the divine Ms. Margot Potter sat down with them for an interview up later this week.

Thank you to everyone associated with the CHA show, the Board, the staff, it was well run and although small in size was full of energy, activity and inspiration. Our Designer Section is the most active member section and it is due to the involvement of our members. I shared a room with Vicki Schreiner, the current Chair and she was gone early and late every day to meetings. So thank you to Vicki and everyone involved!

The nicest people are a part of the industry and I got to meet even more this trip. Mark Montano came by the booth, stopped to chat with Margot and me and posed for a pic! I had lots of fun manning the Homearts booth!

Packed and ready to head out tomorrow for CHA Craft & Hobby Show in Orlando, Florida. It is always a last minute rush getting everything finished up but also exciting! I realized though just launching my new site and blog I would like to update from show. So my youngest sold me her IPod Touch for a fair deal and upgraded to one to hold more music. She very kindly added Facebook, Twitter, Mail and pictures for me. Gave me a crash course in the logistics, hopefully I can remember it all. Now I have large fingers so my typing is really slow so the posts may be very short but will be  from the show floor!

Fran & Freda finished packing early of course, how much does a chicken need anyway! I get back on Friday early enough for them to post all the scoop from the show for Fowl Friday!

So off to the show I go!
Debra CEO!

Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! Who are these chicks? Well one of them is no "spring chicken" but both are definitely "grade A"! Turn offs being cooped up, and anything too corny so I will stop with that and let them take over.

Fran here, Freda being the "spring chicken" that she is also thinks she can dance. She is a huge fan of the show "So You think You Can Dance" but she can't. Chicken legs do not a dancer make and just because you are wearing Xotic felt does not mean you look good wrapped around a pole either! She is still suffering from spring fever & her first attempts at online dating at Hatch.com. One wink from a Rhode Island rooster and she is ready to feather dust his coop. Me I tend to be more of a Chicken Little type, I like to do things for myself and raised my whole brood on my own. Enough about us, we want you to meet some of our very cool peeps. Our first post has to be dedicated to the original peeps, available at Easter time for more than fifty years their popularity has created a whole culture "Peepology." Who would have thought a blob of bright yellow marshmallow would have such an impact on the world. Enough peeps are sold every year to circle the earth! Personally we never met a peep we didn't like and during the danger season many take refuge in our coop, the smell can be overpoweringly sweet and a hot day creates a sticky situation but their gratitude is well worth it. Next week we are away at the CHA show in Orlando. Excited, slightly nervous strutting our stuff at the Designer Showcase and staying next to Sea World, (sharks, gulp). We will have lots of exciting news from the show to share on our next Fowl Friday! Fran & Freda

Thanks to everyone who visited my new site and sent very encouraging emails. Much appreciated! So today Thrifty Thursday is compliments of my daughters closet cleanout and my confiscation of a crop of cute tanks and tshirts! (My daughters believe I am addicted to alliteration, so this is for them!) The tote is fully lined so I used in total 1 Tank for straps and pocket, bottom cut from Tshirt and 2 tanks with 1 used for lining. It makes for a very soft and comfy bag! It will be travelling to Orlando with me on Sunday for the CHA summer tradeshow. I am exhibiting in the Designer Showcase Wednesday which is open to EPM's, editors, publishers and manufacturers. So off to get gorgeous or rather a new do! Gorgeous these days after a studio marathon of design frenzy means getting out of the sweats and into something that has actual structure like jeans & a jacket.

While we were at the cottage for a week saw this fun Tshirt graphic outside a shop, couldn't resist! Of course my darling daughters pointed it out!

Till tomorrow creative types when Fran & Freda make their debut and first post! Those chicks who knows will be fun I am sure! Keep creating! Debra CEO!

Welcome to my New Home on the Web! debraquartermain.com. Thank you so much for visiting! It is a work in progress and will always be but I am pleased with how much I have accomplished in getting it ready enough to launch before summer CHA, Craft & Hobby tradeshow in Orlando which is next week!

I love being part of a creative community, connecting with so many talented and amazing people whom I admire and am honored to know, to be working with great companies and sharing my designs with a passionate crafting audience!

When you visit the virtual coffee pot will be on with warm delicious muffins fresh from the virtual oven. I promise good company, fun filled craftiness and inspiration!

"We travel but once this way, may our path be filled with treasured times and cherished moments, may JOY dance through your days! Such is our destiny to gaze at the world always with excitement, compassion and infinite wisdom." Debra, CEO!

Till tomorrow Thrifty Thursday, recycling fun & look out Friday there are a couple of sassy new chicks in town, Fran & Frieda. Talk about twitter & peep culture these chicks know it all! plus they have great fashion sense or they think so!