SHOP HOP 2012

As the Month of May winds down, we are gearing up for  June's biggest event.  The Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop.  June 20 thru June 24.

We are cutting, folding and packing up kits.  Arranging the schedule (we are open from 9-8, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10-5 on Sunday)  So, that's a lot of scheduling!  We have to staff the stamping table as well.  They are volunteers, so please be nice!  I want them to work for me again next year!

For some reason, I am having difficulty posting the picture of the poster.  (operator error, perhaps?)
So here is the link to the Shop Hop page. Our block is the bottom left cornerstone of the quilt.  A little checkerboard house, that you can remodel to become your own.  A "starter house"  You can see the poster, and print your passport.

We look forward to seeing 2000 or so of you during those 5 days!  J

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Over the past few months, my brother has been sorting through my Dad's boxes of slides.  It has been so much fun seeing those old pictures.  Especially photo's of my Mom. 

Cute thing!

Here we are in our front yard, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This was my Aunt's wedding.  She was the Maid of Honor, and I was the Flower Girl.  My Uncle Ron was in the wedding, also!

Glamor Shot!



This was taken in the 70's.

These bring back so many memories. 

She's been gone since 1998.  Too long.  I still miss her.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!  J

Weekend Away

We spent a wonderful long weekend in Southern California with our boy, Cameron.

There was the typical 'muscle contests' between father and son.

Two peas in a pod.

I am in love with those smiles!

One of Cam's buddies, Jason.

We watched him play ball.

Number 24

The Bad News Braves.  I don't think they are going to wash their pants until they have a win!

(They lost to the Bums)

He tried to look tough, but, he bought me a scarf with Pom-Poms.  No tough guy would do that!!

Best weekend ever! J

BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES

We are so lucky to be in a quilt shop everyday!  We are inspired by so many things.  Customers projects, fabric collections, patterns, books and magazines.  Once in a while one of us is lucky enough to make a quilt just because, just for fun, just for themselves.

Today was Joyce's show and tell of one of those 'just because' quilts. A customer shared a simple butterfly applique pattern with her.  She had a Rose Parade Layer Cake.  She was loving the 'new' gray fabrics in the shop.  Trumpets, please.

This is just so fresh and unexpected, with the gray background fabric.  So Beautiful!

 She used the same green for the bodies on all the butterflies.  It really ties it all together.

 Free hand Feathers by Pam.  Even better after washing!

 The perfect stripe binding!

Looks a little Cath Kidtson.  Don't you think?

Joyce is an amazing quilter.  Her applique is flawless, and her color choices are the best, ever.

I feel so lucky to have her on my staff, and to call her my friend!  J

Dear Stella Designs

I fist fell in love with Dear Stella Designs last summer.  I was fortunate to spend a couple of hours with the women behind this new fabric company.  Young, fresh, exciting are all words that describe the fabric and the company.

By Fall Quilt Market there was a lot of buzz about Dear Stella.  A good friend, Laura and I went to a Launch party where they were serving Stellatini's.  A grand time was had by all!

My favorite collection was Anchor's Away.  A fresh Nautical group.  Traditional with a twist.  Navy, Lt. Blue, and .ORANGE!! I am still in the midst of my Orange Crush, so it was perfect for me!  There was a lot of talk in the shop about how to use this fabric.  The obvious was a traditional sailboat pattern.  Like this one from It's Sew Emma.  I wanted to really see the fabric, so I looked for a big chunky pattern.  I decided on

I wanted it to be a baby, small lap size.  So I just made 9 blocks.  It is so stinkin' cute, I really love it.

 I love the swirl quilting, it reminds me of water.

The large Anchor print is fab!  Love, love it!  I can imagine a wrap around skirt from the 70's.

 Anything in front of a picket fence is darling! 

 There was a lot of discussion about the binding.  The stripe.  The stripe on the bias.  The Navy 'Stella Dot'.
Orange.  I know Orange.  As it turns out, it was perfect!



 There she is.  Hanging on a line.  Cute as can be.  Now, if only there was a nursery to decorate!! J

EXCITING DAY!

It has been pretty exciting around here for the last couple of days.  The shop is getting a new roof!

If you look carefully at the photo, you can see the feet of one of the roofers on the top right beam!

It has been pretty noisy and dusty.  But, we won't have to have buckets around the shop during the next big rain storm.

The cutest sewing fabric arrived in the shop last week.  OMG!  Take a look.

 I am pretty sure my Mom used this pattern for an Easter dress one year.  LOVE the 'cloak'.



I want to use this for a back of a quilt.  Way too cute to cut up. J

School Days

I am a big fan of everything American Jane.

I love her colors, and her fun designs.  This is my favorite Pezzy Print

Today her new line School Days, arrived.

It is just as fun as I remembered it from Quilt Market last fall.

I was looking around in Cyber Space, and found a video of Sandy Klop from market.  She is so sweet and enthusiastic about her projects.  I thought you might enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuEEZJFA2d8&feature=relmfu

I hope you are having a super day!  J