Fabric Obsession: Family

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Thursday, August 15, 2013

PERSONAL QUILT SHOP HOP

This past weekend, my little cousin Colleen got married to her best friend, Ian. It was a beautiful outdoor vintage wedding. I loved witnessing this joyous event, and I got to spend time with family who I haven't seen in years. The wedding was held in northwestern Washington, and it is normally a six hour drive across the state (without hitting any of that retched Seattle traffic).

So, while on the west side, I decided to take advantage of stopping at a few quilt shops.

FIRST STOP: Aunt Mary's Quilt Shop in Smokey Point, WA.

I arrived here shortly after they opened. This is a really cute shop with lots of fabric choices, great displays, lots of quilt samples, and a large open class room. The owner was extremely friendly, and helpful. When I told her I was on my own mini-shop hop, she drug out a map and directed me to other neighboring shops that were open on a Sunday.

NEXT STOP: The Quiltmaker's Shoppe in Arlington, WA.

A quaint shop divided by several themed related rooms. At the entrance (besides the cash register and cutting table) you will find all their notions, embroidery kits, and the newest arrival of fabric. Through a doorway to the right, you will find the holiday themed fabric, racks of quilt books, an array of solid fabrics, and pre-cuts. In a small middle section of the shop, you would find a large selection of batiks (which I believe is their specialty). There were two back rooms. One room was devoted to novelty and children fabrics, and the very last room was devoted to their classroom. The shop was alive with anxious customers purchasing their newest block-of-the-month. It was a fun place to visit.

LAST STOP: Keepsake Cottage Fabrics in Bothell, WA. I drove into the little village shopping area, and was pleased I choose this shop as my last stop. This place was absolutely adorable and inviting. Outside was all their sale fabric, and a sitting area to rest your tired feet (or patient men waiting on their female companions). Inside the shop were rows and rows of fabric --- almost overwhelming. The bolts of fabric were divided by designers and color themes. My brain was in overdrive that I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the store.

I spent at least a hour browsing the shelves and stacks of fabric bolts trying to find that "perfect" fabric. I took some time to look at most of their quilting books in hopes of finding a new project. In the end, I only purchased a few yards of Moda's Glamping fabric (as I loved the line when I first saw it at Market).

As I left, I bid a farewell to the "Welcome Committee" outside their shop, and started driving back over the mountains towards home. It was a very GREAT (world-wind) weekend full of Family, Fabric and Fun!!

Here is a picture of my finished pillow case that I made out of fabric I purchased during my own personal quilt shop hop.

Friday, May 10, 2013

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Last weekend, I was able to spend a little time with my mom.

I surprised her with a special Mother's Day gift made with love just for her.

I wanted to give you a little sneak peak when I started the project, but I did not want to ruin the surprise since my mother is a faithful follower to my blog.

But now that she has received her gift (and I hope she likes it), I can share with you....

A wool table mat of "Flower Baskets"
(Ignore the photo props -- I was trying to display the size of the mat)

Love you Mom!

Friday, May 3, 2013

CAMPING SEASON IS FINALLY HERE!

Last weekend was our inaugural camping trip! It was very successful. We returned to Steamboat Rock State Park one year after the hiking disaster (see postings in May 2012). The entire weekend went without a hitch, mishap, accident..... I was a very Happy Camper!!

If I had to make one negative point about our weekend, it would be someone (me) had an operator error when using a camera (due to the fact that I probably drank to much wine), and deleted all the pictures I had taken over the course of the weekend. Oops! The above photo is courtesy of my sister, who seems to have enough talent to be able to drink and operate electronics.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

QUILTING BEE: Work in Progress

We were busy bees...

Linda worked on completing her "Saddle Blanket" quilt top. She had the blocks completed when we met, but spent her time sewing the rows together and completing the borders.

It is now ready to be quilted, and off the the Longarmer.

I started an entire new quilt from scratch. I purchased some various patterns from the Quilt Market in Houston last fall, and I choose one design that I thought would go with the new line of Kansas Trouble fabric I just received.

So, I cut...

sewed...

cut again...

until I was able to complete one of blocks.

I was gun-ho in getting this entire quilt top completed. Yeah, right!! Thank goodness, Linda encouraged me to just put together one block to make sure I liked the way the fabric was pieced. It took me about four hours to complete one block. Yes, I said FOUR hours. I cut, measured, and sewed, but the pieces just would not work. I was growing frustrated.

We sat together and brain stormed until we found the problem. It was not Operator Error! There was a misprint in the pattern in cutting one of the colored pieces. Linda made the correction to the pattern, and I diligently went back to my project.

By the end of the weekend, all I had completed was sewing together 436 flying geese (thank goodness for the Wing Clipper by Deb Tucker --- a must have quilting accessory), and 48 half square triangles. I definitely need some additional sewing time to make some serious progress on this quilt top. I only wish we had one more day!

On our last day in Missoula, we rose to a slight dusting of snow and a promise to each other that we will definitely come back soon.

Friday, April 19, 2013

QUILTING BEE: Family Style

Twice each year, my cousin Linda and I try and get together for a little family style quilting bee. In the past, I've gone to her home or she has came to my home, and we spend our time together sewing. (See this post of past quilting retreat). I have to confess that I rather go to her house, as she has a sewing room to die for and she feeds me like a queen! (Its a win, win for me!!)

This year, we decided to meet at a half way point between our houses in Missoula, Montana! I packed the car with my sewing machine, bolts of fabric and other essentials to get through the weekend; and hit the road!

Linda did some research and found a hotel that accommodates people like us....quilters!

Ruby's Inn & Convention Center

We stayed two nights at Ruby's Inn on Reserve Street. While its an older establishment, the accommodations were PERFECT and we couldn't ask for better hospitality.

Our room was large enough to host two KING size beds, and we still had plenty of room to set up our sewing stations.

The manager of the hotel even offered and delivered a banquet table to our room for our sewing machines. We set up the ironing board and transformed a small dining table into our cutting station.

By 5 p.m., we were set up and anxious to get started.

A quick mug shot to capture the memory...and we hit the ground running!

To be continued...

Friday, January 25, 2013

EXPENSIVE CHEW TOY

Meet my son's dog, Java. He rescued her as a puppy from the pound a year ago when he lived in Dallas. She does not like the cold weather; and since they now live in Chicago, she spends a lot of time in the house.

Don't let that cute face fool ya! She has a dark side....especially when she is board and left unattended.

Java loves soft, squishy things and especially if it is fluffy or has stuffing. She can destroy a pet toy in no time flat.

Recently, when left unattended, she took interest in a new "chew" toy..... a quilt!

Sew, I packed this quilt into my suitcase and brought it home to mend. Thank goodness for scraps! I'll be sending it back to Chicago in no time, along with a BIG new chew toy for Java!