My First Quilt Shop Hop

My LQS's bite. One is run to cater to old ladies taking classes and has more outdated fabrics than new. The other has a large space with two long arms but the space is so large that it looks like the place has no fabrics. Clearly, in my opinion, they don't. I like to put quilts together by color and need lots of choices to all kinds of shades and tints. I have always wanted to visit top quality quilt shops but here on the west coast they are miles and miles apart. I love pictures in magazines of the quilt shops beaming with copious amounts of fabric, patterns, and floor to ceiling inspiration. Yesterday was one of those days that I finally got to find and enjoy a few of them.  Western Washington had their annual quilt shop hop and if you visited 16 shops and got your passport stamped at each of them you would be entered to win fabulous prizes, including two deluxe sewing machines.  Each shop gave you a pattern and some fabric to get the block started. Some gave you all the fabric needed to complete the 8"x8" block. Others offered completer kits from .50 cents to $4.00 to finish the block. My husband deserves husband of the year for driving me the 370 mile trip--- 210 miles up and around and 160 miles back in the 12 and a half hour trip. Not only that but he also got a passport stamped so I have two chances to win --- really what is he going to do with a sewing machine :)

I didn't think I would be able to go at all but due to a very rainy weekend, our camping trip was cancelled.

Here is a picture of a couple of my favorite shops:

The Quilt Nest --- Castle Rock, WA

Bayside Quilting --- Olympia, WA

 Parkland Parrish Quilt Co. --- Tacoma, WA

A couple of the quilt shops , I chose only because they were close to other shops and they were pleasant surprises of the day.  One such shop was Shibori Dragon in Lakewood, WA. It was a very nice shop with lots of Asian inspiration and we were fascinated with all it had to offer. Another was the Parkland Parrish quilt shop pictured above. Unfortunately, my camera battery died inside so I can't show you the inside. Erica Plank was there demonstrating using a few of her templates and patterns for Cathedral windows blocks (you know I had to buy one of those).  She also was demonstrating how to color on fabric with crayola crayons and heat setting it by covering it with paper towels and ironing it.  Then she outlined the artwork with thread play and it looked outstanding and loads of fun. Gonna have to break out my crayon box and let the inspiration lead me astray. She has a web site with her patterns called UnseenHands that is worth checking out. She also has lots of embroidery patterns and an adorable laundry bag pattern that we had to buy for my college daughter but will also be great for camping trips. We also went to the Wild Rose Quilt shop in Orting, WA. Great shop with very friendly staff that we will have to visit again. I brought a second camera with me but couldn't find it at that stop, so no pictures to share of the Wild Rose :(
Since my husband was such a good sport, we treated him to his first visit to Cabelas. It is an awesome sporting good store off exit 111 off I-5 on our way home. He was a happy camper finally.

To top off the day and reward my husband one more time, we stopped at the Country Cousins restaurant in  Centralia and he was able to get a reuben sandwich. One of his favorites.  I'll share more in the days to come as I sort out all my loot and try out my new pattern purchases. Plus I ordered something for my machine at Bayside Quilting that I had seen a year ago online they had.  The nice gentlemen there said he would ship it to me for free. Yeah...now I will just have to be patient till it comes. Hope to receive it within the next couple weeks and learn to use it. I will share what it is once I try it out.  He and I had to debate which one I wanted to order. Did you know that you can rent long arms at some quilt shops. No I'm not getting a long arm...way too much $$$ for me but he shared that for a $30 dollar class fee they will let you rent time on a long arm after you learn to use it. I wonder if my LQS offers that. I rarely ask questions of the staff just look for what I need and get out. Maybe I need to learn to ask more questions. Sorry for the long post but I learned so much yesterday I just had to share.

Keep Stitchin'

Show and Tell

We'll it's time for my confession.  I am doing my first quilt block swap ever and my newbie-ness is showing thru.  I am participating in a Halloween See Saw Swap that Michele over at Quilts From My Crayon Box put together.  Sharon, my partner, has been teaching me about Wonky blocks and Hoochy quilting ( which I had never heard of) and I must be a slow learner.  When she sent my block back the sides were each different widths and I thought it was a mistake so I trimmed them even.  Now ..... I'm sure I am just an insensitive jerk.  Have you ever done something you regretted later and had to face the music?  I really must be stupid too because she explained wonky and hoochy but just didn't see how this was what she meant by that.  Three days later I woke up and had an ephinany ( don't you hate when that happens too late?)  I think she was creating a inward box that would have drawn the eye to the center of the quilt, which I let her know would have been brilliant but I have just never played with quilting the way this is turning out to be.  I have pretty much always had a pattern or created one and followed the plan and am struggling with the not having control over the process.  I even told Sharon that I was up for anything but when anything happened I didn't realize that I was to just go with the flow like I said I would.  Stupid, stupid, stupid....I can't kick my bootie enough!!!  I hope she can forgive my brainless act and just know that I am happy with the result even if she isn't.  I know I probably ruined her whole plan in one stupid move. For that I am very sorry. Here is a pic of the block after I added the next round.  I love the colors she added and am having fun with the block.  She has taught me something though, her hoochy stuff is a lot about story quilts so I have chosen to continue the scene out into my surrounding borders.

I can't wait for her to see what I did to her block.  I LOVE how it turned out and hope she does too but I'm going to make her wait to see it until she gets it in the mail.  She is using the ghastlies in her block and it is going to be fantastic when it is done.  I am already thinking I should be making me one to match hers. Don't you just love the ghastlies! Maybe I'm related to them since I seemed to have done something so ghastlie and now I kind of look like them :(  YIKES!!! Sorry Partner

Meet Bob the Bear

Check out my new planter that my wonderful hubby made.  I've been waiting for a sunny day so I could get a great picture of him to share with you.  I planted it in red, white and blue because it was Memorial Day and I was feeling patriotic.  God Bless America.  Isn't he fantastic ?

                               Cat Quilt Top Giveaway Winner

I used the true Random Number generator on my side bar to pick the winner.  I would love to congratulate Gina (Catwhiskers) on winning the quilt top.  She said " meow, meow... that's so cute!
thanks for sharing your story about the frogs. Are you there are only two left behind? - Come back and explain the situation again next spring. lol " I will be emailing you shortly to get your address to send the top off to.  I wish I could have given it to all who entered your comments were so nice.  I can't help but thinking it was suppose to be with a name like Gina (Catwhiskers) .  Sorry I couldn't figure out how to get a picture of the random generator on this post you will have to take my word for it. I guess I should have taken a picture of it.
I thought I could copy and paste it and when that didn't work it was gone when I went back :(  Still learning the ropes. Thanks to all who entered the giveaway. Congrats Gina!!!

 Check it out---Time to think about Christmas

Rebecca over at Sew Festive Handmade is putting together a Christmas in July event at her blog.
Starting July 2nd each Monday in July will feature two tutorials to get us inspired to make some fantastic holiday projects for our homes and to give as gifts.  To find out more about this event check it out here or click on the button on my sidebar for the Christmas in July event.  She is also offering some great gifts to those who contribute with a tutorial.  I don't know about you but I'm already dreaming of all the things I need to get started if I want them done in time for Christmas.  What could be better than being inspired by our friends in blogland. 
Update:
Please note that Rebecca has let us know that all you have to do to be in the running for one of her fabulous prizes is finish a Christmas project and share it on her linky on July 30th. Thanks for letting us know Rebecca I for one need to get busy, thanks for the motivator!

I've been busy in the sewing room this weekend and will show you what I've been up to in the next few days. I will have a lot of explaining to do. How come I never have enough time in my day to get around to all I need to get done?  I do want to mention that along with all my other things to get done in the quilt room I now have another project in the waiting line.  During the last quilt blog hop I also won a pattern for a Goldilocks and the three bears pattern which is stunning.  I look forward to making this quilt for the next little girl to come into a my circle of friends.  You can see the project I'm talking about at Bubblestitch Quilts.  Cyrille has a great talent for designing some wonderful quilts and blocks that are paper pieced.  I can't wait to start picking out fabrics for this beauty.  She also has an adorable Red Riding Hood set of patterns and a nice deer and bear that I'll have to find time for also.
Right now I have to find time to finish a Zig Zag quilt I threw together last weekend for my great-great nephew arriving in July.  Grayson will be the first boy born in my family for 44 years so we are all looking forward to greeting this little guy.  Here is a sneak peek at the top:

This is a gorgeous picture but as you can see the quilt top is upside down. Just imagine it flipped around so the boats aren't standing on their tops.  I chose all nautical prints and since his due date is July 10th the red, white and blue may be very appropriate as well.
Keep Stitching,