Well. you know how I love hand work. Applique and embroidery are my lifesavers. If I didn't have something to work on every evening, I would probably be five hundred pounds. I would have to start smoking! My family would tell you, I'm a much nicer person when I'm stitching. I love to sit under my apple trees in the evening (till the nasty little mosquitoes come and want to see what I'm doing) stitch and listen to the birdies sing. I can't count how many baseball games I have sat through, happily stitching. I can look at a quilt and remember what I was doing while I stitched it. So many nice memories! So, anyway, Here's what I am working on this summer. It's a really fun, whimsical pattern called "Calendula Pederdrip's Cottage". It's one of the great patterns from Meg Hawkey's Crabapple Hill designs. She is an amazing talent. I have been really enjoying her creativity in this pattern. Stay tuned for more previews of this quilt.
Today is a very good day! At least so far... We just got in a new book from the girls at Piece O Cake Designs, Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins. It's a very cute book with some really fun Christmas designs. And guess what? Just this morning I got an e-mail from Becky Goldsmith. We have tentatively booked her for three day workshop. OK! it's not until May of 2013, but hey! I'm still excited! She did a workshop about two years ago, here at the shop, and I learned allot!
I wasn't even in the class. I was working, but got to watch many of her demonstrations. Maybe I will work it out so I can take the class too.
Their designs have been one of my favorites for many years, They are always so whimsical and fun to make. So mark your calendar! Ok. I don't even have a 2013 calendar. Hmm.... Maybe I'll make a big note for myself and put it on the fridge. It's going to be hard to wait for that long!
This week, Wednesday - Saturday is all about YOU, my customer!!! I would like to take some time to tell everyone that shops here at Aunt Mary's.... THANK YOU!
I am sooo lucky to be around quilters everyday. They are the most wonderful, generous, happy, talented and kind people on earth. I remember a talk someone gave at a guild meeting one time about all the things we get out of quilting, besides a quilt. One of the best things I have gotten from quilting is all the great friends and relationships I have.
So this week, we are celebrating YOU - MY CUSTOMER! Were would I bee without you?
Even those of you that don't want your picture splashed all over my blog. I love you anyway!
THANK YOU!!!
As you have read, I took some time off for summer vacation. You would think I would do no quilting at all. Guess what?!! I really love quilting!!! So I worked on this quilt fresh from the new "Buggy Barn" book Still Crazy. I really enjoy their patterns. I have done at least one and sometimes more quilts from ALL of their books. I'm a big fan!!! The quilts are so whimsical and fun, and fun to make too. No worries about matching exactly or exact quarter inch seams. Stack up some fun fat quarters, cut out the pattern, shuffle the stacks and start sewing! Just enjoy the process and have fun! We do have a "Buggy Barn" quilting class coming up next month. Thursday, August 18th from 10 - 4. It's been one of our most popular classes. Most of my past students have gone on to make lots of the "Buggy Barn" patterns. They really are VERY addictive! Aren't these Turkeys Fun!!! The new book has other fun quilts that I will probably have to make too. There is an Ice Cream Cone quilt and a cute one with Christmas stockings. Hmmm? Which one should I do now?
A couple blogs ago, I showed the great new fabric from Alexander Henry, "The Ghastlies" had just come in. WELL!!! Now we have a great quilt made with it. I just love this pattern! We have made it up in so many different fabrics. It is great for showcasing a great piece of fabric. So here it is with the Ghastlies in it. I love it!!! I hope you do to. I have ordered more of the fabric to come in. I don't get to do that very often, but it's going sooo fast! Thankfully, Alexander Henry still has some. So hopefully the Ghastlies will be with us for a while!
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Every once in while a new book comes in and kind of stays off my radar for a little while. This book came in last month, just before Shop Hop, So I really didn't get a chance to even crack the cover. Then in comes a customer looking for it. She said a couple of her friends had been playing with it and WOW! So I had to take a look...... IT'S REALLY GREAT!! By just using strip sets of mostly 2 1/2" strips (Yes it's jelly roll friendly) and using a 90 degree ruler. Do some very easy cutting. (There is a special ruler from creative grid, but you don't have to use it. A regular 90 degree ruler will work) It makes some very fun and complicated looking quilts. This Saturday, we have DEMO DAY here in the shop. I will be demonstrating this book and how fun and easy all the quilts are to make. I also have some other fun patterns and new products to demonstrate also. So, stop in any time on Saturday and I'll show you some new tricks!
Whew! For those of you that have faithfully checked my blog in the past few weeks, you may have noticed that I wasn't here. Vacation is a very beautiful thing! Every year when Shop Hop is over, it's time for me to go away. No, I didn't go to anyplace very far away. The chair under my apple trees was far away enough for me. Here are some pictures of some of the fun things we did
Tim and I have this wonderful little Italian restaurant in Seattle that we love. So here we are. mmmmm.....
We went to a very different art happening, my son Pat was at in West Seattle. This is one of his room mates, Niel and I. It's kind of hard to explain what they were doing, but it was fun to watch.
Here's my son Pat's girlfriend Virginia. and My son Andy. Still don't know were Pat is. It was a very fun crowd. It's the kind of place that "Moms and Dads" kind of stand out. But, I had fun watching. I'm very proud of my boys. Pat is VERY into his art. It's a little different than what I do, but, who am I to judge. We had fun!
I just kind of took every minute as it came. Worked on a quilt from the new "Buggy Barn" book. (Stay tuned, I will show it soon) and just really did allot of nothing.
So... now I'm back to work. It will take me a few days to find my feet.
It's nice to be back!
Ok! Hands down, the 4th of July is my favorite of the faoritest holidays. It is soooo much more fun than some of the other ones that we wont even mention here. I am looking forward to a big BBQ. This year we are smoking a turkey and my family's favorite beef brisket. There will be lots of family, and way too much food and games and of course the fireworks. Whoopee!!! I will be bringing out all my patriotic quilts to decorate with.
This one will have to stay here though. I still have one more kit to find a home for. It's called "Faded Glory" by Vintage Spool. If you read this blog and want it, I will take 25% off. But, it has to be before Sunday night. So I can take it home for the 4th. Come on you guys! Lets find this kit a home. I know you will love it!
Happy 4th Everyone!!!!
Here we are, three days before the 4th of July, and I'm blogging about Halloween! That the craziness of retail! We are always a couple steps ahead. Hmmm, maybe I should get out the holiday decorations and beat the competition? Ok, NO!! But just look at this fabric from Alexander Henry. I LOVE IT!!! This company is so creative! We are already working on a sample quilt. It uses the "Sidelines" pattern. Right now we have it made up with grizzly bears. It's a great pattern that will showcase your favorite fabrics. We have done it so many times. It always works!
So now it will have these wonderful people in it. I can't wait! The thing is the fabric always sells out very fast! I will try to get more A.S.A.P. No guarantees though. Stay tuned for a picture!
Oh! And Christmas will be arriving all this month. So ya better start getting your list ready. Blah!!!! Enjoy the 4th FIRST!!!
I wasn't even in the class. I was working, but got to watch many of her demonstrations. Maybe I will work it out so I can take the class too.
I am sooo lucky to be around quilters everyday. They are the most wonderful, generous, happy, talented and kind people on earth. I remember a talk someone gave at a guild meeting one time about all the things we get out of quilting, besides a quilt. One of the best things I have gotten from quilting is all the great friends and relationships I have. 
THANK YOU!!!
Every once in while a new book comes in and kind of stays off my radar for a little while. This book came in last month, just before Shop Hop, So I really didn't get a chance to even crack the cover. Then in comes a customer looking for it. She said a couple of her friends had been playing with it and WOW! So I had to take a look...... IT'S REALLY GREAT!! By just using strip sets of mostly 2 1/2" strips (Yes it's jelly roll friendly) and using a 90 degree ruler. Do some very easy cutting. (There is a special ruler from creative grid, but you don't have to use it. A regular 90 degree ruler will work) It makes some very fun and complicated looking quilts. This Saturday, we have DEMO DAY here in the shop. I will be demonstrating this book and how fun and easy all the quilts are to make. I also have some other fun patterns and new products to demonstrate also. So, stop in any time on Saturday and I'll show you some new tricks!
