Today is My Bithday!!!

Ok - It's not.  It was last Wednesday, but I didn't have a chance to post anything.  The big end of the year sale has been quit busy. I was so surprised that Facebook tells EVERYONE!  it's your birthday. I'm just learning all this facebook stuff, so I didn't know about that.  I was very surprised with all the e-mails and posts on my wall.  Thank you all!  I had a wonderful day!  Here I am working in the greenhouse.  Hee hee! 

Here's wishing everyone a really wonderful new years.  I'll be off for a few days.  It's so nice to have two whole days in a row. The shop will be closed on New Years Day, and Ethell will be here on Monday. I'm going to work on my sample for the Winter Mystery.  I wish I could tell you about it, but well........ I can't! You should sign up for the class. I think it's going to be fun.  
Happy New Year Everyone!!!!! 

A Few Days Off Works Wonders!

Well! Christmas is over. I had a couple of days off and I'm feel much more in control.  Look at the pretty flower that bloomed while I was away. My friend Kathy brought it to the shop a couple of weeks ago.  I was pretty sure I would kill it before it bloomed. So Kathy has been in charge of watering it and seeing that we do the right thing.  BUT..... then she went to Montana for three weeks. I was sure it would die overnight! I am terrible with house plants.  I have even killed a Christmas cactus. I have been told "You can't go wrong with those. Well........ I killed it!  Anyway, so far this pretty thing is doing nicely.  I hope it blooms long enough for Kathy to see it.   Doesn't it look pretty in front of my pretty applique quilt?  It looks like it belongs.

I was messing with the little settings on my camera and look at this pretty picture.  I am not sure how I did it. It makes the plant look a little alien.

Well, I hope you all had a great Christmas.  Now it's time to look forward to the new year.  Oh! don't forget about the END OF THE YEAR SALE here at the shop, starting tomorrow, and goes through Saturday.  Everything in the shop will be 20% off.  All Christmas fabric will be 40%  of and the clearance fabric is priced to go!  Hope to see everyone!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Peace On Earth!

It's almost Christmas Eve, and almost everyone that's been in the shop in the past few days look like they are about to explode!  Way too much to get done.  They don't seem to be very peaceful!  Can anyone tell me WHY WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES?   My wish for everyone is for them to realize all the craziness is CRAZY! Slow Down! Relax!  Most of it doesn't matter anyway.  So whats going to happen if you don't make cookies like grandma use to make?  Make a new tradition of buying them from the local bakery. They do a great job and they are sometimes better than grandma's.

This picture was taken two years ago, this past week.  I am sooooo thankful that it doesn't look like this now!  However, I think it made people slow down.  They didn't have much of a choice.  We COULDN'T go anywhere.  I don't know, Maybe I shouldn't post this blog.  I sound like a such Scrooge.  I really do like lot's of things about Christmas.  Enjoying a cup of coffee with my friends, laughing, spending time with my  family, cooking a big dinner to share with everyone, and I am working on being a more peaceful person about the whole thing.  Here's whishing to all of you a happy, peaceful, loving holiday!  Enjoy the people in your life.  They are the REAL gifts! 

Valentines!!! Hurray!

 I don't want anyone to think I'm being a big Scrooge, BUT, I am looking forward to this holiday being over.  So it was very nice to have this collection come in.  VALENTINES!  Isn't is sweet? Valentines Day is a nice holiday.  You don't have to work up to it for six months like another holiday that I wont mention.  It's just a nice time to think about the ones you love. 

This collection has a really nice kit that makes a beautiful quilt for your Valentine.  My Friends Kathy and Donna made a sample for the shop.  They reported that it was quite simple to make, and it's very sweet.  It's being quilted as I post, so I will post a picture when it gets back.  

Quilts For Sale!

For those of you that have not had the chance to stop by the shop. Aunt Mary's is located on a busy street, and we have big windows.  At night people can see in, and  see all the great quilts hanging in the shop.  This time of year we get lots of people come in and inquire if we have quilts for sale.  Well...... Yes! We do.  I have a little corner of the classroom with a few quilts that are looking for homes.  I never have very many as it's really soooo hard for me to see them go away.  Especially to someone I don't know.  I mean, I have made lots and lots of quilts for people that I love. But, sending my quilts out the door with a STRANGER!  Hard to do!  Maybe I should have them fill out a questionnaire?  OK!  That's a little nutso! I should just let them go.  Off into the universe to provide love and warmth.  I am really sure they are also filled with lots of good dreams.  All quilts are. 

My husband saw our sample pot holder and added eyes to it. Now, it's really got some personality!  Our potholder kits seam to be the hot thing this year. They have been flying out the door! Maybe because of my highly profesional demo on my blog?  Anyway today, that's my chore.  Make more kits! 

Charm Packs Are Sooo Fun!

Look what I just finished!  Pretty cool hu?  This time of year it's kind of gets slow here in the shop. (You guys are all busy with holiday cheer) So I have had a little bit more time to make a few new quilts.  This one is done with just TWO charm packs.  It is very, very easy to make.  You have probably seen it here in the shop before. We have done it many times in many different charm packs.  Only this time I did it on point.  It really gives it a whole new look.   This line of fabric is from Moda, of course.  It's designed by Sandy Klop. She does the American Jane Fabrics.  It's brite and fun!  With the purchase of charm packs we will give you the pattern for free!  This could even be a good a great beginning project to work on.

HInts For Santa

Ho, Ho, Ho!  It's that time of year!  All of you are trying hard to get everything done on your busy holiday list.  So, it's hard to make time to think about yourself and what YOU would like Santa to bring for YOU.  Well, here are a few suggestions.  We just got in these beautiful batik rolls from Batik Textiles.  They are really pretty!  One of them has nine coordinating fat quarters all rolled up pretty, and it comes with a pattern to make a table runner.  It's so pretty though I would probably just put it somewhere to just look at for a while.  The other one is Five Half Yard Cuts, all rolled up in a pretty box that matches the fabric.   It has a pattern for a bag.  We also have lots of "Bali Pops" and now they have 10 inch squares of batiks all rolled up pretty.  There is a great new book "Shnibbles  II" with lots of patterns for 10 inch and Five inch squares.  There is also some really beautiful kits that you might like. 

Hey! How about a gift certificate for Aunt Mary's.  Then you can get ANYTHING YOU WANT!  Some Santas have a really hard time thinking a gift certificate is a good thing.  This year we are adding a five dollar off coupon with any gift certificate over twenty dollars. I also have a big basket of goodies that would be great stocking suffers right on the counter. Next Thursday Friday and Saturday is our big Santa Sale.  Send them in with a list, (or call me and I will have it ready) and Santa will get 15% off his list and we will wrap it up all pretty for you.  All of you fabulous quilters are sooo special to me.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Look Who Flew In!

Looks who came back to Aunt Mary's!  He's one of our old friends that used to live here in the shop.  I think we just wore him out!  All of his lights went out and then he just fell apart.  Well, my wonderful husband must have been bored yesterday, (or he got tired of kicking the box that he was in around his shop). He fixed our old friend all up and now he has new lights and is working great!  I forgot how much I liked him!  So, now he's all better and will live right inside the door to greet all of you when you come in. Happy Holidays!!!!

Free Hot Pad Demo!

Yesterday, was "Last Minute, Quick, Handmade, Gift, Demo day" Here at Aunt Mary's.  I had a great time!  We had lots of people stop by and I think they got some good ideas for some great gifts to make.  Lot's of you couldn't stop by though, so I thought I would put one of the demos on my blog. Soooo Here goes. 


This is how to make a great, quick, Pot Holder.  To start, you will need:
1/4 Yard of a cute fabric
9" X 22" of "Insulbrite (Great stuff for many projects)
2 1/4" Strip of accent fabric
First, insert the insulbrite between the layers of fabric. Then do some quilting to hold the layers together. This is a great place to practice your free motion, but simple works great to. 

Then take a piece of paper and draw a 8" circle. (Use a plate and draw around it.) Cut two circles out of the prepared fabric.


Here's one.  

Here's the other.

Use one for the base, and take the other, fold it in half and cut. So that you now have two half circles.

Taking your 2 1/4" strip of accent fabric, bind the two straight edges.

Using a what's left of the accent fabric, Cut approx. 3" and fold it over on itself and topstich to make a little hanger.  Baste the loop on the top of the full circle.

 Lay the two half circles on top of the full circles and sew 1/4" all the way around the pot holder.

turn it right sides out and Ta Dah!!! You have a great gift for some one. 


Have fun!  Feel free to disseminate this pattern with out any written permission at all.  Happy Holidays!!!

The Tree Is Trimmed

Well, we finally got our tree up and ready for Santa to come visit us.  I think we have lots of wonderful gifts and stocking suffers for Santas to choose from.  I always get such a kick out of your wonderful husbands.  They stop in and want me to tell them what just the right gift for you is.  Well.... As we all know, you quilters are all different!  What one person would LOVE, the next wouldn't.  As far as fabric goes,Well quilters are worlds apart on what is the most beautiful fabric in the world. That's why I always try to encourage them to pick up a gift certificate for you.  However!  Lots of Santas have gotten in trouble with gift certificates.  (To impersonal) So you guys have to let them know it's Ok!!!  Then you can get anything you want, and it will be perfect!  

However!  If they just insist!  I do have lots of things that most any quilter would love.  I have a big Santa sale coming up on the 22nd and 23rd.  If you all let me know what you want, they can come pick it up and I will have it all wrapped pretty for you.  They also get 15% off! What more could Santa ask for!

Saturday is Let's Make a Great Handmade Gift / Demo Day

 Tomorrow is Aunt Mary's "Let's make a great handmade gift - Demo Day.  Don't you think hand made gifts are so much more special than a gift from that table going down the middle of Fred Meyers, filled with all kinds of stuff that you don't really want. I think a gift from that table says " I really don't have the time to find you something special, so here ya go."  Hand made means you were thinking of the person while you made it.  So it's filled with love!  Growing up, My family was quite big.  We drew names and had to make a gift.  Maybe that's why I am were I am now.  I love to create something special for the people I care about. 

So, tomorrow we will have continuous demos all day long.  Stop in and catch one.  There is something for everyone.  If you have a teen age person that wants to make a special gift for friends. We have several projects that are fast and fun to do that are really made up from scraps of fabric.  Here are some fun bangle bracelets that are great fun to make.  Who wouldn't want a few of them made with fun, bright fabric?   We will be demoing a great table runner that is beautiful and easy.  The focus on all of these projects is FAST AND EASY.  There is not much time left.  Most of the projects can be made in an hour or less.  HO, HO, HO! Let's get busy!

Floor Quilts Created!

What a FUN day of creating we had!  Here are just a few of the wonderful foor quilts that were made yesterday.  Whoever invented Mod Podge is a genius!  Right up there with the sticky note guy!  I mean how long has this stuff been out there.  It was really popular way back in my middle school days.  I remember making collages of all kinds, and feeling so creative then.  Now!  We are creating these wonderful art pieces for the floor.  

Here's Barb.  I think she was having trouble till we told her to just start gluing the fabric down like a collage and see where it takes her.  WOW!  did she let loose.  Her floor quilt is SOOO cute! 

Donna is always creative. She didn't need any encouraging.  We just let her loose.  This colorful floor quilt will fit so nicely into her studio.   

Here's Sherri.  She just kept giggling. I wish I took a picture of this one when she got it done.  It looks kind of plain in this picture, but she added little squares and a border and it really pops now. 
Sherri is such a cutie.  She came in to sign up for the first session that was full.  She almost cried.  So, we scheduled a second class that I wasn't really sure would go because it was in December. But low and behold it filled too.  Happy Day!!! 

Here's Molley and her floor quilt.  She is a big example of the student teaching the teacher.  I had never made one using such big pieces.  She had this big beautiful floral fabric she wanted to be the whole middle of her project and just add borders to it.  Well, I was worried such a big piece would be hard to lay down without having bubbles under it.  Not a problem!  We just worked together and layed it down and voila!  It worked great!
Now she is going to go home and prep a little more of the floral fabric and cut a big flowery vine and glue it down over the borders.  It's going to be GREAT!  I'm sure this will be a class that will be scheduled again.  Be on the look out!  It seams to fill up fast.

Fun = Floorquilts!

Today is our "Overflow" Floor quilts class.  The first one was sold out, so we scheduled a second one.  I really had fun teaching the last class.  Everyone got a "quilt" all glued down and ready to take home. There was sooo much creativity in the room we almost had to open the door to get the smoke out!  I am looking forward to the girls coming in this morning.  Stay tuned..... I'll get some pictures and post them this afternoon.   

Dear Santa, I Would Love This Cute Bag!!

Ok! We are running out of time for Christmas projects.  Only Twenty three more days!  But this one is really COOL!  This is the sweetest little bag.  My Friend, Donna made it up for a sample in the wink of an eye.  She told me it was really quite easy! The handles are removable, so that you can make up more than one bag and use the handles for both.  I can't believe there is a girls alive that would not just love this bag. 
There are lots of other projects I can help you with.  Next Saturday we will have a last minute, quick, easy gifts, demo day. Watch for more details.