Wooden Spool Designs

2012-01-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

2012 has arrived and is already moving along at a speed that just seems to have no brakes!!! This is going to be a GREAT year full of new patterns, a new grandchild (#6) and lots of adventures!!

To start the year I am preparing to attend

Road 2 California Quilt Show and Conference in Ontario, CA!!!

We are so excited to get on the road and head south to

see old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the sun!!

Besides being a vendor at the show I am teaching two classes!! Check them out!!!

Woolly Snowman Trio

Mini Monthly Memories

If you are in the area or need a vacation right NOW.....head south to Ontario and come see me!!!

Booth #814, 815, 817

Just arriving as the first new pattern of the year .........BABUSHKA!!!!!

Seven little babushka girls are circled around to create a cute little table mat

measuring approximately 19" in diameter.

Pattern also includes three cute wool stuffed Martryoska dolls.

Enjoying the blue sky from inside

while I'm busy busy busy getting ready to go!!!

Happy New Year to you!!!

2011-12-25T02:44:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas......

PINK!!!

2011-12-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

Most of you know I don't usually design my projects with the color PINK...but todays blog is all about the color PINK!!!

It was recently requested and inspired by my FOUR granddaughters.....who love PINK.... to make some PINK projects!! Since they ALL have birthdays in November and December, I figured PINK was in order for birthday presents and party favors!!!

So out came the dye pots!! My friend Susan and I mixed up some pink dye, threw in some wool...some more wool....and some more wool!!!

We got PINK!!!

For the Triplets who just turned TWO, I put together three little PINK owl pillows for their room!!

It was alot of fun making them and the girls all dressed in PINK were just a "HOOT"!!!!

For Addison, who's turning FIVE two days before Christmas,

I made 6 little stocking party favors for her birthday party last weekend!!

Her mom had a gingerbread house decorating party for her, so I added gingerbread girls to each stocking and accented them with PINK!! Addison helped me pick the colors and the buttons for each stocking!!

As for MR. LINCOLN.....

WELL...... he got stuck wearing PINK mittens up at the mountain to play in the snow!!!

As a bonus....JUST tonight as I was writing this blog...... the sun was setting and who knew.....the sky turned PINK!!!!! S.....o I jumeped up and took a couple pictures just in time to end my blog!!!!! :)

Looking north at Mt Adams in Washington State from our back deck

Looking west out the window from the top of the stairs

2011-11-01T01:15:00.000-07:00

It's after midnight and time for the drawing!!!

First THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who took the time to read my blog

and

for all your wonderful comments!!!

Congratulations to CAROL......

Check out Carol's blog at http://brownquilts4me.blogspot.com/

Winter is on it's way and what better way to keep warm than with a wool project!!!

Get busy dying......

2011-10-28T23:58:00.000-07:00

It's up and running!! After days....weeks...months...or has it been a good year???

How time flys!!! Well I am happy to say that my Wool DYING Room is in use!!!

Already I don't how I ever managed without the space.

So many people have worked and helped put it together to make it happen!! I thank everyone of them!!

To help me celebrate, leave me a comment using the word "wool"

before midnight October 31st

and

I will add your name

to a drawing for this little bundle of wool!!!

Fall has arrived with all it's glorious colors and they always inspire me!!

I have been creating some new designs that I will share soon!!! As usual things always stay very busy around here.....and finding time to fit everything in is always a challenge for me!!!

Yesterday was my birthday, and with age comes aches and pains.

I recently went to the doctor concerning some pain in my right thumb!!!

Bummer....I have some kind of basal joint arthritis.

Well...I am not very happy about that!! I am learning what I can do to manage the pain....how to protect the joint, and being fitted for a thumb splint!!!

So, lets just hope it's going to be a Wooly Good Year!!!!

Last month at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe I began working with

a small group of gals to make my pattern

"A Wooly Good Year"

We started with the September block and will meet each month and continue around the month of blocks!!

We had warm apple pie as a snack and homemade applesauce as a door prize!!!

Looking forward to the months to come!!!

Just have to share this little story....last week when Addison was spending the day with me, she looked at me and said, "Nana, How do you wool??"

"Can we go upstairs and can you teach me how to wool??"

Well, of course I was so happy she asked....

so upstairs we went and had a little sewing lesson with WOOL of course!!!

Happy Stitching!!

2011-09-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

Turning the pages of the calendar here on my blog....July, August, SEPTEMBER!!! it's hard to keep up if your calendar days go by as fast as mine!!

It's been a good summer here starting with a visit from my sister Jan!! She lives in Yakima and took a trip over here to spend time with me in my sewing room. Jan is a huge help and encouragement to me. We sure have lots of fun and laughs stitching together!! She too is a night owl which makes it more fun staying up late with someone to giggle with!! I have given her the nickname of Kiki and set up an area in my sewing room called Kiki's Korner just for her!!! I can't believe all the things she accomplished while she was in her little corner.....outfits for all the girls....mending for me, christmas presents started, she made me two aprons, and a very cool bag!!!!

We also made some time for some fun.....
we got pedicures, went to lunch,

spent a couple of day with all the sisters!!

We made bread, had a picinic, went to Multnoman Falls, Crown Point, and took a day trip to the beach!!

Jeff and I had the opportunity to head to the coast for a weekend with friendsspending time golfing, relaxing, shopping, and enjoying time away!!

The Colors of Summer.....

The summer has been good...but I so love FALL!!! Call me crazy but I love the weather change, the cool crisp mornings with the colors of the trees changing. This past week our weather teased us with a taste of some unnormally cool nights and days and our trees have already started dropping leaves!!

Coming events on my calendar this fall that I hope you will keep in mind if you are in the area!!

The Wool Gathering -
The 3rd Thursday of each month at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe from 10:30am - 12:30pm
This is a surprise wool project!!
Please check the Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website for details and registration.

A Wooly Good Year BOM -
Beginning Saturday September 24th at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe from 11:00am - 1:00 pm
A new block will be introduced on one Saturday each month.
Please check the Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website for details and registration.

"Homespun and Holly" Workshop -
Saturday November 12 from 12:00pm - 8:00 pm.

During this workshop, Guests create "Make & Take" projects from different designers. Supplies for the projects are included in the price in addition to a catered dinner. This event is so much fun!!!
Please check the Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website for details and registation.

Also a reminder that the Northwest Quilting Expo is here in Portland September 22, 23, & 24th.

Lots of great quilts, classes, and vendors!!

Oh !!!....one more summer color to share!!!!
Yellow!!!

RED, WHITE, & BLUE

2011-07-03T01:24:00.000-07:00

What colors do you think of when you hear the names Minick and Simpson????

RED, WHITE, & BLUE of course!!!!!

What better way to wish you all a Happy Fourth of July than to share about the special class I had the privilege of participating in last weekend at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe.

Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson are two sisters doing what they love

and

sharing their talent and knowlede with others!!

(Polly - Rug Hooking & Laurie - Needle Turn Applique)

Polly & Laurie

With life and business always being so busy it seems as though I seldom get to enjoy such a class.....but.....last weekend I had so much fun getting to sit in a chair in Polly and Laurie's class and learning, stitching, hooking, laughing, sharing, eating, and just having a good time with others who love to do the same things!!!! I sat with good friends, made some new friends, went home with more than I came with, and rekindled my passion for wool and my love for a needle and thread!!!!

So thankful that we have the freedom to do the things we love!!!!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Catching up!!!

2011-06-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

When I last wrote it was mid March and the weather was cool and wet........today being June 1st the weather is STILL cool and wet!!!! ENOUGH already!!! Shades of green are still very vivid here.

Our daffodils have bloomed and passed and the blossoms are fading. Our strawberry crops are late in ripening and sounds like it will be close to Father's Day before they are ready.

During all the time that has gone by since March, I have been busy, busy, busy, working on new patterns and going to and from International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pumpkin Patch Jack

Mistletoe Magic

Kissing Ball Mat

Christmas Postage

A Wooly Good Year BOM

Preperation for Market includes so much of so many things.....I was blessed by so many this year who stepped in to help me in every little way!!! A big thank you to my sister Jan who came and stayed with me for almost a month....stitching away....bagging....tagging....and house/puppy sitting for us while we were gone!!!

Take a look at how getting ready takes over the whole house!!

sewing room

living room

dining room

even the triplets got into helping!!!

kitchen

familyroom

As much work as going to Market is .......we had such a good time!!!

Jeff drives us with all of our stuff in a uhaul and down the road we go!!! We stopped in Boise, Idaho and stayed a night with a special friend there!! Thanks, Kenna!!

We enjoy being together and seems like when we are home we don't get much of it!!!! We had lots of laughs, good food, and a great time with great friends and great customers!!!!

Sample Spree

We loved having Cindy with us at this show!!!

Just a few of our friends that I remembered to take photos of.......

Country Loft Friends

Heart to Hand Friends

Liberty Star Friend

(we love you Renee)

Quilter's Coop Friends

Also check out these other friends of ours:

Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe

Out of Hand Needle Arts

Oh so many friends to share........I will share more friends in future posts!!!

Since being home I have caught a cold.....almost recovered....and sewing away on sample orders, dying wool, and preparing for classes at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe while waiting for the SUNNY weather to arrive!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Spring Time

2011-03-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring to all of you!!! March 20th....the first day of Spring!!! March 20th....also was my 35th wedding anniversary!!! Jeff and I had a nice day with family and friends!!

Spring time means NEW things!! GREEN THINGS!!!! Daily I am watching little shades of greens starting to overtake the brown limbs on the trees and anticipating the green buds of the daffodils to turn to yellow. These colors have inspired me to create a few new spring patterns at the printer now. Rabbit Stew, Chicken Little, Coleslaw, and Buttercup Baskets will be ready by April 1st!!

International Spring Quilt Market is approaching and I am busy busy as usual getting ready with other new designs that will be available in May. I am excited to be working on them and am looking forward to sharing them with you. Like most of you I am still trying to find more time in my day to accomplish all that I want and need to do.

My sister is here visiting me and working on some very sweet Easter dresses for my 4 granddaughters!! We are having fun spending time stitching together and sharing storries of our childhood.

As the month of March comes to an end.......take a moment to enjoy the colors of green around you!!!

2011-03-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Happy March to all!!! I am awaiting SPRING with much anticipation!! How blessed we are to have different seasons to look forward to and bring new things to life and new adventures to experience!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

I am currently working on a wool block of the month with each block representing the twelve months of the calendar year. I am having so much fun creating it and plan to have it ready by May. Stay tuned!!!

The month of February went by fast and was filled with mostly family time....grandkids to be exact!!!

They are all growing so fast and with five of them now it takes more time to keep up with giving them all hugs, snuggles, kisses, playtime, overnights, etc. etc. etc.!!!

I again, am so blessed to get to live so close to all of them!!

Papi with Emma, Hailey, Olivia

Mr. Lincoln

Miss Addie

Just a couple of weeks ago I got to spend the day with Jo Ann Mullaly of JAM patterns, Wool Crazy, and Country Loft!!! She has been here in town staying and helping her daughter who is going though treatment for cancer. Please keep them in your prayers.

Jo Ann took the MAX transit system out to my end of town (which is a LONG ride) and i picked her up for a day out together!! We had such a good time together!! We first made a trip out to my house to sit and visit and share wool stories....next we were off to Monticello which is an antique shop in town which you must not miss if you are in SE Portland ever. If you go to Jo Ann's Blog you can see some of the treasure she found!! After going through the place twice we needed to fill up with lunch and had another long visit over lunch at Olive Garden before I took her back to the Max for her trip back to her place. Thanks so much Jo Ann!!!

Later in the month the puppies got to go to the vet for their 6 month check up, updated shot, liscensed, and spay!! The after surgery rules are NO PLAYING ROWDY FOR TWO WEEKS!!! WE are one week into it and it is like having kids and telling them they can't play!! So I am having to spend most of my time with them by my side making sure they are behaving!!! NOT an easy task!!! They are so sweet though and are working so hard at being good!!

Hailey, Olivia, Emma

Got to go on another trip to the doctor for the triplets 15 month check up!! Now that was fun!!! Notice the nice neat paper on the table when they first sat down....and notice how it looked five seconds later!!!

They were so good and for the most part did not mind it....except poor Emma....she did not want to have anything to do with the doctor!!! Olivia on the other hand reached her hands out to him!! They sure are busy healthy girls!!!

February brought us a bit of snow....not like most people out east get snow...but it was snow for us and we did enjoy it. Our house is at a bit of a higher elevation so we usually get a bit more than most around here and we actually had snow for 20 hours straight on the last day of February and into March.....VERY USUAL for us!!

Papi got home from work EARLY just in time to join the fun!!

The girls meet snow for the first time!!

Addison did not want to leave "BOB" the snowman outside alone....she is kissing him goodbye!!

Snowy days are a great time to work on wool projects!! Well...I think most any day is a great time to work on wool projects! Recently while I was sitting stitching on a wool project it came to my mind just how much I love it!!! It truly is one of my most favorite things to do!! What would we do without our needles!!!???

The dye room is coming along!! It is getting close to being able to be used and I am so excited to have a place to do it out of the house!! I think by spring break i will be working in it!!

Next is the counter tops, sinks. and stovetops!!

Back to stitching for me the rest of the day!!

Hope you find time for a little stitching too!!!

2011-02-05T22:42:00.000-08:00

Well it's about time I MAKE time to write a blog post!!

January was busy....last I wrote we were headed south to Ontario, California to participate in the

Road to California Quilt Show. We had a GREAT trip!! Unlike our last trip to a show...we had NO rain, NO tornado warnings, NO snow, and NO flat tire. The weather was wonderful the whole time!! We were inside most of the days but were able to enjoy nice 70+ degree temps walking back and from the hotel to the convention center. If you have never been to this show it sure is a good one!!

So many wonderful quilts, booths, and fun people!!

It was fun to meet some of you who follow my blog and came by for your free pattern!!

Thank you!!

I did not take very many pictures at all this year. The time just seemed to fly by and before I knew it the show was over!! There were lots of wonderful returning customers and special new ones too!! Friday night I taught a class full of such fun women! Class was called "Trick or Treat" and we made two pumpkins and a black cat, learning stuffing techniques and enjoying working with wool!! Lots of laughs and a trick or two!! OH..... SO SORRY (NOT) to say I do NOT have any pictures of me dressing up like a pumpkin!!!

I made one purchase while I was at the show this year....I bought myself a new Bernina Sewing Machine!! I have not had a new sewing machine for years!! Mine was actually not working and was blessed by a friend who has been loaning me one for months now.

I am so excited to get to spend some time using my new machine!!!

Monday after the show, we drove to Corona, CA where I taught a class and was served a wonderful lunch at Stars & Scraps Quilt Shop. Raquel, the owner of the shop and her worker bees are just so much fun!! They also participated in Road to California with a vendor booth and were surprised with a BEST BOOTH AWARD!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

These gals made our time at the show so special in so many ways!!

Thanks Cindy, Raquel, and Beth!!!

On our trip home we stopped for a night in Danville, California to visit friends Joy and Terry. Joy and I hav been friends since I was 18 years old. We met in a church college group and have been friends ever since. Joy was my maid of honor in my wedding and sure is a good friend!! I think there is nothing better than having a friend that no matter how much time or how many miles come between you, you can pick up where you left off!! We sat outside by her pool in the morning enjoying the sun rays and picked some beautiful bright yellow lemons from her lemon tree!!! Thanks Joy for the fun time and all the lemons!!!

Our kids took GOOD care of the puppies while we were gone!!

The puppies were happy to see us but I think our kids were even happier for us to return!!!

Love my kids!!!

Since being home, I have spent most of it unpacking, reorganizing all my show props and supplies, filling orders, and catching up with all the grandkids!! I have yet to get my dye orders out..... due to PLUMBING issues!! My son spent the whole day today on the plumbing under the sink.

To start with..... we acquired a small pin leak in the waterline that runs to the icemaker in the fridge.....which...... caused water damage in the basement bedroom.....also a leak in the main drain out of the sink, and a cracked pipe while fixing the leaks!!! Plumbing problems are no fun!!!

The dye room is coming along!! The sheetrock is up, walls are mud, taped, and textured and painted (our son and son in law painted it while we were at the show!!!).

The window trim is in place. Next is the floor!!! Getting excited to use it!!!)

Hollyhill classes for Wooly Wednesdays will resume on Wednesday February 16th at 10:30 am. Call Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe and sign up if you plan on coming and having some wooly fun!!!

My next show (wholesale only) is

International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah during the month of May.

Watch for lots of new designs as May gets closer!!!

Hope you are finding time for a little stitching in each day!!

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January Calendar.....

2011-01-17T04:40:00.000-08:00

So far the days on my January calendar are passing by too fast!! I have four new calendars to keep track of all of life's happenings and it still seems that I just can't keep up at times!!! I don't know about you, but there are so many beautiful calendars it makes it hard to choose just one....so I usually end up with several. I think I have four this year....in different sizes and shapes!!

I have spent most of my month getting ready to attend Road to California Quilt Conference in Ontario, California. We are looking forward to hopefully seeing the sunshine and enjoy some warmer weather!!

Here in Oregon we had lots of cold weather and snow in the mountains early in the month, now we are having a warm spell with lots of melting snow coming down the rivers along with continued rain causing rivers to start reaching flood stage.

I am working through the night tonight to get everthing ready so we can leave in the morning to head down south.....I have not done an all nighter for years....I plan to sleep in the car while Jeff drives!!

Thanks to all those who replied and are coming to see me in my booth!! See you there!!!

2011-01-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

It's been a busy few months around here with the holidays and birthdays!! I am happy to report that we survived it all!!! We have one more birthday to celebrate this month and then we are done until August!!

Our little grandchildren added so much fun on Christmas!

This month brings a trip south for Jeff and Me.

We are going to be heading to Ontario, California to participate as a vendor and class teacher at

Road to California Quilt Conference and Showcase.

Preparation has been slow.....I am feeling the pressure of the clock ticking away but am very excited and know that I MUST make every moment count!!

If you live in the area and are coming to the show, leave me a comment here before January 15th.....when you visit me at my booth.....#428..... I will have a free pattern for you!!

Happy Stitching!!

2010-12-24T01:13:00.000-08:00

My Christmas Joy!!!

Christmas Baking with the grandkids....

(left) Emma, Hailey,

(center) Addison

(right) Lincoln, Olivia

WISHING ALL OF YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wool Dying Room

2010-12-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

Wool

+ DYE

+ Garage

= New Wool Dying Room!!!

Slow but sure my wool dying room is coming along!!! For months now we have been planning a seperate room for me to do my wool dying in and although the process has been SLOW....it is getting closer to being a fuctioning room!!

A small garage that is partly detatched from the house is where we decided would be the perfect place!!! Back in the early summer my son Daniel, and Jeff's cousin Bill began work on the garage by taking out the two garage doors (it was a drive through garage) and closing them in. We added a window in one end. Some plumbing has been added along with extra electricity!!

This week we had siding put up on it and are starting to insulate, finish wiring, finish plumbing, and looks like next week sheet rock will start going up!!! We even have heat in it!!! My sewing room is above the garage (dye room) which has two heat vents in it...... so my son turned one of them downward and it comes through into the dye room!!! I am so excited to get to use my new room!!!

(back side of house)

My sewing room is the three windows above the old garage (my new dye room)

(front side of house)

Sewing room above the new dye room

outside door into dye room

two double sinks and a washer and dryer will go on this wall

two stove tops will go along this wall

Stay tuned.....more to come next week!!!

Congratulations to.....

2010-12-15T02:06:00.000-08:00

Cheryl from Scottsdale, AZ is the winner of the drawing for the mistletoe kit!!!

Congratulations Cheryl!!

I am also waiting to hear from Karen Qualls from the first drawing.....please contact me by email so I can get your address and send you a kit.

Thanks again to EVERYONE for participating!!!

Surprise!!!

2010-12-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

My post earlier today was my 100th post!!

So....I think it calls for something special!!!

All you have to do is leave the word MISTLETOE on a comment from THIS POST......before midnight tomorrow (December 14th)

and I will include your name in a drawing for a FREE mistletoe kit from my FREE down loadable pattern I posted on the Home for the Holiday Blog Hop on December 7th!!!!

Happy Holidays!!!

p.s. please leave an email address so I may contact you if you are chosen!!

December Stitching

2010-12-13T01:02:00.000-08:00

As fast as the month of December is passing by........ I am going to try and keep up sharing the month's activities in my stitching world!!!

Recently one of my sisters came to visit for several days and we got to spend some time stitching together!!

It is a special bond to share the love of stitching with a sister.

We stitched late into the night and the early morning hours!!

While my sister was here, I was part of Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe's Homespun and Holly Days, a fun filled afternoon and evening spent rotating around the beautifully holiday decorated classroom to four stations which provided different hand stitching techniques and kits to make fun holiday projects!!

A yummy catered dinner was served up during the evening hours.

As a teacher at my station we made these cute little snowmen ornament pockets from wool. Lots of fun was had making them with many laughs as we made their noses!!

We filled them with evergreen clippings, Christmas mints, and mini candy canes!!

EVERYONE did a great job and

went home with a finished ornament!!!

Speaking of sisters, there was a group of four sisters and a group of three sisters that attended the event!!

This week includes Wooly Wednesday with such a fun couple of groups of ladies who love to come and work with wool with me, and some time dying wool at home.

Hope you find some time to so a little stitching this week!!

Happy Stitching!!!

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The Winner is......

2010-12-10T01:35:00.000-08:00

I want to thank EVERYONE for your kind words and encouragement on the Home for the Holiday Blog!!

Your comments and support are truly amazing!!

It was so much for me to see so many of you enjoying

the blog hop and excited to do some stitching!!

Congratulations to Karen Qualls!!

I am already thinking of what I can do for another drawing soon!!! So be on the lookout!!

AND

Today is the last day of the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!!

Stacy West from Buttermilk Basin is the final designer!!

She has such a cute project in store for you!!
You wont want to miss it!!

Let the holiday baking begin!!!

Home for the Holiday Blog Day #11

2010-12-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Day #11 of the Home for the Holiday Blog Hop!!! There is much excitement in the air with the Christmas Season upon!! Christmas songs are being played.....decorations are going up....cookies are being baked.....the shopping is coming along......and the wind is blowing!! The wind is a true sign here in Troutdale, Oregon that winter is here!! It is the time we hold onto our hats and make sure that everything outside is put away or buttoned down....otherwise you may never see it again!!

I truly welcome you to my blog and hope that you enjoy your time here!! It has been so much fun visiting each designers blog, reading about their holiday fun, printing out their recipes, and making plans to start the special projects they have shared!!

Now if I only had more time to get them all done!!

If you have enjoyed this blog hop make sure to give a special THANK YOU to Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin for putting this Home for the Holidays Blog Hop and Cookie Swap together!!

Thank you Stacy!!

Making frosted sugar cookies has always been a favorite of my family's, along with rice crispy treats, fudge, and butterscotch Chinese noodle clusters. My mom used to make the best date log candy. I know that dates just don't sound appealing but this candy was so good!! My dad would help her stir and stir the candy until it was so thick you could pour it onto wet cloths, roll it into a log, chill it and cut it into thin slices!!

As I was choosing a cookie recipe to share with you I wanted to find one that was different, easy, and yummy....so I chose a recipe, submitted it, and low and behold out of all the cookies recipes in the world, and 12 designers, two of us chose the same one!!! So you know it must be good!! Renee Plains from Liberty Star shared the recipe called Gooey Butter Cookies!! They melt in your mouth!!

After going through my recipes again....
I figured that any time is a good time for chocolate!!

CHOCOLATE CRINKLES
are the recipe of the day!!

I first had these cookies when I was in high school. The high school band that I was a part of was on a "band trip" visiting and playing out of town and the home that was hosting me served them!

I instantly fell in love with them and have been making them ever since!! I hope you try them and add them to your Christmas goody tray!!!

There are so many fun family traditions that many of us share. Some go on for years....others change as our kids grow and our families change. Over the years, as we celebrate the holidays, we find that there are loved family members who are gone and new little ones that are born.

I encourage you to treasure the memories of the past, share them with the new little ones, and celebrate the making of new memories today.

I have fond memories of the stocking we hung from wherever we could...not always having a fireplace. They were my dads wool boot socks....gray with red toes and heals!! Stretched so long after being filled with an orange and nuts to crack!!! I really don't remember what else we got in them except those two things....I sure love that memory!! Maybe that's where my love for wool began!!!???

Other favorite memories for me growing up were matching dresses made by my mom, homemade toys made by my dad and shiny tinsel on the tree!!

Christmas 1960....
I'm on the left age 5, my sister Arlene in the middle, & on the far right is my sister Janice
(sister Mary Ann was not born yet)

After having a family on my own, one of my favorite things to do is to hang the mistletoe in a doorway, wait to find someone under it, and surprise them with a hug & kiss!!

So my project I created to share with you is:

Wooly Mistletoe with Button Berries!!

CLICK HERE FOR PATTERN

A special treat!!! ....there will be a drawing on

Thursday December 9th at midnight for all of my followers!!!

If your name is drawn I will send you a kit for the Wooly Mistletoe and Button Berries!!

From my family to yours...

may you have a very merry and memory filled Christmas with lots hugs and kisses from family and friends!!

Olivia, Lincoln, Addison, Hailey, Emma

2010-12-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

It is a wonderfully blue sky cold and windy day here in Oregon on this first Friday of December. A perfect day to heat up the dye pots and enjoy the view out the windows!! The colors for the day are red and green.....just can't get enough of them!!

It is also day 10 of the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!!

Tara from Sew Unique Creations has a great project that I just might have to dye some blue wool for!!! She has a great cookie recipe she is sharing with us too!!

Words from Addison:

My granddaughter Addison, who will be 4 this month, was at home and her mommy saw her eating something off the FLOOR!!!!

Her mommy said "ADDISON!!!....WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!

WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT?!!!"

Addison replies "from Nana's puppies!!!!"

What have you learned today??

Happy Friday!!

Ending November

2010-11-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

The month of November is almost over and I must say lots of good memories were made!! Lots of family, friends, parties, and good food. Our house was FULL on Thanksgiving Day and I truly am counting my blessings and remembering to be thankful each day.

Don't forget to be checking out the Home for the Holidays Designer Blog Hop. Friday was Day 8 and featured Lynda Hall from Primitive Pieces by Lynda. She shared a great project and a yummy cookie recipe to try. You can find her at http://www.primitivepiecesbylynda.blogspot.com/

And tomorrow will be Day 9 featuring Jan Patek!! http://www.janpatek.blogspot.com/

What a great way to end the month of November.... remember to print out the recipes and collect them all!!

2010-11-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

Ok ....so here they are!!!! Birthday photos!!!!

I know you've been waiting!!! LOL!!!! Enjoy!!

Birthday Family Photo!!

Three little monkeys!

Ready for the Birthday Girls!!

Giant Cupcakes!!

Papi makes punch!!

The girls and thier first dolly's!!

Fancy Pants made by Nana!!

Yummy!!!

Happy Hailey

Sweet Emma

Princess Olivia

Sleep over with Cousin Addison!!!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!!!

Ok so enough of that!!

Just a quick reminder to hop over to Lisa's blog from Primitive Gatherings and enjoy the very cute design she has to share and her yummy cookie recipe!!!

I sure have had fun gathering all the recipes and wonderful projects!!!

What a delight to get to know these designers better and read about their own holiday traditions and fun!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

(I taught Olivia how to say GOBBLE GOBBLE!!)

FOUR birthdays in one day!!!

2010-11-19T00:40:00.000-08:00

Today, November 19th,

is my daughter Amy's 30th birthday.....

and the FIRST birthday of HER three daughters, Hailey, Emma, and Olivia!!!

It will be a weekend of celebration for sure!! I think by the time the weekend is over we will all have our fill of cake!!!

Karah (DDL), Addison, Lincoln and I are going to spend the day with Amy and the girls making sure they all have a fun day......followed by a big birthday celebration on Saturday for the triplets!!! It will be fun for sure!!!

Also new today...DAY 6 of the Quilt Designer Holiday Blog Hop!!!

Check out Tracy's cute project she has for you and her yummy cookie recipe at:

www.plumcutedesigns.typepad.com

If you missed any of the previous days of the blog hop make sure to go back and catch up...you wont want to miss any!! Don't forget to print all of the wonderful cookie recipes to help you get started with your holiday baking!!

Home for the Holiday
Designer Line Up:

Nov 2nd * Brenda Gervais from
http://www.withthyneedleandthread.blogspot.com/

Nov 5th * Debbie Field from
http://www.granolagirldesigns.blogspot.com/

Nov 9th * Cheri Saffiote-Payne from
http://www.quiltsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Nov 12th * Kathy Schmitz from
http://www.kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com/

Nov 16th * Renee Plains from
http://www.libertystar.typepad.com/

Nov 19th * Tracy from
http://www.plumcutedesigns.typepad.com/

Still to come!!!

Nov 23rd * Lisa Bongean from
http://www.lisabongean.wordpress.com/

Nov 26th * Lynda Hall from
http://www.primitivepiecesbylynda.blogspot.com/

Nov 30th * Jan Patek from
http://www.janpatek.blogspot.com/

Dec 3rd * Tara Darr from
http://www.sewuniquecreationsblog.com/

Dec 7th * Debbie Busby from
http://www.woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com/

Dec 10th * Stacy West from
http://www.buttermilkbasin.blogspot.com/

This week we had a great time at Wooly Wednesday at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe making acorn pincushions!!!

Happy Stitching!!!

Crazy Saturday.......

2010-11-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

What better way to spend a rainy Saturday than to get together and work on our WOOL CRAZY blocks!! Check out these wonderful women who are CRAZY about wool and their wonderful WOOL CRAZY blocks in progress!!!

Also don't forget to check out the free project Kathy Schmitz has for you at:

kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com

and

print out her great cookie recipe!!

YES!! IT really is November!!

2010-11-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

In my last post we were having unusually warm weather making us do a double take at the calendar!! It was a special treat to get such a nice couple of days in November....but now we have moved into full fledged November weather...Wind....Rain....Leaves.....Soggy Ground....Mud.... SNOW in the mountains and what better than a RAINBOW!!! All good things because after all it is NOVEMBER!!!

November at our house is a busy one....We have 5 birthdays to celebrate in three days!! Jeff's birthday starts us off on November 17th....followed by four more birthdays on the 19th!! Our daughter Amy (she will be turning 30!) and her triplet girls who share her birthday, Hailey, Emma, and Olivia, will be turning ONE!!! All the week before THANKSGIVING!!! We have lots of celebrating coming up and plenty to be THANKFUL for!!!

You know I will be wanting to take pictures of all the events to come..... so I had to go out and replace my camera that I dropped a couple of weeks ago and destroyed!!! I am liking my new camera and will be ready to snap away!! Why is it when something breaks that something else breaks too???? My printer went out on me the same week I dropped my camera!!! They say things come in three's so I am holding my breath and hoping that the light bulb over the stove going out was my third thing!!!

The nice thing about the weather being rainy and cold is it makes a great time to stay indoors and dye wool!! I brought out the pots, heated up the stove top, mixed the colors, watched, stirred, rinsed, dried, and presto....beautiful dyed wool!!! There is just nothing like fresh dyed wool coming out of the dryer!!!

Just a reminder to stop over and visit Quilts by Cheri for day three of the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!! She has a special small quilt pattern to share with you along with a yummy cookie recipe!!

Happy Stitching!!

Debbie

Hope your Hopping....

2010-11-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

It's that time....time to hop on over and check out day two of the Home for the Holiday's Designer Blog HOP!!!!

If you have not done so already....take a few minutes and HOP HOP HOP on over to Granola Girl Designs and check out the wonderful project Debbie has for you!! Don't forget to print off the cookie recipe so you have a collection of them at the end of the HOP ready for your holiday baking!!!

HAPPY HOPPING!!!!

Is it really NOVEMBER??

2010-11-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that it is November 3rd today and that it's fall....but today here in Oregon we had a high temperature of 70 degrees in town and 74 degrees an hour south in Salem!!

Jeff is on vacation the next two weeks...

we are having a stay-cation here at home.

We had a nice day being out & about doing errands in the sunshine and seeing the beauty of the fall foliage!!!

No pictures to show....I actually dropped my camera on the concrete garage floor the other day.... so one of our errands was looking for a new one!! A person just cannot go without a camera for very long when you have a blog to keep up with and 5 beautiful grandchildren!!!

I am actually charging the new one right now....can't wait to try it out!!!

Tomorrow is going to be a day of dying wool here at Wooden Spool Designs!!! Another day full of COLOR!!!

The puppies are doing great....growing like crazy and so busy!!

Hope you are all having a good week....stay tuned for pictures later this week!!!

Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

2010-11-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today is the first of 12 very special days of Home for the Holidays Blog Hop put together by Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin!! Check out her blog for all the details....you won't want to miss any of the great recipes, projects, or holiday cheer you will find on one of 12 different designers blogs every Tuesday and Friday through December 10th!! Today's special blog is found at With thy Needle & Thread by Brenda Gervais!!!

It's almost time!!!

2010-11-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Get ready....it's almost time....Starting tomorrow.......

Home for the Holiday
Designer Line Up:

Nov 2nd * Brenda Gervais from
http://www.withthyneedleandthread.blogspot.com/

Nov 5th * Debbie Field from
http://www.granolagirldesigns.blogspot.com/

Nov 9th * Cheri Saffiote-Payne from
http://www.quiltsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Nov 12th * Kathy Schmitz from
http://www.kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com/

Nov 16th * Renee Plains from
http://www.libertystar.typepad.com/

Nov 19th * Tracy from
http://www.plumcutedesigns.typepad.com/

Nov 23rd * Lisa Bongean from
http://www.lisabongean.wordpress.com/

Nov 26th * Lynda Hall from
http://www.primitivepiecesbylynda.blogspot.com/

Nov 30th * Jan Patek from
http://www.janpatek.blogspot.com/

Dec 3rd * Tara Darr from
http://www.sewuniquecreationsblog.com/

Dec 7th * Debbie Busby from
http://www.woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com/

Dec 10th * Stacy West from
http://www.buttermilkbasin.blogspot.com/

Join us for lots of holiday fun!!

One last day left in October....

2010-10-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am realizing that there is only one last day left the month of October!! The month has flown by and I don't know that I can get any busier!! You all read that we have a new grandson, Lincoln, who was born on October 2nd.....and got a new puppy, a black lab named Lucy.....well....she begged us to bring her sister home....so now we have three additions to our family this month....Lincoln, Lucy, and LIBERTY!!! I guess we figured why not....we have enough space....enough grand kids now......so why not have more than enough to do!!

Lucy and Liberty are sisters and just love each other!! In some ways having two makes things easier....and in some ways makes it harder....but as time goes on things will settle down and it will all be good!! The hardest part right now is night time....it's like having babies again....sleeping only about 2 hours until they need to go outside!! My daughter Amy who has 11 month old triplet girls says that at least with the triplets they did not have to get all bundled up and go out into the rain to have them go potty!!! This too shall pass!!! We are having lots of fun with them and in two weeks they have almost doubled in size since we got them!!!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of being invited to teach a class in Des Moines, Washington (near Seattle) at Carriage Country Quilts on Sunday afternoon and then to speak, give a trunk show and teach a class at the Comforts Quilt Guild from Puyallup, WA. Jeff being the GREAT husband that he is drove me up and spent his afternoon while I was teaching walking down to the waters edge watching football in the comfort of one of the shops upstairs rooms!!

It was so much fun to get to see Debbie's (Carriage Country Quilt's Owner) shop after hearing so much about it for years!!! The quilt shop is in a wonderful 80 year old house over looking the Pudget Sound, Vashon Island and the Olympic Peninsula. We had a great time in class and lots of good food followed by a great seafood dinner with Debbie and her husband Bob.

The next day we headed down to the Comforters Quilt Guild meeting in Tacoma.
What a wonderful group of ladies!! I had never been to a quilt guild meeting before and it was so fun.

We got to see some very old quilts one of the members brought and shared with us that were made by her great great grandmother!!

So fun to see history!!! After sharing and having treats we had so much fun in class making a tomato needle keeper. Thanks so much to all the ladies you shared your time with me!!

Always so much to do and so little time .......so I have decided to bring my daughter onto Wooden Spool Designs to help me out 2-3 afternoons a week.

She has always been my biggest cheerleader and over the years as I was a young mom sewing her clothes and for bazaarsshe cheered me on...."GOOD JOB MOM" !! She is already much help and encouragement to me!! Thanks Amy for being a part of what I love to do!! Thanks for making it even more fun!!!

Trick or Treat Surprise at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe mid month was great fun. It was a class we held in the back of the store and it was oh so much fun!!!

We made cats and pumpkins, ate cookies, played games, took home goody bags, and won prizes. Hopefully we can do this again next year!!

Check out Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website under EVENTS for future classes.

Everyone need to visit a pumpkin patch sometime in October!!

We got the whole family together and made a trip on a nice sunny Sunday afternoon!!

It was the first time for the triplets and for Lincoln.

Addison was a pro and showed the girls how to pick out the perfect pumpkin.

She is going to be a pumpkin for Halloween and I just cant wait to see her in her costume with Lincoln tagging along!!! I got to see a sneak peek of the triplets being little monkeys (very fitting of course)!!

So from pumpkins, to puppies, primates.....Happy Halloween to all of you!!

Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

2010-10-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

Look What's happening just for you!!!

Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin has gathered 12 Amazing Designers who will share 12 Holiday Projects designed exclusively for our blog hop, share 12 delightfully delicious Cookie Swap Recipes and share Inspiring & Creative Ideas for the Holidays with each of you! Each of the 12 designers will be posting on each Tuesday & Friday starting Nov 2nd! Please help us spread the word & share with your friends that you are hopping with us by posting the logo on your blogs, Facebook or websites ect.... You can even email them the link! Be sure to leave plenty of super sweet comments as each of the designers have taken time out of their hectic schedules to share a little Holiday Spirit with each of us! I hope you whip up a new project to deck the halls, bake up a batch of yummy cookies for your annual cookie swap & most importantly, take time to celebrate the upcoming Holiday Season!

From our blogs to you....

Enjoy & Happy Holidays!

Stacy and the {FABulous} Designers...

Brenda

Cheri

Debbie F.

Kathy

Renee

Tracy

Lisa

Lynda

Jan

Tara

Debbie B.

Home for the Holiday
Designer Line Up:

Nov 2nd * Brenda Gervais from
http://www.withthyneedleandthread.blogspot.com/

Nov 5th * Debbie Field from
http://www.granolagirldesigns.blogspot.com/

Nov 9th * Cheri Saffiote-Payne from
http://www.quiltsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Nov 12th * Kathy Schmitz from
http://www.kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com/

Nov 16th * Renee Plains from
http://www.libertystar.typepad.com/

Nov 19th * Tracy from
http://www.plumcutedesigns.typepad.com/

Nov 23rd * Lisa Bongean from
http://www.lisabongean.wordpress.com/

Nov 26th * Lynda Hall from
http://www.primitivepiecesbylynda.blogspot.com/

Nov 30th * Jan Patek from
http://www.janpatek.blogspot.com/

Dec 3rd * Tara Darr from
http://www.sewuniquecreationsblog.com/

Dec 7th * Debbie Busby from
http://www.woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com/

Dec 10th * Stacy West from
http://www.buttermilkbasin.blogspot.com/

Join us for lots of holiday fun!!

Debbie Busby

October

2010-10-12T02:15:00.000-07:00

I have come to realize over the years that October is my favorite month! I love the colors, the falling leaves, the change in the weather, I don't mind the rain......I love pumpkins, seeing the school buses, daylight savings, the coming of the holidays, making cookies, candy corn, most everything about it!!! It also happens to be the month of my birthday.....and now we have a new addition and a grandson born in October too!!

Lincoln Daniel Busby Was born on October 2nd at 3:04 am weighing 7lbs 4 oz and 20 1/2" long. I had the amazing privilege to be present in the room at the time of his birth!! What a miracle birth is!!! WE are totally in love with Lincoln!! He is sleeping and eating well and seems to be a very mellow baby!!!

Addison is loving her new brother.....and making adjustments accordingly sharing her mommy and daddy now!! She is being such a good helper and seems so much more grown up sitting next to Lincoln now!!

We have another new addition coming next week.....we are getting a black lab puppy!!! She was born on September 2 and will soon be able to leave her mother and come live with us!! We are all so excited to get her. We are going to name her LUCY!!!

The girls came over the other day and helped me check out this new crate for Lucy to use!!! They seemed to think it will work just fine!!

They are growing way too fast and quickly approaching their first birthday next month!! They are taking a swim class called MER-BABIES at the local community collage. Since there are three of them....Mommy takes one, Daddy takes one, and I take the third one each week, ten weeks for 30 minutes of water class fun.....they love it!!!

Jeff's knee is improving with his physical therapy now over..... it still gets tired after a long days work....and his days are LONG!!! I sure appreciate having such a hard working husband!!!

We had a great time as a vendor at the Northwest Quilting Expo last month here in Portland. Lots of friends came by my booth for a visit....and so fun to see all the gals who take classes from me!!! The booth is always lots of work to set up but worth the effort seeing everyone enjoy themselves!!! Again.....praises to my husband....I had to scurry off to a wedding the day of tear down so bless his heart he did it all by himself!!!

Classes are keeping me busy at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe which I am just loving spending time at!! There is so much to see and choose from. Jan and Brian do a great job filling the store!!!

And then its always important to find some time just to be the Nana!!

Hope all of you are enjoying October as much as I am!!!

Time flies no matter what....

2010-09-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yes....you know what I am going to say....where does the time go....its been too long between blogs.....time flies no matter what!!!

Things as you can guess or already know about me are just crazy!!! Life at the Busby's and Wooden Spool Designs just never seem to slow down!!

First off my family is good!!! Addison is growing into a sweet, busy, and VERY TALKATIVE little girl. When she wakes up from her naps she starts talking about the last thing she left off with when she went to sleep!!! NO KIDDING!!! She cracks me up!! She has an imagination and energy that just does not stop!! I am missing her as Karah is done working now and is going to be a stay at home mom.....so I no longer am watching her 3 days a week....which she and I are both adjusting to!! I miss her and she misses me!! I am happy for her and her mommy to have more time together and look forward to my days with her!!! Addie is waiting for the arrival of her little brother any time now!!

Karah has had a good pregnancy this time and is due on October 8th.....since Addison was 5 weeks early we are all anticipating Lincoln to come anytime....we will see!!!

They say that two is company and three is a crowd....but with the triplets three is a circus!!! OH MY.....how the girls are growing and going....crawling everywhere and even walking with the help of something to hold onto.

Emma we have decided will be the first one to walk!!! All three girls now have their two bottom teeth and are so cute when they smile!!! They are starting to try word sounds and are learning to give kisses and wave!!! There is never a dull moment when they are around!!!

Hailey is going to be Nana's girl....everytime I am around her she seems to end up crawling into my lap!!! Of course I LOVE IT!!!

Olivia is such a clown and lights up the room....she has a contagious laugh and takes the best naps!!! She also has the highest pitched voice and sure can get your attention!!!

Ivo and Amy are doing such a good job as the parents of these special girls....they just celebrated their 3rd anniversary with a night away at the beach.....Me and the other grammy were in charge over night....we decided that what happens with the grannies stays with the grannies!!!!

Jeff hurt his knee at work and is on "light duty" (LOL .....UPS does not seem to understand what light duty is) and has been going to physical therapy twice a week all month. I think his knee is improving but still gets tired when over worked.

This is vacation week for Jeff. Vacation week for him usually means show week for me.....so you will find us busy at the NW Quilting Expo in Portland, Oregon. I will have a booth there selling my patterns, wool, kits, and a variety of other goodies!!!

Join me and some of my favorite wooly friends by checking out my upcoming classes at http://www.hollyhillquiltshoppe.com/ . Always a fun place to visit and lots of fun to be had!!!

And my last bit of news.....we are getting a puppy!! A female black lab who right now is 18 days old and will come to live with us sometime the middle of October. After the lose of Coal over a year ago we are just feeling a void in our family....and the grandkids all need to grow up with a dog!!! SO why not add a puppy to our family.....going from one granddaughter last year at christmas to 4 granddaughters a grandson and a new puppy!!! Sounds like fun to me!!!

OH and my sister living in the basement!!! Love my sister!! She is a GREAT cook!!!

Doing what I love!!!

2010-08-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

I love wool!! I dont like to wear wool.....but I LOVE to dye it and stitch with it!!! There is nothing like getting to do what you love!! I am blessed to spend most of my days doing just exactly that....working with wool and spending time with my granddaughters!!!

This last week we had our second Wool Crazy Class at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!! The gals are so much fun and share my love for wool!!!

Shannon

Cheryl

Jackie

Penny

Peggy

Sue

Here is my fall version of my wool crazy block:

Here is my winter version of my wool crazy block:

Lots of stitching to do but oh so much fun!!!

This week is Wooly Wednesday at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!! The third Wednesday of every month I teach a morning and an evening class with so many wonderful fellow wool lovers!!! They all come anticipating our project which is kept a secret until they arrive.....they never know what they are going to make....and I have to admit a couple of time neither do I until 2:00 am the morning before!!! I am a late night person.....a NIGHT OWL i guess you could call me!!!

Speaking of night owls...here are two of my patterns with owls!!!

Now not to leave out the other thing I love to do.....spend time with my granddaughters!!!

Hailey, Emma, Addison, Olivia

The triplets are all crawling now and two of them have a tooth or two. They are just so fun to watch....crawling around and over each other....stealing each others toys.....pulling themselves up to a stand!! My daughter has had to lower all of thier crib mattresses and purchase gates!!! I have taught Olivia to say gobble gobble gobble!! Spending time with them is endless fun and lots of laughs!!!

Addison is will be turning 4 in December and is so grown up!! She LOVES to talk!!! I must say it is hard to get a word in with her!!! She has a great imagination and tells great made up stories!!! She is looking forward to her new brother arriving in the next month or so......and I know will be a huge help around the house!!!

So this week I hope you get to spend some time doing what you love....I know I am....dying wool, stitching with wool, and playing with my granddaughters!!! :)

Catching up......

2010-07-29T02:31:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile.....I figured I could not sit and write when I had so much to do!! I am a bit caught up now so I am going to catch you up on what I have been up to!!

May 2010:

International Quilt Market in Minneapolis Minnesota. We spent a few days driving across several states to arrive in Minneapolis ready to set up for Quilt Market. Quilt Market is a wholesale trade show for the quilting industry which shop owners from all over the world attend to spend several days in classes....meeting....and walking aisles and aisles of vendor booths checking out what is new!! Vendors have 2 days to set up their booths and 5 hours to tear down!! It is lots of work.....but always a joy to see old friends/customers.....and make new ones too!!!

I had special extra help this year from my good friends at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!!! Thanks guys!!!

Melissa, Steve, Jan, Brian
Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe

My favorite part of attending quilt market is the fun I have seeing all the friends that I have made over the years and the joy in making new ones!! We had great neighbors and made new friends with Anni and Peter of Hatched and Patched from Austrailia......They were so helpful and such a joy to visit with!!

Our both neighbors:
Peter & Anni
Hatched and Patched

Patty Vatter
Epicurean Crafts

Stacy West

Buttermilk Basin

After two full days of setting up our booth, three very busy days working our booth, and 5 extremely hot and muggy afternoon tearing down and packing up our booth we headed west for home. Minnesota and North Dakota brought extreme heat, along with heavy down pours causing everyone on the roads to pull off.....along with tornado warnings and sighting......

The view through our windshield at one point....ZERO!!!

We were all too happy to get to Montana to see the sunshine as we had a blowout on the trailer tire .......much easier to change tires in the sunshine than the pouring rain!!!

WIPE OUT!!

More friends that we had the pleasure of getting to spend time with both going and coming home in Montana. Donna and Shirley of Country Lore Designs

These two sisters are amazing and have such a wonderful collection of antique sewing notions and beautiful thread cabinets.

June 2010:

As we pulled into our driveway to unload my sister was in need of a place to live temporarily so we began moving my studio, office, and shipping center up two flights of stairs even before we unpacked the trailer. Did not know i had so much stuff.....but a good way to get reorganized!!! We had record rain here in June.....a good time to be inside working on getting organized!!

Moving things around, filling orders, dying wool, and catching up on hugs and kisses from the grandkids filled my days while anticipating the arrival of summer company.

July 2010:

Trying to avoid mosquitos as a result of all the rain we had this spring and early summer!!

My friend Joy (my maid of honor 34 years ago) came from California for several days and we got to exchange lots of grandma stories and catch up with each other.

After she left Mark and Sharon Stewart came from North Carolina for 10 days of fun, food, laughter, teaching, shopping, site seeing, and much more.

Pittock Mansion Portland, OR

Mt Hood

Gingerbread and Holly Wool Workshop

Sharon (Liberty Rose) and I spent two days teaching a wool workshop at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe called Gingerbread and Holly. What a great way to spend a hot summer day in a nice airconditioned classroom all decorated for Christmas and working with wonderful wool!!! Thanks to Jan and Brian for the festive spirit and great food!!

As the week came to an end we found one last day to drive up the Columbia River Gorge to Cascade Locks and have a massive icecream cone from the Eastwind Drive in with a stop on the way back at Multnomah Falls. The guys climbled to the top of the falls (1 1/4 miles pretty much straight up....11 switchbacks) Sharon and I climbed to switchback 1 and waited enjoying the view!!

Jeff and his size LARGE icecream cone!!

Sunset in the Columbia River Gorge from Crown Point

So things are quieting down here for now.....spending some time just enjoying my family and my husband before my next show:

Northwest Quilting Expo

Portland, Oregon

and

watch for upcoming classes I will be teaching at

Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in the months ahead.

Just for Jeff......

2010-06-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well we did make it to Market in Minneapolis and back....and lots has gone on since.....I have been meaning to blog for days (or maybe it is weeks) now.......there never seems to be a minute extra........but since my sweet and patient husband has asked me twice now if I could find time to add new pictures of our granddaughters to my blog..........I am stopping right now to fill his request.....he has customers on his UPS route that he likes to show pictures to and he uses my blog to do it!!!

Thanks Jeff....hope you and your customers enjoy them!!!

Sweet Addison

Happy Hailey

Precious Emma

Princess Olivia

Daddy (Ivo) and his girls on his first Father's Day

Hailey, Emma, Olivia

Hailey

Olivia

Emma

Mother's Day 2010

Rose Parade 2010

Early Morning....Addison patiently waiting....3 hours to go....

Chow Time

Hailey Likes Peas....

Olivia Loves them even more.....

Emma does not like peas....she gets green beans!!!

Cleaning up......

Play Time

Sleepy Time

Yikes......

That's all folks.....

Love you Jeff!!!

Long Roads, Curves, and Bumps

2010-05-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

Well we worked hard....loaded up...and drove all the way to Minneapolis, MN this week!!! International Quilt Market starts on Friday.....set up is tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday. The trip was good....we went through Oregon, into Washington up to Spokane, over through Idaho, All the way across Montana, and then All the way across North Dakota and to our destination. The scenery was beautiful no matter what state we went through....although I must say there are no mountains in North Dakota....we did see a couple of buffalo though!!

We stopped in Missoula,Montana and had a meal with some special friends. We met these sisters several years ago at one of the shows and we have kept in contact ever since. It is one of the best things about my business is the friends that I meet!!! Shirley and Donna are sisters and they have a business called Country Lore Designs. They have wonderful patterns and also travel around and do a antique sewing notions seminar. In the past two years they have had to take a break from business to tend to some of life's unforseen curves and bumps.

While on their way to a show two years ago Donna ended up in the hospital far away from home with Guillain-Barra Syndrome. It is pronounced ghee-yan-bah-ray and it is a neurological disorder in which the bodies immune system attacks your nervous system. It is and can be paralizing taking months and years to relearn and gain your strength and endurance back. As if that was not enough Donna then was diagnosed with cancer. She has gone through chemo, radiation, and surgery....all the while while her sister Shirley stayed by her side and loved and encouraged her!! She was Donna's Angel!! I share this story because I am in AWE of the way that the two of them have come through these curves and bumps....and can only hope that I can follow their example of strength and grace in my life's unforseen curvers and bumps!! I truly admire both of them!! We are looking forward to stopping back in Missoula on our way home for another meal with good friends!!

Jeff of course did all the driving while I kept him awake and alert....bagging patterns and preparing things for sample spree!! I finished all I wanted to accomplish about 2 hours before we got here!!!

After checking into our hotel and having some dinner we took a walk around downtown and met up with Jan Hill and her gang from Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe for a fun time at Brit's pub. There was lots of good food and fun!!

Well that's it for our first day here in Minnesota!!!

Wooly Wednesday Friends

2010-04-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

Wednesday I meet with lots of wonderful wooly friends at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!

When Wooly Wednesday started last July we had a small group of beautiful women and had lots of fun.....

now we have a morning group
and
an evening group and have tons of fun!!

This month we made cute little wool journal covers.....these are pictures of the evening group.

Thanks for coming everyone!!

2010-04-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

It's Wooly Wednesday time!!!

Looking forward to seeing all my wooly friends
at
Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!!

5...4...3...2...1

2010-04-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

The countdown is on.....It's ony 5 weeks until we leave for International Quilt Market in Minneapolis, MN!! As usually my list is too long and the clock just keeps ticking!!! Quilt Market is a place that quilt shop owners gather together from all over the world to see the latest fabrics, patterns, tools, and trends in the quilting world. I just can't imagine how hard it is for them to pick and choose what to take back home to their shops!!! The excitement and talent just overflows out the doors!!! I always find the last few weeks before leaving for the show a bit overwhelming but very exciting to be able to participate, show my designs, and meet so many special people.

Like I said.....

2010-04-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

My polka dots are back....and my headlight is fixed......

Like I said.....my guys are GREAT!!! Thanks boys!!!

lost polka dots......

2010-04-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this and my background is brown with light brown polka dots Hiphorray!!!

I recently had that background added to my blog and I love it so much....but today my background and polka dots are gone!!! I talked to my friend who lives clear across the states in NC and she can see the polka dots.....can anyone else see my polka dots???

I am sure they will turn up somewhere......if you see them let me know!!!

Computers....what did we ever do before???

Boys Only!! NO GIRLS ALLOWED!!

2010-04-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

It took me awhile to find pictures of my BOYS ONLY!!!
So many PINK pictures and stories of my GIRLS seem to always fill my pages....so today I just have to give some credit to the men in my life!!! I am truly blessed to have such wonderful, faithful, godly, helpful, funny, and hardworking men around me!!!

Of course it goes without saying that I love my husband!! As long as I have known Jeff he has never left for work complaining about going....he goes, works hard, and is always happy when he gets home!!! He fills my car with gas, waits in lines for me.....and goes last in line when it comes to choosing anything. He does laundry, dishes, works my shows, refills the toilet paper roll, vacumes, mows the yard, plants flowers for me, builds me fires and the list goes on!!

Thanks for working so hard for us Jeff...I love you so much!!

Daniel my son is such a joy in my life!!

The day he arrived and I was screaming it's a BOY!!! (I grew up with all girls)

When he was a little boy he used to say to me "mommy...when you get old I am going to take you to church and come mow your yard"!!

He is a hard worker like his dad....can fix most anything.....gave me my first grandchild, loves his wife and today he is working on fixing my headlight for me!!!
Thanks Daniel for always finding to time to help me out with your busy schedule and family!!
I love you!!

I prayed and prayed for a wonderful son in law and it seemed like it took forever for God to answer that prayer .....but He sure did and it was worth the wait!!! I know that those of you with son in laws might debate my next comment...but Ivo is the BEST son in law in the world!!!!

He also is a hard worker, is very smart with his finances,
loves my daughter and gave me THREE beautiful granddaughters.....

and he is GREAT with computer stuff!!! Ivo has just spent the last month or more working on redoing my website and today has it up and running!!!

Check it out!!!!

http://www.woodenspooldesigns.com/

and did I mention that they all love baseball and ice cream!!!????

If you have special men in your life take time to let them know it!!!

Easter Girls!!!

2010-04-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

Emma Jo

Hailey Ann

Olivia Marie

Emma, Hailey, Olivia

Sisters

Emma, Olivia, Hailey

Cousins

Hailey, Emma, Addison, Olivia

Addison Love

Hope you all had a wonderfully special and blessed Easter!!!

First Day of Spring Celebration

2010-03-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

March 20, 1976

First Day of Spring

Jeff and Debbie get married!!

Jeff and I celebrated our 34 year anniversary last Saturday!!

WOW.....Instead of saying we look older now...I am going to say we looked younger then!!!

A day with Addison and a trip to the zoo was on the calendar for us last week also!!

We loaded up the wagon and packed some snacks and off we went....to see the elephants, lions, tigers, bears, and giraffe's!! It was perfect spring weather and the animals were happy and active!!!

The elephants were my favorite, the giraffes were Addisons favorite and the polar bears were Jeff's!!

After returning home and downloading my pictures and reviewing them.....I realized the shots I got of the baby elephant reminded me of a recent accident I had at home....

I was walking along minding my own business.....

next thing I know I am on the floor!!!!

I missed the last step coming down our stairs and took a tumble down onto my knee!!

There I was a bit stunned, in a little pain lying on the floor in the dark house as Jeff was on his way home from work.

This is a picture of what I looked like trying to get to my feet.....

Until Jeff got home and gave me a hand....

it's always good to have a friend around to help pick you up when you are down!!!

Thanks Jeff for always being there for me!!

As for my knee....lots of pain.....doctor visit....xray....but the good news is that it is not a break just a brusied bone....but it sure is painful.....getting a bit better each day!!

Our zoo trip ended with a trip around the zoo on the zoo train!!

Recently during the Wooly Wednesday Class that I teach at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe

we made cute little wool bunnies and wool carrots!!

Our class is overflowing so we added a Wooly Wednesday Class in the evening also!!

Brian even joined us and made such a cute bunny!!! Good job Brian!!

What a treat Sunday afternoon was!! Jan Hill the owner of Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe had a special day for her employees!!! She invited me to come and teach some wooly projects to everyone and we had SEEEWWWW much fun!!! We made tomato pincushions and needle keepers....had some wonderful food.....lots of fun....and everyone sure felt appreciated by Jan!!!

Tomorrow is baby day....I will be off to Amy's in the morning and help with the girls giving them lots of kisses and hugs....and I will take some pictures of course.....so I can share them with you!!!
Until then.....enjoy SPRING!!!

Little Signs of Spring...

2010-03-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

Spring Chicks

2010-02-24T16:51:00.000-08:00

You've got mail...........

This week in the mail I received from France:

Quiltmania

http://www.quiltmania.com/

Issue #75

Quiltmania is a Beautiful Quilt Magazine which is printed in France and I am honored to have one of my pattern designs featured in their latest issue.

Each issue includes wonderful articles and many beautiful free patterns inside each issue.

My next mail delivery was from North Carolina:

A special friend of mine Sharon Stewart has introduced me to a friend of hers, Evette (whom we have only spoken over the phone on occasion).....and she sent me such a lovely package!!

I was recently admiring some little pincushions she made which were pictured on Sharon's blog and next thing I know I received one in the mail along with directions on how to make them and all the supplies!!! Thank you Evette!! It was so kind of you!!

Spring is springing!!!
It's been a busy month and Spring is on it's way!!

My favorite spring thing has to be daffodils!! I just can't wait for them to bloom!! We planted some bulbs last fall and because of the beautiful recent weather there are signs of them making their way up through the ground here and there and everywhere!!!

This past week there were signs of Spring

at the Wool Wednesday Class at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe!!

Twenty three wonderfully fun "CHICKS" came to make these cute little wooly Spring Chicks!! Each month the ladies come not knowing what we will make and trust me for a project and I guarantee you that they ALWAYS make it fun!! I personally look forward to it every time!!!

This months project was a sweet chick pattern that Sharon Stewart of Liberty Rose Patterns sent to me for use.....after a few little changes these are the chicks we came up with!!

Candy, Susan, Nicolle, Ruth
(some of my original Wooly Wednesday Ladies)

Betty....

was the first "CHICK" to complete her wooly chick....so she won an additional chick kit!!

Barb, Doreen, Betty, Tammy, Joyce

Barb

Donna and Teri
Check out Teri's blog

Dixie, Julie, Marilyn

Debbie, Tracy, Dianne, Judy, Susan, Karen, Nancy
(I know I got your names out of order!! I'm working on it!!)

Susan & Nancy

And I have to give a SPECIAL thank you to my friend Susan for letting us laugh until our sides hurt.....you see after working so hard on her little chick... she sewed the little chicks beak on top of his head!!

Chicken Little

Thank you Susan, your the best!!

I loved having you back in class!!!

In most of my extra time this month I have been at the dye pots....
My stack so far is 1 yard high!!
Gotta say I love dying wool!! It's one of my new favorite things to do!!!

The rest of my time is spent with my family....my 4 beautiful granddaughters....and I am busy getting ready to have new patterns at International Quilt Market in Minneapolis, MN in May.

Happy February......

2010-02-01T01:18:00.000-08:00

Busy Busy January!!!

2010-01-27T20:44:00.000-08:00

January has been so full of family, friends, and fun I hate to see it almost over!!

Starting the new year with lots of time on baby duty......I have to say that even being the night owl that I am I have been a bit tired.....guess that's why we have kids when we are younger so we can keep up!!! It sure has been fun getting to see them grow, change, and watch their personalitites shine through!!

The last couple of weeks Jeff and I spent down in southern California looking for the sun.

We left on Monday January 11th, and as I stitched last minute projects and Jeff drove us with all of our booth props and supplies south to Ontaria, CA to participate as a vendor in Road 2 California Quilt Show the rain followed us.

There was not much sunshine to be found and the lead story on the CA evening news was the rain....I came down with a terrible cold........
but no worries....
we did manage to have a GREAT time together!!!

Getting ready for a show is usually a pretty crazy event in itself with lots of preperation and last minute things to get done......with the addition of the triplets this year I fould to be a bit more challenging to find time....and was not sure how I could do it.....but with the help and support of family and friends it all came together and we had a fun and successful show!!

The best part of what I get to do is meet so many wonderfully kind and supportive people who encourage me with lots of kind words,hugs, and support.....I count each of them as a blessing in my life.....they are what keeps me going!!
I had the privilege to teach several classes while we were in CA. The first was my Pincushion Party Class at Road on Thursday evening!! I have been looking forward to it all year and want to thank everyone who took the class.....I had a blast with you and have very special memories from being there!!
And...I did not take any pictures!!
Hoping to get some from Tammy, my VIQ who was a great help to me!!
Thanks Tammy!!

The next class was on Monday at Stars and Scraps Quilt shop in Corona, CA!!! It was a last minute planned event and was attended by 15 wonderful women who brought lots of wonderful food and fun and laughter!! Thank you for your hospitality!!!
We continued to drive south still hoping to find the sun.....visiting some wonderful quilt shops along the way....The Quilted Horse, Temecula Quilt Co., Country Loft, and Quilter's Coop. Still no sun.....so we decided to head north towards home!!

The last little class I thought was a very spur of the moment event.....this is how it happened.....we were driving north towards home.....it was our last leg of the trip and we stopped in Cottonwood, CA at Quilts in the Attic which is just south of Redding, CA. While we were shopping and visiting it was brought to our attention that all roads north had been closed due to snow over the pass.....and NO ONE WAS GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON!!! Semis were backing up on the freeway along with all other traffic....it was now a 6 hour delay with small groups being escorted over the pass!! As we were visiting a group of women started gathering in the class room to meet and stitch....WOOL!! It was their montly wool goup!!! WOW!!! I love to stitch with wool.....I have a suitcase full of wool in the car....with a special little project in it.....so I asked if I could interrupt their stitching and provide a small wool project for them to make.....WHAT FUN WE HAD!! Everyone made a cute little heart needle keeper while we were stranded on the road!!! Thank you ladies for all the fun and helping us pass the time.....

After leaving we decided to take Hwy 36 west over to the coast and up 101 instead of waiting to go north. The road was long, winding and covered with snow and I think we were the only car traveling on it in either direction!! Even through the road had been plowed it was a bit worrisome in places....149 miles took us 4 hours!!! After our safe arrival to 101 we ended that day watching a beautiful sunset in Crescent City, CA. Our last day we drove into Oregon stopping in Springfield, OR at wonderfully fun and full quilt shop called Something to Crow About!! Thanks Kenette for the visit!!
Home Sweet Home....There's no place like home!! My kids cleaned my house while I was gone and the babies grew!!! We are unpacked and getting organized.....
hugging the granddaughters......
and
counting our blessings for our safe travels and wonderful family and friends!!
A big thank you to everyone you came to Road 2 California!!
Hope to see you again next year!!

Today I got to teach my own Wooly Wednesday class at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in West Linn, Oregon and see some special friends I have been missing!! I am so excited for this year and am looking forward to the months ahead!! My next show is International Quilt Market in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May!! I better get busy...it will be here in no time!!!

Better late than Never...Happy New Year!!

2010-01-11T01:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

Hope your holidays were good and you are settling into the new year!!

The holidays are always a busy time with family and friends, activities, baking, decorating, shopping, comings and goings, well....just try adding Addison's third birthday and triplets into all of that and all I can say is WOW!!! What a busy time we have been having!! I think we are all a bit tired but loving our granddaughters!!

So here is a look at what's been happening around here....

Starting with Addison

who turned 3 years old on December 23rd!!

I took her, her mommy, and her other grandma to a tea house for lunch!!

SO much fun! Addison was into her tea.... Her Tutu......

And even a few tears.......She really did not want to wear the hat....and was being a good sport about it..... then she accidently got snapped with the elastic string as it was getting put on......
Every girl should be allowed to cry on their birthday if they want too!!!
There is nothing like your mommy to make it all better!!

We had a great holiday our kids all coming over. It was the triplets first visit to Nana's house....and it sure was fun!!

Emma, Olivia, Hailey

Amy and her little monkeys!!

Daniel, Addison, Karah, Olivia, Emma, Amy, Ivo, Hailey

Cousins.......Olivia, Addison, Hailey, Emma

Ballerina Addie Hailey, Olivia, Emma
Addison and Hailey

So you can see our time is quite busy with GIRLS these days!!!

We are so blessed!!

As for the sewing....well I have been busy with that too.....teaching at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in West Linn, Oregon.....working on new patterns....dying wool.....and getting ready to head to Road 2 California in Ontario, California....in fact we leave in the morning!!

You can count on that I will be missing the girls!

The Triplets Go Home

2009-12-01T00:23:00.000-08:00

The girls are now 11 days old and doing so well!! The WHOLE family got to go home together on Monday November 23 at the age of 4 days old!! It was quite sight to see them dressed in their first matching outfits and loaded into their carseats....they look so tiny in them!!! The girls are pictures here in order from left to right of their birth order. Hailey is on the left.... Emma in in the middle....and Olivia is on the far right.

Slowly the girls are getting to meet their family and friends.....here is Addison getting her first view of them!! She was so sweet with them!!!
She is going to be a great big cousin and show them how to do everything!!
Olivia Maire

Hailey Ann

Emma Jo

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2009-11-19T22:10:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Amy!!!

Twenty nine years ago today I gave birth to my daughter Amy.....which means today is her birthday...........and the day she gave birth to her three daughters!!! What a day it was!!! Hailey, Olivia, and Emma arrived this morning safe and sound!!

Statistics are as follows:

7:56 am Hailey Ann 5lbs 5oz 18.5"

7:57 am Emma Jo 4lbs 14oz 18"

7:58 am Olivia Marie 5lbs 3oz 18.5"

It was just amazing to get to see them lined up......all together but all different!!

Hailey has dark hair and is a go getter.....Emma is sweet and petite.....and Olivia is pretty mellow but a picky eater so far!! Amy is amazing.....she was 37 weeks and had no complications in her pregnancy at all.....the doctors said she could be a poster child for triplets!!! Already her mommy instincts have just kicked right in!!! So far it looks like they might ALL get to go home on Sunday or Monday!

As for me I got to go right into the nursery and see the girls and get some photos minutes after they were born.....I got to spend time rocking them.....and I even got to change a diaper already!!!

Papi's do what Papi's do best...a PROUD baby holder....but NO DIAPER CHANGING!!

I want to thank everyone who kept us in their thoughts and prayers during the last few months!!! WE truly appreciate your love and support!!!
It was a GREAT birthday celebration although we had NO CAKE.....but since Amy does not like cake anyway guess it does not matter!!! LOL

It's time!!!

2009-11-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

It's time!!!

Well....it's almost here........the day we have all been waiting for!!! Our daughter Amy is going to deliver her triplet girls tomorrow!!!

November 19th will be their birthday.....the same day I gave birth to Amy only 29 years ago!! She and her girls are going to share birthdays!!

Every doctor she has seen has been in awe of how she has carried the girls!! She will be 37 weeks tomorrow and as far as they have estimated the girls should all be over 5 lbs each!!
She will be having a C Section at 7:30 am.
I will post pics as soon as I can!!!
Today I got to spend the day with Addison who is growing up way too fast!! It was my last day with her as my ONLY granddaughter!!! She spent the night and then we were off to a tea party with a friend and her granddaughter!! It was so much fun!!! Addison was really into her tea!!!
My friend Jan Hill and her granddaughter Jenna!!

Jan is opening a wonderful new gift store this Saturday November 21st

called Pickleweed Hill!! If you are in the area stop in and check it out....

Pickleweed Hill

1873 Willamette Falls Drive

West Linn, Oregon

November

2009-11-01T19:24:00.000-08:00

The count down is on......

It's November and the year is almost over....

AND.......

it's almost time for the triplets to be born!!!

Amy is doing amazing!! She is in week 34!!

Her doctor's say she should be a poster child for Triplets!!!

I am so proud of her and am getting so excited to see the girls (Olivia, Hailey, and Emma)!!

As of today there is not an actual date scheduled for the delivery but they are thinking maybe November 18th would be a good day!! The 17th is DH Jeff's birthday and the 19th is DD Amy's birthday!!

This is a picture of Amy today!! She is allowed to go out to church on Sunday and to her weekly 3 doctor appointments. It won't be long now.....watch for updates and delivery news!

I have been busy dying lots of wool for Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe and teaching a few classes!! Once a month I teach a WOOLY WEDNESDAY class at the shop....so much fun and such wonderful ladies!!

Addison is growing up so fast.....She spends a couple of days a week with me and we have so much fun!!

She loved her first ride on a pony!!

She was the cutest Minnie Mouse for Halloween and had a fun time trick or treating.....we got to tag along and enjoy the fun.....after a couple of houses we came upon one where the homeowner was dressed in costume....which Addison was not to sure of.....and as we walked away she said I want to go home now!!! She said....Mommy with give me candy!!! She is so fun to be around and watch grow up....just wish she would not do it so fast!!!

Happy November!!!

2009-10-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Thirty days have passed since I last shared the adventures around here!!!

I still have not figured out how to slow time down!!!

We have been busy busy busy as usual.....just seems to be a way of life anymore!!

We did take a day last month and headed out east on Columbia River Gorge Hwy to Hood River to drive through all the orchards and lavendar fields.....so much to see and such a great day!!

We ended the day with a stop at a place in Cascade Locks which serves the largest icecream cones you have ever seen!!! Of course Jeff had the large size.....

Showers have been abundant the last month with the anticipation of the arrival of the triplets!! Amy is doing well and starting her 31st week!! The goal is to get her to 35 weeks and anything over that will be a bonus!!! Look at these darling hats and booties my sister in law knitted for them!!! I must say they will be the best dressed triplets around!!! The cribs are up and things are coming together!! Addison is practicing their names.........

Olivia, Hailey, and Emma.........

and is going to be the best cousin!! Today she and I took a trip to the very sweet local nursery and picked out pumpkins and flowers to take to Aunt Amy.....she is now on house arrest for the remainder of her pregnancy except for doctor appointments and a trip to church if she feels up to it. September was busy with the NW Quilting Expo Show!! It was a GREAT show and so fun to see so many old friends and lots of new ones too!! I always come home from the shows so encouraged and excited to be doing what I love to do!!!
Currently Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe is hosting a trunk show of Wooden Spool Designs!!

They have been most gracious to add my designs in their shop and have added lots of wool, have new homesspuns, and bolts and bolts of other great fabrics!!!

Class last week was so much fun!!

We made the Boo Banner, and a stack of wool pumpkins!!! Hope this finds you enjoying the fall season!!

2009-09-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

Fall is definatley in the air here!! Our mornings are beginning to have a chill in the air and the leaves are beginning to fall!! Lots has been going on around here. Addison and I have been busy raking leaves, painting rocks, watering flowers, and practicing hopping!!!

I hope that you are enjoying the end of summer and the beginning of the new fall season!!

2009-08-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

Can't think of a better way to have spent my Thursday than to be at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe with my very special class!!! Today we met to work on finishing up our Gingerbread & Gumdrop Pillow!! I am not sure how much we actually got done in class today......but what I do know is that we sure had a good time!!! Lots of laughter going on for sure!! It was just what I needed today!! Thanks Susan, Candy, Carol, and Nicolle!!!

Sue was trying to hide behind her project... but I made her peek around so we could see her sweet smile!!!
Carol's project was closest to being finished.....amazing since it took her the longest to get her needle threaded......!!! She is going to get a self threading needle!!!
I have never used one but I am going to try them out!! Candy did a great job....and was trying to swap hers for mine!!!
Nicolle has gotten hooked on the hand stitching......I can't wait to see what she will make next!!!
Don't ask what we were all doing here but for sure you can see we were having a GREAT time!!! And we can't forget BRIAN.....
He joined us for a bit and added to the fun, cut some fabric for us and took time to take our picture!!!

Thanks class for making my day so fun!!!

Gingerbread, Gumdrops, Girls, and Giggles!!

2009-08-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today I had the privilege of spending the day with 4 amazing women!! We got together to make the Gingerbread House Pillow from my new pattern Gingerbread and Gumdrops. It is so amazing how a needle and thread can bring different women together and create a bond!! WE had a GREAT time working with wool, sharing about our lives, laughing at life and creating our pillows. We will meet again next week to finish our projects and have more fun!!

2009-08-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week while Sharon has been here....we have been trying to get as much use of our time together as possible!! Of course like always when you are having fun the time just goes by way too fast!! Sharon leaves in the morning for home...way across to the east coast!! Sunday evening we went to dinner with the family and afterwards visited the Pittock Mansion and The Rose Garden in Downtown Portland. We decided that we need to go to these places more often than just when company comes!!

Saturday morning we got early and went to the Barn House sale in Battleground, WA!! It was tons of fun and I am never dissappointed in the talented people who put on this unique Barn Sale!! We found some fun treasures that we brought home and the cake they served was SO SO GOOD!!!

Friday evening we attended a wonderful Trunk Show with Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts put on by Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in West Linn, Oregon!

It was a fun evening with more yummy food made by

Priscilla Koczian

Dinner Is Served Catering Service!

Local shopping in Downtown Troutdale......

And of course lots of stitching in my sewing room!!!

Pictures from the midnight giggles not allowed here!!

Thanks for visiting Sharon!! We loved it!!!

East Coast Friend

2009-08-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Miss Sharon Stewart of Liberty Rose Patterns is here visiting me all the way from North Carolina!! Isn't she so sweet!! Wish ya'll could just be here having fun with us!!!

Our outings have been steady.....lots to see and do. We have been antiquing, visiting quilt shops, stitching together, and just having some down right fun!! This thread cabinet was a special find that just had to come home with us!! It is such a great addition to my sewing room!!

Hollyhill Quilt shop in West Linn Oregon is a favorite and sure make Sharon happy!!!! The week is going by way too fast......They say time flys with you are having fun...so TRUE!!! Ya'll come back and see what we get to do tomorrow!!

A picture is worth a thousand words!!

2009-08-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share some of our August in pictures: Happy Birthday to Ivo!!
Pool Party!! Sunday afternoon sandwiches!! Baby Girls!!! Content in a bucket of water!!!

A new house for Karah!!

Painting with Nana!!

Praying ??

Actually she was playing in a mole hill dirt pile!!!

2009-07-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

A week sure can go by fast!! It seems like I was just in a panic getting ready to leave for Quilt Festival in Long Beach California and here I am back home unpacking!! Set up is always a lot of work and no matter how you plan or how many times you set up it always seems to go together different than the time before!! We heard lots of encouraging words about our booth display which always makes all the effort put into it rewarding!! I got so busy that of course I did not get a very good pic of the booth when it was done!!!

Jeff is such a trooper....he does most all the hauling, ALL the driving, most of the unhauling, takes orders (not just those from our customers!!) and still smiles at me!! I have to say that we have met some very special friends over the last 6 years while being a part of the quilting industry!! It is just the best part!! I have to thank Scott Lindsey from Dream World for helping Jeff unload our trailer in Long Beach!! Check out Scott's Bendable Lights!!
We stayed in Seal Beach while we were at the show which was a few miles away from Long Beach. It has a cute litte downtown street and a boardwalk out over the ocean which made for a great sunset picture!! One of Jeff's UPS customers recommended Beachwood BBQ resturant in Seal Beach for dinner.....so of course we tried it out and it was YUMMY!! Last but not least....the triplets are healthy and growing!! The latest doctor appointment revealed that they are all girls!! Three little granddauthers on the way!! Our weather here is extremely hot!! Yesterday 105 and today 107!! It is supposed to cool down tomorrow to 102!! I am thankful that Jeff has the week off and does not have to be out in his big brown truck!! We are staying cool with our AC and playing in the shade with Addison in her little pool!!

Heading to Long Beach, CA

2009-07-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I was working on hauling stuff out to the trailer I heard all this commotion going on....birds swuakling and squaking from every where it seemed!! As I looked to see what was causing the problem....I saw the neighbor dog investigating something on the ground at the base of a tree where there is a bird nest in. It appears that a baby bird had fallen from the nest!! I shoooed the dog away and the bird began to calm down!! OH my the poor little bird.......the the parents were just beside themselves!! The nest is somewhat low to the ground in some short limbs that are growing out of the side of the tree....so I hauled a ladder out to the tree and got some gloves, carefully picked up the little birdy and placed him back in the nest!! The parents were a little concerned with what I was doing....chirping at me the whole time!! Now I am not sure if the baby bird will survive or not....but I just could not leave it on the ground all alone!!

We are all loaded and about to head down the road!! What alot of work to get ready for a show!! The last few days have gone by way to quickly, extremly short, and fill with way too much to do!! But we made it....and the trailer is loaded ready to go!!
Looks like we will be leaving behind a beautiful sunny week here in Oregon!! Our kids are holding down the fort while we are gone...checking in on things for us!!

Amy and Ivo have a doctor appointment this wednesday and will most likley fine out the gender of the triplets!! She is currently at 19 weeks.

We are all so excited to hear the news!! Daniel and Karah and Addison are in the process of purchasing their first home and should be moving in a few weeks!! All very exciting things happening here!!

Addison had so much fun playing in the trailer and then said what?? You have to put stuff in here!! I thought this was my new play house!!

2009-07-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

In two SHORT days we are heading down to Long Beach, CA for Quilt Festival!! Needless to say I have been going nonstop in preparation for it!! Burning the candle at both ends you might say!! If you were a guest in my home today you would see a bit of a mess......a productive mess.....dye pots still going in the kitchen........all tables are covered with projects, kit making, tags stamping, piles of wool, patterns, pictures, and bags!! Really there is no place to sit and eat....so as my guest I suppose we would have to go out....OH....but then there is no time for that!! So I maybe it would be a good time to start a diet??!! OH my....can you tell I am running on not much sleep.....this story seems to be a bit silly!! I better get back at it...just wanted to let you know what I have been doing!!!

Plus of course a little nana time in there too!!

Making a MESS!!

2009-07-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

There is just now way around making a mess!!!

These are pictures of the what

I have going on around here right now!!

Getting ready for a show is alot of work and creates a mess!!
Most of my house looks like this right now. You have to almost ignore everything else there is to do when it is a week away from leaving for a show.......which means

things like laundry, cooking, and cleaning get neglected!!

The result is a HUGE MESS!!

Today is wool dying day.....probably the whole weekend will be!! Should be fun!!

DH is always a good sport and such a good helper.

Back to work!!