Aunt Bea's Baskets

One of the cute shops in McCall, ID is 'Selectable Collectibles'. I like to poke around when I am in town. This year I need to design a Bird House quilt block, for our Tri County Quilt Tour. They always have cute hand made bird houses. I was hoping for a little inspiration. There were some darling ones on the porch. I took a few pictures, and then wondered in with my Sister-in-law, Lisa. We loved the Raggedy Annie's, the cute country signs, all of the lodge looking stuff. There were really cute baby things and Christmas items. But, when I came around the corner and saw this hand embroidered, hand and machine quilted Aunt Bea's Basket quilt, I knew it was my Lucky Day!


I had the feeling that I should tuck it under my arm, and quietly tip-toe to the front desk. Making sure that know one grabbed it from me! I hoped that the shop owner would concider me quilt worthy! Several of my customers have made this quilt, doing it as a block of the month from the McCall Quilt Shop, Huckleberry Patches. I have been a little 'Jelly-Bean', but not any more. It's mine, all mine.




Stop by the shop and check it out. Each of the basket is different. Here is a close up of a sweet little pansy basket. And, check out the reproduction fabrics. It is wonderful. I am home from McCall. Leaving my sweet son behind. However, it was a little easier, with this sweet quilt in the passenger seat on the way home. J

McCall, Idaho

What does every good quilt shop owner do when she goes out of town? She visits the local quilt shop!! In Mc Call, Idaho, the LQS is Huckleberry Patches. I love this shop. The owners stitch all winter getting ready for the summer tourists, so each year when I come the shop is full of beautiful new samples.


This quilt greats you in the parking lot. Love the scalloped border!



And look at this cute butterfly block, the embroidery and quilting make it come to life.

Last summer one of the shop owners brought this block into the shop while I was there. It was so beautiful. I have encouraged Joyce to do this as a Block of the Month. Who's in?

Today, when I walked into the shop, this masterpiece was hanging on the wall. Amazing. It is from the book, A Graceful Garden.

I love Mc Call, Huckleberry Patches is not the only reason I visit.

My first born, Christopher, lives here. Love this guy (boy)! J

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Weekend Sewing

I did a little sewing this weekend, and thought I would share. I have a little group of quilters I like to call "Julie's Girls", that meet once a month. They started with a beginning quilting class in the Spring of 2009, and took to quilting like 'ducks to water'. This year they want to learn different techniques, so they can finish some of their Shop Hop blocks. I believe they have done 3 Hops now, should I tell them now or later, that they may never finish all of their blocks?


In September they want to learn how to foundation paper piece, so I worked on a little Halloween sample for them. I think it turned out pretty cute. However, when I showed Mr. Quilts4julie the first block, he thought it was a lighthouse.



Then, I moved on to bags. I have seen some 'snap' bags, ordered some patterns, and thought I should give them a try. This cutie is Snap Happy II. The thing that makes them a Snap bag is the closure. You use a metal tape measure, and they snap closed! Mr. Quilts4julie was very helpful with this project. He cut 2 of his tape measures for me. This bag called for a 1" tape.

and, this one used a 3/4" tape measure. He was very careful and used a drumel tool to round the edges. Now that he has cut up two tape measures, he is going to cut the rest of the tapes, and round them off, so I can have them in the shop. So, you don't have to cut up your husbands tape measures! Nice guy, huh?

I love my sewing weekends! J

OUR SCHNIBBLES WINNER

Our Schnibbles winner is Pam Cope! She made the Little Red Wagon pattern from the Schnibbles Times Two book. It is beautiful in these bright pastel fabrics. Pam mixed 2 layer cakes, one from the Eden collection and the second one is a pastel Moda Marbles layer cake. Did you realize that you can get Moda Marbles in layer cakes? They come in several color combinations, and work well with many fabric collections.

Pam's quilting is beautiful. She recently bought a long arm machine, and seems to be a natural. Just look at those feathers!

It is a beautiful quilt, and my fingers are crossed that the Martingale, Moda and Miss Rosie people pick it as their winner! Good Luck, Pam!

Got 10 minutes?

Sometimes a really cute fabric arrives in the shop, and I want to use it, but I'm not sure what I want to make. With my boys all grown, and no grandkids yet, I tend to pass up the great novelty prints that are on the market.

When I was in Wisconsin at my retreat one of the shop owners, Melisa from The Sweet Home Quilt Company, shared a pattern with us. She calls it a 10 Minute Table runner. Last week I decided to try it. I must admit, it took me 12 minutes, because I had forgotten to get out the ironing board and turn the iron on.




But, look at how stinking cute this thing is!! Easy, Peasy. Jan is helping me 'tweek' the instructions, and then we will have a free handout, with a fabric purchase. You will be making them for everyone on your gift list. J

SUMMER VACATION

It's vacation week for Mr. Quilts4julie and I. We are enjoying the sun in beautiful Lake Chelan. There are many multi-generational family's vacationing here. Today, 2 little boys in the pool were taking joy in pushing their Grandpa off of his float. Grandma was secretly helping them. I look forward to those days.

I love small towns, and Chelan pulls out all the stops for it's summer visitors. This cement bear is always on the corner to welcome you to town.

Pretty inviting bench! And, it my new favorite color combination. My newest Atkinson's Design quilt would look beautiful draped over the arm of the settee.

Here is the LQS, (local quilt shop), Rosie is well know in this area. Great shop, be sure to visit when you visit Central WA.

She still has adorable 4th of July decoration's in her window. Another great sign of small town life.

I have my sewing machine set up, and I have been working on several projects. Stay tuned for show and tell. J

THE LAST DAY OF QUILT CAMP

On the final day of Quilt Camp we spent time talking about demo's that the shop owners do in their shops. I learned a lot! Not only about tools that are new to me, but different ways to use some of the tools already in the shop.

This is Margie Wallace, holding a 'fat quarter tree'. We learned lots of new and creative ways of folding fat quarters. Some of them are so cute, I'm not sure anyone would ever unwrap them!

By the time we got around to taking a group photo, quite a few of the campers had hit the road. Two nice ladies stopped by the retreat house for a tour. So, we had them take a photo of the last to leave.

This was supposed to be a nice photo of Terry and I, but look carefully, and you will see Kelly Ann sneaking behind us. She is always the life of the party! Her shop is in Warrenton, VA, check out her website and blog http://www.kellyannsquilting.com/

We had a wonderful time, lots of sewing, laughing, ideas exchanged and conversations about what it means to own a quilt shop in different parts of the country. This retreat feeds my soul. I am excited to put lots of new ideas to work. J