Weather Report

 Today is one of those days, when everyone though the door is talking about the weather.  Even Face Book is full of weather comments.  This morning we had bright flashes of lightning followed by long, loud thunder claps.  There was rain, wind and hail in some places.   Quite the wake up call!  Now, the sky is blue and the sun is shinning. 


When I was growing up, my Grandparents lived on a farm outside of Portland, Oregon.  I loved spending time there.  I was always willing to help, we had to gather eggs, milk Bessy the cow, throw the ball for Shep, feed all of the barn cats.  My Grandmother did not quilt, she had a quilt frame, but it was never taken out of the Sears and Roebuck's box.  She mended my Grandfathers shirts, made sock monkeys and a few other soft toys.  She had a button box, which I treasure today.  One of my earliest sewing memories, is sewing buttons on wash cloths, picking the prettiest ones from the box. I imagine, my Grandfather was tired of my 'help', and she had to find a project to keep me inside!

In the hall way of the farm house, there was a big black wall phone.  They were on a party line,  remember those?  They knew what was going on at the near-by farms by listening in. They had a special ring, and I remember them saying 'It's for the Rassmussen's'.  We all know who's phone is ringing by our special ring tones, today!  Everything old is new again!  Next to the phone, hanging from a string, was a current copy of the Farmer's Almanac, and a pencil that my Grandfather sharpened with his pocket knife.  He would look at the Almanac, often.  Quoted it.  I just remember it's yellow cover.


Today, I decided to see what the Almanac had in store for our winter weather, since we have started out with a bang!  But, look at the map,  Mild and Very Wet.  That is great news for those of us in the NW.  We know how to do Very Wet, it's the Very Cold, that we have a hard time with.  It also said today was a good day to cut your hair, weaning and potty training, bake, cut fire wood and dig holes.  Nothing about stitching, hmm.  I wonder if they told women when to sew, mend, quilt, stitch?  I think it is something we should all but on our calendars!  Make time to do a little stitching, it's way more fun than digging holes!  J


PS- a pantie raid update.  Today, I am delivering 73 pairs of panties, and 65 pairs of socks to the Everett Gospel Mission.  They were thrilled with the call, as you can imagine, they are taking care of more people than ever.  Thank you for all of your generosity!

Stitching

Embroidery has always been popular.  It's a great way to introduce young girls to sewing.  I remember doing a little embroidery during a Blue Bird meeting, I loved it then, and I love it now.  Sometimes I am intimidated when I see the beautiful work both Faith and Kay do. I have decided that practice is the only way to get better, so I have been stitching a little in the evenings. 


We have quite a few patterns for embroidery in the shop. Did you know that we even carry the Aunt Martha's transfers?  I had an Aunt Thelma.  She taught me the love of collecting.  I own her salt and pepper shaker collection.  Hundred's of them. They give me great pleasure.  I know how hard she worked, in the cannery, and spending 39 cents at Woolworth's was a big deal!  She had many collections, but I don't think she realized we would call them collections today.  I have a big box of embroidery patterns that she mailed away for.  A wonderful look at the patterns that were available in the 40's and 50's.  My father and his brother thought they were 'junk'.  Not Me!  I treasure them.  She also collected pre printed embroidery projects.  Yes, I have many of those, also.  I will dig them out, and take pictures for you!

 This little stitchery, from Rosalie Quinlin, is the one I am working on right now.  Rosalie is an Australian designer, you may have seen her projects in the Australian magazines.  I ordered her patterns last week, I imagine they are on a slow boat, but when they arrive it is going to be a wonderful day.  Her things are delightful, and so is she!!

We have many customers who have made this pattern.  It is from Crabapple Hill, and a classic for sure.  More than one customer has done it in blue and white. It is on my To Do list.  That list just keeps growing!  How does that happen? J

PANTIE RAID!

Today is the 1st day of our cross country Pantie Raid.

Bring in a package of new women's or children's panties or socks,

and we will give you a free fat quarter!

Keepsake Cottage is the only shop on the West Coast

that is participating.  So, let's show the rest of the country

some West Coast spirit!!

All of your donations will go to a local 'safe house'

for women and children.

We will be taking donations from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Thanks for your help! J

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I had a different post planned for Thanksgiving day.  You know, a vintage Thanksgiving image, a heartfelt message, wishes for kindness and world peace.  I still have that message in my head, but my heart has a new message.


Yesterday, my 1st born, Christopher asked his long time girlfriend, Megan to marry him!  I am so thankful to be adding Megan and her family to our family tree. Not only is she beautiful, but she is funny, kind and loves my boy.


I hope each of you has a wonderful day with family and friends.  This year I have an extra reason to be thankful!  J

SNOW DAY

 Oh yes, it's beautiful, but it causes so many problems.  Hundreds of cars, scattered like Hot Wheels, on the side (or middle) of the roads. 

4 inches of snow should not be such a problem.  It's the ice. A layer of ice under the snow is very dangerous.  This morning I was watching the news, and they were showing, live, a city bus, sliding sideways down a hill.  I don't want to see that in person!

Maybe, I will brush off the chairs, and build a little fire in the back yard!  I remember my husband building fires in the front yard.  The boys were young, and our driveway was a perfect sledding hill for them.  They would come in, soaking wet, put on dry clothes and go back out.  They LOVED the snow. 


Now, Chris lives in a town in Idaho, where they measure the snow in feet, not inches.  He has a Saint Bernard, who digs huge holes in the snow and lays in them, snow shoes hang by his back door and one of the highlights of winter is the Beard Growing Contest. (you can't make that up)  He still loves the snow.


It's not so much fun at Country Village.  The slight incline to get back on the Highway, is a sheet of ice.  So, if you were planning on shopping with us today, stay home.  Work on a UFO, and check back tomorrow, because we are staying home today.  The shop is closed, along with the Northshore School District.  Stay warm.  J

PANTIE RAID

A huge thank you to all of the Blog Hop particpants!  I had over 1500 people look at my Blog on Thursday.  That takes my breath away!  We all had tons of fun, and positive feed back from all of you.  We will be posting the grand prize winners, tomorrow.  So Please check back.



Now for our next big event.  This weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,Select Quilt Shops across the country are collecting Panties and Socks for women and children.  Each shop has selected a charity to donate the items.  The panties and socks that are donated here, at Keepsake Cottage, will be taken to a safe house for women and children. 


For every package of panties and socks that you bring in, we will give you a free fat quarter.  A win-win.


A friend in the Atlanta area did this last year, and she collected hundreds of packages of undies.  I think the people of the NW are a very generous group, so I am hoping to out do her this year!  So, while you are shopping in the Mall at 4 am on Friday, pick up a pack or two, and drop them by the shop.  It will make someones life just a little bit better.  J

MISTLETOE MAKE AND BAKE DAY SIX

Today is the final day of our little journey together, what fun we have all had!  I have learned a lot, made new friends and have lots of great ideas.  I hope you are feeling the same!

First things first, I have 2 winners from Thursdays post.

At first I thought I was going to give just one prize,

but you were all so kind, I wanted to give all 172 a prize.

That didn't seem quite possible.  So, I decided to give 2.

The first prize, a zippered sewing tote,

and 9 spools of the amazing Aurifil Thread

goes to

CARAQUILTS

(insert applause here)

The second prize, 9 spools of the amazing Aurifil Thread

goes to

MRS. DILLYDALLY

(more applause)

Please email me (quilts4julie@frontier.com )  so I can get these out to you right away.

Today we are all talking about Cookie Exchanges, and tips to help you.  I wish I could write this post after I read all of my fellow bloggers ideas.  I am really bad at Cookie Exchanges.

I haven't been invited to participate in one for years, I'm sure it's because I have failed in the past.

There are always people with darling presentation, something a little extra.  They 'cute' it up.  They make complicated cookies, they have a secret twist.  I am always embarrassed by my packaging.

Usually a paper plate, probably left over from a themed birthday party, and plastic wrap.

I'm sure it was all I had time to do.  They always happen at the end of soccer season, with 3 boys, I spent a lot of time on soccer fields.  I imagine all the other mom's had kids in soccer too, they seemed

to make it happen.  I just couldn't get organized.  Besides, the boys would 'sneak'

the cookies out of some of the packages.  When they were small, they would

just take the Kisses off the top, and leave the cookie.

So, my advise to you is be organized, make it cute, do something extra, make fabulous cookies,

and don't invite your 'lame' friends.  Just give them cookies, and a hug.

It will make everybody feel good!

I found an old recipe for today, and old friend.  I haven't baked them in years,

but I'm sure I would love them as much today as I did back then.

OATMEAL SCOTCHIES

2 cups unsifted flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cusp firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp water

1 1/2 cups uncooked quick oats

1 12 oz package of Butterscotch Morsels

1/2 tsp orange extract

preheat oven to 375, in a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

In large bowl combine butter, brown sugar, eggs and water.  Beat until creamy.

Gradually add flour mixture, stir in oats, Butterscotch Morsels and orange extract.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

makes 4 dozen 3 inch cookies.

Our last 2 designers are

Vickie Cook Eapen http://spunsugarquilt.com/

and my good friend Melisa Morrison http://sweethomequiltco.com/weblog/

Skip on over to see what the have going on for you today.

Now that we have become friends, don't be a stranger.

No, I don't post every day. 

No, I don't post recipes. (maybe I will start)

2 or 3 times a week I share a little of what is going on in my world.

Usually it's about quilting, sometimes I toss in news of my boys, or my granddogs.

I try to make it fun and fresh.

I hope to see  you soon!  J