Summer Games

I love the Olympics.  Summer, Winter, it doesn't matter. 

I love the stories of the athletes.  Their hard work and determination.

They are a very special group of people.

Today, as I get ready to watch the Opening Ceremony in London,

I was wishing I had made a quilt, to hang in my family room.

A Union Jack would be perfect. 

I have seen other Union Jack quilts in Blogland.

Moda Bake Shop has a really cute, scrappy one.  Using FaLaLaLa from French General.

My friend Kay over at Quilt Studio Happenings made this one in honor of the Queens Jubilee.  Her pattern was from Busy Bee Quilt Designs. 

At Quilt Story there is a foundation paper pieced method for making your own Union Jack.

I am sure there are other great ideas out there.  We all have 2 weeks!  So,

Let The Quilting Begin!!  xo J

 

Summer Time

I love the look of the shop in the Summer.  It is just so stinkin' cute!

I had a new heat pump put in this spring.The man installing it, was going to put

the wiring right down the center of the painting.  A younger guy came to help, and said 'you know, you don't have to ruin the art work'  He was my hero that day.  The wiring is encased in white plastic down the right side of the sign.  Not to shabby!

Rebecca, the Master gardener for Country Village,  planted this quilt block a couple of years ago. 

Super Cute!

And, I love a chance to take a picture of the chicken on the highway!

I hope you are enjoying a bit of sunshine.  It is sure nice here, at Keepsake Cottage!  J

WHERE WAS I??

The day after the Shop Hop was over, I hopped on a plane and flew to LA.  Then my son and I drove 3,000 miles in 6 days.  Ending up in New York City!  He was moving, and wanted a road trip buddy.  What an exciting time we had.  It was HOT!  2 days of 112.  Every day was over 100.  That's tough on a girl from the North West.

This was an amazing statue of Marilyn Monroe in Palm Springs.  Gives a new meaning to "Pull up your big girl panties!  Yep, that's my boy taking a picture of them!

We had to make a U-Turn to see this sign up close.  We didn't add to it, but had a great laugh.

I had to stop in Needles!  Any quilter worth her salt would want a picture here.  There wasn't a quilt shop, but there was a Needles Point Pharmacy.   It is located on the Old Route 66.  And, it was steaming hot!

We stayed in Flagstaff, AZ on our second night.  We hit the mother lode when it comes to license plates.  19 different states in our hotel parking lot!  That's when we started making a list.  We saw 42 states, and 3 Canadian Provence's.

We made a stop in the Painted Desert.  It was breath taking.  We would have loved more time here.

I was born in New Mexico, sadly, the Visitors Center was closed.

In Mississippi we saw a sign for a Mariner's minor league team.  So we stopped for a photo.

In Nashville we took time for lunch at BB Kings. Cameron is sitting in front of a painting of Jerry Lee Lewis.

West Virginia is my husbands home state, so there were lots of pictures to send home!

We arrived in NYC at 10:30 that night.  Walked around Time Square, had an adult beverage, and did a little people watching.  The next morning at 8am I was on a flight back to Seattle. 

This was one of the most priceless weeks of my life.

If you ever have a chance to do something spontaneous with one of your sweet children, DO IT!  You won't ever be sorry.  xo J

Winding Down

We have had to remind ourselves not to run with scissors!

 We have just as much fun as the hoppers do!

My boxes for Passports and Scavenger Hunt maps

are addressed and ready to drop off

at the Post Office tonight.

We only have an hour left of this little party.

The 2012 Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop.

Our little chicken went home with one of our quilting friends yesterday. 

Bobbie Jo, she named her Shop Hop!  I know she will be a very happy chick.

I am off early in the morning, for a different kind of adventure.

It will be pretty exciting, and I can't wait to share it with you,

So, stay tuned.  xo J

A VISIT FROM A NEW SHOP HOPPER

It's always fun to see this announcement up on the reader board. 

We were ready yesterday when it was 9am !

One of the really fun parts of working the shop hop, is seeing people you only

see once a year.  They come from many places.  It is always a fun reunion.

This year we had a little strawberry blond stop by on Sunday morning, and she has

been shopping everyday since!



She is not a bit afraid of us.  She prefers to be in the shop, the other chickens make her nervous.

We have had to pick her up and take her outside several times.  She doesn't seem to mind.

We are pretty sure she was someones 'house chicken'.

Well, that's the big news here in the barn!  Hope you are hopping by to see us, and our new friend!  J

WESTERN WASHINGTON QUILT SHOP HOP 2012

The wait is almost over. The 2012 Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop starts this Wednesday.

We have posters for sale,

 

Our packets a made,



. 

our little 'starter' house is on display,

  we have bolts and bolts of fabric waiting for you,

we are cutting half yards and making Fat Quarter Towers!

Now all we need is you, our favorite customers!

We have had so many great comments on the fabric this year.  The winter birds are really beautiful!

You still have time to preorder your fabric, and then you can pick it up from us while you are hopping!  Just don't wait to long.  We don't want any of our customers to be disappointed!

Click here

to go to the Shop Hop web page.  You can download your passport, get the new grid chart, see the hours,

addresses and any updates.

This year the Tri County Quilt Shops are having a scavenger hunt.  Eleven shops, eleven clues,  find them all and be entered to win one of 3 baskets of quilting prizes!! Pick up your map from any of the Tri County shops.

This is always a fun event!  We can't wait to see you hopping in to see us.  J

Vacation Week

Last week, my DH and I were on vacation.  We were really looking forward to being away, no responsibilities, and sun.  Yes, warm sun on our backs.  Sunglasses.  Miracle Suits.  BBQ weather.  Noodles in the pool.

It was beautiful on our drive to Central Washington.  The first evening was wonderful. We cooked on the deck.  Watched the stars come out.  Oh, the excitement of the week to come.

The next morning, reality set in.  We were still in Washington.  It is only June.  It was raining.  It rained a lot.  We had laptops, Kindle's, and cell phones.  I had been the wise one.  I brought my BFF, my Bernina.  And a couple of projects to keep me busy.  Boy, was I happy I did.

 
I set up my little workshop on the Dining Room Table.  I had to go to the local hardware store to buy and extension cord.  Well worth the $7.99!

As you can see, I have a little portable cutting mat.  It really is great for this kind of travel.  You don't have to worry about it warping.  It has an ironing surface, also.  The condo had an ironing board, so I didn't have to use it.

I brought one project all ready cut out.  I spent one lovely afternoon cutting out a second project.

I sewed for many happy hours.  The lighting was awful, and my camera battery just died.  So, I will show you the finished projects in a day or two.

The highlight came on Friday night.  The man of my inner 13 year old's dreams, came to town.

It was cold and rainy.  The venue was outside, it was covered. But in the front row, you still got a little wet. (Yes, I said Front Row!!)

I was on cloud 9.  Peter Noone was signing to me!!  I knew all the words, to all the songs.  He can still sing. He is funny and kind.  My poor husband was freezing.  But he stuck it out.

I saw Herman's Hermits in Portland,  when I was in the 8th grade.  The seats were far away, and all the girls were screaming.  I am sure, that I thought it was the best night, 'ever'.  This night beat it, hands down!!  J