Where has the time gone?

Is it just me, or does it seem not so long ago that the buzz word was Y2K? What would happen to our computers, the cash machines and digital watches? Would the world as we know it come to an end? Would we be able to buy food and water? It's been 10 Years! Can you believe it?

How many projects have I started? How many have I finished? These are always interesting questions at the beginning of a new year. In the last few days I have had the opportunity to spend a little time in my sewing room. Trying to clear a path, gathering up projects to take to a retreat next week. I discovered a quilt project that was totally cut out, with the pattern, ready to go. The problem is, I have no memory of doing this! Have any of you done this?? I assume I cut it out in the middle of the night. Something I sometimes do, when I can't sleep. It was like a little present that Santa left for me. I've pieced the blocks, and most of the rows. My goal is to have the top together before 2010! I am taking my camera home today, I will take a picture and post it as soon as it is finished. A bonus quilt for the 1st decade of this millennium.


A little reminder, the shop will be open on Friday, January 1st from 11-4. It's our annual New Year's Day Sale. It's a wild 5 hours, come if you dare. All of our regular priced fabric will be 20% off. No pre cut goods or kits, will be on sale. All of Christmas (excluding Jim Shore) is 50% off.

This morning before heading up to my Sewing Room I thought I would spend a little time catching up on some of my favorite blogs. A fun Sunday morning activity. I love Tula Pink's pink Christmas tree, and The Happy Zombies white trees. But, the funniest thing I have read in a long time is www.modalissa.blogspot.com Holiday Eating Tips. If you are feeling bad about your eating habits the last few weeks, this will put a whole new perspective on your activities! Enjoy!

By looking at the map, some of my followers are already celebrating Christmas! I hope each of you have the time to enjoy those people you love and care about. My wish for all is Peace & Piecing. The world would be a better place if we could all live by those words.

Last Minute

Whether your are gearing up or winding down, Christmas is only 4 days away. I hope you will all enjoy your family and friends during this festive season. I was recently asked what my Christmas Eve traditions were, and the only thing that is an absolute constant is new PJ's. When I was a little girl, we were allowed to open 1 present on Christmas Eve, somehow we always opened pajama's. It was only a few years ago that my brother said "Sis, don't you remember Mom always said 'here, this is a pretty package, open this one' ". I always thought it was the luck of the draw. Obviously, Rob was more observant than I was! My boys always get new PJ's, two years ago I gave them sweat pants and hoodies, they didn't complain, but last year I was told they preferred flannel PJ bottoms. Preferably with fish or penguins or Homer Simpson. I cherish those family traditions.

I just want to remind you that I will close early, 3:00 on Thursday, Christmas Eve. The shop will be closed on Christmas Day. There is still time for your loved ones to call or come in to pick up that perfect gift. Just tell them they can't wait until the Very Last Minute!

Just a quick reminder, if you have toys for the Hopelink "giving tree", they will be coming by the shop late this afternoon. But, it's not to late to "give". Anything you bring in this weekend, will be delivered on Monday. Thanks for opening up your hearts this holiday season, we have had a wonderful response. Another reason Keepsake Cottage Customers are the greatest!

Wild Week

This week has been a whirlwind of family and fun! My oldest son and his girlfriend have been here from Idaho for an early Christmas. They were set to fly out last night, but all flights to Boise were cancelled because of fog. They can't get on another flight until Saturday evening. So, we get them for another couple of days.

The only sewing I have been able to do was to make a pillowcase. One of my quilting buddies has a daughter sleeping in a tent in Afghanistan, so our group is making pillowcase's for her unit. I hope to get a couple more done before we mail them out. They can just use them and toss them, but if it brings them one night of comfort it is worth it to me.

Christmas Gift Ideas-Day Five

Calendars are always on my families wish list. I usually spend quite a bit of time at the Calendar kiosk in the Mall. Looking for just the right calendar for each of my boys. I usually end up with sports or animals. Often I am the last one on the list, I always think I will get a calendar at the shop, but they are often gone by January 1st. This year will be different, I am a calendar girl! Miss November to be exact. My quilt is, anyway. The Tri-County Merchants Association has a quilt tour each March. A shop hop at a slower pace. Last year 16 shops participated, each shop designed a star block and exchanged them with the other owners. Then each shopowner designed a quilt using all 16 of the blocks. The quilts were all so beautiful, and different that we decided to put them into a calendar with all of the block patterns included. It really is fun to see how differently we interpreted the quilts. It's a 16 month calendar, starting in January 2010, listing some of the quilt shows in our area, as well as the dates for the Tri-County events.

Christmas Gift Ideas-Day Four

Aprons are more than protection for your clothes, they have become a fashion statement! A great gift idea, for many people on your list. They can be practical, flirty, masculine and retro.

You can make them for cooks, crafters and gardeners. There are a lot of great patterns and books to inspire you. The fabric choices are endless. Match a kitchen, favorite hobby or food. Add a new cooking tool and your gift is complete. How about a child's size apron and some craft supplies. The ideas are endless. Here in the shop, we often talk about, how after 20+ years of marriage it would be nice to have a "shower" to replace some of the basics we are using from the late 70's (do you remember the harvest gold Tupperware). How nice it would be to have a handmade apron and new measuring spoons and cups. And they are a quick gift to make!

Christmas Gift Ideas-Day Three

I know I have talked about thread before. I really love the colors, and I love having the right thread for the job! Aurifil has several new "Thread Kits", they were the talk of Quilt Market in October. We now have them in stock. They each have 12 large spools of Aurifil Thread, this one is a Pat Sloan selection. She does a lot of machine embroidery, and these are her "favorite" colors. There is one by Mark Lipinski that is called, The Basic Collection. It is just that, basics. White, off white, light and dark grays and black. It may sound odd to some to ask for Thread for Christmas, but I think many of you would agree this would be a welcome sight under the tree on December 25th. Who needs a clock that sings a different bird song on each hour?

Christmas Gift Ideas-Day Two

We always have fun gifts in the shop. Sometimes they get "lost" with all of the great fabric we get in each day. I thought I would take this opportunity to show you one of the items I used in my home during the Thanksgiving weekend.

This checker game comes with a vintage inspired table cloth and large buttons to use as the checkers. On Thanksgiving I set this up on my coffee table, and it turned into a "meeting"place. Grandparents and girlfriends, spent time getting to know one another. We did not have any little ones at our gathering, but it would have been fun to teach a young child to play such a classic game. This would be a great family gift, or a treat to yourself to use during multigenerational gatherings, all year long.

Christmas Gift Ideas-Day One

Just about this time each year I start to look around and realize that other people have been shopping and preparing for Christmas for weeks, and I on the other hand, have not. My seasons are out of sync with the world. I have been ordering fabric for Christmas 2010, spring fabric is coming thru the door. Christmas books and fabric have been the focus in the shop since May. So, I thought I would take a little time each morning to focus on quick projects that could still be made to decorate your home, or that you could give as a gift. And give a gift idea that a quilter might like to receive.

This little wall hanging is made from a charm pack, and a little extra fabric for backing and binding. The pattern is from Pieces From My Heart, by Sandy Gervais. The charm pack is Winter Song, by Deb Strain. I love to decorate with birds at Christmas time, this little quilt could hang in your home all winter.

Quilters Tidbit. Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart, and Brenda Gervais from Country Stitches are sisters, married to brothers. They say that their kids are "double cousins".

A GIVING TREE

Each year Country Village places giving trees in several of the shops. Keepsake Cottage will have one of the trees this year. Starting Saturday December 5th, you will be able to pick up a tag ,with the gender and age of a local child in need of some holiday cheer. We have partnered with Hopelink, and they will be sure the donations get to those in need.

In talking with the people at Hopelink, I know they need non-perishable food and diapers. I will also be collecting those items as well as the gifts for children. This has been a difficult year for so many family's, I hope you will find it in your heart to make a donation to this hard working organization.

Saturday December 5th is the evening that Santa flies thru the skies of Country Village. His scheduled arrival is 7:00. It is a "Magical" event, if you haven't been here for this in the past, you should try to put it on your schedule! There will be Caroling and roasted chestnuts. All of the shops will be open until 8pm. I will be working the late shift, so stop in and say "Hi".

Beginners Luck

One of my customers who took a beginning quilting class in the spring, has taken to quilting in a big way. She went on the Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop in June, is taking a block of the month class, organized a retreat for her small group this fall, and last but not least just won this beautiful quilt made by the Busy Bee Quilters in Snohomish! Marge, I am sooo proud of you! And if you need someone to "babysit" your quilt, just give me a call. It's a dandy.