Catching up......

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!!