2012 has arrived and is  already moving along at a speed that just seems to have no brakes!!! This is going to be a GREAT year full of  new patterns, a new grandchild (#6) and lots of adventures!!

To start the year I am preparing to attend

Road 2 California Quilt Show and Conference in Ontario, CA!!!

We are so excited to get on the road and head south to

 see old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the sun!!

Besides being a vendor at the show I am teaching two classes!! Check them out!!!

Woolly Snowman Trio

Mini Monthly Memories

If you are in the area or need a vacation right NOW.....head south to Ontario and come see me!!!

Booth #814, 815, 817

Just arriving as the first new pattern of the year .........BABUSHKA!!!!!

 Seven  little babushka girls are circled around to create a cute little table mat

measuring approximately 19" in diameter. 

 Pattern also includes three cute wool stuffed Martryoska dolls. 

Enjoying the blue sky from inside

while I'm busy busy busy getting ready to go!!!

Happy New Year to you!!!

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas......

PINK!!!

Most of you know I don't usually design my projects with the color PINK...but todays blog is all about the color PINK!!!

It was recently requested and inspired by my FOUR granddaughters.....who love PINK.... to make some PINK projects!! Since they ALL have birthdays in November and December, I figured PINK was in order for birthday presents and party favors!!!

So out came the dye pots!!  My friend Susan and I mixed up some pink dye, threw in some wool...some more wool....and some more wool!!!

We got PINK!!!

For the Triplets who just turned TWO, I put together three little PINK owl pillows for their room!!

It was alot of fun making them and the girls all dressed in PINK were just a "HOOT"!!!!

For Addison, who's turning FIVE two days before Christmas, 

I made 6 little stocking party favors for her birthday party last weekend!!

 Her mom had a gingerbread house decorating party for her, so I added gingerbread girls to each stocking and accented them with PINK!! Addison  helped me pick the colors and the buttons for each stocking!!

As for MR. LINCOLN.....

WELL...... he got stuck wearing PINK mittens up at the mountain to play in the snow!!!

As a bonus....JUST tonight as I was writing this blog...... the sun was setting and who knew.....the sky turned PINK!!!!! S.....o I jumeped up and took a couple pictures just in time to end my blog!!!!!  :)

Looking north at Mt Adams in Washington State from our back deck

Looking west out the window from the top of the stairs

It's after midnight and time for the drawing!!!

First THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who took the time to read my blog

 and

for all your wonderful comments!!! 

 Congratulations to CAROL......

Check out Carol's blog at http://brownquilts4me.blogspot.com/

Winter is on it's way and what better way to keep warm than with a wool project!!!

Get busy dying......

It's up and running!! After days....weeks...months...or has it been a good year???

How time flys!!! Well I am happy to say that my Wool DYING Room is in use!!!

Already I don't how I ever managed without the space.

So many people have worked and helped put it together to make it happen!! I thank everyone of them!!

To help me celebrate, leave me a comment using the word "wool"

before midnight October 31st

and

 I will add your name

to a drawing for this little bundle of wool!!!

Fall  has arrived with all it's glorious colors and they always inspire me!!

I have been creating some new designs that I will share soon!!! As usual things always stay very busy around here.....and finding time to fit everything in is always a challenge for me!!!

Yesterday was my birthday, and with age comes aches and pains.

I recently went to the doctor concerning some pain in my right thumb!!! 

 Bummer....I have some kind of basal joint arthritis.

Well...I am not very happy about that!! I am learning what I can do to manage the pain....how to protect the joint, and being fitted for a thumb splint!!! 

So, lets just hope it's going to be a Wooly Good Year!!!!

Last month at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe I began working with

a small group of gals to make my pattern

"A Wooly Good Year"

We started with the September block and will meet each month and continue around the month of blocks!!

We had warm apple pie as a snack and homemade applesauce as a door prize!!!

 

Looking forward to the months to come!!!

Just have to share this little story....last week when Addison was spending the day with me, she looked at me and said, "Nana, How do you wool??"

"Can we go upstairs and can you teach me how to wool??"

 Well, of course I was so happy she asked....

so upstairs we went and had a little sewing lesson with WOOL of course!!!

Happy Stitching!!

Turning the pages of the calendar here on my blog....July, August, SEPTEMBER!!! it's hard to keep up if your calendar days go by as fast as mine!!

 It's been a good summer here starting with a visit from my sister Jan!! She lives in Yakima and took a trip over here to spend time with me in my sewing room. Jan is a huge help and encouragement to me. We sure have lots of fun and laughs stitching together!! She too is a night owl which makes it more fun staying up late with someone to giggle with!! I have given her the nickname of Kiki and set up an area in my sewing room called Kiki's Korner just for her!!! I can't believe all the things she accomplished while she was in her little corner.....outfits for all the girls....mending for me, christmas presents started, she made me two aprons, and a very cool bag!!!! 

We also made some time for some fun.....
we got pedicures, went to lunch,

spent a couple of day with all the sisters!!

We made bread, had a picinic, went to Multnoman Falls, Crown Point, and took a day trip to the beach!!

Jeff and I had the opportunity to head to the coast for a weekend with friendsspending time golfing, relaxing, shopping, and enjoying time away!!

The Colors of Summer.....

The summer has been good...but I so love FALL!!! Call me crazy but I love the weather change, the cool crisp mornings with the colors of the trees changing. This past week our weather teased us with a taste of some unnormally cool nights and days and our trees have already started dropping leaves!!

 Coming events on my calendar this fall that I hope you will keep in mind if you are in the area!!

The Wool Gathering - 
The 3rd Thursday of each month at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe from 10:30am - 12:30pm
This is a surprise wool project!! 
Please check the Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website for details and registration.

A Wooly Good Year BOM -
Beginning Saturday September 24th at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe from 11:00am - 1:00 pm
A new block will be introduced on one Saturday each month.
Please check the Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website for details and registration. 

"Homespun and Holly" Workshop - 
Saturday November 12 from 12:00pm - 8:00 pm.

During this workshop, Guests create "Make & Take" projects from different designers. Supplies for the projects are included in the price in addition to a catered dinner. This event is so much fun!!!
Please check the Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe website for details and registation.   

Also a reminder that the Northwest Quilting Expo is here in Portland September 22, 23, & 24th.

Lots of great quilts, classes, and vendors!!

Oh !!!....one more summer color to share!!!!
Yellow!!!

RED, WHITE, & BLUE

What colors do you think of when you hear the names Minick and Simpson????

RED, WHITE, &  BLUE of course!!!!!

What better way to wish you all a Happy Fourth of July than to share about the special class I had the privilege of participating in last weekend at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe.

Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson are two sisters doing what they love

and

sharing their talent and knowlede with others!!

(Polly - Rug Hooking &  Laurie - Needle Turn Applique)

Polly & Laurie

With life and business always being so busy it seems as though I seldom get to enjoy such a class.....but.....last weekend I had so much fun getting to sit in a chair in Polly and Laurie's class and learning, stitching, hooking, laughing, sharing, eating, and just having a good time with others who love to do the same things!!!! I sat with good friends, made some new friends, went home with more than I came with, and rekindled my passion for wool and my love for a needle and thread!!!!

So thankful that we have the freedom to do the things we love!!!!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!