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!!!!

Catching up!!!

When I last wrote it was mid March and the weather was cool and wet........today being June 1st the weather is STILL cool and wet!!!! ENOUGH already!!! Shades of green are still very vivid here.

Our daffodils have bloomed and passed and the blossoms are fading. Our strawberry crops are late in ripening and sounds like it will be close to Father's Day before they are ready.

During all the time that has gone by since March, I have been busy, busy, busy, working on new patterns and going to and from International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

 Pumpkin Patch Jack

 Mistletoe Magic

Kissing Ball Mat

 Christmas Postage

 

A Wooly Good Year BOM

Preperation for Market includes so much of so many things.....I was blessed by so many this year who stepped in to help me in every little way!!! A big thank you to my sister Jan who came and stayed with me for almost a month....stitching away....bagging....tagging....and house/puppy sitting for us while we were gone!!!

Take a look at how getting ready takes over the whole house!!

 sewing room

 living room

 dining room

 even the triplets got into helping!!!

 kitchen

familyroom

As much work as going to Market is .......we had such a good time!!!

 Jeff drives us with all of our stuff in a uhaul and down the road we go!!! We stopped in Boise, Idaho and stayed a night with a special friend there!! Thanks, Kenna!!

We enjoy being together and seems like when we are home we don't get much of it!!!! We had lots of laughs, good food, and a great time with great friends and great customers!!!!

Sample Spree

We loved having Cindy with us at this show!!!

Just a few of our friends that I remembered to take photos of.......

Country Loft Friends

Heart to Hand Friends

 

Liberty Star Friend

(we love you Renee)

Quilter's Coop Friends

Also check out these other friends of ours:

Hatched & Patched

The Quilted Crow

Epicurean Crafts

JJ Stitches

Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe

Out of Hand Needle Arts

Oh so many friends to share........I will share more friends in future posts!!!

Since being home I have caught a cold.....almost recovered....and sewing away on sample orders, dying wool, and preparing for classes at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe while waiting for the SUNNY weather to arrive!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Spring Time

Happy Spring to all of you!!! March 20th....the first day of Spring!!! March 20th....also was my 35th wedding anniversary!!! Jeff and I had a nice day with family and friends!!

Spring time means NEW things!! GREEN THINGS!!!! Daily I am watching little shades of greens starting to overtake the brown limbs on the trees and anticipating the green buds of the daffodils to turn to yellow. These colors have inspired me to create a few new spring patterns at the printer now. Rabbit Stew, Chicken Little, Coleslaw, and Buttercup Baskets will be ready by April 1st!!

International Spring Quilt Market is approaching and I am busy busy as usual getting ready with other new designs that will be available in May. I am excited to be working on them and am looking forward to sharing them with you. Like most of you I am still trying to find more time in my day to accomplish all that I want and need to do.

My sister is here visiting me and working on some very sweet Easter dresses for my 4 granddaughters!! We are having fun spending time stitching together and sharing storries of our childhood.

As the month of March comes to an end.......take a moment to enjoy the colors of green around you!!!

Happy March to all!!! I am awaiting SPRING with much anticipation!! How blessed we are to have different seasons to look forward to and bring new things to life and new adventures to experience!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

I am currently working on a wool block of the month with each block representing the twelve months of the calendar year. I am having so much fun creating it and plan to have it ready by May. Stay tuned!!!

The month of February went by fast and was filled with mostly family time....grandkids to be exact!!!

 They are all growing so fast and with five of them now it takes more time to keep up with giving them all hugs, snuggles, kisses, playtime, overnights, etc. etc. etc.!!!

I again, am so blessed to get to live so close to all of them!!

Papi with Emma, Hailey, Olivia

Mr. Lincoln

Miss Addie

Just a couple of weeks ago I got to spend the day with Jo Ann Mullaly of JAM patterns, Wool Crazy, and Country Loft!!! She has been here in town staying and helping her daughter who is going though treatment for cancer. Please keep them in your prayers.

Jo Ann took the MAX transit system out to my end of town (which is a LONG ride) and i picked her up for a day out together!! We had such a good time together!! We first made a trip out to my house to sit and visit and share wool stories....next we were off to Monticello which is an antique shop in town which you must not miss if you are in SE Portland ever. If you go to Jo Ann's Blog you can see some of the treasure she found!! After going through the place twice we needed to fill up with lunch and had another long visit over lunch at Olive Garden before I took her back to the Max for her trip back to her place. Thanks so much Jo Ann!!!

Later in the month the puppies got to go to the vet for their 6 month check up, updated shot, liscensed, and spay!! The after surgery rules are NO PLAYING ROWDY FOR TWO WEEKS!!! WE are one week into it and it is like having kids and telling them they can't play!! So I am having to spend most of my time with them by my side making sure they are behaving!!! NOT an easy task!!! They are so sweet though and are working so hard at being good!!

Hailey, Olivia, Emma

Got to go on another trip to the doctor for the triplets 15 month check up!! Now that was fun!!! Notice the nice neat paper on the table when they first sat down....and notice how it looked five seconds later!!!

They were so good and for the most part did not mind it....except poor Emma....she did not want to have anything to do with the doctor!!! Olivia on the other hand reached her hands out to him!! They sure are busy healthy girls!!!

February brought us a bit of snow....not like most people out east get snow...but it was snow for us and we did enjoy it. Our house is at a bit of a higher elevation so we usually get a bit more than most around here and we actually had snow for 20 hours straight on the last day of February and into March.....VERY USUAL for us!!

Papi got home from work EARLY just in time to join the fun!!

The girls meet snow for the first time!!

Addison did not want to leave "BOB" the snowman outside alone....she is kissing him goodbye!!

Snowy days are a great time to work on wool projects!! Well...I think most any day is a great time to work on wool projects! Recently while I was sitting stitching on a wool project it came to my mind just how much I love it!!! It truly is one of  my most favorite things to do!! What would we do without our needles!!!???

The dye room is coming along!! It is getting close to being able to be used and I am so excited to have a place to do it out of the house!! I think by spring break i will be working in it!!

Next is the counter tops, sinks. and stovetops!!

Back to stitching for me the rest of the day!!

 Hope you find time for a little stitching too!!!