At the end of February, my friend and neighbor Jan returned from the Sewing and Stitching Show in Puyallup, Washington.  Jan came over to show me all her purchases, including a new book about Oregon Lighthouses.  Jan knows that I am kind of a lighthouse person and they have great symbolism for me. 

Before I had my transplant I designed and made a lighthouse vest that went everywhere with me the three months following my transplant, from ICU to, the Surgery floors, and to rehab and back again.  It meant a lot to me.

So Jan and I decided to do a lighthouse landscape together.  This is the Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florance Oregon. We started this project at the same time, and Jan is finished.  Mine does not have the borders, quilting or binding done.  But I thought I would share Jan’s with all of you. I think it is truly beautiful.

This amazing sky fabric is from the Thomas Kinkade Collection.  The rest of the fabrics shown in this quilt Jan has collected over the past years of quilting.  My collection of landscape fabrics is not quite as large, but thankfully Jan is willing to share her fabrics with me.  I hope you and a buddy can find a project you can work on together and talk about.  It makes a world of difference and builds a wonderful friendship that will leave you with lots of great memories.

Happy Day!

Wendy

If you have read this blog much, you all know I am kind of a Marth Stewart fan, so here is something I made to enter in a Martha Stewart Easter Contest.

I love having a handmade centerpiece for my kitchen table that celebrates the seasons. I designed and made a mini quilt table topper for Easter.  This pattern is paper pieced but very easy even for those of you who do not like paper piecing.

This is a small quilt that measures 6” x 12” and hangs on a cute Beach-wood Quilt Rack that I stained in Cherry to match my kitchen cabinets.

For embellishment I used embroidery floss in my bobbin and I stitched the whiskers.  Then I added on little buttons for bunny eyes.

We do not have these exact fabrics, Okay, I used my stash, but if you are interested in making one of these critters for your Spring Table you can find a kit or the pattern on the web site.

Happy Day!

Wendy

A couple of weeks ago I started thinking about doing my first vegetable garden.  I have done container gardening off and on for decades.  But this winter I lost an 11 foot gazebo to the snow storm and now I have a huge concrete slab out back with nothing on it.  So today I worked out plans for a couple of raised beds.  I am both scared and excited.  Scared: because I hate to pour money into something that I cannot or will not be able to follow through on.  Excited: because I hope to have fruits and vegetables that I love; and to be able to share them with my friends and customers. 

Gardening is a lot like quilting.  You plan the layout, make drawings and get excited about the colors.  But then the hard work begins.  Sure it is not HARD work but however you look at it, it is work, but as always the end result is wonderful and sharing it with friends makes it even more fun!

I have been working on a pieced table runner for a week and Beth quilted it.  The free pattern is from Red Rooster and then I chose some fabrics from the shop and sewed up this Lilac and Lace Table runner.  It is really fun and quite easy. 

So bring the garden into your home for the Spring with this enjoyable table runner.  Then go out and plant a little tomato plant in your yard, you will be glad you did when the Summer comes along.  I will post pictures of my garden as it starts to grow!

Happy Day!

Wendy

I just came into the office after spending an evening in the sewing room.  Wow, have I missed sewing.  Since my hand surgery at the beginning of February, I have not been in the sewing room to work on anything.  So finally tonight I was able to get myself in there and reacquaint myself with the joys of fabric, quilting and my machine. 

In this time of economic struggle, many people are using up their fabrics from their stash to keep up with their quilting.  Looking and patterns you have used before are also an economic opportunity.  I would like to encourage you to consider thinking about learning a new technique or skill.  Like exploring new borders. 

That Patchwork Place: Border Workbook is the perfect book to use to teach yourself a new technique and learn to sew great borders for your quilts.  This book is a wonderful guide full of tips for choosing the best design, selecting fabrics, and figuring yardage.  With a simple calculator and pencil and paper this book will give you step-by-step directions for 27 border designs in several sizes, with instructions for calculating any size border you need.  That is right from baby to king size your borders turn out perfectly every time.  Most of these borders are rotary cut and speed pieced to go together quickly and easily.  Each border is illustrated at the edge of the page for quick reference, and a full color gallery provides you with lots of inspiration.  There are also paper pieced versions for many of the the borders. 

If you needmore inspiration, and live in the Portland area, stop by the shop and see a nice sample of these borders that Sharyle made as samples for her Borders class.  Click on the video below for more great ideas.  You can order the book here and begin exploring new borders right away! 

  Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Happy Day!

Wendy

The theme for National Quilting Day this year is “Welcome Home”. The NQA writes: “As our country looks forward to 2009 with a new president and new hope for our country, we at The National Quilting Association thought it would be appropriate this year, to devote National Quilting Day, to the home. The housing market is in decline and foreclosures are on the rise, with greater numbers of homeless families to follow. “We would like to encourage our members, guilds, and sponsors to join together and give their effort and energy to those who may be struggling for warmth and comfort.”

The NQA has created a block pattern called,“Welcome Home”, to help all of us help others. You can get a link to the free pattern here. Send in your blocks to Heart To Hand and we will make quilts for those involved with Habitat for Humanity.  If you live in the area, join us at the shop for an all day sew in to make these blocks and quilts. You can register for this class here.

I just returned from walking Weeble.  We had an afternoon of partly cloudy weather and blue skies.  With my little pug being a little wild today, I knew it was time to take her for a walk!  So off we went.  The Crocus’ are peeking their purple and lavender heads up and signaling that soon Spring will be here.  I also have had some little Lily of the Valley trying to get out and show their pretty white flowers.  Every time we go out to get the mail Weeble goes over to smell their  aroma.  I am not quite sure if she likes it or it is just an unusual odor for her.

I was looking around for some cute Spring patterns and found this great table runner from Red Rooster called Lilacs and Lace.  Not sure why it is called that, because I do not see any lilacs or lace here but I sure like the table runner.  I hope to make one this week so we can begin to kit it for you all.  If you are interested in downloading the free pattern be sure to check it out here.

While you are downloading the pattern be sure to check out the fun Patch Abilities pattern: Easter Eggs.

Also check out our “Carrot Table Runner” Kit and the “Will Work for Eggs” Fabric Kit.

So while Spring is not really here yet, you can start getting ready by working on these great projects!

Happy Day!

Wendy

I am sorry I have not written for a while. I had hand surgery at the beginning of February and was in a cast for several weeks.  Now I am back and here to announce a Nifty Notions Sale.  Beth and I went through all the notions on the wall and in baskets we have hanging around the shop and marked down items that we are no longer carrying as regular notions.  So you have a chance to get some first quality notions for sale prices.  Check out our Nifty Notions Sale Now.

 I found this cute piece on the web and since I had not seen it before, I thought I would pass it on to you! I do not have a reference for who to credit for this funny collection as I found it on several web sites, but I thought you might enjoy it!

10 Good Reasons To Buy Fabric

1. It insulates the cupboard where it is kept.

2. It keeps the “economy” moving, it is my duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and fabric shops.

3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.

4. It’s a contest – the one who dies with the most fabric wins.

5. It keeps without refrigeration, you don’t have to cook it to enjoy it, you’ll never have to feed it, change it, wipe it’s nose or walk it.

6. Like dust, it’s good for “protecting” previously empty spaces in the house, like the ironing board, laundry basket, the dining room table etc.

7. It’s not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes me feel good.

8. Because it’s on “SALE.”

9. Because I’m worth it.

10. And buy it now, before your husband retires and goes with you on all your shopping expeditions.

 Happy Day!

Wendy