August 24th, 2009
Be an Angel Day encourages us to do acts of kindness, and to help others. While it really is one day, August 22, 2009, I decided that it should be a week long, if not a year long event. It is a perfect day to do something for someone who does not even expect your intervention.
According to Earth Angel for Peace: “Be an angel dayis a non-profit, non-denominational event celebrated annually on AUGUST 22. This is a day on which people around the world are encouraged to be like the angels - God’s selfless servants - and ‘do one small act of service for someone; be a blessing in someones life.’ The 1st Annual BE AN ANGEL DAY was celebrated August 22, 1993.
Those who wish to participate are encouraged to go within their hearts and celebrate BE AN ANGEL DAY however the ‘God Voice’ within inspires them. It can be celebrated on an individual basis by anonymously performing a small act of service. It can be celebrated with a group activity in holding a joyous angel party with a group meditation where participants invite the angels to inspire them with God thoughts on ways to be of service as a group in their community. “
As Quilters we often do a variety of things for others. I am repeatedly touched by the true kindness and offerings by my customers. Special handmade cards, patterns picked for me, offerings to be retail staff to assist when we get overwhelmed. They offer goodies from their garden, from their stash and mostly from their heart. I am forever grateful for each and every one of our wonderful customers.
Enjoy the week!
Wendy
Posted in Creative Thinking, Summertime | No Comments »
August 20th, 2009
Have you heard about this grass roots idea? Spend $20 on the 20th and save the economy? Well, I had not heard about it either, until I received an email today and thought I would pass the information on to you. Here is the idea. We all have cut down on our spending, buying only the things we really need. The more we do not spend, the worse the economy gets. So lets make a plan to turn around the economy by choosing to spend an EXTRA $20 on ourselves on the 20th. That is today.
You can read more about this interesting concept at Spend Twenty Dollars.
If you are looking for options, Heart to Hand has some wonderful projects and patterns that you can spend your twenty on! Consider:
Just Another Button Company: Oh Holy Night Kit
Heart To Hand: All Through the Year Club
Ornament Table Runner Kit
Plus there are lots more. So go treat yourself and do your part to boost the economy!
Happy Day!
Wendy
Posted in Creative Thinking, Fall | No Comments »
August 9th, 2009

This is Lars; he is 18 and just graduated from High School and is heading to Pacific University here in Oregon in the Fall. I remember when Lars was a tiny baby. He would sit in his car seat on the table between his mom and me while we ate bowls of Hungarian Mushroom Soup and Salad bar at Old Wives tales restaurant. Lars and his brother Noah came to the shop during this winter, because his Mom wanted to give him a quilt for his graduation. Lars is a real scholar and musician and chose books as his theme and Thimbleberries fabric for his colors. We looked at several patterns and he pointed out the aspects of the patterns he liked. I look all this information in and designed him a quilt. Beth worked on his quilt here at the shop and then did custom long arm quilting. Here it is all finished. Congratulations Lars!
Posted in Creative Thinking, New Patterns, Show and Tell, Summertime | No Comments »
August 3rd, 2009
Well it is Summertime, and the weather is warm. If you have kids, or even if you do not, you likely have made a pitcher or two of Kool-Aid or lemonade. I received this great article in the mail today from Quilting Arts Embellishment Newsletter. I knew when I read it, I just had to pass it on to you!
“Linda Sharp, whose needle-felted plum quilt was chosen to depict November in the 2010 Quilting Arts calendar, shares her technique and enthusiasm for Kool-Aid dyeing, a perfect summer activity.
Kool-Aid dyeing gives absolutely delicious colors to protein fibers,” says Linda. “This process is safe, inexpensive, and easy. The materials are readily available, it requires no special equipment, and it smells wonderful!
Materials
- Natural (protein) fibers such as wool, dog hair, alpaca, angora, silk, etc. (Loose fibers, like dog hair, can be stuffed into a loosely woven synthetic gift bag to keep them together while dyeing.)
- Dish detergent
- Packets of unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix (Do not use the color-change flavors.)
- Mask
- A stainless steel or un-chipped enamel pot
- Water
- Wooden stirrers (such as chopsticks)
Optional: Candy thermometer, rubber gloves
Note: A good ratio to begin with is 1 package of Kool-Aid to 1 ounce of fiber. (Double this for the lemon flavor.) More Kool-Aid will give you stronger colors. You can mix colors if you’re feeling adventurous. Use unsweetened Kool-Aid and do not add sugar.
Directions
- Gently wash your fiber with lukewarm water and a little dish detergent and rinse the soap out. Treat wool very gently or it will felt. Let your fiber soak in lukewarm water while you prepare the dye.
- Fill the pot with enough water to comfortably cover your fiber. Put on your mask before opening the Kool-Aid package(s) to avoid inhaling the powder. Stir the powder into the water with the wooden chopsticks until dissolved.
- Add the wet fiber to the pot and slowly heat to just below boiling (85°C or 185°F). You can use a candy thermometer, if you have one. Check periodically to see that the mixture is not boiling, to avoid felting the wool. The dyeing process is done when the water is clear. You can tell by dipping the chopsticks in the water. This process will probably take about half an hour.
- When the water is clear, move the pot off the heat and let it cool. Then gently rinse it with water that is the same temperature as the fiber. Hang to dry. The colors will be lightfast and colorfast; no heat-setting is required.
This is a great way to get a bit of silk or wool the color you want, to overdye a batch of garish fibers, or to get matching colors. Dye many batches now, and you’ll have a cache of beautifully colored fibers that smell like summer all winter long.”
Please send picture if you try this wonderful idea!
Happy Day!
Wendy
Posted in Creative Thinking, Free Patterns, Skill Building, Summertime | No Comments »