Merry Christmas

Here it is, Christmas morning, the family is asleep and the few gifts I have are waiting to be wrapped.

I finished making two full sized quilts with the help of Anita and Marilyn - my binding buddies and passed the quilts to the mother of the two girls who will receive the quilts. My thanks to local long arm quilter, Nancy Freese for coming to my rescue and doing such a beautiful job on these quilts. In my true fashion, I waited till the last minute to really work on them and then, spent what felt like days sewing at the Attic Window. While I am lucky enough to have a large spare bedroom for my sewing room, it is a mess and I am unable to spread out without clearing said mess. So, I cross the river and sew at the store. My thanks to Diane and Marilyn for welcoming myself and anyone who either needs to spread out or just wants to sew with friends.

Being in the store so much lately has given me a chance to see many of our friends come in to "Stuff their Stocking", our 12 Days of Christmas specials. It is always fun to help people pick out their next projects or the new must have tool. (Have you seen the new 4-in-1 tool? Stop in and see this tool - look on the front counter for it.) And it is nice to meet your friends and family, who come in and pick up a gift from your wish list.

And sometimes we have someone come in and provide a smile to all. On Wednesdy, a well dressed gentleman came into the store. Kathryn said he came in dodging here and there which was a bit curious. He came back to the classroom area where I was receiving a Comfort Quilt from the NCW Quilt Guild for a local bowler who has just had a stroke, our prayers go to Jim and his family.

I asked the gentleman if I may help him and he quietly said he was there to get a gift for his mother. The problem was he had come into the store without seeing his parents' car in front of the store. Was he ever surprised that he had walked into the Attic Window at the same time his mom and dad where in the store. So, he had ducked behind racks and worked his way out of their line of sight.

I sent him back to our Christmas room out of anyone's line of sight. Taking his credit card with me to the register at the front of the store, I pulled out the gift certificate paperwork and went to the register, where I had to put his mother's purchase on a hold receipt as she was still shopping. As his mom came to the register with her final purchase, I was ringing up the son's transaction - being careful to keep the credit card out of sight (no way was I going to ruin this surprise). I take the receipts with me back to the Christmas room. After the son finished signing and we filled out the certificate, I went out of the room to check if his parents had left. Nope, now they were having Diane show them something on one of the Viking sewing machines.

So, here is the son stuck in our sewing room as the only way out of the shop is right in the path of his parents. I whip off a Santa pillow from a chair and offer the son a seat until it is clear. A few minutes later the parents go out the door and as they didn't come back in to see why their son's car was parked in front of the store, I would assume they didn't see it. At last the coast was clear and the son gave his thanks and left.

I just get such a kick out of seeing people come in to the store. This is a happy place, a stress free place where people want to be. I want to thank Diane and Marilyn for hiring me. It is such a great place to be, whether working or sewing.

After finishing two quilts, I have 2 projects that need to be done and mailed by the 2nd. I had one of those weak moments and signed up online to make 2 sets of pretty kitty blocks for exchange. So, I am making 2 sets of six identical blocks. Fabric is washed, EQ pattern for one block's background is printed and this weekend I hope to finish the blocks and mail them by Tuesday.

And just so I could have an easy project to do, I took home a sample for the shop. I hope to finish the March Pocket sample from Briarwood Cottage before the 31st. We still have a few kits left from past Pockets. They make nice small wallhangings, or would look good on a coffee table. I am curious to see April's pattern.

I hope you all are able to spend your Christmas with your family and friends. For those who have loved ones in the military serving away from home, my thanks and prayers are with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bus Tour in February

Join the Attic Window for a bus trip to Puyallup for the 

Sewing & Stitchery Expo!
DATE: Friday, February 26th
TIME: 6:00AM (leave from behind JC Penney)
COST: $42.00 (includes bus ride, ticket to show and snacks)

Make your reservations now!
Reservations need to be made and paid in full by January 31st.
Don't wait, the bus will fill up fast!!!!

Notification of cancellation must be February 12th by 6:00 p.m.for a full refund.
For a 50% refund your cancellations must be received by February 17th at 6:00 p.m.
There will be no refund for cancellations received after 6:00 p.m. on February 17th.
If we have to cancel due to weather you will be refunded $32.00. (Ticket to the show is non-refundable)

Attic Window Staff Party

Group shot during dinner at Inna's cuisine, Wenatchee.  We had a great meal and enjoyed the top floor to ourselves as the wine poured and we got a little louder.  Happy Holidays!

left to right, top-Jenny, Barbara, Wilma, Martha, Carol, Richard, Kathryn, Jan, Sally

bottom-Marilyn, Diane

Now try this...Can you match the husband with the correct wife above???
Send us a note back if you can and let's see how many you get right.


Hint:  Jenny and Marilyn are not included in the game.

Thimbleberries Holiday Party

The Attic Window hosted the Thimbleberries Holiday party, on December 19th, with lots of great snacks and fun giveaways. 

The winner of our Thimbleberries gift pack was...

Dena Hanson!!!  Congratulations Dena.

After School Kids Class

Diane taught an after school class on how to make the "Quilt Smart Cell Phone Bag".

They all had a great time!

Guy's Night Out!

Send your favorite guy to The Attic Window Quilt Shoppe to do their Christmas Shopping. While they are there, they can enjoy Sausage Sandwich and a beverage of their choice and talk with the guys about.....well, what do guys talk about? Meanwhile we will wrap up your present and they are all done. But, if you don't want them to pick out what they think you want, how about you come down to the shop and fill out a wish list. Then they can pick an item they will be sure that you wanted. This way everybody is happy this Christmas. Now, if we can only figure out what to get him?

Date: December 17th (Thurs)

Time: 6 - 8 PM
FREE Sausage & Beer

UFO Night

Un-Finished Ojects

To all of you that have been coming to UFO Night, we want you to bring your UFO list and show us if you have finished anything off of your list. The one who has finished the most will win a prize. So be sure to come with your projects and maybe get one more done.

Date: December 16th (Wed)

Time: 5:00 PM

Dinner will be served.

Today we had a free class for the Sole Cool Hot Iron Bag. Diane was our teacher. My bag is the red apple bag, Diane's is the middle bag and the one on the right is from our trunk show. Our class was a small one, just Diane, Sally and me. Diane was making the bag for the first time while teaching Sally and me at the same time. I always learn so many other little tips from Diane when she is the teacher. She got way ahead of us, but graciously waited for us as we caught up. We found an error in the pattern. If you make the smaller bag the width of fabric C should be 10-inches not 11-1/2 inches. Thank goodnes the error was on the larger side, an easy fix. We're going to offer a free class each month. You just need to purchase the pattern at the store. The next one is The Professional Tote on January 10th. I'll be there. I've made one and want to make another for a gift. It's a wonderful bag. The one I made today is to put my small little iron in when I got to retreats (it's made to put a hot iron in when it's time to go home). I'm going to make a second one to use as my lunch bag for work. One can never have enough bags (and to think I used to think that about shoes!).

Kathryn

December Dates for Moda BOM and Thimbleberries

All Moda's Green Piece Block of the Month quilters, we want to remind you that this month only, we meet Thursday, December 10th at 10 AM and Saturday, December 12th at 10 AM.

Then, for all you Thimbleberries Club quilters, we are only meeting Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 - 1:00 PM for our Christmas party. Be sure to bring your Thimbleberries BUCKS.

Sew Easy Pajama Pants

Have you always wanted to make your own pajama pants? Now you can, just in time for the winter or a last minute Christmas gift. These pajama pants are great for the beginner or seasoned vetern alike. Make them out of our new flannels, wovens or our wonderful cotton fabrics we have throughout the shop. You will want to make more than one! Kids are welcome...Moms bring them and you can both learn!

Date: December 21st (Monday) from 10-3pm
Instructor: Diane Garlini
Cost: $12 (cost of pattern)

*Sew Easy Pajama Pants book is available online or in our store.

2010 Thimbleberries - Village Green

I've been a Thimbleberries fan for a lot of years. I think the first club I was in was at least 10 years ago. Lynette Jensen creates what she feels. Her quilts make you feel warm and cozy. She is well known for the houses she puts in many of her quilts. 2010 brings the third year for the Thimbleberries Club at the shop. I volunteered to make the sample. There are three color choices: Midnight, Dawn and Dusk. I chose Dawn, the softest of the three color ways. When I saw the beautiful border print I just knew that was the one. The size of the quilt is 72" x 82" or you can chose the queen variation of 96" x 106". I chose the queen. The sample is now hanging at the shop. The bolts of fabrics have not arrived yet (my sample was made from a kit), so I was not able to complete the top to it's finished sized. At this point it is 72" x 82". It is stunning. My husband loves it, I love it. What do you think?

The club meets the third Thursday or Saturday of each month. Diane demonstrates the current month's block, we have lots of show and tell, lots of laughter and the Thursday group is spoiled by Sheila Burgess who brings us the most delicatble goodies that just melt in your mouth. Lynette Jensen has a homey newsletter, a recipe, and an extra pattern that goes along with the current month's pattern - it truly is fun for all.

Let us know if you'd like to join us. I will show you the completed quilt when all of the final borders are on...oh, did I mention there are 220 half square triangles around the outside? It took me an afternoon to get them all made. I used the Wonder Cut Ruler and Mary Ellen's Best Press, the clear starch alternative and those half square triangles came out the right size and crisp and easy to sew together...both the ruler and the Best Press we have at the store.

Happy sewing!

Kathryn

PS The last book I just finished was A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid, it was wonderful. I am now reading The Star Garden by Nancy E. Turner. It's the fourth and last book in the Sarah Agnes Prine series. If you like historical fiction it is a wonderful story following Sarah's life. She writes her story in a journal. Can you imagine making quilts by the light of the fire in the evening after the day is done? We do have so much to be grateful for, don't we?

Quilt a Travel Souvenir Trunk Show

The Attic Window is hosting...
"Quilt a Travel Souvenir Trunk Show" by Kimberly Einmo
for the month of December.
Combine your love for quilts with a sense of adventure to create one-of-a-kind vacation memory quilts.


Over a dozen eye-catching quilt patterns will help you capture the vibrant color, texture, diversity, and grandeur of favorite European locales.

The projects feature a balanced mix of precision piecing techniques, fanciful machine appliqué, and stunning hand or machine embroidery.

Come into the shop and check out the trunk show...Kimberly Einmo will be coming to Wenatchee August 2010!

Sole Cool Hot Iron Bag is ONLINE

If you read Martha's post a few days ago, you read about the Sole cool hot iron bag.
It is now available in our online store as well! It would make a great gift for one of your quilting friends! Get your pattern now.
FREE class December 13th (Sunday) 12 - 3 PM

Martha's Make-up Day

Don't miss out on Martha's Make-up Day!

So, to all my students, (including some who didn't make it to class) if you have a project from one of my classes that you've never finished up or another that you started after the class and got stuck on, come to this make up day, sew with some others and get help from me if you need it! Sweatshirt jacket, shirt, vest, quilt, brown bag block, table runner, or even help with EQ6, you name it . . . you work on it. This is a no charge thank you to you from me (and the Attic Window, of course, as they provide the space.)

SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 -- 10:00 a.m. until at least 3:00 p.m.

There are only two simple requirements:
1. Call the Attic Window or stop by and put your name on the list as there is a limited amount of room -- sign up strictly on a first come basis!
2. Let me know a day or two before hand what you'll be working on and/or what you need help with so I can be sure to bring the necessary tools, samples, books, etc.

Pretty simple isn't it? So pull out those UFO's and let's get them done before the holidays overtake us!!

Sole Cool Hot Iron Bag -- has many uses!

We just brought this pattern in for a free class on Sunday 12/13 -- and I had to give it a try. It's easy to make: I put mine together in a couple of hours and I love it. It's designed to hold your (hot) iron so it's a great gift for a sewer or quilter who goes to classes and retreats. And I think it has other uses, as well. I'm going to give one as a gift to be used as a lunch bag -- with the insulation in between the fabric layers, it's perfect for carrying either hot or cold. Of course, I'm already looking at how to make it even easier to put together . . . I don't think I've ever used a pattern without changing it somehow. But I will say, this one is straightforward and well written so it's easy to follow the directions. The only misstep I made was when I DIDN'T read the directions and sewed something right sides together when it was supposed to be wrong sides together, providing me an opportunity to practice my unsewing. Come to the free class on the 13th and you'll leave with a very SOLE COOL bag!

Wow, so much creativity!

Have you seen all the bags done by our local ladies? They are gorgeous. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite. I love Kathryn's deer sample, those patterns have also been very popular.
In one corner of the Attic Window next to the beautiful batiks, we have a wide selection of wool and patterns and kits using wool. This evening I checked out a friend's blog, Quilt Hollow and Mary has a link to a blog with a wool mat giveaway. So, I had to check it out and when I clicked on the site the first thing I saw was a wool candle mat called Let It Snow. Wow, this called to me and I lucked out and ordered the last kit. I also entered for the giveaway mat, cute holiday stockings (http://cathspennies.blogspot.com/). I hope Marilyn and Diane check these patterns out as I think our local ladies would get a kick out of them.
So, have you ever done wool applique? We have just started Moda's Green Piece in the shop and I have heard so much excitement about using wool, many for the first time. I know of people doing it by hand with the stitches sinking in and being almost invisable. Then, there are the hand stitchers doing a blanket stitch and the machine stitchers doing a blanket stitch.
What is your favorite way to work with wool? I would love to receive my new kit and get it done by the end of the year. Most people who know me would probably be laughing but it could happen. After I finish the 2 BQ quilts that I am making for a friend's daughters and a few other must get done projects.
I am already beyond help on my Feathered Star classes. I have given myself permission to relax about it, it will be done when it gets done. I also want to get cracking on the pieced sashing and borders on my BOM from the last year. Wilma showed me her top today and it is looking so good. She took my idea of a different pieced inner border and it looks great. Then, she put all her blocks around the inner border - on point and followed by a seminole pieced border. Such pretty soft colors.
Marilyn, made a new BQ wallhanging with a new fabric line, showcasing scenes from the Pacific Northwest - very pretty. Our shop has so many beautiful samples. Our first time visitors to the shoppe have such good things to say about our samples. I just wish when they made their fabric selections and created their own quilts that I was able to see the finished quilts. I had fun helping a lady this last week pick out fabrics for an easy and quick quilt top, On the Run. I just hope I am working if she brings it back in for show and tell.
So remember, bring in your quilts for show and tell - we love to see what everyone is creating.
And I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Jan

I've Been Busy

My goodness these pictures come out BIG, eventually I will learn how to make them smaller...until then....

I've been spending some well needed time at home the last few days and it's felt so good. I got my Professional Tote all finished and it turned out fabulous. I like it so well I told my sister who lives in Tacoma to send me 1-1/4 yards of a favorite fabric and my thought is to add the additional fabrics and make her a tote for her birthday in July 2010. Notice I give myself LOTS of time to get it done. After the tote was all finished I completed the paper pieced turkey that is our November paper piece block. Thanks to Martha's suggestion this turkey has a sparkle for his eye. He is gorgeous!! Then on to the Mountain Meadow continuous line machine applique wall hanging. The pattern is by Marjorie Rhine of Quilt Design Northwest (http://www.quiltdesignnw.com/). I made her Covery of Quail as a sample earlier this year. Well, the mountain meadow is just as fantastic and oh so easy. I'm feelin' pretty good about now. I baked a batch of cookies yesterday and finished a fun Christmas read, A Redbird Christmas: A Novel by Fannie Flagg. The best description of this book is on the back, a review by The New York Times Book Review "Flagg keeps it simple, she keeps it bright, she keeps it moving right along - and, most of all, she keeps it beloved." I'm still waiting for Debbie Macomber's new one, Perfect Christmas, I'm now #3 on the waiting list, I'm moving right up!

Kathryn

Professional Totes!

Monday and Tuesday were Professional Tote making days at the Attic Window. I had purchased the pattern several years ago with great intentions . .. .you know how that is. Then this summer, two of our customers (Anita and Marge) each made one (or more) and they were so beautiful I was reinspired. Anita agreed to spend two long days down at the shop helping several of us work through the process . . .it was easier than I thought and I was very pleased with the results. So, Kathryn, Sally, Diane and I scheduled a couple of days to sew together – I was going to make a tote to give as a gift, while they each made their first one. Well, word got around and it blossomed . .. when Monday came there were 10 of us "slaving" away. Diane provided minestrone soup for lunch, Dar made brownies, someone brought pumpkin pie and bar cookies, and we all had a great time. Darn, I wish I’d taken pictures of everyone at work. The fabrics were incredible and diverse: batiks, novelties, paisleys, florals, Asian prints, and one person had beautiful cottons from Thailand courtesy of her son (boy was I envious!). Diane and I pretty much finished up on Monday (it is definitely easier the second time around) and five folks returned on Tuesday for more sewing and conversation, either finishing their bags or almost doing so! It was such fun . . . and we are looking at scheduling a two day class in January, as well as bringing in a trunk show (if we can get it) that will include both the Professional Tote and other bag patterns from The Creative Thimble. Check out the pictures . . .stop by the shop and check out the pattern and the bags! You'll want one for yourself and one to give as a gift. If Sally got over her "zipper phobia", so can you!

Cross Country Quilt Blog Hop

The Attic Window wanted to share a fun way to get those creative juices flowing in time for the holidays!
Hop over to all the blogs and check out their projects.

To get the excitement going before everything officially begins, there will be a guess the designer from the baby photo contest starting Wednesday, November 4. Each blog will have a baby pic of a designer. You will have until Nov. 7 to guess. So, on Wednesday, hop from blog to blog to guess.

Also, at the end of the 12 days of blogging, a grand prize winner will be drawn randomly from all of the commenters. You must comment on ALL 12 sites to be eligible for the grand prize [value: $360 - wow!] Each day, we will all have a post about a special theme but you will all have to check out the wonderful surprise that the featured designer of the day will have on her site for you!These fabulous designers will be in for all of the fun. Check them out!

Here is the lineup of designers along with the date that they post their project, but make sure to check every designers blog each day to read their stories. Put these blogs in your favorites folder now so you will be ready on November 9th.

Nov 9 - Gudrun of GE Designs

Nov 10 - Sandy from Pieces of My Heart

Nov 11 - Terry of Atkinson Designs

Nov 12 - Pat Sloan of Pat Sloan & Co.

Nov 13 - Heather of Anka's Treasures

Nov 14 - Pam from Pam Kitty Morning

Nov 15 - Kari of New Leaf Stitches

Nov 16 - Terri from Whimsicals

Nov 17 - Sherri of This and That

Nov 18 - Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company

Nov 19 - Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage

Nov 20 - Linda from Linda Lum DeBono

The projects are all themed around gift giving, quick and easy to get done before Christmas. Along with all the projects, each of them will be sharing stories from their childhood and adulthood, recipes and traditions so this will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about everyone if you stop by every day.

A busy time at the shop

It's been a long time since I've written on this blog, my how the time flies. We've been busy at the store with the NCW Shop Hop and the NCW Quilt Guild Quilt Show the first two weekends of October. We then moved on to Community Sew day at the shop and then on Halloween we had an evening sew-in. What fun we had working on our own projects, sharing what's going on in our lives, eatting of course and Diane and Marilyn had specials and discounts galore throughout the night. There were 16 of us there and we all had such a good time.

It's now on to Thanksgiving and holiday gift ideas. We are continually getting new things in the store. Today we got quilters chocolates in both light and dark chocolate in these great round tins.

I am taking the Feathered Star class. I had a mini meltdown last weekend while working on my homework. It is very precise and it must be done slowly. My husband took me outside to play ball with the dogs and had me break away for awhile. I came back feeling much better and finished a beautiful star. It is going to be a stunning quilt when it is all finished.

We're looking at new block of the month, clubs and new classes for 2010. Have you seen the 2010 Thimbleberries for next year, it is amazing and again comes in three different color ways. I am doing it in Dawn. Moda's Green Peace got started last month and it's a great success. The fabrics are gorgeous.

So I promise to blog more often. I still loving reading. This time of year I like to start reading Christmas stories. I've got Debbie Macomber's new Christmas book The Perfect Christmas on order from the library. Last time I checked I was number 12 on the waiting list. Let's hope I get it before December 25th. I am currently reading Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb. It's quite quirky, everyone should have an Aunt Lydia in their lives. Child abuse and spousal abuse are part of the story line, so it's not for everyone, but it is a good strong story and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

Kathryn

Community Sew Day

Last week we held a Community Sew Day. Only a couple people showed up during the day and a few more in the evening. We are trying to make three different items this season. First was to make aprons for Tie One On Day - where we hope to provide around 40 aprons to the Women's Resource Center. The aprons will be accompanied by a loaf a bread from Great Harvest Bread Company. As of tonight, the 21st, we are just over half way to making our goal.
Second objective - make Christmas Stockings for CASA - in the past they have wanted a couple hundred stockings for kids in the local area. Stockings are made and donated and filled by local businesses and citizens.
And our final project this year is to help one of NCW Quilt Guild's round robins make 100 placemats for Mobile Meals in the Wenatchee Valley.
The placemats have been made. And as you can see from the photo of Carol (aka Frosty), with a generous donation from Bonnie's Fabric on Wheels at our local quilt show, we have a great supply of stockings. Carol spent all morning and then, all evening surging together the prequilted stockings. On Thursday, many of our Thimbleberrie Ladies took home stockings and fabric to put cuffs on the stockings. I don't think Carol will ever admit to knowing how to surge again - I believe she did over 70 stockings. Thank you Frosty.

So, now we just need to continue with the aprons.

Tonight we had our UFO club, with over a dozen women sewing and chatting. Both classrooms were full and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Two ladies have been working on a cool purse for a couple months now. I heard they might finish it tonight but they didn't come back to show it off, so I am left guessing as to their status. Carol and I worked on aprons and a few others said they were working on aprons at home. Wilma lucked out today and found over 3 yards of her focus fabric for last year's BOM and spent the evening redesigning her settings and borders. Two ladies were knitting and crocheting scarves for a local donation.

What a great group of ladies in the area. A call goes out and people pull together to help. Aren't quilters great? If you have time to make an apron, simple or complex, please do and drop it at the Attic Window by mid-November. The aprons will be given out before Thanksgiving.

New Trunk Show in October!

"Gathered From the Garden" Trunk Show
now at the Attic Window!

The show features "Gathered from the Garden Wall Hanging," "Sunflower Circle," "Garden Wreath Table Runner," "Tiptoe through the Tulips," and "My Secret Garden" (the cover quilt).

With their popular flower motifs, these fresh quilts welcome you into a garden of color. Gather seeds of inspiration and use quick appliqué methods to “sow” them!
• Choose from eight lovely projects featuring flower blocks
• Combine blocks in different ways for unique quilts
• Find handy tricks for appliquéing perfect stems, circles, and other shapes

NCW Quilt Show

Come see us at the
North Central Washington Quilt Show

October 9 & 10, 2009
Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 10am-5pm
$5 per person, $3 Seniors & under 12 www.ncwquilt.org
Town Toyota Center 1300 Walla Walla Avenue Wenatchee, Washington

Thank you for joining us during Shop Hop!

Thanks for Joining Us!

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
QUILT SHOP HOP
8th ANNIVERSARY

"A Quilt Loop"
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
October 1, 2 & 3 2009

Congratulations to the Winners!

Grand Prize: A Pfaff, Fast Creative 2.0 Sewing / Embroidery Machine and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop (Total value $3,700.00)
Grand Prize Winner: Barbara Spurlock from Tacoma, WA

1st Place: Gift Basket, and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop, plus One night lodging at Mrs. Anderson’s Lodging House in Leavenworth, WA. (Total value $900.00)
1st Prize Winner: Charlyn Franklin from Ephrata, WA

2nd Place: Gift Basket, and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop, Plus Free Gammill appt. in Ephrata, WA. (Total value $700.00)
2nd Prize Winner: Cathy Clark from Beverly, WA

3rd Place: Gift Basket, and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop (Total value $550.00)
3rd Prize Winner: Joan Bassen from Winthrop, WA

Word Scramble Winner: Leslie Poole from Wenatchee, WA

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
QUILT SHOP HOP
8th ANNIVERSARY

"A Quilt Loop"
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
October 1, 2 & 3 2009
9:00 AM to 8:00PM daily

The quilt this year is designed by:
Exclusive design by The Fabric Patch, created just for the NCW Shop Hop!

A different block at each shop and we have 10 shops

Grand Prize: A Pfaff, Fast Creative 2.0 Sewing / Embroidery Machine and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop (Total value $3,700.00)
1st Place: Gift Basket, and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop, plus One night lodging at Mrs. Anderson’s Lodging House in Leavenworth, WA. (Total value $900.00)
2nd Place: Gift Basket, and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop, Plus Free Gammill appt. in Ephrata, WA. (Total value $700.00)
3rd Place: Gift Basket, and Gift Certificate from shops in the NCW shop Hop (Total value $550.00)

Click here for a list of shops that are participating!

Feathered Star Class

This Friday starts a new series class here at the Attic Window. Claudia Olson is teaching the Feathered Star class and her quilt sample is hanging in the Attic Window. It is a beautiful quilt. What will be interesting to see is how many people will go with her ideas on setting the stars or what they will create on their own.
We have been given our cutting instructions for the first month's center star and also the paper piecing patterns for the center. This way when we get to class, we can focus more on the designing and less on the time consuming grunt work.
As usual, I am already behind the curve. Wilma has finished her center star and her feathers. Yesterday, she and I went shopping for fabric for me. I have just not been motivated to create this summer and am not sure that using my amber colored batiks is where I want to go. But, not sure what else I would want to work with for the next few months. It is so hard to find darks and mediums. You know how it is, sometimes a fabric reads as a dark the next time it reads as a medium depending on where you use it.
It is almost dinner time and I still have not done any sewing today. I did get some quilt show business taken care of and some kitchen work, so haven't totally wasted the day. Just feels that way. Tomorrow and Monday I hope to get my paper pieced center star done. I think I am at the point of just doing it. The fabrics are beautiful batiks, mostly Hoffman, so hopefully I can't mess them up too badly. Fingers crossed!

The Bus Trip

Last Monday, August 24, 47 of us went on an all day bus trip to Seattle. The bus left at 7 AM and everyone was on time and in their seats with their nametags on and purple Attic Window bags in tow. One of our employees made delicious homemade scone for all to enjoy. We played games where everyone ended up with a pattern along the way and Martha was our voice on the microphone. Our first stop was to Clothworks, http://www.clothworkstextiles.com, where we had the delightful opportunity to meet one of their designers, Barbara Tourtillotte, http://www.turtlecrossings.com. She shared with us the process they go through deciding on her design, her expansion of the line and then explaining to us how it ends up on the fabric. She was so lovely and graciously gave us two HUGE gift baskets filled with home decor items that she also sells with her designs. The president of the company showed us a slide show of how the fabric is printed in either Japan or Korea. They treated us like royalty and we all had such a good time. As we boarded the bus our box lunches arrived which made our trip to Martingale fly by. With our tummy full of a great lunch we got off the bus at Martingale, http://www.martingale-pub.com/, to tour their offices. Oh my gosh there were quilts everywhere. A guide took us to each and every quit and gave us some history behind the designer and what book it came from. Then we proceeded to their book store, a book store where the books are considered seconds - EVERY BOOK WAS $5!!!!! It was hard not to buy one of everything and bring them home as gifts for friends and family. I reined myself in and only bought 8. They are all at Office Depot being spiral bound (did you know you can do that with your quilt books or any book for that matter and it costs under $4?). From their we drove to Ste. Michelle Winery, http://www.ste-michelle.com/. It was the perfect place to go and relax before the bus ride home. Several people went on the wine tour, the group I was with sat out in the shade at a little bistro table and we were joined by two peacocks and two ducks that were roaming from group to group. On the trip home we broke down the gift baskets from Barbara Tourtillotte and everyone got something. It was a delightful day had by all. The shop is already planning their next fun excursion....

Sisters, Oregon Quilt Show!

I’ve been promising a recap of my wonderful trip to the Sisters, Oregon quilt show since . . . well, since my trip to Sisters! Three old friends and I went together – seemed like a last minute decision for Sisters planning, as we didn’t make our reservation until February, found the condo on line, paid a very reasonable price for gorgeous accommodations, and were (much to our delight and surprise) two short blocks from the start of the show! Everyone we talked to told us they were amazed at our luck – with much more advance planning many ended up having to stay in Bend and drive to the show . . . . for us, an auspicious start to a great trip.

To say that we were overwhelmed by the quilts would be an understatement – in every way. They are hung everywhere you look on the sides of buildings and on clothesline strung across lawns or across the wide porches of storefronts; quilts of all sizes and shapes. A committee of 2-3 women organize the hanging, choosing locations for each of 1200 (yes, that is not a typo!) quilts, skilled at grouping like quilts together for visual interest. One store wall might feature 4-6 Baltimore Album quilts, another Christmas or Halloween themed, another block of the month quilts, yet another all purples and greens (my favorite, of course!), across the way all embellished quilts, down the street a grouping featuring incredible (and I can’t emphasize that enough!) examples of intricate machine quilting.

Everywhere we turned there was something more to see – I don’t know that it would have been possible to see them all, even if we’d started at 7:00 a.m. (which we didn’t, too tired after all that driving on Friday) and stayed until they pulled them down at 5:00 p.m. (which we also didn’t, too hot by 3:30 or 4:00). But it didn’t matter, because what we did see was so inspiring and visually stimulating. One of the things we all liked about this show is that anyone could submit a quilt and have it hung – so we saw everything from the first quilt ever made by a quilter, with all its warts and blemishes still a delight, to exquisite and intricately pieced and appliqued items that would have won prizes at the most exclusive and rigorous of judgings. What fun to have them displayed side by side and what a great opportunity for quilters of all skill levels to have their work viewed and enjoyed by others.

I particularly liked the Block of the Month quilts – a wide variety of blocks and fabrics – all put together with interesting settings that gave me plenty of ideas for this year’s Brown Bag blocks and for, perhaps, next year’s theme, as well. An inviting reminder that, although it is quicker and easier, we do not have to settle for the sometimes boring 12 blocks separated by sashing with a couple of borders. Let your creative juices flow and do something exciting and different – the reward is worth the effort!!

We will see how long the inspiration stays with us. The four of us are a group of women who have known each other since the 70's (or in the case of one, the woman who started me quilting, she and I have been friends and somewhat sisters since 1960!) We’ve drifted apart while we were all pursuing our careers – and in their cases but not mine raising children – and we’ve drifted back together as we move on to a more relaxed part of our lives. About 4-5 years ago we started going to a block of the month class together in Bellevue. Decided we didn’t like the class but did like getting together monthly or so for dinner, so started our own private Block of the Month, taking turns picking out patterns for star blocks. We have enough blocks to do something with them – and had the great idea that we should all finish our quilts (all extremely different) and enter them as a group into the Sisters show. Perhaps next year, perhaps two years hence . . . we shall see. But for sure, we shall be returning to Sisters!

Oh, and all three thought I should take all my orphan blocks and piece them together into a quilt for my car . . . not likely to happen, but what fun to look at they were!

EQ 6 Club

After a typical problem with my 15 year old, I sat down for the afternoon session of the Attic Window's Electric Quilt 6 Club. OMG, today was great. My fingers are itching to get to it. Some of the ladies are going to meet at 1pm on Thursday to review what we learned today.
As I mentioned before, this is not my first or second version of EQ. It is so exciting to see what I can do with the software, something I never explored in the past versions. Today we explored auto borders. Wow! This is so great, something I never would have thought to look for.

A friend sent a picture of an Irish Chain quilt she is making. Char has only been quilting for a little over 18 months but has already designed more quilts than I have dreamed of designing. With the photo of her quilt there was a word doc showing the quilt, colored with a pieced border. Granted, Char works with word and power point and knows how to use them better than I will ever be able to do, but to design a whole quilt on word - well, I wouldn't even attempt it. I am in awe of her creativity. And ladies, her hubby loves to give his opinion and he doesn't just say, "that's nice". They shop for fabric together and he really looks at a quilt and makes constructive suggestions, which work. Anyway, I am thinking this is the software for her.

Today I found out about a whole bunch of buttons I didn't know my software had. We transferred motifs to blocks and blocks to motifs. We merged blocks - so cool! Soon we will learn about custom settings.

I am really looking forward to doing the custom settings. I have a box of my daughter's old t-shirts that I want to put into a quilt. They are all different sizes, some have things on sleeves that I want to save, some are baby sized through early teens. Then there are the blocks made with my fabric by my guild members back in Germany (brown bag exchange). I have about 8 or 9 blocks, fabric to make more if needed. Or to use for the finishing of the quilt. I am ready to try out all the options on EQ to finish my blocks dating back to 2002 and 2003.

Isn't it great when you see a way to finish old UFOs? Or to clear off shelves in your closet? I get so many ideas running through my head. Just need to find a way to put them in effect. My thanks to Martha for showing us what the software can do. If you are like I was in the past, buying the EQ software and then not doing anything but playing with it, printing out single blocks, etc - please take the time to explore it. If you are local, check out the Attic Window's club. If not, go to your local shop, guild or friends and explore.

CASA Stockings for kids

The Attic Window is proud to help out CASA with "Stockings for Kids"!

CASA's Mission Statement

The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

Join us from 10-3pm on Oct 14th for the Stocking Sew Day.

Our goal is to make 300 stockings for the kids in need during the holidays.

National Tie One on Day!

Join us to celebrate National Tie One on Day™—make an apron, wrap it around a lovely loaf of bread, and tuck an encouraging note in the pocket. With a local bread company, we’ll deliver your gift to a women’s shelter on the day before Thanksgiving November 25th. Come sew along with us, and savor a piece of Friendship Bread. Call or come in to sign up for the FREE class.

Our “Tie One on Day”, in-store apron-making event is scheduled for:

Date: September 20th (Sunday) Time: 12am – 4 pm

A Great Read

Quilting, reading and gardening are my three passions. Baking comes in there as well. Ask me to bring something for a pot luck and most often I will bring dessert. I felt I must share the latest book I am reading, Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas. She's the lady that wrote the Persian Pickle Club in 1996 that many of you might remember. Sandra Dallas writes wonderfully and quite often quilting is part of the storyline.

It’s about an 86 year old lady, Hennie, and her neighbor, Nit, who is 17 and married and they live in a town called Middle Swan, Colorado. They are both quilters. The story takes place in 1936 and Nit is asking Hennie about a specific piece of fabric in one of her quilts and this is her reply:

“…Why, it’s from the Pinto store. I saw that material there fifty years ago, and I had to have a piece of it. I never saw anything that color outside of a book. It was dear-bought. I didn’t want anyone else to have it, so I took it all, the whole bolt, cost me five dollars. Then I was so ashamed of myself for being greedy that I gave pieces of it to one and all. You see a piece of that blue in a Middle Swan quilt, and you know it came from me. That blue’s been in every one of my quilts, too. Still I am mighty saving of it and don’t give that material to just anybody these days. She paused and added, hoping to let the girl know that she was esteemed by the old woman, But you might have a piece, if you like…”.

Isn’t that great? I thought you all might enjoy that…

I get all of my books from my public library. I also get books there for a friend that doesn't drive who reads large print and let me tell you large print is the way to go. It's so much easier on the eyes. I order everything on-line through the library, it's so easy. Did you know they even have quilting books? It's a great way to check them out to see if you really want to buy it.

It's going to be in the 100s today - a perfect day to read and to quilt!

Take 5 on the 4th of July

It’s 99 degrees today, the 4th of July. It’s comfortable here in my air conditioned sewing room and I’ve been busy. Yesterday I put the blocks together for a Take '5' by "The Teacher’s Pet". What a terrific pattern! All of the pieces can be cut on the AccuCut (www.accucut.com/), thank you Jan for cutting them for me on our AccuCut at the shoppe. I used the fabric line from Benartex An Apple a Day. I knew when we got the line it would be out the door in no time. We Wenatchee quilters love our apple fabric. I had the blocks all made in a couple of hours. Today I sewed the rows together and put on mitered borders – yep, I did miter borders and I got them all right the first time. I am getting much better. I use Quilt in a Day Christmas at Bear’s Paw Ranch, page 48, for my illustrated instructions on mitering. I know lots of books have these instructions, but this one sure does the trick for me.

The top picture is my version of My Secret Garden, from the book Gathered from the Garden by Cindy Lammon. What a great time the five of us had making this quilt (see Jan’s blog My Secret Garden dated July 1, 2009). I hope to get pictures of the other three when everyone has their quilt back from the quilter. My border fabric is from my stash. How exciting is that? Of course, I had to buy several additional fabrics to match, but that was half of the fun. Everyone’s quilt is truly a work of art and we plan on entering all of them into the NCW Quilt Guild (http://www.ncwquilt.org/) Quilt Show in October and we hope that we can get them all hung next to each other.

Happy 4th to everyone! It’s my husband and me tonight watching the Wenatchee fireworks from our patio with our two shelties. I am sure the kitty will be hiding in the guest bedroom. She doesn't like loud noises and new things. I bought us some sparklers to have fun with, too. Enjoy!

My Secret Garden

Last summer I found this book sitting on a table at the store. The cover showed this beautiful quilt with so much applique. I bought the book for what ever reason we buy something that we figure we will never use. Then, I showed the book to Kathryn. She showed it to others and we are all thinking this would be the quilt to make.

So, in September '08 the five of us started meeting on Mondays to sew. We decided we would start the quilt in January giving us time to find fabric. For Anita, this was hard as she really loves her kits. She picked out her fabric based on what was used in a quilt at the Attic Window. Ruby found fabric while traveling - the same fabric that Anita originally looked at. Wilma had fabric in her stash and added much to it. I think Kathryn did the same.

January came and we started sewing. By this time, I had gathered too much fabric and was struggling to get colors to work. I made my first two blocks for the top left corner and started on the first applique block. I worked 3 days just to get the stem on that block. But, I couldn't get past the first two blocks and that the colors where not what I wanted - too dark, too stark. By this time, everyone else was done with the second section of blocks and cruising on through the quilt.

In March, I am still working on the quilt and have cut my second set of leaves for the first applique block. Some of us were still thinking hand applique and others were going to machine. During a Saturday that many of us sew together, I looked over at Sandy - expert hand appliquer and long arm quilter. I get up and ask Sandy if I could hire her to do my applique, never knowing she would say Yes! Now I had to start making block kits of all the applique blocks so that I could give them to Sandy at our guild's retreat in April.

At the Attic Window's 1st UFO Night, my neighbor and friend Donna said she had told me she would do the applique for me. So, I picked up a baggie and gave her the brick wall block with it's 3 bias stems and 28 leaves. Now, I had subcontracted my applique to two excellent appliquer leaving me with only the pieced blocks.

During this time, first Kathryn finished her quilt. Quickly followed by Anita. Though Anita's border fabric just wasn't working and she did a search at the Attic Window and found a much better border fabric - something to pull all the blocks together and more closely resembling the designer's border fabric. These two also had their tops quilted and now have finished their quilts.

Wilma came in third (no, I had no idea this would be a race) and passed her quilt top onto Sandy (see above expert) for quilting. Now, Ruby being the gentlewoman that she is took pity on me and took her time deciding on her border fabric. After a few purchases and changes, she settled on a striped border fabric. While waiting for delivery of the fabric, I was able to finish making kits for each block - except one. I have found that a great way of doing this type of quilt is to make the block kits and then, when there is time to sew you can get it done quickly.

My second to the last block gave me difficulty and was set aside for a few days. Came back to it fresh and redid a few cuts (hate those sixteenth inch cuts) and the block went together finally. But, now I was left with the last block under the checkerboard at the top right of the quilt. The block called sunshine was just not gelling for me. Couldn't find the right fabrics and after getting a lot of help from friends and coworkers, I decided to toss the designer's block and with Claudia's help found a paper pieced block that I liked so much more - the compass star. A little struggle again with color until I decided it was my quilt and I had already changed it, so do something I like. And I love the block, 2 light to medium yellows and purple, great.

Ruby finished her quilt and it also went to Sandy for quilting. This last weekend I finished my quilt at our Saturday sewing day, 3 months since I asked Sandy to do my applique. Tomorrow, I hope to put an eye on my bird. Friday, I will show it to some friends and then, this weekend it goes to.....wait for it......yes, Sandy for quilting. This will be the third My Secret Garden for her to quilt.

We are all going to have our quilts in the Harvest of Quilts show in October, hopefully grouped together. In September, the Attic Window will have Cindy Lammon's trunk show. Ms. Lammon is the designer of our quilts and we all want our quilts to be there.

My thanks to my subcontractors: Sandy and Donna for doing such beautiful work and helping me actually get a quilt top done so quickly.