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