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