Derrick reunion 2010 - Deeryard Lake

Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop

 

Two days, 10 quilt shops and now lots of fabric for lots of new projects.

Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop 2010

Whew! Covering 10 quilt shops in northeastern Minnesota in two days was a creative adventure. Certainly there were the old favorites where I've emptied my wallet in the past, but I found some new surprises that will be getting some of my coin in the future.
My first completed shop hop project is six hotpads made from the shop hop themed fabric. I bought the kit at Colorz for Quilts in Brainerd. This shop also has by far the best and cheapest priced fat sale fat quarters, of course the fantastic hand-dyed fabrics, great patterns and one of the best fabric selections I've seen. And, of course, their staff is very helpful.

First stop: Fabrics, Fashions and More in Rush City. RATE THIS STOP - A MUST. This quilt shop has quickly become one of my favorites and is a "must stop" anytime I'm heading to Duluth. I love their Quilters Candy - 1 lb. of fabric for $8. Always good stuff, because frankly, they have a super fabric selection. Besides the shop hop quilt square, participants receive a cloth tape. LOVE IT. Bought some fat quarters.
Although Crystal's Log Cabin Quilts in Grand Marias is not on the hop... Stop anyway, especially if you like northwoods-themed fabric and patterns. The new mosquito-themed fabric is so cute. I bought the Boundary Waters Wilderness Series book. Think I'll make something for my sister's cabin.
After a great couple days funing it with many family, it was off to Breezy Point, but we plotted our way to include many shop hop stops.
Quilt Corner in Beaver Bay -- grumpy staff, store too crowded. RATE THIS -SKIP!
Quilts Around the Corner in Hibbing - it's a little difficult to find the shop, but it is worth the hunt. Relatively new place, with great fabric selection, displays (including the shop hop projects). The energy is wonderful, which I think is due to the college-aged daughter helping her mother with the shop. RATE THIS - A MUST.
Just down the road on the way to Grand Rapids is The Quilting Patch in Nashwauk ... poor fabric selection, but great prices on fat quarters. Overall, RATE THIS - SKIP, especially if you've spent too much time in Hibbing and want to get to ABC Quilting in Grand Rapids. Birthplace of Judy Garland, they have a complete selection on the Wizard of Oz fabrics - but that's not all. Great displays, a wonderful fabric selection, and the shop is located in the hold town hall located in the town square. Yup- I RATE THIS - A MUST!
Then surprise, surprise, who would think of Deer River as having a great quilt shop? Heart to Hand Quilt Shop is in an old church, and you can't miss it because it is painted purple. Super fabric selection, AND the Wizard of Oz fabric is cheaper than in Grand Rapids. I RATE THIS - A MUST.
Quilters Parlor in Jenkins was also a surprise find. Mainly because it is so close to Breezy Point where we spend some time. Great fabric, great staff. We met up with a bus load of quilters from Montevideo. It was fun to see people I haven't seen in years.
BUT, I knew we had to get a jump start because they were headed to Brainerd, and so were we. So I didn't spend much time there, but I will be back!
I have spent a lot of money at Colorz in Brainerd, but I fear they take a backseat to the other quilt shop Country Fabric Quilts. A four-generation quilt shop, the youngest member brings energy, great fabrics and patterns that you may not find anywhere else. I love there package of scrapes that they call Quilters Stew. For fun! Yes, I RATE THIS- A MUST!
We stopped at Quilts on Broadway in Foley. Not much to say except SKIP! However, there are two great meat markets in town with super summer sausage.
Thanks to my hubby for coming with me, and being such a good sport about this. More shop hop adventures are to be had through Aug.15

Three Charlies

How my garden grows

With this throw, I certainly stepped out of my color-comfort zone. It was the first big project that I machine-quilted, myself. I must say it makes for a colorful photo. Molly really likes this, but maybe I'll use it for a wall hanging in the lower level.

Stay away from the pit

It was the middle of April when Ed, my mom's husband, fell and was seriously injured ... enough to land him in the hospital and continued inpatient care. I should have started blogging then about my experiences with the medical system, insurance, and just plain growing old. But I didn't.
Now, however, we've turned a new corner. What I have to say is my own observation ... It seems that a crisis can magnify all that is good in a relationship or intensify all its flaws. Divorce at age 86? Can't believe I'm hearing the words come out of one of the partner's mouth.
I'm learning about my own fragile boundaries through this process - about my need to help beyond my emotional ability to do so. When I overstep the line, I see the pit of depression looming.
It's time to pull back. But can I do so?

Confessions of a fabric addict

There are plenty of us who are fabric addicts. Sometimes we suffer alone with our own stash of threads, jelly rolls and fat quarters. But most of us belong to a support group where we know we can turn when the urge to fondle fabrics becomes more than we can handle.
Sometimes this ends up as a communal trip to a fabric shop, sometimes it’s to covet the latest quilt designs, sometimes it’s to just play with each others’ fat quarters. But always, always it’s about touchy-feely fabrics, wonderful colors, dynamic designs be they batiks, Amy Butler or Kaffe Fasset.
It’s not the actual sitting down at the machine and executing the idea that matters… it’s the preparation. The creative process, the ideas. The outcome, most of the time, really doesn’t matter.
My group has taken the addiction to a new level, during our annual spring get-away we play a dice game with the winnings being — you guessed it — fat quarters.
WE LOVE FAT QUARTERS.