Vermont Beckoned to Me . . . & so we went . . . Bernie & I!

Yes, Vermont & a dear friend Sue Ashe beckoned for 5 years & finally I went! Plush green Vermont has it all -- green woods & mountains, trickling brooks & creeks, maple trees & sugar shacks, quilts & shops on the green, quilt shows, Church Street Marketplace, & on & on. . . thoroughly enjoyable.

Sue is celebrating her 25th year of business with her shop Country Treasures; notice the SALE for the celebration.   Just as she described that in Vermont, the old buildings from the 1800's have many additions, so it is at her shop, as it outgrew the space, they simply added another building.  Over 8,000 bolts insulate the walls at Country Treasures. . . a quilt shopper's paradise!  It looks small, but it reaches a long way back down the alley!

And notice the beautiful old building down the green  - an old hotel & inn, The Fullerton Inn & Restaurant.   We enjoyed lunch on the open front porch.  

Did I say that the weather was simply beautiful every day we were there.  It was showing off just for us, I'm sure!

Here is our little rental KIA parked in front of her cabin in the woods . . . 












Here we walk down to the brook that runs along the back of the cabin . . . 

And here is the brook &, of course, stepping stones & maple trees.  


And all the time you hear the babble of the brook - what a peaceful place!

Sue shows us the holes where the maple tree has been drilled! 

She does it all & is so enthusiastic about her Sugar Shack!  

Yes, she really makes her own maple syrup from her own maple trees.

I had to have a picture of her in her father's flannel shirt!  See the sign at the top of the door reads "Sue's Sugar Shack!"

We had a ball, Sue, & thanks again for all your hospitality & the education on sugaring!

Now, you must come to Iowa some day !!

First Saturday at Back Door Quilt Shop in Greenwood, IN

Windham Sampler II

Teri & Linda at Back Door Quilt Shop just south of Indianapolis are using our Windham Sampler II pattern for their First Saturday Sampler program for 2015!  That's just around the corner! 

Isn't it beautiful in Pam Buda's new Prairie Gatherings line with Marcus Brothers.  Just love all those reds!

They are also offering the kits in 1930's reproductions.

The program will begin on February 7 at the shop, but if you live too far away, you can do it by mail.   Contact them quickly by calling 1-317-882-2120 to register & they will ship it right out to you every month.

Have a great New Year, everyone!  Hope it is warmer in your state than it is in Iowa these days!

 

Thursday Girls tour in Minnesota!

It was an exciting September day for the Thursday Girls when we traveled to Shakopee, MN for a tour of the Hunt farm home & woodworking shop.   This outing was Eagle Creek Quilt Shop's annual quilted house tour.  The shop is an experience in itself of fabric & history as it is sheltered in the old railroad depot of the town.  Don't you just love old depots!! 

So thanks to Lori & Becky, owners of the shop, 11 of us enjoyed their shop first, then toured the beautiful home in the country.

We were first greeted with quilts hanging on the fences & on an old crib on the farm.

And here is the house from the front --

 

 

 

 

And from the side entry!

Inside the front door hangs one of the quilts from Country Threads new book "The Blue & The Gray." 

Isn't it sweet - album blocks with pinwheels - Remember Me!

In fact, the whole trunk show was featured in the house -

what a treat!

 

 

 The dining room leads into . . .

 Of course, the kitchen.  Old - but modernized!

How do they say that?

 

The old is new again!

 

 

 

And at the back door - the perfect boot & shoe collector - an old feed bunk!

And this beautiful quilt graced

the sunroom;

wouldn't it be the

perfect reading spot!

 

 Another beautiful quilt in the sunroom; that must be my favorite room in the house! 

 

The high ceilings make it perfect for the large pieces of furniture.

And this is the old barn converted into the woodworker's shop!  Many woodworkers would love this much room to work in, I am sure! 

A beautiful use of an old building! 

The Hunt's have done a superb

 job with this homestead from the early 1900's.

  

Hope you enjoyed this quick little tour.  Have a great weekend!

 

To the Retreat . . . shops along the way

Before I show the retreat pictures, I must share some of the quilt shops along the way that Sharon & I stopped at - after all, it was a 5-hour drive north &, of course, we had to get out & stretch along the way.  Not our fault, if it happened to be right in front of a quilt shop every time!   Oh, & of course, I'll share the retreat, too; still catching up here at the farm.  The pictures are up on facebook already if you must see now.

Val Besser, Spinning Spools

Our first stop was in New Ulm where we found 2 shops - Spinning Spools Quilt Shop & The Thimble Box.  Both, lovely shops.  Val Besser, owner at Spinning Spools, was working on her Legacy Sampler which is her shop's Block of the Month this year.  I was so excited to see her so excited about the sampler that a group of us did for the Kansas City Designer Hop at the last spring market.  Isn't it wonderful - she said it's going together nicely.  BTW, that pattern is now available for sale.  You can call for patterns at 1-712-362-3022.



Brenda Seidl, The Thimble Box

Brenda Seidl from The Thimble Box offers a super large selection of panels; she also does patterns to complement the panels; patterns that are more than just adding borders to the panels. 

Look at the huge African violets she grows!

Gathering Friends, Deb, Kathy & Sue

Then we were on to Bird Island, home of Gathering Friends Quilt Shop, owner/designers, Deb Jacobs & Kathy Squibb.  What a lovely shop we found there, actually 3 shops in one with their own line of books & patterns, all the fabrics & notions, & a gift shop for dreaming.

Sue Sandgren on the right was employee of the day.  The quilts on the wall behind them are from their newest book.  Don't you just love their entrance!

On to Litchfield where we found DeAnn's Country Village Shoppe.  I found some children's fabrics there that will make beautiful little coloring bags & aprons.

Sharon was continuing her search for blacks & white/creams for a new project.

Apologizies, DeAnn; I must have missed taking a picture, but I sure love the pinks & purples I purchased at your shop!



On to Kimball - Gone To Pieces Quilt Shop - Owner Penny Callander is like a smile-in-every-aisle at her warm, quaint quilt shop.  So much inspiration & friendliness housed there & more pinks for coloring bags!




The last stop was at Avon, MN, where we found Aunt Annie's Quilts & Silks.  Owner Lucy Senstad was quick to show us what she does with hand dyes, discharge dyed fabrics & gelatin prints; something you don't find at every quilt shop.

A fabric grouping in yellow, black & white really caught my eye there; have not seen that fabric anywhere else.  That is why we need all the quilt shops we can have - everyone has her own selection which makes this shop hopping so much fun!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, today is my birthday & I am especially honored to share it with all of you.  The days & weeks are quickly flying by to another Christmas coming soon; again, I say, where does all the time go . . .

While we spent our Thanksgiving with family in Phoenix, I, of course, had to visit some quilt shops, but only one did I get pictures of - The Olde World Quilt Shoppe  - on our way out of the city the day we left. 

If you get north of Phoenix, you will want to find this shop.  It is full of fabric inspiration in the dark colorations I love with a beautiful wood floor & friendly people.  Working that day was Jordan, the daughter of the owner Dee, & I bought a pattern by Renee Plains, who I was told is Jordan's mother-in-law. 




Jordan, the owner's daughter, was working the day we
stopped at Olde World Quilt Shoppe.



Just love the wood floor!

This picture shows what you see to your left when you enter the door.  Don't you just love the bed posts for showing off the quilts!


Then the dark wood complements the fabrics so well below!







     Then our journey back home took us through Santa Fe so I looked up the gals at Santa Fe Quilting!  With this GPS you can find all the shops; how easy it is to drive right to the front door!

      They were having a fun morning at that shop - can you tell!  Here are a few pictures of Santa Fe Quilting. 



Love the adobe-look of Santa Fe Quilting!



Owner Mary McCuster has a great time in her shop!
Can't you tell!
 

Mary had lots of cute Santa's around the shop; I had to take a close-up of this one.

Lots of color in the
southwest fabrics
at Santa Fe Quilting!

Time to go; have a great day & I hope you are getting all of your Christmas running done so you can soon stay home & enjoy the holidays with family & friends!

We have family coming from Ohio & Montana & are having an early celebration this weekend already.  It will be wonderful having a houseful again.

Merry Christmas to all!  Be safe & Happy!

On to New Hampton & home . . .

With Denise Sinnwell, owner of Quilter's Window
 in New Hampton, IA

Leaving Merry's was difficult, but I felt much better when I walked into Quilter's Window   in New Hampton.  Of course, seeing Denise & many Clothesline Quilts patterns & quilts there made my heart happy.

We're standing in front of Jo Morton's new line here; isn't that cupboard just beautiful in red with the cut glass doors.  Denise has beautiful displays in her shop.

Don't miss the Bull Run quilt in red & black at the top of the cupboard  & the cute little Table Cozee in brown & blue at the bottom (to the left of me).  Denise just does a beautiful job coordinating the fabrics.

More Table Cozees !!

 I took more pictures of her many displays to share with you before I headed home.  Isn't that quilt with the Table Cozees above just gorgeous!

And I love the pinks, browns, & reds in the quilt below.  Looks like it's an Open Gate pattern, Dancing Stars !

I have to admit, I was ready to be home, so I just headed straight home not stopping at another shop & was home by supper time. 

Ahhh - it's always good to go, but so good to be home, too! 

Over 800 miles in 4 days is enough for me.  Next year I hope to do a couple different 4-day trips & get to other shops in the state. 

Hope you're enjoying summer even though it's a super hot one these days!

Merry's got a new shop in Jesup . . .

NEW - Merry's Stitchins at Jesup, Iowa

Merry with her shop manager Jennifer at the new location

There's no grass growing under Merry's feet in Jesup, Iowa.  My goodness, she's built a whole new shop Merry's Stitchins at her country location north of town; it's beautiful!

I arrived at Merry's in the evening with all intentions of staying over with Merry; it worked super (Thanks for saving me a night's lodging, Merry!)  And we picked black raspberries early the next morning.  John & I enjoyed them on ice cream that night when I arrived home.

The new shop is open & roomy & filled to the brim with everything a quilter could ask for.  What a blessing Merry has in her shop manager Jennifer & all her staff; they are the greatest & Merry knows it!

Employee Jean introduced herself to me & while she cut my fabrics, we visited.  She's very happy doing displays at Merry's & I think she does a fabulous job!  Merry's is the home of Patch Abilities, Inc. - Merry's own daughter.  They also carry a wide range of quilt hangers by Ackfeld for the Patch Abilities designs

There is also a wonderful wool display in one of the cubicles.       Yes, its true - Always something new stitched up to inspire you at Merry's! 

This is the right side of the shop as you come in the door!  Classroom space, kitchenette, & offices at the end of this room.  Also lots of room along the top of the whole shop area.  And something more, since the shop has moved into the new building, the old shop is being updated as classroom space & sleeping space for retreaters!  Doesn't that sound like fun!!  A whole new Retreat Center!  I'm looking forward to a weekend there in October.  Come join us!

Mt. Pleasant, then north . . .

         Wow, Mt. Pleasant is way to the southeast corner of Iowa; considering I live in the far northwest corner of the state really puts Cathy Hopkins shop kiddy-corner from me.  But the trip was worth it to see Cathy in her own shop, Quilter's Paradise.  She's right on main street in Mt. Pleasant.

Cathy Hopkins, owner of Quilter's Paradise in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

Cathy's been working hard to get her shop back in shape since there was a fire in the walls of the building beside hers early this year.  

But she has not given up; she is winning at the big job of rebuilding her shop! 

Her shop is beautiful & includes machine quilting, too.  Honestly, I don't know how these shop owners get so much done.

Cathy's ad says "Where Heaven is only a stitch away."  And I believe it - she has a new Retreat Center above the shop with a large work area, full kitchen & bathroom, & 3 bedrooms.  I'm sorry I didn't go up there & take some pictures to show off.  However, I'm sure it is a great place to hibernate with your friends & sewing machines.  Hmmm - just thinkin' - a hiding place is good!



Isn't this a beautiful calming display - the pinks, reds, grays & whites are just so refreshing.  I know it really caught my eye when I entered Cathy's shop.

And I couldn't leave without a picture of us & her Courthouse Stars quilt.  I really like how she used red for the courthouse blocks to make the trailing throughout the quilt.  Don't you just love red !   I really wish Cathy all the success in the world with her "new" shop!  And don't forget, you can email her at quiltersparadise@lisco.com to set up a time to bring your friends to the Retreat Center for a weekend or a few days of sewing-in-hiding away from the phones (conveniently forget your cell phone) !

Hope you're having a great day!