Treasures from Elkhart County

A while back, I decided to pretty much stop buying fabric at random - I needed a plan for whatever I purchased. Since we were in QUILT SHOP COUNTRY,  I had a PLAN!

I decided that I was going to look for yellow and gray fabrics on this trip. I've never done anything in those colors before.  Although I don't have a pattern in mind, I now have enough grays and yellows for a quilt!

(I'll apologize for all the photos - the lighting in the motel room is not ideal.)

I also wanted some corals and teals. Again, I don't have a pattern in mind but I have enough fabric.

Then I found oranges, one of my absolute favorite colors. This was not in my plan but oranges are ALWAYS a good find! This will probably be some type of bag.

I need a baby quilt in November. Of course, it is too early to know boy or girl so I bought fabric for one of each. That means I'll be prepared for the next one - maybe! The pinks are very soft - not washed out as the photo shows. I have the pattern and the Moda Cuddle Cloth (like a Minkee) for the backing!

And for a little guy, this soft blue with yellows will be perfect! Again I have the pattern and Cuddle Cloth for the backing!

I didn't take pictures of my thread, needles, etc. but I did photograph this ripper with the eraser. The ripper is normal and the white end helps remove the broken threads. I tried one in the store and loved it.

I did not get a picture nor did I buy the ripper that looked like a pair of hair clippers. It was super neat though but I don't usually do that much tearing out. Of course, that ripper was on back order so I couldn't buy it anyway!

Elkhart County - Indiana Amish Country

What a gorgeous day we've had! The weather has been a bit cool but the sun has shone all day and the shopping was fantastic! It was my own private quilt shop hop!

We began the day in rural Goshen, Indiana at Heartland Country Sewing. The very nice couple are the local Bernina dealers. Although they don't have fabric, their prices on thread and other notions are fantastic. He made me a fantastic deal on the Bernina I want (it wasn't available when I bought mine) - giving me a 100% trade in on the one I bought in October! We may have to make a trip back here!!!

Then it was on to Calico Point, just a few miles south. We were at this shop right after it opened five years ago. It has only gotten better!

We headed north a few miles to Lavender Patch in Bristol. What a neat place! This shop is owned by an 'English' woman instead of a 'Plain' woman. Thus, she had English prices - which just happen to be higher than Plain prices! Of course, her prices are what I am used to paying.

She sent us to eat at Chicago's where we had a good lunch. These people were English with Plain prices! 

Now the day was half done but my list wasn't! We went to Pumpkinvine Quilting in Middlebury. Such a nice shop with a great staff!

Less than a half mile down the road was The Quilt Shop at Essenhaus. It is a nice shop but I did not buy a thing! 

I decided we needed sugar so we headed to the bakery at Essenhaus - no pictures just delicious cookies! I really need to find a recipe for their coconut cookies - not macaroons. They were wonderful!

All refreshed, we headed for Shipshewana with the first stop being the Davis Mercantile and Lolly's Fabrics. I love, love, love this shop! Ray is patiently waiting for me to take a picture - he is a wonderfully patient man!

Downstairs at the Mercantile is another of Lolly's stores AND their Cuddle Corner which is all fabric similar to Minkee - Oh My! Every color and texture one could want!

If that wasn't enough, there are also other great stores at the Mercantile! We checked out many of them. Then we went for a walk. We took time to smell the lilacs - we didn't see any roses!

We found lots of Neat Stuff!

And we decided it was time to head on to Ohio. I kept some shops on my list for the next time we visit this area!

I'll share my treasures with you next time!

On the road again...

...On the road again

Goin’ places that I’ve never been.

Seein’ things that I may never see again...

                                                  - Willie Nelson                   

Yes, we are back on the road! It must seem like we never stay home - at least that is what it seems like to me this year! 

We are headed to see our oldest son and his family. And we are meeting at the Outer Banks, one of our favorite places! Of course, we have a lot of favorite places and when you include family, any place becomes a favorite place!  

Since we retired, our traveling is different. Instead of traveling just to get to a destination, we travel to enjoy the journey. Now, the journey really is our destination.

So on our way to North Carolina, we will be enjoying some time at a Historical Village in Ohio that Ray read about. And between here and there, is Indiana Amish Country - just can't pass by without stopping. On our way home, we get to visit some friends.

...on the road again -

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway.

We're the best of friends

Insisting the the world keep turning our way.

And our way

is on the road again ...
                          - Willie Nelson  

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Starry Night

In June, 2010 we were at Millstone Quilts in Old Church, VA. I remember that shop so well - it was in a gorgeous setting. As I checked out with my purchases, I noticed a quilt on the wall and kits for it. So I picked one up and that is how I happened upon Starry Night.

I finally decided to begin this quilt - just what I needed with all the projects I have going! I have the pieces cut and some of the blocks put together.

 There are two different blocks.

Of the twelve total blocks, seven are done!

Wonder how long before I get back to this???? It could be a while.

Crazy Eights it together!

Well, the quilt isn't finished but the top is together! It is a gorgeous day and I have been sewing with the windows open – so nice!

Crazy Eights on the design wall

I decided to use yellow and white for the border. I wanted this to be a bright, happy quilt. The inner border is a ¾” strip of white. The outer border is the same size 2” squares that are used in the interior of the quilt.

I played with the layout. It came down to this or the purple (upper right) and the turquoise (lower right) being switched. I finally just chose one!

Crazy Eights ready to be sandwiched and quilted

Here you can see the inner white border – it goes across the outside border. If it didn’t, I thought it might make one dizzy looking at the checkerboard not lined up.

Close up of Crazy Eights

The quilt is 49 ½” square and will be a donation quilt when it is finished. The entire top is from my scraps - it has been fun to make.

Little wallets for Scrip

Last fall I made some little wallets or credit card holders for our church bazaar. I used a pattern called Little Wallet by Valori Wells. The finished size is 4 3/4" by 3 3/8". I had a couple left and found that they are great for holding my quilt shop punch cards.

Recently the hockey association where one of our grandsons plays started selling scrip. Do any of you use scrip? Scrip is just non-expiring gift cards that I buy for myself. The hockey association gets a kick-back on all scrip that I buy at no cost to me well, actually I am charged 15 cents each time I order! Each individual store sets the amount of the kick-back usually 1% - 10%. This hockey association has my designated player getting a major part of the kick-back towards his fees. So I buy script at virtually no extra cost to me, our grandson gets part of his hockey fees paid, and I am supporting his hockey association. What a win-win! So I now carry a number of gift cards around. This little wallet works great but I needed another one and decided to make a few more.

Four little wallets

Each wallet has 3 pockets.

Just had to use a little hockey fabric on a couple of these!