The Country Loft Outdoor Quilt Show

Every summer The Country Loft has an outdoor quilt show to show off all the wonderful work of our customers. I snapped a few quick photos but if you would like to see the whole show you can go to http://www.cloft.com . Joe will be posting them in the next few days if he hasn't already. (You can see past quilt shows too)

The small quilt hanging on the stair rail is a beautiful crazy quilt....sorry I didn't get a close-up!

Every part of the yard is draped with quilts of all sizes...with some rugs, dolls, etc. thrown in...

The show is always near the end of August. Maybe some of you can come next year!

Before I close, I wanted to thank Nancy of http://nancynoblogblogs.typepad.com for the wonderful giveaway she is running on her blog for Megan's Fund. Thanks also to Sharon and Lavon who have donated such great things. You guys are the best.

My best to you all......Jo Ann

THANK YOU!

Yesterday The Country Loft had their annual Outdoor Quilt Show and Sew for the Cure Quilt Sale. Here are some of the women waiting in line to be the first to see the quilts as we hang them. A wonderful group of women called the Sit and Stitchers meet several Wednesdays a month a sew all year round. Then many quilters in the community donate their creations to the cause. Over the years, the money has been donated to many different organizations who do work related to cancer. This year they decided to set up a fund for my daughter Megan to help cover some of the out of pocket expenses of her treatment. (Unfortunately we found out in August that her tumors have begun to grow again. ) Needless to say my family was blown away by them thinking to do this!


Here are some of the quilts that were for sale at the event. The response was overwhelming. I just could not believe how many people came up to me to say how happy they were that the money was going to someone they know. I want to thank each and every one of you for your generosity. (for more photos of the sale and the day go to thecountryloft.blogspot.com )

It was an unbelievable day and when I called Megan and John to tell them about it they were just stunned. I cannot say Thank You enough. John asked me to give all of you big hugs. If I missed you on Saturday, consider yourself hugged now! My best to you all, Jo Ann

Not one, but two winners!

I have had so much fun reading all your comments this week! Thanks so much for all the nice things you had to say. I was so excited how many people joined in all the fun....and I apologize for those of you who couldn't leave direct comments, but had to email me. Everyone was included in the drawing...those who commented on the facebook link; the emails and the comments that made it onto the blog.

My grandson, Timothy is over at our house today and I roped him into picking the winning name....He picked out one and then we decided that there were so many slips still left in the box that he would just have to pick another....so there are two lucky winners.

......and they are......

Congratulations! I hope you have fun making your Brown Bag....and I will be mailing them as soon as I get your addresses. Just email them to me at jampatterns@cox.net.

....and here is what you will be making....a "Jack Bag" to hang on a doorknob or fill with Halloween treats!

Now that I know how fun a give-away drawing is I will try to do more! Thanks again to all of you who joined in.... Happy Saturday, Jo Ann

Would you like a Brown Bag?

Once a month at The Country Loft I teach 3 sessions of a class we call "Brown Bag". Here is how it works. You pack up a small sewing kit....some scissors, a needle and some pins and come to the shop. You have no idea what you will be making. Everything you need is in the bag that is handed out to you. It could be anything....a needle case....a pincushion...a small stitchery....a ???? You just have to trust me that it may be something you LOVE (some you love more than others).

This month I thought that I would see if one of you would like to be part of the fun. I will give you a hint .....it is something for FALL....I NEVER give hints to the people in the shop...:))) If you would like to have this kit sent to you, just comment on this blog by Friday and I will put your name in the drawing.

I hope you WIN! I will reveal the secret project when I announce the winner....

GOOD LUCK......Jo Ann

The Unexpected

Gene and I are back from our camping trip and I wanted to share the most amazing thing that happened when we were in Monterey, California. We were driving around the back streets of the town. Gene always loves to see what is going on in the neighborhoods. We were in the middle of an area with cute older homes when we turned a corner and spied the local grammar school. Just as we started to move onto the street this deer ran across the road in front of us. He had come right up a street. Of course I didn't have my camera handy (do we ever). We looked at him with mouths hanging open and he just looked right back. Eventually we turned onto the street he had come up. We drove about 2 blocks and I made Gene go around the block to see if we could spot him again. Sure enough he was still there gazing down the street. Right as I started to open my door to find the camera a doe and 2 fawns came up the same street and jumped onto the lawn with him.....Of course still no camera...but then I remembered my phone. His family started off across the school lawn, but he stopped and looked at me like he was thinking, "will you take the shot already!" and finally I did and here he is. After he ran off we drove around trying to find a green area where they could live. Several blocks away there was a military base with a stand of trees that bordered it. It was so amazing to see them in this setting. Of course we never spotted one deer while we were camping!

I hope some amazing things have happened in your life this week......Jo Ann

Going on a road trip

Gene and I are getting ready for a trip.....and of course all of you know what I am getting ready first! My stitching of course. Many of you may not know that I don't drive.....so I have lots of time to sew while Gene is slaving away behind the wheel.....and I have lots of work to do getting ready for the new class schedule at The Country Loft.

We are headed up to join our son Andy and his family on their annual camping trip in central California. The kids love the lake and water sports and I love to watch them. We will end the trip in Santa Barbara. We lived there for 11 years and both enjoy visiting our old haunts.

I wanted to write all of you before we left to ask you to keep all your prayers and good thoughts coming Megan's way. She went to the oncologist this morning and they have found some growth again in some of the tumors. The good news is that there are no new ones. They are hoping to start treatment again with "Ippy" (now Yarvoy since it as been approved by the FDA). I so wish that I was there to give her hugs. Well, you know!

A virtual hug () to all of you and thanks again for all of your good wishes.....Love, Jo Ann

A wooly "folk branches"

Does this quilt look familiar? With a few changes I have used my folk branches stitchery patterns and made them into wool. It has been a lot of fun! There is still a lot of handwork to do ....stitches to add and borders to make, but I thought I would give you a sneak peek!

We had a very special visitor at The Country Loft this morning. Jenifer Gaston one of the editors of our new favorite magazine Primitive Quilts and Projects came by with her husband Glen. We were so excited to see her. Sharon took photos, but being the great blogger that I am, I didn't get any. She will soon be posting them on The Country Loft blog....be sure to check it out!

I planned on sewing all day today and suddenly it is after two and I still have not sat down to the machine....Hope your projects have seen more progress than mine, Jo Ann