Quilt Market

I am back from 4 great days in Salt Lake City. As always Market was a lot of fun with very little sleep thrown in. I actually took LOTS of photos, but I thought that I would send you to a NEW BLOG to look at them! Sharon, the owner of The Country Loft just sent out a blog post on the Loft's very own blog.....go check out thecountryloft.blogspot.com and see what a great time we all had. I should have known we'd have almost all the same shots, since we were all together....:)))
....but I did get this shot of Debbie Busby of Wooden Spool in front of her new quilt....
.....and one of Jeni Gaston (owner of The Woolen Willow and one of the creators of Primitive Quilts and Projects) with Renee Plains. This is Renee after a horrible day before with food poisoning! I was manning her booth all of Saturday and of course I didn't fool anyone into thinking I was her!!!!

I didn't have a booth, but it was such fun to see so many old friends and make some new ones. The quilting community is such a warm and friendly group that hugs were in abundance.

........and I am sending one to all of you out there too! My best to you all.....Jo Ann

Off to Quilt Market

I am packing today to go to Quilt Market in Salt Lake City.....as a buyer this time. Living up here in Portland I couldn't get my act together for a booth....but I love to go and see what is happening in the quilting world. I am meeting my friends from The Country Loft at the airport tomorrow. It will be great to hang out with them!

Hope to see some of you there......Jo Ann

A peek at some projects

The last several weeks I have been working on some runners and table mats. I have been jumping all around the year....just designing as the mood strikes me. I am not sure yet how I will use them....They may be classes, or patterns.....or become part of a book.....maybe even a few presents! I thought you might like to see a few of them.


The one above took my friend Deby by surprise when she was up visiting a few weeks ago....She isn't used to me stitching on such light colors.....but it was fun for a change of pace.



(OK....Now you can see how technologically challenged I am....I was forgot to turn this photo before I downloaded it and for the life of me, cannot figure out how to do it now!!!!) Anyhow...these colors are much more me.....A little bit of winter and some of my favorite fall. I am loving using the crazy quilting in different borders and blocks!



As you can tell all of these are just tops..... I am waiting until I get home so I can shop at The Country Loft for my backs. Plus finishing is my least favorite part. I like the creation a lot more! I don't start with a completed idea...but just change things as I go. Sometimes the finished product looks nothing like the beginning!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday! Happy Sewing....Jo Ann

Happy Mother's Day

Last week Sophie's class celebrated Mother's Day by having a Mom and Me lunch. Megan couldn't come and so Sophie asked me to be her guest. Since I am usually not in Portland for these kinds of events, I was thrilled to go.....Here is Sophie in her story time group and then enjoying the sunshine (something that definitely comes and goes at this time of year.)


She loved sitting on the play structure having lunch.....

.....and one of the moms took this of the two of us together right before I left. It was a very special day.

Being a mom and grandma is great! I am so lucky to still have my mom. She is 92 and she is still going strong . I cannot remember the last time that I got to spend the day with Megan on Mother's Day. It will be a special one, no matter what we do.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day and get to spend it in your favorite way!

Happy Mother's Day......Jo Ann

This and That

Can you believe that it is May already? I almost forgot to show you this month's "folk branches".....You are not seeing things...those are pumpkins. The quilt is all full of different shapes we love to see in folk art....no matter what month it is.


This is my granddaughter Alana. She turned 8 last week. She is the one that I made the butterfly pillows for. I took this when she and her family were up here visiting. When I am home in San Diego I get to see her every week, so I am really missing our visits.

I just had a visit from Deby who works at the Loft with me. Her daughter lives up here and so she stayed at my apartment during her visit. We spent a fun time at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in West Linn while her daughter was at work.

Next week I am off to Quilt Market in Salt Lake City. I am not going to have a booth, but I am meeting Sharon, Kathy (my sister), Colleen and Mindy from The Country Loft there and doing a little shopping for the store. (Kathy Cardiff from Cottage At Cardiff Farms, one of our teachers, will also be there showing off her new patterns in her booth) It will be fun to see some faces from home.

We had some good news a few weeks ago. "Ippy" has kept the tumors from growing and no new ones have shown up!!!!! Megan goes in about 4-5 weeks for another scan and thanks for keeping your prayers coming that it is still working then.

I have been designing several wool projects in the evenings. I sew while I watch movies on my laptop. :))) Hope you are finding some time to stitch too. My best......Jo Ann

A visit to the vineyard

Last Sunday, Andy's family (including Charger, their almost 2 year old golden), Nick and Megan (Sophie was sick so John and she stayed home) and I all hopped into cars and headed east on the freeway and then over the bridge from Hood River into Washington. My sister Marlene and her husband Thomas own a vineyard up in the hills outside of the small town of Husum, Washington. Here is a view of part of the vineyard from the house....It is a beautiful setting. I almost always feel like I am Heidi looking over the hills....:)

The minute the car doors opened the kids and Charger took off running....It is the perfect place for that and it was a beautiful day. Below are Glenda and Alana walking through the vines...


......and with such a great hill who could resist rolling down it.....All of Andy's kids joined in....

.......as did Nick. He was in heaven following Pierce and Collin around....there is nothing like older cousins to take you under their wings....

.......and of course there had to be a battle! Charger was right in the middle of it........


......It was one of those perfect days. Thomas took all the kids into his workshop before we left and let them build with his scrap lumber...great reminders of a day in the country.

Andy, Glenda, Pierce, Collin, Alana and Charger left on Tuesday....they were headed for a few nights camping in the Redwoods and then on home. Their visit was wonderful....but way too short.

Megan had a pet scan yesterday and meets with her doctor tomorrow....For the last 6 weeks she has felt good and looks great. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers....Let's hope that "Ippy" is still doing it's job!!!!!!!

I wish you all a Happy Easter with family and friends.....Jo Ann

Butterfly Pillows for Alana

My granddaughter, Alana is turning eight this month. When I was home last I asked what she wanted for her birthday and she told me she would like some butterfly pillows. I usually work in dark fabrics, so I went on over to The Country Loft and bought some pinks and blues to use....and some wonderful wools. Above is a close up of one of the butterflies. It was such fun to stitch the detail on them...

Below are the two finished pillows.....Lots of butterflies floating around. She has butterflies all over her room....even hanging from the ceiling. She is coming with her family for a visit this weekend and I can't wait to give them to her. It will be their first visit to Portland in eight years. We have lots of fun things planned for their stay!


I hope that the sun is shining in your neighborhood...It is in Portland today!

Bye for now....Jo Ann