Beautiful, gorgeous, wish you were here!

So the crew who worked the shop this beautiful Saturday told me I had better be out having some fun...... I was! My Dearly Beloved and I revisited a place we used to take our kids. Friends we met long ago introduced us to this place, but it has been a couple of years since we have been back. So now you will find out something you may not know about me, I love to fish. This was not easy to do here in Germany, until we started going to this private fishing area. I wasn't planning on fishing today but when I told my DB that I had, in fact, never caught a fish here, he insisted I try again..... I know this is not real sport fishing but, whatever, there is still a little thrill. OK, except when you hook one and the line breaks and you have to watch your bobber swim all over the pond, knowing there is a fish attached..... so anyway. The drive out there was beautiful, their ponds are located in the Black Forest (what's not to love about that) and the drive home anticipating a fresh fish dinner was great, until the skies opened up and poured before we got the chance to put the top up on the convertible.... even that was funny until a gigantic rain drop hit me in the eye...... ok, even that was funny.

Send happy thoughts!

So, my sister had to have some emergency surgery yesterday. One of those, it's just routine and then, oops! things. She is amazing and resilient and so will most likely get over this faster than I! For goodness sake, she is knitting instead of wallowing, which is my preferred method of dealing.... So I am hoping you will help me send happy thoughts her way!

Quilt tops

So, while trying to get over jet lag I made these two baby size quilt tops. You saw the Flip Flop block last post but I hope this is a better picture. The newest one is from the same designer and is called the S curve. You can see her here. The first quilt was very easy to put together. The next was just a bit more time consuming. For someone who wants to quilt but not do a lot of piecing this could be a fun project. There are several other versions at various levels of difficulty to choose from and I am sure you could come up with a few of your own!

Why does jet lag have to hurt so much?

I think I am almost over it....

I had such a fantastic time in Portland at the Spring Market! I could NOT have done it if my sister hadn't come with me. It was overwhelming and idea provoking. The fabrics were fantastic, the designers, friendly. I have yet to really go over what fabric I purchased. If I remember right, it was a lot. I just hope that what I am remembering is as wonderful as I thought it was at the show....... ha ha. Jennifer, Katelyn and I did manage to get most of the fabric rearranged in the shop today. I am expecting the first shipment of the bali batiks to be here soon.

So now, here at home, I have all these ideas running through my head. Things I am dying to try. Have I written all of them down?? Ha! I will, but before I do that, I am trying to finish something I started. It will be a baby quilt. I used a new (to me) template that I thought people here might like. The fabric is Basic Blue by Paintbrush Studio. I didn't order this fabric, but I might... what do you think?

I'm so tired.......

This is hard. I mean really hard. I was able to get a few of the things I wanted, a few things I didn't know I wanted, some really good ideas (I hope), and a really achy back! One of my scores was Metro Blue goes Green..... The Marcus people were less than kind but I walked on down to E.E. Schenck, convinced them there was actually such a fabric and put it on order... just don't know when it will get there.

There is too much great stuff here. The fabrics this year are absolutely gorgeous and I hope you all will like my choices......

Guess who I met?!

All of them!

What a fun day. It was the School House Series at the quilt show. Many designers and distributors were there to give information on new products and new lines. The highlight of my day was meeting three very artistic and nice young women. Heather Bailey, Amy Butler and Anna Maria Horner, in that order..... By the time I was able to meet Anna Maria, I was a complete geek. I had just met Amy Butler, told her about Jennifer and our shop, then she said, Hey, you order patterns from me, I know you....... and shook my hand. I asked her if she would ever consider doing a trunk show in Germany.... she said to contact her people..... I will.

After this, I am talking to Kelly on the phone telling her ALL about it. I notice my sister mouthing Anna Maria Horner!!!!!! (we were waiting for her talk) I turned around and told Kelly ( rather loudly I am afraid) I am looking at Anna Maria Horner!!!! She then laughed (thank goodness) and asked who am I looking at??? Well, to make a long story short..... ha ha..... NICE, she is not only clever and cute, she is NICE. So anyway, I am a happy person. These three young women are smart, talented and gracious. I will enjoy buying their products knowing that I once met them and they were so nice.

Goats, they're just cool

I had the opportunity to spend time with a very nice young woman, her kids and her kids...... Becky, among raising children, chickens and goats, also designs quilts. I don't have any pictures of her quilts but I will bring home the patterns. So I started quilt market early, going straight to a source.....

I am now in Portland, ready for the market. First, there must be food, I have my priorities..... I won't bore you with the dinner picture but it was good! I am putting up the dessert picture. We dove into it before I could pull out the camera. If you had been there, you'd know why.

Our glass adventure

This was fun! My sister knows the best places! These guys help you make a glass paperweight. OK, well, these guys make you a paper weight and you get to act like you have something to do with it...... It was very cool. The only down side is how long it takes the glass to cool. Sherie will sending mine in a couple of weeks.

A Pirate's Bite

A cool name for a great little place on the coast. Sherie took me there this afternoon to have the most fantastic Mahi taco ever! Perry the genius behind this creation, was a wonderful host. I'll be sending good thoughts your way Perry!

Just a fun day

Spent another fun day with Sherie! We did our tour of the Bullseye glass company. Unfortunately they don't allow pictures in the plant, but it was awesome. They make their own equipment, which I am sure is the reason behind the no photo policy. There was one group of guys making large sheets of glass who have choreographed their movements to an art form. The glass available is overwhelming and it is nice to know we have a good bit of the best offered.

Since we were in the area, my sister thought I should go to the Elephant Delicatessen. Oh my word!! The food was fantastic and the staff was great.

We ended the day with a fashion show for Slippers. She liked it, really she did.......

The Three of Us

I want you all to meet my sister Sherie and my brother-in-law Doug. We had such a good day together taking in some of the sights around Salem, OR. If my other half were here, life would be perfect!

This is what was left of a fantastic taco we got at a street market, right before we ate it....

Lemonade was also in order for the day. I think we can do this for the 4th.......

Sherie also took me to a quilt shop. It was a cute place with some interesting ideas. I of course had to make a purchase and start a project here! Why do I do this to myself??? Wonder if I can get it completed...... Time is already flying by.

Oregon here I come!

Well, I leave for the states tomorrow morning. Getting ready for our Arts and Crafts Event, and I do mean EVENT, was awesome, I have hardly had time to think. I am torn because I hate leaving my husband, a lot. Then there is my work family.... I'll miss you guys too, but, I get to see my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew who I haven't seen in three years! I cannot express how much I have missed them! I am getting to do this in conjunction with going to quilt market in Portland OR. This both intimidates and excites me! I am also touring the Bullseye glass company. We get some of our stained glass from them. (If only they were offering a class.....) I hope to write as I go along but since I am the unblogger, don't hold your breath!

Morning walk

Things have been so busy the last couple of weeks. I decided to take Brinkley on a leisurely walk the other morning. It was just too beautiful. Here are some of my favorite things I saw. There is a caterpillar in there that I didn't notice until I got home..
I know they are weeds, but they just look like sunshine....
The most gorgeous dog ever! For some reason though, he did NOT want his picture taken.

Things Brinkley saw on our walk.....
What's not to like about these colors?

Cute skirts

That's the name of this pattern from here. We carry them at the shop. I used fabric from the Bleeker Street line. The colors in this fabric are just yummy! It was a very simple, quick to put together pattern (unless you run out of thread....) The waistband has an elastic back. I prefer something with a zipper but this is a great beginner pattern. Not a bad way to spend and afternoon.

Cats and patterns don't mix