Home Again

I am finally back in sunny Florida. After 19 days of traveling it is good to be home. I was just looking through some of the pictures from the trip and thinking about what I enjoyed most. Again, as always, it was the wonderful quilters that we meet at the shows. At the Original Sewing and Quilt Expos I always teach 2 or 3 classes. Most classes are 3 hours long; some classes last 90 minutes. We visit and share while we learn and always the ladies find many things that they have in common. In Minneapolis and Schaumburg I taught the Perfect Flying Geese method. Our project was the Timeless Travel Pillow. Many of the ladies finished the project in the 90 minute class and planned to make more pillows as gifts. And, everyone loves the quick flying geese method!

I have three new classes planned for the Spring Expos in Tampa, Atlanta, and Cleveland. Class description will be posted on the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo website soon. I hope you plan to attend the Expo nearest you. Please stop by our booth so we can meet you!

The Weather Outside is Delightful

We are in balmy Chicago. All my worry about freezing on this trip was unfounded. Minnesota and Illinois are having unusually warm weather for this time of year. Whenever anyone comments about the nice weather, I tell them that I brought it with me from Florida. Sharen doesn't even need her jacket!

Today we visited three Chicago area quilt shops. (Lots more fun than yesterday's trip to the coin laundry.) We visited Quilter's Destination in Arlington Heights and found lots of great fabrics. I especially liked the selection of Jinny Beyer fabrics from RJR. Quilter's Destination is located at 945 E Rand Rd, Arlington Heights.

Next, we made our way to A Touch of Amish at 130 Applebee St. in Barrington. This wonderful shop is in a very unique building created by moving two old houses together at an angle with a wedge shape addition connecting them. The friendly staff was very helpful and cheerful. We really enjoyed wandering from room to room, each filled with fabric displays. This shop offers lots of Civil War fabrics and flannels, Thimbleberries plus brights and batiks. Many quilt kits are are also available. A small loft upstairs houses fun kids fabric and children's quilt ideas. The basement level is a large, pleasant classroom.

Our last stop of the day was Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop. Mother/daughter team, Carrie and Katie graciously showed us their shop. They feature reproduction fabrics, Jo Morton, Windham, Marcus, Moda and more. They have an awesome selection of wool and wool applique patterns. I especially enjoyed the flying geese quilts in the classroom. They even offer Free Stitching Times! You can locate Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop at 106 Northwest Hwy (Rte. 14), Fox River Grove, IL 60021.

Coming and/or Going

Karen and I have only one more road trip this fall. It's about time I finish blogging about our summer travels. We were at the AQS Show in Knoxville in July. The Cherry Pit's booth was right across from us. What a delight!

The Cherry Pit in Sevierville, TN was the first quilt shop we visited when we were getting ready to launch our business. The owner, Jane Washington, is absolutely wonderful. She enjoys encouraging quilters who are just starting out in business. Jane looked at Karen's first designs and gave us her shop owner perspective and great advice and suggestions.

About a year later Jane invited us to do a trunk show at her shop. We had so much fun - and great sales of our patterns.

Whenever you might be in the Knoxville, TN area, The Cherry Pit is a must see.

Karen took the picture of Sharen and Jane. Then she decided she wanted a picture of all three of us. Too bad her arms aren't longer.

Much Appreciated Comment

This week I posted instructions for making pillowcases. Thanks to alert reader, Laurie Evans, for pointing out a mistake. (See why I need a proof-reader/pattern tester for all my patterns!) Laurie's comments are below in case you didn't see what she posted.


Laurie Evans said...
Good Morning! Shouldn't #1 say wrong sides together? I make my pillowcases this way, but I add a trim made with a 3" X WOF strip. I also overlock all of my raw seams. It takes a bit more time, but I like to do it so that the seams don't fray when washed.Thanks so much for posting this pattern!

Yes, in the first step you should fold the band with wrong sides together. I will make that correction, now.

I also appreciate Laurie's suggestion to finish seams with an overlock stitch. I usually use French seams for my pillowcases. And do try the trim. Just fold the 3" strip with wrong sides together and put it in between the band and body in step #1.

There is another way to make pillowcases in which you roll the body and trim inside the band before you stitch them together. Has anyone seen that method?

Halloween Pillowcase

We always enjoy meeting people at the quilt shows.

Last week in Chantilly, I spoke to one customer who bought numerous one yard cuts of Halloween fabric. She always makes Halloween pillowcases for her children and her neices and nephews. What a great idea! They trick or treat with the pillowcases plus have a FUNctional gift from her.





Here is a quick easy way to make pillow cases.

Cut 3/4 yard for body of pillow case. Cut 1/4 yard for band.

1. Fold the band in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.


2. Pin the raw edges of the band to top edge of the body, RST. Stitch.


3. Press the seam toward the body of the pillowcase.


4. Fold the pillowcase in half, wrong sides together, lining up the selvage edges.


5. Trim the selvage edges so the they are even.


6. Stitch along the side and bottom of the pillowcase.


7. Turn it right side out. Done!

Happy Apple Quilts Halloween Fabric Clearance Sale


Have Happy and Safe Trick or Treats!

Quiltfest in Jacksonville, Florida

This past weekend we were in Jacksonville at Quiltfest. This was the first time we had a booth at this show and we had so much fun! It is a great quilt show which happens every September thanks to the hard work and dedication to quilting of the Seven Sister Guilds.

We thought you might like to see what we do on set-up day before a show.

We always arrive with the van packed to the roof. First order of business is to unload and cart everything into our booth.

We are grateful that we had the help of our friend, Barb, this show.

It is easiest to work in the booth if we stack all the bins and boxes in the aisle (leaving enough room for other vendors to get by, of course.)

Next we hang up all the models. We learned by experience that it's not a good idea to put tables loaded with merchandise along the walls until after the models are in place.

Then we set up the tables and drape them and put down interlocking floor mats. Almost always the booths just have concrete floors and they are very hard to stand on all day.

Then it's time to set our merchandise on the table and assemble our spinning racks and display racks. We hang our patterns from the spinners.

It usually takes between eight and ten hours to set up our booth. We always say, "We are the first to arrive and the last to leave" on set up day.

Hope to see you at a show soon.

Happy Quilting.

Apple Cake - As Good as Apple Pie

Have I mentioned yet that one of the best things about traveling to quilt shows is meeting quilters?

A very lovely lady named Anne visited with us at our booth at the AQS Show in Knoxville in July. The next day she brought us a favorite recipe - APPLE CAKE. It turns out that this is the same recipe that Karen used to bake cakes frequently during our high school days! Karen had lost the recipe and is thrilled to have it again.

Thank you, Anne.

I think my sons should have one of these waiting for me when I get back from the shows.

APPLE CAKE

1 c. cooking oil

2 c sugar

3 large eggs

2-1/2 c all purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

2 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. pure vanilla

4 c. apples, peeled, cored and diced. (McIntosh or Granny Smith are best. Apples chilled in the refrigerator work best.)

1 c. chopped walnuts.

Combine oil and sugar. Beat in eggs. Sift dry ingredients together and add slowly. Fold in vanilla, apples and walnuts. Bake in a 13" X 9" greased pan for 55 minutes at 325 degrees.

CREAM CHEESE ICING

1 lb. confectioners sugar (4 c.)

1 stick salted butter at room temperature

1 8oz package cream cheese at room temperature.

2 t. pure vanilla

Beat sugar and cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add vanilla. Beat well. Ice cooled cake in pan. Cut into squares to serve.

More fun in Dublin

We rode the LUAS (light rail) into Dublin on Monday because Katie and Jamie have a very small car. It's not easy squeezing four adults, one baby and a luxury pram into a Yaris!

I really enjoyed the LUAS and it was so convenient to be able to roll Evie's big pram right into the train.

This is the River Liffey which divides Dublin into north and south.




We walked from the train stop to Trinity College. The bell tower to the right is at Trinity and it tolls at exam times. I imagine it tolls at other times, too.



















Oliver St. John Gogarty traditional Irish pub is named after the famous Irish poet, playwright and surgeon. It offers traditional Irish food and drink and traditional Irish music 7 days a week. It is located in the center of Temple Bar, one of the busiest and most popular parts of Dublin, amid narrow cobbled 18th century streets.
Gogarty's also has a budget hostel and apartments.

It is only a short walk to Grafton Street and Trinity College.

Of course, we had to go to Grafton Street again. This man is a street artist who stands statue-still as tourists walk by. Imagine the startled looks when he moves!

While we were watching, a bird flew up and perched on his head. That really made his statue performance realistic.

Actually, my main reason for suggesting another trip to Grafton is the famous Butler's Chocolate Cafe - possibly the best chocolate anywhere.

It was a cool day so we really had to order hot chocolate.

We took our hot chocolates down the street to Bewley's to enjoy scones.

Perfect day in Dublin.

Hello Grandpa

Sunday was an exciting day for us.

We got up very early to drive to Dublin Airport

to meet Grandpa Jim.

He was on his way from Florida to see his new granddaughter for the very first time.

There's the door where we would see him come through from immigration.

Notice the sign. Almost all signs in Dublin are in English and Gaelic. A "car park" is what we call a parking lot.

See how excited Evie is to finally see Grandpa Jim!!!!!

We are all very happy that he is finally here. Even Jamie is grinning from ear to ear as he takes this picture.

Sunday was very special for another reason as well.

Jamie will be the Youth and Lay Pastoral Assistant for The Church of Ireland,

Church of St. John the Baptist in Clontarf. Sunday was his commissioning service.

We enjoyed a beautiful worship time and were warmly welcomed by the congregation.

The Rector of the Parish is

The Reverend Derek Sargent.

Autumn, Apples and Recent Trip to the Orchard

In July, the day after the AQS Show in Knoxville, Karen drove back to Michigan with me. We enjoyed a day visiting our parents and met our youngest sister for lunch.
We decided to update the pictures on our website and newsletter, as well as put a new picture on our new blog. My son Brian, camera in hand, followed Mom and Crazy Aunt Karen around the orchard on our photo shoot.







Debbie Mumm has designed "Apple Harvest" for South Sea Imports. Of course we love anything with apples. The Apple Harvest Panel has six different "blocks," and there are fifteen 7" X 6-3/4" blocks per panel. They are great for a wall hanging, table runner or placemats. It's so easy to make a matching apron with the Apple Harvest Apron Panel