Images of Oregon

We're pleased to announce that we now have one of our most popular redwork series available for purchase on our site: Images of Oregon. These lovely redwork patterns, thirteen in all, feature some of the most famous and recognizable icons of Oregon: the Covered Wagon, a Chinook Salmon, and Crater Lake just to name a few. Make a lovely dishtowel using these patterns, then give it as a gift to a friend or relative to remind them of home, or to bring a touch of the American Northwest into your life.

Twelve of the patterns here were originally featured in an earlier version of our equally popular Five Dollar Quilt Club, but we've added a bonus pattern as a special gift to those who buy this great packet. We've already seen some lovely examples of how these particular images have been incorporated into quilt blocks, samplers, and the like. Click on the picture to visit our site and order this great redwork embroidery project!

Rare History!

Back in 1969, Bonnie Leman published the very first issue of Quilter's Newsletter from her own kitchen table and the quilting world has not been the same since! Still going strong today, Quilter's Newsletter is one of the flagship magazines of the Quilting world, a place where quilters can find the latest quilting news, get great new patterns, or learn the best tips and tricks on how to make your quilt and the love of quilting even more enjoyable.

Well, have I got NEWS for you! My friend is offering to our blog readers the very first opportunity to bid on a rare piece of quilting history: 34! years of Quilter's Newsletter magazine in one huge collection, nearly all of the consecutive issues from March 1972 through to December 2006. (The collection is missing only two issues from that date range: #42 Apr. 1973 and #148 Jan. 1983. However, a bonus issue, #15 Jan. 1971, will be included in the final winning bid.)

Wow! is about all I can say. This collection is a veritable treasure trove of quilting history and information that would be hard for any serious lover or scholar of quilting and Quilter's Newsletter Magazine to pass up. Certainly, this collection would be a presitigous and welcome addition to any quilt library.

To bid on this collection of approximately 300 issues, all you have to do is sign our guestbook AND, in the comment box, write in "BID ON Q.N. Magazine" with the amount (in US$) that you would like to offer!

(*The winning bidder also pays for shipping or can arrange to pick up at our location.)

We'll respond to the best offer as soon as we can and let everyone know when my friend closes the bidding. Don't miss your chance on this great bit of quilt history!

Fun with Dick and Jane

Do you remember Dick and Jane? These popular children's reading books featuring Dick and Jane were first introduced in the 1930s. They taught school children reading, values, and to be of good cheer for nearly 40 years. The simple sentences were repeated over and over again until children could catch on.

I first learned to read with the now famous Dick and Jane books. So, when I saw that Michael Miller was introducing a new collection based on these beloved books, I simply had to see it. And, you know what? The Dick and Jane Fabric Collection was so wonderful that we ordered it in both colorways! Our Retro bundle features 17 Fat Quarters of coordinating fabric in retro colors with a coordinating panel on cream backgrounds. To order the Retro bundle, click here! Our Primary bundle features 19 fun Fat Quarters of coordinating fabric in primary colors with a coordinating panel on white backgrounds. To order the Primary Bundle, click here!

The neat thing about having two colorways is that each colorway features totally different fabrics. If you want all 36 fabrics, plus the two panels, you will need to order both bundles. After you complete your own project using the fabric from this fun collection, you may be tempted to write your own Dick and Jane book: See Jane quilt. Quilt, Jane, quilt!

Mamie Eisenhower's Fudge Recipe

Can you imagine a quilt that costs you only $5.00 to make? If you follow all the rules and come to our in-store class faithfully, you'll have 12 quilt blocks for just that amount! Our five-dollar quilt club classes (already in full swing) are loads of fun, with door prize drawings, demonstrations and free patterns. The blocks are available in four different colorways, and classes meet the first Friday and Saturday of each month. You don't have to worry about classes having already started because you can join at any time. (Note: five dollars gets you started, and five dollars gets you re-started if, being a busy person like us, you happen to miss a class session.)

Our theme this year is the First Ladies of America. We've been learning about the lives of twelve of America’s First Ladies. Just this past weekend, we discussed the life of Mamie Eisenhower. There are a lot of great stories about Mamie, including the time early on in their marriage when she took Ike's old car to visit him where he happened to be stationed at the time. Although she did not know how to drive, she made the trip successfully, but once at the base, Ike had to jump into the car to get it to stop. The Eisenhowers were also known to occasionally eat dinner on snack trays in front of the TV set, usually watching one of their favorite shows like "I Love Lucy," or "You Bet Your Life."

But perhaps one of our favorite tidbits from Mamie Eisenhower's life happens to be her "Million Dollar Fudge" recipe, a recipe reproduced by housewives all over the United States in a variety of publications. Here it is:

Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge

• 4-1/2 cups of Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of Butter
• 1 pinch of Salt
• 1 tall can of Evaporated Milk
• 12 ounces of Semi-sweet Chocolate Bits
• 12 ounces of German Sweet Chocolate
• 1 pint of Marshmallow Cream
• 2 cups of chopped Nutmeats

Heat the sugar, butter, salt and evaporated milk over low heat, stirring until the chocolate dissolves. Bring to a boil, and boil for six minutes. Put the chocolate bits, german chocolate, marshmallow cream and nutmeats into a heat resistant bowl. Pour the mixture you've been boiling over the ingredients you've just placed in the bowl. Beat until the chocolate has melted, and then pour it all into a pan. Let it stand for a few hours before cutting it into fudge sized pieces. Remember, it is even better the second day. Store in a tin box.