Shop Tour for Home Schoolers

Last Friday, I gave a few of the home schooled kids who attend our Quilt Club a tour of the shop and a sneak peek of next year's session. These kids have worked hard all year making quilt blocks and learning about the 1950s along with the rest of us. In this photo, I am showing them how we put a club together and explaining what goes into preparing for each session.

Then I took them on a tour of the back side of the shop. I showed the web store desks, the mail order area, the cutting station in the back with all the fabric that is getting ready to go out in the mail, and then took them on an explanatory tour of the brick and mortar store.


While I was talking, Georgeann set up a table so she could teach them how to embroider. She found a cross-stitch pattern by Jack Dempsey that was pre-stamped on fabric. Each student got to pick out their own animal pattern, then choose a color of floss to work with. Then Georgeann gave them an embroidery lesson. She showed them how many strands of floss to use, how to make a knot, and how to do the stitches. It looked like fun!


One of the students was left handed, just like me. To make it easier for the student, I showed her how to make left handed stitches. And since you all know that I love to embroider, and do a whole bunch of it with my Grandma Rachel's Redwork Club, I was glad for the excuse to join them!

Next year, I've got some special things in mind for the Homeschoolers who attend the Quilt Club. Sewing and needle skills are an American tradition and I am glad that to see students learning about them as they stitch their blocks.

Mini-Vacation in California

In June, Stephen and I left the Quilt Shop in the capable hands of our employees and headed down to California to visit our daughter and son-in-law, Dannielle and Isaac Stahly. It was really close to their 2nd wedding anniversary, they had moved to a new apartment, and we hadn't seen them for a while. So we packed up the car and off we went.


As we got closer to California, we realized that it wasn't raining! If you live here in Oregon, you know that it rained 19 out of 30 days in June. Everything was green, green, green--and wet! Was summer ever going to get here? As you can see from the photo, though, it was sunny in California. We are both sporting sunglasses. (My children HATE my sunglasses, by the way, but they keep the sun out of my eyes quite nicely.) In fact, in Redding, it was HOT by mid-morning.


We weren't in Redding very long before we decided that we should visit the Golden Gate Bridge down in San Francisco. I had never been there before and, for some reason, I actually had it in my head that the bridge would be painted gold. And, of course, it isn't. When construction was originally proposed, the United States Navy wanted the bridge to be painted black with yellow stripes so it would be highly visible to ships. Instead, it was painted with red lead primer and a lead-based topcoat called orange vermillion, or international orange. The paint protects the bridge from the high salt content in the air, which rusts and corrodes the steel components.


Isaac totally knew his way around San Francisco. We were very thankful for that. Where Stephen and I live, three cars stopped at a traffic light can be considered a traffic jam. (And that's assuming there is a traffic light!) Driving in all that California traffic seemed to me like it could be very nerve-wracking. Hey, check it out. Isaac and Dannielle are also wearing sunglasses! They are standing at a viewpoint above the bridge. It was absolutely beautiful there.



So here's what I learned about the Golden Gate Bridge. Work on the bridge began on January 5, 1933, and was completed in April of 1937. Although every safety precaution was taken, eleven men actually died during construction. The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that has two main cables which pass over the tops of the two main towers and are secured at either end in giant anchorages. The main cables rest on top of the 746-foot main towers in huge steel castings that are called saddles. Each main cable has 61 bundles of galvanized steel wire. The total length of the bridge, including all of its approaches from abutment to abutment is an amazing 1.7 miles! The bridge itself is 90 feet wide and 4,200 feet long from tower to tower. Each of those anchorages weighs 60,000 tons.

I also discovered that at the time it was built, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world; however, when the Verrazano-Narrows bridge in New York City was completed in 1964, the Golden Gate Bridge lost this distinction. Today, the longest suspension bridge in the world is the Akashi-Kaikyo in Japan.

We had other adventures while we were in California. I'll write about them soon!

Sew Oregon Shop Hop Starts Tomorrow!

Sew Oregon, Oregon's State-wide quilt shop hop begins July 24, 2010. In its fourth year, this hop just keeps getting better and better. The theme this year is "Shades of Fall." Featured fabric was designed by Jo Morton. It is from her Ravenwood Collection by Andover.

The way the hop works is simple. Visit any participating quilt shop (including us!) to pick up a Sew Oregon passport. Each store you visit during the hop will stamp that passport to help you become eligible to win fabulous merchandise prizes. The more shops you visit, the more chances you have to win a prize!

In addition to stamping your passport, each shop will give you a quilt block kit for a 9" quilt block. (That's the pattern AND the fabric!) The block kit for Grandma's Attic is the Milky Way. We chose this block so you can remember what good friends you have at Grandma's Attic. (Can you see the friendship star in the block?) Putting nine of these blocks together and adding a small border gives you a nice little wall quilt measuring 30" square. You can also purchase a Sew Oregon shop hop bag for carrying your blocks as you collect them, and a shop hop pin to commemorate the occasion.

Grand prize is a Koala Treasure Chest Plus IV with Outback Leaf Extension and a Sew Comfort Adjustable Height Chair. There are also three sewing machines as prizes plus 12 additional gift baskets. These are absolutely wonderful prizes--and to think that you are eligible to win them simply by doing a little "shopping therapy" at your favorite quilt shops!

Flag Day - June 14

On August 3, 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. This was the culmination of efforts dating as far back as 1861 to have an annual day dedicated to celebrating the American Flag.

Over the years, there have been 27 official variations of the American Flag. Each modification occurred when additional states were added to the Union. The Flag as it flies today was adopted in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It includes 50 stars for the 50 states, with the last one added for Hawaii.

Although the colors on the American flag were not given any meanings at the time the flag was created, meanings were given for the colors of the Seal of the United States, which is also red, white and blue. Red stands for hardiness and valor. Blue stands for purity and innocence. Blue is for vigilance, perseverance and justice. The House of Representatives issued a book in 1977 which stated that the stars and stripes had further meaning. According to this book, the stars represent the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immortal, and the stripes are symbolic of the rays of light that emanate from the sun.

Each star on the flag has five points. Legend has it that Betsy Ross showed George Washington how to make a five pointed star with one snip of her scissors. Whether this is true or not, it's an enchanting story, and one that I discussed in our blog post about Betsy Ross on July 1, 2007.

You can make a five-pointed star just like the one Betsy Ross did. Click on the words five pointed star above and it will take you right to a page of instructions for making these stars.

If you are inspired to make your own patriotic project this summer, you'll find some fun patterns by clicking the link for Patriotic Patterns. You can also find American fabrics by clicking this link for Americana Fabric.

To learn more about flag etiquette and the proper way to fly a flag, go to the website of the U.S. Flag.

I just went to the official website and added our donations to the total for the One Million Pillowcase Challenge!

I am very pleased to report that we have had a total of 365 pillowcases donated as of June 6, 2010. This week I will be taking them to our three non-profits that we've chosen to receive them. I will post photos as soon as I have them. Thank you very very much for making this project possible. I know that it brings a ton of joy to the recipients!

The three area non-profits chosen to receive pillowcases returned to Grandma's Attic are Sable House, the local domestic violence shelter, the Ron Wilson Center for Effective Living and Partnerships in Community Living (PCL). We will definitely be adding to the list of non-profits that we donate pillowcases to, based on your generosity and willingness to participate.

I noticed when I went to the website that there have been a total of 93,078 pillowcases donated nationwide. Click here to see the current national pillowcase count. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the donors who are helping us give pillowcases to the non-profit organizations in Polk County.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our Pillowcase Challenge, throughout 2010, Grandma's Attic is asking you to make pillowcases and bring them to the shop where they will be donated to Polk County Area non-profit organizations. Each pillowcase is counted; then sent to the agencies. I'll put photos of the pillowcases donated to date on the blog this weekend--just as soon as I can get Stephen or Kyle to stop in with a camera to take photos.

If you'd like to get ideas for pillowcases that you can make, American Patchwork & Quilting has free pillowcase patterns available. Patterns are updated quarterly so there's bound to be something that catches your interest. You can make your pillowcases from any 100% cotton fabrics that you have or purchase. I think the only requirement is that they be standard size, clean, and something that you yourself would be proud to use!

Amelia Comes For a Visit

Meet Amelia, an exotic shorthair that my daughter Leah adopted at the Humane Society. Being a cat person, I think Amelia is just the sweetest thing. She's inquisitive but polite, and I swear to you that when you ask her to do something, she totally understands what you want. If she feels like it, she'll cooperate--move off your quilts, come say hello, let you pet her. If she doesn't, she will hop over to a comfy chair and dare you to ask again.

Because Leah was having major repair work done to her apartment, Amelia needed a place to stay where she wouldn't be in the way or freak out over loud noises. We didn't want to take her up to our house at the farm because Amelia is shy and we were concerned that the "cat politics" there might be too much for her--especially since our Edward is a little brat. We didn't want him beating up on her or calling her names because her face looks a little "pushed in." Being an exotic shorthair, Amelia is a cross between a Persian and an American Shorthair. She is very dainty and has a gentle personality. Edward, on the other hand, is a spoiled rotten gray tabby who thinks he's the omnipotent ruler of anywhere he happens to be.

So while the old heating system was torn out and a new heating and air conditioning system was installed, Amelia stayed in the back office of the shop. Within no time, she was "helping" me. If I was working at the computer, Amelia wanted to play with the mouse. If I was sorting quilts, Amelia wanted to take a nap. If I talked on the telephone, Amelia wanted to join the conversation. And because she's so darned cute, all of us had to stop and play with her. This proved to be quite distracting when there's a lot of work to be done!

Here's a photo of Amelia attempting to process the mail order. Her version of processing is to sit on the orders. Amelia and Leah are both back home now. If it ever quits raining here in Oregon, I know they're both going to love that new air conditioning unit.

Block of the Month Club 1/2 Price Special!

Joining a Block of the Month Club is a fun, creative way to try new skills or practice old ones. You can use them to make an entire quilt one block at a time, or for quick wall hangings, pillows, or gifts for family and friends.

The best part of joining a Block of the Month Club from Grandma's Attic is that we get to visit you one a month right at your mailbox! The postman brings you the package; and you get to open it up and see all the goodies you just got from Grandma--a Block of the Month Kit, the Grandma Gazette, and a Free Quilt Pattern. Fun, fun, and more fun! And because we know our customers enjoy working on our Block of the Month programs, we've decided to offer a Summer Special. Purchase any one of our other Block of the Month programs and you can also receive Nifty Novelties or Flirty '30s at the special rate of Half Price!

Who would know that these two quilts are made from exactly the same blocks using different fabric colorways and settings? Nifty Novelties uses bright, bold colors in a double sashing of blue and green. Flirty '30s is made from 1930s-style reproduction fabrics with lavender and yellow borders. Both of these quilts are easy to make and look gorgeous when completed.

Each month of our 12 month program, you receive rotary cutting instructions, plus the fabric you need to complete a 12" quilt block. After you've collected all 12 blocks, we send the Finishing Kit consisting of the sashing, posts, and border fabrics. The finished quilts measure approximately 57" x 72".

You get to decide which of these quilts you want to make at Half Price! As an added bonus, if you can't decide which one of these quilts you like the best, you can always sign up for two other Block of the Month Clubs and get them both!

Like the rest of our Block of the Month Clubs, you can start or stop at any time. Take a look at what we have to offer. Your clubs can be in your mailbox before you know it!

What I Got for Mother's Day

Traditionally, on Mother's Day, a mom can expect her older children to show up with flowers, and cards, and maybe even get taken out to lunch or dinner. And while the kids really did do all those lovely things for me for this Mother's Day, they also made the mistake of asking me what I would like to have.

Silly kids! They should have known I would come up with something that would require them to do just a wee bit more than purchase flowers, and cards, and take me to dinner. What I asked for (and received) was a remodel of parts of the quilt shop! And to take it even a step farther, I asked Amber and her children to help us out. Stephen helped out too.

It was total chaos at first! I wanted peg board hung up on a wall that was solid concrete. (Don't bore me with the details--I just wanted it done!) I also thought it would be nice to add a wall over near the books and blenders--something that would show off our patterns a little better. By that evening, the pegboard and walls were in place; the furniture had been rearranged; and the fabric was ready to be moved back into place.

Autumn painted pegboard and cupboards and a little bit of the back of one leg. Seana and Leah hauled fabric around until we got it put back "just right." Michael, Melissa, Kyle and Jeremy showed up to help out too. Amber sorted, and stacked, and lifted, and climbed up on the ladder. And then she climbed back on it again when I changed my mind.

I spent most of Monday making everything look pretty again. Kyle has promised to take some photos so we can add them to the blog next time. But for now, if you can possibly make it in, you should come and see what all we managed to accomplish in two short days.

I love the way the shop turned out. It's brighter and more open, and generally more "user-friendly." One thing is for sure. Next year, no one will ask me what I want for Mother's Day. I'll go back to receiving flowers, and cards, and dinner out, and I will love that too!

Grandma's Quilt Club

We had a lot of fun at Grandma's Quilt Club this past weekend, even if that joke I told was kind of "lame!" The Bobby Sox Sisters is our theme. The year was 1955, and Jenny Jello was having a bit of a break-down. It's a totally fun club. If you haven't joined it yet, it can be as close your own mailbox. Just click the link above to get started. We also heard stories from class attendees about their experiences with the TV show Queen for a Day. One lady in class had actually been a contestant on the show. She said she didn't win but she was the "runner-up." Her grand prize was a giant carton of cigarettes! If you can remember when they advertised cigarettes on TV, then you're probably close in age to Grandma!

Here's a picture of one of my favorite class members. Gladys is 97 years old and still sewing quilts. See? You really will get all those quilts made from your stash. You just have to stay healthy!

And here's that silly joke I told: A woman brought a very limp duck to a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, but your pet duck, Cuddles, has passed away."

"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.

The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly, and then strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman again and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."

The vet then turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys, and produced a bill which he handed to the owner. The duck's owner, still in shock, looked at the bill. "$150!" she cried. "$150 just to tell me that my duck is dead?"

The vet shrugged. "I'm sorry," he said. "If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20. But with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."

Quilter's Safari Shop Hop Begins Today!

It's Back to Africa for Eunice P. Fogbottom and her cohorts! Quilter's Safari Shop Hop begins today and continues through May 1st. If you are a quilter/sewing enthusiast and live anywhere near the Mid-Willamette Valley of Oregon, you will want to participate in this "Off the Beaten Path" shop hop.

For one thing, there are some really fun shops participating in this Hop. Some of them maybe you don't get to very often, but you should, if only to see what's new and what they have to offer. For another, more door prizes are awarded during this Hop than any other you will ever go on. Your chances of winning a door prize are HUGE. All you have to do is gather up a bunch of your friends, find the car keys, and hit the road. Don't forget to bring Grandma or others who don't get out too often. Each shop has fabulous samples of quilts and other projects hanging on the walls so it will be like a miniature Quilt Show every time you get out of the car. Your Grandma (or Mom, or Aunt, or neighbor) would love that! Your husband might even agree to tag along if you bribe him with some special treat along the way. (Then again, maybe he's better left at home! You decide.)

Grandma's Attic is the northern most shop participating in the hop. If you live north of Dallas, Oregon, you can start at our shop and work your way South. Or you could choose to start in the South and work your way home. Either way, it's going to be a fun day filled with quilt shops and fabric. You can start at any of the shops along the way.

Our Hop continues through May 1st. Click here for additional details!

One Million Pillowcases Challenge Update

We just checked in with the Counter for the One Million Pillowcase Challenge and added 14 pillowcases that have been generously donated by our customers!

I noticed when I went to the website that there have been a total of 59,245 pillowcases donated nationwide. Click here to see the current national pillowcase count. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the donors who are helping us give pillowcases to the non-profit organizations in Polk County.

Throughout 2010, Grandma's Attic is asking you to make pillowcases and bring them to the shop where they will be donated to Polk County Area non-profit organizations. Each pillowcase is counted; then sent to the agencies. I'll put photos of the pillowcases donated to date on the blog this weekend--just as soon as I can get Stephen or Kyle to stop in with a camera to take photos.

If you'd like to get ideas for pillowcases that you can make, American Patchwork & Quilting has free pillowcase patterns available. Patterns are updated quarterly so there's bound to be something that catches your interest. You can make your pillowcases from any 100% cotton fabrics that you have or purchase. I think the only requirement is that they be standard size, clean, and something that you yourself would be proud to use!

Thank you for considering this worthwhile cause. I picked out a bright red fabric with puppies on it to make a pillowcase for this project. You can order a kit just like it at our pillowcase kits page! Isn't it cute?

Color of Peace Quilt Challenge

For some time now, Grandma's Attic has been holding Quilt Challenges to support Sable House, our local domestic violence shelter. The themes have all revolved around "The Color of" concept. We skipped the challenge last year, but the year before that we held The Color of Love. We've also done the Color of Courage, The Color of Healing and the Color of Hope.

Entry packets for this year's theme, The Color of Peace, include five theme fabrics, challenge rules, and an entry form. All proceeds from the sale of the packets go directly to Sable House. The maximum quilt size for quilts entered into the challenge should not exceed 180 total inches when all sides are added together; however, there is no minimum size requirement. Each quilt must incorporate all theme fabrics, although the amount used is up to you. The remainder of the fabric used can be quilter's choice.

Quilts are due in to Grandma's Attic by July 15, 2010 where they will be displayed from July 17-31, 2010. The general public will be invited to vote for their favorites. Winners will be selected by customer ballot (one vote per viewer) based on Best Interpretation of Theme and Best Use of Color. (Remember, this is the general public, not professional quilt judges, so don't be afraid to enter.) First Place prize is $100 gift certificate to Grandma's Attic; Second Place prize is $50 gift certificate; Third Place is a $25 gift certificate. In addition, Best Interpretation of Theme will win a five yard fabric bundle and Best Use of Color will receive a Gift Baskets filled with color tools.

Quilts will also be displayed at the Polk County Fair in Rickreall, Oregon August 12-15, 2010 , and on display at other locations as well. All quilts will be returned to their owners by September of 2010.

If you'd like to participate in this quilt challenge, you can purchase a packet either at the shop or on the web.

One Million Pillowcase Challenge

Make a Pillowcase--Make a Difference! A pillowcase can provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident. Grandma's Attic is participating in American Patchwork and Quilting's One Million Pillowcase Challenge! AP&Q is challenging quilters, sewers and crafters nationwide to make pillowcases that can make a difference within local communities.

Throughout 2010, Grandma's Attic is asking you to make pillowcases and bring them to the shop where they will be donated to Polk County Area non-profit organizations. Each pillowcase will be counted and the numbers made sent to the pillowcase counter at AP&Q. The counter will keep track of nationwide progress toward the goal of making one million pillowcases in all. This is an opportunity for us to really make a difference within our community. It's a simple thing for us to do but it can have a BIG impact!

Three area non-profits have been chosen to receive pillowcases returned to Grandma's Attic. Sable House, the local domestic violence shelter, will receive pillowcases. In addition, Leah, our daughter who has a brain injury, has chosen the Ron Wilson Center for Effective Living and Partnerships in Community Living (PCL) to receive pillowcases. Both of these organizations are dedicated to serving the needs of the disabled in Polk County. Depending on the number of pillowcases received, Grandma's Attic may be able to donate them to other area charities as well.

Joining American Patchwork & Quilting magazine in support of the One Million Pillowcase challenge are 2010 sponsors: AccuQuilt, BERNINA, Clothworks, The Fabric Shop Network's Independents Unite Campaign, Handi-Quilter, Moda, Paintbrush Studios, Presencia,Red Rooster Fabrics, RJR Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, and Timeless Treasures.

We hope you will consider joining our efforts as we make pillowcases for others in our community. In addition to Grandma's pillowcase pattern pillowcase pattern and pillowcase club of the month, Grandma's Attic also has pillowcase kits. Each kit contains the fabric and pattern you need to make one standard size pillowcase.

Our Pillowcase Challenge runs through 2010. Please join us in making a difference by providing pillowcases to non-profit organizations in Polk County.

National Quilting Day - March 20

Did you know that there was an entire day devoted solely to quilting?

National Quilting Day began with a resolution passed by members of the National Quilting Association at their 22nd Annual Show in Lincoln, Nebraska, in June 1991. The 3rd Saturday in March was officially designated as National Quilting Day. It all began in 1989 when the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society organized "Quilter's Day Out" to celebrate the rich tradition of quilt making in Kentucky. The first National Quilting Day was observed in 1992.

For 2010, the theme is Tie One On ... For the Troops. They have a free quilt pattern available at their website. It's a Tree with a yellow ribbon at its base. The pattern is composed of 3" squares and half-square triangles so it's not hard to make at all. Click here to get their free quilt pattern. If you know a Veteran or a Veteran's family, this might be a great little gift for them.

There are countless ways to celebrate National Quilting Day. Here are a few ideas: 1) Make it a service day and work on a quilt for your favorite cause; 2) Organize an exhibit at your local library or historical society; 3) Work on a quilt with a school, 4-H, scout troop or simply sew with a grandchild; 4) Sponsor a sewing day making lap quilts for seniors. Turn it into an oral history project capturing stories of the community; 5) Give a baby quilt to the first baby born on National Quilting Day each year.

I'm going to spend this day working at Grandma's Attic. First, I will conduct the last class of the 2009 Clothesline Club, and then I'll work on a couple of quilt projects I've been dreaming up to present to you all in April. How will you spend the day? I hope it will be filled with many happy quilting thoughts.

St. Patrick's Day Recipe and Blessings

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

To celebrate the occasion, I am posting a tasty recipe and some Irish blessings that you might find uplifting. The recipe is for Corned Beef and Cabbage. I can't remember when the last time was that I actually prepared Corned Beef and Cabbage. Just typing in the ingredients was pretty inspiring though. I wonder how far back in the cupboard I've buried that Dutch Oven!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice pack
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges

Place the corned beef brisket into a large pot or Dutch Oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender. Add in whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are nearly tender. Add the cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest for another 15 minutes. Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much of the cooking liquid as you have reserved in the large pot or Dutch Oven as desired. To serve, slice meat across the grain.

Irish Blessings to Brighten Your Day

May you live as long as you want,
and never want as long as you live.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
the blessings that come each day.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse
than the happiest day of your past.

May the Lord keep you in His hand
And never close His fist too tight.

May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
and heaven accept you.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

Webstore Postage Charges

From time to time we hear those stories about how mail that never got delivered was found in the attic of an overworked postal worker, and of packages that sat in a truck on a loading dock during a busy holiday season. It's enough to drive you crazy when you operate a webstore that relies on mailing services! (And believe me, I don't need any help in the crazy department.)

I think everyone would agree that postal rates are high, yet how else does one receive merchandise when ordering on line? Clearly, you want your items as quickly as possible, in good shape, and at the lowest possible price. Right? At least that's what I want when I'm ordering on line.

After carefully studying all the mailing options available, we decided to mail as many packages as possible using the United States Post Office's priority mail system. We believe this method is the safest and quickest means of delivery available. These packages come in sturdy priority mailing boxes that are insured and sent with confirmation of receipt numbers. That way, should something go wrong, we have a hope of being able to resolve the problem. If your package is not received, we can track down where it landed using the confirmation numbers. If, heaven forbid, it is damaged, postage insurance can protect you. In our opinion, using USPS priority mail means that you have the highest probability of receiving your packages in a safe, secure, timely and convenient method.

And then there's our web store shopping cart. It's a great shopping cart that is totally secure when it comes to keeping your information private and protected. It's not so great when it comes to calculating postage. And that's because the United States postal system has decided to use "zones" to figure out how much postage to charge. Depending on where you live, postage can cost more or less than what it says on the order at check-out time. So what to do?

Our shopping cart postage charts are an "estimate" by the computer of what it will cost to mail a package to you based on price. It's the way the software in the web store is set up--an automatic thing but not necessarily what we will actually charge on smaller orders. If it costs more to send your order to where you live in the United States than you are charged, we do not charge extra postage. If we can get it to you at a lesser rate because of the zone you live in, we adjust the postage price down to reflect a lower amount. And clearly, we are not going to charge you $4.95 to send a package of needles your way, or a single pattern or block club packet. For those things, we do use first class mail whenever possible. (And if you think delivery to the United States is complicated, it's even crazier when shipping overseas!)

Bottom line is that every time postal rates go up, we are driven a little farther around the bend to insanity. We work hard to ensure that postal rates charged to you are fair and comprehensive. Hopefully, with this explanation of how the system works and why we use USPS priority mail for shipping the majority of our packages, you will have a better understanding of why we charge what we charge to get your goods to you as quickly and safely as possible!

The Hoffman Challenge

This year's Hoffman Challenge fabric and coordinating pieces has arrived! The challenge piece is a gorgeous turquoise and gold. The coordinates are equally as beautiful.

For the 2010, the Hoffman Challenge has a new curator, Julie Breidt. In addition, Hoffman Fabrics will be donating $1 for every entry received to breast cancer research. New curator Julie Breidt is matching that dollar, so breast cancer research will actually receive $2 for every entry received.

Every year a team from Hoffman Fabrics chooses an upcoming fabric design and then issues a challenge to quilt, clothing, doll and accessory makers to create an original item using the fabric. The challenge curator and a group of assistants jury the entries and then a select team of judges chooses the award winners and cash prizes are given.

The juried collections then travel to be exhibited by quilt and other fiber guilds, shops, museums and textile shows. The exhibits are displayed and enjoyed in several hundred locations across the United States and Canada.

Started in 1988, the Hoffman Challenge has grown to be a premiere traveling quilt, clothing and doll collection. The quality of entries and a growing number of exhibit requests have led Hoffman to establish additional traveling collections. Currently, twelve collections travel coast-to-coast within the United States and Canada.

In 2010, the Hoffman Challenge celebrates its 22nd anniversary. In 1987, the Challenge began with 94 enthusiastic quilters. Some years the number of entries have been more than 700. In addition to the three quilt categories (pieced, applique and mixed technique), new categories include clothing/wearable art, accessories and dolls. While the majority of the entries come from the United States, many international entries are also received.

Deadline for entries in this year's Hoffman Challenge is July 23, 2010. Click here for more information on how you can join the fun.

My Summer Vacation

If this doesn't get you in the mood to spend a day at the beach in Oregon, nothing will. Judy Hillman has created a fabulous wall quilt depicting some of her favorite beach scenes.

My Summer Vacation is easy to construct and fun to make! A center panel shows a seal basking on the rocks. Ten other blocks depict common summer beach themes. The quilt is constructed using primarily batik fabrics, fusible web and blanket stitch applique. Finished Size is: 52" x 55"

The weather was so beautiful in Oregon today, I really wanted to be at the beach myself! Instead, we opened the back door and let a little of that sunshine in.

Here's a closer photo of the blocks in this quilt. It's bright, it's happy, and it makes me smile!

New Quilt Club - Bobby Sox Sisters

Now the club our in-store customers enjoy is available by mail--as close as your mailbox and just as fun! The Bobby Sox Sisters Quilt Club meets once a month at Grandma's Attic. Apple Betty, Patti Poundcake and Jenny Jello are three young girls at the end of World War II. We're following these members of the Silent Generation as they grow up, sharing their stories and learning about the 1940s&50s. Each month club members receive a pattern for a pieced quilt block, plus the fabric needed to create it. Members also receive an exclusive newsletter filled with information from the time period, including recipes, tips, hints and redwork patterns. Available in both 1930s and 19th Century colorways, you'll want to join the fun!

That Dreaded Inventory

It's that time of year again when we take a day to conduct a complete inventory at Grandma's Attic. That means we have to count every single thing that is in the shop--a feat that could take forever if we didn't ask our family, employees and friends to participate. This year, Georgeann served as our team leader. She broke us up into teams of two and sent us to various areas in the shop to get the job done. This first photo is a picture of Georgeann at the front counter. She stays available so that when we find an item without a price, or have a question about something, she can remedy the situation.

I also asked Michael and Jeremy to help me in the back room organizing and counting all of the Calico Hills Farm patterns and putting them into new storage containers. This is a picture of Michael with his clipboard and sheets for counting all the patterns. He's still smiling so the job must not have been too bad!

Out front, each team was given an area of the shop to count. Charlotte and Cheryl got the task of counting all the skeins of DMC Floss and spools of thread. Tiffany and Kelly were over in the notions department counting buttons and rotary cutters and other notions.
Teams that worked with fabrics, including Melissa and Carly, had to count all of the wraps on each bolt. This photo is a photo of Melissa recording fabric while Carly counts it. The best way for a team to count fabric is for one person to count and the other to record the results. When you are counting fabric wraps, it is always a good idea to use a knitting needle to help separate each wrap. Every two wraps is a yard of fabric. This is also good information if you are purchasing fabric and want to know if there will be enough fabric on the bolt for your project.


Here's Michael and Jeremy counting the Calico Hills Farm patterns. In all, there were 22 of us taking inventory. We got it all done in just one day, even though we stopped mid-way through to enjoy six large pizzas from the local pizza parlor. Yummy!

Now, all that's left to do is to count up the inventory sheets that were created and do a little straightening of shelves. We're good to go for another year!