Dannielle's Graduation

Stephen and I are heading down to Redding, California this weekend. Our daughter Dannielle is graduating with honors (summa cum laude) on Saturday. She has a degree in Cross Cultural Studies. She's not exactly sure whether she's continuing her education next Fall but she's been thinking she'd like to be a Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner. We're very proud of her.

The Virginia Tech Memorial Quilt Block project is progressing. We are beginning to receive quilt blocks from the fabric that we've sent out. All I can say about these blocks is that they are fabulous! I hope to post pictures of them to the blog as soon as we get back from California.

I am a firm believer that every single one of us has a unique gift or talent to share with the rest of the world. Every once in a while, we are privileged to glimpse into a person's soul through the artistry of their quilt blocks. We are honored to be putting the quilt blocks up in the shop as they come in and hope to see yours among them!

To participate in this project, we are asking quilters who have been moved by the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech to join us by making a 12-1/2" square quilt block (unfinished size) in the colors of Virginia Tech--maroon and orange. We will then assemble the blocks into quilts. Finished quilts will be sent to Virginia Tech. Everyone who participates in this project will have their name listed on the quilt and included in the documentation about our project. If you would like to incorporate some of the Virginia Tech fabric we talked about in our last blog post, go to Grandma's Attic website and drop us a note in our comment section of the form on that link. While supplies last, we will send you a small piece of this fabric to use in your block.

Make your quilt block in the colors of Virginia Tech--maroon and orange. Please do not introduce other colors into the color scheme as this is a school spirit quilt. Add only maroon, orange and neutrals (white, black, gray, off white) to your quilt block. The block doesn't have to look dull and drab--just be predominantly Tech colors. Once you have finished your block, mail or bring it to Grandma's Attic at the address listed here on our website. Please note: in order to be included in the project, quilt blocks need to be returned to us by June 2, 2007.

This project is historically significant! It's a way of sharing what you were thinking and feeling at this moment in time with future generations. What could be better than that?

Love and Support for Virginia Tech

The overwhelming show of support for the students and faculty of Virginia Tech and all who were affected by the recent tragedy on that campus has been so profoundly moving, so deeply touching, that it is nearly impossible to describe it in mere words. It has only been a few days into the Virginia Tech Memorial Quilt Block project and we have already been privileged to witness the outpouring of love and concern for our fellow human beings in their moment of stunning grief and terrible sadness.

People from nearly every state in America, even from across the ocean in the United Kingdom, have sent in e-mails volunteering to help assemble the blocks for this very special project. Soon, we hope to share with you some pictures of the results of the concern for Virginia Tech and its process of healing. But for now, we thought we would share some of the comments we have received through our online store.

From New York: What a strange coincidence [for Stephen] to have "sneaked" in Virginia Tech Fabric [into the cart] and what a fitting tribute to a most horrific event. God works in mysterious ways to have directed you in this. Please send me a piece so I may be a part of your quilt project. Thank you.

From Texas: I just read your blog regarding Virginia Tech. It [...] really touched my heart. Such a tragedy in such a beautiful and peaceful place. I love Virginia, just having moved away a year ago. I would be honored to help make blocks for the quilts [...] for the families who lost their most precious gifts, their children.

From Arizona: I would like to be a part of [the] VT quilt. What happened there is just too awful for words. [The] quilt will say what some of us are having a hard time expressing in words.

These comments touched our hearts more than you know and affirmed our belief in the common decency of humanity. We have also received many other e-mails from graduates and alumni of Virginia Tech, like Stephen, who have been so troubled that tragedy could strike in a place dear to their hearts. It is clear that their love for their Alma Mater does not simply reside in the buildings on campus, but also within the students and faculty who attend or have attended.

Most moving of all, however, has been the heart-wrenching e-mails from people who have felt the touch of this tragedy even closer to their lives:

From Tennessee: My son is a field engineer [...], and is a graduate of VT. He was a jr. and sr. while [the shooter] was a freshman and sophomore. [...] He has a degree in Computer Engineering. The Israeli professor was his advisor when he was a freshman. [...] I wore my VT Mom shirt to work on Tuesday and have a Hokie shirt on today, since it is mourning day for the victims of the tragedy. That's OK, but this will be a more concrete thing to do.

From Virginia: I am from [Virginia], know many Hokies, and work with several mothers at Tech. It has been a horrific week. Thanks for offering something meaningful for the quilting community to do.

From Virginia: Please send me a piece of the VA Tech fabric. I would like to make a square or two for your quilts. Thank you and God bless you for your thoughtfulness. We lost a local student in the tragedy.

This response leads us to affirm the reason why we are making quilt blocks to assemble into quilts for the families who have felt the cold touch of these heart-breaking events. Blankets by themselves are a powerful symbol of healing and nurturing within a society. For example, one of the first methods to comfort someone suffering from grief and trauma is to wrap them in a blanket. Like blankets, quilts are also a symbol of healing, but through the art and love people put in them, and the messages they can convey, the healing can become more personal and touching. The love of family, the connection to home, the things that are important to us are woven into the spirit of a quilt block in a way much more powerful than a simple solid colored blanket.

Although we cannot be physically present to offer each individual affected by this tragedy our personal sympathies, to offer each person a comforting touch on the shoulder, we hope that we can offer the most tangible thing we can give instead: the fabric hug of a quilt wrapped around them.

Please Note: There is still time to participate! Follow the directions in the previous post (click here to view it) to receive the Virginia Tech Fabric, and remember, make sure your completed block is returned to us by June 2, 2007 to be included in the final assembled quilts.

Virginia Tech Memorial Quilts Project

Grandma's Attic is making memorial quilts for Virginia Tech. We are asking quilters who have been moved by this recent tragedy to join us by making a quilt block 12-1/2" square (unfinished size) in the colors of Virginia Tech--maroon and orange. We will assemble your blocks into quilts. Finished quilts will be sent to Virginia Tech as an offering to all who have been affected by recent events. Everyone who participates in this project will have their name listed on the quilt. If you would like to incorporate some of the Virginia Tech fabric we talked about in our last blog post, go to Grandma's Attic website and drop us a note in our comment section of the form on that link. We'll send you a small piece of this fabric to use in your block.

Make your quilt block in the colors of Virginia Tech--maroon and orange. Please do not introduce other colors into the color scheme as this is a school spirit quilt. Add only maroon, orange and neutrals (white, black, gray, off white) to your quilt block. Once you have finished your block, mail or bring it to Grandma's Attic at the address listed here on our website. Please note: in order to be included in the project, quilt blocks need to be returned to us by June 2, 2007.

Quilts have always served as historical symbols of comfort and support. As a Quilt Historian, I couldn't let this moment in history go by without commemorating it with a quilt full of the hugs and healing we all feel for the victims, survivors, students and faculty. God bless each and every one of you in advance for participating in this very special project. To learn more about Stephen's and my connection to Virginia Tech, please read the post below.

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

A few weeks ago, Stephen and I decided to take time away from our normal work routines and spend the day together. At the last minute, I remembered that I needed to get a few things at a fabric warehouse so I asked him to tag along. While I was picking out the fabric I needed for the shop, Stephen noticed some bolts of fabric with collegiate names on them. "Hey, honey," he said, "here's a bolt with Virginia Tech motifs on it." I sort of nodded in his direction and said, "That's nice," while continuing to shop the warehouse. When it came time to check out, Stephen loaded up the car while I talked with a sales rep about other things. Imagine my surprise when I got back to the shop and discovered that I was now the proud owner of a bolt of Virginia Tech fabric--bright orange with maroon motifs, including a football helmet and a turkey! We live in Oregon now. What in the world was I going to do with this? Stephen had apparently snuck the bolt into the cart while I wasn't looking!

I decided to make a joke about it at the $5.00 quilt club meeting. I told participants about how Stephen loved his alma mater, Virginia Tech. Not only did Stephen get all his degrees at Tech, but I used to work in the geology department. (What I remember about that job was that my desk was wedged in and among various buckets of rocks! Sometimes I would have to move little boulders off the desk so that I would have enough room to type--making sure to keep them labeled and in order for the professors to study.) I also told club members that it was obvious that Stephen liked this orange and maroon fabric or he wouldn't have snuck it into my cart. The kids and I decided that we would make him some "projects" for Father's Day, but we weren't sure what. I asked for and received suggestions from the group, including pillowcases, curtains for the tool room, a quilt in a pillow, etc. At the time, April 6 and 7, it was a pretty funny story.

Everything about that changed early morning on April 16. I was at my desk in the back office when my mother called and told me that there had been a "shooting" at Virginia Tech, one student was dead. I couldn't believe it! As the day progressed, the news got worse and worse, ending finally with the tragic discovery that 33 people, the gunman included, had been killed on the Virginia Tech Campus. Stephen and I were so shocked we spent the entire day glued to the television set. The whole thing was too horrific and overwhelmingly sad to actually take in and try to comprehend. I think we've continued to be in a state of shock over this. I've always wanted people to know about Virginia Tech, but this is certainly not what I wanted them to equate with the school. Can you imagine? "Virginia Tech--oh yeah, isn't that the school where that terrible shooting occurred?" I'd rather people remember Tech for all the positive things that make it special.

You see, Stephen and I met in Blacksburg, Virginia. Our first "date" was at Virginia Tech where we attended a play at Burrus Hall. We used to walk along the paths of the drill field, feed the ducks at the duck pond, visit the veterinary barns to see the cows, watch the 4th of July fireworks, and in general "hang out" together at Tech. Homecoming Parades were always a treat. The Highty Tighties marching band practiced in the streets of Blacksburg all year long, and we loved hearing them play. We loved the fact that the alumni band would come to town and ride in the parade on an air conditioned bus with the windows opened so that 80-year-old band members could serenade the crowds. We thought the alumni band always sounded the best!

We were married in Blacksburg. Two of our daughters were born at Montgomery Regional Hospital. I owned a business in the center of Blacksburg and was part of the Downtown Business Association that put on the summer festivals and raised money for downtown improvements. The business owners were special too. Shops had names like Mish Mish; Books, Strings & Things; Mainstreet Bazaar; E. Gadd's (that was my shop); College Inn, Carolee Donuts, and Gilly's Ice Cream. All of our shops were adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus, and during those years, we literally saw thousands of students come through our doors as friends, customers, co-workers, and employees.

While Stephen was busy getting his degrees, he had an office on the 2nd floor of Norris Hall, the building so central to this tragedy. He taught classes on the 2nd floor of Norris--in Room 211 to be exact. I visited him there many times. We always thought that Tech was a beautiful, peaceful campus with an energy all its own, and we think that to this day.

As you can tell, many of our fondest memories together are wrapped up in that school. Now, some of our saddest memories reside there as well. Stephen knew Professor Librescu, the Holocaust Survivor who used his body to block the door so that his students could escape.

So, needless to say, it's been a difficult week. Now, the fabric that Stephen put into our cart has special meaning. I've even called the warehouse and ordered the rest of this fabric that they had in stock. Stephen and I strongly believe it would be fitting to put together quilts for the families of the victims. We're asking others to join us in making quilt blocks from this fabric to be sewn into quilts. I'm also going to mention this project at my $5 Quilt Club. If you'd like to help make a block or two for this project, let me know.

Chick Day!

April 7th was "Chick Day" at our house. That's when Stephen went to the Feed Store and brought home six new baby chicks to add to his small barnyard brood. He's got 16 chickens now, counting the babies, and that's enough for anyone. Stephen registered his flock with the Oregon State University program to ensure that he has the latest updates on raising chickens and keeping them safe from illness. He built a special box for the new chicks, adjusted the heat lamp, and got everything placed "just so." Stephen's chickens produce an average of six to eight eggs per day. That means he's got as many eggs as the Easter Bunny. He gives them away to family and friends. The chickens come to him when he calls and follow him anywhere he goes!

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.

Patchwork Party

Patchwork Party 2007 – Spring Edition is a series of beautiful quilt blocks designed by Marti Michell using Moda’s Sanctuary line of fabric by 3 Sisters. The way it works is simple. You collect all 12 of these beautiful blocks by visiting the 12 online merchants participating in the program. Each of the 12 shops has an exclusive block that you can only get at that quilt shop. Our exclusive block is Spring Glenn. Marti said that she came up with the block in honor of her maiden name, "Glenn."

In addition to our exclusive quilt blocks, we've also created a way for you to turn your blocks into a beautiful quilt titled “A Rose by Any Other Name.” Our finishing kit includes the pattern and all the fabric you need to create a quilt top big enough to fit a queen sized bed! The 95" square quilt was designed by Rachel Greco and Marge McCanse using a traditional quilt block designed by Jane Davis. Quilting was done by Virginia Chandler. The appliqué part can be done using traditional, needleturn or fusible web methods.

We are really excited to be a part of Patchwork Party 2007 again this year. It has been really fun to hear from our customers in the shop and online, and to discover how they've chosen to create their quilts. Sewing with friends can be lots of fun! Many customers have held "parties" of their own, inviting their quilting buddies to work on their blocks together. We think that's a delightful way to make the blocks and be with friends. And if you just happened to bring a chocolate cake, well, what could be more fun than that???

Chinese New Year

February 18th marks Chinese New Year. And, according to the Chinese Zodiac, this particular year happens to be the "year of the pig." It is believed that people born during the year of the pig are generally more honest, straight-forward, and successful than those born during other years. We're not completely convinced that is the case. But we do know one thing: the pig is only about one of the cutest animals on the entire planet ever!

So, to mark the occasion, we're highlighting our latest fabric arrival featuring Olivia the Pig, a pig who loves to dance, paint, and even go on the occasional beach trip to build sand castles. Olivia, in her debut book by Ian Falconer, won the Caldecott Award for children's literature. But everyone, children or adults, enjoy the irresistible enthusiasm and creative spirit of Olivia and her many adventures, the latest adventure being perhaps in your next quilting project. Check our newest products pages often for Olivia's next spirited arrival!

UPDATE: Olivia has arrived! Check out all of the fabulous fabrics in this whimsical line by clicking the above link!

We're Back!

Welcome to our blog "In Grandma's Attic," the place where you can find out all the latest news about Grandma's Attic. Here you get all of the inside information about our fantastic sales, new products and reviews, favorite recipes, and all our upcoming secret projects.

Way back in the Spring of 2005, we had a vision of sharing our love of quilting and all of the related fiber arts with all our fabulous customers with a blog, "blog" being a fancy new word for an online journal. As one of the oldest and most respected online quilting retailers on the world wide web, it just made sense for us to connect with our customers in this way.

While many projects and developments have kept us busy for the last few years, we've decided to come back from our hiatus with an official relaunching. Whether you've discovered us for the first time, or are a regular customer, we'd like to welcome you to our new online adventure.

Our Recent Vacation

Stephen and I took a mini vacation earlier this month. It was nice to visit other sites in Oregon. We basically started driving from the Willamette Valley area and went all the way to Joseph, Oregon. We then went back to Enterprise, crossed up into Washington and went as far as Lewiston, Idaho.

One of our stops was at Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery. Bonneville Dam was built in 1938 and has a large public viewing facility. We got to see Herman the Sturgeon. As you can see, he is quite a large fellow!

We had a great time and saw many interesting historical sites including sections of the Oregon Trail, sites related to Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery, beautiful landscapes, and Native American interpretive centers. Stephen enjoyed the buffalo just outside of Enterprise. I'll share more about our trip in a future post.

Stories My Grandma Told Me

Stories My Grandma Told Me - Civil War Colorway

This is one of my favorite Block of the Month programs. The old-time patterns are entwined with fascinating stories that my Grandma told me about her life. As a Block of the Month program, we send out a different kit each month. Kits are composed of a story from Grandma plus instructions for making a 12" pieced quilt block. Kits come in three different colorways: 19th Century (the quilt shown here), 1930s colors and Blender Brights. All of our Block of the Month programs are set up so that you can start at any time of the year and still receive all of the blocks. This is really fun. If you'd like to order this program you can find it at our website.

April Feature Fabrics

APRIL FEATURE FABRICS: Every year a team from Hoffman Fabrics chooses an upcoming fabric design and then issues a challenge to quilt, clothing and doll makers to create an original item using the fabric. The challenge curator and a group of assistants jury the entries and a select team of judges chooses the award winners. The juried quilts, clothing and doll collections then travel to be exhibited by quilt and other fiber guilds, shops, museums and textile shows in nearly 200 locations.

Grandma's featured fabrics for April contain the Challenge piece plus nine other Hoffman fabrics to go with it. You'll love playing with these fabrics!

Carly and the Flowers

Carly and the Flowers

We live in the foothills of the Oregon Coastal Range. It's not a real high elevation, but high enough so that when everyone else's daffodils have come and gone, ours are just getting started. Here's a picture of Carly the cat with a daffodil in our front yard. She's welcoming Spring and looking for trouble.

Welcome!

Welcome to the first post of In Grandma's Attic, a blog devoted all things about Grandma's Attic Sewing Emporium. You'll find all of the great information about the quilt products, sewing supplies, and overall "crafty" goodness that you've come to enjoy from our store. We've got the know to sew, the itch to stitch, and the lilt to quilt. If you're like us, you should love our new blog.