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!

Dancing Horses Fabric Collection

This beautiful fabric collection was designed by Laurel Burch for Clothworks. Although Laurel died in September of 2007, her artistry in fabric lives on as a testament to her talents as an artist.

Here's what Laurel had to say about her work: "Art is a universal language, and through imagery that is understood and recognized by all people everywhere, I believe that we can share the grace of birds in flight, feel the warmth of friendships, explore the exquisite beauty and mysteries of the earth and savor the preciousness of life. When I design and paint, I remember that it is you, my friends and kindred spirits all over the world, who have inspired me to speak in a common language. I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your appreciation of my art and for the opportunity this has provided me to live my life with courage, purpose, and joy. Thank you for all you are and for all we are to each other."

Our collection of Dancing Horses allows you to enter Laurel Burch’s wonderful world of whimsy with 15 prints featuring horses, bright colors, fun geometrics, and glamorous gold accents that are sure to stimulate your imagination. What will you dream up to create with them?

Frances E. Willard Fabric Sale

Every year, Grandma's Attic holds a Frances E. Willard Founder's Day fabric sale at or about the time of her birthday (September 28). This year is no exception. At the bottom of this post I've included the information regarding that sale and you'll definitely want to take advantage of it!

So who is Frances E. Willard and what does she have to do with our store? Well, Frances E. Willard was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. She was also President of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). She founded a magazine, wrote many books, and was the first woman represented with a statue in the Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. In short, she dedicated her entire life to the empowerment of women.

When I first opened Grandma's Attic, way back in 1994, I went looking for a few period pieces I could use to decorate the shop. I felt we needed a photograph of a grandma type to hang on the wall behind the cutting counter. To my delight, I found the perfect grandmother in an old-fashioned oval frame at an antique shop in Albany, Oregon. At that time, I didn't know who she was. Her portrait, shown above, has been hanging in our shop ever since.

Approximately three weeks after Grandma's Attic opened for business, a lady came into the shop, saw this portrait, and asked, "Where did you get that fabulous portrait of Frances E. Willard?" "Ahh! That's who she is," I said to myself. Massive amounts of research later, I discovered that Frances was never married, certainly never had any children, and most definitely was NOT a grandmother. I decided she could be our "spiritual" grandma because of all the causes she believed in and the work she did for the empowerment of women and women's education. I also learned that while she herself was not a quilter, both her mother and her sister made quilts.

Each year, we honor Frances E. Willard by having a big sale to celebrate her birthday. That sale begins today and extends through Sunday, September 27th. You can take 25% off your fabric purchases by mentioning this blog in the store, or by writing FRANCES E. WILLARD SALE in the comments section of your webstore order. The discount will not appear on your invoice. We will take it off on our end. Please note that this offer does NOT extend to the Samara Fabric Collection used in Patchwork Party Fall Edition 2009.

This offer is filled with the potential for so much fun you'll want to share it with your friends. Feel free to let them know so they too can enjoy the savings!

Quilt Club Joke

Stephen has posted another youtube video to our blog. This one was done last Friday, September 4th during one of the Quilt club meetings. It's a silly joke that I told to warm up the crowd. I hope you'll think its as funny as the class did!

Stephen Posts a Shop Tour Video

Stephen bought himself a new video camera so that he could take videos around our quilt shop. He's been having a lot of fun with it. The first thing he did was take himself on a little tour of the shop. Then he uploaded it to youtube so he could share it with everyone. It's so fun I thought you'd like to see it. Some of the scenes are shaky but it's really cute. You gotta love Georgeann. She's the one giggling in the background--something she does quite a lot! She's been working for us for 15 years.

Wedding Anniversary

Stephen and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary on July 13 with a trip down the Oregon Coast to Eureka, California. The weather had been so hot here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. It was a welcomed relief to go over to Highway 101 and drive down the Coast in sea mist and cooler weather.

We made various stops along the way to view the sites. One was at the Cape Blanco Light Station, near Port Orford, Oregon. This light station, built around 1870, houses the oldest continuously operating light in Oregon. At 256 feet above sea level, it is also the most westerly lighthouse in all of Oregon. We learned that Oregon's first woman light keeper, Mabel E. Bretherton, signed on in March of 1903. While Stephen climbed the 63 steps up to the top of the lighthouse, I chose to stay on solid ground enjoying the stillness of the air that day and the spectacular view.

Cape Blanco Light Station near Port Orford, Oregon

We continued driving south and stopped at Crescent City, California. The Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park is near Crescent City and we decided we wanted to take a closer look at some of the world's largest trees. Believe me, I have been around trees all of my life. I thought I had seen tall trees before; however, redwood trees are so magnificent it just takes your breath away. These ancient trees, native to the northern California coast, are the tallest trees on earth and can grow up to 367 feet tall. They can live up to 2,200 years and are resistant to insects and fire.


Trees in Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park

There is no way to adequately show you what the Redwood Forests look like because the camera simply does not catch their enormity or the feeling that you get when you walk among them. If you are anywhere near these trees, you owe it to yourself to see for yourself.

After spending a few days in California, we drove back up the Oregon Coast to Newport where we spent another day or two relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean environment. Then it was back to work for both of us. The vacation was the perfect respite from the hurry of every day life and we both enjoyed it very much.

Highway 101 Bridge at Newport, Oregon

Now that we are back home, I am busy working on this next year's Grandma's Quilt Club and the Fall 2009 Patchwork Party and Stephen is working on a new sun deck for the chickens. We saw a giant coyote lounging in the lower field by our house so Stephen wants to make sure that the deck keeps his "girls" safe from predators.

Rainbow Batiks

Your fabric creations will be incredibly beautiful when you use batik fabrics. This month, Grandma's Scrapbasket Newsletter features batiks in a rainbow of colors by Hoffman and Princess Mirah.

Originating in Java, the ancient craft of printing on fabric with hot wax is extremely popular today. There are over 3,000 different patterns on record, mostly composed of flower motifs, twining plants, leaves, buds, birds, butterflies, fish, geometric forms, small animals and insects.

Our blended bundle of feature fabrics ranges across the color wheel in a variety of prints and styles that allow you to create a rainbow of fabulous quilting and sewing projects. What will you dream up?

Update on Virginia Tech Memorial Project

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. We thought you would like to have an update on the Virginia Tech Quilt Block Project that we began immediately after this tragedy in 2007.

We received a tremendous response to our Virginia Tech Memorial Block Project--with nearly 600 quilt blocks donated to this project from quilters all around the world. We put many of these blocks on display in the classroom area of Grandma's Attic last year. These individual blocks are a living testament to the power of quilts and the fiber arts to help people heal after a national tragedy.

The second stage of the project began shortly after the display. We documented and photographed every block received. We believe it is appropriate to honor and acknowledge each block submission by preserving the names of the block creators and the images of the blocks created. We compiled a large database containing the name of the block and the person who created it. Each block was assigned a number so that it can be easily referenced in the database when necessary. In addition to this compilation of information, we collected a large binder filled with the completed block submission forms and any other accompanying correspondence. We then took the intensive step of photographing the individual blocks. We are now in the process of reviewing these digital images, ensuring that they are in good condition, and preparing them for display. All photography work on this stage of the project was done by Kyle Baker.

The third phase of the project is now in full swing. Noted Quilt Historian and Pattern Designer Roxy Burgard spent hours (days) sorting through these quilt blocks. She developed and organized a method for turning blocks into quilt tops. The organization and creative eye she brought to this project has been nothing short of awe-inspiring and stands as a testament to her considerable quilt making skills. Working with 160 blocks, she selected 20 blocks per quilt based on pre-determined themes. She even created names for each quilt based on block content. Once that herculean task was accomplished, Roxy and I selected appropriate sashings for these eight quilts. They are now ready to be sewn into quilt tops. With the help of volunteers, we now hope to get these quilt tops made and sent to machine quilters for completion.

Believe me, while it is easy to write about the work that has been done to date, it is more difficult to explain how many volunteer hours have been involved in the work, let alone try to explain the emotional toll it takes when viewing and working with these blocks. The whole process has been very moving for everyone involved. Every volunteer has been committed to giving proper and appropriate respect to each block on its way to final inclusion in quilts to be presented to Virginia Tech.

The Clothesline Club - 1930s Era

If you love 1930s style fabrics, you’re going to love the Clothesline Club. Created by Darlene Zimmerman, and published by the Robert Kaufman fabric company, this club features 1930s-Era patterns and fabric. As an official shop participant, Grandma's Attic will carry all of the fabric lines, patterns, and notions showcased throughout the year.

Four different fabric collections, all designed by Darlene Zimmerman, are used during the 12 month Club, with each of the fabric lines featured for three months. The first fabric line is Home Sweet Home. There are 20 pieces of fabric in this line plus five bonus fabrics. Included in the collection are a variety of prints with motifs such as clothespins, irons, kitchen utensils, daisies and checks in cheery 1930s-era colors.

Fabrics from Darlene's Home Sweet Home Collection, the first fabric line used in the 2009 Clothesline Club

Each month for the next 12 months, Grandma's Attic will put together a special packet utilizing Clothesline Club products. You choose only the packets you want to purchase. We’ll add a new one to our website each month. The first, Packet #1, is currently available. It contains a full-color pattern for Darlene’s Sunday Best Apron, a second full-color Bonus pattern called Washday Sweeties, plus a special newsletter from Darlene Zimmerman herself with information on the history of aprons and an apple pie recipe. The packet also contains twenty 5”x5” squares of fabric from Darlene’s Home Sweet Home collection so that you can see and feel the fabric used. Added bonuses include a full-color newsletter about the year 1930 written by Grandma Rachel of Grandma’s Attic, a full-color cover sheet to use as a cover for your own notebook that you'll fill with project pages, and a Grandma pin from Grandma’s Attic. We've made every effort to make this club affordable and fun. Price for the packet includes all shipping and handling.

Next month, Packet #2, will contain even more fabric squares and patterns from Darlene Zimmerman, plus additional bonus materials from Grandma's Attic. Believe me, if you like 1930s-era quilts and patterns, you won't want to miss a single packet!
Sunday Best Apron--the first project in the 2009 Clothesline Club. The pattern comes with Packet #1. Fabric in both colorways is also available.

Patchwork Party 2009 Spring Edition

You're going to love this Patchwork Party. For our sixth party, the fabrics are absolutely gorgeous! This season's quilt blocks were created by Marti Michell using her Perfect Patchwork Templates, Set B and Set D. The fabric was designed by Faye Burgos for Marcus Brothers. It is called Sachet Potpourri. It features beautiful roses, paisleys and romantic designs in muted shades of rich brown, pink and blue.

If you been to our previous patchwork parties, you may already know how this fun program works, but if you're a newcomer, you might need a party introduction! The way it operates is simple: you collect all 12 of these beautiful blocks by visiting the 12 online stores participating in the program. Each store hosts one of the particular blocks necessary for the beautiful quilt you'll be making. This season, our exclusive block is called Ta-Dah. Like a beautiful diamond ring, this block adds sparkle to any setting.

In addition to our exclusive block kit, we've created a way for you to turn your blocks into a stunning quilt titled Down the Garden Path. Our finishing kit includes the pattern and all of the fabric you need to create a lovely queen-sized quilt using the blocks you collected during the party and 13 additional ones that are super easy to make. We also put together a matching pillowcase kit to go with our quilt.

You can see all our Patchwork Party products at our website. To view all of the blocks and finishing kits, you'll want to visit www.patchworkparty2009.com.

The Hoffman Challenge

The Hoffman Challenge fabric has arrived and it is totally gorgeous! The main piece is a beautiful paisley print in green, gold and brown, with pearlized edges that makes it sparkle. The largest paisley is approximately 1-1/2" wide.

Every year, a team from Hoffman fabrics chooses a fabric design and then issues a challenge to quilt, clothing, doll and accessory makers to create an original item using that fabric. Upon completion, the items travel around the country to different shows, galleries, museums, Guilds, and shops. Cash prizes are awarded. It is very fun and inspirational. To participate, you must use a recognizable amount of the challenge fabric as an integral part of your project or body of work.

You can purchase this beautiful Hoffman Challenge fabric at Grandma's Attic. Click here for more information on rules and prizes for the Hoffman Challenge contest.

Winter Wonderland

Just before Christmas, we received 20 inches of snow and then an ice storm came through. It coated the trees with thick ice causing many of our oak tree branches to snap completely off. The Douglas Fir trees seemed to fare pretty well, but the sound of trees cracking and breaking apart at night is heart wrenching, to say the least. Fortunately, nothing landed on the house or outbuildings. As a result of all the trees falling, our road was closed for several days. We also lost electricity.

On Christmas Eve, the hard working crews of the power company managed to turn our electricity back on and we had power again. What a wonderful Christmas gift that was! Believe me, there is something totally eerie about being without electricity living on a road that is closed and nearly impassable.

I had planned to work on Block of the Month and other quilt projects at my sewing machine. Instead, I alternated between doing hand embroidery work and trying to keep myself and the dachsunds warm. We huddled together in the recliner under warm quilts. And believe me, you know it's cold when the cat climbed under a quilt to join us.

Now that the ice has melted, the electricity has come back on, and the roads are passable again, I've been busy working on those same quilt projects I intended to get to earlier. There's a Block of the Month quilt, a shop hop quilt, and several other smaller samples in various stages of development in the sewing room at home, plus calendars and other end of the year items to attend to at work.

On New Year's Eve, my husband and I were so tired from all of the outside clean-up projects that needed to be done, we decided against staying up late. Instead, we turned on the television, and watched Anderson Cooper usher in 2009 with the crystal ball drop in New York City. When it's midnight in the Big Apple, it's 9:00 pm in Oregon. We called it a night and decided the New Year could get here without us. I spent New Year's Day filling mail orders at the shop; then retreated to the sewing room again. Sewing is a great way to begin the New Year, don't you think?

I'm looking forward to 2009 as a year filled with beautiful quilts and fun projects. How has your New Year begun?

Making Quilt Club Blocks

Every month I make the five blocks we use in Grandma's Quilt Club. I choose simple, 16 grid blocks, because I want to make sure that the over 600 participants in our club can complete these blocks regardless of skill level.

Recently, club members have asked me to tell them about the tools I use when I am constructing the blocks. Here's a run-down of what I use in order to make these blocks.

The sewing machine I use is a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire that I got from Whitlocks Vacuum and Sewing Center in Salem, Oregon. My grandmother would call it a "new fangled" machine. I like it because it has a built-in 1/4" stitch and is easy to use. (Easy is good when it comes to making quilt blocks--why make yourself crazy when sewing is supposed to be relaxing??) I thread the machine with Swiss-Mettler Art. 104 thread in a neutral color.

I like to use a the small Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter and a 1" x 12" omnigrid ruler to make the first cuts from the fabric that is provided in the quilt kits. (If I was cutting from the bolt, I would use a larger Omnigrip Ruler.)







Most of the quilt club block patterns call for making a half square triangle. In order to do that, I start with two 4" squares of fabric that have been placed right sides together. I then draw a line down the middle (for cutting) with lines on either side 1/4" away from the cutting line (for sewing lines). This can be done very easily with the Quick Quarter II marking tool. I like to use this little tool because it helps with accuracy.

Once I have all the squares cut and marked, I start sewing my half square triangles together. I square them up (from 4") using the little rotary cutter and the 6-1/2" square Omnigrip Ruler to 3-1/2". When I have all 16 units sewn, squared and pressed, I lay the squares out to look like the picture on the pattern, then sew them together. My favorite pins are the red and white pins by Clover. They glide through the fabric like butter and are very nice to use. If you don't have a box of these pins, I recommend you purchase a box or two. I love them! You will too.

For clipping threads and cutting in general, I use a pair of Mundial Titanium Scissors--5-1/2" hobby/craft size. I like these scissors because they are smaller than the knife edge. I don't know why, but I seem to use smaller tools when constructing quilt blocks than I do when putting the quilt blocks together into a quilt top.

Of course, there are times when things don't go exactly as planned making these blocks. That's when I get out the Clover White Handled seam ripper and start "frog stitching"--you know, ripp-it, ripp-it! If you're still using the seam ripper that you got for your high school sewing class, it's time for a new one! My personal rule on seam ripping is that it's part of the process and can happen from time to time; however, if you've ripped out the same seam three times already, you clearly need to relax a bit and start over. (Ever have one of those days when you feel like you should be locked out of your sewing room because everything you touch is going to go badly? I've had a few of those myself.)

Once my block is sewn up and looking beautiful, I press it with my iron (I buy inexpensive ones that I don't mind replacing from time to time), and then I square it up with another Omnigrip ruler--the 12-1/2" square.

And that's all there is to it! Sewing simple quilt blocks is fun. I like being able to put different fabric combinations together to see what the blocks will look like. Sewing easy blocks is also great practice for perfecting those 1/4" seams. Sewing also helps ease any tension you might be feeling from all the other "stuff" going on in your life. Just cut, sew, press and square. A little of your favorite music in the background and you have the makings for your own special retreat.

My family knows they can find me in the sewing room, sewing up quilt blocks after a busy day at the shop. I've already sewn up the blocks I need for next month's club sessions. Guess it's time to start working on the other block projects I'm dreaming up! What will you be sewing this week?