Hero Quilt Sew Day

Yesterday the Stanwood-Camano Hero Quilters had their monthly sew day. These are blocks that the Snohomish Senior Center(affectionately known as the "Strippers") gals & Bud made for American Hero Quilts. We put them together on Saturday for the center of a quilt. Here we all are posing with some of the finished quilts that came in. On the right , bottom row is another one of the Seniors creations!

This was a pattern I fell in love with. I used tons of scraps from the fabric tubs, anything from bright red to burgundy to navy went into this quilt top. Can't wait to see it after it's quilted. The point squares of the stars blocks are all paper pieced.
Hope you are having a good weekend. Heading off to niece McKenna's dance recital soon.

5 days & counting...............................Nana Sharon

Weekend Plans

This weekend I will be Hero Quilting on Saturday & going to my niece's Dance Recital on Sunday. Oh, and quilting like crazy. These geraniums are by our front door. They are a new variety I found at Jordan Nursery called Graffiti Double Salmon from the Exotic Geranium family. I promise I didn't make that up either! They have the best prices on geraniums. There are several garden tours this weekend. Camano Island's Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden Tour is this Saturday. It's FREE! The Mabana Flames (one of the Island Fire Station women's auxiliaries) will have box lunches you can buy. The Flames buy any needed equipment for the Mabana Fire fireman. Go here for a glimpse of what you will see.

In Everett you can go on the Garden's of Merit tour. Six gardens will be on the tour benefiting the Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens in Everett. The cost is $10. I've never been, but must add this one to my bucket list!

Music in the garden: The Skagit Symphony’s third-annual Gardens of Note garden tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.Tour seven residential gardens, all on Samish Island, all featuring live classical, pop and jazz music.Tickets for $25 are available at Christianson’s Nursery & Greenhouse, Summersun Nursery & Landscaping and Skagit Valley Gardens, all in Mount Vernon. See www.skagitsymphony.com for garden descriptions.

Luckily my SIL will not be here for this(he keeps telling Joanna he's going to get some chickens)!
Tour the chicken coops of EverettCoop of Dreams: Everett is getting its very own chicken coop tour. Everett residents may explore 10 residential properties with chicken coops to learn about coop construction, hen care and local chicken laws. The Riverside Neighborhood Association is hosting the inaugural event — the Everett Chicken Coop of Dreams Tour — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 24. Though maps and tickets will be available for free starting July 17 at Zippy’s Java Lounge, Sno-Isle Food Co-op and Cenex Co-op Supply, all in Everett, starting July 17, organizers are suggest visitors make a $10 donation to the Riverside Neighborhood Association at any of the tour sites. Check www.riversideneighborhood.org

Go have some fun & take some pictures for me! Little Mister is coming to Nana's house this time, 7 days to go. Nana better go get busy...................................Sharon

Piece O' Cake

I quilted this new Piece O' Cake quilt for Carrol over at Aunt Mary's. She has kits available at the shop. Love how the echo borders turned out. Her fabric selections are always so fun!Mr S held it up for me to photograph. There is a better picture on Aunt Mary's blog. I had so much fun with the quilting. Bugs, snails & butterflies everywhere!

It's going to be a quilty week here. I'll try & post again soon. Tired of the drizzly yuck outside. How about you?.....................Sharon

Still Quilting

I had these quilts finished before we went to CA, but no time to post. This is a cute Buggy Barn quilt that Jonne made for one of her grandsons. You can't go wrong with Buggy Barn!

Miss Jennifer also made a Buggy Barn quilt using these lovely fabrics. This picture doesn't do the quilt justice. A lucky teacher was getting this quilt. This block was Patrick & Sponge Bob. Kids are great!
It's been a busy week here. Lots of quilts coming & going. Catching up from being gone. You know laundry, Dad, all the good stuff.

We did have a little excitement in our neighborhood last week. Someone got into every unlocked car & took things. Mr S gets home at 11:30 pm & is usually in bed by 1:30, so there are a lot of lights on in our house until then. Luckily we didn't loose anything(I left my car unlocked, won't be doing that again). One neighbor lost a car radio & another big loss, a purse. They didn't take garage door openers or tools. Just looking for quick money I guess. We feel lucky not to have lost anything.

Cleaning up my Honda today so it can find a new home. Maybe quilt a small quilt. And Mr S is taking me to dinner at Blackbird Cafe & Bakery in Stanwood. If you join their mailing list they send you a $10 gift certificate. I'll let you know how it goes.

Have great weekend! I'll be back soon...............Sharon

Coming Home Day 2

On day 2 we were in Bend Oregon. First stop, Sew Many Quilts. Their shop name says it all. Lots of samples hanging everywhere with patterns & kits. Look at all the ombres. The quilting on the table runner is fantastic! A Bunny Hill quilt along with the fabric. More quilts & fabric. They really take advantage of the high ceilings. I should have put these first. Oops! The shop is tucked away in a small shopping center & is very easy to find. This is the back door (which we found first).
We went to Prineville & had lunch with friend Jodi. Then headed north on 97 ,through big down pours, for home. Stopped in Goldendale for a refresh & driver change. Ate in windy Ellensburg. It was sunny all the way to Easton & then we were back in the rain.

I'm off to a long arm quilter's get together today & to do a little shopping. The main priority is to get my wedding ring fixed. The entire setting that the diamond is in came off with the diamond still in it. The best new was I didn't loose it. thought I had for about 30 minutes, but it was my lucky day.

More later on quilting.

Nana Sharon

Coming Home Day 1

So we got off the freeway at Weed & headed for Merrill Oregon & the quilt shop I'd heard so much about. Mt Shasta was a little cloudy, but very beautiful.

There were lots of these. And scrub brush too!On the way to the quilt shop we passed through Tulelake Nat'l Wildlife Refuge & saw white pelicans. Sorry, no pics. Well worth the scenic drive. I can see a certain someone in the Miata with the top down now!

Here's the front of the shop. So inviting!

The store is long and filled with wonderful samples everywhere.Isn't this little blanket with the Minkee bears too cute!
Kaffe, Kaffe & more Kaffe!

More samples on the walls This is a nice decorating idea. Cover the heating pipes with quilts! The ladies couldn't have been nicer. I can tell they have FUN at Tater Patch Quilts. Make sure you stop by if you can. It's just southeast of Klamath Falls.

So that's a wrap for Day 1. On to Bend & Day 2 later!

Off to see Dad & quilts are calling! Missing Little Mister!

Nana Sharon

Ardenwood Farm

Today we went Ardenwood Historic Farm. It was an estate that is now a park.

Wouldn't you love to tour the house? It is open in December all decked out for the holidays for tours. I'm definitely coming back to see it .
Close up of the front door. Be still my beating heart!
Joanna said she thinks the nursery is on the second floor of the cupola.
This wonderful dragon fly is part of the ornate woodwork.
Beautiful stained glass windows.
Little Mister & his Mom checking out the old time washing machine.
Nana & Little Mister getting a close look at the goats.
Wild strawberries in the flower beds around the house.
Some of the lovely flowers. I have more pics I will post later.
Stone work by a gazebo. Perfect quilt don't you think?Tomorrow we say goodbye to Nanaland & head north. Keeping my fingers crossed for some nice weather along the way. We've gotten spoiled with all this California

sunshine.

See you again soon.................Nana Sharon

Fun times in Nanaland

Here is a cute little dove that built it's nest in the geranium basket outside the dining room window. Yesterday we were able to get a peak at her babies.An dew (he doesn't say the "r" yet in his name) is learning to blow bubbles. Mr S & I have both taken naps on the days we babysat. He's almost 2 & oh so busy! Sunday we went to the Farmer's Market in Newark. The smell from all the fresh fruits was divine! These juicy nectarines were delish!Strawberries everywhere!Heaps of cherries. They weren't $5 a pound either!More is better, right? Look at all these beautiful eggplants.I love flowers.Click on the box below to hear the bird songs that fill the air every day. There is a huge elm tree in the backyard that provides lots of shade(it has been hot here) & the birds love it.

Hope you are all having a great week. We are coming home through Central Oregon & will be stopping at some great quilt shops. Tater Patch Quilts & Sew Many Quilts. I'll take pictures & post about them when I get home.

See you soon!...............Nana Sharon

California Here I Come

This is a little raffle quilt I finished. Love the tulips!

Love the lone star center!

Here's a Turning 20 out of some great travel fabrics. It is for a granddaughter headed off to college. I quilted lots of names of the special people in her life for my customer.
I am mostly packed. Just have to decide which projects I'm taking. Still need to quilt 2 small quilts today & get one quilt sent off via UPS. The rest of my day will be spent going to the bank, stopping by to see Dad, & cleaning out the fridge. Not worried about getting everything done. Joanna sent a cute e-mail this morning that sums it up nicely-excited X 100!

I'll definitely be blogging from Nanaland. Swim lessons on Friday night, Mr S & Sam are flying on Saturday, & the Farmer's Market on Sunday.

Better get going. See you soon.........................Nana Sharon