I was minding my own business this morning and Shannon annouced to one of our customers that Quilt Minnesota begins next Friday.  After I picked my jaw up off of the floor, it dawned on me that like any BIG event, I am not quite ready!

I have the packages with the pattern, the tip, and the fabric in them.  But, I do not have the gift basket back from the ‘arranger’ person, the table for check-in is still just a thought in my mind and I won’t even get into staffing issues!   YIKES is all I can say ...

Pedal Pushers - what a great summertime quilt!

As many of you know, I grew up in the Black Hills area (Rapid City to be exact) and, believe me, there are No cornfields there!!  Rocks, trees, big horn sheep, buffalo, lovely sunsets, beautiful views but no cornfields. 

So whenever I see a cornfield, I think of the song that has the line, “….knee high by the 4th of July…..” and of course, I equate summer with it.    However, I have never stood in a cornfield and actually measured it and found out if it is true.

Now you would think that ...

Wishes Granted kit --yes, it is on-line, too!

ARE YOU KIDDING?????????

Here’s the deal:

As you know, I love to read (my favorite next to quilting) and have now an acquired habit of listening to books onCD in my sewing room.  It is my version of TV and there are NO commercials!  And, just to date myself, I was feeling pretty good that I am using a CD player!

Suddenly, I am OLD  in the ways of technology and since I had a career in the communications industry prior to owning the quilt shop, I have always thought I ...

Noel by Benartex

My Mother is probably the first person in line to complain that advertising for Christmas is done too early — and she is probably correct, too!  I mean all of us want to relax and enjoy the beauty of fall, the fun of Halloween, and the wonder of Thanksgiving before we have to start listening to Holiday tunes on the radio/ipod (I just got one and thought I would toss that in there…) and blasting from the speakers throughout the malls.

However, I also know that we only have so many paychecks in a year and have ...

Stained Glass Loon

In Northern Minnesota, one of the final signs that spring is here is the return of the loons to our lakes.  My family loves the loons. Their gracefulness and beauty continue to fascinate us and each year we look forward to having them back. 

Of course, we do have some stories about them.  My mother-in-law used to tell us that when she died she was going to come back as a loon and enjoy the lake.  So a few years ago when the loons built a nest by our dock we named the parents, Robinette and Van ...

As I was driving home the other night, I stopped to check on the ice melting situation on the lake.  It was still ICE!

To those of you who don’t live in Northern MN or any other state that FREEZES in the wintertime, this probably seems a little odd.  I can’t really describe the total feeling, but once the lakes are back to ‘water’ stage, it makes me feel great.  That, to me, has become the real sign of spring!

Now I know that you are wondering when I am going to segue topic into quilting, but thatnot ...

Farmhouse Blues Quilt -- find it at http://abcsofquilting.com/kits.html

Let’s talk about ‘organization’, okay?  I think the best way to begin is with a definition.  And, NO, I am not going to type the one out of a dictionary.  To me, organized is knowing where everything is located but not necessarily in a nice, neat and tidy arrangement.

I read an article the other day about getting organized and the types of containers to use when that urge strikes you.  Since one of the rooms I have consumed with projects was a titch out of control, I ...

"What do you mean, get down?????"

Yesterday, I spent some time surfing on the web and checked out some blogs.  I noticed that most of them have photos of their pets.  Hmmmm…..I didn’t want any of you to feel like ABC’s doesn’t give you all of the ‘perks’ associated with a blog, so here is a photo of my dog, Chloe.  And, yes, she thinks she is a princess.

I have long loved Miniature Schnauzers and she is the 4th one that has joined our family.  She is probably the cutest one, the most stubborn, and ...

Making PERFECT Flying Geese!

Remember that old adage:  you should learn at least one new thing each day?  Well, I believe it is good for us — keeps us young! 

This year at ABC’s, I decided that each month (always the 2nd Friday and Saturday) we would teach a new technique.  And, the best part????  It is FREE — you gotta love that, right?   

Last weekend, Shannon (left) taught the technique of Perfect Flying Geese using Quilt In A Day rulers by Eleanor Burns.  This was a WIN-WIN-WIN situation!

She got most of the geese done for a quilt she is ...

Edna doing the custom quitling on her Wizard of Oz Quilt.

A couple of years ago, our rep for Quilting Treasures brought us the first showing of the Wizard of Oz fabrics.  Since Grand Rapids, MN is the birthplace of Judy Garland, we had to have it!

Edna decided to make a quilt using all of the scenes from the fabrics to recreate the movie in one quilt.  She had been very faithfully using fabrics from each of the fabric lines — there are six of them! 

Of course, we have all laughed with her, gave our opinions, and watched her ...

In another lifetime, I lived in Chicago.  Our first home was in this great ‘burb’ called Naperville.  As usual, I was looking for something unique to do as a family and found out that you can have a garden plot in their ‘community’ garden!  I thought this would be just the ticket for our family time!! 

The first year was so successful (yes, that was my point of view….) that I decided to have TWO  plots the second year so we could have even more fun.  WRONG!!!!

Not only was this a really bad idea but Mother Nature pitched in ...

Just a sample from the panel!

Back in ‘06 (you gotta love that we can say that, right?) when we purchased the shop, the fabrics reps all made the trek to Northern Minnesota to get our order.  One of the fabrics lines that I just loved was and still do is  Loralie !!  (http://www.abcsofquilting.com/SewFabulous.html)

However, I had a very difficult time trying to convince Susan that this would be a good addition to our shop.  And, in some respects she was probably correct – we didn’t know how the golfers would do, or the nurses, etc ...

I don’t know about you, but any changes in my moring routine seem to impact my entire day!

This morning was the day the car needed to be at the shop for an oil change and some other misc. details and I am starting to wonder just what the rest of the day will hold for me! 

Getting the car to the shop involves more than just that.  My hubby was waiting for me, I had to grab some stuff off of my desk for the shop, stuff the dog into her kennel, make my lunch and morning tea ...

Frosty, the Snowman!

Okay, there are only TWELVE days until Christmas and here is what I still need to do:

One Christmas Tree that needs to be decorated.

Two gifts to buy.

Three batches of cookies (spritz, chocolate truffles, and sugar – YUM).

Four  parties to attend ( no weight gain there, right?).

Five socks to hang  by the chimney with care (yes, Chloe AND my new grand-dog each get one).

Six side dishes to make – after I figure out WHAT to make!

Seven inches of snow to shovel off the back steps – maybe Doug will do this one….

Eight days until ...

Here is it – the Holiday Season!  As I type, the weather is participating with a lovely snow storm.  We will definitely have a white Holiday Season which might just make me drag out those cross country skis for a couple of hours.  I think I will have a cup of tea and think about that some more — I mean that would be classified as ‘exercise’, right?

According to my calendar,I only have 14 days left to complete my baking, shopping, the cards with the unfinished letter, and, of course, the decorating!  And, people wonder why women get grouchy at ...

What am I????

Well, quilters, here it is! 

The ‘panel’ from this bolt of fabric is supposed to be  used to stop the DRAFTS from under the door!  What a hoot! 

AFTER, I had designed the quilt and had it made, the rep was here.  He showed me the fabric again and I said, “…you know, we have that.  What are we supposed to do with it again???”  I must be getting older than I thought because both Susan and I totally forgot about it.  AND, here is the really pathetic part:  I have been taking notes when the reps ...