Thursday, September 28, 2017

QUILT BLOCK COOKBOOK BOM MEETS


Members of the Quilt Block Cookbook BOM met Wednesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Only two people had their block finished.  I think some were having difficulties with this block, and the others just didn't have the time.  September is a busy time of year for everyone.  Also, this beautiful weather that Michigan is having calls to us to be outside instead of inside sewing. 
Maybe we'll do better next month.  Above, Cathy shows her sample of the block we will be making next month.  Looks easy!
 We did have a customer stop by the shop looking for fabric.  While there we coaxed her into showing us her quilt.  Above, Pat Frede graciously showed us her quilt. 
I love this quilt.  I love applique.  Unfortunately, Pat couldn't remember the name of the pattern.  A special thank you to Pat for sharing with us!

DON'T FORGET:
  • To pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Stitch-In, Friday, Sept. 29
  • Machine Applique Scrappers, Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Clutch Purse, Tuesday, Oct. 3
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
  • Julie sent me this link just in time for Halloween.  We All Sew has a tutorial for a Sugar Skull Mug Rug.
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

BEES IN THE ATTIC AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

The Bees In The Attic Bee Hive met Wednesday morning at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Charity was the Queen for this month, but when she called to notify us that she could not be there, Cathy brought Raggedy Anne to sit in for her.
 These are the blocks the busy bees made for Charity.  This is going to be a lovely quilt!
Pat is Queen next month and asked us to make this block. It is Heart's Desire on page 20 of the 12 Patch Quilts book.   She distributed kits and instructions to the group.
Diane, standing on the right, shows us her latest finish.  It is from a BOM that she participated in last year at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  So beautiful!
Cathy also had a quilt to show us.  This is from the Farm Girls BOM at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Cathy put her blocks together using the QAYG method.
This is the back of her quilt where you can see how she attached her rows together.  She said the back is her rows of corn.  How cute.

DON'T FORGET:
  • To pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 28
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday (afternoon and evening), Sept. 28
  • Stitch-In, Friday, Sept. 29
  • Machine Applique Scrappers, Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Clutch Purse, Tuesday, Oct. 3
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

MY SHOT OF DOPAMINE OR WHAT I LEARNED TODAY.

I got my shot of dopamine today, did you? I know you can get your shot of dopamine by shopping at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, but I've been nursing a cold and won't be going there until Wednesday.   According to the internet, dopamine is a chemical in your body.  Simon Sinek says that you can get your shot of dopamine, that feeling of pleasure, by shopping, or exercising, or just by making a list and marking accomplishments off that list.  (You can listen to his inspiring talks on You Tube.)

Yesterday, Annie, a reader from Wisconsin, emailed me that she too had UFOs and had difficulty getting things accomplished.  She asked the question, "Why is it so difficult to stick with one project until done?"  I have often wondered that myself!  As I walked away from my computer I thought about Simon Sinek's words about list making.  What had happened to my daily list?  I realized over the past few months I’d become very lazy and stopped doing that.  So I got out my paper and put "Finish Christmas Table Runner" at the top of my list.

Determined, I worked all day quilting that table runner and spent this morning adding the binding.  I may have gotten a shot of dopamine when I checked it off my list, but I also learned a few things:
  1. I need a plan.  I am disgruntled, unhappy, and totally dissatisfied with the quilting on this table runner.  It had sat on my work table for days as I tried to decide how to quilt it.  Unable to make a decision, I just picked it up and started quilting.  Big mistake!
  2. Never be in a hurry.  I should have given myself a time frame and not tried to finish it in one day.  Hurrying makes for sloppy work.
  3. It is best to practice, practice, practice before you start free motion quilting on a new project.  I hadn’t done any free motion quilting in a while and was really out of practice.  So, now I intend to add practice to my daily list.  Even if it is for only 15 minutes!
This is another picture of the table runner.  I loved the pattern.  It is from the book Angles With Ease 2 and by Heather Peterson of Anka's Treasurers.
I have to show you this backing.  This beautiful piece of fabric was in the bag of scraps that Cathy gave me.  It was perfect for this Christmas table runner.  Thank you Cathy!

DON'T FORGET:
  • To pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Bee Hive, Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Cookbook BOM, Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Beginning Hand Applique, Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 28
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday (afternoon and evening), Sept. 28
  • Stitch-In, Friday, Sept. 29
  • Machine Applique Scrappers, Saturday, Sept. 30
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
  • My Bear Paw has a tutorial for a Liberty Pants Panda.  It is so cute and I wonder if it will fit inside an Altoids Tin?  It will make a cute gift for my little great granddaughters.
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Sunday, September 24, 2017

I'M JUST A CITY GIRL AT HEART

 Not much going on this week.  It has been terribly hot in Michigan and I've been fighting a cold so I didn't get to the Attic Window Quilt Shop to take pictures of the exciting things going on there.   However, today I had some excitement.  I woke up to find a dozen turkeys in my backyard.  To me, a city gal, that got me excited and I ran for my camera.  I still live in the city, but the deer and turkeys come by each day from the near by woods.  I have the best of both worlds.  I love it here.
My yard is fenced, but this must be how they got in.  Hopping over the fence.  The deer do that hopping over the fence thing too when they think they need to eat my Hosta's.  Thankfully, my neighbor puts out food for them so they don't need to come into my yard any more.  
I did get the table runner finished and sandwiched but can't decide how I want to quilt it.  So...
I played with some EPP and cut out some new templates.  Gads, I have got to get focused and finish a project!  It must be this crazy Michigan weather that is making me so lazy.  Who ever heard of 95 degrees in late September!

DON'T FORGET:
  • To pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • UFO Day, Monday, Sept. 25
  • Bee, Tuesday, Sept. 26
  • Beginning Machine Quilting, Tuesday, Sept. 26
  • Bee Hive, Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Cookbook BOM, Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Beginning Hand Applique, Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 28
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday (afternoon and evening), Sept. 28
  • Stitch-In, Friday, Sept. 29
  • Machine Applique Scrappers, Saturday, Sept. 30
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Sunday, September 17, 2017

MADE FOR GIVING

 Not much going on here this weekend.  Much too beautiful outside to stay inside my dark sewing room.  I did get another Hexie Mug Rug finished.  I'm going to make some out of Christmas Fabrics just as soon as I get up to the Attic Window Quilt Shop to purchase some of that gorgeous holiday fabrics.
I also made one of these Pretty Pockets.  This is a discreet and spirited way to secure post-surgical drains after Breast surgery.  I got the pattern from Creative Blossoms.  A couple of years ago I made several of these pockets and gave them to Lacks Cancer Center in Grand Rapids.  When I heard my 92 year old friend tell about her bridge partner who was having surgery and would have the tubes, I made one for her to give to her friend.  They are so pretty and quick and easy I think I'll make some more for the Cancer Center.

DON'T FORGET:
  • To pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14.
  • FALL CLEAN UP DAYS.  First Day of autumn!  Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 Time to do some fun fall cleaning here at the shop!  Discounts from 20% to 75% off.  Check out the bargains and get some great deals.  Also get some great ideas for some quick fall and Christmas projects!
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Bee, Tuesday, Sept. 19
  • Sampler, Wednesday, Sept. 20
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 21
  • Beginning Quilting, a.m. and p.m. classes, Thursday, Sept. 21
  • Stand and Stow Bag, Friday, Sept. 22
  • Fall Clean Up Sale, Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Thursday, September 14, 2017

HAPPY SCRAPPERS MEET AGAIN

 
The Happy Scrappers met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this past Wednesday.  As usual, I have a lot to show you.  Above Cathy shows us this beautiful quilt that she made from UFO blocks.  She let the top flip over so we could see this lovely fabric she used on the back.
And look what she did on the binding.  She used a decorative stitch which adds to the quilt.  I never would have thought of that.
Jill was on her light box copying design.
She has already finished one block.  She used crayons to color it.  As I remember she said she used a white crayon beneath the colored crayon parts.  This gives it a nice muted look.
Mary was busy using her 30s fabrics for a charity quilt.

Adrienne shows us two of the applique blocks she is working on.
A funny story.  Did you notice that Adrienne has green hair?  We didn't think too much about it when she first came in.  We thought she was just color coordinating her hair with her lovely dress that she made.  However, Adrienne got us all giggling when she told us about it.  She said she was at the beauty supply house and saw these colors for $4.  She figured why not.  It would be fun to have a day with a little color.  At home, she squeezed the tube and added it to her hair, then got a phone call.  After about twenty minutes she got off the phone and wondered if she had left the color on too long.  Maybe she should read the instructions.  Oh,no!  She thought she had purchased a wash-out hair color.  After reading the instructions she learned that it was a permanent color.  She washed her hair that afternoon 16 times in the hopes of getting the green out of her hair.  It was still there.
"You're a rock star!" Number one son said.
"What were you thinking?" Asked number two son.
But she was tickled to learn that her husband loves it.
Adrienne said she still gets a shock every time she looks in the mirror.
The moral of the story:  Read instructions before application!

I made this block for Charity, Queen Bee of Bees In The Attic Bee Hive at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Hope she likes it.

 DON'T FORGET to pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14.

Upcoming Events:

  • SEW AND SHOW YOUR ROW BY ROW STITCH-IN! Come and sew on your Row X Row kits along with show and tell!  What a great way to work on those past and present rows and share with others what kits you have. Bring a dish to pass.  WHEN:  Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10-5. FEE:  Free if you have your kit from the Attic Window Quilt Shop, otherwise the Fee is $5 for the day and this includes beverages provided by the shop. Enjoy Door Prizes, food and drinks.  LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE!!!  So sign up now!
  • FALL CLEAN UP DAYS.  First Day of autumn!  Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 Time to do some fun fall cleaning here at the shop!  Discounts from 20% to 75% off.  Check out the bargains and get some great deals.  Also get some great ideas for some quick fall and Christmas projects!
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Sew & Show & Stitch-In, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 & 16
  • Bee, Tuesday, Sept. 19
  • Sampler, Wednesday, Sept. 20
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 21
  • Beginning Quilting, a.m. and p.m. classes, Thursday, Sept. 21
  • Stand and Stow Bag, Friday, Sept. 22
  • Fall Clean Up Sale, Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

NEW FABRIC AT ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

 
I told you earlier in the week that I would show some of the new fabrics that have arrived at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above is from the Hand Picked line by Windham Fabrics.


Thought these closeups would help.  Stop in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and pick up some of this lovely fabric today!

While there, don't forget to pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14.

Upcoming Events:
  • SEW AND SHOW YOUR ROW BY ROW STITCH-IN! Come and sew on your Row X Row kits along with show and tell!  What a great way to work on those past and present rows and share with others what kits you have. Bring a dish to pass.  WHEN:  Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10-5. FEE:  Free if you have your kit from the Attic Window Quilt Shop, otherwise the Fee is $5 for the day and this includes beverages provided by the shop. Enjoy Door Prizes, food and drinks.  LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE!!!  So sign up now!
  • ALL CLEAN UP DAYS.  First Day of autumn!  Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 Time to do some fun fall cleaning here at the shop!  Discounts from 20% to 75% off.  Check out the bargains and get some great deals.  Also get some great ideas for some quick fall and Christmas projects!
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Sept. 13
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Sew & Show & Stitch-In, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 & 16
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

THIS SHOULD GET AN ART PRIZE!

I could not wait to show this to you.  Saturday while at Happy Scrappers at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, Vickie S. brought in her latest quilt.  It is awesome!  At first I thought she had painted a picture on the fabric because I could see brush strokes.  Then I got closer and saw that it was all fabric!!!


These are closeups so you can see the detail and the quilting involved. This is all turn under applique.  No fusing involved.  There were 17 pieces involved in making just the nose.  And look at those eyes.  Don't they just speak to you!

Also, when I do applique, I often have to line it with either a piece of white fabric or another layer of the same fabric so the background doesn't show through.  Vickie said that she learned from David Taylor that you should use other colors for that under layer to get a different look.  I'll have to give that a try.

Vickie said that she made this quilt from a picture of her dog Molly when she took a week-long class from David Taylor.  She did all the quilting herself.

 This man sounds like a fantastic teacher.  Vickie said he wanted you to use a solid fabric on the front and back of the quilt.  Can you see why?  Check out the faint outline on the back.
This is a close up of the back of the quilt.  Truly amazing.
Some of the women said Vickie had to enter this in the next Guild Show, or AQS show.  I think she should enter it in Art Prize.  It is truly amazing.

Vickie is going soon to take another class from David Taylor.  She wants to learn more and will probably make a quilt of her other dog or her cat.  She's not sure, but I made her promise to show us when she gets back.

A very special Thank You to Vickie for sharing this fantastic quilt with us.

Upcoming Events:
  • SEW AND SHOW YOUR ROW BY ROW STITCH-IN! Come and sew on your Row X Row kits along with show and tell!  What a great way to work on those past and present rows and share with others what kits you have. Bring a dish to pass.  WHEN:  Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10-5. FEE:  Free if you have your kit from the Attic Window Quilt Shop, otherwise the Fee is $5 for the day and this includes beverages provided by the shop. Enjoy Door Prizes, food and drinks.  LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE!!!  So sign up now!
  • ALL CLEAN UP DAYS.  First Day of autumn!  Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 Time to do some fun fall cleaning here at the shop!  Discounts from 20% to 75% off.  Check out the bargains and get some great deals.  Also get some great ideas for some quick fall and Christmas projects!
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Sept. 13
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Sew & Show & Stitch-In, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 & 16
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Monday, September 11, 2017

A CUSTOMER SHARES

While at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this past weekend, a customer stopped by looking for fabric.  She had this beautiful quilt in her arms and I asked her if I could take a picture of it.  A special thanks to Paula Rule (above right) for showing us this quilt.


Paula said she couldn't remember the name of the pattern or who made it.  She did comment that the pattern was not very user friendly.
 Paula also had this Little Dresden quilt.  The pattern is by Clothesline Quilts.
This is a close up of a block.  I love those 30s fabrics.  Notice how she did a fancy stitch around the circle.  So cute!

Thank you Paula for sharing with us!

Upcoming Events:
  • SEW AND SHOW YOUR ROW BY ROW STITCH-IN! Come and sew on your Row X Row kits along with show and tell!  What a great way to work on those past and present rows and share with others what kits you have. Bring a dish to pass.  WHEN:  Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10-5. FEE:  Free if you have your kit from the Attic Window Quilt Shop, otherwise the Fee is $5 for the day and this includes beverages provided by the shop. Enjoy Door Prizes, food and drinks.  LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE!!!  So sign up now!
  • ALL CLEAN UP DAYS.  First Day of autumn!  Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 Time to do some fun fall cleaning here at the shop!  Discounts from 20% to 75% off.  Check out the bargains and get some great deals.  Also get some great ideas for some quick fall and Christmas projects!
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Sampler & Bee, Tuesday, Sept. 12
  • Beginning Machine Applique, Tuesday p.m., Sept. 12
  • Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Sept. 13
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Sew & Show & Stitch-In, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 & 16
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

Sunday, September 10, 2017

HAPPY SCRAPPERS MEET AT ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

The Happy Scrappers met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this past Saturday.  Therefore, I have lots to show you today.  In fact, there is so much it will continue throughout the week.  This really is a productive group.  Above is the little book that Marilyn made.
This is the inside of the first page of the book.
And this is the panel that Marilyn used to make the book.  You can get the panel at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.
 Marilyn also worked on her QAYG using her homespun fabrics.  What a wonderful idea for a man's quilt.
Val was busy making a Michigan State University quilt for her...well, I forget, but I think she said it was for her niece.  She had a new pattern which I hadn't seen before, so I hope she'll bring her finished quilt for us to see before she gives it away.
Lee Anne is continuing to work on her charity quilt using these beautiful batik fabrics.
Nancy finished her strip quilt that she made for charity.
Then Nancy started working on another quilt for Charity.  These gals really are workers!
I put the corners on these squares that I'm making for a table runner.  Basically most of the time I talked and took pictures and browsed the books and fabrics.  Oh, my, like I need any more of either of those, but I can't resist.  There is new fabric in at the shop but I'll have to show that to you later.
 Naturally, we had to replenish ourselves, gain strength for all this sewing.  What a fun day.
Don't forget, the Happy Scrappers meets again on Wednesday, Sept. 13.  Hope you can come and join the fun!

While there, don't forget to pick up your passport for the The Country Fair Road Tour of 2017 held October 12, 13, & 14.

Upcoming Events:
  • SEW AND SHOW YOUR ROW BY ROW STITCH-IN! Come and sew on your Row X Row kits along with show and tell!  What a great way to work on those past and present rows and share with others what kits you have. Bring a dish to pass.  WHEN:  Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10-5. FEE:  Free if you have your kit from the Attic Window Quilt Shop, otherwise the Fee is $5 for the day and this includes beverages provided by the shop. Enjoy Door Prizes, food and drinks.  LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE!!!  So sign up now!
  • ALL CLEAN UP DAYS.  First Day of autumn!  Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 Time to do some fun fall cleaning here at the shop!  Discounts from 20% to 75% off.  Check out the bargains and get some great deals.  Also get some great ideas for some quick fall and Christmas projects!
AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP
  • Charity Quilts, Monday, Sept. 11
  • Evening Sampler, Monday, Sept. 11
  • Sampler & Bee, Tuesday, Sept. 12
  • Beginning Machine Applique, Tuesday p.m., Sept. 12
  • Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Sept. 13
  • Doll Bee, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Beginning Quilting, Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Sew & Show & Stitch-In, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 & 16
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Caroll,
Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles
lkjlkj

Attic Window Teachers

Attic Window Teachers
Attic Window Teachers

Quilting for Kids With Cancer

Quilting for Kids With Cancer
Generosity has no bounds. Above are the women in the Quilts For Kids group at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Left to right, Henrietta, Phyllis, Nancy, Carol, Karen. These women donate their time, fabric, money once a month to make quilts for kids who have cancer.

Quilts For Wheels

Quilts For Wheels
Many thanks and much appreciation goes to the women who work diligently each month to make quilts for those in wheel chairs. Kudos go to: Yvonne, Mary T., Fran, Joan, Mary Ellen, Barb, Lee Ann, Nancy, Mary.
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