Are you ready for a quilt show?

After putting 450 miles on my vehicle, I can say I had a great time at the Wasatch Front Shop Hop!

Bright and early we were off to Utah. The rain was hard and fast when I left my house but by the time I picked up my friend and the closer we got to the Utah border, the rain let up and it turned out to be a very nice day. Every person that visited the shops during the Shop Hop was given a free block pattern. Since this year's theme was All Around the Town, each shop pretended to be a specific building in a town. The shops each designed their own building's block and then furnished the pattern to the other shops so every store had a quilt to display as "their" town. I think that this year each shop outdid themselves. All the quilts were wonderful! Be ready for a feast! Click on pics to see more details.

First stop coming down Parley's Canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, was Piper's. Their block and shop was the "Pet Shop". We got there right when they opened at 9 a.m.

Next stop had us driving up to Bountiful to Quilter's Haven. They were the "Diner". While we were there, everyone in the store was a winner and we each were able to pick a small potholder kit! Yea for freebies and generous shop owners! I wish they had a website because this store is one of my favorites to visit!

Yes, we drove out to Tooele. We decided that since it was still pretty early in the day that we might as well try to hit as many stores as we could. Sew Sweet was the schoolhouse.

I had never been to the next quilt shop, Whimsey Cottage. Very cute place to visit and the gals there were very nice. Their shop was the police station, even had a chalked body outside the front door and used their thumbprints to stamp our cards. I loved their bright quilt!

We went to Mormon Handicraft but caught up with a crowd so I gave up on getting a pic of their quilt. They were the "Candy" store. Here is the next store. Elaine's. I had forgotten about this place from when I had visited them before. They have quite a nice selection of fabric but again, the store was crowded so it was hard to see much. Here is their quilt. Their store and block was the "Movie Theater". They gave away free popcorn and drinks and then my friend and I both won theater-size candy. We needed the sugar to keep us going! By this time, it was about 2:30 p.m. I thought their quilt was so cute with the flag on the top border.

Headed to Quilt's Etc. after a quick bite at Zupa's. I thought Zupa's was a local restaurant in Provo (south of Salt Lake). It was funny how we kept seeing them everywhere on this road trip. Quilt's Etc. is a fantastic shop. Hundreds and hundreds of bolts of fabric. In fact, they have two stores across the street from each other. They always go all out for the shop hops. This year they were the "Bakery". Look at the applique on this quilt!

Pine Needles has changed alot since I was there last. I really enjoyed visiting here this time. They were the "Train Station".

Talk about a "WOW" quilt!!! I fell in love with the next one at Thimbles and Threads! So many little, tiny pieces so I would never have the patience to replicate with the pattern they are going to sell(plus a kit to go along with it) but I did enjoy looking at it. Bright, colorful...my kind of quilt!

Headed south to Utah Valley and our next stop was Broadbent's. We had been there just a few days ago so didn't stay too long plus our time was running short. I liked this quilt with the plaids and blues but my friend thought it was too busy. This shop was the "Antique Shop".

The ladies at American Quilting were so nice. They gave us a goodie but I haven't had time to even open up the gifty to see what we got. They also gave us the whole pattern plus a color picture of their quilt so we can make it. No other shop did that. Again, we had been here a few days before so we tried to hurry in and out but got a bit held up when we both spied fabric we loved and hadn't seen in the other shops. I'm sure no one can relate to that one! The theme of their store and block was the town "Church". With it being Utah, they were dressed up as pioneers and had homemade bread and jelly for us.

The Stitching Corner was the "Bridal Store". It took me going to several shops to figure out why they all had white dresses on their block. I should have just looked at the flyer I had to find out! By this time, it was after 7 p.m. and we had one more store to visit before 8 so we had a bite of their wedding reception food of mints/nuts and fruit salad and ran out of there.

Last on our tour was Corn Wagon Quilt Co. We walked in with 20 minutes to spare! Again, we had already been here last week so we didn't need to do much except get our shop hop cards stamped. If you make it to all the shops during the 4 days, your card is entered into a drawing for different prizes. Corn Wagon was the "Toy Store". They were dressed up as clowns...and at the end of a long day, they were pretty silly. :)

In between hitting the official shop hop stores, we were also able to fit in Material Girls. Great store, great owner! I love to shop there since it is so friendly. We didn't want to miss it this trip.

Tomorrow I will hit the last 2 stores on the shop hop and will post pics later of their quilts. I didn't think I would make it to all of the shops but since I am going to another Parade of Homes tomorrow, I can! The Honey will be with me....I just know he is going to LOVE "shopping" in a couple of fabric stores with me! Whoohoo! LOL!

Halloween Swap

It has been a rainy week again around here. Perfect for sewing and greening the grass, if nothing else! I knew I wanted to get started on these blocks this week and from looking at other blogs, it looks like other swappers have the same idea---get 'em done early! I am using fabric in my stash for the 9 patch. It's called Ride at Your Own Whisk by Pat Yuille. For the custom block I need to make, I might look this week while I am out shop hopping for something fun to use. Will give me a reason to shop with a purpose. :)

 

Utah Valley Parade of Homes

I didn't think I would make it over there this year to the Parade of Homes but all worked out in the end. Saw the most expensive homes but wasn't as impressed as I have been in years past. That's pretty funny when you think about how alot of the homes were over a million and several at two million....and I'm not impressed????? It may have been that I have seen alot of the ideas already. Here are a few pics of things I did like. Looks like green is the color this year since most of the houses had it on their walls. Several homes had wallpaper so that must be coming back in style too. I loved how the old screen door was used as the master closet door! And of course I loved the craft room in the one house. It was large and roomy with plenty of storage cabinets. Hope you can see the pic with the side cabinet made into a skinny broom closet. How clever is that? Click on pic to enlarge:

 

Next week starts the Cache Valley Parade of Homes. I hope to make it to that one. I went a couple of years ago to it and loved the decorating in each of the homes. I hope it will be the same this year! I'm also hoping to get to the Utah Shop Hop next week. I already visited 3 of the shops on Saturday (Broadbent's, American-Quilting and Corn Wagon) but shop hops are fun and you always get a free quilt block pattern at them.

Weekend quilting

This was a weekend where I didn't get much sewing done but middle child did alot. I was proud of her. Her first quilt she ever made was a buggy barn pattern, called Crazy Stars. I had made her go with me to a local retreat a couple of years ago and for someone who really hadn't sewn before, she did great and finished the thing that same weekend! This weekend she wanted to make another one from one of the new Buggy Barn books to put in her room at the cabin. It is called Crazy Sails. If you have never sewn a Buggy Barn quilt, it can be a bit crazy (hence the name, I assume). Alot of times you don't have to match up seams so it is hard to just be free as you sew. Your mind keeps telling you that you have to match when you really don't. They are fun quilts to make after you get out of your traditional mind set of how to make a quilt.
Here's some pics....it was a rainy weekend (again) but we still had a fun time playing.

 

 

 

Yes I made her go outside with all her blocks to take a pic...you can't tell it is windy and cold, can you? :)

What a house!

I have always loved bright colors. In our old house, I had a "red room" that opened up to the bright yellow kitchen. I would have loved to have had this floor in that area! What do you think? Too much? It's kind of fun to see a quirky mansion, I think! To check out other rooms in the place, go here.

Mad Hatter Tea Cup Swap

I finally started my blocks for the Pat Sloan Alice in Wonderland Tea Cup swap. Only due this week. Here is a preview of my blocks...I still have to applique and have to decide if I want to add the tea bag. It's cute, but I don't drink tea so not sure I want it. I'll probably add it though since the other blocks I have seen have some cute sayings on the tea bag. My daughter is making another set to swap so hopefully we will have some cute blocks sent back to us. We were told to use bright and funky fabric....hope these work!!!

Saturday

Since I talked about my trying to have a garden this year, I thought I would show you what it looks like so far. Today we have been setting up the soaker hoses in each box. It's all going to be trial and error...we really have no idea what we are doing...but it is kind of fun. My goals are small....just to get a few veggies out of it and I will be happy.

 

Look what we got today! 2 puppies! Just as cute as can be.......until they wanted to sit in the garden boxes.....

 

Just kidding kids...they really aren't ours...it's deja vue from when we found the Great Pyrenees on our property in BP.