WOOLBERT' AND WOOLYCAT

Hi . . it's me Woolbert.   Ok . . i am just a bit jealous of him but i suppose it is time you met my chum Tony The Tiger . . aka . . WoolyCat.
Why jealous?

Well Reets homes me out to this rather chilly ole shed and sure i have my wool coat and wool blankie as well but Tony . . he spends every single night in that warm and cozy house.  Piles of my wool in every nook, corner and cranny.  And he finds each and every mound.  Reets says he listens for that "dryer done" buzzer.  After which she retrieves her warm and wonderful woolens and spreads them about on the couch ready for folding.

But within seconds . . they are HIS!

He thinks he is so sly.  Spoiled thing.

"If I keep one eye closed she'll surely never see me on
her treasured Beauty Berry.  heh heh . . "

"ahhh . . I love to find my wooleys stacked next to the
velvets.  What a life!"

"These are MINE I tell ya . . All MINE!  Don't even think about it!"

"hmmm .  this buffet pennyrug just isn't quite big enough."

"I'm thinkin'"

"Maybe with a 

little twisteroo 

I can stretch it

out a bit aye?"

"That's more like it.

Where there's a

will there's a

WoolyCat way!"

"What's this pile of models doing here on the floor?  Must be for me next snuggy nap."

"Positively."

 "Ah .  I see it's showtime.  She's packin up my wooleys and what's that? . . a little snoozing space at the top?  I'll take it.   Hope she doesn't see me in here 'cause I know the next show is in Portland.   I LOVE Portland.   Don't you know? . . 

Voodoo Donuts is there!"

Ok now . . it's me again, Woolbert . . here to confirm that the following images are actual.  You do see that wool in the bottom of that basket don't you?  Well so did my bud The Tonester . . Ohhh yah . . Sly as ever aren't ya partner?

"Uhh. . I say now. .It surely looked big enuf. "

"Woolbert . . I need some help here . . buddy!"

"I  say WOOLBERT . . .
WHERE ARE YA WOOLBERT ?!!"

"Hey yah Tone . . I hear ya.  I'm out here . . in this freezy frosty SHED!

Wish with all my wooley heart that I could get in there to help you out.

In there in that

COZY

WARM

COMFY

SNUGGED-UP HOUSE

But here I am  . . way out yonder . .  just chillin' . . sorry pal."

CHECKIN' YOUR PATTERN LIST

Finally finished with this years shows!  Trying to check things off my list so i can get ready for the holidays AND . . next years shows.  Sew Sew Sew.
I have one more short jaunt to make and then will return here to catch up with overdue posts and best of all . . 
communicating with you once again.   It was long and busy year.

Below is a short slideshow of a small collection featuring our Holiday Patterns.  We have many more on our website so if you would like to go check your list, simply click on . . 

Reets Website

and the sleigh will magically pick you up and deliver you there.

Don your wooly winter cap and enjoy this snowy little slideshow.
Snow makes me want to  SEW!  How about you?

Free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

SPOOKSTERS

 BOO !!

CHICKEN COOP QUIZ WINNER!

Baaaah . . I have missed you all.  Reets is so slow with those new patterns and free drawings.   I might have to take back that wool quilt I gave her.    Our random drawing resulted in this lucky stitcher - 

RORI . . Congratulations Rori

Please email me with your mailing address and the new

Three Little Woolies ornament pattern will be on its way.

Reets promises to get it up on the website as soon as she returns from Portland.

I hope that  everyone read all of the comments.  I read and appreciated . . and chuckled at . . every one.  You are a humorous bunch!

Thanks once again for joining us.  Get those needles and pins clicking.

QUIZ . .

Have you figured this one out yet?

What comes first . .  The chicken or the egg??

I know . .

It's the CHICKEN COOP !!

Isn't it sweet? 

Daughter's birthday gift from her Hub.

Woolbert wants one . . he loves to watch over living creatures.  Leave a comment to this post.

Just create an answer to that big question above - Which comes first? . . 

Woolbert will draw a RANDOM WINNER from the egg basket.  And we will send you our new, 

THREE LITTLE WOOLIES pattern. 

You saw parts of this pattern in some recent posts.

Leaving for the NW Expo in Portland Tuesday so will have to end the drawing by

12 noon, MONDAY, 9.16.13.

Good Luck!

FAT QUAIL QUILT SHOW - A SLIDESHOW

A couple of weeks ago my friend Marilee asked if I would care to go with her to the  Laytonville quilt show.  Had I ever gone to a quilt show and NOT set up a booth?  I could not remember doing that. 

 I was delighted, I accepted, and I eagerly awaited the day out of the studio and on the road!  Laytonville is a small town along 101.  Population just over 1200.  If you love historic information like I do, Laytonville was founded in 1874 by a Nova Scotian, Frank Layton, who built a blacksmithy and house at the site.  First post office - 1879.    ok.  

Less than an hour away from home.  A beautiful day.  I can't tell you how much fun it was to leisurely saunter about, chatting, exclaiming, laughing, and taking LOTS of photos.  The Fat Quail, which hosted this little outdoor show is a gem of a shop.  Debbie, the owner, is endlessly providing her customers with new samples, new products and mountains of new fabrics.
Inspiring . .  always. 

We were overwhelmed by what we saw at this "little town" show.
Incredible quilts came out of those hills.  A memorable day.  

I hope you enjoy the slideshow I made for you.  As with all Smilebox slideshows, when the first picture pops up, hit pause for some seconds so the first caption and music catch up to the first image.  Enjoy!

Customize a free digital slideshow

MIDNIGHT BLUE TRIES AGAIN

Maybe you remember.  This Midnight Blue background lost out last time.  It was all up to the little snowguy . . and he said Black!

Lovey Dovey was much kinder to this nighty shade of blue.

You can tell they like each other right?

See them fly?

They are on their way to NW Expo in Portland.  They hope that you can come.

September 19, 20, 21.   Love this show.

So . . years ago I started dashing bits of glitter . . which became LOTS of glitter . . on just about everything.  Including almost all of my holiday ornaments.  These new ones will sparkle too, but this time I'm relying on just my stash of flashy flosses.  A little less mess, but just as much fun.

Not all of you can come to Portland.  Woolbert knows that.  So as soon as the finishing touches are completed, he will be giving away a free copy of this new pattern . .  and you can have some fun too.  So stay with us!

Tomorrow or the next day i'll have the Fat Quail Quilt Show up.  A fun slideshow.

See ya then.

REDWOOD EMPIRE QUILT GUILD SHOW

The Eureka, Ca. guild, REQG, does not live down to its small city surroundings.  Big is their style.  Every other year they provide their community and beyond, with an unbelievable quilt show.  This year's vendors came from far and wide . . most likely hearing of the show's past successes.  Or I suppose it could have been that incredible, expansive vendor buffet on preview night.  We couldn't get over that.
Happily it was a busy two days.  I didn't even make it to many other booths.   Thanks to Sue however, there are some quilt pictures.  And thanks to Susie and Cheryl, they are identified.

Featured Quilters -  Judy DeGraff and Susie Freese

Both are proficient and prolific quilters.  Not shy in giving of themselves, they spend endless hours volunteering for numerous charity projects.

Susie not only has her own quilting business, Susie Sews, but also quilts for charity - hundreds of quilts yearly.  Fun gals too.  What perfect choices.

Here are just a few of the magnificent quilts that were on display.

by Leslie Reid - Gradients  

by Wanda Vaughn - Glacier Star

Annette - Greek Keys

Annette was lucky enough to take one of Sally Frey's (Kenmar Designs) retreats. It was called "Greek Keys" inspired by the white homes of Greece and the surrounding Meditteranean . . 

so very tranquil . . so very blue.

   However, Annette is more inspired to create with the bright colors of the tropics and beautiful Asian fabrics - so called her quilt "Keys to the Orient".

The spirally block is the Greek key design that can be seen on all of the ancient (and modern) Greek architecture.

Suzie Piazza -- Follow The Leader

Kemset Moore - 9 Patch Log Cabin

<<<

Picture does not do it justice.  

Oh Daiwabos!

How we love you

love you

love you.

>>>

Was small but one of my favorites.

This little fabric chest was nothing but awesome.  Loved the little ballerina with an ATTITUDE! (Cheryl)   Best described by Cheryl herself below.  (BTW. . That very unique curved table runner, beneath the chest, was made by Pat Reeves.)

Cheryl Pekar - Happy 60th Birthday

"I made the Treasure Chest for my 60^th birthday after finding a note from my mother (who died  7 years ago) saying Happy 60^th Birthday  Almost up there with me.  I have no idea where it came from or when she wrote it but when I found it about 3 months before my birthday knew I had to do something with it.  I started compiling photos and other collectibles (which are on the back sides of the photos…things like class rings, necklace from a boyfriend, awards, etc.).  It is just a momento box for me and I have added some other things to it since it returned home."

Thanks for that Cheryl.  And thank you all very much for visiting.  Recently went with a friend to another little wonderful quiltylicious localish show.  No work involved.  Enjoyed it immensely and have a slideshow of the shop and the outdoor quilts coming very soon.  

RUG HOOKED WHALE

Traveling up and down the west coast to quilt shows, it is always great to find a better than average coffee/tea shop.

Atascadero has one.

bru - Atascadero, Ca.

The owner has a fancy for sperm whales.  This hooked whale was
at least
almost
maybe
8 feet long.  Could have been 6.
BIG . . tho short of their actual average length of 52 feet.  

Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales.

The sperm whale's head can comprise up to one third their length.

Sperm whales plunge as far as 3 kilometers - 9,800 feet - to dine on giant squid.

And they can live to be 70 years old.

Those are some Great Big Facts right?

And here are some facts about rug hooking . . and me.

 * I learned to rug hook in a class during the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

** I miss rug hooking.  

*** my favorite rug hooked project was this. . .

**** And one last fact . . I still have the purse and even use it occasionally.

Let me know if you have any idea when I might be able to do a little hooking again.

If you say . . .  

"Whenever you make time to do it !!"

. . I will pout.  

ART WORKS

 A flower is a flower

Unless it is a first flower.

Then it is a Flower

with Power .

 A true story.  A short story that is big. . 

so I say anyway.

These are the little artists.

They began with a piece of brown paper found on the floor.

Rip rip.

Laughing.

Little pieces.

Rip rip.

 Small hands placing itsy pieces on a table.

Just a little help from Nanna with the arrangement.
Oh and maybe she ripped that stem as well.

First art work

A simple flower.  

more laughing.
 And then . . gone.

Just like that.

Art works . . in mysterious ways.
Hoping that you can share something simple in your day . . today.

SHOWS - IT'S NOT ALL WORK

Pretty Little Tires    All In A Row.

I'll tell you more about them later . . Probably.

You could call it paradise . . i'm sure the people that live there do.  The Oregon Summer Quilt Expo was held in Redmond Oregon with Sisters and Bend nearby.   I hadn't been there in over 13 years when i attended the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  Amazing.  There I took the one and only class i've ever taken . . Rughooking!  Wool.  Wonderful Wool.

This time I rented a house at a nearby resort which two other vendors and our helpers shared.
And now we know.

This is the way to go to a show.
The show . . it was very very slowwww.
More about that later.
Maybe.
But together at the house - every one of us -
best time ever.
Laugh-til-your-cheeks-hurt best time ever.

Located on a golf course which didn't matter to us except for the lovely deer that roamed from green to green.  Funny . . i do not call them lovely at home as they munch around the perimeter of my flower garden.  But here . . soulful eyes and graceful stroll.  So easy to admire.

After the jacuzzi you might want to wine and dine  on the deck.

Storytelling went on into the darkness and way beyond the emptying of the glasses. 

I led everyone on a walk to the top . .  of a hill . . that did not make a loop . . as I had thought.

On and on we climbed.

It began to get dark.  The beautifully landscaped lawns, awing us one after another, no longer visible.

I pretended to continue leadership and insisted that just up over this next little knoll

the way down . . would appear.    That did not happen.

But this did. 

     

   

Have you been to the Pine Tavern?

It is in Bend.  Why have you not been to the Pine Tavern?  Would you like directions?

Just along the river . . look for the umbrellas in their pronounced gaiety, tilting this way and that. 

Listen for the cheerful chatter.

And forget that day sitting in your booth at the very slowwww show.  Before i tell you about that, something else . . I stole 2 delectable mushrooms from Diane's plate. 

She never knew it. 

Until now.

Thank you Diane.

Sally, Laurie, Janet, Barbara, Charlene, Reets, Diane

We forced the waiter to drop his tray and take our picture . . We felt charming and did not want that to escape.  Tips were promised.

Three of our house roommates did not make it here so we all laughed for them.

Someone said

"My . . they are boisterous!"

But we did not hear.  We were busy discussing the days' events.  Which means the vendors were not discussing because their day was uneventful - more later on that.  But Janet and Sally and Diane could not be unbubbled - Told us all about their Sue Spargo class that day at the Sisters show.  The busy one.  

I tried to disguise my pouting as i secretly wished, that i had been there too.  I love Sue Spargo. 

As you know . . she is a lady of wool . . gathering flocks of followers as she goes.  That is supposed to make you think of sheep some how.  Did it?  I love eating out with girlfriends.  I hope that you can join us some day.  The subject is often
wool.
the love of wool.
wool gathering.
and where did you get that piece.
I want it.

Well now it is very late and time has run out and I must rise it up early to prepare for our local quilt show coming up in just one day . . very much looking forward to this one.  Small yet very wonderful.

I will try to do better with some picture taking.    

Oh and I must finish up on that Redmond show . . 

and then there is the Art 101 shop and its magnificent tires.

To be continued . .                                             

LOLLIPOP HILL QUILT PATTERN

Lollipop Hill Pattern

Did you let your freedom ring on this Fourth?

Good!

The results of our random drawing and the winner of this Lollipop Hill pattern is . .  well since it has been way too long since there has been a drawing . . the WINNERS are . . 

 Number 8 - Rose of Three Sheep Studio

and

Number 20 - Anonymous - Carole -  who said

"I love elephants and my sister loves rabbits" . . 

Please email me so we can get your mailing info.

Congratulations to you both and thanks to all for the very entertaining and thoughtful comments.  It was fun and each comment was very much appreciated . . thank you.

Better do this again sooner than later.

Have a fun stitching weekend.

RED WHITE AND BLUE

The Red White and Blue

that brings peace into every day.

Sharing them with you.

JUDY'S LOLLIPOP HILL

Lollipop Hill Pattern

 I knew that our Lollipop Hill quilt pattern would not stay all neatly packaged in its taupes and subdued colors.  They are pleasant enough colors but the designs were begging to be experimented with. 

And so they were.

A few of the very same fabrics were used but Judy Dillree
of Pioneer Quilts

gave her version some added zap!  I love it don't you? The fabric choices and color combinations are terrific.  Super elephant block and look at the fantastic quilting.  Love how the circles were created.

Not sure who did the quilting but what an incredible job.  

 Isn't the bunny funny?

Liking the birds too.

I'm thinking I had better give away a pattern here.

My friend Janet of

Art Journey

 was so great to send these pictures.  Thanks Janet!

Oh and look . . 

it's the lollipop hill.

More great color choices Judy.  Thank you for sharing your wonderful quilt with us.

I almost want to stop what i'm doing and make up antother one.

Well, who would like to try their magic on this pattern?  See below for your chance to win a free pattern.

TO WIN LOLLIPOP HILL PATTERN

OR if the winner already has this pattern you can pick from any of our other designs.

Leave a comment to this post . . anything about lollipops or the Lollipop quilt.

We will draw a random winner from the comments.

Since there is a holiday, i'll give you plenty of time to win.  

Comments close on Friday, July 5, 2013, at midnight.

Ok . . Thanks again to Pioneer Quilts and Judy and good luck in the drawing.