3rd Stop-Fabric, Fashions & More-Rush City-7/30

Our final quilt store on Saturday was further up north ... on our way to Duluth!

It is off the beaten path ... but so worth the effort to find!

Gosh ... what a terrific way to display those Minnesota fabrics!  And the quilt they had on display was beautiful!

We loved how they made a shirt from the fabrics ... just too dang fun!

The store was filled with inspiring samples ...

... yep ... lots of eye candy!

they had a terrific classroom ... filled with equally terrific samples!

All five of us love Thimbleberries ... and this store had plenty ... it was wonderful!

This is their Christmas corner ... yep ... we were humming carols!  Lovely fabric and samples!

The icing on the cake ... was the bathroom!  OMGosh Good Golly!  Heart stopping cute!  Honestly, I have never taken pictures of a bathroom before!  "Vintage Girly" is the best way I can think of to describe it.  Make a trip to this gem of a store to be inspired ... and to see this bathroom for yourself!

Second Stop-Bear Patch Quilting- 7/30

Next we "hopped" on over to Bear Patch Quilting, which is also located in White Bear Lake!  It was such a beautiful morning ... we enjoyed the walk from Rosebud's Cottage.

A tour bus was also in the shop while we were there, fun to see so many people excited about shop hopping ... gotta love that frenzy atmosphere!

The shop had many inspirational pieces using the MN fabrics.

We appreciated how their MN themed quilts incorporated multiple skill levels!

They had even created an embroidery design ... love it!

Their displays were all very attractive.  They had demonstrations going on at opposite corners of the shop ... that was fun and informative for everyone!

Many QBees back in Cordova love the Patchabilities patterns...

... so I took some pics to share with them.  The store was so crowded it was difficult to take photos ... ;-) ... which, of course is a good thing!  The staff there was very helpful and friendly ... we enjoyed our visit!

First Stop! Rosebud's Cottage-White Bear Lake

Months ago, while talking about this trip ... I asked the QBees where they wanted to begin their trip.  QBee Barb, who is the quiet one in our group spoke first, "I want to go to Rosebud's Cottage."  I don't know about you ... but when the quiet one speaks up, we all listen!  Hmmm ... maybe that is why no one listens to me ... ;-)!

So we were at the door, bright eyed and bushy tailed ... before they even opened!  Rosebud's is owned by Quilt Rock Star, Roseann Mehan Kermes.  She was recently the featured designer in American Patchwork and Quilting and has another quilt featured in the October issue!

Roseann honored us by an invitation to visit her studio ... to say we were "star struck" is an understatement!

Her studio just oozes creativity ... you don't want to leave ...

... there are little "snip its" of artistry everywhere!

When you meet Roseann, you can feel her energy ... there were projects everywhere ... am sure you'll be seeing and making some of them soon!

There were baskets of inspiration every where!  Gosh I love pom-pom trim ... don't you?

Roseann finds creative uses for everything!  Using aprons to decorate chairs is just too dang cute!
After lingering in the studio at our leisure, we returned to the shop.

Roseann's use of the MN Shop Hop fabric was ... what can I say?

It was wonderful!  She had kits made up for both small and large projects ... yep ... wanted them all!

A tour bus of quilter's arrived, so I quickly tried to take a few pics without catching too many people unaware ... you have no idea how hard that was!  So my overall pics of the store are a bit blurry and caddywhompess!

;-)  I warned you!

QBee Barb spent most of her time in the wonderful wool department!

We all fell in love with this version of Terry Atkinson's new pattern!

Roseann's assistants are as friendly and helpful as she is!  This QBee is a doll ... I always look forward to seeing her when I visit!  She is a peach!

We had so much fun ... these QBees even decided to rest awhile ... yep ... you could say we all felt so comfortable, we were ready to move in! ;-)

The QBees and I were so touched by Roseann's hospitality ... she had gifts for each of us and donated door prizes for us to take back to our guild!  She is so generous with her time, talent, and friendship!  On an extremely busy day, she went above and beyond for us ... simply amazing and over the top!  We are so grateful and honored!  What a wonderful way for us to begin our Minnesota Quilt Adventure!

The Fun Has Begun!!!

Can you see the excitement in their faces?

This picture was taken Thursday at our airport in Cordova ...

This one was taken today (Friday) at the Seattle Airport ... yep ... a two day trip for the QBees!

They arrived in Minneapolis at 5:30 pm ... here they are ... waiting for me to pick them up!

Here I am arriving in our vehicle ... it will be our chariot for the next ten days ... what a hoot!

By 6:00 pm we were at the mall!

We had dinner at the CRAVE!  We had to stand in front of their motto, Fresh - Vibrant - American.  Well, we decided that with the heat and traveling ... we couldn't really call ourselves "fresh". ;-)  But our personalities are definitely vibrant!  And we are All-American Quilter's! Hee-hee!

After dinner it was time to head to the hotel ... a very big day tomorrow!  We begin hopping our way through Minnesota's quilt shops!  What a way to dillydally!

Lots of Loose Ends!

Just so you know... my life this past week has been nothing like the "calm seas" you see from my front deck in this photo! ;-)  I was busy ... don't worry ... it was a good busy!  The dillydally winds were blowing ... there were several loose ends that I wanted to tie up before I left on my annual trip to Minnesota!

007 Projects
Yes!!!  I accomplished all five projects!  I can reveal one...

This was a joint project that QBee Val and I worked on together.  It is to be auctioned at a local charity event.  A woman here in Cordova used local plants to dye several silk scarves, then asked our quilt guild members to make pillows from them.  The scarves were and are beautiful ... stunning in fact ... but they were ... light weight ... 100% silk scarves.  You can use your rotary cutter and ruler ... and cut an accurate square ... but once you lift that ruler ... the fabric has a will of its own and it will never be square again!  ;-)  We wanted to retain the properties of the fabric, so chose not to adhere any stabilizing measures ... yep ... we're nuts ... but you already knew that!  It was a challenge, but we ended up very happy with the results ... and to touch it is fiber heaven!  It was worth the effort!

Here is a hint of another 007 project...

... now, you know the routine ... if I tell you, I'll have to .... ;-)!  The reveal will just have to wait!

Mitten Design Class
Over the past few weeks I have been teaching a knitting class on mitten design...

...teaching design is so rewarding for me.  Watching them create...

... witnessing their growth in ability...

... catching their anticipation as they near completion...

... being present the moment they put their mitten on ... it is hard to capture the emotions I feel in words.  When we work with our head and our hands to create useful, yet beautiful things it empowers us.  Watching others empower themselves is such an honor ... I am grateful.

Treasured moments ... a glimpse of heaven ... here on earth.

The Home Front

 Yes ... it is near the end of July and Kysa is still shedding buckets of fur!  By the end of August ... she'll begin growing a new coat! ;-)

In anticipation of the upcoming berry season, I used what was left in the freezer to make the Wild Blueberry Jalapeno Sauce I've been developing over the past year.  Mr. DillyDally and I are very happy with it ... we've had fun trying it out in different ways.  Preserving food really satisfies some primal urge I have ... plus it brings back warm memories of my mother, her garden and helping her fill our family pantry.

Minnesota Shop Hop - Here We Come!

Here is the line up for our grand quilt adventure!  We met for lunch and to go over the final itinerary!  I am so excited ... it is all I can think about ... and I almost squeal out loud with delight when I talk about it!  Poor Mr. DillyDally ... he has had to listen to my silliness over this trip for a year, he'll probably celebrate when it is over! ;-)

I finally got around to making my Shop Hop Bag last Saturday...

Yep...the dillydally frenzy continued right up until I boarded the plane on Sunday!  ;-) I took the red eye, flew all night...and arrived in Minneapolis early Monday morning.  Spent precious hours with Sister DillyDally before she left on a business trip that afternoon.  Then regained my urban driving skills ... ;-) ... did a little shopping and saw the Harry Potter movie!  Yesterday I drove up to northern Minnesota to visit family for a few days.

The QBees arrive Friday evening ... then the funsense will really begin!  Listen carefully ... can you hear me squealing? ;-) I'll be sure to share the silliness as it unfolds!

Good bye my sweet little remote corner of the planet!