Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Not cool as in weather because it was hot as blue blazes in Wisconsin, but cool as in a fantastic week of making new friends and sharing ideas with a terrific group of shopowners from various areas of the country, and as always fun activities and learning opportunities with Terry Atkinson. This is the second year I’ve attended Terry’s shopowner retreat; after last year I didn’t think it could get any better, but she and Roseann outdid themselves again this year. I think my friend Patti, who owns Fabric Town in Apple Valley, MN, said it best when she described the week:

To just give you a quick insight to what we do at this retreat….. Laugh, Sew, Laugh, Laugh, Discuss, Laugh, Tease, Eat unbelievable meals prepared by a fabulous Chef, Laugh, Discuss, Sew, Sew, Sew, Laugh, Laugh and Eat again..

Terry always has creative challenges and thought-provoking round table discussions for us and it always amazes me at the “V-8 moments” I have during our discussions. I suppose we tend to get ourselves into a particular mindset and it takes a fresh perspective to free us from the rut…those “I could have had a V-8 moments” are a highlight of this retreat for me.

Sometimes I get to a point that all of my creativity seems to have been drained away by the daily mechanics of owning a quilt shop, and this summer retreat is the best way I’ve found to restore that creative well, and just have fun. We always test a couple of patterns for Terry and the quilt we did this time around was really fun…sorry I can’t share my F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D (!!!) quilt top with you since the pattern is still in the design testing stage, but you’ll see it as soon as Terry releases the pattern in a few months. Here’s just a tiny sneak peek…yes, it’s black and white. Surprised?

Terry and Roseann always coordinate dinner themes with Jason, who cooks our fabulous meals for us, and our last night is a holiday celebration. This year it was Halloween, and this is the tablescape that greeted us at dinnertime…

We were instructed to bring a Halloween gift for exchange…something that reminded us of our childhood Halloween experiences. You can see that all the gifts were wrapped in fun Halloween fabrics and packages. Halloween as a child for me meant the school carnival so I filled my Halloween gift bag with little toys and candies…a slinky, a fun pencil with a smiley face eraser, Pixie Stix, the little wax bottles filled with colored liquid…all stuff that we’d come home with as prizes for playing the games at the school carnival. We also always had a cake walk at the carnival so I included my mother’s recipe for Toasted Coconut Cake, which she always made to donate. It was an evening filled with laughter and funny memories as we all took turns telling our Halloween stories and sharing bits and pieces of our lives. I think we ended up sitting around the dinnertable for several hours, just sharing and laughing and having fun!

There were 18 of us at the retreat, and although several had to leave a bit early, there were a few diehards who didn’t want to leave and stayed until the absolute last second!               Back row (L to R) Carol, owner of Batiks Etc. & Sew What Fabrics; yours truly ; Shelley, owner of The Quilted Forest; Cathy, owner of Wish Upon A Quilt; Joyce, owner of Quilting Adventures; Laura, owner of Cotton Patch Quilt Shop; Roseann, owner of Rosebud’s Cottage. Front row (L to R) Kelly Ann, owner of Kelly Ann’s Quilting; Sue, owner of Gruber’s Quilt Shop; Terry of Atkinson Designs, and Julie, owner of Keepsake Cottage Fabrics.

This is a wonderful group of women that I am happy to have as friends and colleagues. Be sure to check out their websites and blogs for inspiration!

Melisa

No, not a typical hunting trip…a much anticipated trip to Hunt & Gather in Minneapolis! My friend, Roseann, has been promising to take me there since last summer and we finally had the opportunity to go the day after Spring Quilt Market ended. Heaven…I was in HEAVEN!

Julie and I took off on our adventure to meet Roseann and Pat Sloan at Hunt & Gather, and ended up quite L-O-S-T even with the GPS! At one point, Julie called the shop to ask for directions and when she told the lady where we were I could hear her exclaiming “Oh my!”  YIKES!  But we eventually found our way there…and it was so worth the trip! I could have gotten into so much trouble (more than I actually did!) if it hadn’t been for the fact that I’d have to figure out a way to get all the stuff I wanted to buy back home…it’s a long way from Minneapolis to Atlanta and most of what I wanted would NOT fit in my carry-on bag!

Bright, happy & cheerful on the approach…looks promising!

I took loads of pictures…everywhere you looked there was inspiration and just plain fun quirkiness!

Remember these? I have them on the fridge for the Grandies to play with…

Need a faucet?

How about a vintage water fountain?

So much fun to dig through the treasures!

I collect recipes and cookbooks, but really…who needs a recipe for FRIED EGG???

This “Lady” was perched in a corner, just hanging out!

This brought back memories…Mike and I were avid square dancers early in our marriage…like 25 years ago! I wonder where my crinolines are???

Julie and Roseann!

Be sure to check out Roseann’s blog for her view of the morning’s visit…I don’t know how I missed seeing some of the things she saw!

We finished up the day back at Rosebud’s Cottage in White Bear Lake where Roseann and Pat recorded a live radio show about Quilt Market. If you haven’t checked out Pat Sloan’s Creative Talk Radio, click the link to get caught up and then be sure to tune in every Monday afternoon and listen live! It’s a fun way to “meet” lots of interesting people from the quilting industry.

I hated to have the day end…antique shopping is one of my favorite pastimes, and spending time with great friends, too, makes for a perfect day in my book!

Melisa

This should be the last of the Paducah posts…I want to be sure to share as much as I possibly can so you’ll have a good idea of just how much fun we had on this trip! If you didn’t go this year, you MUST make plans to go in 2011!

Day 3 and our first stop is the Rotary Antique Quilt Show & Sale. Personally this is my favorite of all the venues because many of my favorite vendors are here (Cherrywood anyone!!!), along with the antique quilt exhibit. This year the focus was quilts from the WWII era, and there were 27 fabulous antique quilts on display. Someone commented on the fact that so many of the antique quilts were marked “Quiltmaker Unknown,” and that is so sad! Please, please, please document your quilts with a label; it only takes a few minutes more and generations to come will benefit from knowing the details of your quilts!

Then it was off to the National Quilt Museum for a couple of hours. The featured exhibit was Imagine Hope featuring monochromatic quilts by Hollis Chatelain. Pat and I overheard one young teenage girl exclaim “How can that be a quilt?” as she gazed at the amazing exhibit!

A quick photo op with Quiltman outside the museum! We had seen him tooling around Paducah the day before on a Segway, but could never get him to slow down long enough for a picture. He was on foot today…his walking foot, ha ha! He was heard commenting that while Batman needs Robin, Quiltman needs Bobbin! Har…Har…I know, really BAD quilt humor, huh?

After a delicious seafood lunch, we had a couple of hours to enjoy downtown Paducah. There are loads of antique shops (I was in heaven!!!) and more quilt vendors downtown so there was plenty to see.

Marie and Bernice opted for a horse-drawn carriage instead of “hoofing” it themselves!

(For the record, I almost met my Maker trying to get this picture! I foolishly stepped out into the street without looking right into the path of an oncoming SUV…luckily the guy driving was going slowing and watching for idiots like me!)

Next up was Eleanor Burns on stage at Carson Park. We were outside, under a huge tent, it was hot, I was tired, and the show was about an hour too long…enough said!

After dinner, Pat led the group in a game of Left-Right-Center. I believe her comment here, as she viewed the fat quarters thrown into the center of the circle, was something along the lines of “…that is going to be one butt-ugly quilt!!!” Lots of fun and laughter later, Jane was the winner of the 50+ fat quarters! We also played a little quilt trivia and gave away some prizes before heading off to bed.

For some reason, it took Johnny a lot longer to load our luggage for the return trip than it did when we left…could have had something to do with the fact that most of the luggage was now bulging with purchases, not to mention all the ‘extra’ tote bags and shopping bags that had been added to the mix! And this is just the view under the bus…the overhead bins on the bus were overflowing, too! Did I mention what a great time we all had?!?!?!?

Bound for Atlanta and still smiling!

Melisa

Thursday was our day at the AQS Quilt Show and the opportunity to shop at every single vendor booth…400 in all!  I think we hit every single one, too!

We were treated to a different view of Paducah on the way in because Johnny’s GPS sent him along the truck route into town.  This was a construction site we passed, which someone cleverly dubbed the “Paducah Pyramids!”

Pat and I posed for a picture on the way into the show…

Here’s a view of the dome pavilion added by AQS this year to replace the vendor/exhibit space formerly housed in the Executive Inn, which has been closed. This was an amazing structure, 37,000 square feet with special revolving doors to keep the air inside. You really couldn’t tell you weren’t in a traditional building unless you walked along the outside edge of the structure next to the wall.

These were the restroom facilities outside the pavilion…not your average port-a-potty! Air conditioning, running water, pictures on the walls and CLEAN!!!

Although I took loads of pictures of the show quilts, I can’t share them here on the blog due to permission requirements. The winners are posted on the AQS website. Suffice it to say, the quilts were amazing, making me very aware of just how inadequate my quilting skills are!

Elly takes a load off … oh my aching feet!!!

Waiting for our luxury coach to whisk us away to dinner…the end of a VERY long day…but we’re all still smiling!

Stay tuned…more to come!

Melisa

There is so much to share about our trip to Paducah it is difficult to know where to begin. We had sooooo much fun, and with the exception of the threatening weather on our way home, everything was smooth as silk! I will admit to taking three naps on Sunday…I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I finally got home!

There were a couple of stand outs on the trip, the first of which was our driver, Johnny.

This man was a godsend! He was so kind to all of us, and took care of so many details that Pat and I didn’t even have to think about. Every single person on the bus just adored him, and we’ve already told him that he MUST be our driver next year, too! We kept him thoroughly entertained, and he was amazed at the antics this group got up to…I teased him about sharing all of our secrets with his wife when he got home and he said “she’ll swear I’m lyin’!”

The second standout hit of the trip were our “Paducah Pockets”, remember these?

We had so many compliments on these bags, and lots of the girls told us they were stopped numerous times by people who wanted to inspect their bags and take pictures. It was great being able to spot our folks as we walked around because you couldn’t help but notice their bags! Pat is writing the pattern and will have it available on her website soon – I’ll be sure to let you know when it is available.  Not sure yet what we’ll do to top this for 2011…at least we’ve got a year to come up with something equally as clever!

We left Conyers bright and early Wednesday morning, and everyone was smiling and anxious to get on the road! This was the BEST group of women we could have ever asked for on this trip! I feel as though I have 47 new BFFs!!!

First stop was Hancock’s of Paducah! The place was hopping when we got there, and I think a number of ladies seriously helped the Paducah economy before we left there, Pat included! Fifteen minutes through the door, and she was lined up at the cutting table!

Dinner at Rafferty’s (notice they’re all STILL smiling!) and then we were off to Kentucky Oaks Mall to visit the vendors and see the quilt exhibits.

Some folks finished shopping before the others, and took the opportunity to relax a little. By this time, many of us were at the end of a 15 hour day…but everyone was still smiling!

Back to the hotel where we all crashed immediately! Even I didn’t have trouble going to sleep that night! Tomorrow is another big day – the Quilt Show!

Melisa

Two more sleeps and we’re off to Paducah…I’m not sure who is more excited about this trip!!!

Pat and I finished up the name badges and the goodie bags today, plus got everything else in order. All I have to do now is load everything into my car tomorrow afternoon to take it over to the bus stop on Wednesday morning at o’dark thirty! Here’s a sneak peek at the goodies …

All the name bags lined up in a row…aren’t they cute!!! And a little close up of mine, plus the fabric covered notebooks Pat did for everyone. I added a Sweet Home pen to complete the set. A couple of things I learned from this experience 1) I don’t want to see selvedges again  for a very long time!, and 2) I don’t like sewing with vinyl. But even with that, these bags turned out so well – there is a pocket on the back, and each one is lined with a different bright, funky fabric and has a little button tab closure, and the name pocket is vinyl. Can’t wait to wear these! This will be perfect to wear at Quilt Market, too, so mine will do double-duty!

Goodie Bags all piled up. Everyone gets one, and there are some fantastic goodies in here! Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the goodies, but trust me, you would want one! Heck, I want one!

Tomorrow is my ‘deep breath’ day. I have to pick up my dry cleaning, get a pedicure, make a few little snacks and pack my suitcase…and THEN I’ll be ready!

Melisa

until the bus pulls out! Paducah here we come! I am really looking forward to the trip. I’m anxious to meet many of the quilters who are going with us…I’ve gotten to know a lot of them through phone calls and emails…and will be happy to put a face with a name!

Pat and I have been working really hard to make this a memorable trip for everyone. We’ve got lots of fun and games planned (Strip Poker anyone?) and some fun surprises, on top of all the fun to be had at the quilt show once we get there!

I’ve had a staging area set up in my office at the shop for several weeks in an effort to keep everything together so I wouldn’t forget to take something important (I have a similar area at home, too, ‘cause I’m just weird that way!). This is part of it…look at all that stuff!

Many of the fabric manufacturers and distributors have been very generous in providing goodies for our bus trip, and I’ve been adding in little fun things all along. Of course, there will be “work” involved to win these prizes – we’ll make it interesting and lively! Fun will be had by all, I can assure you!

I have a full day planned today to finish up last minute details for the trip, and get things in order at the shop in preparation for being gone a week! I know Mike and the rest of the crew will be happy to see me get on that bus…so they can relax a little! HA! I’m leaving a “To Do” list a mile long for them…can’t let them get too comfortable while I’m gone!

Pat and I have one final work session tomorrow to get everything in order and then Tuesday is a “ME Day!” I plan to get a pedicure (finally!) and run some errands, and relax a little before taking off…don’t want to be exhausted before we even leave!

I wish every single one of you could go with us! Start making your plans now for next year!

Melisa

I dragged Lou Ann out of bed at the crack of dawn early Sunday morning for a whirlwind trip to Paducah with Pat. You can tell from the frost on the window that it was a quite chilly morning here in Georgia – 27 degrees to be exact! Lou Ann complained the entire time that we should be headed south to warm, sunny Florida – what’s in Paducah anyway???

After collecting Pat and her 10 bags and 12 quilts (!), we were OFF! Pat offered to drive her car, but being the control freak that I am, I declined her offer and we drove my car instead. Pat brought quilts to bind and RAG QUILTS TO CLIP!!!!! I had my car cleaned and detailed the day before we left – 20 minutes after we left Pat’s house, you would have never known it for the threads and lint and dust all over the car and Pat herself! She even wore black, can you believe it? I can’t believe I didn’t get a picture to show you! Trust me, there was no doubt that Pat was a quilter every time she got out of the car!

There was much (TOO MUCH!) eating and snacking on this trip. We made it to the north side of Atlanta before we stopped to eat breakfast. Once again there was much whining and complaining from Lou Ann. You can see Pat lecturing her, and somehow Lou Ann ended up face down in the sugar bowl! It’s going to be a looonnnggg trip!!!

We stopped at Patti’s 1800s Settlement in KY on the recommendation of a friend. The settlement was closed for the season (brrr, it was COLD!), but the restaurants and gift shop were in full swing.  The gift shop was decked out in Christmas finery, and I couldn’t resist snapping a few shots.

The working water wheel is part of the settlement. See those icicles … brrr!  Wish we’d had more time here, but we had to keep moving – still lots to do!

For some reason, during the entire trip, Pat was unusually obsessed with looking for mistletoe in the tops of the bare trees alongside the highway. It is pretty easy to spot with all the leaves off the trees (most of the time!), and I offered to stop and shoot some down for her, but she declined??? What’s up with that? Anyway, I’ll let her ‘fess up to the Buzzards and Mistletoe story, so be sure to keep an eye on her blog for that scoop! I had to get out the tissues and I almost had to pull over because I was laughing so hard!

A long day was capped off with a yummy dinner at Olive Garden. We had our hopes up that Pumpkin Cheesecake would still be on the menu, and our server confirmed that it was – yay! Unfortunately, he was misinformed so we had to settle for a Chocolate Something-Something-Something! Lou Ann had her eye on the last couple of bites of my piece, but I beat her to it!

Day 2 was an early start, and somehow we ended up at Hancock’s of Paducah – just to check it out. We both agreed going in – no fabric buying! Yeah right! Pat won the prize, but I did some serious damage myself. After all, I can’t carry every possible fabric in my shop, now can I???

So what were we doing in Paducah??? Despite the eating and the foolery, this was definately a serious business trip! We were on a fact-finding mission. We’ve been kicking around the idea of sponsoring a bus tour to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah in April 2010, and decided a trip was in order to check out accommodations, restaurants, and other venues before making a final decision.

Looks like we’re Paducah-bound in April, ya’ll! Mark your calendars – April 21-24, 2010 – and start gathering your friends for what is shaping up to be THE trip to take in 2010! Stay tuned for specific details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I’m thinking this would be a FANTASTIC gift idea for Santa!!! Tell him to call me at the shop (678-413-1611) and I can help him make it happen for you.  Under the tree or in my stocking, either way, I’d be a happy camper with this gift, wouldn’t you???

In an attempt to avoid the laundry and cleaning that needed to be done today, I decided to treat myself to an Excellent Adventure down to one of my favorite little shops, Plum Tree Antiques (be sure to check out their blog for even more great pictures!)  This afternoon was the last day of their Holiday Open House and I hoped to do a little Christmas shopping and maybe even get some decorating ideas, too. I accomplished both, and thoroughly enjoyed my little outing. I took some photos at Plum Tree that I thought you might enjoy, too. They have the most wonderful little vignettes all through the shop! I just wanted to bring everything home with me!

Note to self – make sure you’re not reflected in the mirror while taking the picture!

Notice the little house and tree vignette in the empty clock frame below? Too cute!

I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon, but now it is back to reality – the laundry still awaits!  Happy Sunday!

These are a few of the pictures I took of quilts while antique shopping with my Mom on our recent trip. Lots of color and pattern inspiration here!

I’m a sucker for black and white anyway, and this black and white toile was stunning combined with the brightness of the blue. Notice the really worn and threadbare border fabric – I think it was black at one point.

Tiny one inch hexagons in velvet! Never a fan of Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilts, I really really like the non-traditional settings.

Love me some red and cheddar!

I had to force myself to walk away from this one! This log cabin variation was in pristine condition – just look at the hand quilting!!! Fortunately, or unfortunately, it also had a ‘pristine’ price tag!

Tattered and worn, but oh, the many hours of work in this Cathedral Window.

I suspect the tan pieces were once green.

Not very attractive colors, but the Improved 9-Patch has always been one of my favorite patterns.

Love the funky borders on this one!

A nice scrappy string-type variation, but the double-pink setting blocks are what really caught my eye!

Don’t you wish you knew the stories behind these old quilts?