A Thread-aholic in Colorado

The Oldest City in the United States

St. Augustine, Florida was a day trip for us. What a very historical place. We watched cannons being shot, British Soldiers firing muskets, and of course, we visited a quilt shop.

Magrieta's Quilt Shop is located in the heart of this magical city and it was so much fun to shop and meet the owner, Magrieta.

Magrieta has had her shop for over 9 years, during which time she continually kept expanding it.  Her classroom size left me drooling and envisioning knocking out our walls and driving my landlord more crazy than I already do.

Her store was very bright and inviting.

She carries original quilt art design patterns from a local artist depicting various historical landmarks, such as the St. Augustine Lighthouse, the Bridge of Lions, Castillo de San Marcos.  Very cool.  You can see some of them HERE.

Oh, and I saved the very best until last.  She's located across the street from a chocolate factory.  Could it possibly ever get any better than that!!

Great trip to our oldest city.  We could have spent several days there, easily!

Lollipops, and a new friend

About an hour and 15 minutes south from St. Simon Island, and just over the Florida state line is a very nice little town called Fernandina Beach.

There I found Lollipops. 

Lollipops Quilt Shop, to be exact.

What an adorable quilt store! You could feel the bright creative energy as you walked in and looked at all the different fabrics and displays.

Laurie, the owner, made me feel so welcomed. We discovered we had begun our quilt shops about the same time, and we laughed at some of the "start-up" challenges we both endure.

We also learned we are both doing the 2015 Hoopsisters Block of the Month, "Sewn Seeds", and Laurie shared her color scheme she chose based on colors in her home.

Don't you just love it!

What I also learned is that Laurie produces Lollipops Quilt Bindings, ready-made bias bindings for quilting & sewing projects that has been seen in American Quilter, Fons & Porter, Quilt Magazine and Quick Quilts.

Wrapped up tightly and placed on a stick, these 1/2" bias binding rolls made my mouth water, literally. I was seriously looking around for a candy store on my way back to St. Simon Island to satisfy my never-ending sweet tooth. Mmm, and I'm still wishing I got more pecan pralines in Savannah while I was there... oops, sorry, I digress, yet again. I do love my sweets.

(Photo of the collection of Lollipops is from www.popsbindings.com, Lollipops Quilt Shop website.)

Well, Laurie had a embroidery/computer class going on in the back room, so our visit was a little short. But I did purchase a "turtle" appliqué quilt kit and I've already begun working on it. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Lollipops, and I hope Laurie can stop in and surprise me someday in Cañon City. I may not have lollipops, but I will always have chocolate!

Thanks, Laurie, for a wonderful visit.

Settled into St. Simons

I made it to St. Simons Island and I can certainly see why this was voted, several years ago, as one of America's favorite places to retire. Simply beautiful to say the least, and a small town atmosphere that is just adorable.  The sunrise isn't too bad either.

There is actually a quilt shop on St. Simons and I've been to the Stepping Stones Quilt Shop twice already. The second trip I discovered some Thimbleberry fabric that just screamed for me to take it home. So of course, I always do what the fabric says.

I'm so glad I opted for St. Simons for my little "sewbatical". There is a lot of history in every little nook and cranny of this island, and it's been fun to walk and learn things I didn't know. And I'm very thankful for the 75 degree, blue-sky and sunshine weather we've been experiencing. (especially when the snow is literally piling up back home.. sorry guys!)

 

Tomorrow I do a day-trip to just over the Florida state line, to Fernandina Beach to visit another quilt shop.

It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Meeting up in Savannah

Savannah, Georgia is cool. Period.

I met up with my older sister from Atlanta and we did the "walking the downtown, eating at Paula Dean's restaurant, finding the best pralines ever, and tasting some really good honey meade" thing.The weather was beautiful and there is truly a magical feel about the deep south.

Now my sister does not sew, nor has she ever expressed an interest in it. She loves to read and work out, two areas that I express little interest in. She did, however, point out that she needs a quilt on the stone wall above her fireplace. I think she might be coming around. So I was very glad when she ok'd a trip to a local quilt shop.

Sew Much More in Savannah Georgia is owned by Bonnie Brooks and is an adorable quilt shop. It's so inspirational to walk into different quilt shops and get ideas that I might use in our own store. Her store was neatly arranged, very warm and fuzzy, and I drooled at the size of her classroom!

We had a great time talking with her and learning a little bit about the Savannah area quilters. Bonnie told us about a local designer, Sidney Brand and it reminded me of our own local designers that we are blessed with in Cañon City, Faith from Doodle Time Designs, Cyndi from Cedar Ridge Quilting, and Lorraine from Sew Unique.

Ms. Brand designs paper piecing patterns, among other designs. Her website is www.sidsinstitches.com. Check out her patterns and designs.

I appreciate Bonnie taking the time to talk to us and making us feel welcomed. I hope she makes it out to Colorado and comes to visit us someday.

Now on to St. Simons Island....

A quick visit in Pensacola

After depositing the son at his college in Pensacola, I visited nearby Martelli Enterprises.  They provide innovative sewing tools for quilters.  They actually do the research, the engineering, design and testing right there, and it's a family business.  I remember seeing them in at Market in Houston, but I did not have an opportunity to stop and gather information at that time.

I know some of you have issues cutting your fabric with the traditional rotary cutters. And to be honest, I've been having some joint issues myself in my right hand. But if you're like me, you ignore those pains, because the fabric must be cut, regardless!

While at Martelli, I was shown the Martelli Rotary Cutter.  It's ergonomically designed, like others on the market, but this one is different than the ones I've seen. Instead of bearing down on the cutter, like a normal rotary cutter, you "push" the cutter, almost like the way you might push a shopping cart.  And boy does it cut, actually slices through multiple layers. There's a video you can watch to see it demonstrated. (http://youtu.be/zWcs2MEDPD0)

I'm going to test it out and will let you know how I do with it. I will probably get some in the store for you all to try out. I know for me, something has to be done, because accurately cutting fabric is a huge part of my life and I'm such a baby when it comes to pain, which occurs now with my regular rotary cutter. 

You all know I'm for anything that makes my sewing easier.

Go to the Martelli Enterprises website and check them out. They also make some awesome workstations and cutting tables (with hydraulics!)

Onward now to Georgia.

An Icy Start...

Well, I'm officially on a "Sewbatical"... well I will be by the end of the week. First, I have to get there.

Because the son decided to get his degree in music at Pensacola Christian College, and he convinced us his need for a car while he's there, we opted to give him our old Toyota to use. But we had to get it to Pensacola. So we both take off in the middle of a snow and ice storm and head east.  It was an icy start to say the least.

But we made it to Pensacola, after stopping in Dallas where my Buckeyes won the National Championship. O-H-I-O!

The son gets settled back into college life tomorrow and I depart for an official southeastern mini-vacation, hopefully hitting as many quilt shops as I can, before settling in to a beach front room in southern Georgia by Friday with sewing machine in tow.

Hopefully, I can leave the snow, the ice, and the fog behind for a little while and take a breather.  AND get some serious stitching done!