the unveiling!

We are preparing for one of our favorite events, getting ready for quilters from all over the state during the statewide shop hop starting Friday, July 31. We are cleaning, moving displays, arranging for food and beverages, ordering patterns, displaying new fabric, organizing prizes and freebies, and hanging our own exclusive quilt design! The Minnesota Mixer from Emmaline Design makes good use of every one of the 16 special fabrics from Windham Fabrics that are all about Minnesota. Patterns and kits are available by contacting the store. Stop by for a look at what we have been up to!

Grace learns to Sew and Cast!

I finally got to spend 24 hours at the cabin with my only grandaughter Grace (age 6) and her brother Brody (age 4). Grandpa Bob had both kids casting with their own fishing poles by the time I got there on Saturday. Brody is using the pole we had for his dad Andy when he was the same age. Grace is using the pink Barbie pole I picked up at a garage sale! Brody says he caught hundreds of fish (really only 2). Grace caught upwards of 24- most by herself. The highlight of the day was sitting at my sewing machine with her. We went over the buttons on the machine- How to sew a 1/4" seam allowance, sew in reverse etc. etc. She liked all the decorative stitches the best. Her first project was a travel size pillow case. She did just super. We can't wait to sew together again! I think she will become a great little seamstress!

We took a short ride from the cabin to a swamp full of dead trees. On top of the trees were all these large nests. Turns out this is a spot for Herons to nest. What a strange sight watching these birds fly to the top of the tree and land on their nest. Even stranger was that they were all standing up in their nests!

3 Sisters and Mom Annual Retreat

My 2 sisters- Nona and Desi- and mom -Carol-came to the cabin for our annual 3 Day retreat. We spend one day shopping and the rest of the time watching movies, giving ourselves mud masks and pedicures, and paddling around the lake. That's me on the left if you can't tell! I wait on them hand and foot- make them tea, yummy breakfasts and dinners with Desi making great appetizers and healthy beverages in the afternoon. The weather wasn't so great outside but we had a blast inside! Can't wait til next year!!

Summer Sew Camp for Kids

Summer classes are well under way! Jeanne has set up a series of Kid Sewing classes. We still have openings in some of them- stop in to see the samples. Aren't the pictures great?

And the Winner is....

We were so surprised to learn that Bear Patch had a winner in the 8 Weeks to Win 30 Ways Bernina Sweepstake. Here is Barb with some of the goodies that went along with her new machine! Congratulations Barb!

Fun Days

Every once in a while I get to just be Grandma Debbie. I had fun at Aiden's Farm Pre-school open house. We got to feed all the baby animals, check out his class room and meet his teachers. I wish I could join in this fabulous program! Bob and I also were able to go to Gracies Kindegarten Open House. What fun! After a musical program of grades K-4 we visited her classroom and had home-made cookies! Just can't leave Brody out. He was busy showing us how to trim the grass he planted at his pre-school!

Creative Craft Crawl

Have you joined us yet for Creative Craft Crawl? Mark your calendar for the 3rd Friday of each month and come downtown between 10 am and 3 pm. 7 stores have hands on crafts and demos for nominal fees. Our May project was a fun wallet from Debbie Bowles of Maple Island. Don't miss out- we promise you will love our June project!