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Click here to see photos from my trip.

Corresponding websites for the places that I visited and recommend are:
Sally Alworth’s quilt shop Aardvark Quilt Shop

Sally and me — what a great lady she is.

Sally’s shop might be a dangerous place to shop!

This is just one of the nooks in the shop — great fabrics and more.

I love all of the gift items that Sally carries, just for those special quilting friends, and sisters.

These are the gals who braved the Exploring Fabric choices workshop. I’ll be back next summer!

Cathy and Dale’s quilt shop The City Quilter in mid-town.

Joelle and Jennifer Hoverson’s Purl Yarn and Patchwork shops, can be found by visiting Purl Soho. Joelle’s new fabric for Moda is Cake Rock Beach, and will be premiered at Fall Market.

The tile floor in Purl Yarn shop is absolutely quilt inspiring, don’t you think?

The window of the Purl Patchwork shop is inviting..

Small, but packed with beautiful fabrics.

Joelle’s book, “Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts” will be available for purchase on Sept. 1st.

For groovy sandals (that are really THONGS, the type you wear on your feet!), visit the Rainbow Sandals review site. They don’t have a website (boo hoo, I wanted to get another pair).

Jane and I had dinner at Mannahatta on Bowery. You can visit their upscale website at to see pictures of their menu. Indoor (air-conditioned) and outdoor (breezy) seating came with a complimentary Jazz trio that was pretty good.

The tiniest burger in the world, but mighty tasty!

Judy Nicoll’s shop Olde City Quilts is in the delightful historical section of Burlington, NJ. She will have an outdoor quilt show every August, so to be notified, visit Judy’s website and sign up for her newsletter.

Toby Preston’s Quilt shop Kindred Quilts in quaint Clinton, NJ is stocked with beautiful fabrics and hard-to-leave-behind gift items.
** Just a side note: there appears to be a Dunkin’ Donuts everywhere you look in New Jersey. Unfortunately for me, I read the most recent issue of Quilter’s Home magazine when I got to NJ, where Mark mentioned Dunkin’ Donuts.
When Mark and I took our little side trip to the quilt shop, we stopped and each got a donut — I should’ve taken a picture, but then, that would have been hard evidence…. shhh! **

Toby and crew in her great shop.

Debbie’s Mountain Valley Quilt Shop was a pleasant surprise to find just down the street from Ricky Tims’ Quilts Studio and Gallery where they film The Quilt Show.
The Great American Quilt Factory was SO fun to visit!

Stay tuned for upcoming interviews with Cathy Izzo of the City Quilter, Megan Johnson and Holly Holderman of LakeHouse Dry Goods, Judy Nicoll, and friend, of Olde City Quilts, Suzanne Marshall, Ricky Tims, and Linda Milligan and Nancy Smith of Possibilities. I know you’ll love ’em!

I finish up with a recap of our wonderful four-day retreat in Cambria, CA.

As promised, here is the recipe for my Mom’s casserole:
Joyce

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A brief (very brief) overview of my trip to New Jersey and Colorado, just to whet your appetite. Loads more to come when I return from the SimpleArts Quilter’s Retreat happening this weekend in Cambria California.

In the meantime, here is a little hors douvres until next week.

Here is how I spent my time on the six planes I took to traverse the country. It made for many interesting conversations with passengers and crew who wondered what the heck I was making. Boy, were they shocked when I told them that I needed to make enough of these little wonders to cover a King size bed. Hey, only the quilters understood the madness ; )

More trip details, interviews and pictures coming soon!

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Recent happenings:
Mark’s visit to Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association
Meeting Marisa Zucek — check out her blog QuiltOtaku to see pictures of us at Guild meeting, and a picture of the cool little bag that she made me — I just love it!

I’m having my first Sale in the SimpleArts store. Free shipping on every order thru August 15th, which is WebGuy’s 50th birthday. Save now! The SimpleArts store is OPEN. Remember click on the link at the bottom of the page, which says “For more information, please visit this product’s webpage”, which gives you all of the info on the pattern back!

Pictures of the items that I found at Target:

Four-square basket with handle. This great little basket is hard wicker and would be nice and sturdy as a sewing catch-all.

Longaberger-style utensil holder – perfect for a Longaberger collectore (no one will know it’s not a real one ; )

Wood caddy – my personal favorite, which could be painted and decorated. Hey, we’re quilters, we decorate things!

Shoe sorter — a perfect place for stashing your fat quarters.

Here is the closet organizer unit with sliding shelves (I said “drawers”, sorry!). I think the sliding shelves would make it so easy to find your fabrics.

Here is another idea for fabric storage, in this so-cute basket cubby. I love that the baskets are lined.

My very favorite “Cutter Bee” scissors. $6.99 at Target and WalMart. When they don’t cut well anymore, toss them in the junk drawer for your family to use, or toss them out. Sharpening service will cost as much as a new pair. I love the big finger holes — my hands don’t get tired as much, and it helps with arthritis.

Can you envision sorting your rulers by size using this cool sorter? What a nice way to see your rulers at a glance, and be organized. That’s next on my shopping list!

What a cute mail sorter! However, this won’t hold mail. Here is what I use it for:

Here its’ companion, the magazine holder. Ooh, I can just imagine all of my cherished magazines, that I can’t bear to part with, beautifully organized in these cool little holders.

The scrapbook cubby – well, some might use it for that. I think it would be great as a quilt block keeper. Just grab the box you need for class and go! No pizza boxes causing drool with your family, that might mistakenly end up in the garbage.

Ziplock Big Bags XXL, actually come in smaller sizes for smaller quilts. I only wish I had invented the patent for zip-lock bags!

Value finder cards

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Finishing up the interview with Susan

The Quilt Show at Creative Patches in Nipomo, CA, where Susan did a book signing at the Old Town Quilt Guild show. Creative Patches is a nice store, owned by Patty Hughes. The shop has a tv, where you can watch quilt shows on DVD while having your fabric cut, or while waiting in line – ingenious!

Isn’t this quilt gorgeous?! It looks like an explosion of color when cropped to this view.

A great example of a two color quilt – using only two different fabrics. I’ve had a two color quilt on my mind for a long time and this one really inspires me.

“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” redwork quilt – what a lot of beautiful handiwork! The pattern is available through Creative Patches, or by designer Meg Hawkey at CrabApple Hill Studio – one of my favorite places to browse.

This is my favorite quilt from the show – visually incredible, jumbo rickrack in the sashing, and folkart applique in the border. Wow!

After the quilt show, Guy did a search on his smartphone Internet connection and found us a great place to have lunch. He searched on “barbeque” and got a listing for a new restaurant in Arroyo Grande called “Tanner Jacks“. They gave us automated directions, which were easy to find. Tanner Jack’s is excellent!

Here is Guy’s Pulled Pork sandwich with coleslaw. He says “It was great!”.

When you visit, try their signature soup – TriTip with mushrooms — oh yeah! We seriously recommend Tanner Jack’s and look forward to sharing an Apple Brown Betty when we return.

In the same parking lot as Tanner Jack’s, there is a really nice market that does their own BBQ for a quick sandwich. The market is gourmet and you can pick up everything you need for a picnic, including baked goods and nice produce. What a find, in the same parking lot.

We also recommend our very favorite restaurant on the central coast in Templeton, Mc Phee’s Grill, a pot of gold in a tiny town. Owner and chef, Ian McPhee, creates culinary masterpieces nightly.

To get a free subscription to Keepsake Quilting’s catalog, go to Keepsake Quilting.com

If you haven’t seen Alex’s new show, go to TheQuiltShow.com to find out what she’s been up to recently.

Happy Quilting!

(part two will be in Program 91, coming soon!)

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Susan Branch, at her studio with her new fabric line “Martha’s Vineyard Watercolor” in the background.

Susan’s studio, big and airy – a wonderful spot for creativity! The bookcase holds an assortment of Susan’s gift line.

Susan and me! I was so thrilled to spend time with Susan – we have so much in common. She is the heart of her books.

The Heart of the Home storefront in the quaint community of Arroyo Grande, CA.

Every detail of Susan’s store is impeccably presented, and you’re greeted with an invitation to enter.

Come on in and make yourself at home!

The kitchen “department”… I’ll take one of each, especially that marvelous stove – which is the type that Susan’s mother used to have when Susan was growing up.

Don’t you love this table display? Just one example of Susan and staff’s creativity.

The back porch, which leads out to a lovely garden area.

Downtown Arroyo Grande is a step back in time to a gentler era. Antique and specialty shops mingle with fine eateries, including sweet shops, bakeries, and an old fashioned ice cream parlor.

Don’t forget a visit to Farm Stand, past Heart of the Home, and turn right at the sign for Lopez Lake – just two miles down the road. See you there!

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Trying to dig out from the moving “rubble” – I only wish I could find my good microphone and the power cords to my sewing machines!

My trip to Nancy’s Quilt Shop in Las Vegas was mega-fun! No, I didn’t win any money because I don’t gamble – but we did see Toto again, with our son Ryan and his wife, Karen. So much fun!
I met some wonderful quilters and had an opportunity to do two brief interviews while there with Kathalynn Thwing and Catherine Ferrier.

Annie’s Country Quilts in New Zealand. Thanks to Pat Leask, who is pictured here while on vacation. Pat says; “I have been a bit out of touch plus behind at least by a couple podcasts as have just returned from a wonderful trip to New Zealand – mainly holiday for our entire family (daughter 21 and son 25 along too!) and a conference for my hubby. We were there almost 3 weeks and drove over 3400km in our rental car (country is only 1200km long – must’ve been those winding roads – lol). But did manage to cajole my family to stopping at a couple wonderful quilt shops for me to look in along the way.
One in particular was wonderful and had to send you a pic. as it sounds like your namesake plus it was just sooo cute – “Annie’s Country Quilt Store” just on the edge of Ashburton not too far from Christchurch. I’m afraid I did considerable ‘damage’ here on some lovely NewZealand designed quilting fabric plus some fabric for a pattern I bought earlier at another store.
But I just had to send you a pic. – this is located in a heritage home and I found the “sheep” in the front so darling with their “bed-spring” wool on them – lol!”

Zegi’s Blog Kelley visited the NQA show in Columbus, OH and has pictures to prove it!
Susan Branch’s website Stayed tuned for upcoming interviews with this fabulous artist and quilter!
Holly Holderman’s blog Holly is the owner of LakeHouse Dry Goods.

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Interview with Mark Lipinski!! Finally, I got to meet Mark at Quilt Market – and got to fulfill my wish of being able to do an interview for the podcast with him. He is a riot! I hope you LOVE this program.

Yep, this is Mark and me. I was so happy to finally meet him!

Visit Mark’s website at MarkLipinski.com.

See Mark’s “Evan Goes to Camp” quilt at McCall’s Quilting website. Make a special quilt for your camper and download the Camp quilt labels from the website too.

Toby Preston’s store Kindred Quilts, where Tulip Lipinski, star of Quilter’s Home Magazine, pawed magazines and posed for celebrity photos. Hey, I want to see one of those!

Yes, in fact, it has been three whole weeks since we recorded this interview. I came home from Market to needing to pack up my entire house to move the SimpleArts studio to a new location. Our big move is this weekend and I just had to get Mark’s interview up before the computers get broken down and relocated. Don’t despair — I have lots of cool new stuff in the works for Quilting Stash, and I promise to deliver! Hang in there with me, listeners!

Happy quilting —

Annie

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Whew! Apologies for not keeping in touch. As soon as Kirsten and I returned from Salt Lake City, we jumped into in the throes of moving my studio – and whole household! We’re still making preparations and packing and all of the things that go along with moving, but I couldn’t leave you in the dark without a podcast any longer!

The pictures and links for the show really will be posted soon — sorry for the delay, but moving really sucks!

Okie doke — here they are, as promised!!

Pictures of my kitchen wall where I kept myself on-schedule and organized to meet all of my deadlines for Market. Keeping my eye on the prize was the layout of the Salt Palace where Market was held, with my little 1/8″ booth assignment highlighted in yellow. The left and right sides comprise a 16 foot wall where I used different colored stickee notes for different tasks, and then folded them as they were completed. Whew! What a job!!

Arriving in Utah, after a 16 hour drive — car packed to the gills. Now to un-pack!

We found this little gem on the way to Karen’s house and I just had to stop and take a picture. Can you believe it?! A hand-appliqued Nine Patch quilt, hand-quilted no less, used as a moving pad. But wait, it gets more interesting — the furniture piece is ON TOP of another quilt that lines the bed of the truck FACE DOWN. The person who owns these quilts ought to be tarred and feathered.

Putting up the booth – which took five hours, since the booth was bigger than I ordered so we had to completely re-organize. I was happy to have the space, so I didn’t complain. I couldn’t have done it without my two troopers, Kirsten and Karen.

The Booth is ready and the doors are open, as Market attendees file in to the sales floor. That look on my face really says “Wow! I’m really here at Market — pinch me!”

Quilting Stash fans, Lauri Drean and her friend Niquie stop by to say “hi”. Lauri is a wonderful machine quilter — and it’s SO fun to meet listeners!

Kirsten and me with our dear friend, Karen Anderson, who hosted us while we were in Utah for Market. Here we are after our first full day of Market, totally exhausted by all of the magic of Market, at the Roof Restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (formerly the Hotel Utah). The Roof Restaurant is the very best in Utah, with Pioneer hospitality and a five-star dinner buffet. What a nice treat after a long day.

The dessert bar is so faboo at the Roof Restaurant… ‘lest you think that the portions are huge, those chocoalte custards are in 3″ ramekins. But, oh my heck, they are luscious!

The tulips on Temple Square are legendary. At the beginning of Tulip season, there are thousands of varieties and colors of every tulip imaginable, straight from Holland – a mind-blowing treat and a Kodak moment.

Quilting Rock-star Penny McMorris and her daughter Erin. Penny has been my quilting Idol since the early 1980’s and I was so thrilled to meet her in person and talk about Podcasts with her for Electric Quilt. WOW!

I finally got to meet Julie Popa of Sunflower Hill Designs. Doesn’t she design beautiful quilts?!

A block from Marie Osmond’s memory quilt, a tribute to her Mother, Olive. The block says “Don’t Leave Without Your Lips!” and has Olive’s little mirror compact stitched to the quilt, a treasured pink antique compact. What a sweet memento.

And here is pristenely beautiful Marie Osmond in front of her Mother’s quilt. She is SO beautiful, it is amazing to realize that T.V. and photos don’t capture 1/10th of her beauty. The quilt is pretty amazing too. There is a picture of Elvis in the quilt, who used to call Olive Osmond on a regular basis, as she reminded him of his own mother – they had a very special relationship.

Loralie Harris’s incredible “Elegant Scroll” fabric inspired me to design the Flora Bella quilt and new pattern, my favorite so far. It was such a pleasure to meet Loralie, who used to live in Santa Cruz and shop at one of my favorite shops, Cabrillo Sewing Center.

I got to meet Nancy Odom of Timid Thimble fame – I’ve been a fan of Nancy’s for so long and have been inspired by her beautiful applique quilts. It was so fun to meet her and share all that we have in common.

Cody and Mike Mazuran, our new friends — are they a great-looking couple? I love Cody’s quilts and the name of her company “Buttercup Quilts”.

Vickie Tracy models her beautiful jacket and beautiful smile. Don’t you love the jacket?! I want to make one!!

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Here’s the final installment of Quilting Stash from Quilt Market in Salt Lake City.

Quilt Market is sadly over and I’m still running on pure adrenilin from the excitement in the show. I have so much to tell you about – a little five-minute podcast just will not be sufficient. I will tell you a couple of highlights in this report with the promise of giving you all of the details in future podcasts.

I am still sending photos “almost live” using my cellphone camera and a service called Tumblr. I can take pictures with my cell phone and post them immediately to Tumblr for you to see and enjoy.

Click the Tumblr logo below to see the pictures!

The most recent pictures will always be the first listed. To see the earlier pictures scroll down and click the “next” button.

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Here’s the second installment of Quilting Stash from Quilt Market in Salt Lake City.

Day two has come and gone and there’s too much to tell in my mini-podcast so I’ll stick to highlights.

I am still sending photos “almost live” using my cellphone camera and a service called Tumblr. I can take pictures with my cell phone and post them immediately to Tumblr for you to see and enjoy.

Click the Tumblr logo below to see the pictures!

The most recent pictures will always be the first listed. To see the earlier pictures scroll down and click the “next” button.

I’ll have another new update for you tomorrow!