The New Shop in Town

 

 There's a new quilt shop nearby in Issaquah. 

Gossypium is the scientific name for the cotton plant.

We're happy to have a new place to visit. But I keep thinking I can't buy one more piece of fabric. 

And then I do. 

You know what I mean, don't you? 

 gossypiumquilt@gmail.com

Make it a Wonderful Day!

Shopping

Buying fabric is a lot faster and easier than making a quilt.

And when it's on sale, it's hard to know when to quit...

                              

...But it sure makes it fun to go to the mailbox!

Make it a Wonderful Day!

Quilt Group Field Trip

      

After a DELICIOUS lunch at Marsha's house, we went on a field trip to a great quilt shop,

Keepsake Cottage Fabrics.

This wonderful place is in Country Village, a collection of shops in Bothell, Washington. They were kind enough to let me share some pictures of their works and wares. 

I didn't get photos of their HUGE selection of fabric- every side room, nook, and cranny is full! It's well-organized, and the staff is very helpful too. I bought a few polka dots to add to my collection, and everyone found a few must-haves!

When we go on this kind of field trip, we have a contest to see who wins... that means who spent the most....luckily, I was NOT the winner this time around!!!

But it's a good thing this great shop isn't closer to home!!

(http://www.keepsakecottagefabrics.com/ )

Make it a Wonderful Day!

Aloha Kauai!

We had a great vacation, filled with biking, kayaking, wakeboarding, star gazing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and lots more. We came home to cooler weather, but at least the sun was shining to help us transition back to work! Here are just a few more quilts before we say Aloha to Hawaii.

This quilt below is one of my favorites, in the window of Kapaia Stitchery... another one designed by Lisa Boyer. It's what caught my eye as we were driving by! The pattern is called Post Cards from Hawaii. It's really my favorite kind of quilt- simple, fresh, and contemporary. (Lisa's pattern is available on her website: http://www.lisaboyer.com/ie1.htm )

More than quilts..

Kapaia Stitchery also had beautiful materials for "stitching up" the chickens found all over the island of Kauai....

And in case you wanted a lei that lasts longer than the fresh flower version, here is one made from fabric yo-yos.

Kapaia Quilts

I'm glad I noticed this shop as we were driving by! We'd made a special trip to the Kauai Museum to see a quilt exhibit there, only to find that the promotional materials were wrong- no quilt show. So Kapaia Stitchery was a great find.

Not sure, but I think this is another Lisa Boyer design, Happy Hula Huts:

This one is Lisa's for sure: Baby Honu Sea Turtle:

You can't tell from the photos, but the turtle legs are actually turned pieces so they are attached to the shell and move freely from the quilt. (Does that make sense?) Very cute.

Here are some colorful pineapples, symbols of hospitality and iconic Hawaiian motifs.

I like how the half square triangles and piano key borders change color as they go around the quilt, and they repeat the colors and fabrics of the pineapples. And how the use of warm and cool colors creates a shaded effect on the pineapples, that is then repeated by the borders. (I don't tend to think out my quilts so carefully- maybe I should try that!)

Island Kids Quilt

This cute quilt is from Kapaia Stitchery on Kauai, Hawaii. (Sorry I don't have a better photo- the quilts were hung from the ceiling and with the fans keeping the shop cool, they were also moving a bit!)

They each had cute details, like a beaded bracelet...

... or button flowers in their hair. (I count 26 pieces the block above, and 24 in this paper pieced block, not including the borders. In other words, a lot of work!)

( Thanks Sandy, for finding the designer info! Lisa Boyer http://www.lisaboyer.com/

is the talented designer of this quilt pattern. It's called Keiki Hula.)

Kauai Quilting...

Our Hawaii trip included a stop at Kapaia Stitchery on Kauai. It may not have been the highlight of my husband's vacation, but he was very patient...

... and the friendly staff graciously allowed me to take lots of photos!

They have kits and patterns for traditional Hawaiian quilts and pillows, along with a large selection of fabrics including many Hawaiian prints to make your own tropical quilts.

More tomorrow!