Tis Divine to Sew at the Apple Farm.....

.... we made it back to the Apple Farm, which is our favorite destination by far. This time our friends Linda and Denny got to join Jim and I. The boys had signed up for a photo seminar which lasted three days. That meant Linda and I got to search out all sorts of fun things to keep us busy.

The Apple Farm was wonderfully decorated for Fall......

.....and for Christmas, which is always so inspiring and makes me so excited for the holidays that are coming.

We had a chance to do some fun shopping and we never pass up the chance to drop in on the cutest Knit shop in SLO. Can you imagine the joy of being able to make such darling children's outfits?

I can only DREAM of making something this lovely for our little miss Clare....but Oma, if you are reading this, what do you think?????

The shop has the cutest patio and we were invited to join the ladies while they knitted along. In fact, we were given a wonderful free lesson on how to make a dropped stitch scarf. I sure hope Linda was paying attention. I was a bit preoccupied with this.....

They were serving tea and lots of goodies to go with it. I am a sucker for anything fun and yummy and have to admit that even if I didn't want to knit, this would make me commit for sure!

We can never pass up a visit to the Avilla Barn with their lovely arrangements of flowers.....

....and darling things to taste and buy.

I did make some purchases this trip...in fact more than this picture shows. I have already gifted all the sweeties in my life and forgot to take a picture first. I bought some favorite magazines to read, another book to add to my Oma collection. Who can resist a book titled "Sweet Booties"!!!

Bought some really cute fabrics to make more outfits for Clare and a sweet piece of vintage looking fabric for a purse I hope to make.

But I did title this entry as "sewing at the Apple Farm", and would you believe that this darling room could make the best place for a sewing retreat?

This may look like a bench to lounge and read, but you would be wrong.

It became a seating area for two very serious ( sometimes) quilters. Check out that view of the water wheel, with the lovely sound of running water to cool and refresh us on an unseasonably warm SLO day.

Does this look like just a lovely set of drawers....wrong again. With the addition of a cutting mat, we had the loveliest cutting area complete with two lamps to light the way.

Did we have a pressing area....you bet we did. And we only had to walk down a flight of stairs to enjoy endless cups of tea, apple juice or lemon water. Where we spoiled or what???

With all of the distractions we weren't exactly the fastest quilters...but there certainly wasn't a race. Ok, if there was I DID win, but Linda stayed up that night to finish her tablerunner too!!!

Sew....here is to hoping we can do this again. The boys were so enthusiastic about all they learned at their photo classes, and Linda and I did just fine locating every quilt shop near to San Luis Obispo. All in all a very fun destination, and we have a great table runner to remember it by.

I have a new job.....

....and I love it very much. The boss is very sweet and kind, and the working conditions are the best. The payscale....well, I get paid in hugs and it is the best kind of paycheck a working woman could ever want.

I learn so much each and every day. I learn that the world is not always what it seems to be. There has been one child in class who is so bright and proficient. She loves to learn, but in the past few weeks she has been acting out. Her life is not an easy one, and one can only wonder what obstacles she faces when she leaves the classroom.

So I try to think of ways to let these children know that they are loved and cared for. So when I told one of the children that I was not going to be there next week since I was going on vacation she asked me where I was going. I told her I was going to the Apple Farm, and then she asked me if I would bring apples as treats for the students.

I told her I would...that it would be OUR surprise and then I asked her what kind of apple was her favorite. She likes green sour apples ( yikes) and so I brought apples for ALL the class and one special apple just for her.

I also found a special book about a Grandmother whose job it was to pick apples. This sweet little girl in Mrs. Hein's class has parents who are farmworkers and I thought she would enjoy a book devoted to people who provide the food that we all eat.

Mrs. Hein read the story, and I poured fresh apple juice that was as crisp and delicious as the apples I had in my bag. Each child got an apple, and Mrs. Hein snuck the special green apple in my little friends desk as a reward for "keeping our apple secret".

Mrs. Hein says that she has been on much better behavior since last week....maybe life is not as burdensome, or maybe she just needed to feel special and cared for. I think we all need LOTS of that in our lives.

I think this picture says it all.....a working environment that I look forward to more than I can tell you. No worries that I am not keeping my night job, because I love that one too. I guess I am just one very lucky working lady!

Sew it begins.....

I have the cutest Mary Englebreit daily calendar. I love that it gives me an inspirational message every day....and this week began with this quote.

Sew it was the perfect motivation to get me started on some very cute things for a very adorable baby who I already love with all my heart. Here are a few patterns I have been picking up along the way......

....and then I found out that the computer offers SOOOO much more!!!! I have these neatly arranged in my "Oma" ( Dutch for Grandmother) binder.

But that won't stop me from getting LOTS more. You know I have to have this pattern because who can resist a cupcake.

....and a peek at my favorite blogs fills my heart with such inspiration. This quilt was featured on the "Spoonful of Sugar" blog. How sweet is that name, and how sweet is it that the blog is all about a mother and daughter who cook and create and just enjoy the time to be together?

Just when I thought I had seen ALL the cute things there were in blogland, I came across this!!! Of course I downloaded the free pattern. Does it ever stop? When will I find the time to make things if I can't get away from my computer?

But I had a stern talk with myself and then I made this sweet outfit to add to Clare's wardrobe.

And a girl can never have to many shoes....wasn't that THE lesson that Carrie Bradshaw taught us on "S&TC"!!!!

So now all I need is some time devoted to my sewing machine and then I had another "ah ha" moment. In just a few weeks I will have seven glorious days of sewing time in Julian. I have a feeling that I will be covered in pink threads and "polka dots" will be my theme. I can't wait. It will be "sewing" Heaven.

A Bit of Inspiration...

I love a Fall quilt show....and this one was delightful. It represented a LOT of my student's work, which made it even more fun!!! Sue's quilt is just like Sue.....lively, and a blend of contemporary and great talent.

Mary Alice's quilt is fun and sparkly....just like she is!!!!

Peggy's quilt was quite complicated and came with a very funny label sharing everything that could and did go wrong as she made her quilt!

Sondra is always an inspiration and her work is quite diverse. Some things are very old fashioned, but she can equally do contemporary. One thing for sure, she does ALL things well!

Some quilts whispered in their simplicity....four patch block with solid block. So lovely.

Other quilts shouted "look at me"!!!!

A quilt show always inspires me....this one said "you have half your quilt done, now go home and finish".

This one made by my Wednesday night student Cindi. It made me stop and say a silent prayer for her little grandson who is not well....but we know each day will have him closer to regaining his health. I miss you Cindi and come visit when you can.

Quilt in a Day was well represented. This quilt was designed by Marie who works in our Art. Dept. What a great quilt...and fun memory for this quilt maker of her vacation.

Kathy made this lovely quilt for her Mom....great job!!!

Another QIAD pattern that I dream of making....

...and this pattern that I have made over and over again. Love it.

Lots of fun vendors....and Mary's booth is so inspiring. Her patterns are all based on simple stitching techniques, and they are all beautiful.

Here are our own QIAD girls....working hard!

Yippee....both of my patterns are on display. One made it's debut at Quilt Market last week and word is, it did very well!!!!

Have to close with two patterns that stole my heart!!! This one by Verna Mosquera ( spelled wrong I am sure).

....and this one by Blackbird designs. I love house quilts.

Needless to say I couldn't show all of these quilts and not feature a baby quilt!!! Guess that is where my heart and mind is now a days. I hope everyone checks out their local Fall quilt shows. It was SEW much fun!

Did I happen to mention......

....that Jonathan and Jill had their first ultrasound and they were told that Baby Dease has an 80% chance of being a GIRL!!!!

A reasonable Grandmother to be would do the math and say "well, it could STILL be a BOY". But who wants to be REASONABLE when you could be SHOPPING instead!!!! So all of this "girlie" goodness came by UPS this week.

But that can't be enough....so off to Joanne's I went to pick up yards and yards of pink joy!!! I am picturing quilts and dresses and even baby shoes ( lots of good patterns on the internet). I am one ambitious Grandma, and I have to keep busy doing something til March!

Oh....did I mention the flannels???? Well, had to have LOTS of that too. After all this baby needs to be wrapped in a LOT of softness along with lots of love. The bottom flannel I got even more of. Our Jilly loves elephants, so maybe a Mother/Daughter pajama set????

Someday I dream of our little Clare ( yes...she already has a name, and I LOVE it) sitting like this and enjoying every minute of my teaching her how to make things by hand, and given from the heart. That is what I am planning to do for the next few months.

Just know little Clare that you are already loved to the MAX.....and thanks for the sweet wave you gave ( even though your Momma said it was a punch) while you were being filmed on the Ultrasound. I am waving right back at you. XXX Grandma