The Run is Coming, The Run is coming!

The Southern California Quilters Run is coming.

 

For eight days quilters will travel the roads of Southern California in search of fabric, clues, prizes, fabric, food, mystery patterns, and did I mention FABRIC?

All of the ducks & ducklings at Bolts in the Bathtub are flipping their feet and flapping their wings as fast as we possibly can. This duck isn’t helping, she is just cute and has decided to live in our backyard.



There is new fabric coming in, quilts to design and piece and patterns to write. Then there are the  three B’s.Otherwise known as borders, backings and bindings. As quickly as we get them made we are calling in our fantastic quilters to stitch the layers together. Then it is time for the binding fairy – also known as me – to trim and bind. Just a few bindings waiting for quilts.



This is what the lineup looks like right now. Five quilts of various sizes. The  one at the bottom is one of our Mystery Quilts. One is a Cat in the Hat and two are original designs of Tiffany’s from Needle in a Hayes Stack.  She works with us here in the store and her mind conjures up pattern designs every time she opens a box of new fabric. The second quilt down in the stack is the quilt I showed in the Quilt Blocks - Modern World post.



Oops, forgot about this  one draped over the end of the banister at home. Can you see  quilting pattern of the whales? It was quilted by Vickie’s Quilt Studio.



The plan is to get them done by Friday as we are expecting  more in the door from the quilters. We hope to have a few more completed that are on our list. It depends how soon the fabric arrives in the door.

It’s kind of like the night before Christmas. Presents to make, house to  decorate and goodies to eat. But the family we are expecting is over 900 people. 

In Area 1, runners will receive a free pattern at each store. each pattern will be for a particular block for a quilt made combining the 7 stores blocks. We lost a store in area 1, so Bolts will be giving out directions for two of the blocks. Each block pattern will also include directions for a quilt made up of just that stores block. That means if you visit all seven store you will receive 9 free quilt patterns.

So grab your friends and join us for this years run.


Stitch at you soon,
Dawna

Stars for Memorial Day

Summer is on it’s way so I decided to set the table on the patio. Here in the desert when the height of summer is upon us, sometimes the heat is overwhelming.



Memorial Day is thought of as the start of summer. Of hot days and long nights, barbeques, baseball and days at the beach or relaxing by the pool. What must not be forgotten is to honor the men and women of the US Armed Services who gave their lives while serving our country. 



What started as Decoration Day after the Civil War, became known as Memorial day in the 1880’s. In 1968, the date was changed from May 30th to the last Monday in May. Thereby creating the first three day weekend of the summer.



Would you choose to sit at a red, a white or a blue place setting?







I love the star sprays on the table, I got them for $5 each on clearance.





It gets windy here in the high desert, so I have put out a few quilts for those who are get a little chilly when the sun goes down.. A nine-patch on point at the table.



We might need a some candlelight



and some sparkle.



After the meal we can sit in the Adirondack chairs and listen to the waterfall as it splashes into the pool. Wrapped up in one of the quilts draped over the rockers.

 





Long May She Wave.

 

Glassware and Flatware – Current Longaberger
Star plates, Bowls, Baskets and Wrought Iron. – Retired Longaberger
Blue striped plates – Pottery Barn at least 25 years ago
Accessories – Storage Closets
Star Sprays  and Glass Star Gems – Marshall’s
Napkins – Made years ago
Quilts – Personal collection





Stitch at you soon, Dawna

I'm joining Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Quilt Blocks–Modern World

We have been working on some new samples for Bolts in the Bathtub. Today I  finished one that will go to Lisa and Susan at Topstitch. At first glance it looks as if you have to make a lot of flying geese. I can hear the groans as they echo across the web.

But wait! The Moda fabric line is called Quilt Blocks and it is actually a stripe. It is a Modern quilt, so has a lovely simple appeal. Not a lot of piecing, but boy you need to get your 1/4” right or your solid stripes will not match up.

 

Here I have  laid out some completed sections just to get an idea of the of how it will look. I know the front of the pattern shows has a picture, but lets be honest, when you get this far we all want a visual. The pieces will need to be shifted as the blue stripes need to match up.

Cynthia at the store sewed the bottom section last weekend and I cut the flying geese stripe and pieced the top section and put the two together. You gotta love the Bernina foot #37. Two different sewers, one on a 550QE and the other on a 630.

This is the completed top pinned on the wall. It is a great lap size at 57” x 65”. It was designed by Ellen Luckett Baker. Sorry that the slat wall stripe shows through. Once it is layered and quilted it will be gorgeous. I am thinking of lots of little circles to offset the linear quality.

I found this great Alexander Henry fabric at the store. I coordinates well with the top and will give a fun little burst of color when the edge of the quilt is flipped. When I showed Tiffany (my friend and blogger of Needle in a Hayes Stack) thought up a great name: Modern World.

I hadn’t really been sewing in the last couple of months and this and another I will show in the next couple of days have me dreaming of playing in fabric again. Picture me as Scrooge McDuck. But with fabric instead of dollars and cents and a huge smile on my face. All you quilters know what I am talking about.

Stitch with you soon,

Dawna

Dreaming of Coastal Breezes

As many of my friends know, I am not overly fond of the heat. With summer on it’s way I decided to set a table that would visually cool me off every time I walked by. I love setting the table even if we never sit down to use it. The best part is that when it’s set it doesn’t get used as a drop off spot when you walk in the house.


I have been collecting different shells it seems like forever. Some from the beach, Pottery Barn always has a great bag or box this time of the year and of course what I call TJRM. Which is shortcut for TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls and the wonderful Home Goods.




I found the wonderful black wrought iron cage of shells recently. Not only does it look great, but it has an ocean breeze scent. If I turned on some background wave sounds and closed my eyes, I would be transported.

Each place setting has a shell holding up two pieces of appetizer chocolate. Because as life is short… I am sure you all know the rest.









The liquor glasses are from the Royal Caribbean quilt cruise that Bolts took a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, they moved our ship to the Caribbean. We are waiting for the Mexican Riviera route to come back. It was always great fun and we all got a lot done during our week at sea.







Thanks for visiting with me, may the cool ocean breezes come your way soon.
Dawna
I’m joining Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday 

Super Moon

Did you go outside and see the super moon last night?

I went for a walk with my friend Paula Reid (http://www.battsintheattic.blogspot.com/ )

and her husband Dan to enjoy the sight.

  

 

I love taking pictures of the moon,

although they are never as wonderful as the moon is in real life.

 Click on the link below for some awesome shots of last nights moon taaken by professional photographers.

http://photos.mercurynews.com/2012/05/super-moon-shines-on-as-brightest-and-closest-of-2012/10379/#name here

Do you have the same thoughts as Vincent Van Gogh?

Starry Night below is from www.vangoghgallery.com as a free wallpaper for your desktop.

Vincent Van Gogh painted many times by moonlight including Starry Night, painted in 1889.

For more information on Vinnie as we call him in our family :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh

or for in depth reading the new biography VAN GOGH The Life, by Steven Naifen and Gregory White Smith gives a new look an artists life. At almost 1000 pages including photos, and index it is an amazing journey into Van Gogh's life.

So now you know, I love the moon and Van Gogh.

Did you know that a few years ago Exclusively Quilter's had a line of fabric with Van Gogh. My friend Tiffany Hayes at www.needleinahayesstack.blogspot.com designed a quilt that I was lucky enough to be given. I'll dig out a photo to share with you soon.

  

Click on the link below for some awesome shots of last nights moon.

http://photos.mercurynews.com/2012/05/super-moon-shines-on-as-brightest-and-closest-of-2012/10379/#name here

Stitch at you soon, Dawna

Welcome to my first day of blogging. Please bare with me as I navigate this new endevor. My plan is to share lots of fun ideas about the what is going on in the shop and elsewhere.

Above is the logo for the store. Actually the official logo has more colors. This colorway was designed for me to use as it has two of my  favorite colors. My other fav color is pink and you will see lots of it when I start to share. Today is our 9th anniversary. We have such great customers and have made so many wonderful friends. Thank you all for visiting.