Happy Zombie

That was me yesterday, just like this Happy Girl. Well… I’m always pretty happy, but mix me up with my friends and some fabric… I feel like I float with joy. Sappy… but true.

Yesterday my gal pals Robin and Connie (aka Blop) and I went to the NW Quilting Expo in Portland. A little fabric, a little lunch, a little side trip… and a whole lotta laughing. I’ll try to keep this to as few words as possible (I’m struggling, really hard for my fingers to stop blabbing on the keyboard), and stick to the photos. The photo above I named “Happy Girl”. I do not know what the quilt’s name is or who made it, but was my favorite quilt at the expo. As with all the quilts I will show from the expo… I do not know their maker’s names or the quilt names and I’d be happy to share the info if anyone knows. Anyhoo…

The Expo is kind of a giant shop hop rolled into one location. Shops and vendors from all over the west come and taunt you with their delicious delights. The expo also hosts the Hoffman Challenge and a quilt show. This was my third year attending, and I’m always amazed at what quilters can do with the world’s butt ugliest most challenging fabric. Amazing.

Not everything at the expo floats my boat. In fact, some of the stuff I saw should be outlawed. You know what I’m talking about - the myspace of the fibre world… glitter and sparkle. WTF? Who smuggled in the Bedazzler from the 80’s? I came home and had to soak my retinas in a warm cleansing bath and purge the horrific images from my mind. Some of the vendors were ok, and some I wanted to move into and be their booth squatter (you’ll see the photos, if I ever stop blabbing). So on with the show…

Carriage Country Quilters, Des Moines, WA. A 2007 Top 10 Shop from APQ. Oh yeah… my inner Prairie Zombie was tingling when I saw these guys. I bought the little house quilt kit (their own design/pattern) in this photo. And I think they even named it just for me… “Little Red Houses on the Prairie”.

The Pine Needle, Lake Oswego, OR. I think this was a Top 10 a few years back. I could check my magazine stash, but that would be too much work. Seriously. Way too much work. If it’s not a Top 10… then it should have been. Or should be. One of my all time favorite shops. I love how the Pine Needle sells FQ’s and half yards. All shops need to take note. And please, along with glitter and sparkle - rolled up fat quarters should be outlawed as well.

The Cotton Patch, Keizer, OR. Another Top 10 shop! A shop I really want to go to, but for now their booth had to do. Plus my friend The Mole works there as a teacher. The Cotton Patch (which BTW… I think of as a Lafayette store) is so cute, sweet and happy - but not the creepy kind of OD cute like a Cabbage Patch doll on Meth who just shot up some pink Kool-aid and snorted a line of Pixi-Stix kind of cute. This shop is really, really sweet and makes me think of Elizabeth and Anne.

Wooden Spool Designs, Troutdale, OR. OMG… not only was my inner Prairie Zombie tingling… so was my inner Harvest Zombie! I wanted a kit from everything they sold. All of it. But sigh… they had no kits on hand. I don’t do a lot of wool, so no big stash on hand, nor do I intend to start another stash. When it comes to wool - it’s kits for me. Harvest Zombie to Cry Baby Zombie in thirty seconds flat.

Momma Made It, Longview, WA. No photo because my inner Pioneer Zombie was so overcome with the tingles… my photo shot was blurred. I’ve been shopping at Momma Made It since I first moved here. When I need that harvest/prairie fix, this is where I go. Such a cute place too and Sharon and her staff are so nice. Cute little converted house with a classroom in the basement. The Basement where The Chicken Lady, Yellow Girl and I went to a quilting club once a month. We were know as The Crazy Ladies From Astoria But One Of Them Is From Vancouver. Anyhoo… I bought some more Lori Smith patterns and some wool - but that’s all blog-food for another day. I’ll show all my booty from all the stores in another post. I’m ’bout ready for a nap at this point.

I’d like my eggs over-easy with a side of Moda, please. Before I get to the quilts, after the expo we went to Country Manor Fabrics in Battleground, WA. For years I’ve heard of this mysterious place - a quilt shop in someone’s basement out in the country. The Area 51 of fabric. Though no longer in a basement, the shop is now in a pole barn. Stepping into the building, my inner Organizational Zombie alarm went off (yeah, I didn’t know I had that “IOZ” either). Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of bolts everywhere. Agility and sensible shoes are a must. But oh so worth the traversing. Lots and lots of Moda’s, and complete lines (so it seemed). I saw stuff I hadn’t seen in years or had never seen. If I’m ever on the hunt for That One Fabric… this is where I’ll come. Especially now that I know it’s top secret location. Which BTW, is on NE 179th just off the I-5 just north of the Clark County Fairgrounds. But you didn’t hear that from me.

The quilts.

FINALLY.

Below are a few of my faves, and you can see more of my faves on my Flickr here.

And now. Finally. The quilts.

The quilt that took my breath away and moved me so…

Logging truck

Here kitty, kitty…

Island of the Blue Dolphins B&W Oracs

Lemme give you a hand with that…

Oh Sew Graphic!

Uber mini small (see the safety pin and/or straight pin in relation to size?).

Incredible quilting. You MUST click on photo to see it. If you can read the tag, there’s a mention of a “Karen”. My guess it’s to Karen McTavish - the quilting looks soooo McTavishishy.

Poke!

Looks like a vintage board game. Bold, graphic and stunning.

 And last but not least… Mr. Ed.  Stunning and beautiful, but REALLY… couldn’t the person in charge of hanging the labels and ribbon - um, picked a better spot?

And now I must nap.
Seriously.

And I’ve declared it!

I heart you my friend… my wondertwin… my muse… my daily cup of joy!  CONGATULATIONS!

I’m always either incredibly early, or always annoyingly late. I’d like to believe it’s the former - though I know there’d be a long line around the block to dispute that (and my family’s at the head of the line). So anyhoo… what would summer be without a good “beach book”. I usually like to read intense novels by authors like Patricia Cornwell or Dean R. Koontz, but lately I’ve been in the mood for something light, something fun, something with no murder or cops who chain smoke or scary people in the dark of night. I’ve had very little time this summer to read, and I wanted something I could pick up a week later and not have to back read 4 pages so I could remember what was going on.

So there I was in Costco in the book aisle. I noticed 3 fellow shoppers had picked up a certain book - from what was now a short stack (the sign of a best seller… New York Times, New York Schmimes - the Costco book aisle is where it’s at!). I’m not one to march to the same drum… but I was somewhat curious intrigued about this book! So I pick it up, glance at the back cover, and think - what the heck, and toss the book like a Frisbee into my cart - and on to the rest of my shopping. I love learning about what fellow bloggers are reading… a much bigger indicator I might like something someone I cyber-know likes… but those three other Costco shoppers can’t be wrong, right?

Mistake #1. I picked up the book to read a few pages before I had finished unpacking my Costco booty. Oh I’ll just read a few pages.

Mistake #2. Reading, reading… OH CRAP… it’s a freaking romance novel! Nothing against romance novels, but I think the last time I read one was over a quarter of a century ago - and it involved a rogue pirate and his throbbing manhood & a heaving bosomed damsel stow-away (granny porn).

Mistake #3. Assuming it was going to suck now that I knew what kind of novel this was.

Correction #1. I kept reading. And reading. And reading. And reading. HOLY CRAP… I LOVE this book! So now I’m addicted. I’ve taken this book where ever I go. Seriously… where ever I go! So many rich characters and every chapter leaves you hanging and thirsting for more! Kind of like Desperate Housewives… not the same story of course… but that same kind of guilty pleasure. I can’t leave the house without my coffee… and now I can’t leave the house without my book as well.

The book is Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber. As it turns out… it’s the first “Dakota” book in a trilogy. OMG, now I have to get my hands on the rest of the series!!! Come to find out, there’s another series she’s written called the “Cedar Cove Series” (aka “the address books“). I’ve scoured Amazon and local booksellers and I managed to acquire the entire series (which takes place just a bit up north in Kitsap County, WA). With the Dakota Born book finished (sadly) last night, I was now able to dive into the first of the Cedar Cove series - 16 Lighthouse Road. Delicious.

I haven’t been this excited about a book/series since I was a kid and devoured the sweet word nectar of the Nancy Drew series. And thanks to this author, my garage continues to look like this! My tip of the day: If you’re moving into a new house, IGNORE these books! So anyhoo… what are you reading???

Ok, these tennies have nothing to do with this post, but how effing cute are they! Serious cute. So cute, I was blinded by the hefty price tag. So what do I do… buy them, feel guilty about the price, decide to take em back for a refund, snap a photo, and then blog about them. Very satisfying, I must say. It’s almost like I’m wearing them, but not. The annoying sales girl at Adidas (who couldn’t pronounce Deutschland to save her life, even though she was selling a German product) went on and on about how this was a Reggie Bush signature sneaker. WhatTF? Um… THIS is a tennie to go with a cute aqua dress and vintage apron, while I place a fresh baked cherry pie in the window to cool. Reggie Bush. What-ever.

Edited in for all those that have asked who Reggie Bush is: Reggie Bush was USC’s football darling. He’s now with the NFL and I have no clue (or care) what team he is on. As for the shoes being “Reggie Bush’s”… hardly! And the chatty/pushy/know-it-all clerk even tried to tell me that red and white were USC’s colors. I just let it go (even though I wanted to tell her that I was from California and that I KNOW what USC’s colors are)…. but I thought it’d be more fun to let her continue to make a fool of herself… and then blog about her. Moooo ahhh haaa haaa!

Cher, Madonna, Angelina… superstars known just by their first names. In the quilting and fibre arts community we have our own superstar too… and she’s such a star - we know her just by her first name too. Heidi. Oh sure, maybe once or twice I actually heard Heidi + Kaisand uttered in a faint whisper. But we all know and love her, and know her as “Heidi”.

As many of you know, there are many new changes and additions in Heidi’s life, and I’ll let you read all about it on her brand spankin’ new blog! And after that, take a peek at her new esty shop too! Stop by and say hello to my friend and mentor - a woman who’s inspired me and MILLIONS of others through the years at the helm of Better Homes & Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting.  For me personally, Heidi not only opened a window for me, she opened a big roll-top industrial door for me, and I heart her so very much!

Welcome to Blogland Heidi!

My pal Raesha (aka Freddy Subaru) posted a fun little name game on her blog and I thought it was cute (though Raesha must be warned I will forever be calling her Freddy Subaru now!). Wanna play too? Allrighty then… TAG, you’re it! Leave a comment that you’re playing or if you don’t have a blog - play the game right in your comment.

The Name Game

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Toxi Magnum

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),
Rainbow Sherbet Snickerdoodle*

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
M-Sol

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Pink Puppy

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Linda Walnut Creek

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Sol-Mo

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Aqua Coffee

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Paul Paul

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),
Sweat Pea Charleston Chew

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Anne Esquivel

And a few more…

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Sundquist Seattle

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Autumn Dahlia

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Strawberry Flip Flopie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Honey Bunches of Oats Willow

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Quilting Snowstorm Tour

Any others anyone can think of? Have fun - Toxi ;-)

*They have ganstas in the Castro, right?

Yes.

Mmmm… yes.

Oh my gawd… yes.

Oh my gawd, oh my gawd… it’s coming, it’s coming… ohmygawd it’s coming. OH. MY. GAWD. Fall is about to arrive! YES!

Sigh.

I told myself, “Self… not one more post about moving, selling my house or setting up my new house. None of it”. Of course, being the self that I am - I don’t listen. Ever. Okay, okay… this is actually crafty. Sort of.

I first heard about St. Joseph from Kathleen, how burring a St. Joseph statue upside-down in your front yard will help you sell your house. It worked for Kathleen, who passed her St. Joe on to Paula… and he worked his charm on Paula too (and you should see her adorable new house!). WOW. I’m so totally sold! Now, I am not a religious person… though I’m very spiritual. I don’t subscribe to any organized religion, but I do like aspects from all kinds of different religions. I guess I’m a Smorgisbordian. And if I ever had my own commune, we’d live in a little village like in the movie The Village, and we’d all dress in Little House on the Prairie dresses - but with big clunky Doc Martin boots, and bake bread & pies, and do crafts, and play quarters, and have TIVO…

So first order of business was to get my hands on a St. Joseph statue. Paula offered to pass her St. Joe on to me, but I didn’t want to jinx things for her by digging him up too early. Not easy to find a St. Joe on the OR or WA coast, lemme tell you! So I decided to make my own. I did a lot of research on the internet and just kind of winged it from a bucket-load of images I found. And not only did I find images, I read a lot of interesting stories of Joseph that warmed my heart.

And since I was at with St. Joe… I also said a prayer to St. Anthony. Oh yeah… St. Anthony has always come through for me! “Dear St. Anthony, something’s lost and must be found… please find us a buyer soon”. Well… Not that I’m not grateful, but I realized I had to be uber specific with St. Anthony - as the very next day our new neighbors were eyeing our travel trailer and we told them we’re selling it… and they bought it! So now my prayer to St. Anthony is more specific!

So back to St. Joseph. I read from various blogs/websites that St. Joseph needed to be buried upside down so that he is uncomfortable, thus working all the harder to get you that buyer. And when the sale of the house is complete, the St. Joseph should be displayed in a place of honor in your new home. So I made him, and that evening after dinner I had planned to bury him. Just before heading out, our realtor called to let us know a couple looked at our house and was so interested - they came back for a second look. This told me to bury St. Joe fast! Surely they would make an offer after St. Joe was tucked snugly into the ground. The following day - still no word. It was nagging at me the whole negative reinforcement aspect of putting St. Joe upside down, and had considered digging him up. I was at the old house on the hill watering the yard in deep thought about my little Joe-Joe upside down and suffocating in his baggie… when SWOOSH… I slipped and fell and landed on my bum - upside down and in the mud. Stuff me in a Zip-Loc and call me St. Joe!

As fast as I could hose myself off… up came St. Joseph from out of the ground. So now my little Joe-Joe is dug up and home with me and in a place of honor (my sewing room of course!). I may not get that sale as fast as I had hoped… but I believe the sale I will get will be worth the wait!  And that second-look couple… the wifey wanted to buy it, the hubby said it was “too big” (to which I’m guessing their current abode must certainly be a cave).

If you want your own St. Joe a Go-Go… feel free to D/L my PDF pattern.

Edited in: I see I’m not the only one… check out Be*mused’s post about St. Joe! And CNN as well!