Girl’s-Night-(and day)-o-rama
September 17th, 2008
The fun continues on my visit home…
Pam’s blogged it here, and Elizabeth has blogged it here… and of course I’m always on the short bus to ProcrastinationLand - so I’m finally blogging about it too. An über fun filled night and day. It just went waaaaaaay too fast and I wish we all could have had more time together.
We started our Girl’s-Night-(and day)-o-rama with our wonderful friend Nireko at Emil Villa’s in Walnut Creek (officially it’s the Hick’ry Pit. Whatever). We ate. We laughed. We ate. We laughed. Nireko had us in stitches. And there was pie. OH. THERE. WAS. PIE. I stole these pics from Pam… because I’m still driving down that road. Nireko showed us some new Lecien fabric that is just to DIE FOR, which left us competing with the pie for our drool worthiness. I’ll show it when it gets on Lecien’s website.
Pam and I look like we’re getting chummy as a pose for the shot, but we were REALLY sitting like that. Smallest booth on the planet, and it’s always me who’ll find it.
We all go home, with just enough time to sleep (and digest our food). Up and atom the following morning, and back on the road we go. Heatwave was already in full swing, and Pam had her car nice and cool. Ahhh. First stop… Thimble Creek. I haven’t been to TC in years, and this was my first visit since their move from Walnut Creek. It was great to see Roxie, and wish I could have seen Joe too. Joe and Roxie are just THE nicest couple, and it’s reflected in their wonderful business. TC is great, and I could just hang out there for hours on end. PS… if anyone is looking for some Minny Muu 3… I saw some there.
Elizabeth and Roxie.
The wonderful Chickie cutting my fabric. Maybe it was Pam’s fabric. Or maybe it was E’s fabric. Hard to know, since I told Chickie and Sandy as they were cutting Pam and E’s fabric, “I’ll have what she’s having”. I just noticed I have no pics of Pam while we were at TC. Mustabeen because I was nipping at Pam’s heals the entire time. Watching what she was picking out, and then I could get some too (like having a personal shopper).
The darling Sandy ringing up my first purchase (oh yes, there was more). Sandy has that “do you need to take out a second mortgage to cover this” look.
Brenda and Anne where there too. Ok, not really there there… but I saw Bren’s four season quilt and squealed with delight. I love this quilt so much. I bought her pattern at last market, and hope to one day make it. Lots of Anne’s goodies too, and picked up a few of her patterns as well. Wish they had really been there there, but it was fun to see their beautiful works showcased.
As we head south, barely audible from the back seat are my “is it lunch yet?” whines. Having fun works up an appetite (in my case, even sleeping works up my appetite). Chevy’s. Mmmm. And did I mention it was a hundred-n-effing something degrees outside? The ice teas really hit the spot. Funny, after we sat down, we all instinctively whipped out our iPhones and Sidekick… checking to see to if we had emails from each other. Do’i.
Further south, we finally reach Mecca. Well. My Mecca. My version of Disneyland… Daiso. A “dollar” store of Japanese delights and cuteness. I filled up two baskets and a cart. There’s a Daiso I’ve shopped at in Federal Way, WA… but this Union City, CA one is huge. HUGE. Makes the Federal Way store look like a mini-mart. I have died and gone to zakka heaven.
“OHMYGOSH… What’s that, Monica?”… it’s the ‘mayonnaise rack’ that Elizabeth found for me. After seeing this photo of myself, I noticed the one boob slimming-reducing effect it had on me. I should have bought two. Three, one for my butt too. Four… five… six…
Pam and the find-of-the-day. Insert your own caption here. The use of OMG is not authorized since Pam, E and I have already said it to it’s maximum usage allowance on this item.
The wall-o-sponges. Like a museum of the world’s cutest sponges. So cute, they made us giddy. As Elizabeth said… “those sponges are Sponge Worthy”!
Here’s my sponge worthy buy… a little slice of sponge cake heaven. Who knew sponges could be so cute. Well, obviously the Japanese knew. Thank goodness!
After Daiso, we head back north to Walnut Creek to drop me off (my mom said I had to be home by 5:00 - and I actually obeyed - first time in 47 years). Our fun day is coming to an end soon, and I am so very sad. On the way back to The Creek, we stopped at The Quilter’s Inn in Danville. Darling little shop and the owner and staff couldn’t have been nicer. I could have hung out and shopped all day. Lovely, lovely little shop, and I found some more of the Lecien Antique Rose that I’ve been trying to gobble up for my stash - before it’s forever gone. Oh maybe… it just might come back? Hmmm… I hope so!
At the Quilter’s Inn I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted this Guadalupe/Dia de los Muertos quilt. I asked if I could take a photo of it and was given persmission. I did ask who made it, but the info slipped out of my brain. I’d love to know if anyone knows who made this and will post it here. One of the most beautiful and meaningful quilts I’ve ever seen. I. LOVE. IT.
Thank you Pam & E for the wonderful time - I hate that we live so far apart!
Posted in I Heart California |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
Oh my heck! I don’t know what to say. I’m totally jealous.
September 17th, 2008I’m still crackin’ up on THAT (whatever it is) thing that Pam is holding! I wish Raesha spelled it out for me but I think I know what she meant. Mwahahahaha!!!
All I can say is, WaAAAH! I should have been there!
PS. Could you tell E to stop staring at it like she’s thinking of buying more than one of those “special toys”. LOL!
September 17th, 2008Holy Cow — you guys must’ve been a sight! That sponge is AWESOME. And that’s all I can say ’cause that one pic of Pam and …well, I’ve been left speechless!
September 17th, 2008Can’t. write.
September 17th, 2008Snorting. out. loud.
You all are too funny and good for the soul.
Many thanks for sharing.
LOVED reliving the great visit!! Had somehow forgotten about the Banana Holder…which is probably just as well.
September 17th, 2008Nothing else to do but come out again, you know!!
Oh yeah, you will have to come back. I’ll take you to the really really big Daiso in SF. And maybe other places.
I miss you.
And people BANANA HOLDER.
September 17th, 2008Although lets get real, how big was that thing, I don’t know where they’re getting their bananas. Holy crap.
I’m so glad you had a good time with the chickees. I’m so jealous! :) And DAISO!!! They’re all out west, so no Daiso for me for a while. darn. I love all the stuff in that store. Japanese stuff all has smiles on it….ever noticed that? That’s why I love Japanese people! :)
September 18th, 2008What a way fun day with friends. That sponge is too sweet!
September 18th, 2008Oh Monica, you crack me up! Your posts always put a happy smile on my face. Thank you!
September 18th, 2008wow! Sounds like a whirlwind! Looks like you had allot of fun with those sponges. Its always nice to have some gal time, I am in need of that badly, but sadly today I am soo sleepy from staying up late designing new creations for Xmas.
I am in need of some coffee bad!! Gotta go!
September 18th, 2008I know you’re experiencing a whole lot of CA love right now, but you are not allowed to move back there, OK?
Oh lord, I sure wish I had been on that trip with you. I need pie! I need Daiso…by the way, what the heck is a mayonnaise rack? And is that yellow thingy a banana keeper? And I do mean bananas and not a euphemism for something else that I know you have in your mind right now.
Oh so envious of your trip and fun and fabric buying!!
September 18th, 2008It just looks like so much fun. I am so envious. And I am so bummed - I drove by that Union City Daiso 3 times - yes, count them, 3 times, this summer. (I also discovered I probably passed a couple more - there’s one in NewPark Mall! My old stomping ground.) And I had NO IDEA they were there. I just might need to drive up to see my mother very, very soon . . .
September 18th, 2008Oh yeah, and that Quadalupe quilt is stupendous!
September 18th, 2008That picture of Pam and Elizabeth is hysterical - Pam holding the banana thingy with great interest and Elizabeth very curiously studying the display. LOL!
September 18th, 2008I wish we had those stores on the East Coast. I need a cute wall of sponges somewhere! My life is sorely lacking in that department. The quilt shop pics are sooo nice. I wish I had all those fabrics!! Looks like you all had an awesome time. Spending time with the girls is the best!
Thanks for sharing your fun time with us. We can always dream we are with you. I ordered the mini miu christmas fabric. I can’t wait to get it. I’m going to make christmas cottages with it. I’m so extremely excited. The sponge cake is amazing. That would look so cute just sitting on a kitchen counter on pretty plate - everyday. That store looks like a hoot. It’s all good. I hate that phrase but it fits.
September 18th, 2008next time you go sp, save a seat in the car for me!! i have really enjoyed the trip so far. i am there!!! xxx
September 18th, 2008This post makes me miss my dear friend in FL. We used to go on these great quilt shop trips and laugh till our sides hurt, buy too much fabric, who am I kidding…that’s impossible, and go through the McDonalds drive-thru twice in one morning…you know, girl stuff. I hope you show us pictures of your new fabrics! x
September 18th, 2008Pretty sure that you all had laugh hangovers when that day was all said and done! Glad you managed to stay out of the paddy wagon, even after all the fun you had in Daiso.
September 19th, 2008I’m slobbering over that four-seasons quilt. Yummy!
Oh - how I wish I could have been there with you at Thimblecreek (& lunch with Nireko & Diaso & . . .) too! (I want to see the sponge wall!)
September 19th, 2008Okay. . . here’s the plan. . . The next time you are planning to go visit the Bay Area again. . . let me know. . . & I will fly out & Anne & I will meet you all at Thimblecreek! . . . & lunch. . . & . . .
(. . . & I’m serious!!!!)
xo, Bren
I just have to get to this store. I keep seeing it, hearing about it but so far have yet to walk inside one. Maybe I’ll do a Japanese/Seattle day and hit both Daiso and the book store.
September 19th, 2008Looks like you had a good time with the girlies. Too much fun actually. I wanna go back to the Daiso store too. Very cute things there.
September 19th, 2008I want to come shopping with YOU GUYS!!
September 20th, 2008you guys are too funny…what’s the yellow thing anyway?
September 20th, 2008wonderful time!
Oh my heck!!! I love the sponge cake, how clever is that???
September 20th, 2008Sponge worthy! LOL. I *think* I’m heading down there next month to see Tina Turner in concert and if so, I’m def finding Daiso!! I can’t for the life of me figure out what the mayo rack is for???
September 22nd, 2008First, I want some pie. Second, you must email me with information about the amazing sponge cake. Cake sponge. You know what I mean.
September 22nd, 2008Oh my that is a wonderful post!!! May I please come and do your dishes? All my coherent thought disappeared when I saw that sponge. I need them, all of them in the store!!
September 22nd, 2008Such a wonderful day you had with your peeps! I would love to visit Thimble Creek someday - I receive their emails and drool and drool.
September 28th, 2008And, you got to go to Daiso? A wall-o-sponges - who knew? I love your sponge, but I think Pam wins the prize for “best find” at Daiso!! LOL!!
What a fun time! I love reading about pretty quilt shops. Nothing like that around my neck of the woods! Hum….. Nice group of friends! Thanks for sharing!
October 8th, 2008Okay. Your blog kicks bootie. It’s great!
November 30th, 2008That Guadalupe quilt brought stinging near-tears to my eyes. I WISH I was capable of producing such beauty. Ahhh, practice makes perfect.
P.S. I, too, love California.
Greetings & Blessings from Sonoma County!