August 2008 - Posts

• fabshop mailing 08.13.08

  Occasionally I am asked why I quilt.  That’s a hard question to answer.  There are the obvious responses… I love the creativity, The sense of peace I gain, The relaxation benefits, I create something my family will enjoy, blah blah blah…     Somehow all those just don’t seem to fully answer the question.  The Question asker may be satisfied, but, I am left… still seeking… needing to truly define the answer…           You see, I am not a painter, Let’s not get into the horrors of my dancing, I couldn’t sketch my way out of a soap bubble and my singing can only be compared to cats yowling at midnight. But I do see a vision.   It is a vision in fabric.  The surge of electricity that runs though my veins when I enter a building full of fabric. The colors and familiar smells of the whole atmosphere is very heady to say the least.  The total and utter concentration I gain when I am “on the hunt” for new fabrics.  When I see a line that is amazing, it calls to me.   It’s as if I can sense what it wants to be. I can “see” a completed project in my head and I can feel the rhythm of the machine as I cut the fabric to take home….          When I describe the experience to another quilter, I get that “look”. It’s the look of knowing, of connecting that only another person that has experienced that same thing can give because…Quilting is more than a hobby. It’s a passionate way of life.  I am Diana of www.thequiltingcottage.com and I would like to invite you to come visit my website. You see; I am rather unique in my advertising.  I “Ramble” about life, quilting…anything. I also believe that whenever you walk into a store or enter a website, it should feel like home.  Welcoming, comfortable and inviting. The Quilting Cottage is exactly that: Here is some of what our new friends have been saying about shopping with us and visiting our site:  “I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your e-mails, you are a great story teller and it seems I know you just from your letters. Keep them coming. Maybe some day I will meet you and your girls. Thanks again, Evelyne” “I look forward to your newsletter with much anticipation!  I love your stories; how you tie them in with quilts! Norma” ”I am enjoying your ramblings and other quilters' voices.  Your topic on gray hairs really hit home as I am really over the hill!  Thanks from a hot summer in Texas for a great, upbeat & delightful site!  LT” “Love, love, love your ramblings! pepper” Good Morning!!    Just a note to let you know that I truly enjoyed the opening in your email today.  The enjoyment you had watching the finches on the thistles helps explain that phrase everything has a purpose in life.  Taking the time to listen and reflect is a good recommendation Clara” “Diana, I absolutely love your comments on life and where you are.  I've read many of the latest ones and just enjoy them so very much.  Seems many are right were I am. Yes, I've even shared them too. Please keep them coming.    I'm printing and saving them with my quilting thoughts. Such unique but yet common insights.  Thanks for taking the time to write them down and to share them. Just me, C” “Thank you so much for your beautiful and heart felt essay and the reminder to just smell the flowers and listen!  You sound like a person I would truly like to know. Carol” “Diana, you could write to me all day...it's so inspiring!! Thanks, Rorie” “You write an absolutely delightful newsletter!!!  G.” Welcome to the world of www.thequiltingcottage.com I hope to see you soon and please, drop me a line.  I would love to hear about you and your part of the world.     Diana Tavis The Quilting Cottage 360-273-5522 7505-C 183rd Ave SW Rochester, Washington 98579 USA www.thequiltingcottage.com dltavis@cco.net   Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:53 PM by Diana Tavis with 3 comment(s)

• The Bag 08.08.08

  When I started to write this I sat down and waited for my inspiration... after a few moments, still waiting... and few more moments, still waiting. You see, Lisa and Avalon had the audacity to BOTH go on vacation this week. I'll dispense with the whining, just suffice to say... "haaaalp!" Lisa is a wonder woman in the paperwork mountain and Avalon handles all the website orders and traffic. I can't imagine life without them.. Or without quilting for that matter. This led me to another thought as I was tackling the stack of papers on my desk. I had this wild daydream of running out of the office and heading straight for my machine. Here's the setting... a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. For me that is the "everywhere" of where I want to be. No sign of civilization for miles. No telephone, no T.V., not even a car or a road for that matter. Never mind how I got there, possibly helicopter or simply a horse and wagon. Just me, my machine and the creative process of molding fabric into a functional work of art. I can hear a stream trickling and gurgling in my mind and the wind gently rustling the grass tops as it winds its way through the valley. I can even visualize the birds gliding on the updrafts while deer roam the fields grazing, occasionally stopping to look up at me in my sewing. I guess my whole point here is that we all can get so crazy busy that we don't think we have even a spare second to pull out the machine. Life is like that sometimes. While I do make a point to schedule "down time" in my calendar and give it the same devotion to attention and seriousness as my accountant would receive, there are many levels of quilting that most forget. The first step in any quilt is the original thought. I think this part is the most magical of all the steps; sometimes the ideas come at me so fast I need to jot them down. This is where "the bag' comes in. I keep this small bag with me at all times that contains: One reading book, one word search book, one small sewing or crochet project and one notepad for ideas. This notepad contains everything from Homeschooling thoughts and reminders, shopping lists, a small inventory of my freezers so I can maintain a proper rotation of items, Rambling seed for thought that I can expand on later and..... Quilt ideas. Quilt ideas are things like the way the clouds look at a particular moment and how I could possibly make it into a quilt or an absolutely beautiful geometric design I saw in a hotel lobby floor. It may be a quick sketch or a photo from my phone with a few written notes. Oddly enough, I have never been one to keep a diary and I may even sound super organized... That is so, not the case. I have come to the realization that if I don't write something down it gets lost in the wind. So, out of desperation I write everything down and in those fleeting moments in-between the daily tasks of everyday life, I still get my Quilting time in and if it seems that I am perpetually writing things down and not managing to get to the actual sewing part. That’s ok... I can schedule more "down time" and bring my life back into balance. So the next time you get that spark of inspiration, jot it down in your notebook. Who knows, it could be the original thought of your greatest quilt. For that perfect bag, visit www.thequiltingcottage.com. There you will find the bags;"This is a great bag for any day trip. Being 12" tall, and 11" wide with a zippered pocket on one side, a Velcro pocket on the other side, and a small zippered pocket on the inside perfect for your thread or anything else small. I find these things so great, I recommend several of these to coordinate with your different outfits. At $7.99 (USD) They are a great price." Have a wonderful weekend, Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com Pssst. It's coming... The biggest sale of the year... Keep watching.   Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:52 PM by Diana Tavis with 2 comment(s)

• Splitting hairs 08.01.08

  Gray hair. Love it or hate it it’s inevitable. We all will have some sooner or later. I would like to take some time to state my case in FAVOR of the lonesome little gray hair. The poor little things are hated, feared, ripped out and hidden. I remember when I was a younger, hearing woman of all ages talks of their gray hair as if they were a disease. It was similar to turning the “dreaded” thirty. I personally enjoyed my thirties and am whooping and hollering over the forties. It just keeps getting better. Throughout history the little gray hair has been viewed as wisdom. A place of honor was bestowed upon the woman with the long well kept gray hair. She was revered as having earned her right to not be questioned… I frankly am still waiting for that day when the epiphany happens and I know without a doubt that I have something called “wisdom”. Start your giggling now. Logically, I know it just never happens, but hey, a girl can dream. Let’s also throw in the image of being a quilter. That little bit always gets rave reviews. Combine the quilting and gray hair and folks get all a flutter. The really humorous part most folks never see is Lisa and I at my dining room table, a deadline is looming and more than a few of the little gray darlin’s are popping out of both place and in population. Our latest projects spread out and in various stages of assembly… and then… something goes wrong. Horribly wrong. Points not perfect… the machine has just thrown a shoe and the thread is bunching underneath. The fabric was cut too short. Yes, I measured it LISA. It’s still too short. How much? Oh… about three inches. You sewed your fabrics WRONG side together? HA! Why is this thread NOT cooperating? Oh jiminy Christmas! The seam ripper for Lisa and AH-HA! There’s the fabric I need. I did not cut it wrong… silly thing was hiding from me. (Insert maniacal laughter here) Some how, someway we all get from t he chaos some great fun and believe it or not, some relaxation as well as a quilt that, quirks and all, is absolutely stunning. I can’t promise your quilting will be any better or worse with the gray. I do think they give us a whole new perspective on life. They add a definition to us that says. “Back off sparkey I didn’t fall off the cabbage truck yesterday.” Or something else much more polite that I just can’t think of at the moment. I say, enjoy those little gray hairs. Name them if you like, just make sure you hold your head high and exude confidence that you are beautiful and are a quilter. To me, being a quilter is a thing of beauty unto itself. It is a creative art that is second only to the “great masters” of oil painting and even that is a close second. I have never been kept warm by a painting. Our history as humans is written in the very threads of our quilts. Whenever you watch a movie, or read a book about history… think about this… Everybody sleeps. What kept them warm? Why, a quilter did. Gray hairs and all. New to the website: Moda- Bears just wanna have fun. Red Rooster- Twinkle little star and a popular one we have had in the store for a while... Classic cottons- Muted moments (this one is in the process of being added and is large. keep looking for more) Have a wonderful weekend, Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:51 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• Gwyn the quilter 07.18.08

  I have a quilter in the making. My baby girl LOVES the quilting process… especially the cutting. I’m sure you can see where this is going to go… and you’re right. Princess Gwyn has taken to the cutting process like the proverbial duck to water. At the ripe age of three, she has mastered the technique of the scissors. Kindergarten of the future be warned… Gwyn is armed. Every time I go out to the Herb garden to snip some rosemary, she is right there. “I’ll cut it for you mommy!” The whacking back of the pampas grass is met with enthusiasm as well; “Out of the way please, MY turn!” Basically, every time I even think of touching the scissors, she is there on the double. I swear she has some kind of radar. Now I know you are just waiting for the punchline… yup, you bet, there is a downside to all this gleefull helping. Any parent can tell you that children will be incredibly slow when they must do something they don’t want to.. but the other side of that coin? Oh yeah, she’s fast. In the blink of an eye she cut the trim off her dress. She was sewing you see, and the poor unfortunate cat, well, I’m sure will recover after his haircut. Thank goodness for tolerant cats. Gwyn has such enthusiasm, I simply hide all the cutting implements and wait for the appropriate time. From an early age, she was right there at the table with grandma. Quick as a wink she was ON the table (closed) rotary cutter in hand and a ruler. Doing just as grandma did. “Look grandma, I quilting!” She was barely two. These days she spends the afternoon in the family area of the store. Whenever new fabric comes in she runs up to the boxes and jumping up and down clapping her hands in anticipation says; “Open, open the box! What’s inside. (insert huge gasp here) Oh my! It’s BEAUTIFUL! Look mommy, it’s so pretty!” She then gently brushes her hands on it as if it would break and says that I simply MUST make a quilt out of it. I look forward to seeing her grow into a truly great quilter. She has the makings of one.. she has the passion for the art. That’s all we ever really need. The innocent glee that comes from seeing that new line of fabric. The creative process that reminds us of much more simple times in our lives. Cutting and pasting is really fun... Except, we call ours quilting. Cutting, sewing and shaping the fabric into amazingly stunning works of art... Truth be told, inside I jump up and down while clapping my hands in glee whenever the new fabric arrives too….. New to the website this week: Benartex "Frosted Flakes" and "Snow Show"; Exclusively quilters "Always Lovely" and "Sweet Dreams" Loading now: Exclusively Quilters "Sunflowers" Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com Note: No cats were harmed in the making of this rambling. Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:50 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• Thistle yes,,,Thistle no.... 07.24.08

  When was the last time you stopped and listened to your surroundings? I mean Really listened? When I was in my early twenties and living in florida attending college for recording engineering, we were taught a small trick to listen for when an album sounds right in the studio… Sit and close your eyes. Listen very intently to your surroundings, what do you hear and where? Make note of these things. As I sit on my patio listening to my surroundings, I hear two woodpeckers in a battle like the dueling banjos. The wind rustling the grass in the fields. This is a different sound depending on the moisture and weight of seeds. The soft tick of the dogs claws on the stone of the patio. The cheep of the baby sparrows in the birdhouse, calling for the parents to return with food. The screech of the bald eagle in flight. The soft thump of the kittens attempting to pounce on a flower. (It must have looked at them funny) and my sip and sigh of contentment. This list could go on for days, but it gathers enough to center and calm myself. I come out here and drink my morning coffee and listen, that’s all. As a parent, business owner and a person, I have a very busy schedule. Somehow, I came on the belief that we all need to slow down and remember the simple things in life. Otherwise, life gets to you and we can forget what is really important. Coming from a family that is riddled with pretty much every major health issue , I went out on a limb early on and started seeking for a better way. Fortunately, Quilting is such a great stress remover ( Boy was I ever relieved!) I kept that. I made a concerted effort to take care of my skin and eat better. To find the simple joys and make every moment worth remembering. I am by no means perfect. On occasion I get mad, I eat bad food, I hold in my stresses. I simply choose to let it go… However, one thing kept eating at me… Thistles. Ever since I moved into my house I would look out the window at the fields and wish those pesky thistles would disappear. Walking through them is like through a minefield of thorns. They are so plentiful I would avoid my fields entirely. Then, one day last week…I saw them. These yellow birds. They are in the Finch family. Must have been at least two dozen of them. Flitting across the tops of the fields. Where you may ask were they so happily landing? Right on those thistles. The sight was pure magic. And at that moment I thought… “o.k. the thistles stay” Get ready to hug yourself and giggle.. I just started a huge sale. Check out the savings on www.thequiltingcottage.com. Shop early, the savings will get smaller the longer you wait….. I hope you enjoy your day with as much glee as you can possible muster. Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:50 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• Stop and smell the quilts 07.17.08

  The other day a thought came to mind. When exactly can one call oneself a quilter? Is it after completing the first quilt? Is it when you have been at it for thirty years or more and are judged by others a true master of the art?    I think it is actually neither… When I was in my teens and first entered broadcasting school, I heard something that was actually fairly insightful.  “The moment you take that first step toward doing something, whether it be a vocation or avocation.  You can at that moment call yourself one of their league.”  As far as quilting is concerned, the moment you took that first step towards the fabric store.  You became a quilter.  Regardless of you expertise, you ARE a quilter.  Now I would never even think of saying I was a master of the art, regardless of my years doing it.  I prefer to say, I am a student.   Continually learning, always seeking.  For the next project, the next wave of creativity, the next piece of fabric that calls to me.  While simultaneously living in the moment.  The quilt moment.  The moment when time seems to slow to the point of stopping and you feel… contentment.  Peace.  Your hearing seems to sharpen and you skin seems to tingle. It’s as if there is a bubble of amazing clarity around you and it is soothing and invigorating at the same time.  So have confidence in yourself and your quilts. Whether this is your first day or fiftieth year, there is no other competition in your quilting world.  The hectic world we inhabit is left behind as you and I make sure to take time to stop and smell the quilts…    I am Diana of www.thequiltingcottage.com and I would like to invite you to come visit my website. You see; I am rather unique in my advertising.  I “Ramble” about life, quilting…anything. I also believe that whenever you walk into a store or enter a website, it should feel like home.  Welcoming, comfortable and inviting. The Quilting Cottage is exactly that: Here is some of what our new friends have been saying about shopping with us and visiting our site:   “It was such a surprise to go to the mailbox today & find the package from you.  Totally unexpected, didn't read about it until today. Thank you so very much.  It came on a day that I really needed an uplift. Proves that there are really nice people in the world. Thanks again!    Hugs, Rae”   “Dear Diana, I feel the urge to reply to your last newsletter! It's early morning In Australia, winter is settling in and a frost lingers over my prize lavender. Yes yes yes, you must know what's in my mind and heart,  {along with thousands of like-minded women} what a creative writer you are. I'm so impressed with your letters. Looking forward to your next inspirational letter. Just to finish a thank you for your lovely words, I'm off to paint! Best wishes, Robyn”   “I am a brand new quilter and I have really enjoyed reading the information on your website. Even though I am completely across the country from you, I feel like I am chatting with you right next door. Thanks for the encouragement. Sincerely, Claire.” “Oh my gosh.... when I read what you had written about being a seasonal quilter, I felt like I found a long lost friend. I think I found my quilting home. I can't wait to hear more. Thank You for making me feel welcome. Bridgid” ”Your ramblings are a delightful insight into your life Thanks again, Heather”   “Diana, you could write to me all day...it's so inspiring!! Thanks, Rorie”   “Just became aware of your site -- love it!  Thanks so much.  You manage to express what I feel about quilting.  I don't always have the time to quilt, but I can get my quilting "fix" through reading about it.   I'm looking forward to visiting your site often! Leanne”   “You write an absolutely delightful newsletter!!!  G.”   Welcome to the world of www.thequiltingcottage.com I hope to see you soon and please, drop me a line.  I would love to hear about you and your part of the world.   Diana Tavis The Quilting Cottage 360-273-5522 7505-C 183rd Ave SW Rochester, Washington 98579 USA www.thequiltingcottage.com dltavis@cco.net Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:48 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• Catching our breath 07.11.08

  You know those moments in the movies where the actors have a moment that their (and our) breaths catch? It goes something like this. Imagine the scene: The actress walks into a field of wildflowers, looks around and a sudden gust of wind blows all the petals off the flowers into a swirling mass. Her long hair is gently lifted up and she raises her arms giggling with delight as the petals mysteriously turn into butterflies and land on her fingertips… Now, the last time I checked that scene is a far cry from reality. Beautiful in the cinematic sense… fantasy nonetheless. So lets look at real things that have the ability to catch our breaths. The key here is to tune your mind to see them for the beauty they are: The moment your completed quilt is lifted up in the motion to spread it on the bed. This particular moment is precisely when it has finished the slight hang in mid air and starts to settle onto the bed. I could swear I could hear a tiny bell sparkle sound when the moment hits. It’s when the children find that important spark in their studies and discover something really fascinating that has them completely engrossed for hours. The look on their face says it all. It’s a combination of “ I totally get this!” and “WOW!” All I can say is ride that creative wave! It’s the precise moment when you are making jam and it hits that “ sweet spot” of the perfect jell. It’s when you are walking up a country lane and notice a deer standing in the road ahead of you. You look at each other for what seems like the longest time. Then ever so slowly the deer walks away and you feel as if the two of you had some understanding. As a beginning quilter, it’s the moment when you realize you are so close to actually completing your first quilt. This is the moment you hold very dear to your heart and treasure always. For me, this moment never truly goes away. It comes back each and every time I finish a quilt. It’s also in the moment you look at your children and see them wrapped in one of your quilts sleeping peacefully content in what seems like amazing dreams of discovery and adventure. And it’s the moment I walk into a room filled with bolt upon bolt of fabric I have never seen before. The slight intake of breath that happens here that is followed by a resounding ooohhhhhh! I can walk through the rows and lightly touch the bolts with the tips of my fingers. It’s almost as if at that millisecond where my fingers touch the fabric and it sends a spark through my veins and causes a jolt of creative energy that is rather intoxicating. I could spend hours looking through my library of quilting books trying to find that one design that fits a certain line. I will know it when I see it. It feels like a surge of electricity shoots through my veins and a little voice in my head whispers… Yes, this is the one. I hope you enjoy wandering through my website and discovering the creative possibilities it holds. Whether it may be a twisted log cabin using the kona solids or fairy frost. A traditional double wedding ring or Irish chain or even a crazy quilt made of the scraps (memories from past quilts) of your stash. I hope you find that little voice inside you that says… “ Yes, this is the one” too. Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com   Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:47 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• fab shop post 07.10.08

  Alrighty, I have a confession to make. I am a seasonal quilter.  Oh, I quilt year-round mind you. The questions is... HOW I quilt. In the fall I love nothing more than sitting at my machine piecing my tops while there is a large batch of soup on stove.  I even crack the window just a little to hear the soft breezes rustle the leaves outside. When winter arrives I will find the rhythm of my machine hypnotic and soothing in time with the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth while outside the snow drifts oh so lightly to the ground.  Spring finds me in my quilting closet reorganizing and readying my projects for my next retreat.  Slowly my mind will move towards gardening for the summer.  This is where things get fun.  You see; I have two gardens… one is for my most used herbs and simply needs maintaining.  The other is the fun one.  This is where the quilting comes in. In the spring I will gather my art supplies and plan my next quilt… in flowers.  Will this summer be innovative or traditional? Will it be boxy, curved, or sloping?  Nah, three dimensional with color, texture and aroma!  Quilting is not only a pastime; it is a passion that many quilters feel with every fiber of their being.  It permeates every aspect of our lives and brings a gleaming beauty to everything we touch. Quilting is indeed year-round. It’s just not always with fabric…   I am Diana of www.thequiltingcottage.com and I would like to invite you to come visit my website. You see; I am rather unique in my advertising.  I “Ramble” about life, quilting…anything. I also believe that whenever you walk into a store or enter a website, it should feel like home.  Welcoming, comfortable and inviting. The Quilting Cottage is exactly that: Here is some of what our new friends have been saying about shopping with us and visiting our site:   “Dear Diana, I received your gift package for joining the newsletter.  Thank you, the greater gift is your newsletter.  You are a terrific writer.  You should compile these into a book!  Your love and sensitivity show through in each line.  Keep it up. Thanks for helping me remember something precious. With warmest regards, Judi.”   “Diana, I enjoyed your About Us and Ramblings! Yes, I also look for the soul behind the business; I desire that personal connection in quilting and practically every other aspect of my life. Old-fashioned ways of friendliness and need of others works for me. My story is similar to yours. I'll look forward to visiting and purchasing at your Web site. Thanks!    Best wishes, Sandra”   ”Thank you so very much for this timely story. There are times when we just wonder, "Why do I go through all this hard work?" Your story is exactly why. Thanks again for sharing it, and reminding us of how important it is to share our talents to bless others. Sincerely, Rory”   “Diana, Just had to comment on the latest ramblings.  LOVED IT! Had a good laugh...so thanks! Deb”   “What an inspirational message.  I have only been quilting less than ten years, although I have sewn since I was little.  I enjoy it and have encouraged all three of my girls, ages 30 – 35 to enjoy quilting as well as sewing and other handcrafts.  We attend classes and have done the Shop Hop for the last three years together.  I am going to share this message with them so we will all remember. Elaine”   “Thank you for your newsletter today and your "gift" arrived today as well...so thank you, thank you, thank you!   Midge”   “Good Morning Diana    Thank you for the lovely free gift.  I to am so happy to be considered a real person and not just a pc.  I love buying on line but some times I feel a little lost in cyberspace buy other merchants.  With the price of gas I'm sure it will become more efficient to buy on line as I live 30 to 40 miles from my nearest quilt shop. Thanks again.  Karol”   “Good Morning, Thank you for my fabric order ...arrived this morning the fabric is gorgeous. I live in the UK in a lovely part of the country, on the coast about 40 miles south of London I love your ramblings and look forward to reading more of them. Have a Great day. Gwyneth”    “I so enjoy these notes from you. You are a woman of great peace with everything in life and that is what I am striving for. Taking note of the small things most people take for granted. Thank you for reminding me these things are achievable and that there truly is folks out there that cherish the things in life most people do not think twice about. Thanks again. You have made my day with this letter. Joan Dannenberg I love your site!  I'm beginning to love you, too!!!”   “Hi, Diana.  Thank you for inviting me to join you mail list I really appreciate the fact that you are treating web customers like real people. So many sites do not.  Since this is the only way that I am able to really shop for quilting supplies, it makes a big difference to me.  I don't understand the attitude of so many web retailers...and you are a breath of fresh air.  I sure hope that this earns you lots and lots of happy customers. Lynda”   Welcome to the world of www.thequiltingcottage.com I hope to see you soon and please, drop me a line.  I would love to hear about you and your part of the world.   Diana Tavis The Quilting Cottage 360-273-5522 7505-C 183rd Ave SW Rochester, Washington. 98579 USA dltavis@cco.net www.thequiltingcottage.com Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:46 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• guest post 07.03.08

  Every once in a while I will come across someone that thinks I am rather... unique, shall we say. While I am the first to admit that I have a view on the world that marches to not only a different drummer... darlin' I have a whole band. I have to tell you... I'm not alone. I have four sisters and I noticed recently that when we write... it's very similar. So, this week I will be handing over the rambling over to my sister Deb. Last week I mentioned some of her research in the quilting world. Here is a story she sent me that had me in stitches. One word... Cheetos. The Purple Quilt Making a quilt for someone else or for a charity can be a joyous experience...IF you, the quilt maker, have color/fabric control. If, however, you have agreed to make a quilt in colors or fabrics NOT of your choosing, it can be downright tedious. Even worse, having to make a quilt in colors or with fabrics that make your skin crawl, borders on pure and everlasting torment. In fact, I'm quite certain (though I cannot remember the exact name) there is a law of the universe that slows time down for such quilt making, stretching each minute into at least a week. Such projects NEVER seem to end, each seam refuses to lay flat and none of the points will match. Can this get worse? You bet...with one word...purple. A very dear lady who had owned and operated the snack/news stand in our office building from the beginning of time was retiring. This announcement came as a great shock, especially to those of us who had grown accustomed to having our favorites snacks in exactly the same place for all this time. Panic set in -- will someone else be here? who? will they raise the prices? Oh noooooo, they’re not going to stock Cheetos!!!! You know, all the little things that can scar you for life. Wait a minute!! Shirley is leaving, we must do something for her. Yes, we’ve established that. What about my Cheetos? What do Cheetos have to do with a quilt? What quilt? The one you are going to make for her. I am? When did I agree to that? Just now. How did we get from me never having Cheetos again to me making a quilt? You were distracted, so we slid it past you. What kind of quilt? This brings on blank looks from the non-quilting types making the request. Ummmm, a big one. Define big. Really big and in her favorite color. Now I am bordering on incredulous – FAVORITE COLOR????? Shirley is blind!!!! I begin to pace making big arm gestures, muttering, the blind woman’s favorite color is purple. Explain to me please – how does she know purple is her favorite color? We asked her. You asked a blind woman what her favorite color was, she said purple and you have no need to pursue that line of thinking??? What if I make it red? Will she know the difference? Geez, Deb, that would just be mean, don’t you think? Did I make the purple quilt? Yes, I did. Did it take forever? Absolutely. Did I ever learn to like it? Yes, I did. Right after Shirley opened the gift box, ran her hand over it as one of her friends described it to her and then turned to me holding out her other hand to take mine. It is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me. How can I thank you? She just did. She still has that quilt, which she treasures greatly. And, I still have all the purple scraps leftover from its making...which I treasure just as much. ;) As quilters we have all been asked to make one for various reasons. While I cannot bear to part with even one of my creations, I feel that there are times such as Deb's that it is not only a joy to make, it is an act that defies description. When you give a quilt to someone that truly appreciates and loves your efforts, that is the meaning right there. It's not something you can simply say. It's the WAY it is said. It's the raw emotion, the utter speechlessness that occurs. It's in the knowing that you have made something for another person that will remind them of you and that very moment.. Who says you can't stop time? Just in: A fresh shipment of shop hop fabrics. The whole lot. More coming, too. Order now. Loads of Batiks have been added online. Perfect for a bright and cheery tropical designed quilt. Have a wonderful day! Diana Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:45 PM by Diana Tavis with 1 comment(s)

• 06.27.08

  A few weeks ago while the majority of my family was in town, my sisters and I were looking at Mom’s quilting room. One after another would be brought out and questions were asked. “When was this made?” “How did she choose her fabrics?” “What was her inspiration?” “What was she thinking about while making this one?” Having lived (I live next door to my parents house) and worked closely with mom over the last fifteen to twenty years, I answered as best I could. Only a quilter could know that each and every quilt we make has a story as well as a genealogy. So the questions asked of mom’s quilts were so natural to hear from the other quilters in the family that they brought many thoughts to mind. Particularly, of a conversation I had with my sister Deb who lives in New York now. (Amen for email) When my future grandchildren are grown will they know my quilts and their stories? Who will know the answers to all those questions? You see, Deb is a collector of antique quilts from the pre-civil war eras. She has stunningly, beautiful quilts dating back to the 1800’s. Her quilts have also been featured in magazines. I find it absolutely amazing that she can look at a quilt and start telling the history, news of the time, what life was like for the quilter and on and on… Deb showed me some of her latest acquisitions and the ongoing process of recreating them. A photo is taken of the entire quilt and each block in close-up. The entire plan is neatly bound and notations made. Step one: Trace the genealogy and complete history of the quilt. This could take years. Step two: Find fabrics today that are either the exact match or as close as one can get. For each fabric found, a small snip is placed in the binder. This process could take six to twelve months and can be done at the same time as the historical research. Step Three: Make the pattern. Step Four: Start making the quilt. The entire quilt is hand sewn as the original was. When the project is complete, she will have an exact replica of the original. I must say that Deb is one of the truly great quilters. My hand sewing??? Let’s just say that when it comes to manipulating a small needle I need a LOT more practice!! Right now, I am more in the classification of dangerous with a small pointy object. My quilting has been on the machine. Although I secretly look at the hand sewn quilts and salivate over the immense beauty and skill. So back to the point of this ramble… One sentence. Remember the quilts. Whether it is one of your first complete with all it’s character, (we never say flaws. Those are character my dear) or one of your most pristine examples of quilting that you have done at your pinnacle of skill. They all matter. They all have a story. That story includes you, your history, and your growth as a quilter and as a person. I guess you could say that we should remember more than just the quilt. For it is not merely an inanimate object. The quilts you make are a legacy. Your legacy that will continue far longer than even the ladies of the 1800’s could have ever imagined for their complete works. So in closing, I will rephrase. Remember. Remember the quilts, remember the past, and remember everything. For the quilters yet to come will remember us … in our quilts. New and soon to be new to the website: RJR- Thimbleberries “October Glow”, “A Rustling in the Dark” and “Tea Party”. Exclusively Quilters “Siberian Tigers” and “Barbary Coast”. Happy quilting Diana Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:44 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• 06.06.08

  Yesterday Lisa got a crash course in online maps. Lisa, Avalon (the away team) and I came down to Portland to attend a quilt show put on by The Northwest Quilters. This weekend is also the annual Rose Parade. Being the country girls that we are, we printed the route we needed and were off. This was where things went sadly wrong... Going down interstate 5 was easy. It was upon entering "the big city" that we discovered the written instructions did not match the actual photos of the map. Now, if you have ever searched maps online, the first instructions that show are the "easiest" and that usually works great... Not this time. We ended up so good and lost in a series of dead end and one-way streets, we pulled off and whipped out the laptop. (Thank goodness for cell signal!) Lisa was the navigator on this expedition and started directing me... "Right at the next street." oops one-way the other way. "OK then, left on the third street down." Blocked for maintenance...arrrgh! Round and round we went until we finally started taking notes on a few interesting things to find again. (might as well make the best of it.) Avalon sat in the back seat saying, "didn't we see that building a couple of times now?" Yup and we will see it three more times before the day is done.. take notes we don't wanna miss it. Then after an hour and a half Lisa said "what are these little...whoopsie!" She had noticed the map had these little arrows on it. (Those would be the arrows noting the direction of the one-way streets Lisa) Mystery solved! Now we could chart our course... Right before we lost batteries on the laptop the clouds parted and the sun was shining down on our destination. We are still laughing at ourselves for the adventure and enjoying the beauty that is Portland Oregon.  New to the website: Sun dyed batiks (no repeat in pattern on the entire bolt) Be looking for new additions to the closeout, coming soon. Enjoy the adventure Diana I would love to hear about your part of the world and the quilting you do. drop me a line.... Check out the Forum from our home page. This Rambling is dedicated to my mother, Irene for teaching me to see the humor in every situation and the beauty in the everyday. Irene Hewitt March 1934 - May 2008 Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:43 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• 05.16.08

  Alrighty, I just can’t help myself. I simply have to make a top ten list… You know you are a quilter if : 10. You have threads all over yourself and all your friends carry tape around to clean you up..wait, who are we kidding all our friends are just as coated with threads. 9. You whisper more sweet nothings to your machine than to your significant other. 8. You have so many items in your closet that have SOMETHING to do with quilting you could wave the quilting banner every day of the year. 7. You have ever spent AT LEAST forty-five minutes or more choosing just the right shade of thread. 6.You look at your machine the same way men look at the latest sports cars. 5. Your Email address has the letters Q U I L T (in that order) anywhere in it. 4. You occasionally go to your fabric stash to run your fingers through it. that’s all, just run the fingers through it. 3.Your last birthday cake had stitches across it. 2.You plan your family vacation route according to quilt shop locations. 1.You get a present wrapped in fabric then promptly discard the present thus leaving the fabric to be admired. Lisa and I actually thought of far more than ten and had a fabulous time thinking them up. Send me your additions as well and I will add them to the front page of the website. New fabric has arrived. Keep a lookout for them on the website. Have a wonderful weekend. Oh, Jenny said she was not willing to part with the woobie, not even for repairs. Don’t even think about touching it. Yes, she will love the new one. Still not giving up the woobie. Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:42 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• 05.09.08

  Recently Lisa and I were packing her daughter's apartment. Jenny had just graduated with her BA and will be heading off to Pharmacy school soon. Jenny was feeling a bit of sadness over leaving the place she had called home for her College life, as well as friends that would not be going on to the new school with her. We were trying to keep the atmosphere light and pleasant when out of nowhere Lisa picked up… the “woobie”. In one fell swoop the grand picture of life jumped into focus. This “woobie” also known as the baby quilt was made for Jenny by her aunt when she was born. The baby quilt has had a long and extremely well loved life in its twenty-six years. It is thread bare, binding falling off and has only one remaining little yellow bow on it from being tied. This little quilt warmed and comforted the little Jenny as she slept, soothed her when she was ill, and napping on her rocking horse. (Yes she took naps perched on the horse. Lisa and I are STILL amazed) the two of them were as one, learning to ride the tricycle with the kitty named snider on her lap. They even bathed together. On they grew and rarely parted. To this day the “woobie” is still a vital part of her life. She has grown into an intelligent, vibrant and beautiful woman and knows that whenever she has those moments of longing for mom and home, (Usually during mid-term or finals week) all she has to do is pull out the quilt and it will bring her the quiet serenity of the baby sleeping in that very quilt. There are times in all our lives when we need an escape from the chaos and wish for nothing but that quiet serenity. Whenever I get asked why I quilt, usually by a non-quilter, I ask about their baby blanket. What does it look like? Who made it for you? What memories do you have with it? By the time I finish my conversation, the person asking the question has just answered it for themselves and the next question is, is it hard? My answer, is always…. Only as hard as you want it to be. I will then smile to myself as I walk away. Knowing that the eternal legacy of the quilt will continue. So, smile to yourself too. You are the one that will give a child the same fondness and joy in the quilts you make. This week Lisa has taken on the task of making a replica of that favored quilt and while it will never truly replace the original. It will be loved as much, because “Mommy” made it. May you feel the pride of bringing another one of the simplest pleasures in life. The calm beauty of the quilt. Happy Quilting Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:41 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• 04.21.08

  “Hey mom, can I have a peanut butter and bee barf sandwich?” “Uh- wha…?” “YOU KNOW, bee barf. When bees collect the pollen they come back to the hive and , well, you know that’s how honey is made.” “Ah, I see. Sure. I’ll bring it over in a sec.” “I know everything there is to know about bugs, just ask me.” That was yesterday afternoon. The logic of a seven year old will never cease to amaze me. Today we are back to asking for good old honey. But for an entire afternoon is was not so. Connor is more than precocious, he can be downright genius at times. Then when he has me good and convinced he is more than just a little boy, he does something so silly and, well. Seven-year-old-ish. I can’t help but wonder what kind of man he will grow into. I have photos of him that when you really look into his eyes you can see such a serious child behind the ear to ear grin. (in one photo he is sitting in the bathtub and is so happy with all the bubbles. I had stuck one of those foam letters to his forehead and he left it there. Click!) I always said he was an old soul when he was born. Connor thrives on helping and being with the adults. He is eternally patient with his little sister. He takes it as his personal responsibility to teach her the alphabet and numbers. I will watch him playing outside with friends and see the duality … really goofy and beyond silly… watching out for the safety of the littlest one… I suppose that was from him knowing that he is taller than most kids his age. Maybe all kids look little and fragile to him. He is about four and a half feet tall. For being seven that's tall! He already grabs my shoes to run outside…. I feel so tiny. Today Connor was helping out at the store. We were getting in new fabric and transferring a bunch into the closeout section. He was humming a happy tune to himself and reminding us all how helpful he was… repeatedly… and again…. And again… I asked him if he wanted to type a hello of his own… he promptly said he didn’t know how to spell it… “mom, there’s two l”s in hello.” Silly me, so there is….. “sweetie, just don’t spill the bee barf on the fabric…..” "sure mom." Happy quilting to you. www.thequiltingcottage.com Diana Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:40 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments

• 05.02.08

  I gotta tell ya, there is nothing and I mean NOTHING like watching a herd of elk as they "roam" across town. I am in the lovely town of Packwood, Washington attending the annual quilt show. Last night as Avalon, Sarah and I brought a fair sampling of our shop to a booth here. On our way in town we saw them... first a few... then more.. by the time it was all said and done, I think we saw at least fifty head. I'm sure there are more, but these .. stunning. Even though there is a herd that frequents my front yard,It's always very moving to see others. I will never tire of the sight of them. These are so calm. I watched as the folks of town went about their days, sometimes walking right along some of the younger calves. The adults just looked around and went about their eating. Not getting alarmed in the least. such peace.... The drive is about two hours from The Quilting Cottage so we are staying in a local lodge for the weekend. Just us, our machines and our offbeat humor. We figured we could drive home each night or take advantage of the distance and make it a mini retreat. Oh, mind you we gave our families big hugs and kisses... then ran giggling to the car.. The sound of our machines already in our heads. The rhythm it makes, the stitches winding their way through the fabric and the sheer joy it creates. For we know that these current quilts just might be passed down through our children's children for generations to come. For me, the quilt is about the journey. starting with the fabric selection, winding through the patterns and meandering into the prep-work of getting the fabric ready for cutting. (I still wash and Iron all fabrics. I have no fears of bleeding dyes or shrinking, I think the feel and smell of the fabric is better after washing) Sometimes I take a side trip in my journey just to admire the fabric before I start. Depending on the time of day, I might just sit with a cup of tea and watch the fabric. On a few rare occasions, The fabric seems to call to me, wishing for a different pattern than I have chosen. I find that the fabric is always right... who am I to question the desires of fabric. Besides, some of my best work is from the fabric "choosing" it's own pattern. Just like the herd of elk in it's graceful meandering across town, you too can create a thing of beauty by simply listening... Have a wonderful day. Diana www.thequiltingcottage.com   Posted Aug 11 2008, 02:40 PM by Diana Tavis with no comments