Just in Time for July and the Beach, Judy Bishop shows us her Story Quilt! LOVELY and FUN! Plus my new yummy recipe!

Judy, my grandson loves Thomas the Train too! Great blocks and I adore that fish at the bottom! Good color, good composition and fun all around! This is fun for me to see what people come up with when they take my workshops. I never know what they will look like in the end or what they add as they work. This is the fun of these!
Judy says:
I have attached a picture of the story quilt that was built around the Hoochy Mama squares from the class in Texas in 2007(I think it was in 07). I call it "A Day at the Becah with Grandma." The grandkids flip flops are made with fabric that is very much who they were at the time. They were able to identify themselves on the beach by the fabric. Mine are made of coffee beans and when we are "all" together I need a lot of it!! One example are the flip flops with the puppies. My, now 12 year old, Granddaughter told me a couple of years ago that she would rather have a puppy than a home! I remind her of that. One of the smaller pairs have Thomas the Trains on them. My now 7 year old Grandson is Autistic and loves his trains. I have had so many compliments on it and will hang it in the quilt show here in October of 2011. I am being encouraged to hang it in the State show next spring, we'll see. I hope all is well with you. Judy Bishop Cottonwood, Az
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If you haven't done Hoochy Mama blocks or made a story quilt, you need to come and join one of my classes, my retreat in Idaho or at least pick up my Out of the Box book and my Hoochy Mama book-you would be making a diary piece that tells about YOU! Think of the possibilities!
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Beautiful Orzo Salad for a crowd- I made this for the 4th and brought home a huge EMPTY bowl!
2 cups orzo-cook in 4 cups chicken stock for 7 minutes, drain,stir and cool-add last before dressing
In a nice size salad bowl cut up and add the following
1 can regular black olives sliced
1/2 small red onion-cup up small pieces
2 cucumbers-remove the seeds in the middle and cut in half lengthwise,slice into small pieces
1 large red pepper-juilenne slice
1 large yellow pepper-julienne slice
1 basket cherry tomatoes- wash, cut each in half
1/4 cup fresh mint
1/2 cup fresh basil
rind of one lemon (be careful not to get the white pith)
1/2 cup feta cheese-break up with hands and add
1/2 cup pine nuts
A good sprinkle of pepper
I bought a dressing called Sophias Tahini dressing-any mediterranian dressing will do. I once made a dressing of my own and bottled is just as good. I used 1/2 of the bottle, mixed it in, waited to see if it was enough and it was. I got loads of compliments and everyone asked for the recipe
Note I had artichoke hearts to add and I forgot-they would be good in there too!

Happy 4th of July to Everyone No Matter Where You Live!

Laura's Quilt about her Grandpa Slug-Great story quilt Laura!

Laura and her sister Charlotte have taken a number of classes from me and they are the cutest sisters ever! They have the best stories and are both very funny! Laura's husband just sent these photos and the name of the quilt is "Slug n'Dancing Together." You may recall that I put a quilt on here not long ago that was two little girls in dancing outfits-well, that is Laura and Charlotte. They are coming to the August retreat and I can't wait to hear what they have planned! Charlotte was the lady who had her quilt about her brother who died of aids stolen from class. Luckily the ladies in the class all came to the rescue and made blocks for a new quilt canvas and it is now a beautiful quilt. One has to wonder what would make someone steal a quilt about someone's loved one who had passed on. The story did turn out to be quite nice in the end though. :0)Quilters are the best!

Won't you be my neighbor? And a wonderful little artist makes my week!

Above is the drawing that my neighbors little daughter made for me. Note the fabulous cherry tree-is this creative and original or what??? The little details are so much fun. This is now in a place I can see it every single day as a reminder to be happy, creative and smile.
This is my neighbors little daughter who is the artist. I love seeing it on my refrig when i go to get something. See the whimsy and joy in this? She is a true artist and I hope she keeps it up! We have a house close by that will go on sale soon and we are hoping for another quilter with a husband who can fix things. :0) How's that for hoping? Haha. Summertime is a nice time to get back in touch with neighbors-we are usually all in our houses keeping warm or dry the rest of the year. :0)

On Thursday nights we have quilting at my house. It has slowed down due to summer but Connie and her daughter came over last night. I was sewing down binding on a flower power quilt and Connie offered to sew it while I worked on a hippie story quilt. She is a lovely and fun neighbor.

While Connie and I sewed, her daughter brought a project of things to color...very cute and a nice project for a little girl to keep them interested in creativity and color!

The winners are...AND one can never have TOO many dots!

Dots and Dots and Dots and Dots.............

And Dots and Dots and Dots and Dots...........

And Dots and Dots and Dots...........

And the winners are.......Woolensails, Julie Sefton,Upstate Lisa and Spicy Kathy. Please keep commenting and you could be next!
Below I set these aside to do something with them....you know when you run into something you forgot you had??? Such fun to have a stash...and a good one at that.

My friend Heather has been sorting through my fabrics and putting them in more shallow containers by design and by color. Here are four of the dot bins and she is working on another 4 bins of dots....I guess I liked dots better than I thought I did. I will be having more drawings for people who have signed up as followers throughout the summer. It is fun for me too. So far we have six bins of dots and counting.....yikes, I knew I loved dots.........




These peonies are from my garden and what a lovely thing to enjoy them while sewing away on wild flowers

Below my Grandchildren enjoy the garden....

Below is my husband Mark who is putting a roof on the pergola so I can sit and sew and enjoy the rain noises....


Above is the backyard and I know have a little outdoor livingroom to sew and sit and enjoy. Hey, who has time to just sit and enjoy? Too many ideas.......

For Those Coming to My August Retreat-hotel info

I just went to the Howard Johnson which is changing to a new name (see my link) and I have held a small amount of rooms for those of you who want a clean nice hotel. It is across from truck stop restaurant for good breakfasts (my husband says) and it has a continental breakfast too. Plain and simple fare for $100 a night.
http://www.trails.com/americas-best-value-inn-hotel-134908.html
OR This sounds like a winner if you read this!
If you want to upgrade to a nicer and more expensive hotel on the river then there is the Red Lion Templins which has a river view and breakfast for $134.99 plus tax a night or no view of the river and the breakfast for $129.99 a night. This has a great reputation. NEWSFLASH! One of the girls called to this hotel and here is what she said! It isn't as much as you quoted
especially when the 3rd night is free. You just might want to let the
others know that or they can find out for themselves just like I did.
http://redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=64
I have good things planned and because there is a small number of people I will be giving away fabric and some other nice surprises that I normally would not be able to do. I also plan to take the students to places that small groups and attend in both Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. A wonderful place to wander and sew if you haven't been here. The kitchen is large and lovely with a huge serving area so we will be able to smell lunch and dinner and eat snacks that will be out all day as we sew. :0) Good news. I am working on my new book and just figured out some new blocks that no one has seen. Prepare to be inspired! Story quilts are my favorite and I have some drawings for handouts to give you great inspiration and creative avenues.
Please let me know when you have booked your rooms so I can get my reservations back. Thank you!

Kootenai Falls and Family offer up wonderful memories-plus 2 things

I think once you scroll down and see the falls you will agree that the sign with the warning seems dumb but then there are always those people that try stupid things or I guess just do not think....would you go swimming in this water????




Guess who-kicking back and enjoying nature and a beautiful day.


Kootenai Falls is something quite wonderful in Libby Montana. My cousin and I met at my Aunts house. My aunt is facing terminal lung cancer and still quilts and embellish's every day. The three of us played rummicube and watched "best in show" and talked about life and things that meant something to us, like family. It was lovely. Before I left to go home, my cousin wanted to show me Kootenai Falls. We went on a little hike and I really enjoyed the beauty and sounds, shapes, colors and textures of what Montana offered up. Our Grandparents lived on the Kootenai River in British Columbia so it was fun to see the US side of things too.

Beautiful moss and trees everywhere...nature at it's best! If you haven't been to Montana you need to go. Steinbeck called Montana "my darling."

My cousin high up on a big bluff- me down below where it is safe

I am not sure if this photo shows how high up and rickety this swinging bridge is...though it is beautiful


The sign announced that only 5 people could get in the bridge at a time....I stayed off as there were others and I wasn't taking any chances above that water! My cousin is younger and braver

My cousin Kristi who is by the sign announcing Kootenai Falls in Libby, Montana-gorgeous and loud and mighty

Imagine LOUD flowing water that is gushing and moving and rushing.....





Two things, comment and sign up for followers for a chance to win fabric. And if you have ordered anything from me, I am waiting for a new machine to arrive. My old machine cannot be used any longer. Thank you for being patient.

A FLOWER POWER SAMPLE FROM TERRY KNOTT (Vancouver Wa)

Terry wrote to say how much she enjoyed Flower Power and using the hoochy technique to make these fun blocks and this wonderful quilt-kidos Terry!

Prizes, Father's Day and Flowers.............

So, I have four drawings that I will have someone here draw in two weeks. All you need to do is comment and join my followers group and you can be a winner! Good luck.
Above is drawing number 1-which is a nice assortment of Laurel Burch fabrics
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My men on Father's Day-I had to sneak this in too (Dad and Son)

Drawing number 2-Alexander Henry fun fabric-1 yard

Number 3 drawing-nice assortment of Laurel Burch fabrics

Number 4 -1 yard and a half of fun fabric


This was a fun quilt for the Flower Power book-my friend Pam helped put it together once the flowers were all done and ready to be a quilt