Shop Hops and such...

My cousin and a friend and I drove towards the coast Friday on an adventure. Marilyn grew up in Warrenton and her parents are buried in the cemetery there. She wanted to put some fresh flowers on their graves so we turned it into a shop hop for the day. Since Sew Oregon 2011 is going on, we started with the passport, and picked up a copy of the Country Register to find other shops in the area. We visited half a dozen shops, ate fish and chips at Doogers in Warrenton/Astoria, and made it home by 7:00 pm before it started raining again. The day was perfect for a road trip. We even stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory to pick up some snacks, found an espresso wagon in Garibaldi, and toodled our way up the coast. I can't remember all the names, but we found quilt shops in Tillamook, Wheeler, Canon Beach, two in Astoria, Clatskanie, and then we dropped!

I'm busy with these two quilts, wedding presents for two sisters we've watched grow into womanhood and now holy matrimony. Actually one got married a couple years ago and I never finished the quilt. Now I'm making up for lost time. I'll be sure to post the finished pictures soon. This is a variation on Labyrinth by Calico Carriage, Debbie Maddy.



This one is a variation of Aspen, Marianne Elizabeth.




I hope you're having a classy fall, pumpkins and all! And don't forget the candy corn!

A New Venue

Union Block Marketplace is in the building that used to house White's China many years ago. Newberg, Oregon, offers on the first Friday of the month, an Art Walk. Many downtown merchants host an artist in several locations for the general public to view in casual settings. There are choices of food, beverages, and entertainment. Surprisingly it's all free! Beginning at 5:00 pm, and ending at 9:00, friends gather much like a family reunion, all over the historical section of town. It's fun to get out and walk and window shop and listen to the sounds of a small town festival atmosphere. The Union Block Marketplace is filled with many vendors who sell antiques, jewelry, furniture, china, home decor, some for children, most for grown-ups, but quite a lot to choose from. New items are added daily. From now until the end of the year, you'll find a treasure of unique and one-of-a-kind items just waiting for a new home.

Nuts and Bolts Quilting Company now has a small display of products from quilts to table runners, gift bags, sewing kits, carry bags, and more to come in the days ahead. I hope you will find time to drop in and browse the shelves and racks and nooks and crannies in this new venue. Thanks for looking. Please have a look, humble pictures, I know. I'm not a professional photographer. Consider it a freebie! (smiley face)