I'm so Excited!

We had a fabulous weekend here at Redwood Sewing Center. Our Scottie Dog Mystery Quilting Retreat was a rousing success. The food was wonderful, the quilt pattern (Criss Cross Applesauce) was very well received and we got to sew the entire weekend with amazingly wonderful quilting women!

Today is Monday and somehow the Monday after Retreat can be kind of a "let down" day. But today I am so excited there is absolutely no let down. A friend had her baby boy early this morning (it's not been officially announced so I can't say another word just yet) AND.....ta da! Tomorrow our Pfaff educator is coming to do a special training just for our staff. I can hardly wait. We became dealers in late August and I began to sew on my Pfaff Quilt Expressions 4.0 machine

around the first of September. I was prepared to like my new machine, of course. But little did I know how much! I am so in love with my Pfaff! The dual feed foot on this Pfaff machine is really something....this means that any time you sew, you can have the advantage of a built-in walking foot. Oh, my! This baby keeps your fabrics from slipping, wobbling and more. My stitches are straighter and more even. I push a button and voila! Both my threads are cut. It has presser foot lift I can touch with my knee....or just tap the foot pedal and the presser foot goes up or down.....neat! On my own I learned a lot about this machine....but there is so much more to learn. I don't even know the right questions to ask. I can make button holes two ways....but this machine can make 6 different kinds of button holes. It has a wonderfully large and extended neck making quilting a larger quilt relatively easy. There are embroidery stitches up the wazoo (I always wanted to use that phrase!) and three alphabets. I can't wait until tomorrow afternoon when our Pfaff Educator comes to teach me (and my whole staff) all the tricks, tips and take away any mysteries we might have about our machines.We'll even learn to use the Pfaff Grand Quilter....of course Liz is already a pro at it. I look forward to being able to quilt our store samples right on the sales floor. Did you know that this big baby extends up to 120" (think King sized Quilt!), is complete with the table, poles, etc, has a stitch regulator and is affordable? Our lessons will be 1/2 day on Tuesday and all day Wed....but don't let that deter you if you wanted to come to the store. We'll be glad to help you....the whole staff will be here!

Did I say I was excited? Well, I am!

Counting my blessings!

Canadian Thanksgiving was Monday and since my son-in-law, Jason, is Canadian there has been a lot of talk about the subject. It got me to thinking about counting my blessings. Right now in the midst of a visit to Minnesota I think of how blessed I am with my grandchildren. Today we went to the Minnesota Zoo.
Here are Mercedes & Jakob with a welcoming scarecrow.
Here they are checking out the shark petting pond.

The cutie "turtle" is Shiloh who just turned 8 months yesterday. She ALWAYS has a smile on her face and I've never heard a baby giggle as much as she does.

Here's a picture of Sydney back in CA at the pumpkin patch.....I missed it this year.
On Saturday we went to Emma Krumbees Apple Orchard and Farm. What fun we had...the kids rode a little train, rode John Deere tricycles round the track, played musical instruments with Mr. Landon and his music box, rode the hay wagon out to the orchards and so much more. We picked a few apples (Sadies seemed to like to pick up the windfalls on the ground)...the weather was in the mid 80's!

I'm so very blessed that I'm able to travel to visit with my Minnesota family....blessed that my dear Mr. Scottie Dog holds down the homestead and that my daughter Liz so generously takes up my slack at our store. Many, many thanks to both of them.

I'm blessed with wonderful friends.....both those I've met in person and those I only know through the Internet. I hold you all dear.

Tomorrow afternoon I fly back to California. Mr. Scottie Dog and the kitties are waiting for me.

It's Fall!

In the rush of our store's Grand Opening/name change/remodel it didn't really sink in that just a couple of weeks later I would be halfway across the country where Autumn is actually a real season! On Tuesday I flew from Eureka to San Francisco to Denver to Minneapolis. It was a tad warmer in MN than in Eureka, but not much. I understand it's been an early Fall. The trees are turning and today Sadies and I saw two little chickadees on the patio table. We got some bread crumbs and will try to get an actual photo later today. In the meantime, here's a pic from the internet:
Such cute little things.

I'm here taking care of the kidlinks. Jakob is quite the little man with a schedule! My first day "sitting" he went to Awana, a kids' ministry. Jakob is a "Cubbie" or pre-school member. He proudly wore his vest and off he went with Laura, a friend of Beka's and mom to two other Cubbies. Sadies and I fixed our own dinner treat....a tea party

Jakob has also gone to his Montessori PreSchool at Bethany College. Check out the link for pictures of Jakob, Miss Grace and the gang. When I dropped him off yesterday they were studying Family Trees and Miss Grace asked if I would talk about Jakob's birth, any birthdays and the like. When I told them that Jakob's parents were missionaries in Ukraine and Grandma & Grandpa flew in an airplane to help celebrate his first birthday there were several oohs and ahhs..."missionaries!" they said under their breath. They were impressed.

Today there is a picnic and preschool will last until 2:30 so Sadies and I took the long way home so we could get some pics of the stunning Fall leaves! We stopped at the store and bought some mini pumpkins and gourds! Fall is here.


Yellow leaves!

Red trees!

Orange!

I like the mix of orange, yellow and the green grass. Not a cloud in the sky right now but they say we may have rain this afternoon.

Last night I made meatloaf. Sadies declared she "LOVED!" meatballs. I said, "meatloaf." She said, "I told you I LOVE your meatballs, Grandma." Meatballs, meatloaf...doesn't matter what you call it I still think the best part is meatloaf sandwiches the next day.

I heard from Mom and Dad and they are having a wonderful time, tonight are the bachelor and bachelorette parties, tomorrow rehearsal dinner and Sat. is the wedding. Meanwhile, the kids and I are doing fine!

I'm leaving on a jet plane.....

Today after church Mr. Scottie Dog played his accordion with the Humboldt Accordionaires at the Italian-American Club's annual picnic. A four hour paid gig...not bad! The weather today was wonderful...perfect Indian Summer bright sunny day. I ate my lunch in the back garden and listened to a couple of crows squawk back and forth at each other.

I cleaned up the kitchen and did my laundry. I packed some of my clothes in my suitcase. I got the pill-a-day containers out and set up my medications for the next two and half weeks. You see, Tuesday morning I'm leaving on a jet plane to Minnesota to babysit Jakob (4 1/2) and Mercedes (2 1/2) for a few days while their Mom & Dad and baby sister Shiloh go to Canada for a family wedding. Actually, I'm leaving on a PROP plane...

To fly out of Eureka you walk up to the plane (even if it is raining!), you put your carry-on bag on the cart (on the right of the picture), climb up the stairs and find your seat. I think there are 22 seats on the plane. Usually they are all filled because it's a 6-7 hour to a larger airport! To get to Minneapolis I fly on a 1 hour flight to San Francisco. Wait about an hour and then board another plane to Denver. Once on the ground in Denver I'll run like the dickens to make my flight to Minneapolis which will probably be boarding when I get to my gate.

For two and a half weeks I'll be able to grandmother (is that really a verb?) Jakob, Sadies & Shiloh. Beka and I will shop, cook and quilt together and I may even get a chance to go to lunch with some of my Minnesota friends.

Bill will hold down the fort, take care of the cats. He's been so busy around the house...some jobs don't show: designing, trenching and installing a drainage system in the front of the house. Some jobs make a difference you can see: new fence and gates, wonderful new porch steps (they are architecturally beautiful!). He's also the one who made the new fixtures at the store.

I'll be sure to blog from MN!

Out with the old, In with the new....

Friday, Mr. Scottie Dog took down the old sign (sigh!), and he & Liz put up the new sign and this banner:

Today was the Grand Opening of Redwood Sewing Center! And what a day it was! Many, many thanks to all of you who attended. The store was full to overflowing most of the day....at times the cutters and those checking out were overwhelmed but we are so glad everyone stayed. Thanks to Mr. Scottie Dog, Steve & Lewis who bar-b-qued for us. Lunch was great.

Redwood Sewing Center Staff L-R: Crystal, BrendaLou, Laura, Judy, Geri, Katie, Liz, Sydney & Margie. Redwood Sewing Centers helpful & knowledgeable staff. Many, many thanks to my fabulous staff...we were all busy all day long and we couldn't have done it without you. You all look "fab-oo-lous" in your aprons.
It took a very long weekend plus work week to get the store in it's new glory. We have room for new displays, an expanded Notions Wall, the Pfaff Sewing Machine Center, Fabric Value Wall, the new centrally located cutting & checkout counters and more.The comment I heard most of all was, "How could you keep all you had before, add sewing machines AND the Value Wall and the store and classroom look bigger than before?" Our new plan was mostly due to the vision Liz had and Mr. Scottie Dog's expertise. Many, many hands helped us...Thanks especially to Liz, Laura, Crystal, Mr. Scottie Dog, Larissa, Lewis, Steve & Sydney who spent many late, late nights (and into the early mornings) to help us get it all done. It is such a nice space to work in and as soon as we remember where everything is, it will be much easier to help our customers.Here's a little nest of chicken pincushions made from our newest pattern, Henny Penny & Leroy

One of my favorite things about our remodel is the little areas we have for displaying fabric lines.
How about an old washtub of pillowcase kits?

I wish we had counted all of you who came today despite the rain (it actually held off for most of the day), all we know is that the sales floor and the classroom were crowded almost every minute of the day. We sent home sewing machines, kits, fabric, books and more with happy customers. The demonstrations in the classroom were well-received and if you missed them, we'll be doing more as time goes by.

Now that we are open, please feel free to stop by for our new class schedule, take a peek at our upcoming Saturday Sampler---make a stunning Queen-sized Quilt for only $10 (begins October 9) or take a test drive on a Pfaff machines....we've got a Grand Quilter 18.8 set up too (a mid-arm quilting machine with an 18.8" neck!).

I came home after the Grand Opening, put my feet up and woke up at 10:15 pm! Liz was having a Girl's Night Out with her friends and looking forward to a massage!

Thanks again to everyone!

We've been busy!

I haven't blogged for a bit. We've been busy around here lately. We're in the midst of a store remodel, and extreme store make-over, if you will. We're changing our name.....Scottie Dog Quilts is not going away....we still own the name and will continue to use it for our retreats, cruises, classes (How could we get rid of Scottie Dog Quilts University????) and we'll retain it as the brand name for our line of patterns.

But we are changing our name to better reflect our business as a whole. We are now Pfaff Sewing Machine Dealers. Yes...authorized dealers! With an authorized Pfaff repair center too! Our new name is.....(drum roll please.............) Redwood Sewing Center at Scottie Dog Quilts or as our new sign will say...just Redwood Sewing Center. We'll try to answer the phone with that name too, but it may take us awhile to get it down pat. If you want to continue to call us Scottie Dog Quilts it's ok by me. Quilters "get" the name Scottie Dog Quilts. But to the average person, we are a place that sells quilts and probably quilts for dogs... or maybe we sell dogs and accessories....or maybe it's a place for dogs to shop for quilts. They are never quite sure. So we want the average person to know what we are about: We sell sewing machines, fabric and supplies....books, patterns, notions, gifts, books and oh, yes! We have an awesome classroom with lots of fabulous teachers teaching wonderful things....sewing of purses, bags, table runners, clothing and yes, QUILTS!

Do not worry....we continue to have the largest selection of quality quilting cottons on the North Coast of CA. In fact, we've added "THE VALUE WALL" of fabrics to the back room....first quality 100% cotton from all your favorite fabric companies for $6.99! What a deal!

We are having a Grand Opening next Saturday and you are all invited. September 18 from 10-4 pm. Sales (fabulous sales on all our Pfaff sewing machines including the Grand Quilter...a mid-arm for the home quilter with an 18.8" neck!!!!) on fabrics, books, notions and more. We'll have demonstrations all day too. Come see us, we'd love to show you around the store. You'll hardly believe you are in the same place. But our friendly and knowledgeable staff is the same.

Here are a few pics of the extreme store make-over:

Mr. Scottie Dog hanging the slatwall for the new notions center. One new counter in...another to go (and what a mess!).

Moving fixtures! Our friend Lewis helping out with the telephone/computer wiring. Where's Sydney? Hiding out in a cave of fabric.
Even the bathroom got a make-over. What color do you think we chose? Today I hung the wallpaper border.Where's Sydney? Hanging out in some of the fixtures! These are now holding our 1930's collection.Sewing machines are on their shelves...Maywood's Old World Style fabric display is up...I think it's coming together!

We couldn't have done it without our awesome crew....Mr. Scottie Dog, Liz & Sydney, Laura, Crystal, Lewis and myself. Well, actually I got to do some sewing during lag times.

Here's a teaser photo of our Saturday Sampler Quilt....You can make it for only $10....well, all the blocks for only $10. Come to the store and we'll tell you how.

Whew! Telling all of this has made me tired all over again! Grand Opening Saturday, September 18. I'll post the "after" pictures then.