Great find in Sierra Vista, AZ!

The last day of my trip to my daughter's in Sierra Vista, AZ, we checked out the local quilt shop. The Squirrel's Nest is a wonderful surprise in this small city. In an unassuming red metal building is a fabulous collection of quilting fabrics and spinning, weaving and knitting supplies. Our worker from the store was a kind and fun gal who took the time to chat and make us feel welcome. I scored some Kaffe Fassett and Alexander Henry fabrics before saying good-by and boarding the plane for home. Thanks, Squirrel's Nest, for making my last day in Sierra Vista a fun one!

I love this scrappy quilt on display at the store

Fabric, books, wool, notions, quilts...I'm home!

This antique quilt is made from men's ties and clothing.

A view of the store.There is also a bustling classroom along one side of the store. Lots of giggling and chatting coming from that room.

This is the sign out front, with the beautiful Huachuca mountains in the distance.

I couldn't fit the entire length of the store in the shot, but this is The Squirrel's Nest. 

4049 East Camino Principal  Sierra Vista, AZ 85650
(520) 417-1070

Coming home from Arizona tonight!

I've been away from Wazoo quilting for a week and I am really itching to get back to work! My daughter is doing fine, so I know things will be okay while she has the cast on her foot. The grandkids and I had fun seeing some of the local sites and eating out (don't want a burger for a loooooong time...) and just hanging out at home. I'll be back in Florida tomorrow, after an overnight flight and a layover in Atlanta. See you all on the flip side! Yee Hah!

Outside of Sierra Vista, AZ

our day trip to Tombstone

Amy was up for the trip, but 'crutching' on gravel on a slope...not so much.

Stagecoach in Tombstone

Some of the local bad boys planning a gunfight

The street minstrel, Mr.Bones, plays percussion with rib bones. Ewww

Old Bisbee. A great place for poking in antique stores and art galleries

Street in Bisbee, AZ

Chicks day out. Poco is a vegan restaurant there. Yummy nachos!

The Lavender copper mining pit. HUGE!!! And deep.

A sad day at Wazoo.

Today started like every other day, quilting and listening to music. But it wasn't to be a happy day; our old dog, Skipper had a stroke. We bustled him off to the emergency dog hospital, but there was nothing to be done. We had him put to sleep. Skipper was a really sweet tempered dog who rarely barked and loved to 'blow his nose' by tearing up tissues from the trash. He and Molly got along well, and she laid next to him when he was crying after having the stroke and not being able to get his legs to work. We'll all miss him.

Skipper and Molly, when she first came home with us.

Two dogs always together

Skip and Molly 'sharing' my foot rest

Skip, wishing he could get his tongue all the way to the bowl!

Quilts, quilts, and laundry

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wazoo were busy this week quilting all day and eating late suppers. Tim is really getting into his new role and thinks he is ready to make a quilt! No problem finding fabric! I practically have my own shop here.
I am off to Arizona to take care of my daughter and the two kids following her achilles surgery next Tuesday. I haven't been to her place there, so it will be an adventure for me. Tim will hold the fort while I'm away, quilting and dog sitting.
Here are a few of this past week's customer projects. I'll see you when I get back!

Another tee shirt quilt from Carole's quilts

She does a great job with her customer's memorabilia. I like quilting them!

Carole's quilts again. This one has blocks from tee shirts and pieced blocks from clothing...cool!

Even the back had blocks!

Mr. Wazoo did this one

Isn't that a fun back!?

I finished this quilt for the daughter of a deceased quilter friend of mine. It is for my late friend's great-grandson. A wonderful legacy from a sweet lady.

A peek at the back.

I wish the picture was better. This is a McKenna Ryan quilt done by a customer. It took three full days to quilt. Thinking of how to do it took another day...I'm slow that way.

There are hundreds of tiny pieces in the quilt, all sewn down with decorative stitching. Wow!

Some of the background fill.

I love this little frog

The bird blocks are wonderful to study

Quilting in the open spaces...and there were loads of them.

Beautiful Piece O' Cake quilt

Sometimes I get a quilt that is so beautiful, it intimidates me. How do I start the quilting process? How do I quilt it and not destroy the beauty of the workmanship that went into all the perfect appliqué? This is what happened with this quilt. The hand applique is so perfect, it looks like a printed panel!! Darn, I wish I could sew like that. Anyhoo, I finally got the nerve to begin and after the stitch in the ditch and outlining the applique was done, I felt empowered and it was off to the races. The brain kicked in and then it was a joyful experience.
I guess we all need to have an inspiration kick start sometimes and this quilt was mine.

The nicest quilt I've had so far this year

Block and border quilting detail

All the blocks were adorable

I am in quilt love!

A peek at the back

After finishing the P.O.C. quilt, I needed a brain rest, so I tackled a huge Tennessee Waltz quilt. I have to bind this one, as well, so it will be my companion for a couple of nights of TV watching. I decided to give it a bit of pizzazz in the blank pillow tuck space, so I changed to a variegated thread and centered the pattern there. The rest of the quilting is in a neutral thread. Looks nice, don't you think?

100 x 118...wow

Contrasting thread used in the pillow cover area

From the back if my machine table...still huge!

Mr. WAZOO! has been very busy

I think I have created a monster! A good monster, that is. My husband has started quilting for customers, and is working like a maniac. He is very methodical and precise, so I can trust him by himself to do a fine job. He still calls me for help when he has a question, but being only five steps away, it isn't so bad.
Here are a few of the quilts from his week at Wazoo!. Have a nice weekend!

NO, NO! Oh Molly...

Molly was busy hunting bunnies in the back yard while Tim and I were working, and we had quite a surprise when Tim went to get her in. In case you don't know, plumbago has very sticky flowers...very sticky; especially on little white dog fur. Oh my, what a mess! Tim spent an hour picking and brushing, picking and brushing some more. Poor little girl was all spent after the exercise. Darn bunnies!

Picture this, but all over her body...

not a happy pup

cleaned up and in her favorite spot to recover.

During the week, Tim and I have been busy at the Gammills working to get the quilts back to their owners and out of the back bedroom. The most different thing was the two quilts made by friends in a block of the month club who made the same quilt. Both are lovely and equally beautiful.

BOM quilt #1

pumpkin seed quilting

pink back

BOM quilt #2

same quilting pattern, green back!

Then there was yet another one-of-a-kind creation from Carole, over at Carole's Quilts, made from biking jerseys, menswear, ties, and even team jackets! A challenge to quilt, but a great heirloom for the family who gets it.

Bicycle jersey memory quilt by Caroles Quilts

some of the quilting

Big, stiff jacket emblem tamed with stitching

A peek at the back

Can you guess where the owner is from?!

My son's quilt is on the way to Massachusetts, along with a baby quilt for one of his friends. My 'Shades of Gray' 5" blocks are off to the exchange moderator, and the dishes are done!! Wow!

Now, I'm settling in with my basket of popcorn to see what my President has to say to me tonight.