How to have a studio open house

 I met Cherri at Portland Modern Quilt Guild and got to know her a bit as we were officers together in 2010.  Yesterday afternoon she held a wonderful open house at her new studio space in the St. Johns area of Portland, which houses her new long arm quilting machine.  It was a perfect afternoon of Cherri-style hospitality!

The studio is housed in this cool old building, Cathedral Park Place, formerly the home of Columbia Woolen Mills and then Columbia Sportswear.

Just outside of her studio, you get a little promise of the inspiration within.

The awesome sign is a gift from PMQG member, Jill, and was made by her husband from her design.  

I've mentioned Jill and her business TabSlot before. 

They make incredible templates, including this New Wave Template. 

Once inside Cherri's studio, there is so much to admire and inspire.

Come in and take a look around!

 

 

These coasters were a gift from Megan.

Don't forget to grab a warm cookie and some ice cold milk. 

And be sure to get a party favor!

 

 

Take a spin on the long arm.  You can have a turn after Monica.

Maybe Jen will give an impromptu lesson on making a zippered bag.

Relax and enjoy yourself with quilty friends and family.

Thank you, Cherri, for sharing your beautiful space with us!  You are such a gracious hostess!

Cherri presenting at a PMQG meeting.

 It's time for me to head home, but what a beautiful drive it is!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Refusing to say "Goodbye"

I don't usually say "Goodbye" to people.  

Not when it's for real; you know -- leaving a job, moving, etc.

I usually say something like, "See ya later," in anticipation of visiting with them again (sooner or later).

So last night Terri/Sew Fantastic said "Goodbye" to her Portland peeps and tweeps before her move to Bakersfield.  

I don't know if you noticed, Terri; but I never did say "Goodbye."  

I just couldn't do it.  

And I'll definitely "see ya later" -- one way or another.  

Count on it! 

And, in the meantime, I'll just stalk you online :)

I have to admit that I agonized over a little "see ya later" gift for Terri. 

Terri, however, had no such problem.  She knew just what to make for each and every one of us.  

Seldom have I seen such thoughtful and personal gifts.

Terri made these great little totes for each of us, with fabrics specially chosen for the recipient (e.g., FMF, red and aqua, Orla Kiely, Mo Bedell's Party Dress, Ann Kelle's Remix, etc.).  I guess it should come as no surprise that she chose Amy Butler for me.

Each bag was also personalized with the recipient's name (see the tag?).

Believe it or not, the bags were not empty!  Terri also made these fabric covered organizers!

I love it so much -- and in one of my all time favorite AMH Good Folks fabrics, too!

I have always drooled over Terri's Mod Podge coasters, and she even included a set of those!

Gorgeous!

She also gave me this pretty AB bag pattern.  So cute!

I can't believe I didn't take pictures of everyone's bags and gifts!  

It's one thing to be so generous, but the thoughtfulness behind each and every gift was absolutely incredible and takes a very special person.

Thank you, Terri, so very much!

I was also thrilled to receive this bundle of holiday adorableness from Monica/Happy Zombie.
I see a Christmas project in my future!

After our wonderful happy hour and dinner at Paragon in the Pearl, we walked over to the Pacific Northwest College of Art for this month's Portland Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  I posted a recap of the meeting with lots of pictures on the PMQG blog, so I'll only post a few here.

Prepping for the meeting included basting hexies for a swap and making practice pads for free motion quilting.

Apparently for me, "third time's a charm" is true.  It worked for my gathered clutches, and it worked for my new method of basting hexies with stitches on the back only.

By George, I think she's got it!

So, I took a little break from all the AMH hexies and decided that Sis Boom fabrics would make wonderful hexies.

I think I was right.

The theme of the evening was free motion quilting.

Christina gave a wonderful power point presentation

and then demonstrated on her machine while we watched the projected image above.

What would we do without the fabulous tech support from PNCA?

Be sure to go to the PMQG blog for this month's eye candy.

I received these pretty little hexies in the hexie swap.

Can you guess what this is?

Fabric sample gorgeousness donated by Free Spirit!

A group of us continued the fun after the meeting.  

It was pretty dark, so unfortunately I didn't get many good pictures.

It was also a little cold.  Fortunately, quilters always seem to be prepared.

Violet rocking her new haircut and keeping warm under Heather's Swiss Army quilt.

Irene and Elizabeth under Elizabeth's most recent quilt.

Thanks for all the compliments/congratulations after I "bragged" about a little recognition I recently received.  I realized later that I had forgotten to include having my Pillow Talk swap pillow shown on Sew Picture Perfect.

And since then they've also shown my Scrapbuster block (designed by Little Miss Shabby) that I'm using for two separate bees.

I'm leaving later this afternoon for a church women's retreat, so I'll see ya later.

And Terri, I'll see you later, too! You truly are sew fantastic!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan