Alaska Quilt Shops

On our fabulous trip to Alaska I was able to stop at two quilt shops. The first one was in Soldotna called Robin Place Fabrics. http://www.robinplacefabrics.com/ As soon as we pulled up I noticed quilts by Judy Niemeyer in the front window. She was teaching there for three days! The shop itself is the home of the original quilts of Letitia Hutchings of Mount Redoubt Designs.http://www.mrdquilt.com/

I was excited to see Bigfork Bay Cotton Co patterns right when I walked in the door! http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ My husband said, "Look honey, your quilts!" The owner asked if I was Toni Whitney. I explained that I made the trunk shows for BBCC and she said that she was so excited when she first saw the moose, Summer Serenity. She said it was so nice that someone finally knew what a moose looked like.

The shop was well worth the stop and I, of course, had to buy a pattern from Mount Redoubt Designs and some fabric. I have most of the patterns from Mount Redoubt but I made sure I didn't buy the Iris so I could get it while I was there. It was very special for me to go to this shop.

The second shop, which is the one in the photo, was just down the road from my brothers house in Kenai called Quilt Kits Alaska. http://www.quiltkitsalaska.com/ This shop is a little out of the way but from the moment we pulled into the yard it was pure pleasure. Imagine a gorgeous lake with the most beautiful mountains in back of it. You are surrounded by lush greenery and trees. To your right is the most adorable log cabin sitting back on a beautiful lawn with a wooden walkway leading to the porch and the friendliest dog you have ever seen coming up to greet you. That is Quilt Kits Alaska. There were a lot of flowers but since I hadn't taken my camera I just took this picture right off of her website.

The inside is just as adorable as the outside. Of course, the first thing I notice is Autumn Eyes from Bigfork Bay on the wall. The owner is as nice as can be and I can honestly say that it is the first time in my life that I was so overwhelmed with wonderful kits and fabric that I didn't know what to buy. Don't worry though, I figured it out. Now I need to order more!

Both these shops were such a pleasure. Be sure to stop by if you get a chance.

Back From Alaska

I don't even know where to begin talking about our trip to Alaska. It was the most amazing trip we have ever taken. My brother Rich picked us up at the airport in Anchorage and took us to a true Alaskan breakfast. The trip from there to his house in Kenai had us in awe the whole way. Once we got to the house it was so great to see my sister in law Sarah and my nephew Colter. I swore if I never did anything the whole time I was in Alaska but visit my family it would have been the best trip but being the perfect host and hostess, Rich and Sarah took us on the tours of our life.

We saw Glaciers, the Fjords, Homer, Seward, Soldotna........We went everywhere! I saw sea life I had never seen before and wildlife I had never seen before and scenery I never knew existed. I took over 300 pictures and they are all just amazing.

Being with my nephew Colter and niece Amanda was a blast but being with Amanda's daughter Jordyn was really special. Reid, Amanda's honey, was working on an off shore rig most of the time so I only got to meet him briefly but I sure did like him.

Sarah and Rich treated us like royalty the whole time we were there. Sarah is an amazing cook so we ate the best meals. She even baked Alan pies and for his birthday dinner he got halibut cooked three different ways and shrimp cooked two different ways. He got blueberry pie too. It was all to die for! The average temperature during the day when we were there was about 55 degrees so baking wasn't an issue like it is now that we are home.

Alan got to go fishing on the Kenai River for Salmon and the Ocean for Halibut with Rich. Fortunately, I didn't have to go! They had a blast. Of course Alan always has fun if he has a fishing pole in his hand but these trips were dreams come true for him.

I could talk about our trip for days....actually, I'll be talking about it for years. I thank God for the opportunity to visit my brother and his family. I just hope I go back soon.

I did get to go to quilt shops of course so I will talk more about THOSE later!

Chickadee Dreams by Bigfork Bay Cotton Co

I finished three of the quilts for the Distributor Modeknappen in Sweden http://www.modeknappen.se/. So far I made them the Winter Wolf, One Moose Open Sleigh, and Dancing Chickens by Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. After I got them in the mail I finished three of the Chickadee Dreams by Ty Livingston for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company's trunk shows.

This little guy is so adorable. The Kits by Bigfork Bay use all Batik Textile Fabrics which I just love. As always, I quilted them with Aurifil thread, the only kind I use, and I use Wonder Under by Pellon for the fusible.

I am trying to get as many trunk show quilts done as possible since Alan and I are leaving for Kenai Alaska in a couple of days. My brother Rich and his family have lived there for 17 years and I have never been up there to visit. It's about time don't you think? We are so excited. I am going to fish for Halibut on the Ocean. It's my first time fishing ever. Alan and my brother Rich have done it many times so I will be in good hands. I plan on hitting some quilt shops with my sister-in-law Sarah. She isn't a quilter but what woman doesn't like to shop. My brother has planned our trip with some wonderful adventures. I can't wait!