Page 2 | May – June 2018
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Wyoming
Meet the Cover Artist
The Covered Wagon
Fabric, Yarn, Wool, Books, Notions Quilting, Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery, Cross Stitch We have every DMC color �loss and variation colors “You never know what you’ll �ind!” Pick up a FREE Pattern for both the Wyoming Shop Hop & Row by Row! Hours: Monday-Thursday 10-5, Friday 10-4 & Saturday 9-2
2006 Main Street • Torrington, WY 82240 • 307-532-1077
Art has always been a part of Rebecca’s life. Her Father was a dairy farmer and her Mother was an artist since she was a baby, painting Christmas tree ornaments. Consequently, she grew up with paint and paper in-hand. She attended the Fine Arts program at Ohio University (Athens, Ohio) and received her BFA degree. On her family’s dairy farm quilting and collecting old quilts was a pastime for the Barker women. Rebecca’s natural appreciation for quilts and the country landscapes became the subject she choose to paint. She developed a line of paintings she calls “QUILTSCAPES”. The old time quilt pattern is depicted in the painting with the quilt. For example, the LOG CABIN quilt has a painting of a log cabin in the background. Several paintings have the quilt images subtly mixed in to the landscapes while others have the quilt hanging on a clothesline in the foreground. Rebecca paints her quiltscapes in acrylic on masonite board. The quilt patterns come from quilt history books and quilt shows. “I do not make up the patterns. I love the designs of old time quilts”. She creates her own colors and materials in the fabrics. “I do not work from real quilts because the colors have to match the landscapes“. Her style is described as realistic, with clean, clear colors and sensitivity to composition and texture. She shows her work on her web page and has produced a line of note cards, limited edition prints, two books and gift items. She lives on the west side of Cincinnati in an old Victorian style home which also serves as her studio. “My work is meant to honor the beauty of the old time quilts and their makers,” Barker said. © Rebecca Barker’s Quiltscapes, 1085 Willow Ave., Glendale, OH 45246, 513-521-4021, www.barkerquiltscapes.com.
Seventh Annual
May 29-Sept. 4, 2018 Sponsored by Wyoming’s Premier Quilt Shops ❖ Free Block Patterns! PARTICIPATING SHOPS ❖ Great Prizes! How to Participate
❖ Pick up a special block pattern at each participating shop and register for a $50 door prize. ❖ Get your passport stamped at each shop you visit, visit at least 13 particiapting shops, and send your passport by Sept. 14 for a chance at the grand prize – a sewing machine – or multiple other prizes. ❖ The more shops you visit, the better your chances for winning! Visit all 25 shops, submit your passport and get a special gift.
For up-to-date details and to download the passport, visit:
Afton, WY ❖ Jenny M’s Quilting Company Buffalo, WY ❖ E.T. Quilts Casper, WY ❖ Cottontales Quilt Shop ❖ Kalico Kat Quilt Shop ❖ Prism Quilt & Sew Co. Cheyenne, WY ❖ Around the Block Quilt Shop Cody, WY ❖ Friends and Co. Quilt Shop Douglas, WY ❖ Prairie Stitcher Evanston, WY ❖ Common Threads Quilting Gillette, WY ❖ The Barn & Blanket Lady Quilt Shop Green River, WY ❖ Kema’s Quilts Laramie, WY ❖ Quilt Essentials ❖ Snowy River Quilts
Lovell, WY ❖ Mayes Fabrics Lusk, WY ❖ Lickety Stitch Quilts Lyman/Urie, WY ❖ Valley Fabric Shop Pinedale, WY ❖ Heritage Quilts & Fabric Shoppe Riverton, WY ❖ Country Cottage Quilt Shoppe Rock Springs, WY ❖ Willow Ridge Crafts Sheridan, WY ❖ Sheridan Ben Franklin ❖ The Quilters’ Fix Shoshoni, WY ❖ Sheep Camp Quilt Supply Thermopolis, WY ❖ Gooseberry Garden Quilt Shop Torrington, WY ❖ The Covered Wagon Worland, WY ❖ Heart-N-Home
www.wyomingquiltshophop.com
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May – June 2018 | Page 3
Publisher’s Notes
Facebook Shouldn’t Replace Website
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern Idaho Dee Sleep, Publisher Produced by Chicken Creek Communications 10563 Chicken Creek Road • Spearfish, SD 57783 605-722-7028 Office www.countryregister.com/nrgp www.chickencreek.net Publisher’s contact numbers across the USA & Canada for The Country Register Send $3 to any publisher below to obtain a paper from another area: * Indicates these editions are available on–line at www.countryregister.com.
Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd, 602-237-6008, info@countryregister.com, located: Phoenix, AX USA * Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Arkansas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * California: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * Connecticut: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD 21774, 866-825-9217, Fax 866-261-9641 * Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319 * Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, florida@countryregisteronline.com * Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, tcrga@windstream.net * Idaho (N): Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Idaho (S): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Illinois: Richard & Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, countryregister@hotmail.com * Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319 Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, IowaCountryRegister@mchsi.com * Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, kansas@countryregister.com Maine: Deborah Daney, 660 Country Club Road, Sanford, ME 04073, 207-324-7482 * Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Massachusetts: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com Michigan: Bill, Marlene & Leslie Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211 * Minnesota: Kim & Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, minnesota@countryregister.com * Missouri: Richard & Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, countryregister@hotmail.com * Montana: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Nevada (N): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803 New Hampshire: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH, 03036, michelle@countryregisternhvt.com * New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319 New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * North Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * North Dakota: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, ohiocountryregister@yahoo.com * Oklahoma: Richard & Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, countryregister@hotmail.com * Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Pennsylvania: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Rhode Island: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Texas: Richard & Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, countryregister@hotmail.com * Vermont: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH, 03036, michelle@countryregisternhvt.com * Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Washington: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, jennifer@countryregisterofwisconsin.com * Wyoming: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net CANADA * Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0,780-889-3776, countryregab@yahoo.com * British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711 * Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, countryregister@sasket.net * Ontario: Harriet Ramos, Box 60, 4338 Innes Rd., Orleans, ON K4A 3W3, 343-882-5812
Besides publishing The Country Register, I operate a small marketing firm. My business is growing other businesses and organizations using print and web design along with social and traditional media channels. I am amazed to see many small retailers, such as quilt and craft stores, put all of their marketing efforts into Facebook. While Facebook offers many excellent options for communicating with customers and potential customers, it is not the be-all, end-all marekting solution. There are concerns with the platform, especially for those still not willing to pay for Facebook exposure. First, Facebook requires a solid commitment to be used successfully. A tremendous amount of time must be Dee Sleep invested to create meaningful posts on a consistent basis. Publisher of And even after you have grown page likes, not all of your The Country Register followers will see your future posts. You must continue to keep these folks engaged in your content for them to see of ND, SD, WY, your posts in their feed. Or you have to pay for it. MT & N. ID Second, even with all of your work, you are only growing an audience on and for Facebook. Many businesses neglect their own websites in favor of Facebook, or worse yet, they don’t even have a website. Instead, Facebook is best used as a mechanism to drive traffic TO your own website in order to improve your search engine rankings. And businesses need to invest as much or more time creating quality content for their websites as they do on their Facebook posts. If you would like to learn more about improving your existing website or creating a new one, contact me! I am passionate about helping small businesses establish a solid online presence to compete in the digital economy. The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains May – June 2018 • Volume 8 Issue 3 The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright © 2018. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited by law. The Country Register is a registered business trade name. Chicken Creek Communications produced The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains. Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Northern Idaho. Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from outside sources, express the opinions of their authors only and may not express the viewpoints of the management and staff of The Country Register. Such articles that are accepted for publication herein may be edited at the sole discretion of the publisher. Responsibility for products advertised in this newspaper lies with the advertisers themselves. Though The Country Register will not knowingly publish fraudulent materials or fraudulently obtained materials, we are not liable for any damages arising from the purchase or use of products advertised herein.
Index: See page 11 for advertiser’s index. Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the July/August 2018 issue are due June 7, 2018.
Page 4 | May – June 2018
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Montana
A Mother’s Gifts One Mother’s Day about 30 years ago I gave my mother a coffee mug. The vessel is adorned with a cottage and garden, and at the bottom of it is a quote from Abraham Lincoln. It says, “All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother.” My mother has given me many gifts over the course of our life together since I was born 45 years ago. Perhaps the most important one is that for as long as I can remember she told me that she would always love me. She said that she may not always approve of what I did, but that she would always love me. Because of this assurance I never doubted her devotion to me. It made me want to be a better person and to make good choices. She encouraged me to always come to her because, “Communication is everything. If you cannot communicate, you don’t have anything.” Is it any wonder that we became best friends? I learned from my mother how to love with a whole heart. She gives fully of herself, even as she maintains her own identity. She has always been genuine, never pretending to be something she isn’t. She never hides a part of herself because someone may or may not approve. She may cloak it in a way to suit the environment, but she is always beautifully authentic. For all of these reasons and more she is one of the bravest, strongest people I know. Three years ago Mom had a mastectomy. Not from breast cancer with the traditional markers; after some analysis and pondering, the tumor board’s best guess was squamous skin cancer. Before she went to the hospital, I sat in the living room one night as she rested. My packed bag was ready. For as long as she was there, I would be there. I came to the chair to pray, believing that when I sat down I would beg for her to live. However, I found that I was flooded with gratitude. My prayer was something like this: “Thank you, God, for all of the years You have given me with Mom. You know that I want more time. But she is Your child, and I know that You will not let her down. You know what is best for her. Therefore, I humbly pray, ‘Thy Will Be Done.’” In 2015 God answered my prayer with a healing and a cure. Between then and these last months, we had two and a half years of joy and sheer thankfulness. We returned to the rhythm of our lives, cooking and knitting together, sitting on the porch and enjoying the garden. We laughed, did our errands, and watched hockey and baseball. We sang hymns and praised God for each new day. It is now spring-time 2018, and I find that my unexpected prayer has lived close to the surface once for six months now. For whatever the cancer was then, it metastasized to the brain. On March 13th my mother passed away in our home with myself and a dear friend at her side. Through the sadness these truths I know: my mother loves me, and I will always love her. God, whose she is, holds her in the palm of His hand. She is now in a place of peace I cannot begin to fathom. As her coffee mug from 30 years ago says, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” Kerri Habben is a writer, photographer, and crochet instructor living in Raleigh, NC. An avid crocheter and knitter, she learned these skills from her grandmother and mother. She donates many of her yarn creations to those in need. Kerry has gathered a decade of essays she is working to publish and can be reached at 913jeeves@gmail.com.
The Dropped Stitch
Have Craft Bag – Will Travel
Vacations are a time to relax and decompress – right? But, as we all know, travel itself is stressful, especially air travel. However, knitting and crocheting have been proven to help reduce stress. Since most airlines limit carry-on bags to one personal item (purse or laptop bag) to be stored under the seat in front of you and one small suitcase in the overhead storage, place your craft bag and purse into the personal item bag. This assures your project will be with you and handy for long or delayed flights. The following travel pack checklist will help you pack your crafting bag for easy airport security and enjoyable flights.
Craft Bag Contents
Hooks and Needles: Pack them for easy access. No rules disallow sewing needles. To be safe, don’t take your best hooks or needles. Crochet hooks are typically allowed with no issues. Pack plastic or bamboo hooks or knitting needles which are less threatening as weapons than aluminum or steel tools. Scissors: These are often considered potential weapons. Pointed-tip metal scissors longer than four inches are banned from planes. Instead, substitute a pair of children’s plastic scissors or a dental floss container with thread cutter. Stitch Markers: Pack several as they are necessary for those unexpected pauses without losing your place or dropping stitches. Pattern: You can’t work if the pattern is left at home. Minimize the directions on small sheets of paper on a small magnetic board so you don’t have to juggle a large floppy sheet on your lap which will slide off. Row Counter: It’s a necessary item to avoid being lost (leads to frustration) as to which row or stitch you are on with all the travel conversations, noise, and interruptions that take place in an airport and on planes. An offline phone app also works. Yarn: Bring what you will use on each flight; pack the rest in your suitcase. Washable yarn is best. Turbulence can cause spills right onto your project. Lighter weights are best, such as worsted weight, sport, or DK. Bulky yarns demand too much packing space and don’t offer a lot of yardage. What a shame to quickly use up the yarn and find yourself sitting in an airport for hours with nothing to work on due to flight delays. Center-pull yarn skeins/ balls are great because they don’t move around and are less likely to fall off your lap to a floor space you can’t reach. Leave color change projects at home. Crochet Thread: Although thread is lighter than yarn, it’s not a first choice for plane travel unless you are an experienced crocheter. Turbulence can cause the sharp hook point to jam into your hand, the needle to drop on the plane floor to who knows where, and the thread ball to roll somewhere undesirable. Also, thread requires more concentration than what you have on a long flight. Remember you are on a vacation to enjoy yourself which includes feeling well. Don’t craft continuously. Take short breaks, stopping every half hour for a few minutes. Stay alert for flight information to avoid stress. Due to the closeness of plane seats, your arms won’t fit naturally in your seat space which can cause tension in your wrists, pain in your neck and shoulders and even lead to headaches. Use a stitch marker in your work, set your project in your lap and do some micro-stretching, especially for hands and wrists, in your seat. Use your overhead light to avoid eye strain while working. TSA and airline guidelines are occasionally updated. Check the official list of prohibited items before flying. Traveling internationally? Doublecheck the above information as rules often differ and can be more strict at foreign airports than in the United States. A broken foreign rule can lead to a disastrous vacation. No one wants that experience! ©2018 Sharon Greve. Contact castonshar@charter.net. No reprint without permission.
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May – June 2018 | Page 5
Quilting with Barbara: Tips for Buying Fabric For ‘Stash’ Spring, you say? Bring it on! Winters in northern climes like ours can be long and miserable, so for temporary relief in March we spent a few days on Vancouver Island where spring enters Canada in February or March, rather than April or May as in the rest of the country. My winter-induced lassitude disappeared as soon as I saw the first green grass and a few crocuses shortly after we deplaned, and in a day or two I decided to stop at a few quilt shops to add to my stash. The welcome and enthusiasm from staff at two stores in particular, Kismet in Port Alberni and Kaleidoscope near Duncan, reinforced my stash-building tendencies, and I was lucky enough to find several useful pieces to add to my collection in just a few minutes at each store. As all quilters know, time is of the essence when someone who doesn’t quilt is waiting for someone who does. So how could I be quick and efficient and keep peace in the family? Upon reflection, I realized my search which on the surface seemed random really conformed to a few personal unwritten principles and procedures which I had unconsciously developed over the years and would like to share. First, check out the marked-down fabrics, even the ugly ones. They too need a home and you may find them surprisingly useful. Case in point: a few years ago I bought several metres of a fabric I considered ugly (I didn’t like the colours) because the price – but not the quality – was extremely low. I assume other shoppers shared my attitude because there was so much left on the bolt. This fabric lived in my stash until this past winter when I hauled it off the shelf. Because I had bought a sizeable quantity it made perfect backing for a single quilt, a lap quilt and a wall hanging! Ugly no longer, it was a perfect complement to the tops, and inexpensive too. Win-win.
Try for variety in your stash – dark, medium, light, bright, pastel, large prints, small prints, abstracts, florals… We tend to buy our favourite colours over and over, which narrows variety. The impact of a quilt depends greatly on contrast. In fact, some veteran quilters consider contrast more important than colour. If you have an assortment of fabrics of different values and colours, there’s a good chance that you’ll find just what you need in your stash, avoiding an emergency trip to a shop. Look for neutrals – greys, tans, creams, tone-on-tones – especially if they are on sale. Neutrals are needed in most projects, so buy as much as your budget allows. You’ll use them. Avoid directional fabrics unless you have a concrete plan for them. They must be cut and placed carefully; your options will be limited and fabric wasted if they can be used in only one orientation. Avoid theme fabrics if buying for your stash. Even if the colours are perfect, an inappropriate print may destroy the intended mood of the quilt. Exception: when you are collecting them for future use in a theme quilt. (Ask me how many pieces of cat fabric I have). The most important guideline? When you see a fabric that you simply must have, BUY SOME, no matter the cost (within reason). If you have diligently accumulated a varied group of fabrics, it is very likely something you already have in your stash cupboard will complement this special purchase, and you will be well on your way to starting a new project. Happy hunting! Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB. © Barbara Conquest.
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We are your #1 Travel Guide for all the Quilting, Yarn and Needlework shops throughout the US and Canada. We also include Quilt Shows, Retreats and Special Products. Exclusive Patterns by: Eleanor Burns Quilt In A Day
Sue Hanson
Part 3 of 3
Connie Sayler
Trackside Quilting Pacific Rim Quilt Co.
Find your copy in most shops, or online at
www.quilterstravelcompanion.com PO. Box 370 Depoe Bay, OR 97341 (719) 685-5041
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Parts 1 & 2 of the Mystery Quilt Mini Jewels were published in the JanuaryFebruary 2018 and March-April 2018 issues of The Country Register.
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JUNE 15-16, 2018
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Summer Sewing For Youth “I learned to sew on a sewing machine and I made this!” That’s what hundreds of quilt shops across the U.S. and Canada hope to hear in their communities this summer from kids ages 6 to 14. Local quilt shop proprietors are welcoming kids from June 21 through October 31 by participating in Row by Row Junior. It is the kids’ version of the widely popular summertime travel event for quilt-making fans known as Row by Row Experience. Kids visit shops in person, collect free sewing patterns designed just for them to make and become inspired by the colorful, creative world of sewing – right in their own hometown. “We want to introduce kids to the intrinsic benefits of learning how to sew,” says Janet Lutz, creator of Row by Row Experience. “Making things on a sewing machine incorporates all the elements of STEM education in an artful way that builds perseverance and self-esteem.” When offered for the first time in 2017, Row by Row Junior was the largest initiative of its kind ever attempted in the sewing industry. This year, six new patterns and project ideas designed around the theme “Sew Musical” will appeal to kids and their families. “Fostering intergenerational relationships and learning to sew at home is important to the Row by Row Junior program,” says Lutz. Kids will enjoy the uniquely educational experience of visiting the shops. At home, families can find free tutorial support and activities online by visiting www. rowbyrowexperience.com. Row by Row Experience® is now entering its eighth successful year. Over 2800 brick and mortar quilt shops spanning the US, Canada and Europe participated in 2017. Find more information at www.rowbyrowexperience.com.
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The Thrill of the Hu nt
Browsing Quilt Shops & Antique/Repurpose Stores Warmer days have finally arrived and many will take to the road on vacations to various locations. Whether it’s trips to the mountains, the beach or to visit friends and relatives, if you’re like me, they are an excuse to explore interesting places along the way. I’m always on the look out for quilt shops, antique stores and businesses that repurpose older items into new uses. My daughter once described it as an adult treasure hunt and I think she is right. I love the thrill of finding things to bring home, as well as the unexpected memories triggered by spying something from my past. Many times, it’s a game or a toy that brings back special memories. I vividly remember sitting and playing Chinese Checkers with my cousins on summer nights after a long day at the beach. I had a round metal set that opened so that you could store the marbles inside. When I recently ran across a similar set, I felt myself smiling. I swear I could almost hear my cousins laughing and smell the Coppertone my mom would slather on my sunburnt shoulders. Sometimes it’s the excitement of finding new additions for a collection or seeing a friend do the same. My friend Cacia is constantly on the lookout for lavender transfer ware and it was exciting for us both when she found a piece on a recent trip. She had explained to me earlier that the pieces she looks for are getting harder and harder to find. She loves to use the pretty plates on special occasions and now, even though it’s not something I collect, I find myself searching for pieces for her. Plates, games, dolls – almost anything vintage appeals to me – but my favorite things to look for are vintage sewing machines and sewing collectibles. I love to imagine the people who used them and what they created. Was it a grandmother who was teaching her granddaughter to sew her first seams? Was it an expectant mom making tiny layettes for the baby that was soon to enter the world? Or was it a quilter like myself piecing scraps together to create quilts to keep her family warm? Pin cushions, darning eggs, needle cases – no matter what it is – each piece holds a childlike wonder to me and I will have to admit that many of those finds end up following me home. One of my all-time favorites is a red metal thread holder. Its paint is peeling in places and its center pincushion was lost long before this treasure came to live with me but I love it all the same. I’d like to know its history and how it ended up in a second-hand store. I’m sure it was once a prized
My biggest weakness is old metal toy sewing machines. I collect the tiny machines, the boxes they came in and even advertisements about toy sewing machines. While any sewing-themed item makes me happy, one of my all-time favorite finds is a red metal thread holder. piece for some lucky seamstress and I think this little beauty deserves a much better retirement than the shelf of miscellaneous goods that I found it abandoned on. It looked very out of place sitting between plastic flowers and a chipped cup and saucer. If inanimate objects had feelings, I’d almost say it was sad. That’s why I just had to bring it home. It now sits in a place of honor in my sewing room. While any sewing-themed item makes me happy, I will have to admit that by far my biggest weakness is old metal toy sewing machines. I collect the tiny machines, the boxes they came in and even advertisements about toy sewing machines. I’ve almost run out of places for my hubby to put up shelves to hold them but that does not stop the search. I blame this obsession on my upbringing and it happened like this. You see, I learned to sew at a very young age on my mother’s Kenmore. She was a very accomplished seamstress and after seeing my serious interest, she bought me a ‘real’ machine of my very own. I fondly remember making my clothes and, by the age of ten, proudly wearing my selfmade fashions to school. I loved that machine and it
was one of my most prized possessions but I’ve often wondered if my never having a toy machine is what fuels my fascination with these little cuties. I like to tell my mother that my addiction to them is all her fault. She then reminds me that I would never have been able to make the things I made on a toy. I’ll close by quoting the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Sometimes the most out of the way places yield the most fun rewards. My advice to you is to be on the lookout for adventure. You never know what you will find. And, hey, if you spot a lonely toy machine, give me a shout. I know where it can find a good home. Deb Heatherly is a designer for Creative Grids® rulers and tools. When not in her studio, she is on the road doing Creative Grids® lectures and workshops for guilds and shops across the country. She is the designer of the Creative Grids Cat’s Cradle tool, Strippy Stars tool, Turbo 4 Patch, and the Ultimate Flying Geese tool, and the author of the books ‘Cat’itude, Strippy Stars, 4-Patch Panache, and her newest, The Ultimate flying Geese Book. Visit her website at Debscatsnquilts.com and on Facebook at Facebook.com/ DebscatsnquiltsFranklin. Creative Grids® fans may join Deb’s Facebook group,” Grids Girls,” for tips and inspiration.
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May – June 2018 | Page 9
South Dakota
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Potato Ham Soup $25 Gift Certificate Winner Cindy Bobolz – Townsend, MT Won a $25 gift certificate to her favorite advertising shop –
Creative Closet, in Townsend, MT To enter the next drawing, fill out the form below and mail it in!
1 medium onion chopped fine 2 garlic cloves crushed 3 stalks of celery, chopped or sliced Saute in olive oil or butter
Add two quarts of chicken broth 3 large sliced carrots 4 C. diced potatoes (If you use left over baked potato like I did, just cut them up with skins on and add after the carrots are soft.) Cooked ham cut in bite size pieces as much as desired 1 tsp. thyme 1 tsp. rosemary (dry) or fresh 1/2 tsp oregano Pepper to taste Bring to boil and simmer just until veggies are soft. Add 1 qt. half and half…..sometimes I do part half and half and the other part whole milk. Just bring to hot temp. but do not boil. Serves about 7 or 8 Submitted by Barbara Floyd, Founder of The Country Register, The Antique Register of AZ, and Love of Junk, Walla Walla’s Vintage Market. Barbara can be reached at Barbara@ countryregister.com.
Win a $25 Gift Certificate! The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to be used at YOUR FAVORITE SHOP! Just fill out this form and send it to:
The Country Register 10563 Chicken Creek Road Spearfish, SD 57783
May-June 2018 Entry OR visit www.chickencreek.net, click on The Country Register to sign up online Name_________________________________________________________ Phone________________________________________________________ Email ________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________ City_____________________________ State ____________ Zip__________ Favorite Shop Advertised____________________________________________ This is My Favorite Shop Because______________________________________ My Favorite Feature(s) of The Country Register____________________________ Found This Issue At_______________________________________________ Are You a: n Regular Reader or
n First Time Reader
What stores would like to see in The Country Register? (include town) ____________________________________________________________
Entries received by June 7, 2018, with all questions answered will qualify for the drawing. One gift certificate is given away each issue.
Advertiser’s Index Always Your Design • Dell Rapids, SD......................................9 Art in the Barn • Sturgis, SD..................................................9 Betty’s Quiltery • Rapid City, SD........................................... 12 Black Hills Quilt Show & Sale • Rapid City, SD........................ 12 Black Hills Visitor Information Center • Rapid City, SD..............9 Covered Wagon, The • Torrington, WY.....................................2 Creative Closet • Townsend, MT..............................................4 Dakota Quilt Company • Spearfish, SD................................... 12 Fiber House, The • Sheridan, WY............................................2 Friesens History Photo Books.................................................7 Heartsong Quilts • Hot Springs, SD....................................... 12 Kalico Kat Quilt Shop • Casper, WY.........................................2 Knothole, The • Spearfish, SD.............................................. 12 Lickety Stitch Quilts • Lusk, WY.............................................2 Love of Junk • Walla Walla, WA..............................................7 North Country Fiber Fair • Watertown, SD................................9 Nuts and Bolts Fabric • Edgemont, SD................................... 12 Quilt Connection • Rapid City, SD......................................... 12 Quilt Yard, The • Pierre, SD....................................................9 Quilter’s Corner • Faulkton, SD...............................................9 Quilter’s Fix, The • Sheridan, WY............................................2 Quilter’s Travel Companion and Crafters’ Guide.........................6 South Dakota Quilters Guild................................................. 12 Wall Drug • Wall, SD..............................................................9 Wyoming Quilt Shop Hop.......................................................2
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“surprised” that the Easter Bunny had Pennsylvania. Her age often surprises new friends brought each of us a large pastel-colored because her family often compares her to the straw basket filled to the brim with Energizer Bunny. Besides golf, she also enjoys chocolate eggs, marshmallow “peeps,” spending time with her grandchildren, writing letters View the paper online at www.CountryRegister.com/NRGP candy bars, and an assortment of other to the editor, and working with her church groups.
Life In Skunk Hollow –
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May – June 2018 | Page 11
Use this pattern for embroidery, wool applique, punch needle or rug hooking, painted projects or whatever your imagination can dream up! Reduce or enlarge pattern as desired.
Free Embroidery Pattern! May not be sold or used for commercial purposes. For more fun and creative inspiration, please visit:
www.JacquelynneSteves.com
One of our family’s favorite pastimes during this season of the year is yard saling. Every Saturday is a potential treasure hunt! That doesn’t mean that every week we come home with a trunkful of treasures. Sometimes it’s just fun to look! We’ve discovered over our years of yard saling that every sale has a slightly different “feel” to it. There are those that contain nothing but junk (and the sellers should have carted the stuff to the dumpster instead of going to all that work!). Some sales have lots of goodies priced super, super low. At those, we often find ourselves buying items for family and friends and neighbors and enemies because we can’t let the stuff sit on the table for those prices! Other sales are very much geared to the guys, with hunting and fishing and sporting goods galore. Some are nothing but we-had-our-lastbaby-and-it’s-time-to-get-rid-of-all-this-baby-stuff sales. One of my favorite types of yard sales are those where elderly people are cleaning out their attics – they often contain such fascinating knick-knacks from decades long ago. I was reminded recently of a sale-like-none-other that we went to in the vicinity of our little mountain cabin in northern Pennsylvania. We stopped at a house that was having a sale advertised in the local newspaper. The first thing I noticed was the large sign labeled “Fairfield House” in the front yard. I was immediately intrigued. The house itself wasn’t much – it had a building block look to it, with additions stacked on here and there. But something about the name on the sign made me wonder if it had once been an inn or a bed-and-breakfast back in its glory days. The next thing that caught my eye was a garage sale sign that was displayed jauntily on a metal stand. It was the type of stand that might have once served as a holder for the placards in old plays where each act was announced by a pretty lady. We piled out of the car and meandered our way back the drive, coming upon a beautiful old gas lamp for sale. It was so similar to the lamppost in C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe that I should have known right then and there that something magical was afoot. Upon first glance, the sale looked a bit like a going-out-of-the-craftbusiness liquidation. With grapevine forms and artificial berries and all manner of fake flowers spread out on the driveway, I mentally categorized this sale as a goldmine for crafters. But as I stepped into the dim light of the garage, I knew that we had come across a type of sale that we’d never experienced before. The first thing that came to me was the realization that classical music was being played in the background – a bit unusual for a garage sale setting but intriguing. As my eyes adjusted to the low lighting, I caught a glimpse of a man in the far corner. In that moment of assessment, I knew intuitively that he must be an artist of some sort, probably very intelligent, a bit (more than a bit?) shy with a melancholy air surrounding him. He looked a little sad, a little sweet, a little chubby and definitely like someone who has a life story just begging to be told. The man watched quietly as we browsed through the wares – and, oh, be still my heart! – those wares were something to see. Beautiful old dishes, a ‘60s fondue set, Bing Crosby records, and books that hadn’t been read in a long time: item after item that resulted in tiny gasps of pleasure from my vintage-loving heart. And it wasn’t just the items in and of themselves that were beautiful, but everything in that garage was displayed, positioned and labeled meticulously with a description of the item and its price. Everywhere you looked were vignettes – lovely little groupings of items that complimented one another perfectly. I can’t begin to describe the pleasure that roomful of beauty brought to me. It was truly a work of art. As the rest of my family had meandered out of the garage and back down the drive, I was hesitant to leave. I lingered a little longer, relishing the inspiring atmosphere, and then slowly made my way out of the garage. Part of me wanted to buy something just to draw the artist from the corner and see how he would interact with me. And yet, another part was hesitant, thinking that to move a single thing felt like marring the beauty of his masterpiece. I turned then, quietly telling him to “Have a nice day.” He lowered his head and mumbled something I missed. I wish now that I had, instead, thanked him for the gift of the lovely memory he had given me that day. In my mind, what I took from that sale was far better than driving away with a trunkful of cheap yard sale booty. Julie Druck is from York, Pennsylvania, and writes from her farm in Skunk Hollow. She spends her days rejoicing in the love of God and encouraging others to do the same. She’d welcome your comments at thedrucks@netzero.com.
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