Friday, November 27, 2015

Black Friday....No it's stretch pant Friday.

I hope everyone had a great Turkey day.  I don't know why, after 30 years of Thanksgiving dinners under my belt, you would think I would know how long it takes to cook a turkey.  

Oh no, I set the alarm for 4:30 am.  Mike and I get up, cut all the veggies, boil the insides, whip up the stuffing, and get the bird in the oven.  

Around 9:300 or so I begin to wonder how long I need to keep the bird in.  (I'm think it will be done around 2-3) 
Oh no, my bird will be done at 11:00 am. 

So the York's had a noon time Thanksgiving this year.  Our turkey coma started about 1.  The cats were in heaven, so many warm bodies to lay on.  They had their pick!!  

I have so much New Valdani to get on the website.  We are carrying all the new Wool Thread, so soft and sinks in the the wool.  We also got all the Silk Floss in.  I will have it all up this next week.  Have a Great weekend. Shawn



Saturday, November 14, 2015

Back a week

I have been home a little over week from Houston.  I feel like I have been on the go ever since I got home.  I'm so excited about this next year.  Rusty Crow is changing lanes a bit, and it's all going to be good.  

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I'm just hoping the luggage will be put away and the laundry washed from the 7 shows and one wedding in 8 weekends that we did.  Funny, how things that use to be important, aren't so much anymore. It's a good thing I have lots of clothes.  

The Blog Along has been super fun.  I would love to see some of your blocks. Rusty Crow was at Quilt Market with Valdani.  I grabbed up all the new Wool Thread that they are now carrying.  I will be putting it on my website today.  I haven't used it yet.  I have so much work to get done from Market before I can start to play with the new stuff.   

Mike, my husband, lost his grandfather while I was gone on the road.  It was hard not being there for him, but we had our kids near.  Grandpa Grigg had not been good for the last year.  Feeding tubes, oxygen and so on.  Not able to talk, no sure if anything you were saying was processing.  That was the last of Mike's side, his parents and all his grandparents are gone.  Life does not stop.  The clock keeps ticking, a reminder not to get stuck in grief, life is for the living.  Love doesn't go away.  


Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Quilt Market...Done, now on to International Quilt Festival

Houston....what can we say?  It's been fun, weather has been crazy. The shop owners who shopped with us at Market were super nice.  We are taking a day off today.  Some vendors are setting up today, well starting at 4:00 pm.  The convention workers have to change up the floor plan and need a day to get that done, before we all move in.  

Kelly and I decided to just go over first thing in the morning and stay all day.  Preview starts at 5:00 pm for all of those who have been taking classes.  From 7:00-10:00 it's open to the public, which makes for a super long day, but a fun one.  

Our home for 2 weeks
Kelly's shoes for this trip
Here are a few photos of our trip so far. 



The front of the Convention Center

The Line-up for Sample Spree
Our Table at Sample Spree
Kelly and I all dressed up for the Moda Party



Kelly and Me
Moda Party 40th Aniversary 
Me and Nellie Olsen from Little House on the Prairie
You never know who you are going to meet at Quilt Market



My Hero, Sue Spago was my neighbor in the next booth.
How lucky can one girl be??? 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Heading out to PIQF then onto Houston

I got home from the Palm Springs show this past Saturday night late.  My friend, Kelly had called a few friends to help on Sunday put together kits.  

Having a Mystery Block sounded like a great idea 2 months ago, but having to kit a wool and fabric block two days before I leave for PIQF and Houston Market & Festival was a bit crazy.  

Kerry, Betty, Kathy, and Kelly were all there helping me cut, dye, and assemble kits all day long.  

Monday we did more of the same.  Packing my own suitcase at 11:30 PM, setting the clock for 3:45 am to take off for Santa Clara, CA  and PIQF.  Here is some of the more glamorous views of our travels today.  I'm so kidding right now, we often tease each other.  People say to me all the time, "It must be so much fun to travel to all those quilt shows."  We look at each other, if they only knew. 
This is us traveling with Alicia Campbell, the Batty Lady. 
Love getting Costco gas where I can



And we eat at all the Fabulous Places!!!


 So no, I wouldn't trade it for anything.  When anyone comes into my booth, I always try to greet everyone. "Thanks for coming out to the Show."   And just know that I truly mean it. 


Sunday, October 11, 2015

Hello Again, 
I'm so sorry for being a day late.  Calendars are not my friend this time of year.  

I hope that you have enjoyed the first block by Rhonda at Farmhouse Threads as much as I have.  

We are hoping that after the craziness that is Houston Quilt Market and Festival we can complete this quilt then do some kind of Raffle to raise money for Camp Pendleton Toys for Tots program.  It would be great to see this Christmas quilt generate money for our military and their kids. 

I have some kits and I can make more.  I have to leave for PIQF on Tuesday, then go straight to Houston for 2 weeks.  If the kits run out while I'm gone, please be patient and I will get them out as soon as I get home.  Trust me, you don't want my boys cutting your kits while I'm gone. 
If you want the block with the same fabric and wools I used 
Click here for my Christmas Block Kit

Click here for FREE pattern!
Enjoy and Merry Christmas, Shawn


Saturday, October 10, 2015

Apparently I can't Read A Calendar!! Blog Hop Hoppers

Hello, Mystery Block Hoppers, 

I know I'm up for your next block but apparently I can't read a calendar.  I will have it up tomorrow.  I'm  currently at a show in Palm Springs, CA vending.  

I promise the block is worth the 24 hour wait.  

You all have been so sweet to us!!  I love wool quilters, they are the best out there!!!!! 

With warmest regards (it's over 100 degrees here in Palm Springs)  I'll chat with you all tomorrow.  

Love Shawn

Monday, September 28, 2015

Mondays

Mondays are possibility days.  I love Mondays.  I have a huge amount of things that need to be done, for Houston Quilt Market and Festival next month.  Piece by piece, things get scratched off the list.
I have great people around me, that still love me with the crazy.  They even help me.  Life chores don't stop when you have your eye on the bigger goal.  Laundry still has to be done, cat and dog hair pile up on the carpet that needs to be vacuumed, dishes, there are always dishes.  Bills remembered and paid.  Thank goodness I have found auto-pay for many things.  We won't have to walk around in the dark, and can still take showers.

We just finished 4 weekends in a row of Quilt Shows.  This weekend we are going to celebrate with our great friends as their daughter gets married.   I'm going to enjoy the break and my friends.

Next week, the Mystery Blog hop is going to start.  Can you believe that they asked me????  My block is the second week of the hop.  Please follow along. You will love the border treatment!!!


Join us for Farmhouse Threads
Christmas Mystery Quilt Blog Hop!
For10weeks,beginningOctober3rd wewillsharewithyoufree patterns from some of our favorite designers to complete a Christmas Quilt just in time for Christmas. Each week, one designer will post the pattern to make a Christmas block using wool appliqué and embroidery on cotton. Week 10 will include the instructions to put all of these blocks together with some fun borders to complete your Christmas quilt. Finishing kits will be available from Farmhouse Threads.
Make sure you sign up for each designer’s blog/website to receive the free patterns.
Please share our blog hop with your friends and have them follow along!
Week 1, October 3rd – Rhonda McCray, Farmhouse Threads
http://farmhousethreads.blogspot.com
Week 2, October 10th – Shawn York, Rusty Crow Quilt Shop
http://shawn-rustycrow.blogspot.com
Week 3, October 17th - Debbie Busby, Wooden Spool Designs
http://woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com
Week 4, October 24th – Joyce Weeks, Geoff’s Mom Pattern Co.
http://geoffsmom.blogspot.com
Week5,October30th –GloriaParsons,OldeGreenCupboardDesigns
http://oldegreencupboard.blogspot.com
Week 6, November 7th – Joan Grenke, Bits and Pieces by Joan
http://bitsandpiecesbyjoan.com
Week 7 November 14th – Kathy Campbell, Heart to Hand
http://www.hearttohand.com
Week 8, November 21st – Jeni Gaston, Woolen Willow Designs
http://jenifromthewillow.blogspot.com
Week 9, November 28th – Lisa Bongean, Primitive Gatherings
http://primitivegatheringsquiltshop.wordpress.com
Week 10, December 5th – Finishing Instructions from Farmhouse Threads
http://farmhousethreads.blogspot.com 

Friday, September 18, 2015

Another quilt show this weekend, Conejo Valley Quilter @ Cal Lutheran University Sept 18 & 20 2015

 We are in the middle of September and we still have so much left to do for Houston in a month.  Thankfully, I'm not alone.  Mike and Kelly are huge helps to me.

We are busy expanding our Valdani selection to have in stock every color of 8's & 12's Pearl Cotton that they make.  We will be adding the 3 strand as well when we figure out where to put it all.

 We are busy making Sample Spree Samples for shop owners who go to Houston and want to buy ready made samples for their shops. Rusty Crow now has a collection of Wool Christmas ornaments. I drew 24 so far, this year we are producing 6 to put in the tin.  Here is what a bit of that process looks like.  I'll put them on the website to sell.  Everything but the Valdani, needle, and freezer paper is included.  I hope you like them.  Come see me at the quilt show this weekend in Thousand Oaks.
First Collection of RC Christmas Ornaments
Samples

Sunday, August 30, 2015

                          Calm Before the Quilt Show Storm

We have been home from the Wisconsin wedding for a week now, and I'm still tired.  Doesn't help that we came home to a oven of heat and humidity.  I love where I live, except for the 2 weeks in August every year that heats up and makes me wish for air conditioning. 

This is my last weekend home until November.  We have shows every weekend, except for a quick trip to Seattle to another wedding.   I have a stack of quilting projects that need quilting, but the room is so bloody hot that it is going to have to wait.  

We have been working on my first set of Wool Christmas Ornaments.  We are going to offer completed sets at Sample Spree this year at the Houston Quilt Market.  Sample Spree is an opportunity for shop owners to purchase completed samples for their shops.  Also fabric manufactures are there offering the newest fabrics, designers are there showing off the newest patterns and notions.  A bunch of work has to happen now to make it look as effortless as it does at market. 

I have lots of wool to prep, but I'm so looking forward to getting back on the road.  

My first show is the Big Bear show in Big Bear CA, next Saturday & Sun  Sept  5th & 6th of Sept. 

If you are in the area, please come by and say hi.  Shawn

Friday, August 21, 2015

                 Day Before the Big Day

Last night Lisa and the crew here in Wisconsin threw Brooke a Bridal shower.  We had a great time.  One of the games involved your cell phone, which I had left at the house.   Times have changed when cell phones are used in a game.

Today is all about the Lake House wedding ready.  Lots of hands will be on deck, so imagine the work will go fast.

Brooke and Kayla

  Tina, the hostess make Sangria and a Nacho Bar that was delish.














This was the largest gun case I have ever seen.  We are in Wisconsin.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

                                                                Day 3 in Wisconsin


 I had to go to the Primitive Gathering Store yesterday.  I regard it basically the Mecca to the primitive quilt world.  So many projects that I would love to get my hands on.  She has a pattern wall for other designers, and I had to snap a picture of the Rusty Crow pattern that had a place on the wall!! Yahoo. 




Wednesday, August 19, 2015

                                Wedding Week in Wisconsin

We are so happy to be here in Wisconsin this week to celebrate with our daughter Brooke and future son-in-law Luke.  They are getting married this coming Saturday at his mom's lake house.  It is going to be beautiful and low-key, just like our Brookie.  

Mike and I have never been here before, but we feel like this is going to be a second home.  Nick & Lisa have been so welcoming, we couldn't ask for nicer people to share our family with.  We hope they feel the same.  

I will try to post more pictures this week.  

Shawn