June First and Some BIG NEWS

 So, a dream has been realized….my own little stitching shop!!!!!  A home decor store in town wanted to expand…but only if she could get a bigger space on Main Street.  A 2600 +square foot building came available….well, she didn’t need THAT much space!! So her idea was to sublet to other businesses….and I was the first to sign on!! Simply Stitches & Curiosities was born!!  Hubby built the walls…I found antique doors on kijiji, and old window on FB marketplace.  The antiques are my Dads (of course!!) and they are housed in the vault!!! This old building has had many lives and one was a bank.  The inside has been changed around a few times and more things have been added….always evolving! I love coming to this Happy Place Wednesday - Sunday!!  There are FIVE businesses in here and all of the women business owners are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now to get everyone hooked on wool applique!!  That’s the focus of this shop….lots of handwork…mixed with piecing.  But I’m not a quilt shop per se.  

My friend Kim has sent some beautiful quilts for me to sell.  My friend Sue has made some things too and has been a huge support!!  She even made the sign above my door!!!  I LOVE IT!

A panoramic view of the vault.🔝

There’s so much more to write…..I have a new granddaughter who will arrive soon.  Daughters1&2 both have new jobs, Son1 has got a promotion and they will be moving the family to Jasper….(the ones expecting the new granddaughter!). 

Anyway…..I hope to be back soon with more news and pictures.  It’s almost a full time job keeping up with social media!!!!  (Follow me on both Facebook “Simply Stitches & Curiosities”and Instagram “simplystitches_curiosities”)

Living the dream!!!!!🪡🧵💕

Quilters Gonna Quilt

Hello again....wow, twice (so far) in one month!!!!  I'm not sure who reads my blog anymore because they have changed how you get notified so the ones who used to find out when I posted something new likely don't anymore.....I should find out how to change that......

One of my most dedicated/loyal followers/readers is my BFF Kim....who is also my longarm quilter!  She has these two quilts in her possession and is starting on the big star one first.  She does such a beautiful job that I cannot wait to get them back....but there's no rush Kim!! (incase you are reading this!) LOL 

These next two quilts should be arriving soon.....the first one was a kit I had had in my sale last summer.....the centre is a panel....and when it didn't sell right away I brought it in and made it!

This one is for my grandson Jude.  He is really into super heros (I hope he still is!) and this will go on his bed.  

I've started a free mystery BOM from Buttermilk Basin that has a foundation and then you change out the oval every month.  I have to quilt the foundation and make the oval....coming along!  (WHY I started something knew is beyond me.....as long as it gets finished!)

The weather has been beautiful...the snow was melting away and the dogs have been getting out for a walk or two a day.  The temps are to drop for a couple of days and we might get some snow but hey, it's still January!!  I did a big grocery shop yesterday so we will be good for awhile.  Hoping our stupid govt with their rules for truckers doesn't result in a supply shortage.  We have the biggest idiot running our country!  Grrrrrrr.

Anywhoooooooooo.....find your happy today!

 

A New Year Is Here Again

Just a short post to let you know I am still alive!!!!!  Gosh, I tried to write one at the end of November but it didn't get finished....that seems so long ago now so I'll just start fresh.

Things have happened since the last post....the big one being we moved!!!!  To a tiny, quaint town of Nanton, Alberta.  Lots of antique shops here and once again the desire to open a small stitching 🧵 shop is niggling in my brain.  But there's nothing to rent!  And notice I said stitching shop....I'd like to specialize in more embroidery, wool appliqué, etc and not a quilt shop as there are a few around.....one in Okotoks, two now in High River and one in Claresholm let alone all the shops in Lethbridge.  So I would just focus on what I love doing......but there's no place to rent who knows......

Back to the move....we talked one day and realized we were both kind of in a funk.  The house and one garage needed siding so we decided vinyl (least expensive option) and Hubby did that in three (HOT) days!  In the meantime we called our realtor and said we wanted to list. 🏡  By the time they came to do pictures the siding was done and I had painted the trim around the windows.  We knew the market was hot BUT nine showings in five days and then three full price offers!  We accepted the one with no conditions besides a home inspection and then began our search for someplace to live.  Because the market was insane, we wanted to rent until it calmed down but that wasn't as easy an option as we thought!!  And we knew we wanted to go back to the 'south'.  NOTHING available in High River!  I was in a panic and called our realtor in Nanton (do you remember we wanted to move there before?) and she showed us some houses to buy.  It wasn't ideal but I didn't want to be homeless!  We looked on a Friday and that night my friend Sue, who lives in Nanton but was away camping, saw a post on a FB page of a house for rent in town.  Long story short, we got the house!  (it's tough when you have no rental references as we have owned our own homes since 1989.  Nor do we have pay stubs as Hubby is self employed!)  Thank goodness it was a private rental.  The house is alot bigger than our Sundre home so this past Christmas we enjoyed the extra space with all the kids and grandkids home!  

So far we love it here.  We are facing the ball diamonds so I'm sure there will be some action in the summer.  It will be fun to sit on the front patio and watch the games!  There is also a walking trail around the diamonds which the dogs enjoy...even Pixie, who has lost weight since our arrival...a good thing!  Now it's time for me to use that walking trail as I have NOT lost weight!  😝 Sue lives a couple of blocks away so we visit often enjoying coffee and even stitching days.  There is a playground at the end of the block that the grandkids have enjoyed when they visit and of course Nanton's famous candy store!!  

The grandkids are growing and we have a new one set to arrive in June!!!!!  Son1 and Jenna will be busy as little Joey just had his first birthday December 29th.  Jude and Lyla have started kindergarten and both love it.  Time just flies doesn't it??  

I have a big sewing area in the basement here.....I am very fortunate about that.  The house isn't perfect (needs alot of updating) and it might not be our house but it's our home.  I read that somewhere.....it fits perfectly.  I had quite a few garage sales before moving and we got rid of a ton of stuff but I still have too much and will spend this year purging.  Not sure what the future holds but I do know I don't want to move this stuff again if need be!  😂

Sorry about all the pics!  It was quite a chore to get them on here so they are big and not in order!  LOL 

Hope your new year has started off with you doing something you love!  Here's to a sane, normal, hopeful and kind 2022.  💖  I can't take another one like 2021!  

Christmas 2021

(love this one...how Joey is looking up and Brody taking off...he's right into "ready, set, go! and the timer was on the camera!  LOLOLOL)

Someone turned 60 this year!

Some quilty/stitchy/gifty things accomplished this fall:

                                                                              Before:

 (Blair had already ripped a piece of "trim" off above the grey siding)

After:

(but before the trim was painted) 

After:

 

(trim is painted.  I'm going to miss that lilac bush)

Rental

New Sewing Area