Dyeing wool in the rain . . . . .

. . . . . with help from Employee of the Day!  

I think I would rather be in the sewing room working on a new project in this yucky weather but my first show of 2015 is only 5 short weeks away!!

Blessings, Cathi

Starting today . . . . .

. . . . . all internet orders have FREE shipping in the "lower 48".  It's just a THANK YOU for your continued support from us to you.  It will continue until December 20th.

I am so excited about this next item that we are offering.  It's a retail catalog with real swatches.  Almost 90 swatches of hand-dyed wools and mill-dyed wools. Now you can match the actual sample with what you see on the website!

Here is a sample page of the inside.

The cost of the catalog is $15.00 (remember shipping is free until December 20th).  It would make a wonderful gift for a woolie friend, your wool group or especially yourself!

Blessings, Cathi

Wool Pines . . . . .

Cute little pillow designed by Cheri Payne called Wool Pines.  

There are actually 3 projects in the pattern.

I have kitted the larger of the two pillows.  The kit includes the background fabric, the wool, the pattern, the jingle bell and the button for the eye.  Such a quick project to make up for THIS season.  You can do it!

Price is $19.50 plus shipping BUT if you wait until Monday, the shipping will be FREE.  Our gift to you from December 1st until December 20th is FREE SHIPPING on all internet orders to anywhere in the continental USA.  Click here ..... 

There are only 4 kits left!

Blessings, Cathi

I just can't wait . . . . .

Some of my favorite designers ..... all sharing and caring ..... about ME ....... and you, too!

Blessings, Cathi

Common Threads . . . . .

It's been months since I have blogged.  There really is no point in making excuses (I have plenty!) or rehashing the past so let's just move forward from here! LOL

Besides all the sewing I have been doing for the booth samples (which aren't very many) and all the traveling I have been doing  ..... going from show to show selling my wool (which I am still in love with), I have been working on Cheri Payne's Common Threads blocks.

Simply Libby and I decided back in June to encourage each other to make Cheri's newest large quilt.  There are 25 blocks in all plus a beautiful appliqued border.  

I was going to try to use cotton applique to do my squares.  I tried, I really did.  I'd hate to lose what little needle-turn applique skills I have.  But I have become spoiled by the ease of the prep of wool applique.  And I do have a lot of wool LOL. So I caved in and am doing all my applique in wool.

Here are the 9 blocks that I have finished so far - not in any particular order other than they are the first 9.  Libby is farther along than I am.  But as she reminded me, it's not a race, although I would like to be farther along than I am.  I REALLY want to finish this one.

How I will get it quilted is beyond me but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Blessings, Cathi

Greensboro, NC .....

This is the back of the trailer just before unloading and setting up the booth in Greensboro this morning.  

I don't have an after picture or even a picture of the booth.  I was just FULL of energy when I took this one.

Apparently, I can't take a 2 month break and just jump right back in to the "groove" like I had just done this last week!  LOL  It took an extra hour to set up the booth this time.  I was dog-tired by the time I finished and was just grateful to be able to drive back home!!

The show starts tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning and runs until 5:00.  Same hours on Saturday.  Sunday the show is from 12:00 until 4:00.  The address is 301 Norwalk Street, Greensboro, NC.  We hope to see you there!

Blessings, Cathi

I have a thousand things to do . . . . .

before I sleep but at least I could tell you where I am going to be for the next 5 weeks!  I would love for all of you to be able to come visit me!!

September 2014 

Piedmont Quilters Guild

September 19th thru 21st

The Automobile Palace

301 Norwalk Street

Greensboro, North Carolina

Asheville Quilt Show

September 26th thru 28th

Western NC Agricultural Center

Asheville, North Carolina

October 2014 

Cabarrus Quilters Guild

October 3rd and 4th

Cabarrus Arena and Event Center

Concord, North Carolina

Mooresville Centerpiece Quilt Guild

October 10th and 11th

Talbert Recreation Center

Mooresville, North Carolina

Quilters of South Carolina Pieceable Retreat

October 17th thru 19th

White Oak Conference Center

Winnsboro, South Carolina

Blessings, Cathi

We're ready for fall! .....

I am so ready for fall!  The "cold" front is supposed to come through any minute now and cool it down here in the Carolinas.  I for one, can't wait!

Shakerwood Woolens has always sold Primitive Gatherings' Scrappy Penny Mat as a pattern and as a kit as shown on the cover.

Now we offer it kitted in warm Autumn colors, too.  It's available on the "Kits" page of the website as well as the shows this fall.  It works up quickly and is a PERFECT beginner project.  The threads are not included in the kit but I used just one - Valdani perle cotton #12 in color P12.

Also added to the website are my two ornies kits ....

Black Cat Ornie - the kit includes the pattern, enough wool for 4 different cats, buttons for eyes, and the waxed linen to use for the whiskers.

 Pumpkin Ornie - the kit includes the pattern, enough wool for 4 different pumpkins, buttons for the eyes and the template for 4 different mouth shapes.

Each ornament is approximately 4" across.

These also work up quickly.  Good thing 'cause I think Fall may be just around the corner!!

Blessings, Cathi

Congratulations to .....

Between the likes and comments and followers on both this blog and my business Facebook page, out of hundreds of entries, 

ROXIE SPERRY

is the winner of my 4th anniversary giveaway!

Congratulations, Roxie!!

I am overwhelmed by all the warm wishes and sweet comments left by everyone here and on Facebook.

I am so encouraged by all of you.  There will be more surprises coming soon on here and on the website so stay tuned!

And thank you from the bottom of my heart .....

Blessings, Cathi

Shades of Pumpkin Patch .....

Shades of Pumpkin Patch are hanging on the line this afternoon.  

It's just miserably hot out today not so much with the heat but the humidity.  So if I can't FEEL Fall, I can at least look at it! And if I went in to the house I would hear it on the tv.  College football is back!  Whoohoo!!

Remember the 4th anniversary giveaway ends tonight at midnight EST.  See the post below for how to enter.  The winner will be announced sometime tomorrow.

Good luck!

Blessings, Cathi

We're having a giveaway because four years ago today .....

I made my first sale as a new business owner! 

That first sale was two Fat 1/16s at the Anderson Area Quilt Show in Anderson, South Carolina.  I had one eight foot table, a pile of wool, a bunch of patterns by Cheri Payne and Lisa Bongean, and a small enamel bowl of Valdani perle cotton.

I don't look very different in four years but the booth does!

In honor of this milestone, I am having a giveaway!  For each of the following things you do, you will receive one "entrance" into the drawing.

1. Follow this blog (I will be blogging more often from now on .... honest!). If you already follow this blog, please let me know in your comment below.

2. Leave a comment on THIS post.

3. "Like" my Shakerwood Woolens Facebook page.  See the link to the left.  If you already follow my Facebook page, you already have one entrance.

4. Leave a comment on the Facebook post that announces the giveaway.

There you have it ..... 4 ways to enter, 4 chances to win.

And what will you win?

This grouping of goodies ...... a charm pack of 10 autumn color wools, a Penny Stack (50 - 2" squares"), a Baby Bundle of Pumpkin Patch gradated wools, a Baby Bundle of creamy yellows and golds, (2) 1/2 yard cuts of Primitive Gatherings tea-dyed muslins and a tube of 8 bobbins each filled with autumn colored Aurifil Wool threads.  Each bobbin has approximately 18 yards.

There you have it.  The drawing will close on Saturday night (August 30th at midnight EST).  The winner will be announced sometime on Sunday.

Thanks so much to all of you that have supported us these past four years.  

Onward and upward!

Blessings, Cathi

35 years and counting .....

I sure do love this guy ..... even after 35 years together ...... it just feels right!

Blessings, Cathi

Winston-Salem, Here I Come .....

I've been in the Wool Barn early the past few mornings, trying to beat the 90° heat that was/is expected in the afternoons.  Yes, I have air-conditioning but it just seemed too contradictory to run the a/c while I'm heating up pots to dye wool.   And I'm cheap :>)

Yesterday morning I had 21 pots finished by 1:30. Then I turned on the a/c and started cutting kits.

All in preparation for my next show in Winston-Salem! Home guild to Carrie (A Passion for Applique)

and Mrs. Goodneedle (From the Strawberry Patch).

The show is May 16th and 17th from 9am to 5pm each day.  It will be held at Parkway Presbyterian Church.  For more information, click here.

And for those wondering/worrying, the white chair so close to the dye pots is a Goodwill find covered in white Pleather.  There is more cat hair on it than dye!  And it is only a work room ..... 

Blessings, Cathi

Bonding with Buttercup .....

I had a wonderful time this past weekend spending some quality time with Buttercup, my Bernina 440QE.

A total of three samples were ALMOST finished.  Two have the machine part finished but still quite a bit of handwork to do.

This one has all the borders on now and just has to be quilted ..... but we all know how I am about getting around to the quilting part! LOL

More pictures soon.  I have about 10 days to finish them before my next show which is in Winston-Salem, NC.

Blessings, Cathi

A week at Camp Gainey .....

Along with everything else going on, The Married One and her hubby celebrated their 10th anniversary with a visit to Washington, DC.  Dear Hubby and I were lucky enough to keep Sweet Pea while they were gone.  

Since I haven't had pictures of her on here since January, I thought I would give you some sweet overload!

Day 1 ..... a visit to the local garden center.  She saw it more as a place to run and run and run!

Day 2 ..... a trip to Boone, NC.  Yucky weather but I think we found out that we have a budding artist!

Day 3 ..... Picture perfect weather for working in the garden and chasing the cat .....

Day 4 ..... It all came back to me in an instant ..... grocery shopping with a pre-toddler is tiring!!

Day 5 ...... Spoon tricks ..... she is truly talented!

Day 6 ...... found Mama and PaPa sick with a stomach virus, hopefully the same one that Sweet Pea had 2 weeks earlier so she doesn't get it.  Poor thing had to bask in the glow of her favorite tv shows while waiting for Mommy to come pick her up.  Thank goodness Mommy and Daddy were back in town and at work by the time we got sick.

All in all, a very good week with our Sweet Pea.  By the way, I could do with a few more of these ..... just sayin' .......

Blessings, Cathi

Taxes are finished ..... and a quilt show!

WhooHoo!  Taxes are finished for another year!  It wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be.

All of the internet and backorders have finally been shipped out.  And other than a little hiccup on the medical front (dang pollen caused pharyngitis), I am ready to finally move forward.

That means getting ready for my next show next weekend.

APRIL 18-19, 2014

'Springtime in the Carolinas', Rutherford Quilt Guild at the Isothermal Community College,

286 ICC Loop Road

Spindale NC 28160

The show runs Friday from 10am until 5pm and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

If you are in the western half of the Carolinas, come by the show and visit us.  Dear Hubby and I will both be at the show.

Blessings, Cathi

Hello, Sunshine . . . . .

Welcome to picture perfect weather in the Carolinas . . . . . 

Mondays can't start out any better than this !!

Blessings, Cathi

Love me some wool thread .....

I love handwork. No doubt about it.  I use all kinds of threads ..... perle cotton, cotton thread, silk thread, floss, 'whatever I have in my thread box' thread ...... but I really have fallen in love with wool thread.  Specifically Aurifil wool thread.

I have just added nine new colors to my website in some lighter Spring-like shades that are just wonderful.

Aurifil wool thread is a blend of 50% wool and 50% acrylic.  Acrylic to give it strength and wool just because it is so beautiful.

If you haven't given wool thread a try, maybe now is the time to start! It sews wonderfully whether by hand or machine.

Blessings, Cathi

disclaimer:  I am not endorsing one product over another and am not paid in any way, shape or form to say the things I say.  I just like it!

only four more to go ......

The 'big' tree was undecorated today!

I don't feel guilty at all for leaving it up so late.  I didn't decorate until a week or two before Christmas so really mine has been up the same length of time ... just a different time period.

Only the four trees upstairs have to come down now ... one in each of the three bedrooms and upstairs landing. But they look so nice up there.

Maybe you should check back in a month!
;-)

Blessings, Cathi

Back to work .....

A week from today, the Wild One and I will be headed to Sanford, North Carolina for the first show of 2014.

I've worked hard the last 2 months to get ready ...... maybe not as hard as I could but I also played some and napped some and ate some and decorated some.

But still I am ready to get back in to the swing of things.

I have 11 shows through the end of May and a teaching retreat.  Hope there is one near you.

The complete schedule is on the website here.

Here is a list of the cities ......

Sanford, North Carolina

Statesville, North Carolina

Lancaster, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Savannah, Georgia

Spindale, North Carolina

retreat in Aiken, South Carolina

Winston Salem, North Carolina

Chantilly, Virginia

With a few exceptions, I am trying to stay closer to home this year.  

Sweet Pea is growing like ..... a sweet pea and my time with her is precious to me.

Blessings, Cathi