This weekend I went to Juneau to meet Keith at the airport. He's been down in the lower 48 for the past month and I was very excited he was coming home. And not just because it means I don't have to empty the cat litter box anymore.
Juneau is 92 miles away.....by water. There are no roads to Juneau. I took myself and the car on the ferry Friday afternoon, and by 9pm, I was shopping at Walmart. Keith didn't fly in until Saturday evening, so I had the whole Saturday to shop. First stop: Costco. No trip to Juneau is complete without the obligatory trip to Costco, where we load up on bulk toilet paper and 25lb bags of dry beans. One begets the other.
This is the ferry we took to get home Sunday morning. Very EARLY Sunday morning, might I add. Mornings and I aren't exactly the best of friends. But the universe was out to cheer me up, cause as we were waiting in the staging area with our car, we looked over at the ferry and there was a big bald eagle sitting on the railing. And to the right of it, was this crazy raven sitting up there on the railing, just squawking his little brains out at the eagle. I don't know what was going on so early in the morning, but that raven had worked up a really big mad and he was telling off that eagle like there was no tomorrow. When we got on the ferry, we hurried up to the solarium to get a better picture and the raven was mysteriously missing. I'm pretty sure the eagle ate him for breakfast.
After my run through at Costco, where I may or may not have indulged in one of those awesome, foul-breath-inducing hot dogs, loaded with hot mustard and sauerkraut, I hit two of the three quilt shops. One was new to me and what a GEM! Martina's Fabricsstarted out as an online store, and recently opened a real live store. I have to just get this out....I love this shop! It's small and cozy, chock full of all the latest from my favorite designers. Martha owns the shop, and Bonnie, who works there also, makes most of the store samples. They were both just so friendly and fun. Even when I was pulling fabric out of the pile they were cutting for models/kits. I couldn't get enough of the place and everywhere I looked, I was picking up more fun things. First off, I got my hot little hands on one of the Moda Bake Shop Samplers, which I've wanted for a very long time.
And then I added an Aster Manor jelly roll with some coordinates that I just loved in that dreamy red. I'm not generally a jelly roll-buying kind of quilter, but they were out of layer cakes and I needed to take something from this line home with me. In fact, I've already gone online and found myself a FQ bundle of this line too. I just love it. Aster Manor is taking no chances on becoming a future Favorite Fabric Friday that is impossible to get my hands on. This jelly roll is already burning a hole on my sewing table. I've never sought out any jelly roll patterns before, so I'd love any suggestions for favorite patterns. I can't wait to dig in.
Then I found the reproduction section, something a bit new to me, but one that I am quickly falling in like with. Again, I think it's all those sumptuous reds.
I picked up some other stash-building odds and ends and some little gifties for Maria, who is awesome and offered to feed the monsters cats while I ran off for the weekend.
It was a fun little getaway. Good shopping, great quilt shops, my favorite used bookstore, good eats, and we even spotted three humpbacks on our ferry ride home. It's late and I'm tired, so I'll leave you with some fun pictures of Martina's Fabrics. They have a Mini Quilt-of-the-Month program going on right now, so lots of itty bitty quilts to drool over.
Sounds like a great time in Juneau. That eagle is awesome just sitting there on the railing. I think I would love that quilt shop too. Aster Manor is one of my favorite fabric lines too. You'll enjoy that sampler pack. You should have picked up a couple of charm packs for a Schnibbles quilt.
Posted by: Carol Lewis | 04/19/2010 at 05:18 AM
What a fantastic store! For the Jelly roll, what about Scrap Basket Surprises? There are some lovely quilts in there all made with 2.5 " strips. Her blog is here- http://magnoliabayquilts.blogspot.com/ and you can get the book anywhere! I'm making one out of Civil War Homefront soon- I love that fabric too!
Posted by: Sasha | 04/19/2010 at 05:27 AM
Do you take a car on the ferry? I was wondering how you got around and managed to get your purchases with you.
My son has to fly out of where he lives.
Posted by: Karen Beigh | 04/19/2010 at 06:07 AM
I don't know where to start! First, the eagle is awesome. I have never ever seen one. Hawks yes, but never an eagle. Incredible. Just sitting there.
Your Aster Manor fabric is so pretty. I was fondling mine this weekend as well, thinking that if I used the reds and browns (or maybe the pinks and browns) only I could use a Miss Rosie pattern called Looking Glass.
The pictures from the quilt shop are wonderful--I especially love the way the reproduction fabrics are rolled by Martina's.
Posted by: Nicole | 04/19/2010 at 06:11 AM
Gosh just to see an Eagle would be amazing to me! Oh yes...impressed with fabric purchases too. Hee!!
Posted by: Mary Flynn | 04/19/2010 at 06:32 AM
LOVED this post! The eye candy from both the scenery and the quilt shops is amazing. Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you had a great weekend and glad that your husband made it home safely.
Posted by: Laura | 04/19/2010 at 07:10 AM
Sounds like you had a fun weekend, and I'm sure you are happy to have Keith back at home. I love Aster Manor, too, but haven't decided how to use my FQ bundle. I guess I'd best decide before it's impossible to get yardage!
Posted by: Lisa D. | 04/19/2010 at 01:19 PM
That's a lot you fit into two days! Nothing like being free of the daily grind...
The Moda Greenpiece BOM I am in uses some fabrics from Astor Manor and they are gorgeous.
Looks like you have lots of sewing room time coming up with all the goodies you bought!
Scrap Basket Surprises by Kim Brackett uses jelly rolls. It's a great book
Posted by: AnnieO | 04/19/2010 at 06:29 PM
I don't know what a Bake Shop Sampler is, but I want one, to set on my shelves in my sewing room, it looks like a donut box......too cute.
Yeah, the man of the house is home, were the cats happy to see Keith?
How fun is that, the only way to Juneau is by ferry! I just love your life, well not the Costco hotdog eating thing, but everything else.
I'm heading to Paducah, Ky tomorrow, and not by ferry. They have a little show down there that's not to be missed. I live in the middle of nowhere but so close to everywhere!
Posted by: Thelma | 04/19/2010 at 06:32 PM
I really enjoyed your post. I can imagine it was nice to get your hubby back home! The photos you took were great... not only of the scenery but also the eye candy at the quilt shop! What a beautiful place you call home.
Posted by: Sinta Renee | 04/20/2010 at 08:28 AM
What a nice diversion for you, Allyson. Maybe Keith should go to the Lower 48 more often!?! :)
I LOVE that store, too. Now I just need to get there...someday. I'm going to send this link (yours) to my friend so she can see that there is a new store in Juneau.
Posted by: Christine Thomas | 04/21/2010 at 08:12 AM
Allyson - Wow!! Great projects featured on your website. I'm thinking I need that Art to Heart book True Friends - I love the projects pictured on the cover. Definitely a must have.
Thank you for your kind words and all those great pictures! I'm so glad you came back to visit;-) Hope you're having fun with all those great colors and prints - happy sewing!
Posted by: Martina | 04/23/2010 at 10:19 PM
LOVE it --- all of it--great story and great finds and great pictures--thanks for sharing your little trip with us!!
Hugs, Di
Posted by: Di | 04/24/2010 at 04:54 PM
That to me is the coolest. It's not everyday that you are able to see an eagle.
Posted by: diving Boracay | 04/27/2010 at 03:23 AM
Hi! Just found your blog... I live in Haines and we are headed to Juneau the end of Aug. I'll have to hit this shop! Thanks!
Posted by: Becky Gonce | 07/25/2010 at 08:48 PM