Happy Thanksgiving to all ! ! ! !

Enjoy this time with your family!

I'll be back SOON!!!!

joe

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where does the time go? No excuses...I am now recommitting to my blog! Who says you have to wait until January 1st to make a resolution?

ThimbleCreek has been keeping me way busy...but, as Ahnold might say, "I'm BAHCK!!!!!" I have a weekly newsletter, The Gazette. This communication goes out EACH and EVERY Tuesday! It's just chock full of good information and it's FUN (if I do say so myself!). I encourage you to go to our website, www.thimblecreek.com, and register to receive the weekly Gazette!! There are give-a-ways and I hope you'll partake!!

I have a winner to announce...the winner of the book is "MJ"....I apologize for my long vacation from blogging, MJ. Please send me your address and I'll send you your book! E-mail me at jawood88@hotmail.com - THANKS!!!!!

NOW, what's going on in YOUR life? What would you like to share? Seen a good movie? Read a great book? Made a fabulous quilt? Blogs NEED to be two way communication...and I WANT to know what's "up" with you!!!

Next week is Thanksgiving! We all need to reflect on our good fortune...spending time with family and rejoicing. We live in a free country....we are LUCKY! Each and every one of us should rejoice in this freedom and give thanks! I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Now . . . . I hope you will STAY TUNED.....I have something up my sleeve....a CHALLENGE for you!!!! Coming soon!!!!!! I'll be bahck....will you?

joe

I Know, I Know . . . .

I tend to get way excited when I find something I love that I want to share with YOU!

Be forewarned....I am VERY excited about

JULIE & JULIA!!!!!!!!

I recently read the book and could not WAIT for the movie. In fact, as soon as I finished the book, I IMMEDIATELY read Julia Child's book, My Life In France. The movie is based on both books and it is a MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!

I have read a few reviews and I agree with a lot of the reviewers' comments. Meryl Streep is amazing (she is a singular sensation!!!) and Amy Adams is terrific as Julie. I wanted to see more of Meryl simply because I think she's the best actress out there, bar none. But the movie did not suffer from not enough Meryl.

The stories are wonderfully interwoven jumping from Paris to New York. There is a connection between these two ladies that is wonderful to watch. Roxie and I had smiles on our faces throughout the movie. IT IS A DELIGHT!!!! And I rate it FIVE out of four thimbles!!!!

I should also state that you should not go to this movie if you are hungry. Maybe it won't matter, because you'll be ready to eat AGAIN after watching this gastronomic delight. We had a late dinner after the movie - and we savored EVERY bite!!!

Without hesitation I am telling you to GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! I may be premature, but this one is Oscar worthy!! And Meryl should be a shoo in for Best Actress!!!!!

Now, get me to Paris!!! I want to live where Julia lived, cook where Julia cooked, shop where Julia shopped, walk the streets that Julia walked, and live the life that Julia and Paul lived.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bon appetit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I want to give away the book, Julie & Julia. All you have to do is comment back to me - TELL ME WHAT SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PERSONALITY PLAYED JULIA IN A HILARIOUS SEND UP OF JULIA CHILD. This skit is in the movie - and is hilarious!!!!

I needed to share my delight with Julie & Julia with you....no quilting news today!!!!

Enter the drawing today....I'll announce the winner of the book in my next post!!!

Stay Tuned for more......... joe

Wedding Bells Rang . . . .

for Sarah and Adam on July 12, 2009! It was an amazing day - perfect in every way!!

Roxie and I are still in a daze - it takes time to assimilate after such a major event! Here's a couple of pictures of the beautiful couple:

After the wedding, Roxie and I went on vacation - just back from Kauai! We haven't had a real vacation in YEARS and this get away was just what the doctor ordered. We are now back to reality - in a fog, but we're baaaaaaaack!!!

This will be a short post....much to do....LOTS of stuff going on here at ThimbleCreek! We're starting to put together new patterns and kits for all the shows coming up this Fall (How can it be? Wasn't it just Christmas a few weeks ago?)

So, I'll ask you all to STAY TUNED! I'll have more give aways coming very very very SOON!!!!!

joe

W O W ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

That is NOT me, but I went S K Y D I V I N G last weekend with my son, Adam!! It was definitely out of my box, but it was Absolutely . . . Amazing, and Awesome!!! I JUMPED OUT OF AN AIRPLANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was our weekend to celebrate! We jumped out of a plane and then went to Lake Tahoe – it was an incredible weekend – one I will NEVER forget! THANK YOU, ADAM! We celebrated (REALLY celebrated!!) his upcoming wedding. Here’s a picture of us on the ground after our jump – FLYBOYS!!!

Now, speaking of AWESOME and AMAZING . . . my Japanese House block of the month, RYOKAN, is about ready to have it’s second wave start.It is almost filled up…but there are still a few openings. Call the shop NOW if you are interested. (925) 676-5522.

AND, we have a WINNER!!! This is for 8 fat quarters of Japanese fabrics by Lecien and my pattern, Fall Baskets. The winner (randomly selected) is QUILTMEPRETTY….you responded on 6/10/09 at 8:46AM. PLEASE send me your name and address (jawood88@hotmail.com) and I’ll get these sent to you right away! THANK YOU all ! ! ! ! ! AND, you must stay tuned. I have more giveaways coming soon – COSMO embroidery floss and a pattern by Brenda from Acorn Quilt and Gift Company! She is wonderful and her work is outstanding! Sooooooooooo, PLEASE STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!!!

joe

"Vintage" TV R U L E S ! ! ! ! ! ! !

You responded to my TV Trivia Game in DROVES!!!! In addition to responding via "Comments", I also received 78 e-mails!!!! Sooooo, I'm a HAPPY guy!!!! THANKS for playing the game AND C O N G R A T S to LISA!!!!! Lisa is the random drawing winner of the Lecien fat quarters from my stash and my Fall Baskets pattern. You posted your response on May 26 @ 8:33AM. Lisa, PLEASE send me an e-mail (jawood88@hotmail.com) with your address and I'll get these to you!!! Again, CONGRATS!!!

This was just so much FUN, I want to play the game ONE MORE TIME!!! Here's five more vintage TV shows that I remember from my childhood. Respond with the names of these TV classics to have a chance to win 8 Japanese fabrics by Lecien and a pattern!!!!

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We recently hosted a retreat up in the "gold country" - we had a great time and we have more retreats coming this year! Check out our website or contact the shop for more details. You deserve a break from the reality of everyday life - come up to the mountains with us and get away from it all!! Bring your own projects and be prepared to sew, and laugh, and eat, and laugh, and eat, and sew!!! http://www.thimblecreek.com/

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We're having a book signing at our shop with the amazing Denise Sheehan - her new book is The Graceful Garden. It's a beautiful book and Denise will be at the shop to sign your copy on Saturday, June 20th from 11am - 1pm. Hope to see you at the shop!!!

ThimbleCreek, 1150 Burnett Ave #D, Concord, CA 94520

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I am so excited to have a vegetable garden this year! In a few short weeks, my tiny little plants have erupted into a mass of green - with little yellow flowers that will eventually be tomatoes and zucchini - and the corn we will have!!! Yup, I'm EXCITED!!!!! I haven't had a vegetable patch for many, many years. Our son, Adam, gave Roxie a huge antique "horse trough" for Mothers Day that I filled with soil and planted my vegetables - check it out!!!

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You are all just terrific!!! And, this whole blogging adventure is amazingly fun!!! I'm adding two more friends to my list of "friends". Their blogs are chock full of good stuff and both Joanna and Anne are truly my friends. If you haven't enjoyed their blogs yet, what are you waiting for??

Links - http://www.bunnyhillblogspot.com/ http://www.figtreequilts.typepad.com/

Stay Tuned for more summer fun!! Has anyone seen "UP" yet? I can't wait to see this one!!!!

Talk to you again soon.......

joe

WE HAVE A WINNER ! ! ! ! In my first post, we offered a ThimbleCreek kit, Spring Thyme by the lovely and talented Roxie (my wife - am I lucky or what?). Soooo, the WINNER of this kit is (BIGGGGGGG drumroll, please!) . . . . NAN!!!!!!!!! Nan, you posted your comment on May 5th at 8:13am....PLEASE e-mail me at jawood88@hotmail.com and I'll send you your kit!!! This was sooooooooo VERY much FUN for me!!! THANK YOU all for your comments and enthusiasm!!!!


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I HAVE BEEN FEELING NOSTALGIC OF LATE, so here's yet ANOTHER give-away based on your memories of baby boomer television!! Respond to this post with the names of these baby boomer television shows to enter!! I promised myself that I would never say things like "when I was young I had to WALK miles through the snow to get to school" and, yet, here I am saying something likewise parenty - "they don't make TV shows like THIS anymore!" At stake, EIGHT OF MY FAVORITE JAPANESE LECIEN FAT QUARTERS FROM MY OWN PERSONAL STASH!! AND, MY Fall Baskets pattern!!! I'll draw a random WINNER on June 1st!!!


Want to see what you're playing for? (WHO says that??)





Here's the Quiz!! NAME THESE SHOWS!!

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I HAVE HALLOWEEN . . . . on the brain! I am working on a new Halloween pattern and I should be able to finish it by next week while on the ThimbleCreek retreat!! Here's a sneak peek at one block....more to come....stay tuned!!!

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We are going up to the mountains next week for our Retreat! This is ALWAYS a FUN time and we are excited to go!! I'll be back after the retreat with more stuff to share with you!!! Sooo, PLEASE S T A Y T U N E D ! ! ! ! ! joe

Thursday, May 14, 2009

GO FORTH AND PROSPER . . . . You must RUN to see the new Star Trek movie!!!!! All the reviews are right – this is a dynamite summer movie! GGGREAT FUN!!!!! And I give it 4 (out of 4) thimbles!! The special effects are terrific and the stars of this movie have nailed the personas of the original characters – I could see this one again...and again!!!!!

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!!!!

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I NEED TO THANK . . .you all for your comments and encouragement! We are going to have FUN on this blog ride! It is so wonderful to hear from you all from places so far away! Ahhhh, that's the wonder of it all - to communicate and share.

AND, we DO have a winner!!!! The visual phrase in my last post translates to "You CAN teach this old man new tricks!" It was FUN for me to put that puzzle together and it seems you liked it (you really, really liked it!). It's true - I am learning new tricks and, surprisingly, ENJOYING IT!!!!!! You may not believe it, but I am a guy who has made a conscious decision NOT to even own a cell phone! I was chained to one when working for a major bank for years and years and years (frankly, I'm surprised that phone wasn't INGROWN into my ear!!!). And yet, here I am now WRITING A BLOG (I STILL can't believe it!!!). I know a blog is not a cell phone - but it equates somehow to me as an "electronic/computer thing." ANYWAY, my random picked winner is HollyC!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS to Holly!!!!! PLEASE SEND ME AN E-MAIL, jawood88@hotmail.com, AND I'LL SEND YOU YOUR 4 LECIEN FAT QUARTERS!

Reminder: if you haven't already, you must read my first post and enter the contest to win a kit from ThimbleCreek!! THAT give-away contest ends on March 20th! And, you MUST keep checking back to my blog, because there will be MORE give-aways coming!!!

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WHILE I AM EXCITED ABOUT SUMMER ALMOST BEING HERE. . . .I can't help but to start thinking about Halloween projects. Meg from Crab-apple Hill has a new Halloween pattern that we will be kitting. It's called Vintage Trick or Treat and it takes me back to a time when I was a "bum" (for SEVERAL consecutive years!) as a kid, trick or treating to all hours of the night! I love this quilt - and if you like to embroider and piece, then this is the quilt for you! We are doing this one in more vintage "hues". We're using the incredible Cosmo embroidery floss for our kits along with more vintage fabrics for the piecing. This one will no doubt be as big a hit as Hocuspocusville was last year! We are taking pre-orders for this one - we need to have an idea of how many kits we will be making so we can order the Cosmo floss NOW! I'm sorry that the photos below do not do justice to the quilt. Also, below is a sampling of the fabrics and floss that we will be using.

YOU, as my blogging FRIENDS, have first shot at signing up for this amazing kit! Kits will not be mailed until we have all the floss and fabrics assembled, but your $25 deposit will hold your kit. The price of the complete kit is $94.99. It will include all fabric for the quilt top (including border and binding), rick rack, and Cosmo floss. Backing is not included. The balance of $69.99 will be charged at the time of mailing. As the quilt sample comes together, I'll be sharing photos. Don't miss out on this one! CALL THE SHOP TO SIGN UP NOW!!

(925) 676-5522

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY . . . .

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land among the stars.

- Les Brown

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OK, you've gotta STAY TUNED . . . . check back for more FUN . . . .there will be oh so many more surprises coming this summer!!!

joe

A BABY BOOMER . . . .

AND PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!!

No doubt, I won't be retiring any time soon . . . and I'm worried about my retirement savings running out before I run out . . . BUT, luckily, I love what I do - and I'm H A P P Y ! ! ! ! :)

I was reminded exactly how much of a baby boomer I am when my daughter, Molly, brought me back a "BEATLES T-shirt" - from L I V E R P O O L ! ! ! ! It may be a shirt that is available virtually EVERYWHERE, but MINE came directly from the BEATLES store in LIVERPOOL - now, just how cool is that?? I will wear it proudly - yup, I'm a baby boomer, and proud of it!!!!!!!!

(Sorry about the quality of this photo - but the shirt is real cool in person!)

I now have to learn how to juggle - helping Roxie run a quilt shop, designing new patterns, making new quilts, writing my weekly "The Gazette" newsletter, and now writing a blog!! And, I can tell that writing a blog is going to be a HOOT!!! I LOVE hearing from all of you . . . and I am going to LOVE sharing a little bit of my view of the world with you all - and getting YOUR responses back!!! This is going to be a FUN ride!! Being a new blog participant, I am just now learning how BIGGGGG the blogworld is! There are blogs out there for EVERYTHING! On my sidebar I will be adding links to blogs that I enjoy reading. It will take some time to accumulate a list because I want to REALLY LIKE those blogs I share with you as "friends." And, I will not add any "friends" until I get their permission. My first blog "friends" are Happy Zombie and PamKittyMorning!! So, a BBBBIGGGG shout out of thanks to Pam and Monica!! I hope you will check out their blogs if you haven't already! They are both delightful and FUN and entertaining - and we all can use a little of that! Tell 'em that Joe (the quilter, not the plumber!) sent you.

OK, speaking of learning the "hows" of blogging, below I have a visual riddle that I want you to translate - figure out this phrase and reply to this blog with the "answer". From all correct responses, I'll draw a WINNER! Four fat quarters of my favorite Japanese fabric from Lecien will go to the lucky winner! In my next post, I'll announce the winner and translate my riddle.

I so want to share a picture of the quilt I just finished for Lecien. But, until I have the pattern written and ready, I can't share the quilt with you. I can give you a "sneak peek" though. The quilt will debut in Pittsburgh at the Spring Quilt Market next week. I am hoping to have the pattern ready by the end of May. I am proud of this one! It's called, Everything Old Is New Again - and it's made from the NEW Civil War line of fabric from Lecien that will also debut in Pittsburgh.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

"Everything is miraculous. It is miraculous that one does not melt in one's bath."

- Pablo Picasso

Let me know the "answer" to my riddle and don't forget to enter the drawing (if you haven't already) for a kit from ThimbleCreek (from my first post below)....

H A P P Y M O T H E R ' S D A Y WEEKEND!!!!! :) :) :)

I look forward to talking to you again soon,

joe

MY FIRST BLOG ENTRY!!!!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Friends!

I am soooooooooo darn excited to be starting a BLOG! This will be a forum for POSITIVE vibes. I'll share pictures that will make you HAPPY :) ! !

Like this Vintage Ad:



My name is Joe Wood and my wife, Roxie and I own and operate ThimbleCreek Quilt Shop in Concord, CA. We get to play with fabric and color - EVERY DAY! How lucky is that? I'll be sharing our quilt shop with you - new patterns, new fabric, new projects, new ideas, new, new, new...you get the idea. And, I'll be celebrating the little things in life - like recipes, movie reviews, "thoughts for the day", and pictures of fun and interesting "stuff". We all need some positive vibes and I'll be here sending out those POSITIVE VIBES!!!!

To create is important to me. I am inspired by everything I see - and my mind reels with creative ideas. Unleash the creativity that lies in all of us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - "I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues." - Duke Ellington

To celebrate the launching of the Piece by Piece blog, I am starting a new "Civil War Fat Quarter Club". This is a 12 month program. Every month you'll receive 4 Civil War fat quarters and a F R E E pattern. The plan is to make four blocks of each pattern every month. There will be alternate blocks that will pull it all together with a "chain." You'll need a background fabric - I am using a cream solid. All blocks are 6" and your finished quilt will be approximately 60" x 72". Join me and we'll make this awesome quilt together!!!

COST: $20 Month #1 and $10/month for Months #2 - 12. If you decide on the same cream background that I am using, we have it available at $6.99 a yard and I'd suggest two yards to get you started. There are a limited number of spaces and you have the first opportunity as a first time Piece by Piece Quilts blog reader to join. I am so excited about this project - let's make this DYNAMITE quilt together!! Here's the first month's pattern and fabrics!



Simply call the shop to join this club! (Or, e-mail me at jawood88@hotmail.com and I'll call you!) I'm excited to make this quilt WITH YOU!!! ThimbleCreek - (925) 676-5522

What's a blog without a give-a-way? To celebrate my first blog entry, we're giving away Spring Thyme, a ThimbleCreek kit! Roxie designed this vintage applique quilt and I want YOU to win this kit! A random drawing will determine the winner from all responses on May 20th!



All you have to do to enter is refer a friend to my blog - just respond to this blog entry - just tell me you've referred a friend and I'll enter your name in the drawing!

I can't wait to hear from YOU!



The "banner" on my blog is a partial picture of my first block-of-the-month! It's called Ryokan which roughly translates to Japanese Inn. I have used all Japanese fabrics for the houses and the mini-blocks within the blocks are made from my favorite, hand-dyed Cherrywood fabrics. It SOLD OUT quickly, but I am keeping a Waiting List - hoping to start a second wave. Contact the shop to get on the list! Or, e-mail me indicating your interest.



Together we'll take this blogging journey!! PLEASE check back often for fun and new inspiration! Check out our website for more good "stuff"!!! http://www.thimblecreek.com/

I look forward to talking to you often!!!



joe