Friday, November 29, 2013

The Gathering Place, Gifts, and a Giveaway

Last week I mentioned that DH and I were going to a favorite quilt shop that was on the way to nowhere. Actually, it used to be on the way to DD#1's house, but then she moved across the country and I hadn't found another reason to head in that direction--until my birthday weekend. We drove 2+ hours to The Gathering Place. (Photo swiped from their blog.)
This shop is in Rupert, ID, and claims to be the largest quilt shop in the state. I don't know if it is the biggest or not, I am just happy with the selection of "dark & dirty" fabrics, patterns and wool.





There is so much more to the store than I have shown. I just wanted to share a few of my "happy places". They have something for every quilting taste.

I came home with these goodies.
A scrap bag, Valdani floss, a quilt hanger, a magazine, a pattern,
a bunch of fat eighths, and several half-yard cuts.

I had a couple of real surprises as birthday gifts. When we had been to NH last month we visited a Shaker Colony. I have always loved Shaker boxes and wanted to buy one at the gift shop. But it was  our first day out and I didn't dare purchase one of the beautiful, but pricey creations, not knowing where else I might need the money. Imagine my surprise when DH produced this for my birthday.
Look at the wonderful birdseye maple! He bought a small one that he could hide in his pocket. Isn't he sneaky, and very thoughtful?

Well, sneakiness seems to run in the family. My two daughters had conspired with Julie at Me and My Stitches blog to make another charm for my "Charming" bracelet. This one was created using scraps from quilts my mother has made. It is the second charm from the right. Such a sweet keepsake--I love it!

I recently had a basting marathon for a bunch of small quilts. I got a couple of them quilted.
 There is still a pile ready and waiting.
By now you are probably wondering, "Where is the giveaway?" Look no further! If you have stayed with this post, you can participate in my Belated Birthday Giveaway. It includes one of my recently completed little quilts (9" square), a charm pack of Primitive Gatherings new Floral Gatherings line, and (as usual) a pack of my herbal soap.
Leave a comment to be included and I will draw a winner Monday evening.

Just so you know, I respond to every comment. If you have commented in the past and haven't heard back from me it is because you are a no-reply blogger, whether you know it or not. Google+ has thrown a bunch of you into that category, even if you were not there previously. Lori of Humble Quilts recently addressed this very thoroughly. If you need to fix your settings, check out her post here. If I draw a name that is "no-reply" and you haven't left your email in your comment, I will draw another name. (Doesn't that make me sound mean?)

Until next time,
Janet O.

Drawing is now closed.

74 comments:

  1. Looks like I'm first Janet.
    Love your purchases, and your DH did well to buy that Shaker Box without you seeing it!
    It would be lovely to win your giveaway and try your homemade soap.
    Julia ♥

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  2. no, seems like I made second place...lol!
    Julia ♥

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  3. Good finds from the Gathering Place.I bought that magazine while I was there. My pile of TBQ (to be quilted) quilts is much bigger. You have done better than me at the Finishing this year. And I'm starting the Bonnie Hunter Mystery on Friday. Time for BED but I saw you had posted so I have to leave a comment. You know I'd Love to WIN some more Soap!

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  4. oooh how nice! and a belated HB to you janet...lovely gifts you chose for yourself....LOL...and love that soap!

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  5. Love your charm bracelet, what a fabulous idea. Happy belated Birthday! Linda

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  6. The Gathering Place looks like my kind of shop, sure wish it was close to me!
    Wow, you do have a stack of quilts to get quilted! Thanks for the nice giveaway .... would love to win one of yourthe nice little quilts and other goodies!

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  7. I believe I would drive out of my way to go to the Gathering Place!! I'm tempted to drive there from Illinois! Ha!

    What are those colorful items on your basted quilts? I assume they are whatever you use in basting, but I've never seen anything like them before.

    You are being oh so generous on your giveaway - whoever wins will be blessed!!!

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  8. What a wonderful shop! Looks like my kind of place to visit! You found some real goodies there... and the Shaker box is gorgeous! Happy Birthday to you!

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  9. The Gathering Place looks like it's right up my alley! Wish I didn't live so far away. Thanks for the generous giveaway and a chance to win - so kind of you.

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    1. Sharon, I don't know if you will see this, but you are a no-reply blogger. Check out Lori's post, if you want to change that.

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  10. What an interesting post. All kinds of treasures for your birthday. Thank you for the chance to win.
    Mary

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  11. Love the little quilt! Thanks for the chance to win it! :0)

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  12. Looks like you enjoyed a lovely birthday. Great quilt shop too. Love the chance to win the goodies. Thank you.

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  13. Birthday Blessings, dear Janet. You certainly received lovely gifts. Your little quilts are always awe inspiring - well done.

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  14. The Gathering Place looks like an awesome shop - glad you made the trip! And it looks like you found some great fabric while you were there. I've been eyeing that Heart to Hand pattern forever and may just break down and order it today. You must have a very clever family - I love that your DH got that box for you and it was a pleasure to work with your daughters to surprise you with the charm! Thanks for the chance to win your awesome little quilt, soaps and fabric. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

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  15. I love the miniature quilt, and I have the perfect place for it in my studio.

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  16. Fun giveaway Mom! I love seeing all that you bought at the gathering place.
    What a fun trip :)

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  17. Love your selections at the shop! Thanks for the chance.

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  18. Of course I'm in!!!! What wonderful treasures you brought home!!! And DH is definitely a keeper - what a wonderfully beautiful surprise!!! Maybe we ought to meet up in Rupert!! Though I doubt we would need a quilt shop to have a conversation!!

    Blessings sweet friend!

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  19. You celebrated your birthday the same way I enjoy...aren't we lucky to have such understanding husbands?
    Best wishes to you!

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  20. Sounds like a fun, fun birthday with lots of love thrown in!! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, too. You make the loveliest little quilts. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  21. That is a lovely little quilt. Do sign me up and thank you sew much for sharing.

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  22. thank you for the opportunity to win one of your wonderful little minis. What wonderful gifts they will make for your family and friends. Merry Christmas!

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  23. Sounds like you had a great belated B'day celebration.

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  24. What a great birthday "haul". I'm sure you're going to make good use of all the goodies you got. I have always loved Shaker boxes and am delighted that you get to have one living at your home. Count me in the drawing.....I'm STILL trying to win some of your soap....and I already have the perfect spot on my wall for a Janet mini!!

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  25. Love the little quilt, and Primitive Gatherings fabrics are favorites - thanks for the great giveaway.

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  26. I have been an admirer of your work for quite awhile and must admit that I've "borrowed" more than a few of your ideas. Would love to have one of your originals. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Happy birthday and a blessed Thanksgiving.

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    1. Carole, I know we have had this conversation before, but you are still set as a noreply--comment blogger. See if Lori's post can help you change that. I would love to reply to your comments.

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  27. All of your new goodies looks so pretty, glad you had fun finding them. Thanks so much for a chance in your giveaway. I love your little quilt, red/white/blue is one of my favorite combinations and the fabric and soap are great. Thanks again!

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  28. I love your charming bracelet - happy birthday Janet and thanks for a lovely giveaway!

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  29. That sure is a cute little quilt. Frog2quilt@gmail.com

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  30. Your post has so much fun in it! I love that little shaker box (hubby's a keeper!) and that quilt shop is wonderful! I love your 'dark and dirty' comment.....that's the perfect wool and repro description if ever I heard one! :o) And I think I see an orange pineapple quilt in that stack of basted tops! Yummy! Thanks for such an amazing giveaway! And Happy Belated Birthday! Sounds like you had a great one!

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  31. Love the quilt store. I am coming to Boise in January. Is it anywhere nearby?

    I am proud of you (and a little bit jealous) that you are working your way thru your stack. Good for you!

    Happy belated Birthday.

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  32. What a great post Janet! That is an amazing shop! What a sweet husband you have and the charm from your girls is absolutely wonderful...what a treasure! I would love an opportunity to win one of your precious minis! Happy Birthday!

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  33. Thanks for the lovely giveaway. I would love to own one of your quilts. My pile of small quilts is still at the flimsy stage. Wish I had your energy to get them sandwiched and basted. Now that Christmas is creeping up, I'll have to wait until the new year. A NY's resolution perhaps?

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  34. Happy belated birthday! I have visited the Shaker site in NH and love the boxes. Your hubby did great.
    Elaine@ quiltlady2010@hotmail.com

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  35. I'm finally taking a break and enjoying catching up in Blogland. I enjoyed your post and wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday...I'm late but no surprises these days. I'd love a visit to the quilt shop with dark and dirties!

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  36. I wanted to visit that quilt shop in Idaho once when we were camping nearby, but we didn't want to wait until 10:00 AM when it opened and we left for Oregon early. Happy Birthday - a little late!

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  37. Happy BirthdAy. How lucky you are to enjoy that great quilt shop and that your husband remembered something YOU wanted, not something he thought you should have. Thanks for sharing!

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  38. Happy Birthday! What a fun birthday you had! Love the little maple box - such a special gift and memory.

    I have a short stack of basted little quilts, too, but no doubt much older than your waiting stack! I still have several little tops in the flimsy stage; my little quilt wall is still waiting for a critical mass to hang at once.

    The little Nearly Halloween quilts I made last fall after being inspired by yours were used all over the house for decorating this fall and made me think kind thoughts of you.

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  39. Glad you had a wonderful birthday. And thanks for the great giveaway of goodies.

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  40. What a great way to celebrate your birthday! That shop looks wonderful, and your purchases look luscious. I wish I could jump across several states and join you there someday.

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  41. I've only visited The Gathering Place once before and I just loved it! Do they still have furniture on the right side of the shop? I could have filled a large truck with goodies, LOL! Looks like you got some nice gifts for your birthday that had a lot of thought put into them.

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  42. How sweet to have some a lovely giveaway, Janet. Thanks for the opportunity.
    Sneaky daughters, and such a special surprise they got for you! I had the pleasure of meeting Julie in person a couple weeks ago. She had a great sense of humor, and I'm sure she enjoyed being in on the surprise.
    Happy birthday, Janet.

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  43. Such pretty colours in your mini-quilt... Please enter me! annesimonot@sasktel.net

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  44. I'd love to win! And no, you don't sound mean! Anybody that has read your blog for any length of time would never think that! :)

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  45. what a cute charm bracelet!
    You mean? never !
    what a great shop. You came home with a nice group of goodies.
    love your little quilts!

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  46. Beautiful birthday gifts. Great buys at the quilt shop too. Love your little quilts.

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  47. It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday and how thoughtful of you husband and girls. I would love a chance to win your "birthday giveaway". Thanks.

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  48. Your husband and daughters really know how to give good gifts, don't they? A personal charm from Julie - SCORE! And who doesn't love those little Shaker boxes? Love the wood in yours - and it's a mini too - perfect for you!!!! Hope you had the most wonderful birthday yet my friend!!!

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  49. Happy Birthday and I love the minis you did. I would love to win. I better look on the map to see where Rupert,Id. is maybe a road trip from Oregon. Sally

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  50. I love your charms and tiny quilts! I know just what I want to make with that charm pack!

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  51. I'm glad you enjoyed your surprises, mom. :) We'll have to plan a Gathering Place trip sometime when I'm next visiting...it looks like my kind of quilt store. Happy last day of your birth month!

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  52. You have a very thoughtful husband! That looks like a quilt shop I could get lost in for hours. Love your shaker box and your work is gorgeous, as always.
    Rhonda

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  53. I love The. Gathering Place! My hubby used to stop there on our way to Shriners hospital in SLC for our daughter just so I could shop. Now that we don't have to go down anymore I haven't taken that 2 hour drive....hmmmmmm maybe it's time tho! Love the Minis just darling!

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  54. Ooohhhh and Happy Birthday, from the big city of Boise

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    1. Tilda, your settings are for noreply-comment. If you want to change that, check out Lori's post that I have linked in my post. If you like it this way, then leave your email address in your comment when you want a reply, or a chance to win a drawing.

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  55. Well, Happy Birthday! I had a birthday this month too :) Looks like a terrific shop. Love that scrap bag and all those great prints. I would happily give your little quilt a new home. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  56. Happy Belated Birthday, my dear friend! As usual, you have continued on your very creative path, making lovely things!

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  57. What a lovely birthday!!! It was fun to see what you bought and looking forward to seeing the finished products. Would love to have a small quilt made by you!!

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  58. It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday! The charm with your Mom's fabric is such an awesome gift!! The shaker box is wonderful as well. Your little quilts are lovely. It seems there is always a pile waiting to be quilting... :0)

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  59. I love those charms, and your girls are so thoughtful!

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  60. Happy Belated Birthday!! .....Yes, a very thoughtful husband indeed...Love your little quilts, precious....Worked on Celtic Solstice all day today, heavenly..

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  61. HB 2 u! Love the shop and will plan on a visit next time I'm there.
    Thanks for the chance

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    1. Kathy, your settings do not allow me to reply to you personally. If you want to change that, check out Lori's post that I have provided a link for above.

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  62. Belated Birthday wishes. I love a DH that's sneaky - so romantic!

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  63. First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND! Sounds like you had a wonderful celebration with all kinds of goodies. Love the charm from your girls and the sneaky DH pulled off a nice one too. Goodness no it doesn't make you sound mean. You can only accomplish what is available to you. Sandi

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  64. I'm so happy that you had a fun Birthday! It's been 5 or 6 years since I've been to the Gathering Place. I loved it and hope to return there someday. From the sound of your visit it is still a great shop. Your family is so thoughtful. The little Shaker box is beautiful and how special of your daughters to arrange with Julie a special keepsake charm. That's quite a pile to be quilted ~ Amazing as always!

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  65. WOW! Janet!! Happy Birthday… I am so sorry I missed it. Looks like your family knows exactly how to take care of you!! You deserve it!! Love the little safety pins in the basted tops, by the way!!

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  66. I love birdseye maple! You received several lovely gifts and found lotsa goodies to buy. Sounds like it was worth the drive :)

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  67. I don't know if it is the biggest or not, I am just happy with the selection of "dark & dirty" fabrics, patterns and wool.

    tools accessories

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