AZ CR F-M16.indd - The Country Register
Transcription
AZ CR F-M16.indd - The Country Register
The Country Register of Arizona 2 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128 • Phoenix, AZ 85085 602.942.8950 • 888.942.8950 Fax 602.866.3136 arizona@barlomedia.com www.countryregister.com/arizona Barb Stillman Lolly Konecky Publisher barb@barlomedia.com Patty Duncan Sales/Office Assistant Adrieanna Gaston Office Assistant Publisher/Art Director lolly@barlomedia.com Sandi Nickler Graphics Assistant Phyllis Cypert Sales/Office Assistant The Arizona Country Register is published by: Nancy Williams Consultant The Deadline for the April-May Issue is March 1st for Ads & Articles. Our feature articles will focus on Great Recipes, Food & Tea Rooms! The Country Register is a United States and Canadian network of independently owned and published specialty newspapers for the consumer who enjoys outstanding shopping, events, day & overnight excursions and specialty classes. Publisher’s contact numbers across the USA & Canada for The Country Register Send $3 to any publisher below to obtain a paper from another area: * Indicates these editions are available on-line at www.countryregister.com USA Alabama: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * Arkansas: Lenda & Richard Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, phone/fax 405-470-2597 * California and N. Nevada: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * Connecticut: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC , 27603, 919-661-1760 * Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL, 888-616-8319 * Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, 706-340-1049 * Idaho (N): Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Road, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028 * Idaho (S) WA & E. OR: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * Illinois: Lenda & Richard Brown,, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, phone/fax 405-470-2597 * Indiana: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL, 888-616-8319 Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA 52339, 641-751-2619 * Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, 866-966-9815 * Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whitrose Way, New Market, MD 21774, 443-243-1118 * Maine: Gail Hageman, 221 Winslow Rd, Albion, ME 04910, 207-437-2663 * Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * Massachusetts-RI: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC 27603, 919-661-1760 Michigan: Bill and Marlene Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211 * Minnesota: Kim & Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, 763-754-1661 * Missouri: Lenda & Richard Brown,, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, phone/fax 405-470-2597 * Montana: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Road, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028 * Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * Nevada (N): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803 New Hampshire: Kathleen Graham, 330 North Road, Deerfield, NH, 03037, 603-463-3703 * New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL, 888-616-8319 New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * N. Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * North Dakota: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Road, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028 * Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, 937-652-1157 * Oklahoma: Lenda & Richard Brown,, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, phone/fax 405-470-2597 * Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * Pennsylvania: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * Rhode Island: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC , 27603, 919-661-1760 * S. Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Road, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028 * Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whitrose Way, New Market, MD 21774, 443-243-1118 * Texas: Lenda & Richard Brown,, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, phone/fax 405-470-2597 * Utah: Daniel & Stacy Tueller, 153 S 2050 W, Provo UT 84601, 801-592-8498 Vermont: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whitrose Way, New Market, MD 21774, 443-243-1118 * Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * Washington & E. OR & S. ID: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ, 85085, 602-942-8950 * West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217 * Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, 715-838-9426 * Wyoming: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Road, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028 CANADA * Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0, (780) 889-3776 British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711 * Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, 306-736-2441 * Ontario: Harriet Ramos, Box 60, 4338 Innes Rd., Orleans, ON K4A 3W3, 613-612-8465 The Country Register is a United States and Canadian network of independently owned and published specialty newspapers for the consumer who enjoys outstanding shopping, events, day & overnight excursions and specialty classes. The Country Register provides targeted, effective, and affordable advertising for the promotion of Specialty Shops For more information about publishing The Country Register contact Barbara Floyd at 602237-6008, email: barbara@countryregister.com Index for Feb-March 2016 Arizona Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Events ...........................3, 15-17 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework............................................ 4-13 Fiber Arts, Yarn, Knitting & Needlework .................................. 14 Special Events ...............................................................18-20, 32 Pine • Young • Cottonwood • Camp Verde ................................ 20 Willcox • Globe & Miami • Quartzsite ...................................... 21 Cave Creek • Carefree ............................................................ 22 Scottsdale ..........................................................................23, 26 Goodyear ...........................................................................23, 26 Catlin Court & Historic Downtown Glendale • Glendale .... 23,-25 Phoenix .........................................................................23, 26-27 Mesa ....................................................................... 23, 26, 28-30 Annie Sloan Stockists .............................................................. 26 Chandler • Tempe ..............................................................26, 29 Scrapbooking & Rubber Stamp .......................................... 31-32 Gems, Beadings & Jewelry ...................................................... 31 Farmer’s Markets ..................................................................... 31 Plain Country Ads ................................................................... 31 Giveaways and Winners We have several giveaway winners from our last issue: • Mary Luckenbill of Glendale will be sent a $25 Gift Certificate to be spent at her favorite Country Register advertiser, You Can Quilt in Peoria. • Barbara Satalino is the winner of Ornaments of Death By Jane Cleland. • Mary Trout of Gold Canyon is the winner of the 6” Taper Candles by Judy Condon • Winners of tickets to the Arizona Renaissance Festival are: Janet Ayetas, Lucy Wong and Carolee Logan. Mary told us You Can Quilt is her favorite shop because, “Kelly Billings, owner and quilt teacher, breaks down all the patterns for her classes so that they are understandable. She has samples of each of the steps so that visual learners like myself can ‘get it.’ She also is GREAT about helping with color selection when you come into her shop to try and match a print you want to use in your next project.” Another reader, Janet Ayestas of Chandler, recently discovered The Country Register, which she found at her favorite shop, Quilters Ranch in Chandler. She wrote, “This paper is super nice. I enjoyed it so much. I sat down and read it cover to cover, love the recipes and short stories. Love, love, love it!” In this issue there is another $25 Gift Certificate drawing and additional tickets to the Renaissance Festival so be sure to enter and tell us which Country Register advertiser is your favorite. We love hearing from our readers and so do our advertisers so let them know how much you appreciate their shops and that they bring you The Country Register each issue. The Country Register, Inc., is celebrating its 28th year! Newspapers are now published in 46 states across the U.S. and in five provinces in Canada. Going out of state? Call ahead to the state(s) you will visit and get a copy of that area’s The Country Register and take it with you as you travel. When you enter our contests, please share with us how you use The Country Register in your travels and shopping trips. We are grateful to all the authors, publishers and advertisers who provide the books and tickets for our drawings throughout the year. THE COUNTRY REGISTER, Months of Feb-March 2016. THE COUNTRY REGISTER is published every other month. Copyright 2016. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited by law. 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085. Subscription price: 1 Year, 6 Issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. The paper is furnished free to the customers at each advertiser. THE COUNTRY REGISTER is registered as a business trade name and also a trademark in the State of Arizona. Disclaimer Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from an outside source, express the opinions of their authors only and may not express the viewpoint(s) of the management or staff of The Country Register. Such articles that are accepted for publication herein may be edited at the sole discretion of the publisher. Responsibility for products advertised in this newspaper lies with the advertisers themselves. Though The Country Register will not knowingly publish fraudulent materials or fraudulently obtained materials, we are not liable for any damages arising from the purchase or use of products advertised herein. Notification regarding any consumer complaints related to merchandise purchased from our advertisers would be appreciated and would assist in our efforts. Copyright © 2016 by The Country Register, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085. Feb-March 16 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Event 3 4 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Arizona Feb-March 16 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework 5 New Scottsdale Quilt Shop Is a Place To Learn, Meet Friends & Exchange Ideas Scottsdale has a new quilt shop! Located in the District at the Airpark, Scottsdale Quilts is the sister shop to Quilts on Route 66 in Williams near the Grand Canyon. The new shop is the Valley’s only store with three functioning classrooms. As a result, it has trademarked the name “The Quilt Campus” to highlight that it is a place to learn, meet friends and exchange ideas. You can book a mini retreat with friends or hold guild meetings, trunk shows, or charity sew days to make pillowcases or quilts for children’s organizations throughout the valley. Classrooms are available outside of scheduled classes at no charge. The classrooms can be reserved for sewing, quilting, any needle or altered art groups—or just to sit and sew without charge. The quilt campus is just that—a place to learn and get to know others who share similar interests. Have nothing to do? Drop by and work in the creative space. Bring a project with you or select from the shop’s kit area! Currently Scottsdale Quilts is the home for groups like: Wild & Woolly Rug Hookers, RAWstitchin, Appliqué’ Society, American Sewing Guild, Punch Needles, Crazy Quilters, Take & Makes (fun afternoons with senior living residents) and Charity Sew Along (days where anyone can drop in and volunteer). If you have a group and would like information, please call the shop! It is also a participating shop in Row by Row Experience— visit www.rowbyrowexperience. com to learn more. The shop carries MODA fabrics (with collections: Reproduction, French General, Solids, Sweetwater, Fig Tree, Jan Patek and more!), RJR, FROND, Hoffman Batiks, Riley Blake, hand dyed fabric, Organic Felted Wool, Valdani & Cosmo specialty threads, Australian fabrics, Continued on page 6... 6 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Arizona Scottsdale Quilts, continued from page 5... Lecien Japan fabrics, Cotton & Steel & Alexander Henry. Show your AQG membership card and get 20% off your fabrics and 15% off everything else! Every Saturday is Quilt Back Saturday. Bring in your finished toppers and get your backing at 30% off! This is available at both the Scottsdale and Williams’ locations. Come in on your birthday and get 30% off your purchase. Scottsdale Quilts prides itself in having an extensive collection of patterns perfect for a new project or to use as a stash builder. Camp “Iwannaquiltalotta” is offered on the second Friday of the month. It’s a fun, free evening where there are camp related snacks. Bring anything you would like to work on, whether by machine or by hand, and stay as there is no curfew! Children’s learn to sew classes and enrichment are also offered. K to 8 Scheduled classes are available as well as day retreats that are perfect for working parents when school is on holiday. Children get to use their imaginations, are encouraged in the arts and build self-confidence through creativity—all in a safe drop-in facility. Scottsdale Quilts is also accessible throughout for disabled persons, including restrooms that are to code. In 2016, the following are offered: Block of the Month programs, Clubs for 30’s, Pre-Cut (strip/layer cakes/charm packs), Redwork, Applique, Hexies Schmexies—“they’re not that tough,” and much more. Some special guest events are planned so you’ll want to register in order to be contacted via email with the latest news and products. Some of the valley’s most respected teachers are eager to share their knowledge with you at Scottsdale Quilts and a Quarterly Class Calendar is available. Teachers such as Nancy Shamy (a pattern designer for KenzieMac), Carol Collette (altered art quilts and projects), Jeanne Redshaw (BOM, machine embroidery & learn to sew & use your machine classes), Sandy Bloniarz (needle arts/ wool & Punch Needle), MaryLou Masters (strip quilts/piecing/bargello/reflections), Cindy Hofmockel (beginner/Intermediate projects), Sherry Oxley (Hexies) and many more! Scottsdale Quilts is located at 15444 N. 76th Street, #105, in the rear of the complex facing Greenway. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The shop is closed Sundays. For more information, call 480-951-8000, email scottsdalequilts@q.com or visit www. scottsdalequilts.com. Feb-March 16 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework 7 8 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Arizona KISSed Quilts Happenings in the Quilting World by Marlene Oddie If you’ve been reading my articles for a while, you know about my book that was released in Spring 2015—You Can Quilt! Building Skills for Beginners. This past October, my co-author, Leila Gardunia, and I were able to do a presentation at market on behalf of the publisher, the American Quilter’s Society (AQS). This gave us an opportunity to talk with other shop owners about how effective the book is at removing the intimidation factor of trying new techniques. We recently learned that the book was #3 New Releases for AQS in 2015. Thank you all! If you followed along with the blog hop during Fall Market, then you saw the various blocks and how much fun the Island Batik Ambassadors had in making various small projects. We’ve added a wide variety of finishing instructions at www. skillbuildersampler.com. Do you remember my sneak peeks last year? My new quilt designs using Island Batik fabrics, “Dangling Diamonds” and “Jewels” (Fire Island Jewels version), were displayed at Fall 2015 market. They were also accepted into the AQS QuiltWeek™ in Phoenix, AZ, from February 11 to14, 2016. If you are in the area or are coming to the show, I hope you’ll be sure to check them out in detail. On Thursday and Friday, February 11 and 12, I’ll also be doing demos in the Author’s Corner. Hope to see you there! Here is an opportunity to win some fabric and maybe more. If nothing else, you’re sure to be inspired. The Island Batik Ambassadors will be showing off the new fabric collections, including those that I used to make these two quilts, with projects as part of a blog hop February 15 to March 4, 2016. Watch Continued on next page... Feb-March 16 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework 9 Cover Story “A Splendid Display” Shown on our cover is the beautiful Best of Show Quilt from the Arizona Quilters Guild’s 2015 Quilt Arizona Quilt Show. “A Splendid Display” by Cindy Seitz-Krug is hand appliquéd, machine pieced and machine quilted. Cindy is known for her heirloom quilting on a home machine. She considers herself a traditional quilter who really likes innovative quilts, taking traditional patterns and enhancing them. Originally from California, Cindy and her family now live in Overgaard in Arizona’s White Mountains. To learn more about this award-winning quilter, go to www.quintessentialquilting.com. AQG Quilt Arizona 2016 in Mesa in March Come and see how Arizona quilts at “Celebrate Tradition” on March 25 and 26, at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa. The Quilt Arizona 2016 Quilt Show is presented by the Arizona Quilters Guild (AQG) with a theme that celebrates the tradition of quilts in design, piecing and quilting. More than 300 quilts will be on display—including traditional, modern and appliqué— plus fiber art and wearables. Judging will be done by NQA certified judges Marcia Knopp and De Leclair. A live Quilt Auction will take place on Saturday afternoon featuring donated quilts from individuals, guilds and quilting groups. A Merchant Mall will offer the latest in fabrics, supplies, sewing machines and more. Raffle quilts and baskets will be available from several AQG chapters. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Lectures by Carolyn O’Bagy Davis and Cindy Seitz-Krug will be given on both Friday and Saturday plus classes will be held during the show. Check the AQG website at www.azquiltersguild.org for details, including topics, times, class prices or any needed materials. Quilt appraisals will be available from noted appraiser Gail Van Horsen and it is recommended that those interested sign up ahead of time. Call Elaine Putnam at 928978-3464 for additional information and to register. “Celebrate Tradition” show hours are: Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Daily admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for AQG members and free for children under 12. A Private Preview Night will be held on Thursday, March 24, for Guild Members and quilt entrants. The Mesa Convention Center is at 201 North Center Street. Food will be available from food vendors on site. The Arizona Quilters Guild was created in 1978 to promote the appreciation of fine quilts, sponsor and support quilting activities, encourage quiltmaking and collection, and to further the growth of Quilters’ education. Its mission, years later, still includes these activities. Funds raised by the Annual Quilt Shows are used to further education for the Guild. You can follow Arizona Quilters Guild on Facebook. Send any questions about the 2016 Show to: quiltshow@azquiltersguild.org. Happenings in the Quilt World, continued from previous page... http://www.islandbatik.com/news/ for the complete listing of blogs. I’m excited to share new projects on several different days. 2016 is the 25th anniversary of Electric Quilt (EQ) software #EQ25. This software has been my tool of choice for designing quilts for 15 years. I’m honored to be an EQ Artist and have several tutorials on my blog for how to use the software. EQ is hosting monthly contests and prize packages this year in celebration of its 25 years. I hope you’ll consider using the software by checking out the festivities at www.electricquilt.com. Click on the “Happy 25 years!” banner and then find the videos. I hope you can find mine and enjoy a walk through history of some of the noteable quilts that EQ has helped me to design. Marlene Oddie is an engineer by education, project manager by profession and now a quilter by passion in Grand Coulee, WA. She enjoys long-arm quilting on her Gammill Optimum Plus, but especially enjoys designing quilts and assisting in the creation of a meaningful treasure for the recipient. Follow Marlene’s adventures via her blog at http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com and on Facebook at http://www. facebook.com/kissedquilts. Publisher’s Note: Meet Marlene at the AQS Show, in the Author’s Corner, Feb 11 & 12 10 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Arizona February Wearable Art Show! Arizona Quilts Exceptional, Wearable, Art Collection. QUILTS LTD. Gallery OPEN DAILY OCTOBER-MAY www.tubacquiltgallery.com 7 Camino Otero P.O. Box 2211 • Tubac, AZ 85646 1 (800) 255-2306 7601 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85710 520-74-QUILT (747-8458) Colorful, exciting fabrics Experienced, enthusiastic teachers Helpful, knowledgeable staff Inspiring classes for all skill levels Fun and friendly atmosphere Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame 2011 Arizona Quilt Shop of the Year Monday - Friday 9-5:30 • Saturday 9-5 • Sunday 11-4 www.thequiltersmarket.com This is part 1 of a 3 part Mystery Quilt, watch for parts 2 & 3 in the next issues! Quilting, Sewing & Needlework 11 Feb-March 16 Life Threaded in Stitchings by Ann St. Martin Stout ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ AND FULL SCHEDULE OF QUILTING CLASSES FABRICS, BOOKS & NOTIONS HOURS: MON-SAT 9-5 WE HAVE OVER 3,500 BOLTS OF FABRIC! 2964 W. White Mtn. Blvd., Suite #6 • Lakeside, AZ 85929 www.amazingquiltsaz.com 928-368-5567 amazingquilts@frontiernet.net ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ YiaYia, my Greek grandmother, enjoyed crocheting. Her handiwork, while not legendary, was certainly impressive to me as a 10-year-old. Big bright spools of crochet thread were found near each of her resting chairs. When she finished crocheting each day, she slipped her slim, shiny crochet hook under the threads and tucked the unfinished length of lace inside the hollow cardboard spool. When YiaYia took up her crochet hook and cotton thread, the fingers of her dry, wrinkled hands flew as she made inch after inch of lace. These colorful strips—gold, red, aqua—would soon decorate a pair of pillowcases. While she worked, she told me about life in Greece and about immigrating to America as a 16-year-old. As YiaYia grew older, she made more pillow trim than anything else. In younger days, she had made doilies to cover the arms of her over-stuffed chairs, lace to trim curtains, and square tops for throw pillows. Most familiar, though, were the rainbow of pillowcase trims resting against crisp white bed sheets in each of her rooms and in the beds of her children’s and grandchildren’s homes. When YiaYia finished a yard of lace, she joined the ends and stitched the loop to the edge of a new white pillowcase. For this project, she unearthed from the bedroom closet what seemed to me an ancient Singer hand-cranked sewing machine, shiny black with a painted design that looked like gold filigree. It was one of the first things she had bought when she earned enough money as a young worker in a Lowell, Massachusetts, cotton mill. For a half-century, that machine stitched lace to pillowcases and created and patched clothing of three generations. This particular model required more coordination to operate than other machines because it was run by a hand crank. With the left hand, lace and fabric were fed to the needle while the right hand kept a steady rhythm in a clockwise motion making the needle march in place. When the sewing machine sat at the end of the dinner table, the tablecloth pushed back, I was eager to see what YiaYia was making. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, the era I recall most vividly, she was often patching dungarees for my older cousins. Long before I was born, though, she had stitched bleached cotton sugar bags into underwear for her own children and made other practical things like aprons and skirts for her family to wear. I’ve been married now for 35 years. We still sleep on the pillowcases YiaYia made for me. We store them in the linen closet beside the stack of flowered pillowcases from many sets of sheets. When a piece of YiaYia’s lace begins to unravel, I thread a needle and repair it. I fear that if the lace unwinds, little by little, some memories of YiaYia may also unwind and I would lose a bit of the thread that holds the years of my life together. Ann St. Martin Stout writes from Newport, NH, where she lives with her family and is always on the lookout for free heartwarming experiences to share. Her blog is www. leavesarefree.tumblr.com.© Ann St. Martin Stout 12 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Arizona Feb-March 16 Clean Out Your Scraps And Make a Great Quilt! by Deb Heatherly It’s that time of year—time to sort and organize. For some reason, I feel the need to do this once every year in my sewing room. First, I neatly fold all of the yardage that has been haphazardly tossed back into the closet during frenzied moments of creations during the past year. Next, I take out all of the scraps that have been piling up in my scrap basket and sort and press each piece. I then cut these pieces into ‘usable’ pieces, such as 2 ½” strips, and 5” and 10” squares. My now ‘usable’ scraps are then placed into labeled boxes and ready to be stitched at a moment’s notice. Finally, I cut a box full of light and dark 2 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles. These will go into my annual “Twist n Shout Rectangles” quilt. The blocks in this quilt are a great way to use up scraps and are super easy. By themselves, they look pretty boring but, once they are sewn together, they form a secondary pattern that will have you shouting and doing the happy dance. This simple pattern makes a fast gift and is fun to do with friends. You could even organize a scrap exchange to give your quilt more variety. Make sure to email me pictures at Debscatsnquilts@aol.com. I would love to see your creations. Deb Heatherly is a Creative Grids® designer and author of the books Cat’itude and Strippy Stars. Ask for her Creative Grids® CGRDH1 Cat’s Cradle Tool and CGRDH2 Strippy Stars tools, and these companion books at your local quilt shop. Deb owns Deb’s Cats N Quilts in Franklin, NC. She is a former freelance writer and designer for QUILT magazine. See Deb’s “Twist N Shout Rectangles” pattern on the previous page! Quilting, Sewing & Needlework 13 Quilting with Barbara Working to Make 2016 a Brighter Year by Barbara Conquest We’re sixteen years into the new century. We have a new provincial premier and a new prime minister; our southern neighbours will have a new president in a few months. These changes in leadership will undoubtedly set our countries on new paths and we often feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Prime ministers and presidents come and go but everyday life will continue much as it has in the past for most of us. The past year has not been a happy one. There is no need to recount the world-wide disasters and terrible events that have affected so many; we are all too aware. Some have gone so far as to suggest we’re entering a new dark age. So I am proposing that each of us tries to lighten the gloom in some small way. This is not a new idea by any means, but what would happen if every quilter or handicrafter made some small effort to make a stranger’s life a little brighter (e.g. a lap quilt for someone who is wheelchair bound, a fidget quilt for an Alzheimer patient, a cheery pillowcase for a sick child, a crib quilt for a new mother who has little, a prayer shawl for an elderly person…) and presented it in person, not through an agency? There is always a vast outpouring of donations of gifts around Christmas to innumerable charities and the food banks that support so many people, and rightly so. These contributions are extremely important. But what about the rest of the year? Dare I suggest that we each make two personal donations throughout the year—or even monthly ones? Poverty and need are present all year. Now, I do realize that a great number of quilters already far exceed this imaginary quota year round. Our thanks and admiration go out to them. However, there are many more, myself included, who could do more. What better time to start than the new year? There is never a lack of recipients and one small act can have far-reaching consequences. Over 30 years ago when I had ESL (English as a Second Language) students, one newly-arrived teen seemed lost and completely bewildered by her new surroundings, even though she did have family here. Her birthday is in July, when school is closed, so I sent her a card and a small gift. She was appreciative far beyond reason, I thought, but that small act resulted in a 35-year family friendship that I greatly value. (Incidentally, she became an R.N. and now has two sons who are university graduates—a success story indeed). Within the next year, we will have more opportunities than ever as bewildered immigrants and refugees who have lost everything arrive on our shores with hardships in their recent pasts that we cannot even imagine. Some may never recover from their trauma but perhaps we can help, even a little. Let’s work—individually and together—to make 2016 a brighter year for newcomers and those already in our midst. It has been said that it’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness, but perhaps an old song says it best. “Brighten the corner where you are!” Happy New Year! Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB. © Barbara Conquest. 14 Fiber Arts, Yarn, Knitting & Needlework Arizona Building Harmony A Weekend with Hunter THE FIBER FACTORY The Southwest’s Most Complete Yarn Shop Yarn, accessories, equipment & classes for: Knitting, Weaving, Spinning, Crochet, Tatting, Basketry, Navajo weaving & Bobbin Lace 480.969.4346 • Fax: 480.969.2365 Out of area: 888.969.9276 216 W. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201 www.fiberfactory.com email: yarn@fiberfactory.com by Jeff Cappis Cathy and I don’t get to see as much of our grandchildren as we’d like. We admit it. Often, life gets in the way and time has a way of passing. The other day Cathy reminded me that our grandson, Hunter, was turning nine. It had been ages since we’d spent some quality time together, just the two of us. I made a point of planning a whole weekend around his birthday. I hoped it would be memorable for him and we could reconnect. We were still close, but it had been a while. I picked him up on Friday after school. The plan was to take him home for a birthday dinner, followed by games and a movie. On Saturday, I planned to take him into town for a few games of laser tag, a monster truck show, dinner wherever he wanted, and maybe play a round of mini-golf. We had a long drive to the acreage and didn’t seem to have much to talk about. I turned on the radio to fill the void. He likes to listen to the stations that give me a headache. I like listening to stations that made him want to “scoop his brains out and feed them to zombies.” Well, I didn’t want that to happen so, on the way home, I got a big headache. The snow was beginning to fall around five o’clock. Heavy. The temperature dipped well below zero and the sun was going down. I thought we were home free until my truck got stuck at the bottom of our driveway. We took a long walk through the deep snow up to the house. The door was locked and my keys were in the truck. It was then that Hunter turned to me and said, “Oh ya, I forgot, you left your headlights on.” To get my truck unstuck, we started up my quad with the snowplow on it. You may have heard me refer to it as “Satan” in other stories. Well, good ol’ “Satan” got us down to my truck all right. Then it died and refused to start. By the time we got up to the house, our boots were filled with snow. The blizzard was in full swing. I knew we weren’t going anywhere on Saturday. Cathy had prepared a birthday dinner for Hunter, though. He loved it. He stuffed himself with hot dogs and macaroni. We sang Happy Birthday to him (off key) and he blew out the birthday candles. Then he stuffed himself with rich chocolate cake and icing and downed half a soda. Yeah, we should have known better. It took us twenty minutes to clean up the mess. Hunter felt kind of sick for the rest of the night. I may never eat hot dogs and macaroni again. Worst of all was the smell. We tried opening windows and a blizzard went through the house. Because of the storm, our power was constantly up and down. It was pointless to try watching a movie, play video games or anything on the Internet. I was feeling sorry for Hunter. This was turning out to be a bummer of a birthday. I kept a big fire going, Cathy tended to his ailment and Hunter, well, he persevered feeling sick and making small talk with his grandparents. Turns out, listening to old people go on and on about when they were your age is boring. The 1970s were in the last century so who cares. And so the weekend went. The smell had gone by noon Saturday but the blizzard raged on. We all got a lot of sleep. We played a few board games. (Old ones from the last century—1998.) We had few laughs and even managed to bake some cookies. The conversations did get much better, but the weekend was nothing like we had planned. Continued on page 17... Feb-March 16 AZ Quilt Show listing – Feb/March 2016 20th Annual Ajo Piecemakers Quilt Show Feb 5th & 6th – 9am – 3pm Historic Curly School 201 Esperanza, Ajo Admission: $2 Copper Country Quilters 2016 Quilt Show - Pieces of Friendship XXVI Feb 6th – March 27th Cobre Valley Center for the Arts 101 N Broad St, Globe Free Admission www.azquiltersguild.org Colorado River Quilters – Quilts on the River VII February 12th & 13th – 9am-5pm Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce 1251 Hwy. 95, Bullhead City Admission: $5 www.coloradoriverquilters.weebly.com Tucson Quilters Guild – Quilt Fiesta! February 19th, 20th, 21st – Fri & Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm Tucson Convention Center 260 S Church Ave, Tucson Admission: $10/day, $20 – 3 day pass www.tucsonquiltersguild.com Queen Valley Scrap Rats Quilt Show March 5th, 9am – 4pm Queen Valley HOA Recreation Hall 1478 E Queen Valley, Dr, Queen Valley Admission: $2 Raffle – Opportunity Quilt Splendor in the Desert Quilt Academy Saturday, March 19 – 9am-4pm Las Campanas Recreation Center 565 W Bell Tower Drive, Green Valley Fee: $40 (includes lunch) Registration deadline – Feb 1st www.vqgaz.com Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Special Events 15 16 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Special Events Arizona Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame Sets New Goals for Growing Group by Mary Lucille Just before 2015 came to a close, the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame (HOF) met to set new goals for this growing group. For those not completely familiar with the now ten-year-old organization, we are a virtual Hall of Fame dedicated to “celebrating and honoring the contributions of Arizonans to quiltmaking, its history and artisans.” Members’ activities—past, present and future—can be accessed on our website: arizonaquiltershalloffame.org and in our monthly email newsletter Heard ‘Round the Hall. Each month you will get to know another Arizona quilter and see examples of their inspiring work. The Hall of Fame sponsors a special Award of Excellence at each quilt show held in the state. An opportunity quilt travels to many of these events to help raise funds to support HOF activities, including sponsorship of quilt documentation efforts throughout the state. In September, we will gather to induct a new group of quilters into the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame at a luncheon attended by their families, friends and all those who work with the HOF. Quilts that are recognized throughout the year are on display at this event along with donated small quilts, which are part of our online auction each October. As part of the effort to recognize those who contribute to quiltmaking in Arizona, there is a new feature on our website and newsletter. Each month, we will focus on two to four quilt shops in our state. Our hope is this will encourage curiosity about a shop that you may not have visited yet or surprise you with a tidbit you didn’t know about “your” shop. Space permitting, watch for articles on these shops and the HOF here in The Country Register. (P.S. If you have a question you’ve always wanted to ask, contact the HOF. The more brains working on a project, the better!) Speaking of contacting the HOF, we have a new mailing address—P.O. Box 1196, Queen Creek, AZ 85142. Our website address with email access to us remains the same. In addition, you can follow the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame Group on Facebook. While you are on the website, keep an eye out for the nomination forms for 2016 inductees. They will be there for download soon. It’s an easy process and we’d be happy to help you along the way to recognizing a special Arizona quilter! Also, while you are there, consider getting involved in the Hall of Fame. We would love to have two more members on our Board. It’s fun, challenging and not a huge time commitment. We meet monthly via phone conference and every three to four months in person in various locations. Whether you are a beginner or experienced quilter or collector makes no difference; we need your other talents! Mary Lucille is a member of the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame Board. Feb-March 16 Quilting, Sewing & Needlework Special Events 17 Continued from page 14... On Sunday, the storm finally subsided and the good old sun came out. Hunter and I spent the day digging Satan out of the snow and dragging its sorry frame back up the hill to the garage. We cleared the driveway by hand and drove my truck up. Then Satan began to run fine. Hunter’s mother was coming to pick him up at five o’clock so all we had time for was a cup of hot chocolate. I did a little soul searching. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way we planned. This must have been a real disappointment for you.” “Yeah, we did miss doing a lot of cool stuff. Maybe some other time,” he said, looking down for a second. Then he looked up, “But can we do this again next weekend?” “Sure,” I said with a smile. “I’ll order up another blizzard. But next time, no chocolate cake and soda.” Copyright by Jeff Cappis. Email: jcappis@telus.net. Strawberry Patchers 20th Annual Quilt Show June 10 & 11, 2016 Cultural Hall in Downtown Pine • Hwy 87 Pine, AZ Vendor Mall & Quilt Appraisals available at the Show! We’ll have a wide variety of quilts and wearables for your viewing pleasure Viewers choice voting on Friday Only! Appraisal appointment contact: Maureen Pastika 928 476-2443 Entry forms and information www.strawberrypatchers.com www.strawberrypatchers.com $2 Admission • 9-5 Fri & Sat Bring in a non perishable food item for our local food banks and get a ticket for the drawing June 11th for a comfort quilt Come to our Quilt Auction August 13th, 2016 18 Special Events Arizona Free Tickets Giveaway The Country Register of Arizona is giving away free tickets to the 2016 Arizona Renaissance Festival. To enter, send an email to Arizona@barlomedia.com or a letter or postcard to The Country Register of Arizona, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number and indicate Renaissance Tickets. Winners will receive their tickets in the mail by February 4th so enter early! AZ Show listing – Feb/March 2016 Gilbert Art Walk Feb 6 & 20, March 5 & 19 9am-1pm 45 W Page Ave, Gilbert www.gilbertartwalk.com Vintage Market in the Garden Saturday, Feb 13 & March 19 – 9am-3pm Jewelry Market – Feb 27 – 9am-3pm 40 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert www.facebook.com/cjsantiquesandgarden Running of the Gourds – Wuertz Farm’s 13th Annual Gourd Festival February 12th-14th – Fri & Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm Pinal Fairgrounds 512 N 11 Mile Corner Rd, Casa Grande Admission: Adults – $8, Kids – Free www.wuertzfarm.com 31st Annual Queen Valley RV Resort Arts & Craft Sale February 13th – 9am-noon 50 W Oro Viejo Dr Queen Valley, AZ Real Gardens for Real People Tour Saturday, March 12, 9am – 4pm 5 - Scottsdale & Phoenix Gardens www.realgardensforrealpeople.com Feb-March 16 Special Events 19 20 Pine • Young • Cottonwood • Camp Verde ics g fabrks, n i t l i u n q as, Bati Cotto m 100% boy, Christ d more n w a o C Moda Rar Pleas e and in pr an in books t Valley W t availa ar ble It has been a great adventure, but after 16 years, we are planning on retiring in 2016. Perhaps you would like to have a shop of your own in Young, AZ. Stop in or call for details! Thank you for your support! Mon-Sat 10-5 • Closed Sundays • 928-462-3661 • dcbraswell@rnsmte.com N. of Globe on Hwy 288 • S.E. of Payson off Hwy 260 on FR 512 Arizona Spring Heritage Pecan & Wine Festival Being Held in Camp Verde, March 19 & 20 Camp Verde Promotions, the Town of Camp Verde and their partners are pleased to announce that the 2016 Spring Heritage Pecan and Wine Festival will take place in Camp Verde on Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20. The Festival is a combination of several events rolled into one: the Pecan and Wine Festival, Verde Valley Archaeology Fair, Verde River Runoff and a host of activities surrounding the Fort Verde State Historical Park and the Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month celebration. Admission to all events is free; however, charges will apply for wine tasting, to the Fort and the river run. The Pecan and Wine Festival in Downtown Camp Verde has been enjoyed since 2001—this year’s event has been moved to the third weekend in March. It features the choicest products of the vintner’s art from 12 of the Verde Valley’s premier wineries. There is a charge for wine tasting that will give you sample tickets and a commemorative wine glass that is yours to keep. In addition, there will be approximately 50 vendors, which will include food, beer and musical entertainment. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Verde Valley Archaeology Fair is two exciting days of archaeological adventures. Experience the excitement of uncovering the past with dozens of hands-on activities, live presentations, films and special programs. The Archaeology Fair is a family event with a particular emphasis on archaeology for kids. All activities are presented by archaeologists, educators and other specialists. In addition, the Verde Valley Archaeology Center has just opened a display of the 20,000-piece Duck Rock shelter Collection, which was located along West Beaver Creek and is 700 to 900 years old. This large collection will be rotated from time-to-time so that, eventually all 20,000 items, will have been displayed. Verde River Valley Nature Organization (VRVNO) hosts the Annual Verde River Runoff and participants will depart White Bridge at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 19. The ten-mile canoe/kayak race is along a remote and beautiful stretch from White Bridge down the river to Beasley Flat, approximately 10 miles. With multiple categories for entry, the Verde River Runoff is a great river run for a variety of experienced paddlers. Pre-registration is required at vrvno.org/event-registration or by calling 928-300-3880. There will be a vintage baseball game at Fort Verde State Historic Park on Saturday at 1 p.m. between the Fort Verde Excelsiors and the Glendale Gophers. Players will wear vintage uniforms and play with the same gear as early baseball players did. There will also be an adobe brick making class at 10 a.m. Birding excursions will be held on Sunday, March 20, and enthusiasts will view numerous species of birds and learn about the natural history of the Verde River. The excursions will depart at 8:30 a.m. from Rezzonico Family Park, which is located on Montezuma Castle Highway. If you have binoculars, please bring them; drinking water and walking or hiking shoes are also recommended. Pre-registration is required. Please e-mail whiskycobra1@gmail.com or call 480-242-1996 to register or to request more information regarding these trips. In addition to all the other major events, the Historical Society will also open the historic 1933 Camp Verde Jail, the 1917 George Hance House and the CVHS Museum. This is a family event designed to celebrate all the good things that make Camp Verde and the Verde Valley such a great place to stay and play. For additional information, please visit the following websites: visitcampverde.com or campverdepromotions.org. Feb-March 16 Willcox • Globe & Miami • Quartzsite 21 Quartzite: The Many Colors of Buckskin by Jenn Jedidiah Free To the north and east of Quartzsite is a beautiful mountain range called the Buckskins. This mountain range is part of the Harcuvar complex and is amazingly rich in gold, silver, copper, and many other minerals. Several mining districts are located in this area, including some well known ones like Mineral Hill, Signal, and Swansea. Miners have been working this area since the 1860s and are still successfully pulling mineral rich ore from the Buckskin Mountains today. The earliest known mining in the Buckskin Mountains was by Native Americans who mined gold and copper near the areas now known as Mineral Hill and Planet Mine. Placer gold was also found throughout the entire region. The most well known mine of the area, the Planet Mine, was discovered in 1863 and produced copper, gold, and silver until 1937. Aside from gold, copper, and silver, the Buckskin Mountains produce an amazing assortment of other minerals. Malachite and azurite are two of the most beautiful. They are copper carbonate minerals and are typically associated with copper deposits. Malachite is more common than Azurite, though both are the result of the weathering of copper ores. Often, malachite and azurite are too soft to be worked as a lapidary stone; however, the Buckskin Mountains produce a gemmy and intensely colored azurite/ malachite/chrysacolla silicate, which takes a beautiful polish. Chrysacolla is a hydrous copper silicate that occurs in the oxidation zones of copper deposits. Basically, that means it is ore containing copper and silica that has been altered to the mineral Chrysacolla through contact with air and water. Chrysacolla is a rather common mineral in this copper-rich region of Arizona and is found in association with Azurite, Malachite, and Cuprite. It is a surface mineral, which makes it an important indicator of copper deposits. Chrysacolla can also be found in ores of gold when copper is also present. These ore specimens are exceptionally beautiful. Several varieties of lapidary grade chrysacolla come from the Buckskins, including a beautiful Chrysacolla in a reddish Rhyolite matrix. The Alamo Mining District of the Buckskins is rich in Manganese, Lead, and Iron as well as gold, silver and copper. A beautiful metallic green mineral occurs in this area due to an unusual occurrence of a manganese +6 oxide called a magnate. The extra unpaired atoms in this oxidation variety cause the manganese to have a grayish-green color rather than its characteristic grey, pink or purple. In addition to the manganese, the presence of chrysacolla, azurite, malachite, cuprite, and an iron pyrite in this mix adds to the beauty of this ore. Epidote and lead in the form of galena is present in this material as well. This gorgeous material is sometimes called Buckskin Mountain Chrysacolla. Another location producing manganese ore of the green variety is the Cienega District of the Buckskin Mountains where the Sue Manganese Mine is located. The Sue Mine produced very rich ores of copper, gold, silver, and manganese. The iron ores associated with this mine are hematite and pyrite, along with the copper ores of chrysacolla and malachite. The Sue Mine was worked sporadically from the 1860s to about 1963 and produced over 400 tons of ore. Other mines within the Buckskins such as The Signal Mine, Copper Prince, Swansea, and The Clara Mine also produced rich ores containing copper, gold and silver well into the 1940s. The Mineral Hill Mine operated between 1900 and 1970 and was reported to have produced nearly 1 million tons of ore containing gold, silver, and copper. The recently opened Copperstone Mine and several other mines are producing high grade ores from the Buckskin Mountains today. In addition to these larger mines, there are numerous small mines scattered throughout the Buckskin mountains and many unexplored ore deposits known from Old Lore as “lost mines.” Whether you are looking for precious metals, gorgeous lapidary grade rough or simply a day out enjoying history and amazing scenery, the Buckskin Mountains will reward you with riches and beauty. Jenn Jedidiah Free is the owner of RocksInMyHead™. For more information on the Buckskin Mountains, as well as maps to Planet Mine and Mineral Hill, come to RocksInMyHead, Rice Ranch, Space A37, in Quartzsite or call 605-376-8754. We are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through March and online year-round at www.RocksInMyHead.com. We have beautiful green “Buckskin Mountain Chrysacolla,” Azurite/Malachite/Chrysacolla silicate gem rough, and Chrysacolla in Rhyolite available. We also have a full selection of rockhounding, prospecting and lapidary supplies, as well as lots of awesome rocks, fossils, minerals and gemstones. Maps and Directions to Planet Ranch and Swansea are available at the store and by download. Email Jenn@RocksInMyHead.com. Don’t forget to sign up for our awesome Email Newsletter for tons of great info, tips, tutorials and special deals for all your rockhounding, prospecting and lapidary adventures. Sign up today at www.RocksInMyHeadWorld.com. Garlic-Ginger Beef & Noodle Soup courtesy Cooksrecipes.com 1 pounds beef top sirloin steak, cut 3/4-inch thick 2 tablespoons minced garlic - divided use 3 teaspoons minced fresh ginger - divided use 1 tablespoon sesame oil 4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth 4 ounces uncooked thin spaghetti or rice noodles, broken into thirds 1 (12 to 16-ounce) package frozen stir-fry vegetable blend 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce (optional) Cooking Directions: Cut beef steak lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick strips. Combine 1 tablespoon garlic, 2 teaspoons ginger, sesame oil and beef in medium bowl; toss to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerate 30 minutes to 2 hours. Combine broth, remaining 1 tablespoon garlic and remaining 1 teaspoon ginger in stockpot; bring to a boil. Stir in pasta and vegetables; bring to boil. Reduce heat and cook, uncovered, 4 to 6 minutes or until pasta and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add half of beef; stir-fry 1 to 3 minutes or until outside surface of beef is no longer pink. Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining beef. Keep warm. Remove soup from heat; stir in beef and, if desired, soy sauce. 25 Years in the Antique Business For that unique or unusual antique! Mon-Sat 10-5 Sunday by chance 2,600 square feet of Wonderful Shopping Past Times is going out of business Close out sale with great deals! 150 W. Mesquite, Globe, AZ • 928-425-2220 22 Cave Creek • Carefree Arizona How Do You Spell Love? Love makes the world go ’round. So, as the year begins, here are some “heartTea” ideas to share love with family and friends of all ages. Heart-Tea Menu for Adults Last February, I was pleased to serve lunch to my sister Ruth. Since it was near Valentine’s Day, a “heart-Tea” meal was in order. I prepared four heart-y soups to sample: my mother’s meatball-and-dumpling soup (my childhood favorite), white bean and ham, French onion, and asparagus with lemon. Ruth loves asparagus, so that soup with its refreshing, lemony taste and chunks of roasted asparagus was her favorite. It looked appealing served in a heart-shaped glass bowl and topped with a heartshaped piece of wheat toast Place setting with garnished heart-y soup. and a roasted asparagus spear. I garnished another soup with a slice of tomato cut into a heart with a cookie cutter and added a chive arrow across the top. Our menu also included green-pea salad with small, heart-shaped pieces of cheddar cheese served in paper muffin liners and placed on doilies atop heart-shaped saucers. We finished our meal by nibbling heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies and sipping Bigelow’s Pomegranate Pizzazz herbal tea, a rose-colored, fruity blend. Lovely Setting Pink and red make a cheerful setting for teatime. I used a pink gingham cloth, pink heart-shaped teacups, and red and white tulips for the centerpiece. Heart-shaped cookie cutters made inexpensive napkin rings and heart-shaped red, pink and white doilies added a lovely accent. Since Ruth enjoys the candy bar with her name, a package of Baby Ruths waited at her place setting. Heart-Tea Ideas for Young Sweethearts Often, our grandkids and I bake and frost heart-shaped sugar cookies together. Sometimes we also make chocolate chip cookies into hearts. They’re easy to make: Roll the dough into a ball, flatten it and then cut out the dough with a heart-shaped cutter. If the cookies lose their shape, recut them with the heart-shaped cutter as soon as they come out of the oven. For gifts and mailing, we place the heart-y cookies into heart-shaped boxes or cookie tins. Last year, our three grandkids (ages 4 to 11) came for a sleepover on Valentine’s weekend while their parents celebrated their wedding anniversary. We started by drawing names and making Valentines to show love in special ways to the person whose name we drew. I set out colored construction paper, doilies, stickers, markers, scissors, tape and glue. My four-year-old granddaughter, Anna, took her Valentine making seriously. She kept whispering to Grandpa and her older siblings to get the information she needed. Place setting with heart-y waffles ready to serve I wondered what she was up to. Lydia’s grandkids for breakfast on Valentine’s Day. Then we made our own Valentine holders and hung them from our chairs by the table. The heart-y theme continued during mealtimes with heart-shaped pizza for dinner. The next morning, we feasted on waffles cut into hearts and topped with whipped cream and heart-shaped strawberries. We sipped hot chocolate from heart-shaped teacups and added a dollop of whipped cream and pink sugar. After breakfast, we read our Valentine cards. When I opened mine from Anna, I found crooked strips of colored construction paper with letters printed on them. I strung the pieces together and saw they included the entire alphabet. Anna couldn’t write words and messages, so she simply wrote all the letters of the alphabet so I could create my own words. I kept those jagged scraps of paper, because to me they spelled L-O-V-E. Any time is a good time to show love to others. I’m ready to express affection to family and friends with a hearty meal, a lovely setting or tea and treats. Won’t you join me? Lydia E. Harris holds a master’s degree in Home Economics. She is blessed with five grandchildren who call her “Grandma Tea.” Lydia authored the book, Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting (AMG Publishers). See Lydia’s Recipe for French Onion Soup on the next page! Feb-March 16 Scottsdale • Phoenix • Goodyear • Mesa • Glendale 23 From Lydia’s Recipe File: French Onion Soup If French is the language of love, what better way to express your love than with French onion soup? And your friends will undoubtedly ask for amour of this tasty, easy-to-make soup. For Valentine’s Day, cut the cheese into heart shapes to fit on the bread slices. Ingredients 1 package Onion Soup Mix (such as Lipton) 1 tablespoon sugar (optional) sliced French bread (one or two slices per person) Swiss cheese slices (one or two per person) Directions 1. Prepare onion soup mix according to package directions. Add sugar and simmer. 2. Toast one or more slices of French bread for each person. Butter if desired. 3. Top each slice of toast with a slice of Swiss cheese cut to fit the bread. 4. Microwave bread for 30 seconds or until cheese melts. 5. Pour hot soup into bowls. Top each with bread and melted cheese. Enjoy! Makes 4 one-cup servings. Optional: If you wish more onions in the soup, brown one or two thinly sliced onions in two tablespoons butter until tender. Add to packaged soup mix and simmer according to package directions. 24 Catlin Court & Historic Downtown Glendale Arizona The Country Register of Arizona & The Country Maiden Celebrate Anniversaries! The Country Register of Arizona is beginning its 28th year of publishing! What began in Arizona as a small eight-page black and white paper has grown not only in this state, but spread across the U.S. and Canada. There are now papers published in 46 states and 5 provinces of Canada! In that first issue, there were 27 advertisers—most of which, over time, have gone by the wayside. There is one shop, however, that has flourished along with the paper and continues to be a loyal advertiser today. The Country Maiden in Historic Downtown Glendale is also celebrating its 28th Anniversary although the shop was located in Tempe when The Country Register started. Over the years, its ownership changed and, in 1991, the shop moved to where you’ll find it today in Catlin Court at 7146 N. 58th Ave, Glendale. (This was so many years ago that we forgot they started in Tempe until we looked at the first paper!) Cheryl Kappes has owned The Country Maiden for eight years. The shop remains the best in the West for Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, Fusion Mineral Paints, up-cycled furniture, primitive country home décor and a great selection of everyday gifts for family and friends. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, The Country Maiden has it all. Stop in and congratulate Cheryl and the staff for the shop’s twenty-eight years! And while you’re there, pick up the latest copy of the paper! Since that first issue, The Country Register has had many shops and events come on board and advertise year after year. The success of this well-loved publication is due to the combination of loyal and supportive advertisers and our wonderful readers who appreciate and support them! We are grateful for all those who are part of The Country Register family! Deep Dark Espresso Brownies courtesy Cooksrecipes.com These rich, dark brownies, intensely flavored with instant espresso, will transport the coffee lover straight to espresso heaven! 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup instant espresso coffee powder 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup powdered sugar Cooking Directions: Preheat oven to 375º F (175º C). Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan; set aside. Beat brown sugar, butter and granulated sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and salt. Beat until well blended. Stir in espresso powder, flour and baking powder, mixing until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan. Lightly dust top with powdered sugar and cut into bars. Makes 24 brownies. Feb-March 16 Catlin Court & Historic Downtown Glendale 25 26 Annie Sloan Stockists Arizona Nestled in Old Town Scottsdale, Savale Flowers Antiques Is a Stockist For Decorative Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan A charming shop nestled in Old Town Scottsdale amongst the art galleries and interior design community, Savale Flowers Antiques features local antique dealers, Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan and fresh flowers designed to order. It is a ‘must see’ for savvy designers, collectors of fine items and discriminating shoppers of unique, one of a kind treasures. Owner Lisa Savale, a local gal, is an artist and designer. She graduated from ASU with a Fine Arts degree and specialized in sculpture with a minor in art history. Lisa has always had a love of antiques. When she was 12 years old, her mother asked her what kind of new bedroom furniture she wanted. Lisa’s reply was, “19th Century French, not Provincial.” She was a budding antique-purveyor at a young age! The Savale antique vendors are always on the hunt for unique finds to bring an everevolving supply of furniture, accessories, art and collectibles to the shop and its charming courtyard. Savale is one of nine stockists of Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan in Arizona. Workshops are regularly held showcasing the versatile paint techniques on a variety of surfaces. Savale carries all the Annie Sloan products including paints, wax, brushes, rollers and books. Come see several examples of completed projects in the shop—even the floors and stairs feature this fabulous product. Lisa uses her artistic ability to create beautiful floral bouquets and offers creative wedding and event arrangements as well as home décor installations. An example of Lisa’s creative transformation of found objects is when Continued on next page... Feb-March 16 Phoenix 27 St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Faire - March 12 Irish Cultural Center www.azirish.org 602-258-0109 McClelland Irish Library www.azirishlibrary.org 602-864-2351 1106 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix Tues-Sat 10:00-3:00 Savale, continued from previous page... she uncovered a French 19th Century counter that needed a suitable makeover before it could be used in the shop. She painted the counter with a coat of Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan in the color French Linen. Then, using the color Louis Blue, she made a wash—50% paint and 50% water—painted it on and wiped it off. She followed that with a coat of clear wax to ensure years of durability. This marvelous piece now serves as the checkout counter in Savale. Lisa and her staff look forward to welcoming you and sharing their curated treasures. Savale is located at 7135 E 1st Ave in Scottsdale, one block west of Scottsdale Road on 1st Avenue. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 602-778-9777. You can follow Savale on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and the Etsy shop. 11649 N. Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ 11649 N. Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Local. One Stop Shopping. Park & visit all 5 shops - one location! Join us for our Annual Customer Appreciation Day Saturday February 6th 28 Mesa Arizona Vintage African Indigo Batiks —The Fabric of Life by Simone Gers When my husband Tray gets home from a “picking” trip, my first question is usually, “What’s your favorite find?” Earlier this year, it was Vintage Indigo Batiks from Africa. He couldn’t stop gushing about them. And they are beautiful. I’m a pragmatic person so I love items that have multiple purposes and indigo batiks are so inspirational. Of course, they make great shawls and wraps and are fantastic for throws. Some people like the lighter-weighted textiles for clothing and we like the heavier batiks for the throws. They bring tablescapes to life and make gorgeous tablecloths for all kinds of dishes, especially white ironstone and yellow or red Fiestaware. Many people are using batiks for pillows, bolsters and upholstery work—and it’s no wonder because the handwork on vintage indigo batiks is inspiring. Each batik, like a quilt, tells a story that is handed down from father to son, mother to daughter. Sections of cloth are composed of individual motifs such as fish bones, little stars or hunters and each piece has its own unique tale to tell. There are some themes, like wealth and luxury, calabash flowers (a sign of prosperity), brave and fearless, yet meanings differ depending on the individual, ethnic group or region. African Batik was originally imported in the 19th century by Dutch merchants from Indonesia where paste made from starch or mud is used as a resist instead of wax and the dye is made through a process of grinding indigo plant leaves. African batiks feature larger motifs with thicker lines and more colors than Javanese batik. The complexity of the weave, the color and the type of thread used determines the value of the fabric. I love looking at the batiks and wondering about the families who made them and what the symbols meant to them. I like to compare the weaves and feel the different textures between my fingers. It’s interesting to look at the blues next to each other and wonder how many times each piece was dipped to get it to its perfect shade of indigo. I love that each piece is unique. I love watching customers feel the fabrics between their fingers, throw a batik over their shoulders, wrapping themselves in history. And when someone brings a gorgeous indigo batik up to the register, I wonder what stories will be told about this great, one-of-a-kind find and what memories will become enmeshed with the stories already woven into the fabric. Simone Gers began her antiquing journey 35 years ago when she married Tray, an avid collector. They still have the first piece they bought together—a pegged farm table that was so decrepit it was behind the antique store—and they have been upcycling vintage finds ever since. The Gers own Gather A Vintage Market in Tucson, AZ, a monthly market. Simone has taught writing and literature at the college level for many years. Feb-March 16 All You Need Is Love and Poppy’s in Mesa Does All the Rest All you need is love! Valentine’s Day at Poppy’s in Mesa is the time for gifts of love, beautiful flowers, the desires of the heart. Sweets for the sweet, custom gifts baskets filled with decadent nibbles or trinkets are available as a delightful way to say “I love you.” For Valentine’s Day, Poppy’s is creating beautiful bouquets of luscious fresh cut roses in clear glass vases especially for the ones you love for only $100. Exquisite fresh flowers are truly wonderful luxurious pleasures for someone special. Order today! In like a lion and out like a lamb, March rolls into Poppy’s leading to the Wearin’ o’ the Green! You will find a wonderful selection of whimsical gifts to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This one-stop home decor shop continues to provide unique and special gifts, custom florals, furniture, lighting, custom drapes, garden towers, classes, demos, and wonderful accent pieces for your home. It is a full design resource for all your decorating needs to totally make your home a place that you truly love. Poppy’s Picadilly Square offers delicious daily lunches with made-to-order tasty sandwiches, soups, salads and sweet treats. You can also enjoy a delicious traditional High Tea on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., by reservation only. Poppy’s Home Decor is located at 7143 E. Southern, Ste 107, in Mesa, just east of Power Road. Call 480-325-4900 or follow the shop on Facebook. Mesa • Chandler 29 30 Mesa Arizona The Tale of a Box from My Closet by Kerri Habben Winter offers powerful lessons that it is a good time to finish up old tasks. Of course, I’ve also received the last phrase of that sentence in a fortune cookie. Whatever the inspiration, I’ll make it my own: It is a good time to finish up old tasks and to allow the past to settle into the future. I have a tangible task; it sits before me in a box, waiting patiently as it has for the last nine years. There is nothing onerous, dreary or disturbing in my box. There is no lurking regret, sweat-breaking doubt or even intense grief. There is a beautiful memory, one so heartbreakingly warm that I rarely rewind the moment. That way, it remains vibrant and alive. Now I wish to share it with you. It is mid-August, 2006. Three generations of women sit together in a resident’s room at an assisted living community. The resident, the oldest at four months shy of 100 years of age, crochets, as do her daughter and granddaughter. It is as it has ever been for as long as the daughter and granddaughter can remember. Except for the grandmother’s hands. Their efficient rhythm has lost its steady stamina. There are gentle bursts of energy and then periods of complete rest. The process repeats itself until the yarn sits still and quiet in her lap. All of them know that the desire to try remains, but as the saying goes, the flesh is weak and tired. A rare sadness and passivity creeps into the grandmother’s eyes. The granddaughter finds a pretty basket in the closet. They ask the grandmother if she would like to put the yarn there so she can pick it up when she feels more rested. The grandmother nods with a relieved acceptance, releases the skeins and the partially finished granny square into the basket. 91 years of crocheting comes to an end. Three weeks later, the grandmother passes peacefully away at the hospital, dying of aplastic anemia, wherein her bone marrow ceased to produce blood cells and platelets. The blanket and yarn was packed up and the granddaughter placed it in her closet with the thought that she and her mother should finish it one day. She waited to finish it because what she felt from the blanket was the weakening of strength and durability. She knew, naturally, that one day her grandmother would no longer be living, but somehow it seemed like her hands would forever be steadily moving. After a time, whenever the granddaughter saw the box, she still thought of finishing it one day. But this time, somehow, she even forgot what was in the box. Which meant it was more than time to complete the blanket. So on this winter’s day, I open the box. I remove the yarn, whereupon the square appears lost. I reach out to embrace and reassure it and I find that instead it comforts me. During its long hibernation, the atrophy I feared to feel has somehow again grown into a new, deeper strength. Or, perhaps, time has the same effect on a blanket as it does on the human heart. I pick up a crochet hook and I decide to crochet one row to outline my grandmother’s Continued on next page... Feb-March 16 Scrapbooking • Gems & Beads • Farmers Markets • Plain Country Ads 31 Tale of a Box, continued from previous page... work. And it is then that I know that her work never stopped at all. She is within every efficient and steady motion of my mother’s and my hands. The past settles into the future. It is a good time to finish up old tasks. Kerri Habben is a writer, photographe, and crochet instructor living in Raleigh, NC. An avid crocheter and knitter, she learned these skills from her grandmother and mother. She donates many of her yarn creations to those in need. Kerri has gathered a decade of essays she is working to publish. She can be reached at elhserenade@earthlink.net. Enter to Win a $25 Gift Certificate The Country Register is giving away one $25 Gift Certificate to one of our lucky readers to be spent at a local advertising shop! Use it to go shopping at your favorite Country Register advertiser. The drawing will be held on March 1st and the winner will be announced in our April-May issue. The gift certificate will be mailed to the winner. Entry Deadline is March 1, 2016 (Names are not sold, given away or used for any other purpose.) Drawing Entry Form Name ________________________________________ Phone_________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________ City, State & Zip ___________________________________________________ E-mail address: ____________________________________________________ Name of my favorite Country Register advertiser is: _________________________________________________________________ Tell us what makes this advertiser your favorite: _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Plain Country Ads Buy It - Sell It Tell It - Trade It To enter, complete this form and mail to: The Country Register, 515 E. Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085 (Photocopy of form is fine. Be sure to answer all questions.) Or email the information to: arizona@barlomedia.com and put “Gift Certificate” in the subject line. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Please tell us about a local Arizona quilt shop, antique store, gift shop, etc that you would like to see advertising in The Country Register: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ We welcome your comments and/or suggestions about The Country Register. Include a note with your drawing entry, send us an email or give us a call at 1-888-942-8950. We enjoy hearing from our readers! READERS: Yes, you can advertise in our “Plain Country Ads”. The 2” x 2” space to reach 30,000 readers is $35.00 Mail your ad & check to: The Country Register 515 E Carefree Hwy #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085 (602) 942-8950 Next deadline is March. 1, 2016 Not for shops or shows. Great place to find crafters. 32 Special Event Arizona