Heidi Kaisand
Creativity and quilting go hand-in-hand at my Iowa house. I am a busy mother of Henry and identical twins Goldie and Virginia and a wife to Jeff. Visit my web site at www.heidikaisand.com to learn more about my retreats.Syndicate
Quilting Bloggers
HenandChicks
No Quilter or Cookie will be left behind
Last week on my trip to Duluth, Minnesota, to the Minnesota Quilter's annual show, I made a stop at my friend Roseann's. Check out the cute video we made!
Well Roseann is always raving about this neighborhood grocery store that she goes to called Kowalski's Market. How good can a grocery store be anyway? Off we went for a visit. As we drove up into the parking lot, the view of the lake was beautiful.
The front door was very inviting. I was starting to think groceries??? In a place that looks like a resort lodge?? Roseann starts talking about sipping coffee in front of the fireplace.
Let me tell you, this was the best looking grocery store I've EVER been in. The gift shop was spectacular. The food looked so scrumptious...I sort of went into a daze and forgot to take pictures. The displays were beautiful. I wanted to buy everything!
I could buy one for each child....
Henry and Jeff have enjoyed the chocolate covered sunflower seeds. They are so colorful.
After making the rounds of the store, wishing I was close to home so I could stock up, we came to the "wall of goodness" as I have named it. A display case with scones, muffins, and cookies. Over the course of the two days, I made two trips to Kowalski's and have sampled the lemon scone, blueberry muffin (both crumbled top and frosted top), cinnamon muffin, McTavish gingerbread shortbread cookie, chocolate chip cookies, and regular shortbread cookies. It all was good!!
Since I was headed to Duluth to work at the APQS booth with Karen McTavish, it was only right to buy cookies for her. Here she is with her cookie.
After a long dialog last night on Facebook, I've accepted the challenge to bring 100 McTavish cookies to my next speaking engagement on July 9 in Mankato, Minnesota. Are you coming? I want to make sure no quilter is without a cookie.
Well Roseann is always raving about this neighborhood grocery store that she goes to called Kowalski's Market. How good can a grocery store be anyway? Off we went for a visit. As we drove up into the parking lot, the view of the lake was beautiful.
The front door was very inviting. I was starting to think groceries??? In a place that looks like a resort lodge?? Roseann starts talking about sipping coffee in front of the fireplace.
Let me tell you, this was the best looking grocery store I've EVER been in. The gift shop was spectacular. The food looked so scrumptious...I sort of went into a daze and forgot to take pictures. The displays were beautiful. I wanted to buy everything!
I could buy one for each child....
Henry and Jeff have enjoyed the chocolate covered sunflower seeds. They are so colorful.
After making the rounds of the store, wishing I was close to home so I could stock up, we came to the "wall of goodness" as I have named it. A display case with scones, muffins, and cookies. Over the course of the two days, I made two trips to Kowalski's and have sampled the lemon scone, blueberry muffin (both crumbled top and frosted top), cinnamon muffin, McTavish gingerbread shortbread cookie, chocolate chip cookies, and regular shortbread cookies. It all was good!!
Since I was headed to Duluth to work at the APQS booth with Karen McTavish, it was only right to buy cookies for her. Here she is with her cookie.
After a long dialog last night on Facebook, I've accepted the challenge to bring 100 McTavish cookies to my next speaking engagement on July 9 in Mankato, Minnesota. Are you coming? I want to make sure no quilter is without a cookie.
Tropical True Love
Saturday took us to Northwest Iowa for a family wedding (the groom is a second cousin on Jeff's side of the family). It wasn't a quick trip as it was about 200 miles one-way. Despite leaving early, we weren't exactly on time! As we tried to sneak in the church to find rest rooms before sitting down, the wedding party was preparing to walk down the isle. The bride graciously pointed us in the direction of the rest rooms. Oh my gosh...what would miss manners have said about that? After that ackward moment, we waited with another couple that was late! Then we slid into the back pew as the ceremony began.
It didn't take long for me to see that the bride, Nicolette, had planned the wedding with a tropical theme. Bamboo sticks lined the isles holding a light netting over the main church isle. Palm branches and beach lanterns lined the isle. The programs, cleverly doubling as fans, were a pretty aqua with a shell stamped on the front. The history of the Lei was even included for guests to read.
As the ceremony began I realized that our own minister had come to participate in the service. As Rick began to speak, Henry leaned over and said, "is that Rick? It sounds like him." That surprised me so!
The creative touches were everywhere. The dresses made by the bride's mother were of a beautiful aqua and green. The ruffle was so sweet. This charming bridesmaid modeled for a quick picture. Aren't the necklaces stunning? I understand they were a gift from the bride to her wedding party.
No wedding outfit would be complete without the perfect shoes.
The wedding party table at the reception was decorated with sand and shells and completed with the bridesmaids bouquets.
Virginia and Goldie took it all in. Here, Virginia was smelling the flowers.
Upon arriving at the reception, we were shown the path with tiki torches. Then served a pineapple and mint punch.
Table centerpieces ranged from shells filled with flowers and resting on a "beach" of soft white sand and shells to ship-style lanterns showing the bride and groom the way to their new life together.
The cake was a stunning all-cream colored masterpiece. Unfortunately we headed home before they cut the cake, but it looked wonderful. As we pulled away from this little town I expressed my disappointment for not getting to have cake. I love frosting. I'd even eaten a salad for lunch anticipating the cake. My mother-in-law jokingly said, "you didn't want to ask for cake to go?" To which Henry replied, "I would have asked." We laughed and stopped about 45 minutes later for a cookie to go from a gas station.
Congratulations to Danny and Nickie!
It didn't take long for me to see that the bride, Nicolette, had planned the wedding with a tropical theme. Bamboo sticks lined the isles holding a light netting over the main church isle. Palm branches and beach lanterns lined the isle. The programs, cleverly doubling as fans, were a pretty aqua with a shell stamped on the front. The history of the Lei was even included for guests to read.
As the ceremony began I realized that our own minister had come to participate in the service. As Rick began to speak, Henry leaned over and said, "is that Rick? It sounds like him." That surprised me so!
The creative touches were everywhere. The dresses made by the bride's mother were of a beautiful aqua and green. The ruffle was so sweet. This charming bridesmaid modeled for a quick picture. Aren't the necklaces stunning? I understand they were a gift from the bride to her wedding party.
No wedding outfit would be complete without the perfect shoes.
The wedding party table at the reception was decorated with sand and shells and completed with the bridesmaids bouquets.
Virginia and Goldie took it all in. Here, Virginia was smelling the flowers.
Upon arriving at the reception, we were shown the path with tiki torches. Then served a pineapple and mint punch.
Table centerpieces ranged from shells filled with flowers and resting on a "beach" of soft white sand and shells to ship-style lanterns showing the bride and groom the way to their new life together.
The cake was a stunning all-cream colored masterpiece. Unfortunately we headed home before they cut the cake, but it looked wonderful. As we pulled away from this little town I expressed my disappointment for not getting to have cake. I love frosting. I'd even eaten a salad for lunch anticipating the cake. My mother-in-law jokingly said, "you didn't want to ask for cake to go?" To which Henry replied, "I would have asked." We laughed and stopped about 45 minutes later for a cookie to go from a gas station.
Congratulations to Danny and Nickie!
The Hideout!
The halfway point from my parents to the quilt show in Duluth was my friend Roseann's hideout in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Every creative individual needs this kind of space.
It's hers, and hers only...except when she holds special events and let's others in!
She surrounds herself with color, texture and inspiration.
And she inspires! You can't help but be creative if your notebooks look like this.
As she's telling me how to make it, I stop her and say, "wait" we can make a video. So check this out!
No Fear of Heights
My destination is the Minnesota Quilt Show in Duluth, but my first stop was at Grandpa and Grandma McNutt's in St. Ansgar, Iowa. While I'm working in the APQS booth with Karen McTavish, Henry, Goldie, and Virginia will be having a mini-vacation! If today was any indication, they are going to have fun while I'm away.
About 3 blocks from my folks is the elementary school playground. Great equipment to climb and slide on. Goldie and Virginia headed to the tallest slide immediately. Without an ounce of hestitation, both girls went up and down numerous times. Loving it!
Virginia
Virginia
Goldie
Henry was having fun pushing me on the merry-go-round. He'd run and run and run, then jump on. 
I've been learning more about the video features of my camera. So, I thought I would show you this snippet of Virginia.
Follow the Star
Watching kids be creative is almost as fun as being creative myself! Last night was our first session of VBS (vacation bible school). Our theme is Camp E.D.G.E. and we're following the star to help us from getting lost. The older kids did thread art. 
While the younger kids used playdough to make their stars. 
But the excitement of the night was during snack time when a tooth was lost! (This is Shay, half of another set of identical twin girls in our church.)
I must also show the appropriate attire to wear at Camp E.D.G.E. Perfect for the eXtreme sports we're doing! I'm sure you'll all know who is wearing them.
Which way Captain?
Friday was a perfect day in Iowa. Warm in the sun, cool in the shade. Very little wind. If only every day in Iowa was like this. Grandma Kaisand likes to paddle around our pond for some exercise. On Friday she paddled for a while with a new captain aboard. I could hear him telling her which direction to go!
She was brave and let Henry take the paddle. It didn't seem like they went very far when Henry was paddling.
They enjoyed the day. And created new memories. Henry is already wondering when they are going canoeing again.
It's been a wonderful week of new memories for me. From finishing the patio to flowers to cats to canoes. This week is sure to be as memorable with a quilt talk in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Tuesday night and a trip to the Minnesota Quilt Show in Duluth on Thursday and Friday, to help Karen McTavish in the APQS booth. More memories to capture...
My favorite flower
Simply beautiful. Simply my favorite flower.
From my garden yesterday.
Furry Friends
Goldie seems to be drawn to Sam, the cat. She loves to pick him up and carry him around. I had taken the car seats out of the car to replace them with booster seats for the girls (a sign of how tall the girls are getting). Goldie took Sam to the seat for a little petting.
Despite the fact that Goldie sometimes grabs a little hard, or pinches a little too much, Sam stays close. He loves the attention.
Black and White, and a little pink and lime
Cutting two quilts at once is efficient, but it seems like I'm cutting and cutting and cutting. 
When I start sewing, it'll seem like I'm sewing and sewing and sewing.
And, in a flash two black-and-white quilts will be done. Right?
That's what farmers do
Each year, I have a plan to landscape one section of our yard. In 2008, we really hit the front yard hard and I think it is really looking nice this spring. This morning I looked out and saw a white iris blooming.
This year, the project is to put a patio in below our back porch. There's a staircase that comes down from the porch and a door that goes into the basement. Traffic will be high in this area as we go to and from the pond during the summer months. Wanting a look of old pavers, I picked a tumbled cobble stone in three sizes. The beauty of this is that there's no pattern. Although Jeff didn't quite see it this way! To me it was like a quilt, to him it was a mess! We simply changed jobs. He got all of the sand prepared, I brought bricks to the back of the house. Then he brought me bricks while I laid them out in the cool, no pattern design.
We are using some styrofoam pieces to walk on and kneel on while working on the bricks. Jeff had sent me up to the garage to get one more piece. When I came out of the garage, the strong wind quickly snapped my one piece of styrofoam into two and away they went across the drive way. Of course, they went into two different directions (hmm...much like the girls) and I could only catch up with one piece. The second piece seemed to get lodged in some tall grass on the hill side. I asked Henry if he would go find that piece and bring it back. Off he ran.
Around the corner he came with the hunk of styrofoam. I was near my camera and quickly grabbed it because I loved what I saw. Mom says, "You got it. Thanks, Henry."
He replies with something but I can't quite hear him. "What Henry?" "That's what farmers do, they help," he replies.
"Yes, Henry, you're right. Farmers do help."
There are two details I must point out. The chocolate ice cream "ring" from a quick stop at the Gingersnap with Dad.
Winter boots on May 31.
This year, the project is to put a patio in below our back porch. There's a staircase that comes down from the porch and a door that goes into the basement. Traffic will be high in this area as we go to and from the pond during the summer months. Wanting a look of old pavers, I picked a tumbled cobble stone in three sizes. The beauty of this is that there's no pattern. Although Jeff didn't quite see it this way! To me it was like a quilt, to him it was a mess! We simply changed jobs. He got all of the sand prepared, I brought bricks to the back of the house. Then he brought me bricks while I laid them out in the cool, no pattern design.
We are using some styrofoam pieces to walk on and kneel on while working on the bricks. Jeff had sent me up to the garage to get one more piece. When I came out of the garage, the strong wind quickly snapped my one piece of styrofoam into two and away they went across the drive way. Of course, they went into two different directions (hmm...much like the girls) and I could only catch up with one piece. The second piece seemed to get lodged in some tall grass on the hill side. I asked Henry if he would go find that piece and bring it back. Off he ran.
Around the corner he came with the hunk of styrofoam. I was near my camera and quickly grabbed it because I loved what I saw. Mom says, "You got it. Thanks, Henry."
He replies with something but I can't quite hear him. "What Henry?" "That's what farmers do, they help," he replies.
"Yes, Henry, you're right. Farmers do help."
There are two details I must point out. The chocolate ice cream "ring" from a quick stop at the Gingersnap with Dad.
Winter boots on May 31.
