What a Pleasant Surprise!

We were traveling home from Pismo Beach today.

On our route we saw a sign for the Maricopa Quilt Company.

I looked it up on my handy dandy phone, and well,

we were 0.8 miles from the store, sooo....

what do you think happened?

Of course we stopped!

Maricopa is a tiny town.

I wasn't sure what to expect,

but what a pleasant surprise!

The store was full of wonderful fabrics.

Many bright and colorful bolts.

Much eye candy!

Moda, Hoffman, Exclusively Quilters and so much more!

Ric Rac in yummy colors!

A very nice collection.

It was a quick trip,

but I am so glad we stopped!

Can you see the sewing machine on the top shelf?

I came home with a couple of fabrics,

I have a plan for one of them, ha ha.

Vicki, the owner, was very nice.

So if you are ever in Maricopa,

please make sure you visit the Maricopa Quilt Company.

So glad I had something to blog today,

I thought today was just gonna be a travel day.

Well, I have a weekend to creativity planned.

I will share what I can.

Until then,

Blog at you later,

Tiffany

Monarchs, Dolphins, Seals & just one Quilt

Started out the day viewing thousands of Monarch Butterflies.

If you are ever in Pismo Beach I suggest you visit the butterflies.

I traveled to Avila to see the Seals.

I found a few swimming

I think it was too late in the day to see a group of them.

I did find a wonderful fruit and veggie stand,

with pumpkins, flowers and farm animals.

I love this picture of the pumpkins

it is my new screen saver.

Loving the sunflowers too.

Random art always intrigues me.

This is a picture of the town of Avila.

I love little quaint towns like this.

Now, for the one and only quilt of the day.

Not an actual quilt,

but a picture of an actual quilt.

I found it in a little gift store out near the dock in Avila.

Funny where I find quilts.

Well,

lets see what tomorrow brings.

Heading home in the afternoon,

so...

Blog at you later,

Tiffany

Crepes, 4 Quilt Stores & Crappy Mexican Food

I started out the day at Le Ciel in San Luis Obispo

(this all happened yesterday, by the way).

The Crepes, Potatoes & Homemade

Cream of Mushroom soup was wonderful.

I had the special of the day:

my Crepe included

Balsamic Chicken, Bacon, Tomatoes, Basil,

Mozzarella Cheese & Slivered Almonds.

It was very, very good.

I am on a crepe kick by the way.

Each table had a different set of salt and pepper shakers.

I thought this was a fun idea,

by the way,

Scott's Mom collects salt & pepper shakers

so I was intrigued by the assortment.

These were at my table.

Off to my first quilt store...

Quilter's Cupboard in Atascadero.

I managed to visit and leave

without a picture of the store front,

silly me!

I have been to Atascadero twice before in my life...

On a bus from Perris High School for CIF Football games.

Two years in a row!

Let me tell you, that is a long bus ride.

I was a Cheerleader,

just in case you were wondering why I was on the bus.

Well,

this trip was much more pleasent,

the store is full of fun quilts.

I saw someone I knew there,

crazy, huh?

The owner, Lori, was great.

I had such a nice time just wandering at my own pace.

It was lovely.

I bought a few pieces of Batik to add to my collection.

No rhyme or reason,

I just needed them.

Next stop,

Sew Fun, still in Atascadero.

This time I got a pic of the store front.

Once again I meandered at my own pace

(which was pretty slow today).

I totally enjoyed checking out all the samples and fabrics.

The quilts on the wall of the classroom area were great.

I love the one with the black and triangles.

Another quilter came in for advice while I was there,

she had a great quilt,

I didn't ask her if I could take a picture,

but I sure wish I had.

I picked up some more Batiks,

surprise, surprise!!

At this point I was feeling kinda guilty

for my little quilt run adventure.

I don't know why,

I didn't have anything else to do

(except work on my computer)

but getting inspired is just a important don't you think?

Well,

back to Pismo and into Quiltin' Cousins.

Little store, but jammed full of fun stuff!!

Another familiar face...

someone else I knew,

Crazy!

I love the colors in this shop.

It is more my style.

I was feeling very inspired,

looking for something...

There it is...

that fabric with Day of the Dead on Gray!!!

I found some coordinates and my brain started to spin.

I will be playing with these and my computer later,

who knows what will happen?

Did I really need another project,

YEP!!

I told Shawn, the owner, she will probably see me

again and again during my stay in Pismo.

One more store for today!

Creative Patches.

I wanted to chat with the web person there

because we are using the same web hosting company.

I ended up chatting most of the afternoon.

I love quilters.

They are warm and loving, and usually quite a hoot.

I really enjoyed my time here.

I shared my projects and stories.

I found a copy of Strip Six, written by

Daniela from Cozy Quilts in El Cajon.

Daniela is really a great person.

I am happy to support her.

I picked up some Cosmo floss as well,

they tell me it is great,

so I had to have some.

Oh yea,

after all that I had some crappy Mexican Food,

nothing to write home about.

Let's move on.

Yikes,

I think this is the longest post I have ever blogged.

Here is a picture of the beach this morning.

The weather is beautiful

and I must go to the Post Office

to send a quit to Fons & Porter,

then to explore.

So,

with all that said...

Blog at you later,

Tiffany

Work, Work, Work makes me Dull, Dull, Dull!!

I have been working very diligently

on creating a new and interactive website

for Bolts in the Bathtub.

This has taken a great deal of time

and mostly my mental attention.

So first off,

let me present to you my new adventure...

Bolts in the Bathtub

Ok,

now that you have checked that out,

let's move along.

I am currently in Pismo Beach,

and it is absolutely gorgeous here.

We (Scott and I) left the desert about noon yesterday.

We took the very scenic route.

We traveled through an area of snow

and then found some dense fog.

We saw a deer, but I did not get a picture (so sad).

And then...

The beach!!!

The beach at sunset!!!

I have learned a great deal about many things

pertaining to websites and the internet.

I have learned to use picnik.com.

That is how I framed and re-sized the great picture above.

Well,

on with the day...

Scott is in meetings the entire time we are here,

so I will go out and adventure.

Off to the local quilt stores!!!

I will share pics and stories later.

I hope to get back on this blogging bandwagon,

but I cannot make promise.

Just remember to check on me and see how I do.

Blog at you later,

Tiffany