Calico Mermaid

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Fiji Dream Trip!

We just returned from a dream come true trip to Beqa Lagoon in Fiji.

It was beautiful & relaxing & a wonderful way to kick off our summer & my retirement.

Let me bore you with a few vacation pics!

We've been to Beqa before, & love everything about it.

We love traveling with Maui Dream Dive Co.

These are the beautiful flowers given to us when our boat arrived at the island.

This is the view from our bure (our cottage on the beach.)

I love all the flowers blooming everywhere!

This is the view from the spa.

Here are a few of Richard's photos he took when we were scuba diving.

Fiji is known for its' colorful soft corals, & sea fans.

I love all the pretty colors of fish!

My first Hawk's Bill Turtle

I love when the clown fish match their red anemones!

Now we're back to reality & the Mermaid has LOTS of fun plans for the coming months!

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Row X Row Experience begins June 21!

http://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/

It's almost time!

Join us & 2499 other quilt shops in the US & Canada!

Come to each participating shop between June 21 & September 8 to receive a free pattern for a 9" X 36" row.

Put 8 or more rows together into a completed quilt to win a prize!

Check each state's Facebook page to see the rows.

https://www.facebook.com/CARowbyRowExperience

Here is our 2015 row kit-

It was just too hard to choose a tail - so we have 4 choices for you!

And of course, we have Quilty Mermaid Fabric Plates for you:

This is my bag with our 2014 plate.

Remember, the only way to get your free Quilty Mermaid pattern or kit is to come to Calico Mermaid!

So, hop in the a/c car, hit the road & come see us!

Monday, June 8, 2015

School's Out Forever!

School's Out Forever-

for me, anyway!

You may not have heard the exciting news - despite the hooting, hollering, & celebrating ...

I've retired from teaching!

After 37 years of teaching elementary school, I'm finished.

I've been at my rural K-8 school for 34 years as a teacher & administrator, plus a year during my college days as an instructional aide.

I've taught many kids & their kids, & some of MY former students are thinking of retirement, so it's time for me to start some serious relaxing.

Today is my first real day of summer - forever!

We're pretty excited about this new venture, but obviously I'm not fond of change,

so we'll see how it goes.

I've been on an August/June frenzied cycle every year since I was 5 - so this is a BIG change for me.

I'll have more time in the shop, so watch for more fun at Calico Mermaid.

We'll have more time to sew, travel & play with our grandbaby, so be prepared for vacation pics.

Come on in to visit & see what's new at the Mermaid. I'd love to see you!

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Row By Row Experience 2015!

We're so excited! The 2015 Row X Row Experience

begins next month!

All 50 US states and Canada, too!

Over 2500 shops!

So here's how it works:
It's like a shop hop, but it's not... no fees, no cards to stamp, and all summer to play! Simply visit any of the participating shops and receive a free pattern for a row in a quilt. Combine your rows in any way to create a unique quilt that represents the fun you had traveling throughout the summer. Travel with friends, discover new quilt shops and have fun collecting rows!

This year's theme is Water.

Create a quilt using at least 8 different 2015 rows from 8 different 2015 participating Row x Row shops and be the first to bring it into a participating shop to win a stack of 25 fat quarters (6-1/4 yards of fabric!).
Use that shop’s row in your quilt and win a bonus prize!

It will be the biggest and best Row by Row Experience™ ever in 2015! All 50 states and several more Canadian provinces are planning fun for travelers throughout the summer. Although the quilt shops are organized by area, quilters have no borders. Travel, shop, collect patterns and add rows to your quilt from any anywhere!

Look at our Calico Mermaid license plate-

Exclusive Fabric Plates™ by Zebra Patterns will be available in shops around the country. Each one is unique! Collect a bunch to create fun projects, sewing studio wall art or even a fun backing for your quilt.
Last year we made a bag with our Happy Quilter License Plate.

Here's where you can go to see which shops are participating & plan your own road trips:
http://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/start-here.htm

You can go to each area's Facebook page to see the free row patterns & quilts already turned in:
https://www.facebook.com/CARowbyRowExperience?fref=ts

It's going to be such fun!
I'll show you our row as soon as she's ready!