Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Alive and Kicking... and having fun!

We got a call at the shop today from a woman that heard that I had been in a terrible accident and that the shop would most likely be closing. I am happy to report that isn't true. I am happy, healthy (to the best of my knowledge, knock on wood) and have no plans to close the shop anytime soon.

Funny how rumors get started. It always seems like it is the bad ones that stick. My usual response when someone tells me something like that is to laugh and ask them if they have heard the one about my having slept with Mel Gibson. Unfortunately that worked better when Mel was the "Sexiest Man Alive". After his outbursts of late I have decide to replace him. I have tossed around the idea of starting a "thing" with Harrison Ford, but after some thought, I decided that I have always harbored a small crush on Richard Gere. My husband was in Naval Flight Officer Training when we got married and I have always had a soft spot for the movie "Officer and a Gentleman". I'm going to have to see if Richard is available for my rumor mill. I love that white uniform......


While we are on the subject of rumors, you might not realize that I went to high school with Taylor Lautner. Ok, that is a bit of a stretch, but follow me here. I went to Hampton High School. Taylor Lautner is currently working on a new movie (where he does not play a vampire) that is filming right here in town and in the movie he attends Hampton High School - the very same one I attended. They aren't just using the building in the film, the producers decided to actually call it Hampton High and keep the mascot the same - the Talbot. Anyone else have a Talbot as a mascot at their high school? ..... I didn't think so. Hampton has the distinction of having the only Talbot mascot in the U.S. ... or possibly anywhere. If you are wondering, a Talbot is not only an upscale woman's clothing store, it is also an extinct, snow white hunting dog (although our mascot was always grey). So, on some obscure level, I went to high school with a vampire. Toss that one into the rumor mill and see if it sticks! Check it out here
http://www.wpxi.com/entertainment/24243753/detail.html
One thing that is not a rumor is that I have a pretty fantastic hometown. Allison Park is our zip code, but here in Pennsylvania we have a government of Townships, ours is Hampton. Another strange fact is that Pennsylvania is technically not a state, we are a Commonwealth. Your American History teacher lied to you about there being 50 states, but that isn't the point. I live in a township with different boundaries than our post office. Hampton is a very small community measuring just 4 miles by 4 miles, but we pack in as much greatness as we can. Now the rest of the world, or at least Family Circle Magazine, has taken notice. We were rated the #2 best place to raise a family! We are pretty thrilled with that distinction and I am especially proud because my husband is an elected official that helps make this place so wonderful. Check it out:




I am pretty sure that Family Circle got this right. I was raised here, my kids spent all or at least part of their childhood here and after living 11 different places my husband and I moved our family back here to open the store - The Quilt Company -the one that isn't closing.

8 comments:

Diane said...

Well geeze, I'm glad you weren't in a terrible acciden and your store is not closing. I'm jealous that you went to HS w/ a vampire-which probably means I need some kind of emotional help.
I didn't know Talbot's was an extinct dog but I did know we in Pa live in a commonwealth-I actually remember my Jr Hi history teacher telling us this...but I don't remember his name. hmmmm.
And although my mailing address is "Pittsburgh" I'm about 18 miles in the suburbs of Plum, the school with the Purple Mustang as a mascot. They're about as common as your white (grey)Talbot.
Oh and I'll be with some quilty friends tonight so I'll try to get the Richard Gere thing going for ya!

Lisa said...

Hi Karen...I love your blog and your quilt shop. But as probably one of your youngest customers/readers I felt like I should tell you that Taylor actually plays a warewolf and not a vampire. Jacob actually hates the vampires!!

Judy Bott said...

Question -- How many blocks are we supposed to have in the nine-patch project when we finish. I have 60 done in the two sizes I'm doing and wanted to know how many more we will need for this fun project. Sure am glad you didn't have an accident and that you are only taking a vacation. Thank you for all you do to keep us quilters happy. Just wish you were a little closer so I could run in weekly rather than about once every two or three months.

Audrey said...

I'm glad that you are not closing, because I just found you! I just want you to know that you have a great staff! Everytime I have stopped in, everyone was willing to help and patiently answered all of my questions. Also, having a Bernina dealer nearby is wonderful.

Karen said...

Oh good heavens, my daughters will be mortified that I can't tell a warewolf from a vampire! Everyone correct the rumor, I went to high school with a WAREWOLF.... which considering I went to high school in the 70's isn't that hard to believe. I have prom pictures to prove it!

Lauren Olson said...

Mom- I am embarrassed. Even I who has read none of the books, and seen none of the movies knew he was a werewolf. However, I know nothing about adequate seam allowances, or rotary cutting with any sort of skill, so I am ready to let this one slide. :)

Audrey said...

I love the exchange between Karen and her daughter Lauren! Very nice response Lauren...Mom knows some things...you know others. Just the way it should be.

Terri said...

I loved the 9 patch project, I used a batik jelly roll. It was different because I am a traditional quilter,But with this fabric I didn't match anything except my seams.