Cotton Ball's 3rd Birthday

So As many of you may know on September 12th,

we celebrated three years in our new store.

Yes, I know we have been around for over forty years,

but only three at 1199 Main Street in Morro Bay. So, I put on my Saturday's best clothes and marched down to the shop to hand out tiaras,

balloons, cupcakes and lemonade.... Just the kind of party for a bunch of three year olds.

Our friends dropped by for some laughs and prizes.

Mary Jo Hiney was there to support all the gals that participated in the bag contest,

as well as demo an awesome new pattern using her Silk Adaptations. I was in charge of making noise and and clowning around, yes I did a good job. To all our friends that came by , thanks for the love and support over the years, and to those who did not make it, we missed you , and too appreciate your support and energy, because if you are reading this, then you are a part of The Cotton Ball Family, Thanks!!!!!!!!

Hey That's my Hat

So a good friend of mine, Tim Costa, is now on tour with The Wailers, yes The Wailer! So I decided to kick down a few hats for the band members. Rumor has it that this young lady

has stolen a Free World Textiles Hat from The Wailers' Bus.

If you see her wearing it, please give her a hug for me and ask her if she would also wear a pink one.

New Quilts

well, Yes, I did decide to finally post something new for both of my subscribers, thanks again Chuck and Kathy D.
So it has been a huge couple of months for this little quilt maker. Almost immediately after I returned from Costa Rica, I found myself inspired to change my focus and get back into the design studio. Prior to the trip Michael Miller Fabrics invited me to lend a mind and hand in coming up with a program that we could do that would allow us artists to make a difference on a global level. I thought to myself, "Self, that should be a breeze." Well fortunately enough I was able to spend a good deal of time with my son in Costa Rica making videos of the local animals in their native habitat. I realized that the second best thing for me about CR (surfing the obvious first thing)was watching the animals roam freely in their own environment. Wow! I must have spent three hours watching a big female iguana chase all the other males out of the trees near her spot, than have a snack break on the local flowers, then rest in the sun. I had never seen a twelve pound lizard fall from twenty foot up in a tree, THUD! Then she just walked away, amazing.....
Oh yes the quilts,
So I convince Michael Miller Fabrics to send me a whole box of their newest colors of the Fairy Frost Fabric, and I began creating quilts to help raise money for the Endangered Species. I have already created four, up-close and personal animal face quilts and patterns, fabric bundles and complete quilt kits. The response to the quilts has truly been overwhelming. They are very simple raw-edge applique projects finishing around forty inches square. Hope you like them, and you may visit my website to get your own supplies and start helping out too.
Bengal Tiger by Rob Appell
Brown Pelican by Rob Appell
Red Eyed Tree Frog by Rob Appell
Giant Panda by Rob Appell

Going International

Home safe, as many of you may know the entire family and I were lucky enough to spend last week in Costa Rica, at the Hotel Las Tortugas. The trip was amazing, the surf was working and we all traveled and played very well together. So the best part, The Hotel now has one of my quilts hanging in the main lobby. The hotel is absolutely wonderful, complete with a beautiful beach, kid friendly pool, excellent restaurant, and fabulous staff. It is a huge honor to be welcomed to display my art in Costa Rica, now you all must go on vacation to Hotel Las Tortugas and see the quilt in person.