We're back.....

We arrived at 3:00 A.M. on Wednesday morning....it was a very long trip! Spent all day Tuesday (10-6) drooling over fabric swatches and color cards and spending lots of money. Before we got on the highway we had a lovely dinner at The Olive Garden (my second favorite restaurant), stopped at Rite Aid for a look see and then headed home.

We decided to go back the same way we came which added 2 hours to our driving time, but, with the passport situation the way it was I thought it would be safer to cross at the same border. I was right - all they wanted to know was how much we were bringing in and if we had any booze! I honestly prefer to cross the border at Niagara Falls because I always feel like I'm almost home. That last hour and a half go pretty fast.....

For all the driving and the quick trip I was home and in bed by 6:15 P.M. last night and slept almost all the way through until 8:00 A.M. this morning......I really needed it and tonite I'm gonna go for another early night. I have to recharge for our Halloween Mystery night - can't wait and I almost have my version of the quilt done.......

I'm hoping that tomorrow will be one of those productive days where I really get something done......

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Jo-Ann

Monday,Monday and off we go.....

It's Monday, my favourite day at the store -we can always see some awesome projects, either done or on their way to completion. This is Dorothy's quilt for a friend and it is really nice......I love the subdued colouring.....

Now this is what we call a double whammy (the top is not the border of the bottom quilt). The top one is Elaine's, she is making it for her daughter. The bottom is a One Block Wonder that Helen is working on.......They both promise to be stunning quilts.......

Barb and I hopped in the car around 2:00 P.M. and we were on our way. We decided to cross the border at the closest crossing due to the fact that I, who never have any time for "me" did not get my passport renewed yet! (I promise that by November 30th I will have at least made the application - somebody write this down). We were a little worried that I might not get across, at least Barb was worried. I can almost guarantee that even though I got across this time it won't happen again - he flagged me for sure......

Okay so once we got over our first stop was Erie, PA. where the Sugar Free Fudge comes with Fireworks, Pepper Spray and a Stun Gun.......hmmm! ....and the Jelly Belly store (free samples) sells guns and knives???!!!!
So.....where should we go for dinner? Cracker Barrel or Cracker Barrel? I think we should go to Cracker Barrel.......Barb's halfway there already.......I am so predictable.......
After 4 hours in the car it was great to take a load off....here's Barb rocking on the porch at the Cracker Barrel........ I love the Cracker Barrel -the atmosphere is all country and they have these "dumb" games on the table. You have to remove the pegs and leave the least amount of pegs - so I turned out to be "just plain dumb" and Barb rated "ignoramous"........oh well, we can try again tomorrow! ......Finally, dinner Chicken Fried Chicken, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes and Sawmill Gravy with a side of Fried Apples - mmmmmm! Sooooo, delicious! Barb had a Rueben Melt - really good food! Then back on the road and finally hit the hotel around 11:30 P.M.. Ready to just sit and relax awhile then get some sleep.

Can't wait until tomorrow to get a look at all the new fabrics, notions, books and novelties.......buy, buy, buy! Okay maybe not so much but I'm delirious from driving all day.......

Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Just a quick note......

No pics tonite - I was busy working away in the back on the books again and I actually missed some really cool stuff! Carolyn taught her Threadpainting class today and I completely dropped the ball and didn't get any pictures.....so sorry because there was some really awesome stuff going on in there.....

Since it was a small class I made my Zuchinni Quiche and the girls loved it. It's one of my favorites and I even had a piece left over to take to my mom's when I went to dinner tonite....it's one of her favorites too so she'll have it for lunch tomorrow. Sometimes I'm a "nice" daughter!

I headed back to the store to get lunch ready for the Monday Sit & Sew gang and then home to pack (and find my missing passport)....why, you ask - because Barb and I are off to buy fabric tomorrow! (and other stuff too!)

If you have any "special" requests - now would be the time to get them in! Just give us a heads up in the comments, ie. colours, themes, specific lines, anything goes and you never know you might just see it in the store in the next few months......

We'll be checking the blog once we hit our destination tomorrow night so you have until then to get your requests in......

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Not much to tell.....

Since I wasn't in the store much today there really isn't alot to tell! I was here, in the back, working on the books - ugh! So Barb did all the work and got to see all the good stuff.......




Andy dropped by with quilt #3 - which is stunning as usual and we got a pic (I should really let Barb take the pictures - I am sooooo bad at it!)

The block pattern is from Barbara Brackman's Facts and Fabrications and Andy used shirting along with some Civil War prints to make it. It will look beautiful on the bed......

She has gone off with more fabric and another book I think to start her 4th quilt. She is absolutely amazing and I really think she's enjoying herself.

My saving grace is, I know that once all the book work is done I WILL have time to quilt. I keep trying to steal time here and there and then I get behind in the books and have to scramble to get caught up.....need to organize my time so there's some kind of "happy" medium!

It's 11:15 P.M. and I am finally leaving for home......maybe tomorrow I will be able to stitch a little. Night all!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Finally....what's new!?!

First we had a great evening this evening - The Applique Club (or as my son calls it - The Apple Cake Club) got together for our monthly meeting. The last time we met Jonathan called the store to see why I wasn't home and he thought I said the Apple Cake Club, although I do bake for the ladies - we had Chocolate Chips, Cinnamon Diamonds and Hermits tonite - I haven't yet made the Apple Cake - maybe next time.

Of course it was time for Show and Share.....and Virginia showed us her finished Cat Quilt - absolutely adorable......

...and her finished top of dinosaurs, the center is a panel and it just looks awesome.....

Claudette is working on her 10 Dollar quilt from the Hobby Horse and it is absolutely gorgeous! Who wouldn't want that hanging on the wall at Christmas!...or draped on the bed.......

Annadel is working hard on her Orchid - if she keeps it up it will be one less UFO!

...and Debra brought in her Cat Quilt from blocks she got through an internet exchange which she bordered with the Out of The House Border from South Seas Imports (we had enough left over after we made up our kits).....it really is the perfect border.....

NOW FOR WHAT'S NEW!

First our Doggy Fabrics came in.....there's a Book Panel, a great border, paws, doggy bones and an all over doggy print......

Last night Libby followed me back to the store and bought it all along with a copy of EQ6 - she then designed a quilt and VOILA! Not a book but a great lap quilt!.......and then there's Flower Show III! I can't possibly tell you how gorgeous this fabric is.....the picture just doesn't do it justice!

That's about it for tonite! Going home to play with the BOS and just hang out - it's been a long week!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

There are no leprechauns in Ireland......

Wednesday night Carolyn (Flood) dropped in to teach Serendipity. It's basically gorgeous stitchery which turns into a beautiful piece of artwork! (Check out the photo in the newsletter). Barb took the class and got right into it -

Judith also signed on for this one........

This is Helen's piece, coming along.......

......and Rita working hard at it.......

Karen is really moving along here.......

So is Raili.......

These are a couple of Carolyn's creations...........

Carolyn will also be teaching Threadpainting on Sunday October 24th if anyone would like to sign up there are some spaces available.

Last night I was at the store until 1:00 A.M. marking all the new stuff that came in but you'll have to wait to see it because today I took the day off!!!!!

No really, I took the day off!!! I decided to go on a road trip and Libby very happily came with me.....we were off to Ailsa Craig, Ontario to see the Irish Quilt show.

But first a stop in Shakespeare, Ontario at The Quilt Place......it's a block off the main road (Hwy 7/8).

Here's Libby checking out the patterns on the wall.....

...and I just had to have one more photo of this quaint little shop...it's been a few years since I was here last and I was so happy to see that Heather was still here!

There is, of course, no need to tell you that we did not leave empty handed! Both Libby and I had a great time.......

Then off to Ailsa Craig (for more information on the show http://www.cotton-by-post.com/ ) for the Irish Quilt Show. The ladies dropped by the store last Thursday and I really felt I had to return the courtesy. It was great seeing them again (for some reason they recognized me...hmmm! and a Cock A Doodle Doo rang out!) It was well worth the drive to.....!

Sit back and enjoy some of the amazing works of art made by this very talented group and as the saying goes "Cead Mile Failte" - 100,000 Welcomes! (Unfortunately I didn't get individual info on the quilts but I will do my best here!)

Events of 2007.......

This one was designed by Terri McNeill, Creative Director of Irish Quilting Magazine and appears in the October issue of the magazine (which I am looking into getting into the store to sell).......very appropriate for this time of year!

Oops - I think this one is sideways but the quilt is exquisite and so is the quilting......

I really loved the way the swans echoed formed a 4 leaf clover effect......

This one looks almost modern Celtic......

I was absolutely blown away by this one....a simple log cabin block becomes row housing......how cool is that!

Seems like a simple 9 patch......

Look closer and see how the quilting echoes the stunning border made with bias tape.......

This piece absolutely blew me away....it is done with thread painting and textures......you really need to see this up close and personal to get the true effect.......

Another stunning piece.......using fabric and photography......

Here is a close up of the photograph on the quilt........

This is also an amazing landscape......

Another piece needed to be viewed up close (I take lousy pictures and there are no "do overs"!).......

Got a picture of a few of the girls while I was there, in the foreground - Maureen on the left and Terri on the right........Maureen is texting Vera (one of the quilters) who stayed back in Ireland.......

This is one of Maureen's pieces - she uses a sheer fabric as an overlay and it almost gives the effect of being in the water......it was hung high so hard to get a good photo (good excuse, eh!)
Another of Maureen's designs - the Fun Bag - Checkers, Snakes and Ladders and Tic Tac Toe all in one bag with a large die attached and a little laundry bag of pieces for the checker game.......what a great idea! The boards attach to the outside of the bag with velcro...ingenious! Hours of fun on a road trip for sure!

This landscape is one of the classes Maureen is teaching at the show and is a class sample.....(she showed me a really cool way to do the border too!

This is the view outside Maureen's window at home.......the texturing on this piece is fabulous!.....
This is quite comical and I probably should have enlarged it but I can never figure that stuff out......did you know that "people who own floral sofas are snobbish!" Hmm - mine are striped and checked, wonder what that means!...and that "People who have bright green dishes walk around the house naked!" Mine have roosters all over them.......hmmm! It's really quite adorable and everyone stopped to read it!

This was another landscape piece done with loads of texture, tulle and threadpainting - really a stunner......

This quilt is a Trip Tic (sp.) made in three sections and with a very interesting technique which Maureen explained to me but I think I may have to import the teacher to get it right (she's from Ireland of course!) or maybe go over there and take a class......hmmm, much better idea!

This quilt is from Belfast.....scenes from the countryside and from Belfast proper.

A close up of Belfast City.........

It was an amazing show and wonderful day trip. If you can do it, it really is worth the trip! I believe the show is on until Saturday or Sunday but check the website www.cotton-by-post.com and you will be able to get all the information.

Unfortunately Libby and I didn't get to their shop (Cotton By Post) as they only have the one in London now but next trip for sure we'll drop in. They do have a number of merchants set up at the show so you can get your fill of great patterns and fat quarters and some really lovely quilt kits.

Back to the "grind" tomorrow and I will update you on what's new in the store.

Tomorrow night (Friday October 23rd) the Applique Club is meeting from 6:00 P.M. until midnight - call ahead if you haven't signed up yet- there is limited space! (We like to spread out!)

I know this was a LLLLLLLLLLLLLLonggggggggg.....blog but I really wanted to share my day......

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Jo-Ann