Wait until you see.....

Before I share the phenomenal work done in the class we had today I will share a pic of "a work in progress"!  Barb helped Barbara choose fabrics last week for this gorgeous quilt and this is what she got done in a week - totally awesome.  Barb took the picture and Barbara has promised to bring it back when it's done so we can see the finished product.....so far - amazing!

Elaine taught a class today from the Skinny Quilts & Table Runners II book - Seasons of the Moon - the quilted table runner on the front cover.

Her sample is amazing but wait until you see what the students came up with - they are truly phenomenal.....

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8 and #9 - Noreen - Barb apologizes, she didn't get a picture before you packed up and Barbara was working on other projects but I think managed to get an idea as to how to make the table runner.

I'm thinking this class will definitely be repeated - maybe in the fall when we're all looking for great gift ideas!  Hopefully you will all bring them back so we can get photos of the finished products! 

The next one coming up is also gorgeous and Elaine will be teaching it on Sunday February 28th.  She's got some really nifty tricks up her sleeve for this one (including some cool finishing tricks)!

I'm off to make lunch for the masses (Sit & Sew Monday) and then home to "maybe" quilt my Ditch Flowers wall hanging or........work on my "obsession".....stay tuned, almost time to reveal my project (possibly life long)!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Keeping up......

I'm trying to be very diligent about blogging and this week I've been pretty good!  I'm hoping this will continue.....

Last night we had our first class of Beginner Machine Quiltmaking and my students were fantastic.  They will soon be surpassing my meager quilting skills at this rate......with Rail Fence under their belts I'm sure they are looking forward to what comes next!

I have been waiting for this delivery of patterns for two weeks and am pleased to say it finally arrived!  Laurissa has gotten me piqued on Hawaiin Applique, two color quilts - she will be teaching the Calla Lillies in April so I contacted Pacific Rim to order patterns and of course could not resist a few more for our collection.....take a look.....no drooling please!  First - Calla Lillies......

Next we have - Bird of Paradise......

Then - Herd of Turtles, which Laurissa is currently working on.....may be a class for next term....

....and last is - Candlelight - start now and have it done in plenty of time for Christmas.....the technique is really cool too!  You'll have to take Laurissa's class or come in and grab a pattern.

If you like 2 Color Quilt designs be sure to check out their website at www.prqc.com and let us know.  We'll be happy to order more patterns in from them!  Remember, we will be happy to special order anything you may need for your quilting or needlework.  Just give us a call at the store!

Tonight, after I lock the doors I am going home to quilt (sleep)!  No seriously - if you ask me right now it would be to sleep but I'm hoping to catch a second wind when I close the doors (which will no doubt be caused by the "Miranda" wind when I go to the car) so that I can get down into the studio or possibly do some more work on my "obsession".....we'll soon see!  It's almost time to leave -

On that note I will start tidying up and leave you with -

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Isn't it amazing!

Isn't it amazing when everything just comes together!  One of our customers was in today to pick fabrics for a quilt and she just "wowed" Sharon and I as she chose 23 fabrics from all over the store to make a Puzzle Quilt.  With these choices, this quilt will be nothing less than amazing!  She promised to bring it in and show us and I can't wait to see it......

I was busy most of the day packing up my old office space.  Rich and Jonathan were running back and forth to the store with boxes to store and I was digging into old papers.  Then I was off to the store for Laurissa and the Patchwork Sampler Block of the Month class.  I wish I had gotten some pictures but I promise to share their progress next month.  They all got loads done and in the spirit of the season - most of them were using their stash fabrics!  I'm a bit jealous as I would have loved to have done this quilt too - but - the rules are the rules and I have way too much on the go to start anything new!  There are still a few spaces left in the class if anyone wants to join them - the last Tuesday of the month......

I was a "good" girl and went into my office and cleared my desk and paid some bills......

When I got home I decided to continue being good and went downstairs to the studio to work.  Last night I finished the borders on "Ditch Flowers" and I think it really looks great......

I also started making the backing.......Again, in the spirit of "using up the stash", etc. I decided to piece the back.  I started it last night and finished it tonight and I guess I'm happy with it.  In retrospect those pieces were large enough they could have been used in another quilt or in a scrap quilt so I'm not sure I did the right thing, but, c'est la vie!  The back is done......

The last seam sewed and I ran out of bobbin thread!  So I decided to wind a few bobbins for upcoming projects.  I then remembered what Elaine said at one of her classes recently and decided you all might be interested in a few quilting tips along the way.....so,

TIP OF THE WEEK

Elaine mentioned that she usually winds a bunch of bobbins at a time so she doesn't have to stop in the middle of a project to wind a bobbin.  She also mentioned that after every 4 bobbins she cleans her machine.  Since I couldn't remember the last time I did that - I figured it must be time......

So I removed the plate (my machine is a Janome Gem which I keep at home for piecing)

..and I removed the bobbin casing......

.....and look what I found!  (Taken before I removed the bobbin casing)

......and after I removed the bobbin casing!

It is amazing how much lint gets into the machine.  Most machines come with a small brush just for this purpose......to remove all this lint.  By this time I had taken out the needle (and changed it too!), removed the presser foot and the shaft so I could really get in there and clean it....

I did a pretty good job, but in all honesty I think the next cleaning will be done by Zack because he really takes it apart......I have learned from experience (moreso because my machines are constantly in use) that I need Zack at least once every 6 months.  Normal machine usage probably requires a "good" thorough cleaning once a year. 

Look what I took out with just a small cleaning.........

I'd say that was well worth doing.....I do the same thing with my Bernina and my other Janome's but sometimes I forget and neglect them too!  If you have to - write it on the calendar!  Machine maintenance is something you really don't want to neglect.....

Unfortunately I didn't get anything done on my current "obsession" tonight because no sooner had I finished cleaning the machine than Rich showed up and we sat upstairs and talked for 3 hours.......

Now it's time for bed - I have a busy day tomorrow and I have to teach tomorrow night so need my "beauty" rest!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

All I can say is WOW!

Mary dropped by today.......and she brought with her the raffle quilt for the Etobicoke Quilters Guild which will be raffled off at their show in March.  Talk about "stunning" ......  Needless to say she sold a few Raffle Tickets....and we have more for sale in the store if you would care to take your chances.....I already have 6 tickets!  I will have more before the raffle - I just keep buying them.....It really is a beautiful quilt!  (This picture does not do it justice!  It really is hard to get a "GOOD" picture of any quilt!)  If you click on the picture it will enlarge it so you can appreciate it more......

Sit & Sew was - as usual - busy, busy, busy!  I didn't get a picture of Michelle's project which I really had wanted to but I did catch Kathy with her Pineapple blocks on the design wall and was totally blown away!  Now I wish I had taken that class too!  Next time around....maybe!  You can really see the movement happening in the blocks she's done.....

I don't feel like I've accomplished much today so since it's after 6:00 P.M., I think I will leave Barb to her Hand Piecing/Quilting class and head home to see if I can get something done there......maybe get some work done on my "new" obsession too!  Have I piqued your interest yet????  Well stay tuned - I will share my obsession but not quite yet.....have some other things that need doing first!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I get caught up......

......with getting things done!  I know that's a good thing but then I tend to forget (neglect) other things!  This past week went like lightening for me!  I found a new obsession (which I will not share as yet)!

Monday night Rich and I decided to work on the storage room in the back of the store so I was treated to a "Gourmet" meal  delivery....he cooked Lamb Chops with Potatoes and Broccoli with Garlic.  Looks scrumptious and trust me it was!  My mouth still waters when I look at this picture!  Such an easy meal to throw together and so delicious!

On Tuesday we recieved an order from StoryQuilts which included some more Post Cards from Japan patterns.....Laurissa is already salivating!  She will be teaching  Mount Fuji on April 10th and she is already working on the next one she wants to teach.  Now I've given her 3 more to ponder.......as usual the pictures don't do these quilts justice at all!

One of our customers came in this week to pick up backing and binding for a quilt she had completed!  She took classes with John Willard in Haliburton this past summer and did two quilts - one is completed and the other is on it's way to completion.......both gorgeous!

Then suddenly it was Friday already.....and we were treated to the Applique Club.  Claudette brought in this fabulous quilt she is completing - I think the pattern is Cabin in The Woods and Nancy started pointing out all the great stuff on it......

We were all admiring it and I should have gotten some close ups - maybe I can play with the photo - we'll have to see......

Not the best photo here but check out how cool the fish look!

It wasn't long before everyone got busy doing our projects and I got busy baking, marking new "stuff" that had come in that day....and I even got busy working on my current hand quilting project......a very productive day!

Yesterday and today I took some time off from the store to just relax a little (sleep alot) and I'm feeling much better than I have for a while.... It was a "good" thing!  I'll try not to leave so much time between blogs though - I actually enjoy updating you all on what's happening in the store....

Speaking of which - next week we start a number of our multi-classes -

Beginner Hand Piecing - starts Monday Jan 25 at 6:30 P.M.

This is a great class for learning how to do hand-work, even if you are an avid machine quilter, hand piecing is a very relaxing past time in front of the TV  (wait until I show you what my new obsession is!)

Patchwork Sampler-Block of The Month-starts Tues. Jan 26 at 6:30 P.M. 

If you haven't yet decided what to do with all those fat quarters you've been collecting or those scraps you've been saving - this is definitely the Block of The Month you don't want to miss.

Machine Quiltmaking - Beginner - starts Wednesday Jan 27 at 6:30 P.M.

Brush up on the basics!  Learn how to quilt.  It really is a great class and there are still 3 spaces left......

Our other classes next week are -

Seasons of The Moon - Table Runner/Hanging

Sunday January 31st - 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

.....and don't forget, Sit & Sew is now also on Thursdays........

Looking forward to seeing you all in the store....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

What a weekend.......

Well, the cooking's done for the next couple of days!  I feel like that's all I've been doing since last Monday....but luckily it is my second favourite thing to do!  I didn't actually have to cook on Saturday and Sunday but I did make an awesome lunch for Sit & Sew today!  Herbed Lemon Chicken Soup and Egg Salad Sandwiches and Effie brought dessert - bless her!

Saturday the store was a mad house - the $10.00 Christmas Club got started and we had about 15 participants (there's always room for more).....and then there was the Block of the Month - American Beauty, the classroom was packed and so was the store....

Cathie showed up early Sunday morning to use the design wall for this fabulous little quilt she's making from Mark Lipinsky's Califon - I think it's going to look awesome!

It was time for the Mystery Quilt Reveal!  In September we offered a Take-Away Mystery Quilt designed by Sandy Lindal and this was our chance to see the final??!! products.   Everyone showed up for tea at around 1:30 P.M. except for the cowards! (Cathie, Elaine and Carol signed up for the Mystery but obviously had nothing to show!!! - Oh well, next time!)

Raili was the first to show off her quilt top and it's pretty awesome!  Sandy's admiring it up on the design wall.......

Karen - showed off what she got done!  Now in all fairness Karen had alot on her plate the last few months!  her brand new puppy Zoli went missing for 10 weeks and finally returned home just before Christmas so Karen was kept very busy during the period she "could" have been piecing her top.  Once Zoli came home - he made it quite clear he was not impressed with the sound the sewing machine made and chewed through the foot pedal cord......now if that's not a good excuse I don't know what is! (This little escapade of Zoli's is much more involved but I'll let Karen tell you when you see her.) 

Liz did an amazing job of hers too!  The top is done and it's ready to be layered and quilted!  You really don't get a great look at these fabrics - it is awesome in real life.....

Last but not least is Sandy's finished sample of the quilt which is really nice!  I love her scrappy style of quilting!  I find myself always having trouble when I (try) do a scrappy quilt......she does them in her sleep!  (She must - she gets so much done!)

Once they all finished showing off they sat down and had a great time with Tea and Scones!  Kathy gave me for Christmas a jar of Cranberry Chutney along with a mix for Cranberry Ginger Scones - they were amazing!  However - the "tea table" leaves alot to be desired - that cutting table is a little on the high side when you are sitting around it!  I'm sure we can come up with a better solution for the next time.......

While the girls were busy having tea, we in the store were treated to our own Show & Share.  Last weekend, Karen brought in this fabulous box!

This box is truly "one of a kind" - it is made from the reclaimed wood of the homes in New Orleans that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  What a fabulous piece of history.  Karen decided to make a quilt using the colour palette and design from this box and picked out a handful of fat quarters....She managed to finish it this week and brought the top in to show us.......

The colours in the quilt really mirror the box!  She did a fantastic job!  Wait until you see her next project.......

Thought I would mention that we did receive a bunch of new patterns in last week from P3 Designs and Rabbits Haven.  They are mostly applique patterns which we seemed to have very few of.......so have a browse while you're in the store - there are some really great patterns!  If you'd like to check out what they have on line - http://www.rabbitshaven.com/ and http://www.p3designs.com/ are the links.  If you see something you like (which I haven't already ordered) then let us know and we will put it on the next order.

Okay - gotta get to work now!  Shovelling out the storage room at the back of the store this afternoon.......make room for more stuff of course!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Where does the time go????

It was Monday the last time I blogged (3 times in one day!) and it's already Friday!  What happened? 

First of all - Elaine won the race!  She finished her quilt either Monday or Tuesday (you'll have to check the link at the side of our page to see exactly when) - I knew she would! 

On Tuesday my quilt top was still at the sashing stage........

...and unfortunately it has remained at this stage - hopefully it will be done some time next week!  It's just been a very busy week for me....(Iknow, excuses, excuses, excuses!)  Well until I either figure out how to clone myself or I stop working and just quilt - that's the way it is!

My plans were to work on the quilt Tuesday night and just get it done.  Elaine called around 5:00 P.M. to tell me she wouldn't be coming to the Underground Railroad Club meeting that evening!  I can't believe it - I had completely forgotten that Tuesday night was the meeting!  Good thing Nancy showed up with Rice Krispie Squares, and Laurissa came with Lemon Bars or we would have been stuck with Girl Guide Cookies (they're good but this was better).  There was a great turn out and Fiona brought this fabulous piece she's been working on......it's from a photo she took of her kids when they were in Chicago.......She was looking for a border but we all agreed she had the perfect border already in her stash........the detail work is really amazing!

Wednesday was my guild night and I was on the treat comittee so I did some baking in between marking the fabrics for the new Block of The Month - American Beauty and a bunch of new books that came in......Kathy was busy cutting all the kits for Block 1 of the quilt......

What are the books you ask????  Well, the first one is Fabric + Paint + Thread = Fabulous.  It's a fabulous book about combining mediums to make a great art piece. 

 The second book that came in was Twist-and-Turn Bargello which is an absolutely fabulous Bargello quilt book.

The third book is Simple Style - Easy Weekend Quilts which has some fabulous projects.

Book #4 - we've had before, it's a repeat that is worth repeating.  Blended Borders is one of those must haves in your library and works for all those fabulous large print fabrics......

Book # 5 - Color Shuffle, some really great projects in this one too!

Last but not least is String Quilts which is also a repeat order!  I love this book - it was the Poppies on the cover that hooked me and then I saw the rest of the projects and it's one of those books - you don't know which project to start first.....great stashbuster book!

By the end of the day, Kathy and I were exhausted but we looked out to the parking lot and saw this spectacular sky.  Kathy got a photo and it's not too bad except for the building blocking it........but you kind of get the picture - it was actually very uplifting......

Thursday was our 2nd official Sit & Sew and we had four sewers - it's slowly filling up so I was back in the kitchen again!  i meant to get another picture of the quilt that Linda is working on but I got busy.  It was also the first day of our Open House so nancy and I were on the go most of the day.....

Today - talk about busy!  First Sandy's Pineapple Quilt class, so back in the kitchen but wait until you see these amazing blocks......

This is Leeann's -

This one is Sandy's (which was done before she came.....)!

The other students were getting them done too.........

They are truly wonderful and all from fabric scraps..........it's a great stash buster class!

Tonight is our monthly Friday night Sit & Sew (hmmm! back in the kitchen again!) there are 14 women coming and I've gotta get my act together and go start dinner so I will leave you now and hope to see you all soon, the Open House continues until tomorrow so if you haven't dropped in yet - there's still time......

I imagine I won't have time to do any quilting tonight but I'll be sure to get some photos of what everyone else is doing.....(I quilt vicariously through my customers!)

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann