Okay, okay.....

Elaine was in today teaching a class (from Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II) and yelled at me for not keeping up with the blog......

So first I will give you a picture of one of the great wallhanging/table runners that came out of this class.....(See I told you Elaine was yelling at me!  Doesn't she look like she's yelling!)

Now I can bring you up to date with everything that has been going on.........A great big order of 14 boxes arrived this week and we are STILL in the process of marking all the new stuff as well as some of the repeats.

For instance - the appliquer's dream fabrics have arrived - take a look at these gorgeous tone on tones......

 

Aren't they luscious!  Of course, there are more goodies that came in as well!

Like these Westminster 2-1/2" precut strips!

Just so you can see what they look like - Libby has already absconded with one and is cutting up a quilt sample for us!  She's been busy cutting all afternoon with the hockey game on in the background!  A really nice group of "funky", as Libby puts it, fabrics!

AND YES!  I KNOW WE WON GOLD!  CANADA IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW!  FROM COAST TO COAST!  WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR ATHLETES!  THEY DONE GOOD!

Back to store stuff now.....(It really is amazing how well Canada has done in this Olympics!)  We also got in a gorgeous Redwork Panel from Karen Snyder which Sharon has taken home to work up into a quilt.....

 

...and to add to our "novelty" fabrics, basketballs......

and moons.....I really love the moons!

and to round things out lots of creams and whites to fill in our waning supplies.....

There's lots more but you'll have to wait a bit because yesterday was my mom's birthday and I'm bringing dinner over tonight, she's 87 years young.....so in the meantime -

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Been away too long......

I'm sorry, it's been awhile since I blogged.  In my defense I spent last Wednesday and Thursday in an "AMAZING" workshop with Jan Krentz.  Jan is the author of Lone Star Quilts & Beyond as well as a number of other great books some of which we already have in the store.

Hunter's Star Quilts & Beyond and Quick Star Quilts & Beyond are in the store and we even have a couple of signed copies.  We are expecting Lone Star Quilts & Beyond shortly as well as Jan's Fast 2 Cut Rulers and here Design Mirror.

I really wish I had gotton some pictures of the class but the battery on my camera died and I never got a chance.  However, my quilt is going to be awesome and is on my PRIORITY list (along with a lot of other stuff!) so it should get going really soon.

Friday night was Sit & Sew and we all had an awesome time!  Hot Dogs and Beans for dinner - one of the favourite meals - comfort food!  Again - no pics!  But at least I finally charged the camera.  By this time I was coming down with a nasty cold.

Saturday and Sunday although I was in the store - I was banned from customers due to my cold and was in the back working on the "books".

Yesterday was a great Sit & Sew - no pics because I was still banned, but the Spaghetti and Meat Sauce went over well.....

Today - well today I had some errands to run BUT we also received 14 boxes weighing a total of 440 LBS. at the back which need to be unpacked and marked.......I can't wait and am about to get started so I will be posting pics of everything NEW!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

In my haste......

In my haste to get back to quilting and the Olympics I neglected to post the photo of the new fabrics that arrived from Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett......

It had nothing to do with the fact that I am, myself, interested in owning a few of these fabrics......seriously!  Believe it or not there are still some left!

I actually got quite a bit done last night considering one block took 3 hours!  Have you ever come across a "Block from Hell" where nothing you do is right and then you find out - you read it wrong!  Well that was last night!  I am involved in an exchange at one of the guilds I belong to and we have to do 2 - 10" finished blocks!  Sounds easy - I went on to http://www.quilterscache.com/ and downloaded 2 patterns I liked from her 10" blocks.  The first one, Alaska Homestead, went together like a dream.  The second one, Dominos and Squares was a completely different story.  First - I did not realize I had to use "templates" so off I go, cutting away what I thought was right but as I'm reading the pattern - something isn't working in my head - I already have half the block put together mind you.

Luckily Barb was there - she took one look and said!  DUH!  look at the right hand corner where it says - click here for templates!  What a dummy!  Well once I did that it came together in no time but I don't think I'd ever make a quilt from this block!  It is a pretty block though!

Tonight I managed to get my Block of The Month block done for the guild and also cut fabrics I chose for my upcoming workshop with Jan Krentz.  I'm very excited about this one because it is really outside my box and my "colour" comfort zone!  Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Okay - time to turn the lights off and go home....tomorrow is another day!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I played hookie today.........

Sonia (my gorgeous Janome) and I played hookie from the store today.  We went to a Thread Workshop put on by Pieceful Night Quilter's Guild.  Of course not everything goes according to plan - I forgot my cell phone (no great loss, a blessing in disguise) and my glasses, but Sandy was kind enough to loan me an extra pair she had with her, so I wasn't flying blind.  What a fabulous workshop it was!  Thank you Maureen and Martha for arranging this great day (the food was fabulous too - a wonderful Pot Luck lunch with not too many left overs!) 

Anita Zobens gave us the low down on everything from thread weight to bobbin secrets.... it was very informative!

I think she'll be joining us at the store in June to teach a workshop on thread and she also teaches machine applique.  Her work is beautiful.  She sells Superior Threads and I believe they really are "superior".  You will soon be seeing King Tut in the store - it is a 100% Egyptian Cotton Thread and it is to die for - it's variegated and the variagation is literally less than an inch - ask to see our "sample" in the store.

Here's Anita telling us how the thread is actually made, and actually giving us the low down on polyester thread.

Here I am concentrating on my stitching - it was so much fun using all the decorative stitches "Sonia" can do and seeing the differences they made with each thread......

We were also able to try out applique stitching with the decorative stitches and the different threads.......It was like being a kid in a candy store - a quilters' dream!

In the mean time, back at the store, Barb got some photos of what the Healing Heroes gals have been busy working on......another 9 quilts to be mailed off to the men and women who defend our country.........

The fabrics come from donations and everyone who participates in this cause is doing a fabulous job.  The ladies from Yorkshire Rose Quilters' Guild came by this week to drop off a number of quilts for Healing Heroes as well and we would all like to thank them for their efforts.

While I was away Barb also managed to get some new fabrics out onto the shelves.......great Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett offerings.  I'm already drooling on a couple of them myself.  Alas, I have projects to finish before I can covet fabric!  Stupid rules ( rules are made to be broken!)......ok, ok, I'll wait and let my customers get some first and if there's anything leftover by tomorrow.......(only kidding!)

After a whole day stitching you would think I should go home and relax BUT the TV is all set up for the Olympics so I can get some blocks done for my guild meeting on Tuesday and cut my fabrics for my Workshop with Jan Krentz on Wednesday and Thursday - yes I'm playing hookie again next week!  Woohoo!

So "Sonia" has already been unpacked and I'm off to do some quilting.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Can it get any better than this????

This morning I came into the store with a whole list of things I had to get done.  (That's actually a normal day!)  The first of which was to bake two cakes - one for the Pot Luck at a Thread Workshop I am taking tomorrow and the other for one of my son's best friends' birthday.  The first was a simple sheet cake - Lemon Coconut - but the second was a little more complicated.  Back in the fall I took a cake decorating course, however, that didn't really do much for me here.......  What it's supposed to be is a hand sign that they all have.  I guess it looks somewhat like that but I wasn't that impressed!

Around 2:30 this afternoon Kathy had decided to stay and sew up her blocks from her Grandma's Stars Quilt and I remembered I had a set of "rabbit ears" in the car.  We hooked them up to the T.V. and her and Nancy and I were able to sit, sew and watch all the Olympic hoopla.  So for the next two weeks when you come into the store, check the classroom first, we'll probably all be glued to the Olympics.......and quilting of course!

While Kathy and I were working away, Nancy was waiting on customers!  I popped out, camera in hand and got a picture of a quilt folded up on the cutting table.  The customer brought it in to show us how she used the "orphanage fabrics" she bought in August......

The quilt on top is also gorgeous but not completed yet.  Anyway, it looked very intriguing and she explained it was a 9 patch block exchange she did with her quilt guild Yorkshire Rose.......the front is absolutely stunning.......

She really did an outstanding job of putting it together BUT wait until you see the back........

Now the back of this quilt really has a story.......she celebrated her 65th birthday in Spain and walked 800 km. along the El Camino de Santiago d'Compostella.  She saw many crosses and then there is the roadway.  The corner blocks also represent something (so sorry, I should write these things down) and best of all - she put a lable on her quilt!  It was beautifully quilted by Deb Kepeschny.

This is one of the perks of owning or working in a quilt store!  We get to see all these phenomenal quilts!.....and I get to share them with all of you....

As I mentioned, tomorrow I am off to a thread workshop, and I'm taking the camera so I will try to remember to take pictures to share.....in the meantime I am off to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics!  (and maybe do some stitching!)

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Let's just say.....

....it was a busy day at the store yesterday!  First there was a class in the afternoon - Curved Piecing with Elaine.....

Then the ladies showed up for the Beginner Machine Quilting class at 6:30 P.M.  - we had two new students for this class so everyone was trying to catch up.....

Here's the homework that some of them completed......this is Dorothy's.....

....and Lindsay's.......

...and Sarah's.......

So I started them off on their tasks for the evening and then I got to be in two places at once!  How did I do that - well, I left my unsuspecting students under Barb's tender care and I went to my guild meeting.

If you've been reading the blog then you know I have been secretly working on a Challenge Quilt for my guild.  You will also remember the "lovely" fabric I had to work with......

 The Challenge was the Past President's Challenge and Mitzi Zohar, our past president, came up with a good one.  We were asked to find a fat quarter in our stashes which we felt we had bought mistakenly - the ugliest fat quarter as it were!  We swapped fat quarters and the challenge was to make a treasure out of someone else's discard!

Owning a quilt store definitely has its perks!  The day after I "picked" this fabric out of a brown paper bag, I came into the store to find a stack of fabric swatches left on the classroom cutting table.  One of my suppliers had dropped off some old fabric samples which normally would find their way into the Healing Heroes boxes in the back room.  This fabric was destined for another use - Celebrating Abe was designed by Jodi Barrows and released in 2009 in honour of the 200th Anniversary of his birth.  These fabrics are all related to his presidency and his life..........

The challenge commenced at the November meeting and we originally had until the January meeting to complete them but we got an extension to February......and in true Challenge fashion I began designing this quilt about 2 weeks ago, cut out the fabrics last Thursday night and began sewing blocks together on Friday.  I finished the last binding stitch around 5:30 P.M. yesterday - the meeting was at 7:30 P.M. - whew! two hours to spare......

...and here's the quilt!

If you enlarge this photo you can see the quilting as well as the writing!  As you can see, I used the challenge fabric in the centre!  Each block is based on Abraham Lincoln's history.  Top left corner is Kentucky Patch, he was born in Kentucky,  top right is Indiana Puzzle where he grew up, lower right is the Illinois block which is where he pursued the law and became a statesman, lower left is Lawyer's Puzzle referring to his profession.  The log cabin blocks speak for themselves and the centre side fabrics depict the Civil War.  I tea-dyed muslin for the border and wrote a brief history of his life around the edge.  

I have to say first, this is the first challenge quilt I've ever completed (probably the first one I've started too!) and second, I truly enjoyed doing this one - it turned out to be a labour of love.  Since this month is Black History Month and since we do have an Underground Railroad Club at the store - it will hang there for awhile.  After that - it seems my cousin in New Jersey really has a "thing" for Honest Abe so it looks like she's getting a wall hanging!

I have to say I wish I had brought a camera to the meeting last night because a whole lot of awesome projects came out of this challenge.  It's amazing how creative everyone is.  Let us continue to amaze each other with our talents - it never gets old!

Thank you for letting me share this with you all and for all the encouragement I received from all of you in the construction and completion stages.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann 

Tuesday Night Fun!

I love Underground Railroad Club - everyone is working on different projects and we all just ooh and aaah over each other's work.  I was busy putting the finishing touches on my Challenge quilt for the guild meeting (Wednesday Feb 10th - tonight actually) and I definitely got the approval from the girls.  They actually helped with the binding.....

Cheryl was busy handpiecing and this is one of her blocks....I can't wait to see this quilt finished....

Annadel is busy working on this masterpiece.......which I beleive is almost completed....

Laurissa was doing applique - I didn't get a picture but it's her own design and it's absolutely gorgeous!  She got a few tips on stem stitch and she's almost done now......  Fiona had her monochromatic quilt blocks which are all different sizes and she is now piecing it all together - again no picture ( Whaaaat!  I was busy quilting for a change! - Next time I promise!)

Rosemarie is working on her Underground Railroad Quilt (the Eleanor Burns version I believe) and it really is gorgeous!  I love her fabric choices.....

Here's a close up of the block.....

I finally got pictures of some more of my Farmer's Wife blocks - here's Block #6 -  these fabrics were from the store - one I used in Block # 2 already.

This is Block #9 - both of these fabrics cames from my stash.

....and the last one for tonight is Block #11 - both fabrics are from the store.  The plan of course is to use similar fabrics to the ones in the original quilt and I am really having fun doing this.

The unfortunate thing is, due to other "quilting" priorities I have had to put this project aside temporarily (which I knew would happen) but I do intend to address these priorities quickly so I can get back to this.....

Last Tuesday I had meant to share a Tip of The Week with you but alas, other things got in the way so here is a great tip from Barb, who really did some research here:

TIP OF THE WEEK

Tips for avoiding marking heartbreak.

As most quilters are aware, no one has yet invented the perfect pen/pencil for marking quilting designs.  The person who can do this will no doubt become a millionaire!

So here are a few tips for you to consider when selecting and using marking devices.

ALWAYS test your marking pen/pencil on some scraps of fabric that you used in the quilt to be marked.  It is recommended to use the lightest colour marker that will show on your quilt top and apply with the lightest possible pressure on the pen/pencil.  If using chalk markers, ensure that the drawn lines don't brush off so easily that manipulating the project during the quilting process removes all your lines before you get to them.

If possible, leave your test pieces for a few days or longer before removing the markings.  We know they will likely be there for awhile as the project is worked on and it would be nice to know that they will stay on and also come off once the project is complete.

The next step is to remove the markings according to the manufacturers directions - steam, fabric eraser, washing, brushing off, etc.  Many things can affect these results.  The weight of the drawn lines (the pressure you used), the colour of the marker you used, and whether any heat was applied (as in ironing over the marks).

There are no definite answers in the mine field of quilt marking.  Although doing all that testing is tedious, it is worth it to avoud the heartbreak of markings that you can't remove after hand quilting that queen size bed quilt!

At Cock A Doodle Quilts we endeavour to "test drive" any markers we are considering stocking in the store.  If you have a favourite one we don't carry, we'd love to hear from you.  And conversely, if you have one that you feel was not good, we'd like to know your experience with that as well.  Just leave a comment here on the Blog or send us an e-mail.

Hope you are enjoying these tips and I do hope to have something to share at least once a week....in the meantime I am off to quilt!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Thank you all again!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that SUPER BOLT SUNDAY was a huge success!  YOUR contributions managed to fill FOUR barrels of NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS and half of the fifth barrel for SECOND HARVEST!  As you can see "our" part of the parking lot was full......

....and so was the store,

In addition we had some great Show & Share stuff from our customers.......Helen brought in this great Amy Butler Pattern which we will be ordering......

and showed us what she made.......a sundress for her daughter.....

...and another sundress for her daughter.....

and a top for herself.........

One of our talented customers brought this gorgeous quilt in to show us.........as usual this picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice!

Then it was time for Sit & Sew,  dinner was served around 7:00 P.M., Sloppy Joes, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad and condiments......and we all settled down to some serious sewing.....here's Libby and Sadie already hard at work.....

...and Janet showed off what her students are making, a quilt.........

After dessert of Lemon Meringue Pie and German Chocolate Cake everyone really got going!  The early birds flew out around 11:00 P.M. and left Libby, Barb and I all alone.  Even I was getting work done on the "secret" Challenge Quilt due on Wednesday.......

Barb left around 1:00 A.M. but Libby and I kept on going.  Sadie didn't seem to mind, she just nestled up for a nap..........

Libby continued on, as did I, until she finished all the blocks in her Mystery Quilt from last April............

She was ready to put it all together and sew on the borders!  I was ready to piece mine together too but enough was enough as the clock will show..........

We are obsessed - it was 3:30 A.M. by the time we packed up and got out of there!

Monday morning came awfully fast and I rushed into the store at about 11:30 A.M. in time to prepare lunch for Sit & Sew.......Barb came in a bit later but was good to go for her Hand Piecing/Quilting Class last night......the students are already showing off their blocks......(the one's that did their homework, that is!)

Here's Sarah's......

....and here are Nancy's......

There should be more next week!  Once everyone gets their homework done.....

There's always something going on in the store and it's hard to keep up but we will try to keep you posted.

Tonight is Underground Railroad Club and I am frantically quilting my Challenge Quilt in hopes to have it done by tomorrow night.......still needs binding, etc.....

On that note I will hustle back to work....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann