WOW!!!!!

Where do I begin!  Hilary Rice was here this weekend to teach her two day class "Imagine and Create".  It was a full class and it was AWESOME!  I had to sequester myself in the back office so as not to feel too jealous!  My job was looking after their stomachs and although after all my complaining it went well for me - I really wished I had made other arrangements so I too could participate in the class!  Next time, and I guarantee there is going to be a next time, someone else is looking after the k.p. duties -

She is a fabulous teacher, the techniques, the ideas, just everything was wonderful!  The first day they learned a number of techniques and I know they went home and dreamt about their creations......who wouldn't!  Here are some of the photos from Day 1 -

Getting ready to start the class and getting a look at Hilary's work -

On the first day I got photos of everyone's work except Janet's (cause I couldn't find it!)......and she was off making tea!

This is Nancy's......

...And Raili's.....

....and Karen's....

and Linda's....

and Helen's.....Helen was concentrating on technique!  Good idea - then prepare the masterpiece!

and Libby's.....

and Barbara's

and Robin's......

and Fiona's......

and Maryanne's!

They worked from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. pretty much non-stop, break for a light lunch and a tea break!

Day 2 - they all showed up by 10:15 a.m. clamouring for coffee and pretty much raring to go!  So tell me - what would your husband say if you asked him to borrow his blow torch for quilting?????  Well - Fiona's husband said,
"Okay, it's downstairs!"

So the first technique on Sunday morning was - what a quilter does with a blow torch - coats on and out the back they went (seriously, they wanted to go to the front, but I kept thinking - what will my neighbours say and what if someone decides to call the Fire Department or something?!?! - so out the back it was!)

The effects were phenomenal and the pieces just evolved - hence the name, Imagine and Create!  Although these works of art are not yet complete - I have put out a challenge - We will have an ART SHOW beginning February 17th, 2011 and lasting to the Sunday (the 20th) somark your calendars - these pieces will blow you away!

Here they are again at the end of the class -

Nancy's

Raili's

Karen had drum practice.......no progress!

Linda's

Libby's

Barbara's

Robin's

Fiona's

Maryanne's

....and Janet has two works of art!

Of course, Hilary, while teaching all her wonderful techniques ended up with her own masterpiece!  Here's a photo of the master at work......

...and the master's piece!

I believe that it can't get any better than this!  Fabulous teacher, amazing techniques, a great group of quilters and food!  What more could you ask for!  I'm living my dream even if it's sometimes vicariously through our students!

I think an in-store weekend retreat would work really well too!  Quilting from Friday afternoon to Sunday night pretty much non-stop (just for a little sleep) would sooooo work for me!  I wonder if anyone would sign up for that????  All meals provided!  Hmmmm- worth thinking about......I will leave you all now to get back to my quilting.....

Happy Quilting and Creating everyone!

Jo-Ann

I've been told......

....that the blog is falling behind!  Actually it was that the "blogger" has fallen behind in the blog....I somewhat agree, but it's not to say I haven't been busy doing STUFF!

Actually, besides the big Anniversary Sale, I've been drowning in a sea of paperwork trying to get things up to date - kinda like at tax season multiplied by 1,000!  Haven't had any quality quilting time in months! 

So tonight I will take a little time to blog and share with you the winners of our Rooster Stew Challenge!  There were four entries - one in the Pieced Challenge and the other three in the Art Challenge.....and the winners are:-

1st Prize for Pieced goes to Marion -

1st Prize for Art - Lise

and, drumroll, drumroll - tied for 2nd Place - Elaine and Carol

Naturally, we were a little disappointed to see only 4 entries but everyone was a winner!  Some complained about the chosen fabrics but all in all these four did very well!  Hopefully next year we'll have a better response.......

So - a couple of boxes arrived today - with fabric I think, hopefully we'll get a chance to see what's in them.  Barb's on her own tomorrow for a good portion of the day - I have to attend a funeral tomorrow morning, a friend's mother passed away - she was just shy of her 101st Birthday!  She was a lovely lady and she'll be missed.  A number of years ago I was priveleged to receive a gift of some very delicate old buttons from her.  I had always intended to make something for her and use the buttons - but life happens, and we get busy, and things end up on that proverbial back burner!  It never got done, however, now maybe I can come up with a project in her memory and pass it on to my friend and her family......in hopes that they will appreciate it!

At the moment, finding the buttons would be a major miracle as everything is packed and they are probably in a box somewhere in the living room of the new townhouse just waiting patiently for me to unpack them!  Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later......

In the meantime, I decided it was a night to do laundry so have been down in the studio working on Country Haven (a project I put down over a year ago!) and have been making good progress!  I now have 4 of 6 rows done!  I think there's definitely more laundry in my future!  It was so relaxing to get back on track and work on something!  I have really missed it....I've been doing the odd hand applique but I really was missing my machine work.....

Friday night is Applique Club so I will take my applique with me and Saturday and Sunday are the Hillary Rice days at the store - she's doing a 2 day seminar - the class is full but if you have the time to stop by and take a peek at what the class will be up to - you really should, besides, I'm sure the new fabrics will be out by then too!  In the meantime, I won't make any promises about when I will next update you (hopefully soon!) but I will wish you all -

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

A quick note.....

To remind you all that the sale starts tomorrow - Saturday November 13th, 2010!  That the Birthday cake looks luscious!.....and even if you're not in the mood to shop - we'd love to see you, as always there's a coffee or tea with your name on it so drop by and say hi!

I would also like to share a project that Annadel brought in on Thursday, it was one of her first quilting projects and it is just awesome.....who wouldn't want something this gorgeous under their Christmas tree?!?!  It's a crazy quilt tree skirt with fabulous embellishments....

In addition, just so you all know where to look in the store for the NEW stuff - here's a preview of some of the new orientals that arrived the day before yesterday......and YES they are on sale too!  They are delicious!

I thought I'd share this photo with you as it is a rare peek at what Simon (my cat) gets up to during the day.  I came home the other afternoon because I had forgotten something and caught him napping......it seems he has a favourite afternoon spot......

Pretty darn comfy and I must admit right now I'm a little jealous - oh to be a cat on a sunny afternoon!

On that note - I am off to bed, need my "beauty" rest - it's going to be a busy day tomorrow!

Happy Quilting (and shopping!)

Jo-Ann

I'm trying!

...to stay current with the blog!  That's not to say that I won't get behind again but it would be nice if I could get organized enough to do this on a regular basis.....

I wanted to blog last night because the "girls" were in yesterday for their monthly Sunday and there was so much Show & Share and loads being worked on.....but, I was waiting until I got home!  What was I thinking - Jonathan was on the computer all night.....never even got a chance to check e-mail! 

Christina (left) is working away on a baby quilt which is also on the left on the design wall and Rebecca is layering up her table runner project....

 Gail completed her seashells and lighthouses quilt and it was expertly quilted by Cathy Petrie.....she does amazing work......

Here's a close-up - she put shovels and flip flops and all kinds of beach stuff all over this gorgeous quilt....

Christina is holding up her completed cat quilt - with an oriental touch......... 

Check out the back of this quilt - totally reversable!  Way cool!!!!

Okay, this is Carol holding up her completed table runner.....she's really milking this one, this is her third - guess what everyone's getting for Christmas....... 

Cathie completed this gorgeous baby quilt........and is now working on a fabulous Batik quilt!  Maybe next month it will be up on the design wall!?!?

Gail was busy working on this quilt - it's really going to be stunning and has a Christmas themed fabric as well....... 

This is Christina's baby quilt made from Little Lady fabrics from Lakehouse - it's really pretty! 

 This one is also Christina's and I just love it - I am inspired to do something very similar myself - hmmmm!  the light bulb just went on.........there's a design percolating as I gaze at this one.......(the lousy pic is cause Cathie told to me to turn the lights off - but the other pic I took was worse!)

That's it for yesterday's crew!  I can't wait until next month to see what they've been up to - Carol should have another table runner done!?!?!

Okay - so now I can catch up a little on what's new in the store - the books are today's focus!

I guess there's actually 3 new things in this photo - the free pattern which Kathy made up - just ask for a copy when you come into the store.....the Advent Angel (not new but a reminder that we have the panels) and what I was actually trying to feature, the Rose of Sharon notecards, a series of 12 notecards from the Rose of Sharon Block Book.....

 ...and the Rose of Sharon Block Book - this is the second time it's been in, they went really quickly the first time......

 Tradition with a Twist - this was a class we had with Laurissa and the book is fabulous!  I'm hoping the finished quilts will come soon so we can show them off, they were so awesome!

Beautiful Blooms - another repeat, the first lot went pretty quickly...... 

Simple Graces by Kim Diehl, one of my favourite quilters - chock full of great projects and accessories too! 

Country Comforts - we had both trunk shows and you all ooohed and aaahed, well the signed books are here and this is a Canadian gal from B.C., Cheryl Wall of Country Quilts - she's already working on her next book........ 

Bloom Creek quilts - another great project book!  They don't just quilt quilts but add accessories too! 

Coming Home - the new book from Jo Morton - another one of my favourite quilters! 

Fast Favorites from McCall's Quilting - this one has some really great projects!  This is a great way to get "the best of" quilts without buying and collecting all the magazines...... 

Treasures from the 30's for everyone who loves vintage! 

Dream Landscapes - another repeat (I'm going to snag one this time) which is really fabulous and loads of techniques and embellishment ideas! 

Tonight was our Beginner Class and I have to say - we start them really young these days - Marek is 5 months old and is really having a great time at our class.....

This is mom Sara's quilt - which is absolutely stunning!  She did a fabulous job! 

Here he is with mom learning how to layer a quilt........ 

While mom pins her quilt, he's quite content to be passed to Maria and watch while Elizabeth gets started on her quilt layering....... 

One more class and they all graduate!  They're asking for an Intermediate Class now - hmmm, that's an idea!  There goes that light bulb again!  We'll see.....

Since there are only 24 hours in a day I will have to wait to show you what I'm working on.....the house is still "spotless" (a miracle in itself) so I have allowed myself one hand quilting project and one machine quilting project while we are in limbo, waiting for the house to sell!  Most of my quilting stuff is either at the new home or at the store and I don't want to clutter up the studio so I'm focussing on only two projects.....

Tomorrow is another day and will be a busy one at that, there are 3 boxes in the back waiting to be unpacked......hmmm, I have no idea what could be in them, so until tomorrow.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann