Just thought......

I'd take a moment to share some fabulous photos I received recently from customers.....

It so gratifying to see projects completed and being put to use and it's also really an inspiration for us all to get those projects we've been neglecting done.....you know, the ones we were so excited about when we started them, knew exactly where they were going to go, but they just took a little (lot) longer then we expected them to (ugh, I have so many!)

Marie Claire from France sent me this fabulous photo of her completed quilt from fabrics purchased in the store......and a free pattern we had on hand....it's awesome!

....and Julia sent us this photo of the two Batik quilts which she has been working on for quite a while.  We, at Friday night Sit & Sews watched these come together over the last year and here they are - exactly where she wanted them......

They are both stunning quilts and we won't even ask how they got up there!

See what I mean, inspiring isn't it!  You choose a project, knowing exactly where you want to hang it or use it and voila!  You complete it and put it in place - what an amazing feeling of accomplishment!  Or as John Hannibal Smith (A-Team) once said(over and over again), "I love it when a plan comes together!"

If I don't get back on here tomorrow I will wish you all a Fabulous, Festive New Year!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Happy Holidays!

I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful Holiday Season!  For the first time in 4 years we are closing for 3 days for the Holiday but we'll be back on Tuesday morning at 10:00 A.M............

 On another note, I did manage to finish Gabriella's quilt in time for Christmas!  She came by and picked it up Christmas Eve and I'm sure her mother will love it!  It came out pretty good - her it is still under the needle....Sonia did a phenomenal job!  However, I probably won't be doing any large size flannel quilts anytime soon! 

Enjoy your holidays everyone!

P.S. Yes the rumour is true!  The sale begins on Tuesday - our first Boxing Week Sale......

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Saturday's here!

I know it's Tuesday but I'm still back at Saturday.......

It was the last meeting of this year's Christmas Club!  T'was the week before Christmas and they brought all the treats,  their quilts were all made, they conquered many feats!  Okay - enough of that - cut to the chase!

First - there was Kristen - her top is all done!  Now just the quilting, oh so much fun! (enough already!!!)

Next came Judith - she plans to complete it before Christmas (this Christmas!)....... 

This is one of Flo's blocks - how perfect, gotta love the star! 

...here's the balance of what's done......maybe not this Christmas but a great start! 

Raili did a fabulous job too - and hers is done!  Quilted, bound and ready to go up on the wall or on the bed....

 Here's a close up - it's really wonderful!

This one is Karen's - all ready to be completed!  Another gorgeous quilt done! 

 Here's a close up - great details!

Linda's is just about completed too!  She wants to do a little more quilting but I love the yo-yo's on the border..... 

It looks beautiful and very close to the original book - Candy Cane Lane by Melinda Bula! 

 Check out the 3 dimensional poinsettas!

Another close-up!

 This is Beth's - check out the kitty cats...... they are all over this quilt!

 You can see the books on the fireplace mantle where the stocking is hung......

 There are kitty cats in front of the house too!  Awesome!

Here's Elaine, giving them a preview of next year's $10.00 Christmas Club quilt and they've all signed up again!!!!  I think I may get on this wagon too!  Should be alot of fun!

Well, I'm almost caught up!  Still plugging away at the newsletter and it should be out in a few days!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Moving right along......

So, it being Sunday I will move on to Friday!?!?!  Another Sit & Sew, our monthly Friday evening and it was awesome!

Great food (I did not make Macaroni & Cheese), great quilting friends and great fun!

We all had no problem admiring Claudette's Piecemaker quilt.....she is doing an absolutely amazing job.......

This quilt demands a closer look, the detail is truly amazing......this is the left side of the trees and the moose, check out the ribbon embroidery...... 

The geese relaxing on the pond, and again the beautiful embroidery!  Notice the bear cubs climbing the tree on the right side....... and the frog sitting at the edge of the pond........

Again - the grogeous embroidery........around the pond - she really got the daisies (anemones) right and it just looks awesome......

We were all in awe of the work Claudette has put in so far and it is just stunning....... 

The flying geese are also very detailed.....and the beading around the sun is wonderful!  Click on the photos to enlarge them and see even more detail..........

After Claudette took down her quilt, up went one of Linda's current projects!  It's a "quilt as you go" done from scraps of 30's fabrics and it is going to be gorgeous!  We all want to do one!  Underneath are the placemats Barb is currently working on........

We all stepped back to admire Rosemary's Underground Railroad Quilt which is now complete except for an outside border she's going to add.....the broders are up on the right side of the quilt.....

I actually started one of these last year (correction I started two, one in each size) and have about 3 blocks done......it's so frustrating, I wonder if I'll ever get back to this project - at the moment it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.....but I am determined to try!

We were able to leave around midnite when Gillian finished one of her many projects.......wait until you see Saturday's fun!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Always trying to....

...catch up!  This blog is being written on Saturday night and all the pics are from Monday December 13th!  What can I say - only 5 days behind.....

The good news is the Newsletter will be going to press early next week!  So I'm only sorta behind.....

Monday's Sit & Sew was a blast!  Once a year (or more) the girls who pretty much hang out every Monday together have a holiday Pot Luck and exchange gifts.....

They all brought amazing dishes - as usual!  I honestly believe that quilters are the best cooks!  Of course I'm a little biased....They were busy setting up for a while!

Then the line up to fill our plates........

A little bit of Show & Share.........this one's Linda's and it was quilted beautifully by Sandy Lindal with dancing Maple Leafs....

Then we all got down to the important task of eating.........although Gail was too busy taking photos........

 

 

Then the gifts came out - the fun part is - you may open one but you won't necessarily be taking it home, these girls can be ruthless - stealing each other's gifts but, it's all in fun and we all have a wonderful time with it!

The girls were also treated to fabulous sewing bags made by Gillian!  I didn't get one - my gift was a little different.......and of course "rooster" themed......not sure where she found these great gifts!

Then it was time for the "group" photo.......

...and a good time was had by all!

Happy Quilting!


Jo-Ann and "the Chicks!"

Let's back up......

...to Thursday's Sit & Sew.  A little background info - Thursday's Sit & Sew used to be the Underground Railroad Club which met one Thursday of every month.  This was in addition to the Tuesday evening once a month when Underground Railroad Club met.  Then Moday's Sit & Sew filled up to the point of bursting and we designated another day to Sit & Sew which is slowly but surely filling up too!  So, why am I telling you this - because Myrna came in on Thursday with this fabulous quilt which she has been working on and which she started when she joined the Underground Railroad Club which met once a month on a Thursday.......she has completed it and it IS gorgeous!

...and she hand quilted it too!  Look at the fabulous stitching.......... 

Annadel is working on something gorgeous too!  I can't wait to see it finished, it's grown even since this photo so I'll have to get another one next week - trust me, it will motivate her to work on it!  It's not that she needs the motivation but we all need a little push sometimes......

 With everything going on at home (showings and Open Houses) my son Jonathan seems to be a constant visitor to the store, we're going to have to put him to work! 

You know how I love seeing your quilts in progress!  Well - this is Louise's Bargello Quilt which is from the class that Elaine taught earlier this year.  She came in looking for borders today and I asked if I could get a photo.  She's got about 5 rows to go but it just looks awesome........We didn't manage to find a border in our selection and I'm glad she didn't just SETTLE for something to have it done!  I would rather she walked out empty handed than unhappy with the final product......we don't always have the EXACT fabric people are looking for, even with the large selection we do have......

I was blown away today!  A brand new customer came in, first time in the store, looking for a backing for a quilt she's making...... She pulls this little book out of her bag and I see it has a bunch of fabric swatches in it....of the quilts she's making or has already made......

So, it's one of those Dollar Store/Walmart 4" x 6" photo albums ..... she cuts her swatches and keeps it in her purse in case she sees something she needs.....like the backing for a particular quilt!  I do carry swatches around when I'm planning a trip to a quilt store but how handy is having with you all of the time - what a great idea!

Okay so now, what's new!  Check out these gorgeous fabrics!  There is supposed to be a panel with them but it hasn't come and I'm not sure if it will, however, I don't care because I already have a plan for these fabrics!(This is definitely my problem - I have a plan, but no time to execute it!)  I will try to make time (before it all disappears!)  No Libby - you cannot have the whole bolt!

 The other day I spilled the beans on Nancy's big secret!  Well while she was working on Aunt Millie's Garden she also found time to, albeit slowly, get this little gem of a wall hanging done!  This was one of those projects she picked up and put down for quite awhile but at the end of the day - it really is a little gem!  (Can I have it!  Can I have it!  I have the perfect spot for it in the new house!)  It's a FREE PATTERN and we've even kitted a couple of them in the same fabrics Nancy used in case you fall in love with it too! 

That's about all the news for today!  I'm off to make dinner and watch Heartland (I love Sunday's), The Amazing Race, Desperate Houswives/Debbie Travis, and CSI Miami!  All the while knitting or quilting away the hours!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

P.S. Has anyone tried the Frittata Recipe yet?  I had a customer in today who said she gave it to her daughter who was planning a brunch - perfect!

Nancy's secret.....

I am finally allowed to spill the beans......this is what Nancy has been working on for the past few months!  Her version of Aunt Millie's Garden which we will be offering as a BOM come January......

For the moment the quilt is hanging in the store and will be here until next Friday when it goes off to Karen Power to be quilted.......It won't be back until after the holidays so to see it up close, and it really needs to be admired in person.....you'll have to get over to the store......

Our intention is to offer the Monthly Class with two kit options but this quilt can easily be done with your own fabric scraps.....it is just gorgeous done on Nancy's choice of a white background but will look equally gorgeous on any colour!  Those Piece O'Cake girls really know how to design a quilt!

This one may be a little hard to resist if you're an applique fan.  Come by and see it!

I am going back to my traditional piecing now.......(I am sooooo jealous!)

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Monday, Monday....

We have been watching this quilt come together for many months and although it's still not quite finished, I had to take a picture of it!  Elaine has been patiently putting together a deliberate scrappy quilt and it just looks awesome......

She's got about 9 blocks to go ------ can't wait to see it done!

We also had two birthdays - so I made a really tacky orange coloured cake with bright pink candles for the girls....actually the cake is a Florida Orange Cake, hence the colour...... 

Here are the Birthday girls blowing out the candles - left Cathy and right - Effie....... 

Now I get to the important stuff (for Rochelle)!  I made a Frittata for lunch yesterday - the same one I made last Sunday for the Hilary Rice Workshop and it came out awesome....so awesome, some people asked for the recipe.
So here goes.....

Jo-Ann's Frittata (serves 12)

1 each - Red Pepper, Yellow Pepper, Orange Pepper
1 cup - Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup - Green Onions, sliced
Butter

Dice the peppers and saute all of the vegetables until soft.

In the meantime......

4 cups shredded Monteray Jack cheese
1 tbsp flour
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (I use Old Cheddar)
12 eggs
1 cup milk

Spray with Pam (or grease) a 13" x 9" Pyrex dish.  Toss shredded Monteray Jack cheese with flour and arrange on the bottom.  Sprinkle the shredded Cheddar cheese on top.  In a separate bowl, beat eggs and milk.  Once vegetables are done, place on top of cheese.  Pour egg mixture over everything.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge over-night or at least 8 hours.

Heat oven to 325 and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes.  Check center for doneness.

Serve hot and enjoy! 

Okay, I have two quilts in my head right now for kits that need to be done and two more in my studio in the basement of the house that are waiting for me so I'm off to quilt.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann