First......

I would like to thank everyone for their support and understanding at this very difficult time. My mother passed away suddenly on Monday September 20th, 2010.  She was 87 and although we all know in the back of our minds that each day is an added blessing to a long and active life, we still feel the shock of the loss of our loved ones.  My mom was in retail for over 50 years so she would have certainly understood that "the show must go on"!  We had a number of events planned for this past week which had to be tended to and I would like to thank Barb, Nancy, Kathy, Sharon and Judith for stepping in and taking over.

I'm way behind in the blog so I will have to catch you all up on the goings on here.....(catching myself up as well)!

We've gotten in quite a bit of new stuff and I haven't even had a chance to absorb anything yet so bear with me and hopefully over the next few days and weeks I will be able to sort it all out.....

First there are a number of new books in - Charm School being one of them and Barb has made up an adorable little table runner from the book (no pic yet - sorry!) but this little book has some great patterns, easy enough to make up as quick gifts!  It only took Barb one evening to whip up the little runner......

Cora dropped by on Friday (the 17th) with her girlhood friend from England who is here visiting.  This wonderful little quilt is the reason she dropped by.  She needed thread for quilting......it's a gift for her friend's wedding anniversary and she is only here for a month.....

On Thursday September 23rd, 2010 we had an absolutely fabulous turnout for the Border Creek Mystery Reveal Party.  Sherry Hisey from Broder Creek was there to speak and show off her quilt and of course, get everyone excited about the next Mystery Quilt.  There were quite a few sign-ups on Thursday night but there's still time for you to sign up for the next one......

Unfortunately, we did not get all the photos but luckily Gail was there with her trusty camera and has prepared a slide show for us which I will make sure to post later in the week......Sherry also showed off her Pineapple Quilt which she made with the scraps from her Mystery Quilt........

Libby came to visit this week and brought with her this fabulous creation which I am going to get her to teach in the Spring.....she's working on another idea for this so I want to see what comes out, but this picture does not do this quilt any justice....... 

 Last but not least, we are hosting a Trunk Show.  Cheryl Wall of Country Quilts in B.C. has written a book, Country Comforts which we have already sold out of and are taking orders for now.....these four quilts are the first half of a 2 part trunk show.....they will be on display until September 30th and then we are required to send them on to the next lucky store.......Come in and see them!

The second part of the Trunk Show will be arriving some time in October - I will post it as soon as they come in........

Since the past week has been somewhat of a blur for me I have not gotten much stitching done.  Normally, it being Sunday, I would be going to my mom's for dinner and her latest "burnt offering" as Jonathan (my son) and I so fondly put it (she had lost the ability to remember how to cook in the past couple of years).  Instead - tonight, I will feast on what's left of my Zuchinni Quiche, one of her favourites which I made for the class today, watch some TV and get binding on 4 more quilts which Libby had recently completed the quilting on....then I can just sit and stitch, certainly good therapy!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Just a reminder.....

We closed today at 4:00 P.M. and we will be closed tomorrow for the Jewish Holy Day - Yom Kippur.  I want to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you - I have put a sign on the door.

We'll be back on Sunday at 11:00 A.M. so hopefully there will be no quilting "emergencies" in the interim.

Of course, we didn't get the doors closed fast enough because we received 24 bolts of absolutely gorgeous fabrics today.......they will be out on the floor some time Sunday but here's a sneak peak of a project Kathy did with one of the panels.....It's for her niece and she has it with her but it will be back in the store next week for sure.....

It's a Growth Chart - this one is for boys and they have an adorable one for the girl's as well.  There are different blocks along the side for the "FIRSTS" in life - First Pet, Favorite Toy - stuff like that - they get filled in as the child grows.  It really is awesome.

There are a number of other great fabrics including an ABC Panel that are in the line.  It's really one of the best "baby" fabric lines I've seen in a very long time.

Okay - I am off and running!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

It's been......

It's been 8 days since my last blog....and now I have to play catch-up again!  Oh well, it's not like I haven't been busy!  I made the Mystery Quilt top, I placed some orders (very important - new stuff coming!), I did some much needed book work and I'm pretty sure there was other stuff I was doing?!?! or else where did the time go....

So - beginning with Friday September 10th - we had our Friday night Sit & Sew one week early because we are closing early on the 17th for Yom Kippur and will be closed this coming Saturday....

Rosemary brought in her completed One Block Wonder top and chose a gorgeous border......I wish I could get mine finished, actually I wish I could find my unfinished top???  Hmmm, must be in a bag somewhere!

...and Linda brought in her completed Oh My Gosh! and oh my gosh is it fabulous!  I am going to break down and order the patterns one of these days (soon) because I have a million, no a trillion, scraps to use up!

That takes us to Saturday and the Christmas Club (I know Elaine is waiting for these pics! - since she's off pedalling in Europe!)  So, three people showed up to knock my socks off!

First Beth and this is her fabulous top, so far......

Kristen's gorgeous top is coming along fantastic......

Claire's is finished and I am totally "wowed"........

Now for Sunday - the "girls" were in for their monthly Sit & Sew and showed off their productivity......

Christina is doing the Crayon Quilt - her own way of course!  I love it!

"Nana" made a fabulous baby quilt - it's chenilled......and everyone else was also working away but they didn't give me an opportunity to take many pictures....

Monday was our "normal" (matter of opinion) Sit & Sew and the girls were all geared up for Christmas this week.  Kathy finished a cute apron for her niece who's a teacher and Linda's quilt top from Christmas fabrics is on the design board.  Everyone's starting to make those great Christmas gifts.....

By the way - Melinda's samples arrived yesterday and they are on the front counter!  If you haven't signed up for her class on October 20th - there are about 3 spaces left......so do it soon if you want to get in!  They look great and I can't wait to see what everyone gets done in that class.....

I also got to teach Monday night and it was so much fun!  Beginner Quiltmaking by Machine is the class and I just love sharing my passion for quilting.....by 9:00 P.M. the girls were frazzled but look what they got done.  Maria's is on the right and Sara's is on the left......it's a combo lecture/technique class and it's going really well.  They were so pleased when their blocks came together perfectly!  Needless to say - so was I!

Finally, Ditch Flowers in hanging up in the store!  For those of you who are discouraged when you walk into your sewing rooms by all of your UFO's - this project took 9 YEARS!  I bought the kit in 2001 on a trip to visit my grandmother in New Jersey.  I started working on the center part in the summer of 2003.  I went all the way to Clarence, NY to buy the Tri-Recs tool I needed to do the outside border in the Spring of 2004.  I started doing the blanket stitch around the pitcher and flowers in the Fall of 2008 and I stitched the last stitch of binding on when I was at Libby's the last time.  There are a number of other UFO's (NO I will not tell you how many!!!) downstairs in my sewing room that I will hopefully get to soon but I want to tell you that if you loved it then and you look at it and realize you still love it now - IT WILL GET DONE!

What I found really cool about this project was seeing how much my quilting has evolved over the years.  There are alot of mistakes, like points that got cut off and it's a bit "fluffy" in places but I really do love it and I'm so happy that I finally finished it!  It's inspired me to go downstairs and find the next one.....

In my case I have to fit some time in to work on a UFO - it has to be in between the projects I am completing for the store but I can usually find a little time here and there to concentrate on my UFO - wait until you see what I've picked out for my next "oldie but goodie"!

One more thing before I go off to quilt.....the BORDER CREEK MYSTERY QUILT reveal is on THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2010 from 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. and Shari Hisey will be with us to see all the "AMAZING" quilts!  The new Border Creek Mystery will also be available.....Even if you didn't participate we would welcome you with open arms to come and see all these amazing quilts! (Come see what you've been missing and sign up for the next one!)

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann   

Yes, we made it!

I did the math and we were driving for 22-1/2 hours out of 38 hours of being away!  It was a 40 minute wait at the border on Sunday night at 11:30 P.M. so we didn't get home until 2:00 A.M. but otherwise it wasn't too bad!

Jonathan took an awesome picture of the Falls which I thought I would share with you.....

I took a couple of pictures in Roscoe, New York so you can get a taste of "Small Town America" - it was pretty dark that night and this is the Main Street (I think it's the only street actually!).  Anyway, it seems they are known for their fly fishing - there are 3 stores on this street strictly devoted to fishing......so if you want to send your husbands' somewhere for a weekend - it's about a 7 hour drive.....

Back at the "Barnyard"  (you know where the chicks and rooster hang out!) Barb was busy doing up some samples.  I know - you don't really want to hear that it's only 109 days until Christmas - but we have some awesome Advent Calendars.  The first one is an Angel!  Seriously!!!  Barb did a wee bit of cackling while she was making this one but in the end she said it was really worth it........

The second one is a breeze and will sew up really quickly - it's a wallhanging!

Classes are starting up next week - already!  Quiltmaking by Machine, great class for brushing up on your skills or if you are just starting out - runs Monday evenings 6:30-9:30 for 6 weeks.

Nancy will be teaching Fit to Frame #6 (there is a typo in the newsletter but the picture is right!) on Tuesday Sept. 14th from 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. and the Underground Railroad Club meets that evening.

Laurissa will be starting the Baltimore Album BOM on Wednesday Sept. 15th from 6:30- 9:30 P.M..  Thursday is Sit & Sew during the day and our first meeting of THE ART QUILT CLUB starts at 6:30 P.M. until 10:00 P.M..

There are some spaces left in all of the above classes so if you meant to sign up - now is the time......

I'll be keeping you posted on everything that's happening so keep checking the blog and of course the newsletter is up on the website....

In the meantime, I am going home to work on next month's Mystery Quilt (supply lists will be available soon!).  It's almost done and it's another winner.  I put most of it together last night.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

That was....and will be!

We arrived last night around 10:30 P.M. after leaving Cock A Doodle at 11:30 A.M..  According to Google Maps it should have taken 8 hours and 8 minutes door to door non-stop!  Of course Google did not take into account the fact that it is Labour Day weekend and everyone from Toronto was on their way west - it took us until 1:30 P.M. to get to Grimsby.....ugh!  I knew it was going to be a long drive....

We crossed at the Rainbow Bridge and there was NO WAIT!  However it did take us another hour or so to get there. Once we hit New York State it was smooth sailing and Jonathan was a fabulous navigator.

We had stopped in Grimsby for lunch and then again somewhere in New York on Route 20A for gas and then we just drove.  It really was a scenic drive this time - but a little scary as the back roads are very "hilly" to say the least.  I haven't driven this way in at least 10 years and I forgot how gorgeous it is. 

We stopped at a Pizza place in Roscoe New York around 7:00 P.M. and it was lots of fun -great "small town U.S.A." atmosphere and all the locals go there!  However that put us back on "the long and windy road" after dark and let me tell you it gets really dark on the mountains! 

At this point we had about 2 hours to go so you would think it would be a breeze but there were a few steep "hills" left and getting down them was no easy feet.

Jonathan, in the dark, got confused with the Google Maps and we were suddenly on our way to the cemetery.  At that point I broke down and called OnStar - my trusty navigator (sounds like Stephen Hawking)  whom I usually avoid like the plague.....he's very irritating and he has a wife who yells at you when you go "off course".

At any rate we arrived safely at the Comfort Inn in Paramus, N.J..  Very nice rooms, great TV (Jonathan wants to move in) and free internet.  (I could just leave him here!  Hmmmm, there's a thought!)

The funeral is at 10:30 A.M. and we are about to go down and meet my cousin for breakfast so I need to get a move on.

I did manage to get some of the binding sewn on that Fancy Fish and Pinwheels quilt last night - just about an hour, but it really does relax me.
We'll be leaving right after the funeral to head home so I'll get to see the scenery and mountains we missed in the dark last night on the way home,
what a treat!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I'm off again......

I would like to wish you all a safe holiday weekend!  I too, will be travelling this weekend albeit not out of choice.  I am driving to Paramus, New Jersey for my uncle's funeral which is on Sunday.  Jonathan and I are leaving tomorrow morning and will be heading back on Sunday afternoon.  A quick trip, but to be honest, I hate being on the road on holiday weekends so hopefully I will have avoided the long waits at the border by coming back on Sunday....we'll see!

Before I go I wanted to catch up with all the photos I haven't posted in the past few weeks because I was so busy working on that FABULOUS (forget all the mistakes and typos :-)) NEWSLETTER!

First, we must travel back in time to August 12th - when Chris brought in 3 fabulous projects.  The first one is absolutely gorgeous done with pale orientals -

The quilting on it is also gorgeous!

The second one is beautiful batiks - I envy her the know-how here!  I tend to have alot of trouble doing "scrap" quilts!  This one is stunning!

The third is black and whites which I absolutely love (I've been collecting them for 3 years for a secret project which I need to get started...)!  I think she may have inspired me....

Now we move to August 15th - when the "Private" Party has their monthly Sit & Sew - First, Gail finished a kit she bought when they were on their Alaskan Cruise........

Cathie is working on a star quilt which is coming together beautifully......

...and last but not least, is Gail's? or Donna's? (oops! I can't remember but I'm pretty sure it's Gail's) fish quilt.......It's gonna be another stunning quilt!

One of our customers brought in a lovely baby quilt!  The blocks are embroidered in the cutest Bunny patterns.

Here's one of the blocks - isn't it adorable?!?!

On the 21st Linda showed up for the Christmas Club (no meetings in the summer - so nobody missed anything!) and I coerced her into showing off all of her blocks so I could take pictures to share with Melinda (Bula) who wrote the book they are working from - Candy Cane Lane, and who will be teaching at the store on October 20th (better book your spot if you are interested - they are filling up quickly!).

She also shared some of her other work - Linda bought both of our fantastic Redwork Panels and has done some work on both - first, the Floral Redwork - she chose to use more than one colour in her embroidery and both blocks look great!

She also bought the Kids at Play Redwork - pictured below -

Look what she did with it!  Crayons and fabric paints and I think she is going to use 30's fabrics for the quilt......it's so cool!

She also shared another Redwork Panel she has done with the same method - very industrious!

I spoke to Libby and she's got another couple of quilts done - can't wait to see them....she was actually quilting while I was talking to her, how cool is that!

Today has been kind of a Blah! day, packing and getting ready to go away tomorrow and just not feeling any motivation at all.  But, as always, my customers never cease to amaze, motivate and lift my spirits - Jenna came in today to show me her completed quilt!  A quilt that I helped her pick fabrics for and I have to say - IT IS AWESOME!

I can pick fabrics from Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler and that's where I stop!  I haven't yet had the courage to do a quilt - but - I think Jenna's quilt has truly inspired me (Oh no - not another project!  How many is that now????).  I will not be starting anything quite yet - there really is too much to do and finish but the idea is percolating and that's the important part......as long as I sketch it out or get it on to EQ I'm good to go at a later date!

For this trip, because it's really just an overnight I am only taking a simple project, I will be sewing the binding onto the Fancy Fish and Pinwheels quilt which you will get to see once it's completed.....it even has a label already!

Have a great weekend everyone and be safe!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

P.S. I almost forgot the most important thing!  Yesterday I received a call from
a lovely young lady who was in the store a few weeks ago.  She was in with her mother who came to shop.  They are from Holland.  This young lady works as a researcher at Sick Children's Hospital and I prevailed upon her to do us a HUGE favour.  I asked her to deliver the 55 Preemie Quilts we have been meaning to take down ourselves for the past few weeks.  The news is - the customers of Cock A Doodle Quilts have officially donated 55 Preemie Quilts to the N.I.C.U. at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto.  So start making more ladies and gents so we can do it all over again!  By the way - they were thrilled to receive them!