What's happening at the "Doodle"!?!?!

Let's begin with what's been going on this week - Sit & Sew on Monday and Thursday....I started my Beginner Machine Quilting Class on Monday night - Baltimore Album Block of the Month met Wednesday night and then Thursday night was Art Quilt Club...........

This is not a painting class - it is Still Life in fabric.....Mary pulled out a Katie Mausopest Pasquini book and led the girls in a study of still life.....it was awesome....

These women get together once a month to try out new techniques, critique their own works and just do some really cool stuff!  If you are on the verge of breaking out of the "traditional" mode into art quilting - this is really a fun club!  Just reserve a spot and come join them....there's always something new going on.....

Friday night was our monthly evening Sit & Sew and as is usually the case - we were full to bursting!  12 women spent the evening working on numerous projects and of course, schmoozing and we all had a great time.  Dinner was Chicken Al Fredo with Salad and Mississipi Mud Cake for dessert......

Everyone was busy working hard, shopping and signing up for classes - lots of Aunt Millie's Garden sign ups - Nancy's quilt has totally inspired them!  There's always room for one more and the first class is Sunday at 12:30 P.M......there are also kits available, fabrics chosen by Nancy!  You'll love them! 

Today was a "make-up" day for Healing Heroes/Quilts of Valour!  In case you've already forgotten, January 8th was a bad weather day so I opened up some time for them today and let me tell you, these girls just keep producing those quilts!  The one below is one of Andi's who just churns out quilts!  A year ago she had never made a quilt!  I'm not sure how many she's completed now but if you check back to about November of last year you will see her quilts appearing numerous times in the blog.......(we all "hate" her with a passion as we struggle to complete our projects - but honestly we love her dearly!) 

 Here's another Heroes quilt ready to go.......

This is another one of Andi's masterpieces........I love this, it's from the book Country Comforts by Cheryl Wall (I also love that book!)....... 

...and another Heroes quilt....... 

 ......one more for Heroes...............

 ...and finally another....ready to go!  These gals have made well over a hundred quilts!  Pat is going to get me the exact figure and I'll let you know!  It's wonderful to be able to play even a small part in this project!  One of these days I hope to do more than just donate a classroom and the odd bolt of batting.......

That's Andi holding up one of our customers' quilts (it's not hers for a change!)

While I made coffee, Andi was helping this customer chose a border for this work of art.....

Here's the funny part of the story - she (the customer) brought the quilt in to choose a border, she doesn't like Batiks and she hates greens.....look very closely,  this quilt is made with Batiks only and is primarily green!  And it is stunning!  We need to teach this one in the store, it's done with a triangle ruler and goes together relatively easily.......

This is always the highlight of my day!  Helping customers choose something to go with their masterpieces or helping them choose fabrics to begin a new masterpiece......it took a lot of years but I finally found a "job" that I love.....

One of the eight ladies who came for Heroes today also enlightened me about a new book that's coming out which I plan on getting in as soon as it's printed!  I'll keep you all in suspense and let you know when it comes in!  We may even schedule a demo session - it's a really neat idea!  I'll keep you posted.....

In the meantime I'm off to do my personal blog (http://www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com/) and then to bed....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann