Counting down!!!!

I wanted to wish you all a very, very, Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year!!!!  I also wanted to say that I hope you all have had a wonderful Holiday Season and I wish you everything you wish for yourselves in the coming year.

As I'm sure you are all aware I am going to be very happy to see the end of 2011 and am looking forward to a wonderful 2012!  On that note, I will say that I have been a bit preoccupied with catching up on everything that has to be done and the newsletter for 2012 is a BIT behind!!!!  I will be working towards getting something out within the next two weeks but for the present time, our clubs and Sit & Sews are still ongoing and you can sign up by phone or in person.

There's also alot in the planning!  Can't wait to share all the new ideas and plans for 2012 but for now, just have a great holiday weekend!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Words fail me!!!!

Before I share with you the reason why words fail me, I will do a little catching up....All the "Special Orders" arrived on Thursday so I spent the day pricing, etc. Last night was our monthly Friday night Sit & Sew, where many of us catch up on each others lives.  Condolences go out to Linda who's sister passed away this week, losing her long and brave struggle with cancer.  Our thoughts are with you Linda. 

On a happy note Barb celebrated her 29th Birthday again so I baked a cake, nothing too extravagant - I haven't gotten back into the cake decorating as of yet....

 Like I said - nothing fancy!

 For fire safety reasons we didn't put ALL the candles on the cake.....

Barb had no trouble blowing out these...

Now I will share the reason I am speechless!!!!  First a little history......This is our second year of Christmas Club and this year's pattern was Welcome to the North Pole!!!!  The participants had their reveal party today along with a wonderful brunch courtesy of Linda who attended every month but, not being an avid appliquer, was a bit hesitant to participate!  It was a lovely gesture on her part and even I enjoyed preparing it - she picked up the bagels.......

 Bagels, cream cheese, Lox (smoked salmon) and eggs, fruit and vegetable platters.....

They all had a lovely meal....

Then it was time to reveal the quilts - we entertained a few guests for this!!!!

This explains why words fail me -

 Kristen's masterpiece!

Check out the details....

 Marlene's masterpiece...

Check the details.....

 The ladies shop - in the centre....shoes on the first floor!

The quilt shop - complete with quilts....

 Here's Judith's.......almost done!

This is Flo's - another masterpiece in the works......

Here's Mary's - sensational and completed, the binding's even on!

A friend knit her the hat for the top of the building.......

Mary's a bit of an over achiever - she did two quilts, the binding isn't on the second one yet.....

I'm sure she'll have it done shortly - two sets of grandchildren, so two quilts!

This one belongs to Nancy, she had some design help from her niece.......the bakeshop (pink cupcake)!

 Check out the Fire House.......

 ...and here's Kathy's, bright colours just popping.....

Check out the lime green house - fabulous!

 Raili's came out fabulous too - and she was up until 3:45 A.M. to put in the last stitch!

 Check out the North Pole Casino....

 The Las Vegas Pin......

 The North Pole sign has a poker chip on top!!!!!

 This is Karen's, the top is done, complete with polar bears surrounding the North Pole.....and pregnant reindeer (you had to be there!!!)....

 even her backgrounds are fabulous........

 This is Linda's Christmas quilt - which explains why she "catered" the brunch!!!!  You actually have to complete the blocks Elaine chooses each month to do the quilt for only a $10.00 charge......This is actually a mystery quilt which Linda did and completely redesigned!!!  I love it!

Last but not at all least is Beth's, really colourful and loads of embellishments!!!!

How do I know that they had a great time doing this year's quilt - simple, they've all booked in for next years Christmas Quilt Club......it's going to be another fabulous offering!!!!! Actually there are two to choose from....

Hope you all enjoyed the quilts!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

We had a ball!!!

Last night we were honoured to be a part of the Yorkshire Rose Quilt Guilds annual Christmas Meeting, along with Art Quilts and Log Cabin Quilts.  They invited us all to set up a small Merchant's Mall at their meeting and included us in their Christmas Pot Luck and festivities.  It was delightful and Laurissa and I had a great time with a great group of ladies.

 I'm not sure who that is "manning" the booth, oops, it's me!!!  Great hairdo there!!!  I truly don't recognize myself - Laurissa was taking the pictures.....

One of our best sellers last night was the Clover Needle Dome - I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before but it's one of those gadgets that when you look at it - you wonder, what do I need that for, until you have one and then it's more like - how did I live without this thing!!!  Last night we sold out except for the one we had left in the store which, by the end of the night was spoken for and in fact, was picked up today.....with an order for 3 more!!!!

I have two stashed away, one for my applique and one for binding quilts!  They are usually both in use - although, at the moment I have nothing to bind - I take that back I have a binding that needs resewing, so I will have to fill it again......

If you have seen this item and want one, or would like a demonstration - just ask when you're in the store.  I will be placing an order early in the New Year so get your name in if you want one.....

In the meantime - I would like to thank the ladies at Yorkshire Rose for a wonderful and very enjoyable evening!!!! (Can we join your guild!!!)  What a great group and extremely active too - lots of charity work and great ideas!!!!
Kudos ladies.....and as always,

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

3rd Annual!

It appears this is the month for the Pot Lucks and the Sew Many Quilts, Sew Little Time Monday group had theirs yesterday!!!!  Oh my what a feast - from stuffed pork to meatballs, to quiche and tortierre and 3 kinds of salad along with punch, desserts to die for - it was absolutely delicious!

This is the 3rd year they've put on the Pot Luck and they outdo themselves each year - of course, then there's the Secret Santa gift exchange which is so much fun - you even get to steal a gift if you want.....here we are just having a great time together......

 Leeann starting off the festivities.....

 Elaine opening a great gift.....

 Gail our resident photographer getting ready to shoot.....

 Gail shooting me shooting her......

 Gillian making a tough choice......

It was a great party and we all had a wonderful time, I'm not sure we got alot of sewing done......

Last week Sandy came by with another quilt for AAjfe - her Turning Twenty which really looks fresh in blues and yellows!!!!

 Here's an up close of the great quilting Sandy does!!!  She does a fabulous job - this one's an allover design but you should see her custom stuff!!! Phenomenal!!!

One of my customers came by this weekend with a great quilt idea!!!!  She took a large piece of silk and quilted her dad's ties onto it!!!  They are all silk ties - she is going to use silk batting and backing - I thought it was really cool not to mention a great keepsake for the family......

There's alot happening at the store - we're "renovating", rearranging and getting ready for a little Merchant Mall we're doing on Wednesday December 14th at the Yorkshire Rose Quilters Guild at their meeting.

We're also getting ready for the GREAT REVEAL of this year's Christmas Club Quilts on Saturday December 17th at 11:00 A.M. - we'll be introducing next year's choices for the Christmas Club......there are two this time!  (They couldn't agree on just one - lol)  Come and join us for the REVEAL - there might be a cookie and a cup of tea for you there too!

I've got a lot to do before then so I'm off to get it all done!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

P.S.  Big announcement coming soon!!!!!

Seems to me.......

...there's always something happening in the classroom these days!  Today my Sunday ladies showed up for the day and there was a "special" birthday too!!!!

Here they are all busy working away but as always we want to see some Show & Share.....

 Cathie has been busy this month and got a Christmas quilt top done from a kit she bought.....

 Here's her and Gail showing off her new tablerunner....sorry Cathie, I cut off your head!!! (You guys know I can't take pictures....

Okay - tablerunner with Cathie - with head!

...and again!  Cathie with a mantle cover which is quite stunning..... 

 Ginger was also major busy.....this an x-mas gift for her mom, second time she's done this pattern and she says it's the last, but I think it's a great "go to" pattern for a quick quilt.....

 She also finished up a charm square baby quilt which is adorable!...and sooooo easy to make up!  If you've got any of those charm squares lying around, this is a great way to use them up!

 We were also celebrating Gail's birthday today!!!!  So Christina ran off in the middle of the day to snag this cake.....and she blew out the candles (she's 39!!!) NOT!

 ....Then came the gifts, from Mom she received a great Amy Bradley pattern Merry Christmas!

Christina bought her a lovely new robe which she modeled......

 ....Cathie gave her a gorgeous scarf, mauve and silver......

 ...and a very cool scarf hanger which looks like a butterfly!  They are all going out to dinner at Zorro's Steakhouse out by the airport and I'm sure it will be a very memorable birthday!

 On the right is Cathie's tree skirt she's working on and on the left is Donna's gorgeous batik, because while we were all gabbing and eating and carrying on some people were actually working on their quilts!  LOL  Only kidding, aside from me, everyone got something done today......

On that note - I have the kitchen to clean up so I can cook tomorrow, the classroom to tidy and "Sonia" and my quilt to pack up so they can go back home again - there's never any room nor time for me to sew on Monday's so no point in leaving my "darling" Janome here!  Besides I might actually get some sewing done tonight  -  we'll see!