On a roll......

At 1:30 P.M. today I taught the Urban Pods class.  The class really consists of learning how to use the Quick Curve Ruler (QCR) designed by Jenny Pedigo of Sew Kind of Wonderful.

When I talk about this ruler, I let everyone know that this is one of the best tool's I've come across in a very long time.  I liken it to the "bread slicer".  Personally, as a quilter, I think it's better than the bread slicer.

I let my students cut MY fabric and sew MY blocks (they have likened it to slave labour, but it's very effective).  I do this so that they won't waste their own fabric but will get used to all of the special techniques so, at least four of the blocks in the sample started below belong to my students.....

After they had gotten the hang of the technique, they began cutting and sewing their blocks (I expect photos ladies) and I set to making my second Urban Pods quilt.....Needless to say, once I got started I couldn't stop, so I continued and promised myself I would stop once I ran out of bobbin thread!

As you can see I got 4 vertical rows sewn although the second set is not put together yet (I knew I wouldn't make it to the end with what was left in the bobbin)....

I am addicted to this ruler and how easy it is, not to mention how quick it is!  From about 3:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. with two 1/2 hour breaks to close the store and have a bite to eat - I managed 4 rows....and this was done very methodically so as not to repeat the fabrics!  I hit my stride around 6:30 P.M. and figured out how to layout each row so I could string piece them - broke for dinner and then kept it going.....hopefully I can get the rest of them done next week some time....  Since I started on the store machine, I will finish on the store machine.

Monday I am putting in an order for more rulers and loads more patterns.  I think Jenny has two new patterns that I haven't had in yet, and don't forget I have another quilt in the works - the Urban Nine Patch!  This is definitely an addiction......

I'm going home now - my day off started at 6:00 P.M. - and hopefully I will get some other projects done!  (I'm so not in the mood to clean the house!)

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I'll bet.....

You all thought I wouldn't have time to blog today!  Surprise, surprise!  It's after hours and the opening went fabulously!  To all of you who came by to say hello and pick up a couple of items - THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I love the new space and I'm getting the impression that you are all pretty happy with it too!  Including our new addition - the Cuckoo Cluck!!!!

I'll bring you up to date a little....  Yesterday was also a very busy day at the "Doodle".  About 6 weeks ago, at the old store, one of our fellow customers came in and fell in love with a quilt I had designed and had not yet written the pattern for - Trip Back In Time - an on-point Trip Around the World made from reporduction fabrics.  I basically said, take it home and use it as a template - she did!  Below is my quilt!

SB brought my quilt back to me - which by the way has the borders almost finished on it - and she showed off her gorgeous quilt from the fabrics we had chosen on that fateful day back in October.....isn't it gorgeous - and she added a row around the outside to complete the point!!!  I love it!  Guess I'd better get to work on the actual written pattern and the kits so everyone else can enjoy this quilt too!  I'll keep you all posted!

 Last night was - Don't Dare Bring Your Machine Night (alternatively know as Applecake Club) and we were hopping!  Very busy doing embroidery, applique, knitting, binding, felting, and unstitching!  The unstitching was me!  I had brought in my Lithia Park quilt to show off the top when Cathie pointed out my mistake (again - second time)!  So Luckily I had not yet put the borders on and was able to unstitch easily!!!

 Today was busy, busy, busy but I had to stop to take a picture of KH's quilt because it was truly a joint effort.  She had come in and picked a "few" fat quarters in pinks and golds one day and said they need to be a quilt.  We worked together and fooled with a bunch of fabrics until we came up with the ones in the quilt below - outstanding!

But my absolute favourite part of this quilt is the quilting!!!!  KH used #8 Pearl Cotton, which we sell of course, and did the big stitch in circles and squares - I just love it, absolutely love it and it's so easy to do!  If you would like to have a quick lesson - just drop by and I'll show you how it goes!!!!

In order to celebrate the 2nd Grand Opening of Cock-A-Doodle Quilts at the 2nd (NEW) location I am going out for dinner with two very good (crazy) quilters whom I've come to love over the past 6 years.  We're off to have a lovely meal at Me-Va-Me up at Bathurst and Steeles which have the best Middle Eastern food in the city......then I'm going home to relax and maybe finish up the rest of my Urban Pods....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Sneak Peek!!!

I love when new stuff comes into the store!  I had these fabrics "on hold" until we moved and they just arrived today.  They were ordered specifically for the absolute coolest quilt ever!!!!  ....and for the absolute coolest ruler ever!!!!

The ruler is the Quick Curve Ruler and is designed by Long Arm Quilter - Jenny Pedigo.  Her patterns are fabulous and I have to tell you - I, an avid traditionalist, am hooked.  I was hoping to have my sample done by Saturday for the Re-Opening but honestly I'm not sure I have the strength to get it done - we shall see.....I've got 6 patterns for you to choose from and I know it's going to be hard to choose.

 Fiona was intrigued by the ruler too, so before we moved I gave her a sneak peek and she made up this great baby size quilt which has alread been shipped off to the recipient....but look how cool it is!!!  She opted to add a border to her quilt but most of the patterns do not have borders - looks good both ways.....

Here's the pattern that I have in the works at home, it's called Urban Pods and I have to tell you - her (Jenny's) methods are so fabulously easy you'll want to do all of her patterns.  Once I get this one done I think I will move on to either Urban Holiday or Urban Nine Patch and I already know what fabrics I want to use.......  We will definitely be offering a class in the New Year - as a matter of fact you can circle Saturday January 12th or Wednesday January 16th, both 10:30 - 3:30 P.M..  Choose one or the other.....

You can check out Jenny's website by hitting the link at the side of our page - Sew Kind of Wonderful - there you will see some of the patterns I have purchased including Urban Pods.

If things go according to plan - I will post my progress at Jo-Ann's Creations, Trials & Tribulations later on tonight or tomorrow.....hoping to get the top done before Saturday....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann