Spring quilting!!!!

As much as I love gardening, quilting is still my passion and luckily it is shared my many other quilters.  Babies are born and they need quilts to be bundled in, there are wedding quilts to do and milestone birthdays that deserve our very best gifts - quilts!  There are those dreaded deadlines and so we continue to quilt.....

First I will bring you up to date as to where I am on that gorgeous Amish With A Twist....I have started doing the outside of the blocks....

Block 2

Block 3

I should have more done but as many of you know by reading my blog - www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com, I have been obsessed with The Farmer's Wife of late.  I'm hoping to get more done in the next few days.

I will also share with you some fabulous customer quilts I've been lucky enough to be inspired by....

First Kay and her friend made this fabulous quilt at Laurissa's Bloomin' 9 Patch class....

Cathie has been working on this quilt for about 10 years but that actually includes selecting the fabrics.  It's that fabulous pattern, Yellow Brick Road and it is stunning.....

This pic shows the blocks - she came by one Friday night to "babysit" me (I think it was May 10th) and marked her rows and blocks.

Yesterday we had our monthly Sunday Stitch & Bitch and check it out!  They held it up sideways but - still effective......

Chris never ceases to amaze me with the quilts that she produces and this month (May) at our Stashbusters (Scrapaholics) Club night she didn't disappoint.....

Here are two quilts she did, changing them up but using the same strips....using different backgrounds they look completely different.....

She is also working diligently on one of Bonnie Hunter's patterns and each month it grows.....

Liz came by last week and showed off this gorgeous quilt which I believe is a wedding present and she was getting it off to the long arm... (wish I could take a decent picture - ugh!)

The last quilt and really an inspiration belongs to ????  Okay, I know it is very unlike me but as many of you know I am within my rights to use "chemo-brain" as an excuse here,  I cannot remember who brought this quilt in, so someone has to "own up" and help me out here.....

I would like to introduce you to the new "boss" at Cock A Doodle, in case you haven't met her yet -----  This is Missy!  She belongs to Gillian and when Gillian is in the store, Missy is there to look after us all!

She's very photogenic and loves having her picture taken.....

She also has her own "throne" - our very own Queen of Quilts!!!!  Her favourite spot is on top of the quilt!

Gillian is away for the next few weeks so the "boss" is off for a while.  I have to say, I really do miss her.

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

It must be May.....

The newsletter is on it's way to you all!  Hoping you'll love the class line-up, I tried to throw in a little of everything and there will be more coming.....

Yesterday was Healing Heroes - Quilts of Valour day at the Doodle and Judy brought in yet another completed quilt for which she quickly whipped up a pillow case to match.....

This is a great pattern and the quilt is really awesome - loads of leaves in the boxes.....She quilted the boxes in the ditch and then meandered inside and outside the boxes.  There were another 8 finished quilts delivered to Virginia, then Pat, then Alison as well.  These ladies just keep producing gorgeous quilts.....

I have received all of my blocks for the 9 Patch Exchange and since my dear friend Debbie came in to quilt with me yesterday I began work on the quilt top.  Since there is going to be a reveal planned I will give you this one pic to whet your appetites and you will have to figure out what I'm up to......

Jo-Ann's 9 Patch Exchange Quilt

I am thrilled with the way it's coming along so I honestly can't wait to get it done.  Stay tuned!  I think today I received the last group of outstanding blocks so everyone will receive all of their blocks and they too can make some awesome quilts.  Can't wait to see them all!  It may even inspire another exchange!

Happy quilting!

Jo-Ann

P.S. If you want to see what's happening with The Farmer's Wife head over to Jo-Ann's Creations, Trials & Tribulations.

Where does it go......

I have been focused - on quilting and preparing the newsletter which is about to hit the "waves".  (Internet air waves...)

So the Asian Invasion has inspired me - below the beginnings of my Bento Box quilt - I'm using the Anna Griffin Asians to do it.  The middle block didn't really work for me so I've since "unstitched" it and used the fabrics for two other blocks which I will share next time.  I think it's going to be awesome and I'm working on it at the store so come by and check out my progress....

 Bento Box quilt

On the home front, Amish With A Twist is coming along fine.  I completed Block 12 - Birds In The Air and the extras for the first border.

 Block 12 - Birds In The Air

I spent Saturday at the store cutting out the fabrics for Lessons 13, 14 and 15, while Debbie kept me company while working on her Box Step quilt in Red, Black and White.  Wish I had taken a picture but I think I'd left the camera at home.

Then home to start the next stage of the Amish - sewing the setting blocks!  Check out Block 1 - Rail Fence enclosed......

 Rail Fence enclosed.....

Then back to my Asian obsession, below is Nine By Twelve using those fabulous Asian fabrics we received last week.  I just need to add the borders which I hope will happen this week some time or this weekend maybe....and then write up the patterns for this and the Bento Box and wow!!!!

Nine By Twelve

Today I spent polishing and putting the finishing touches on the newsletter so look out - it'll be online momentarily......great classes, loads of fun!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

The Asian Invasion......

Talk about a busy week for me!  Thursday night we, Linda cutting and Gillian and I packing, were busy getting the Amish With A Twist first installments ready for pick-up.  In the meantime there were 4 large boxes of fabrics to unpack.

That happened on Friday - first 12 bolts of Kyota, which this picture (of course) does not due justice to.  I've already started a project using 6 of these fabrics - you'll see it further down the page.  

 12 bolts of Kyota next to our gorgeous Champagne Lights

Then there are an additional 17 bolts of Honoka from Anna Griffin which is absolutely gorgeous!  The feel of this fabric is gorgeous too!  Oh, and I started yet another project - check below...... 

 Anna Griffin's Honoka

I have a new spot for great new fabrics - it's Jo-Ann's Treasure Chest - a place where I can put all my favourites.....

 Check out my Treasure Chest

Introducing Riley Blake - Serenity!  It is absolutely stunning!  You really have to see this in person and I will tell you that it is going fast.... The Friday night crew and the Saturday bunch has already had their cuts.....

 Serenity by Riley Blake

Okay, okay, I know!!!  Yet another project on the go!  This one is at the store and I'm gonna try for a "block a day".  It's a Bento Box - and I'm using those fabulous Honoka prints from Anna Griffin.  I can't wait to see how it evolves but I had to, because I had a dream......seriously, I dreamt about this quilt Friday night.....

 New Project - Bento Box with Honoka

Of course there is still the Amish With A Twist on the go - Block #9 is finally done (there was a slight lull there while I got other important stuff done).

 Block #9 - Star Diamond Block

Then of course there are my little extra blocks I made from the left overs.

 Leftovers from Block #9

Block # 10 - Square In A Square is also done.  There were no leftovers with this one (unfortunately). 

 Block #10 - Square In A Square

Do you remember the Radical Rail - I've got 20 blocks done!  That's two thirds of the quilt top!!!  Almost there.......

 Radical Rail - soon to be a pattern and a class

That didn't stop me - here's Block #11 - Hole in the Barn Door, again no leftovers for blocks, but that's okay, I have plenty for an "extra" project.  I'll keep you all posted on that idea.

 Block #11 - Hole in the Barn Door

This is project #3 -  Nine by Twelve!  It's made from 6 of those great Kyota fabrics and the first 3 rows are together.  Working on the next 3 now.....

My Kyota Project

I spent the whole afternoon quilting away and it was wonderful!  I love it when I have a day to quilt.....amazing what I can get done!  We'll be kitting a few of these great projects too!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I am so conflicted........

We have been invaded!!!!  Yesterday two boxes arrived full of gorgeous Asian fabrics......

 Just a taste of the Orient.......

This grouping is more like a meal......all $14.95/metre

Why am I conflicted!  Well you see those gorgeous fabrics (the meal),  I cut some and I have a plan!!!!  Now, I am busy working on Amish With A Twist (Block 9) and the Radical Rail is coming along nicely, so what will happen if I add yet a third project to the mix?!?!  Well, we are going to find out - I'm also writing a pattern for this great project, working on the newsletter and cutting all the fabrics for Amish With A Twist so that it will be ready for pick-up this weekend......

On top of that, another two boxes of fabric have arrived!  More gorgeous Asians......can't wait to get into those boxes, it was all I could do to leave them alone and do what I had to do today.....tomorrow is another day.

More to come......

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

What a great week......

First of all, you had to be there.  Have you ever seen 7 women awe struck?!!!  I mean sitting with mouths wide open in awe!!!!  We sat and watched while Anne filled the design wall with her Dear Jane -  she has 3 blocks left to do....it is absolutely stunning, and it took her 4 years to complete - there are some pretty tough applique blocks in this quilt.  There were many she did over because she just didn't like the way they turned out....pretty awesome quilt!!!!

Needless to say, this inspired me to get back to my Farmer's Wife - two blocks done tonight....check www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com. 

Then I watched as Gillian started on her Stashbusters Quilt, she was determined to get the blocks done and has, as of today, only 10 more to do, to have an 80 block quilt.

Check this out......done with strips......

For the record, I have not been idle myself.  I managed to continue on with my Amish With A Twist....

Block 7 - Snow Ball Block plus Square In A Square cornerstones for the inside border.

Sometimes I take scraps a little too far and I just couldn't resist using the left over triangles for something, so here are my leftovers from Block 7.....

Block 8 - Flying Geese Block

....and of course there were leftovers here too.....

I am now also halfway through the Radical Rail quilt which is coming along nicely - I have 15 blocks done....

FYI - the fabric has arrived and I am already cutting Instalment 1 so those of you who are doing the BOM - Amish With A Twist - you will very soon be hearing the news that the kits are ready to go.....It's so exciting!

Tomorrow I will be (hopefully) finalizing class dates for the new newsletter so that will soon be appearing in your inboxes.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

A little more......

I have not been idle, just slow!  Tonight I completed Block 4 - Amish With A Twist......

 Block 4 - Pinwheel Block - Amish With A Twist

Back of Block - notice my teeny tiny pinwheels

That's to remove bulk in the seams

As I mentioned previously, the patterns are super in that they give very good instructions and some great tips too.  If you sign up and manage to come for the 1 hour class/discussion you will receive a number of great tips too!  I will also include extra tips with the patterns......

At this point, one third of the blocks are done, along with other portions of the quilt top.  I'm really enjoying this!  Check out my blog - www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com to find out what else I'm up to at the same time.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann 

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

The first week......

2013 is here and things are happening at the "Doodle".  The first meeting of "Healing Heroes" (our Quilts of Valour Group) was held last Saturday - January 5th.  The group has been meeting here since September 2007 and in that time have sent 246 quilts to our armed forces.  Here below Peter and Pat are showing off an additional 4, ready to be packed up and sent.

 

On Sunday January 6th we had our first meeting of the "Barrie Girls" - okay at this point pretty much no-one is from Barrie so we can just refer to them as the Sunday Stitch 'n' Bitch group.  Gail showed off this really cute snowman she did from a kit that she had bought.

 Cathie showed this one off at the end of the day - her Florida Snowballs - which is from our free Snowball pattern.  She changed up the borders a little and made it her own.....It was on her UFO list.  I let her stay a little longer too, so she could finish up another one of her UFO's and now they are ready to go to the long arm quilter - Cathy Petrie.  Can't wait to see what she does with them, always come back amazing.

We've already had 3 Sit & Sews this month and the newsletter should be in your e-mail at any moment as I completed it yesterday.  Will send another e-mail to my "web guy" today to make sure he gets it out.  Tomorrow night is the first meeting of the Scrapaholics Club and it's filling up quickly.  We'll be tackling strips.....should be great fun!

My next job is tackling the Mystery Quilt for March and getting a couple of long awaited patterns written up so I can kit some fabric.  In the meantime - check out all the great classes coming up.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

OMG!!!

First I must report that the design wall went up - YEAH!!!!! and the first official usage was on Sunday December 9th during our once a month Sunday Stitch & Bitch with the girls, when Cathie D. shared her gorgeous Chirstmas project with us.

I think it's possibly taller and maybe not quite as wide as the Design Wall in the old store but it sure works just as well as you will all soon see.....

CHRISTMAS  CLUB 2012

Let me explain the Christmas Club to you - It begins in January and the cost is $10.00 (our answer to the $10.00 quilt).  The pattern(s) have been chosen in advance and are available at the January meeting.  Homework is assigned and meetings are the third Saturday of every month at 10:30 a.m..  If you come without your homework done or if you don't come at all you are penalized an additional $10.00.  This year was a record year for no shows and homework not done and it went towards this years Reveal Party.  At the end of the year it has become customary to have a reveal party and that includes a Cock A Doodle Brunch.....there was so much food we had to use the ironing board for serving as well.

It has taken me 3 days to sort through all of the photos so sit back with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the show!  First of all this year's Christmas Club was unusual as there were two options offered.  The first was the adorable Critter Christmas by Brandywine Designs....

Many took on the challenge of this quilt and the following photos will give you an idea of how fabulous they did and how creative they all are.....

 Virginia made numerous contributions to the "brunch fund" this year but in her defense she is doing the quilt by hand and all those plastic baggies are prepped applique so we must bear with her - So far she has not signed up for next year's Club which will give her more than enough time to finish this year's quilt!

  This is Raili's and aside from misplacing that centre block for an undetermined time period she managed to get her homework done each month.

 Now Karen is our resident non-conformist, if a pattern can be changed - she will change it.  Her critters are amazing - racoon, moose, cat - take a closer look - not quite like the original quilt - but similar......and note - no pieced blocks.....

 This one belongs to Tony and since he is a Long Arm Quilter it was custom quilted beautifully although some take umbrage at the two Santa's - top and bottom.  I have explained this phenomenom as mirror image in order to calm the masses.

 Here is Beth's which also came out beautifully - very creatively Beth used the blue fabric at the top left hand corner of the quilt as the background - however, she turned it over and used the wrong side as the right side was too bright!!!

Finally there is Mary's which is absolutely adorable!  Part o f me wishes I had done this quilt but you have to understand I could not have met the homework deadlines under any circumstances. 

Linda P. also did this quilt and possibly there are pictures on last month's blog but she decided to leave everything at home this month so there is no pic here.

Now we move on to pattern # 2 - everyone had the choice of doing one or the other - or both?!?!  Some of these "keeners" did both!  Pattern #2 was O' Tannanbaum by Quakertown Quilts, Inc.....this was a very demanding quilt, homework wise and so there were numerous contributions to the "brunch fund" but many still managed to get it done.....

The fact that some did both quilts still blows me away....

 This quilt belongs to Linda T. and it's really hard to see how absolutely stunning it is.  Tony quilted this one (although not custom like his Critters Christmas), beautiful.  I marvel at this quilt being completed.

 This one belongs to Raila - one of the keeners who did both quilts!!!  She's still got a bit to do on this one and I note the borders aren't done - have to check with Elaine to see if that was homework!?!

This is Marlene's and it came out beautiful.  Her tree is three dimensional as were some of the other quilts and it really gives the quilt a whole different look. 

This one belongs to Helen Anne and is completed with help from the "pre-made" poinsettas of course which work really fabulously to complete this quilt......

Helen Anne also embellished her quilt with some cute litel buttons and up close you can see the detail of her quilting.

 This is where someone should take away my camera - Nancy's quilt is spectacular - two of the houses are her own design based on a trip she made to Europe years ago.  Her fabric choices are also great.  She added a touch of gold in the border and it would have been great if my camera skills were better so this photo wasn't so blurry but alas the next one also suffered from the lousy photographer......

 Suzi's top is ready to be layered and quilted as well and even in the blurriness of this photo you can see how nice the quilt is.....again I apologize for the lousy photo -

 It appears I took one photo after the other here as Annadel's is also very blurry but as you can see she was one of our "brunch fund" contributers.  However, she does have quite a bit done - nothing a few Sit & Sew's won't take care of.  We' re hoping to see you back at Sit & Sew soon....

 Kristen took this on with the best of intentions, however, with a little one underfoot it is a little hard to find the time to get this one done.  She's also working full time so we'll have to give her a little slack here.  She should be able to make it to next year's reveal with this quilt done.....

 I am so impressed with Flo - she is almost done!  You will note she skipped the house blocks - taking creative license to do so and she has her poinsetta's all picked out - just fussy cut and go!  Seen that before and even her border should go on in a breeze - already striped.....and voila!

 Okay - you might ask what quilt is this!  Well it's the same one you've been seeing turned into a spiralling wreath.  Linda V. took creative license and with her engineer background has managed to completely change the pattern - her houses will appear in the 4 corners and I promise to follow this quilt for you until completion as I beleive it is going o be spectacular.....

I'll bet you are all thinking that these ladies had their plates full with meeting the monthly deadlines for their CHristmas Club homework but don't be fooled.  In addition to the beautiful Christmas Club quilts we were treated to a short Show & Share.

 This one belongs to Marlene and it's absolutely stunning - pieced, appliqued, quilted and bound - although I did not get the name of the pattern.

 Karen shared her Border Creek Mystery quilt - quilted by Tony T., I believe it is the quaintly queen version and it came out lovely - only binding to do on this one.

 Mary found these bird fabrics at home and decided to get creative with two absolutely gorgeous wall pieces which are stunningly threadpainted.

 She then found this free pattern on Jillily Designs and made a series of throw pillows for Christmas - I absolutely love this pattern - check it out on their website.

Helen Anne completed the top here of Lori Smith's Sampler Quilt and her choice of fabrics is beautiful in vibrant pinks, purples and greens......

Oh, did you think we were done - not by a longshot!  Some of these women are real gluttons for punishment!  They live for deadlines and so they also formed a Tinners Group - if you don't know what a Tinner is, let me give you a quick explanation.  You pick a theme, you do a block, you add some fabric and stick everything into a tin or box.  This tin or box gets passed around to all the participants who add blocks according to your theme.  This is done monthly and here's what happens......

 Nancy made it very easy for the others - she chose a pattern, provided her background fabric and asked the others to add leftover fabrics from quilts they had made - the result are Butterfly blocks which she can now make up into a quilt top.

 Karen's theme was Wine, women and Song and she provided the music fabric.  As you can see - everyone got creative here....it was wonderful!  She's still missing two blocks but the theme prevails.

 Randy the Rooster (lower center) provided Elaine with her theme and I believe her backgrounds were all black and whites - again there are two blocks missing but what creativity here.

 Marlene chose Blue and White as her theme and there appear to be alot of star blocks although I don't know that this was part of the theme.  I can't wait to see this one done up into a top......

 Suzi chose Houses as her theme and look at the array she received - I foresee another fabulous quilt here!

 I may be wrong - because I got side tracked here but I believe this was Rhonda's Tinner and the theme was penguins - a great group of blocks here.....

 Linda P. chose Autumn as her theme and the centre block is her inspiration - the others just continue to underline the creativity of the group.

 This is Kirsten's tinner and I believe the theme is Snow, snowflakes, snowmen!!!!  These will make a fabulous top.

 Liz, who couldn't make it to the Reveal Party had chosen the 12 Days of Christmas as her theme and provied the Partridge in a Pear Tree block.  Everyone did a fabulous job with this one and again the creativity was fabulous!

Check out this block from Liz's quilt - 10 Lord's a Leaping !  Note the sign - Lord's Leap - Elevation 10!!!!  Who would have thunk it!

Linda's theme was hearts and she really got a great array of them for her quilt top.....

I have to say that projects like these really challenge the imagination and our creativity but they can also be time consuming!!!  Kudos to all the participants in the tinners and I sure hope to see some finished quilts from these fabulous projects.....

The group has gone ahead and picked next year's pattern as well which will agian meet on the third Saturday of the month (excepting July and August).  Join us if you dare - only kidding, it's really a lot of fun.....

Here's the project for the 2013 Christmas Club...

Bringing Home the Tree

This quilt is pieced and appliqued and finishes approximately 39" x 40".  Once Elaine breaks it up into segments it's quite manageable.  If you are interested please give us a call and we can put your name down on the list - remember - there is homework!

This has to be one of my longest blogs - hope you all enjoyed the show and I will try to include all the finished quilts when they are done and as they are done - it's great to see these projects come to completion!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann