Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  The weather was pretty interesting, warm, rainy!?!?

The newslwtter is on it's way by snail mail and will be up on our website in the next couple of days.  We are really excited about this one - lots of new ideas and new classes!

Nancy and I had fun on Thursday and Friday, we were pretty busy with the sale on, not to mention having some wonderful visitors from Norfolk, England, Kingston, Ontario and Boston, Massachusetts!  Quilters travel and when they travel they look for quilt stores!  I know when I'm on the road I'm always looking for quilt stores.  What fun it is to meet all these wonderful people!

Nancy brought in one of her recent projects...check it out!  I love it and now of course I want to make my own!

We also picked out the fabrics for our new Block of the Month - Aunt Millie's Garden, there are 2 colourways - Brights and Classic!

Month 1 - Brights

Month 1 - Classic

Month 2 - Brights

Month 2 - Classic

How can you resist this quilt!?!?  If you love applique, this quilt will definitely be on your TO DO list.....

On another note, and in the spirit of "catching up", last Wednesday was the final meeting of the Patchwork Sampler Block of the Month.  It's truly amazing what these girls did with their scraps.....okay, there were a few fabrics purchased for this one but mostly they went to their stashes to do this quilt....

Here's Linda's.....in batiks!

Here's Barbara's on the right.....she's a new quilter!  Awesome!

Here's Kristin's......

Here's Rosemary's....with post it notes for numbering the blocks!

Here's Pat's - wait a minute, that's not Patchwork Sampler!  Oh, okay, she had guests this week and couldn't find her blocks (likely story) she's working on a book panel quilt.....

...and Jean's doesn't seem to be here either!  Well they've decided to make a date in the New Year to meet and show off their quilts....I can't wait!

I'm off to do some quilting myself!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann 

Monday, Monday....

We have been watching this quilt come together for many months and although it's still not quite finished, I had to take a picture of it!  Elaine has been patiently putting together a deliberate scrappy quilt and it just looks awesome......

She's got about 9 blocks to go ------ can't wait to see it done!

We also had two birthdays - so I made a really tacky orange coloured cake with bright pink candles for the girls....actually the cake is a Florida Orange Cake, hence the colour...... 

Here are the Birthday girls blowing out the candles - left Cathy and right - Effie....... 

Now I get to the important stuff (for Rochelle)!  I made a Frittata for lunch yesterday - the same one I made last Sunday for the Hilary Rice Workshop and it came out awesome....so awesome, some people asked for the recipe.
So here goes.....

Jo-Ann's Frittata (serves 12)

1 each - Red Pepper, Yellow Pepper, Orange Pepper
1 cup - Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup - Green Onions, sliced
Butter

Dice the peppers and saute all of the vegetables until soft.

In the meantime......

4 cups shredded Monteray Jack cheese
1 tbsp flour
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (I use Old Cheddar)
12 eggs
1 cup milk

Spray with Pam (or grease) a 13" x 9" Pyrex dish.  Toss shredded Monteray Jack cheese with flour and arrange on the bottom.  Sprinkle the shredded Cheddar cheese on top.  In a separate bowl, beat eggs and milk.  Once vegetables are done, place on top of cheese.  Pour egg mixture over everything.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge over-night or at least 8 hours.

Heat oven to 325 and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes.  Check center for doneness.

Serve hot and enjoy! 

Okay, I have two quilts in my head right now for kits that need to be done and two more in my studio in the basement of the house that are waiting for me so I'm off to quilt.....

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

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!

I am impressed!

Yesterday morning we very carefully took Chocolate Straw Beary off of "Gonzo" (Libby's long arm machine) and it came out fabulous!  We loaded up quilt #2 and two hours later - voila!  Another quilt top done!  Of course, now I'm behind because they have to be squared up and binding has to be made and put on but that's my plan for this morning.....

After lunch Libby decided to load yet another quilt - this one had already been spray basted awhile back but because I used the Sulky spray baste, most of it had dissipated so we decided to try "floating" the top - wow, is all I can say!  Gonzo is very accommodating.  She is also custom quilting this one - we really want to try as much as possible!  I know I seem to be obsessing about this whole process but you have to understand - Libby had the machine delivered in May - had 2 days of intense instruction and then went out to garden for 3 months!  What we have done in the past few days are her real "first" attempts at getting going and she has done a spectacular job.  She'll tell you it's Gonzo but let me be the one to clarify, he only does what you tell him (oh my, can I marry him!) and if "he" messes up, trust me, it's your fault!

In any event, I am not allowed to leave until we have another quilt "properly" loaded so I'm being held hostage until she completes the custom "floater" that she's working on now!  Could be very late before I get out of here tonight!  Oh well, it's not like I have nothing to do......

It's truly not a hardship staying longer, I love it out here!  Quiet, (except for the passenger train that goes by a few times a day), no major distractions and I tend to focus on my quilting projects.  Weekends at Libby's truly motivate me!  I always come away feeling I could quilt all day!  I think a trip out here once a month is a must - (well maybe not that often)!

Okay, back to business, I have to get another quilt squared off, make up the binding, mark a quilt, cut a "new" project, embellish some blocks and finish piecing it, make some more stems and much more!  ....and I'm going to do that all today!  Yeah right!  Like I said, I always bring too much, but you never know what you will feel like doing when you're on a retreat!  See you all soon!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Unusual!

I have been pretty good about not neglecting the blog but it seems it's been 12 days!  This was completely unintentional!  Time flies when you're having fun...so they say.

I just finished reading Elaine's blog (it's on the right side of our blog page - Quilters Quilting Quilts), and she is finally home from one really spectacualr trip!  She biked the Dempster Highway - that's right I said biked!  You can now pretty much read the whole trip and hopefully she'll get some pictures up soon.

So - you want to know what I'm all excited about?!?!  Well - I've been working on our newsletter (first hint!) and I have some fabulous news!  First, Anita Zobens of Cotton Mill Threadworks will be teaching two classes, on September 25th - Applique Buffet and then on October 13th - Open Thread Bar (if you missed it the first time, here's your chance - it won't be happening again for quite a while)!

That's not it though!  Mark your calendars - October 20th - Melinda Bula is coming!  Don't know who she is - look up Candy Cane Lane (Christmas Club Ladies will know and she is going to do a book signing for all of you in the evening), then look up Cutting Garden Quilts or better yet - go to http://www.melindabula.com/ and check her out!  She has agreed, actually it was her idea, to teach a class on October 20th!  She is developing another book which will be next year - making fabric cards and she is going to teach it here FIRST!  How cool is that!

....and that's not all!  Are you ready for this!  Hillary Rice is coming to teach a 2 day class - Imagine and Create - November 27th and 28th - you asked for a weekend - you got it!  Don't know who she is - check out http://www.mestudios.ca/
and see her gorgeous textile art!  By the time you finish that class you'll be doing it too!

Okay - I'm going back to quilting and the books for a while.  I'll try not to make you wait another 12 days for a post.  I hope I got you all excited about what's coming up!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

We're always busy.....

We are all up to something at the store!  Let's see, Kathy is working on a sample for the store on fabric that will soon be in stock, Sharon is working on another great sample on one of our many fabulous patterns, Barb is working on a sample which she is really enjoying - NOT, and Nancy just finished this lovely little gift for me!  I love it - it's an original and she used the homespun as a background fabric......it's hanging behind the cash and I'm sure she'll tell you how she did it!

On Monday I FINALLY put the binding on SWEET TEA!...and none too soon for me!  I will share some of the label steps here....

First I basted the area where I wanted the label placed on the back of the quilt (then placed it the wrong way....still works though!)

I then turned the quilt over (without checking direction of course - do as I say, not as I do!) and basted the label to the quilt.

It was then that I finished the quilting.....so you see the quilting is the first anchor for the label. 

After sewing on the binding, with a Pigma Pen, I wrote the information that is on the label onto the inside of the binding......I know, you might think it's a bit of overkill but when you take the time to piece, applique and put approximately 40 hours into quilting a quilt, then lovingly hand sew on the label, sleeve and binding - you want to be sure that it's identified as yours!

So I have been sitting on the porch (in this lovely weather!?!?) the last couple of evenings sewing on the binding.....it's nice, a needed change!  I have also started quilting another UFO - a small wallhanging I did a while ago from the Bubblegum Basics line - it's coming along great!...and since I seem to have hit this amazing period of productivity, I have started piecing another quilt top......I have not as yet checked my temperature or anything (this seems so unlike me!)  I am actually focused on all three projects allowing almost equal time for all.

What was really cool this morning was, I was waiting for the coffee to finish brewing and managed to chain piece about 20 strips of the blocks I am making.....just because it was there and ready to go!  Of course, this only works because I have the Bernina ("Berni" - original name, eh!) set up on the dining room table).  I may just revisit the suggestion that I move my quilting studio upstairs!  Of course that would take time - time away from actual quilting, so for the moment, Berni in the dining room will do - and it's all Libby's fault because when I got back from Libby's about 3 weeks ago I never took Berni back down to her usual spot in the studio!

Speaking of Libby - it is also her fault that I now have a dilemma which I need some help with.  Because she made me go to quilt stores and twisted my arm until I bought a bunch of magazines I really didn't want!  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)  So I happened to mention to Barb and Fiona that I wanted to make a certain quilt, in one of those magazines!  Fiona dared me and Barb "double dog dared me"!  I mean honestly can you believe that - anyway, here's my dilemma!  The magazine is Quiltmania Issue 70, but the quilt is a 3 parter (don't you just hate that) so I need Quiltmania Issue 69, and Quiltmania Issue 71 to complete it!  If anyone has these two issues and is willing to part with them I would be very interested in obtaining them.  The upside is, I can't start the quilt without those two magazines!!!  Hmmmm, that may be a good thing!  But seriously, I really do love this quilt and even without the dare and double dog dare would love to do it!

Now that I've brought you all up to date - I am going home to quilt!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Jo-Ann

It's a Mystery......

I've been a busy bee all week, doing all kinds of quilting and book work and errands with my mom so I have a few things saved up for next week's blogs.......However, last night was the Mystery Quilt and it was a full house so I wanted to get it posted as soon as possible....

The day started out crazy as usual!  First a trip to Costco to shop for dinner - then I had to go shopping (for all the stuff Costco doesn't have!  Ugh!)  Back to the store and my day really begins......

Firs, Jean stopped by to show off these gorgeous placemats she made for her sister and to get fabric to make many, many more for Christmas gifts for her daughters.....aren't they gorgeous!  The pattern is from a Quilt In A Day book, the name of which I have forgotten but will find out so we can order it in....

Before the Mystery Class started we were treated to some great Show & Share.  Claire and Lucy brought their finished quilts from the last Mystery.

Claire, if you remember, did the Monster Quilt and it came out fantastic....

She also wanted me to point out that there is a Scottish monster in his plaid kilt no less!

Lucy did two quilts with the fabric she had - for twin bunk beds - she added extra borders and one row to make the quilts a little bigger......hers, were an animal theme and they came out fabulous!

Before we got started with the clues we were busy admiring Heather's new machine - It's a Janome Horizon - Memory Craft 7700 and it is really state of the art.  It even has landing lights (lights above the LARGE opening).  It is really a gorgeous machine - Heather use it well (and I think she's going to name her!)!  Yes I am crazy but I figure with the amount of time I spend with my sewing machines, and I do talk to them quite often, they should have their own identities.......so in my very humble opinion they should have names!

As Barb will attest, I have a habit of leaving things pretty much to the last minute, like meal planning!  Although I know my customers have their favourites I like to change it up a bit when I can and last night was one of those nights.....

I made Pineapple Soy Sauce Chicken with Stir Fried Vegetables and Vegetable Pork Egg Rolls.  Barb made the rice (I can cook but I can't do rice and pasta without burning them - duh!).  It's a simple recipe - just marinate the chicken in Soy Sauce for a few hours - put it in the baking dish and put slices of pineapple on top and pour the juice from the can over it - bake at 375 until done - moist and tender every time and tasty too!  The egg rolls came from Costco - I think the name is Minh - they are in a purple box in the freezer section and they were delicious.  The stir fry vegetables also came from Costco - International I believe and they come with a very nice sauce packet.

Dessert was "to die for" and was half devoured by the time I got the picture.......Rocky Road Bars!

Nancy says I'm never allowed to make them again because she ate 3 the other day!  I think they were a hit!  There is no easier recipe in the world!

I was walking around Metro the other night and they have these touch screen computers in the store now with recipes and stuff!  That's where I found the recipe.....

1 package of Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chips, Walnuts and Miniature Marshmallows.  Grease a 13" x 9" pan, spread the cookie dough on the bottom, top with Chocolate Chips, Walnuts and Marshmallows (leave a 1/2" perimeter around the side of the pan so things don't stick).  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, cool, cut and serve!  I mean seriously - how easy is that and they taste like HEAVEN!

Okay - enough of that, back to business!  So last night's mystery quilt was revealed rather early as the pattern is an extremely obvious one.....

Most of the girls got quite a bit done, as usual and Lucy shared her completed centre top.......the feature fabric is M & M's - so cute!

Annadelle also got most of hers done and has decided to make two kid's quilts rather than one lap size......her feature fabric is Mickey Mouse

Karen, of course, is working on 3 quilts - this one uses Lavender Fields fabric which is a beautiful fabric of a Tuscan farmyard.  The other girls wouldn't let me photograph them until they were done so we'll have to wait and see what they look like.....

Now I can get back to working on my quilt designs, Sweet Tea (yes I know, still not quite done! But very close!), and a few other projects I have on the go.......not to mention the book work!

Off to quilt today!  Hope you are all having a great "long" weekend.  By the way I will be preparing the next newsletter over the next couple of weeks so if there are any classes on your "Wish Lists" feel free to e-mail us or call the store.....We've come up with quite a few on our own but we really do like the customer input!  Just wondering if anyone is interested in a Doll Making Class for a change - I have an opportunity to get a "Feature" teacher from "down under" and if there's enough interest we can certainly go ahead......let me know!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

A week?!?!....

Really, a whole week has gone by since I blogged!  It is amazing how quickly the days go!  I do have some pictures to share, of course, as always!  They are from Friday.

The first is from Barb's Paper piecing class on Friday afternoon, a couple of the girls actually got quite a bit done -

Then I was busy in the kitchen making a Pineapple Upside Down Cake for dessert and Barb made a wonderful Greek Macaroni Salad for dinner for Applique Club.....

Barb had gone outside for a break and called a bunch of us outside to see the sunset - I got a very blurry picture but Nancy's are probably much better, we took quite a few....would make a great landscape background (without the ugly building of course)! 

I've started a "quilting" journal which is different from a "quilt" journal.  My quilting journal is to record how much time I spend quilting and what I am working on whereas, my quilt journal is more the story behind the quilts I make along with copies of labels and pictures.  The quilting journal really has a dual purpose - it keeps me focused on the projects I am working on as well as making me aware of the amount of time I actually spend quilting.....I'm enjoying it and it really motivates me to work on something, anything, almost every day.....it's like a blog in a book - ha, ha!  (Actually, isn't that what we used to do before blogs!)

To keep you all posted, I am still quilting Sweet Tea (taking forever, but I want to do a good job - kinda overshot my completion date), I am still hand-quilting Ditch Flowers and I am about to put the last border on the Mystery Quilt for this Friday night.  In addition I am busy designing a quilt pattern and am working on the actual quilt......so I guess you could say I'm keeping busy, staying out of trouble!

Barb noticed the other day that our linoleum floor in the kitchen and classroom is a quilt pattern - duh!  Only took her nearly 4 years!  I'm kidding but she wanted to point it out so I took a picture for her!  LOL

Back to all my projects - it's been a productive day!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann