Happening at the "Doodle".....

You know how I love sharing customer quilts and this week at the Thursday Sit & Sew I was in luck (actually it was last Thursday for the first one)!

Linda saw that I had the Charm Squares of Fairy Frost from Michael Miller in stock so she brought in the quilt she made from the Charm Pack she bought a few years ago.  She teamed it up with some light grey/white Fossil Fern and a great black sky fabric.  Used the disappearing 9 patch pattern and Voila, an absolutely gorgeous quilt which reads like a color wheel.  It's absolutely stunning and we discussed how she is going to quilt it.  I can't wait to see it finished.

 Disappearing 9 Patch with Fairy Frost

Chris is working on this Lantern Quilt which is for the Momiji Bazaar on Saturday March 23, 2013 at the Momiji Health Care Society, 3555 Kingston Road in Scarborough from 12:00 noon - 3:30 P.M..  She's just finishing the quilting which is absolutely gorgeous.  She's doing a free hand Mctavish which really gives a lovely texture to the quilt.  She hasn't got too much left to do, which is a good thing since the bazaar is only a week away....

Chris's Lantern Quilt

 Closer look at the quilting (click on the photo to get a closer look)

We moved on to Stashbusters Club and Chris pulled out two projects she's working on.  One is from Bonnie Hunter's Adventures with Leaders and Enders and the other is a strip quilt.  The fabric she's using as a background against the strips is striking!  Can't wait to see this one sewn up.....

 Chris's scrap projects

Linda was layering a charity quilt while I was working on the quilt from @#$% which I finally finished at Friday night Sit & Sew.  I had plans to start my scrappy pineapple, I even had printed off the foundation sheets in readiness but like Linda, I was determined to finish what I had started so I guess it will be next month when I finally start using up all those scraps I painstakingly organized.

I was more than relieved when I completed the quilting last night on the baby quilt I am finishing for a customer.  This is the quilt I complained about recently because a sheet was used for backing.  Unfortunately, not only was it a nightmare to quilt because the sheet kept shifting but in the end it was not large enough for the quilt and after squaring it up, Mary helped me by adding on a small strip of muslin and putting on the binding.  I decided to give this new mother a break and hand sew the binding on but a lesson to be learned - NEVER USE A SHEET AS A BACKING!!!!  Got quite a bit done tonight while watching the hockey game - another heartbreaker but at least the Leafs got a point!!!

Now I can move on to my next priority - 9 patch blocks!  I also have to get to the new newsletter (what - again!!! how time flies!)  Tomorrow is my day off and I'm hoping it will be a productive one quilting wise!

Happy quilting!

Jo-Ann

Today....

 

Today was all about the Healing Heroes for Quilts of Valour that meet at the store the first Saturday of each month.  These ladies and gents are incredible.  Today they added another 12 quilts to their incredible total (well over 200 quilts).  I am so honoured to play a small part in what these volunteers do, even if it is just to provide space for their gatherings.....here are the 12 quilts.....some of which I know who made them, some, unfortunately I did not get names for......

 

FYI - the pics are unedited due to a glitch with my camera (and the photographer probably!)......

 The above quilt is made by Rochelle

I tried to crop it on the camera and messed up the whole photo

It appears again behind other quilts that were photographed

It's a great little pattern and goes together pretty quickly

 This one is also Rochelle's, another great pattern

 Not sure who did this one but yet another great pattern

I think this one is Sylvia's (I know she brought it in?!?)

It's the 1,600 Inch quilt

There's Rochelle's quilt in the background - really nice job there! 

 This is another 1,600 Inch quilt

 I think this is Sandra's - lovely pattern

 Another 1,600 Inch quilt

 Definitely not sure who did this one - but it's a lovely flannel quilt

 This one was done by Violet - closer look shows the great pattern

 Judy did this one - great autumn colours - really bright

 Peter put this one together and did the awesome quilting

He and Bill worked on the great design - mixed 9 patches

done in a trip around the world pattern

Again - Peter put this one together and quilted it beautifully

 

 

They sweep in at 10:00 A.M. and begin working.  They spend the whole day working hard on piecing, quilting, binding, etc.. and at the end of they day they go home with loads done and more to do.  They bring them all back done....it truly amazes and inspires!!!!

 

 

Thank you Virginia for all those years ago asking me to be a part of this undertaking!!!!  You have all made me feel, in many ways, a useful part of this group!  I hope we will all be meeting together for many years to come.....

 

 

For anyone who wants to donate quilting fabric or a quilt to Healing Heroes, please call the store for more information....

 

Happy Quilting!

 

 

Jo-Ann



2013........

It's here!!!  Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Have you made any resolutions?

Are you ready to take on 2013?

Quilting Resolution Tip

If you are anything like me - there is the UFO resolution - to finish more UFO's!  

First, make a list of your UFO's and list also, the reason why it is a UFO.  Was it a class piece, was there a mistake that had to be fixed, etc.  Do you need some help to complete the piece?  You just don't like it - could you make it into a Charity Quilt?  Are you ever going to finish it?  Should you donate it and let someone else finish it?  

Rather than add it to your UFO list, decide what you really want to do with it. That is my resolution for 2013.  Rather than continue to harbour all of these projects and list them every year as UFO's - I am choosing to sort them as they should be sorted.


On that note, there is always help - join one of our Sit & Sew's - Mondays, Thursdays or the third Friday evening of the month.  If it's a hand piece make it the fourth Friday evening of the month.  There is always someone who can guide you if you have a question or need some help.  Or you can book a "private class" and get some of those "old" projects completed.



I think that my biggest problem is finding time to quilt so that is really my first resolution - find more time to quilt!  I am off to do just that!  I am working on so many projects at this time I cannot count, but first things first - I have run out of basting pins so rather than buy more I am finally attacking the pile of quilts that need to be quilted.

The first is the one I posted the other day on my personal blog - Jo-Ann's Creations, Trials & Tribulations! www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com.

This is a rare day off for me so I am going to enjoy it....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Focus!!!

Focus is the "key" word for 2012!  So while I was focussing - 3 weeks went by!  Ahhhhh! but what am I focussing on!  The store and the 300 bolts of additional fabrics that have arrived along with a MEGA sale that is now going on in the store. 

I would love to see it all gone so I can order loads of new stuff!!!! 

I am also focussed on the Newsletter this week!  Last year slowed me down a little so I admit to being a "bit" behind but, we are now all ready to come back and offer a great array of classes for the coming few months and we are already planning for the Spring newsletter as well.....

We are going to try our best to plan far enough ahead that I will "catch up" with what's been falling behind.....

Hopefully you all got the e-mail announcing the sale - it's on until Thursday so you still have a few days to shop!  See you soon!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Wow......

Yesterday was busy, busy, busy!  First, Elaine led the Christmas Club - they are working on Welcome to the North Pole and there's only one more month to go before they do the great reveal!  You are all invited and I will e-mail a "formal" invitation in time for you to all partake in the fun!  They have already chosen next year's Christmas Club Quilts and there is a choice of two patterns - come and join in the fun - one Saturday a month - $10.00 - with a few very stringent rules, but really a fabulous time!!!!

Here are the blocks they are working on......

 I can't wait to see the rest of the blocks that were made......I'm really looking forward to the reveal!

The afternoon was also busy - Luarissa had her Waterfall class, the pattern is from Helene Knott's - Postcards from Japan series......they sure got a lot done -

As for me, I am still busy working on Lithia Park and I am absolutely in love with this quilt......I managed to get the 4 centre blocks together tonight after work and I absolutely love it!

I can't wait to get the rest of the blocks done and put together!  I guess I'll be watching alot of TV this week and there's always the Retreat this weekend.....hmmm, maybe between cooking I'll get the blocks ready to go and then get it pieced and quilted!  Best laid plains, but I have hope!

Happy quilting!

Jo-Ann

My Heroes........

...consist of a group of women who meet monthly in the classroom of Cock A Doodle Quilts!  I am so blessed to have my shop chosen as their home,  They are a great group of talented women who love to quilt and with open hearts continue to make quilts to support our service men and women around the world....

Alison McDonald is their liason to Quilts Of Valour and helps to distribute these quilts to the injured soldiers and their families.   We still call our group Healing Heroes but the quilts ultimately go to the organization known as Quilts Of Valour.

Once in awhile Alison drops by to see us and it's such a treat, and she usually brings treats - today it was Cider Nuggets from a place in Hamilton and I have to say I had my fill - they were cinnamon divine!!!!!

Of course we got to show off a number of quilts that were dropped off at the store for the "Heroes" by Sandra...... 

Alison had mentioned the need for children's quilts the last time she was in so Sandra dropped off two kids quilts that are adorable....

Here's one.....

...and two!

But - she didn't stop there, she also made a few fabulous larger quilts......one....

 Two.......

 Three......

 Four......

Five.......

 Six.......

.....and they all came with matching pillowcases or bags! She's been a busy quilter! .....and then two more from our girls at the store!

 Fabulous colours in both!

 Caught a snap of Alison checking out this one!

 Alison shared one of her own quilts with us - it's an absolutely stunning batik, which she quilted on her long arm of course!  She did an amazing job and is quite an accomplished long-arm quilter - (pick up her card at the front of the store)!

 I'm not sure you can see the quilting and I apologize for that (my lousy camera skills), I should have gotten closer but these days if I don't have to get up I don't! 

For me it was a real treat seeing everyone in the store, the last time I was there for "Heroes" was back in May......it was a real treat for me today! 

If you want to make a quilt for Quilts of Valour - they are looking for lap quilts made from 100% cotton fabrics, including flannels and you can drop the finished quilt at the store anytime, just tell us it's for Healing Heroes, Quilts Of Valour and put a label on the back with your name.

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I'm back.....

Has it really been over a month!?!?  So sorry, didn't mean to take so long.....
I've been working this weekend, first time in two months - worked yesterday and today and I'll be back tomorrow!  Boy, have I missed the store!  I love this store.....

The Healing Heroes group were in today and it was fabulous, I even got some work done on one of my quilts - check it out at http://www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com/.  It's called Alaskan Wildflowers and we have the book in the store - great book!

I also confirmed that we produce absolutely "CRAZY" quilters!  Andy was in today working on her "Heroes" quilts and brought in her latest project......

Each of those squares is a different fabric and they are approximately 1/2" blocks - there are 3,900 so far!!!!  This is what I would call insanity!  She makes the most fabulous quilts and she's only been quilting 1-1/2 years.....

Now that I'm getting back in the saddle I can tell you that we are preparing the BEST EVER newsletter for the fall and we've got some great surprises coming up!  You will soon hear more!  I'll keep you posted!  In the meantime I'm off to work on another project.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

155 Quilts!!!!!

Today was our monthly "Healing Heroes" meeting and the ladies were busy, busy, busy!  The classroom was full to brimming, we almost didn't have enough chairs - a great sign!

We were also happy to host a special guest today, Alison McDonald, our liason with Quilts of Valour, an avid quilter herself, as well as an accomplished long-arm quilter.  It was a very productive and a wonderful day......

Here's Pat holding up the latest quilts to go off to the depot where they will be loved and cherished by the amazing service men and women who fight to protect our country and the world.......

Here's Alison holding up a quilt pieced by a 91 year old woman.  She sent two completed tops which just need backing - then Alison will throw them on the long-arm and quilt them......she's actually done hundreds already! 

Judy's at the design board working on another one of her masterpieces....really, she really tries new patterns all the time and does a beautiful job!

....and Barb and Alison commiserating at the cutting table......checking to see if they've got enough fabric for backing!

For anyone interested in donating a quilt to Quilts of Valour (Healing Heroes), they are looking for 100% cotton quilts, flannels are also good as long as they're 100% cotton, size is minimum 50" x 70".  You can drop them at the store anytime or come and say hi on the first Saturday of every month because that's when all the girls are usually there!  If you have any questions give me a call at the store and I'll try and answer them, or get the answers for you!

Okay - there's a cheesecake in the oven for tomorrow's dessert so I gotta run......

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Not so nice out.....

It's around 7:00 P.M. and I think I am going to close up after I blog (excuse to go home and work on Molly's Meadow!), it's pretty nasty out thereand I really don't think anyone will be coming by tonight......

In any event, that doesn't mean we didn't have visitors today.  Erica and Kiyomi dropped by and Erica finished this great quilt top - done with one fabric - a striped batik!  Isn't it the coolest!  I gotta try this - it's all about the angle you cut it for sure......

The next photo belongs to Linda Van Lierde, who with Karen Wold does a really cool presentation on the classes they have taken together and is doing this tonight at the Mississauga Quilters Guild.  These are blocks from some of the classes she took this fall........

I would be remiss if I didn't show you Raili's gorgeous Circles of the Moon tablerunner done in a recent class at the store....it really is stunning.......

So our first Thursday Sit & Sew of the New Year took off and loads got done....Annadelle tells me she has organized all of her UFO's and thinks she hasmore than me (not possible!),  I don't just have the ones at home, I have all the ones at the store too! In any event, her plan is to get them done!!!!  Sound familiar?!?!  We're all going to try this year.....for sure!

Andie came in to share a quilt she finished over the holidays (literally over the holidays - this was not a UFO - she started it and finished the top in the past month!)  I'm drooling, it is all hand appliqued......it's from one of the Kim Diehl books - I think the new one but will have to find out from her.....

Nancy brought in a little piece she put together this past week (by the way, she says she updated her blog).  She says she found these discarded Dear Jane blocks in the trash (Barb gave them to her, I think because she didn't like the colourway) so she made a small wall hanging which we are lucky enough to have displayed in the store......it is very Civil War but I really love it.....

Okay it's 7:15 P.M. and the snow is still coming down and I have to clean the car - ugh!  But I really don't think there are going to be any quilting "emergencies" in the next 45 minutes so I am going to pack up and go home....seeing all this stuff has inspired me to work on Molly's Meadow....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann