Sometimes.....

It just gets too busy for words.....and I can't keep up with what's happening in the store.  The past two weeks have been pretty much a whirlwind of activity.  This of course, is a good thing.....so I will start with Friday Night Sit & Sew which happened last Friday night and we were packed to capacity.....

Here's what everyone is working on or showing off!!!!

 Liz made this awesome quilt for her daughter and you will notice the argyle right away.

 She took it to a retreat to do the couching of the yarn and spent most of the retreat working on it but this labour of love looks absolutely awesome.......

 This is Rita's Valentine Bargello from the class with Carolyn.  It is so fresh looking and she was auditioning borders Friday night so she could finish it.

 This picture loaded backwards  - it's Linda's version of Bonnie Hunters Mystery quilt which she was working on in the photo below - it is going to be stunning.

 Linda working on the blocks

 Cathie is doing a quilt with Bali pops (which by the way, she says were not cut exactly to 2-1/2").  This is going to be gorgeous and is for her son.

Here's another one of Linda's projects, another Bonnie Hunter - I think this pattern is from Adventures with Leaders and Enders?!

 Here's the quilt Teresa is working on - what a great kids quilt!

Saturday was Christmas Club - nothing to show yet as this was their first meeting - here's a picture of what they are working on.  There's still time to join the club -  I think this month's homework has something to do with the background......

Monday is Sit & Sew and was another busy day but our "quasi" boss showed up and kept us on our toes - Missy's favourite spot is definitely the couch where she rules supreme.

I had an extremely productive Sunday for the first time in weeks.  Usually I spend the day reading, cleaning, relaxing (sleeping) or just plain old vegging out but this Sunday I was motivated and finally completed my Lithia Park top. You should come in and see how gorgeous it is - this picture does not do it justice and it will be in the store for the next few weeks until it jumps the queue for being quilted (I have a pile at home that are on hold)....

FYI - we have all the Paper Pieces sizes to make these flowers and if I am not mistaken the pattern is still free on the McCall's Quilting website.

 I also managed to get a little work done on my Urban Pods on Sunday but ultimately completed the top sans the two borders on Monday night - just in time to teach the class Tuesday afternoon.  There's another class on Saturday afternoon if you'd like to learn this technique - I do have to caution you though - once you get the hang of it, it is highly addictive.  If you check out my blog Jo-Ann's Creations, Trials & Tribulations! at www.creationsbyjoann.blogspot.com you will see the block I made for the Urban Nine Patch - gorgeous!

Finally - there's the new stuff!

Quilt Album 

Only I would jump at something like this but I just had to see what it was all about.  I am a huge advocate for documenting your quilts as well as labeling them.  This product is stand alone software that gives you all the tools to type in detailed information and print out formatted pages for your albums and slide in photos of your quilts and the quilting process.  You can also design greeting cards and labels and the front cover says - It's easy and it's fun!  I sure hope so, because from everything it professes to be, it is just what I've been looking for.....

I'm wondering what my great-great grandchildren will think of all the quilts I've made.....???? 

 $39.95 (and worth every penny)

Sensational Small Quilts

This is one of those books that has it all and from a number of quilters.  I'm always looking for a book that will harvest more than one quilt.  There isn't one quilt that I don't want to do here - and the beauty is that even though they are touted as "small" quilts, they are easily modified into larger ones if needed.  I know, we are always "collecting" those books but this one is definitely a motivator. 

 $24.99

Red Heart - Heart & Sole Sock Yarn

I bring this in regularly for Barb's Sock Class and it sells out quickly.  This time I added all kinds of great colours to our usual repetoire of Faded Jeans, Razzle Dazzle, Berry Bliss and Green Envy.  We now have Spring Stripe, Antique Rose, Toasted Almond, Tequila Sunrise and Rustica.  I have to tell you, I am tempted to grab two of each for myself but in all honesty I have not even finished my first sock yet and since I have no where to store this stuff I'm keeping my hands off.....

Paton's Classic 100% Wool

This is for the new knitting class we added - Lace Scarf that Barb will be teaching on February 11th.  Gorgeous colours again, Magenta, Lemongrass and Orchid.  They are all hard to resist.

Red Heart $6.59                Paton's $9.49

Kona Fat Quarter Bundles

This is one of those times when I hate owning the store!  I just want to grab one of each of these and hide it somewhere rather than share it with you all.  These fat quarter bundles are great for applique or a monchromatic quilt - the new rage of course!  It is really all I can do to keep my hands to myself!  I can already see the quilt......

Yellow - 22 pces. $62.00  Green - 23 pces. $65.00

There are a few new bolts of fabric that have arrived over the past two weeks as well - some much coveted Kona in Navy, Brick and Spice and a gorgeous Red & White Polka Dot which you can get a look at in my blog - it's in my Urban Nine Patch block.  The Kona is priced at $8.95 and the Polka Dot is $12.95.

I think that's about all the news for today (for the last two weeks actually!)  There are always new things coming in and if you need anything special - don't hesitate to call, we can usually get a special order in within 7 days.

I'm going to go see if I can do some more damage to my long list of things to do!

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

First look.....

Here are the first pictures of the new space!!!  Rich has finished all the painting and has started on the flooring.....we're getting closer and I have to say I have been very patient but I am really starting to get excited now!!!!  There is a very bright light at the end of this tunnel!

 This is the front of the store looking in from the front door

 This is the front door and front window from the center of the store

 This is the classroom looking in from the store with Rich working on flooring

 This is the other side of the classroom from the store view

 This is the kitchen WITH A FLOOR!!!!! Yeah!

 The other side of the kitchen

This is the bathroom - almost floored.....

Needless to say I am busy planning next steps - tomorrow we will have a completed washroom and then the kitchen will be moving over.  Should be interesting how quickly we start moving from there......

I'm really hoping to be sending out the "We've Moved!" e-mail sometime within the next two weeks - keep your fingers crossed...

Tonight my plan is to get cracking on a couple of the new samples that will be in the store...so I am off to quilt!

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

and more Retreat!

Friday started off great!  Breakfast was served promptly at 10:00 a.m., nothing special - just yogurt and cereals and then the work began.....

Andi's working on her incredible 1" quilt - each block is 1" - she gets donations from all the quilters at Cock A Doodle and so far I don't think she's put a repeat fabric in yet......close to 5,000 squares.....and growing!

 Liz managed to get the borders on to this quilt so next step is layering and quilting......

Lunch was tuna sandwiches with a side of potato chips and dessert were custards that Gillian so kindly brought......Dinner was Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Salad and Garlic Bread...but we had to save a plate for Karen who was off belly dancing so I held dessert for her return - it was so good I couldn't get a photo fast enough.  I baked a white cake and then iced it while it was still warm with chocolate icing - to die for!

 After dinner we had a visitor....Missy was allowed to come in and join us for the rest of the evening and she behaved like a little lady.  She even brought her own toys......

 However, she wanted to help Gillian sew so forced her to share the chair!  I thought this was absolutely priceless!!!

Saturday, Annadel joined the crowd and complete the borders on her quilt....the girls are busy smoothing it out, but it's ready to be layered and quilted......

 Looks fabulous but you really have to see it in person - the lighting just takes away from the colouring......

 Barb also joined us on Saturday and got the borders on her quilt - just layer and quilt again!

 Karen and Raili brought me some gifties!  The tea light holder which may soon become a pin cushion - hmmm!  The crystal which needs to be blessed and hung in the window and the bendable rooster which is now my personal "Mascot" - his name is Rory and he will reside with my hand-piecing bag!!!!  This way he can urge me on......

 Here he is again, cursing at the Gutterman so I don't have to - it was knotting like crazy but once he had a word with it I think it got a little better......

Of course, Laurissa's area is all organized and clean.....unlike everyone else!  We have all just taken over the classroom and as much space as we can spread out in....well, isn't that what it's all about!!!!  I have to admit she didn't take up much space and still managed to get three balls and a baby quilt top done.....will have to get pics of the balls, they are really cool!

Breakfast on Saturday was the same as Friday - Lunch was one of my absolute favourites, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, but dinner was the absolute best - American Thanksgiving - Stuffed Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans with Mushrooms, Cranberry Sauce and Flaky Butter Rolls - it was sooooo good!!!!  Liz stopped at the bakery and picked up Raspberry Rhubarb Pies for dessert which were outstanding - warmed with vanilla ice cream - mmmmmm!!!

Sunday was the last day so everyone was rushing to get things done and I was busy in the kitchen -  Brunch was served around 1:00 P.M.  - my infamous pancakes with sausages, side of apple butter and/or syrup!  They went pretty fast......sorry no pics to make you drool!

The girls left around 5:00 P.M. and I stayed to prep lunch for tomorrow and continue my own retreat while my Turkey Soup simmered on the stove.....

What did I get done????  I actually accomplished something for a change, I managed to finish all of my flowers for Lithia Park so they are ready to be appliqued onto their stems, etc. and I stayed to cut blocks for a quilt I have designed......

All in all it was a fabulous weekend!  We all had a great time and everyone seems to be pleased with what they accomplished!  I wish I had accomplished a little more but I was also doing the cooking, etc. after all!  Thanks to all the girls for their help in the kitchen and with all the store clean up!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

I promised.....

One of my customers called today with a dilemma.  She has some vintage doilies she wants to put into a quilt and would like to know how to go about it.  A few years ago, one of my wonderful customers, Linda, gave me 9 vintage white cocktail napkins with roosters on them which I wanted to put in a quilt.  I am embarrassed to say the quilt top has been done for a few years but I haven't quilted it yet.  I even have the backing I want to use so my only excuse is time!!!! 

In any event - I promised to post the pictures tonight to give you an idea as to how I attached them to the quilt - I used one of the decorative stitches on my machine so that it appears to be part of the cocktail napkin - (photo #1 without flash)

 Photo # 2 - with flash, closer to the actual colour.....if you click on either one you should get a closer look......

...and since I actually found the quilt top (Phew! I was pretty sure I knew where it was!!!) here's a photo of the finished top......

 Now that I have found it and since I have the backing, it's going in the "to be quilted" pile and will be a priority to be quilted......  I just have to decide whether I'll be quilting this one or I'll break down and give it to a long-arm quilter!!!!  Tough decision!

Update on Lithia Park - the petals and leaves are done Woohoo!!!!!  Next phase!

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