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

It's all about temptation!

We are constantly receiving new books in the store and it's all I can do to stop myself from starting new projects....  2011 is all about FOCUS for me so I can get some of the MANY projects I've started completed......but when the new books arrive I am always inspired and of course have already made mental notes on which projects I want to tackle......

First, and this one is right up my alley!  Scrap Quilts Go Country by Deanne Eisenman.  The nice part about this book is it adapts to Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs so you can really use up all that stuff you bought on a whim because you loved it when you saw it (hmmm, yes I am also guilty of that passion!).

The second book is also a great "idea" book - Modern Basics by Amy Ellis - real contemporary quilts, great for beginners but also great for quick quilts for gifts or for charitable causes......I may even donate one of these books to our Healing Heroes group!

The third book is just plain fun!  A Year In The Life of Sunbonnet Sue! by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson.  I am not a huge fan of "Sue" but these little quilts are just adorable.....

Last, I started thinking outside the box when I ordered this one - meaning - it's not all quilting!  Fabric is fun and should decorate our lives so I ordered Sew Decorative from SewNews..... Some really great little projects in this book and it's great to use as a reference for a little home decorating!  After all it's nice to have stuff that goes with all the quilts we make.....

As most of you know these four books are just a drop in the bucket of the selection of books that we carry.....Come in and grab a comfy seat by our "Book Nook" and inspire yourself!  There's nothing more relaxing than being around fabric, books, patterns and all the wonderful samples we have on display.  Coffee's on!  Come visit!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

Did you miss me....?

Nod once for yes!  Okay, I admit it, I have been neglecting the blog yet again!  But I can explain!  Before I do however, I MUST show you what we all did last Saturday night (October 30th) at my Mystery Quilt class!

First, Lucie wowed us all with her completed quilt from the last Mystery Quilt in July.......if you look closer you will see that someone loves M & M's!

Then we had a wonderful dinner, let's see if I can remember!  Oh yes of course!  My Kathy made dinner for us so it was a mystery for me!  Because I was a "little" preoccupied with cleaning out my mother's apartment by the end of October, Kathy was kind enough to offer her culinary skills and take on the daunting task of providing dinner for all of us!  It was amazing, a fabulous Beef Stew with a lovely side salad and we had a Pumpkin Pie for dessert with Whipped Cream!  By the photo you can see there wasn't much left......

After dinner, as usual, the girls got down to work.......

...and they worked hard!  Karen was set on doing three quilt tops, as usual - here are all three colourways......more later!

The next one belongs to Linda.....

And there's Claire's.....

This one is Annadel's.....

And this one is Liz's....

Then there's Virginia's - this was her first Mystery Quilt!  WOW!

and Lucie's, she did hers as a food theme so although the pattern isn't as evident the effect is still amazing!

and Rosemary's - this was also her first time in our Mystery Quilt class - she'll be back........

and Raili`s is the one below........

Karen`s hard work sure paid off - she got one top completed and the other two are well on their way........

And finally MINE!  The one they get to see at the end, I actually had it completed in early September and thought I had plenty of time to quilt it too!  Little did I know!  Life has a way of throwing us curve balls - so it will now go on that infamous pile of  ``quilts to be quilted`` (that by the way is one step above UFO!).  I really love the way this one turned out and it will definitely be a fixture somewhere in my new home! (once it`s quilted of course!)

Soooo, what have I been up to while I was neglecting the blog, well performing miracles of course!  I have witnesses too!  (not to mention helpers!).....First - I have to say that in the past two months I have learned a very valuable lesson, HOW TO PRIORITIZE!  So having completed my first priority, which was looking after my mother`s apartment, I moved onto Priority Number 2!  Preparing my house for sale! 

I will not bore you with the photos (unless you want to see them!) but trust me - with the help of Barb, Rich and even Jonathan the house has been transformed into a palace!  Okay I exagerate a little but seriously if you had seen what it looked like last Sunday you would not believe it was possible!  I sure didn`t - and not only is the house spotless but almost all of the laundry is done - I`m telling you we are talking about a miracle!

Tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M. when the guy comes to view the house IT WILL BE READY!  I am exhausted but trust me it is so worth it!

Now I can get back to store business (unless I`m showing the house) and all the stuff I have been itching to do - like quilt for instance!  Of course, the next big thing will be the move!  I can`t wait - I`m really looking forward to the new place!

In the meantime I can tell you that the chicks have been amazing looking after everything at the roost!  We just got in a huge box of books that have gone out on the shelves and if I have a minute tomorrow I will get some pics and show you what`s come in (what`s left of what`s come in!)!

In the meantime.....

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

Breaking the silence!

I know that I constantly repeat myself when I say this - but time flies!  I say it as if you don't know!  It's hard for me to believe that it's been 9 days since my last blog.....but believe me they have been busy days.....

First, as many of you know, the newsletter has hit the internet and with that there has been a flurry of class sign-ups!  We have an amazing line-up of teachers and classes and we can't wait to get started.  Our year end is August 31st which is why absolutely NOTHING has arrived in the past few weeks but things will start moving right along some time next week when I start placing orders again.......

At the moment I am on "holidays" - I have "retreated" to Libby's again for a few days to quilt and play with "Gonzo".  Gonzo is Libby's long-arm machine whom she has named Speedy Gonzales, Gonzo for short.  We are having a great time, learning how to use Gonzo and have managed to finish one quilt top so far (not one of yours Liz, she wants to play?!?! with mine first in case we screw things up - ha, ha!).....with a few stops and starts!  We haven't taken it off the rollers yet - we'll do that this morning so we can get used to the way he loads up but this machine is truly "state of the art" and I know with some practice Libby will be pumping out quilt tops.  This one came out fabulous!

I would send you pictures BUT in my haste to get out of town on Thursday night I left my camera on the kitchen counter at home and Libby sent her camera up to the cottage with Lorenso to show the "boys" all the great pics of the house and all the improvements.....

Suffice it to say we are getting loads done - girls weekend (we miss you Suzie!??!).  I finally got the binding on Ditch Flowers - it should be hanging in the store some time next week!  However, Libby is lusting after Ditch Flowers so I have to make sure to check my bags before I leave!  Of course I brought loads of stuff to work on, way too much but I do have plans to get lots done!

On that note I will go back to quilting!

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

More.....

There's always more!  Where did this week go?!?  It's sure been a busy one, for me especially.....

Monday night (after driving back from Libby's) I taught my class, Tuesday night was Underground Railroad Club, Wednesday afternoon and evening I spent with my fellow guild member (Pieceful Night Quilters Guild) making placemats for charity.  Thursday night after I closed at 8:00 P.M. I went out for dinner with Elvie, Raili and Karen and last night was our monthly Friday night Sit & Sew.  So now that I've ascertained what I've been doing I understand why I have gotten absolutely NO quilting done and why Sweet Tea is LOUDLY calling to me.....tonight?!?  I sure hope so, I miss it!....not to mention there are a few projects lined up behind it.....

Last night was great!  Julia brought her promised Potato Salad and so I had to figure out what to serve with it!  My first choice was barbecued chicken pieces but Barb pointed out that the weather was going to be "iffy", that they were calling for thunderstorms....so I opted for deli.  Rich needed to book a doctor's appointment at Dundas and Islington and since the doctors' office wouldn't answer the phone, he decided to drive down there.  On the way back we were debating where to go for the deli meat and decided La Rose Bakery on La Rose was our best option, so off we went.  I got the meats, the cheeses, the buns/rolls and dessert, a lovely Bavarian Apple Cheesecake - one stop shopping!

Back to the store, groceries put away, off to my office I toddled!  Liz showed up about a half hour later and she had stopped to pick up dessert too!  So that was great, we would have plenty of the good stuff!

Here's the reason I'm telling you this story!  Guess where Liz stopped to pick up dessert!  Yup!  La Rose Bakery on La Rose (she hadn't been there for at least 3 years)  and guess what Liz picked up for dessert, a Bavarian Apple Cheesecake!  Great minds think alike!

As usual - everyone was working on their own projects!  Jill is doing this adorable baby quilt - what a great pattern and very unusual, not babyish, colours - it looks fantastic!

Theresa is working on her blocks from the 9 Days In May class that Carolyn taught a few weeks ago!  I just love this block - and what can be done with it - check out her bright colours.....

Suzi is working on these really pretty blocks - I can't wait to see the quilt come together.......

This quilt is Liz's and she was busy putting on binding, she actually bound two large quilts last night!  This one was a Take Away Mystery we offered last fall....

The quilting was done by Karen Power of Oakville and it is just gorgeous!  A beautiful, all over design!  Karen does absolutely phenomenal quilting - you'll see quite a bit of her work in the store.  I'll give you a closer look -

Liz didn't get around to binding this one last night, she actually brought 3 to do! But we at least got to see the finished product and more of Karen's great quilting.......This quilt is one of the Mystery Quilt Classes we did this year.....

...and here's a close up of Karen's quilting!

Of course, there was a lot more going on, Gillian was busy with her quilts for the orphanage and Julia was working on a fabulous new creation!  Annadel was also very busy on a mystery quilt I think!  Barb was also busy working on a rag quilt from those gorgeous pastel homespuns, but I'll wait until it's finished (almost) before I show you a pic!

Hopefully, this evening, if nothing comes up, I will be able to get back to my Sweet Tea!  I'm really excited about getting it done!  (Then I will give you my label tip)!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann