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



Blown Away!!!!

Where to begin?!?!  Well let's start with Fiona's Art Gallery.....In order to give her students a little inspiration - she brought in a few of her pieces.  They are all absolutely fabulous as you can see.....

 Saturday's class - Photo to Fabric started with a large pot of coffee and a room full of very talented and keen students....they got to work right away and began creating their masterpieces.....

 In a roomful of organized chaos the "process" began.....everyone working on a different photo pre-screened by Fiona....

 Then there was lunch. but after a little fuel, everyone's creations began to emerge.....

 Linda has recreated Zooey to a tee!  Still evolving but so true to life!

 Gail's creation is also true to life and coming out amazing.....

 This is Onyx and Claudette has done an absolutely amazing job......

 Rita is doing fabulous with her flowers.....working outside the box and loving it.....

 Mary has chosen this gorgeous floral to work on and what you see here is the fabric on top of the picture.....

 Lorece chose a horse for her first piece - wait until you see this one done.......

 Liike I said before - organized chaos.........

 ...and finally Mitzi chose to do the twins - they are coming out fantastic! 

This was by far one of the best classes we've run!  Everyone came away satisfied with their creativity and their progress....and a plan to meet up again in May to show off their progress and complete their work!  The best part is - Fiona has agreed to teach it again so keep your eyes open for our upcoming newsletter because it will surely be on the list.....

One of these days I too will take a day off and do this class!  Honestly - I will!  It's a challenge but I think I'm up for it!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

December 3rd, 2011

Why the date?  Well this is the last meeting of the year for "Healing Heroes" - Quilts of Valour and as is the custom, the ladies put on an amazing Pot Luck Lunch.  I am only allowed, as per Virginia, to contribute my smile, my sense of humour and my appetite!  I didn't have a problem there!

As you can see by the picture(s), the food was awesome - by 1:30 P.M. we all could have done with a short nap!!!!  Virginia's Broccoli Salad, Andi's Chicken Paprikash Crepes, Pat's Cheese and Crackers, Jayne's Deviled Eggs, Joan's Waldorf Salad and all the Spinokota(sp.), and the great meatballs!  It was all good and waiting in the wings were Judy's Butter Tarts and other goodies along with Annadel's Fruit Platters......a nap, seriously a nap!

 It's hard to believe that this Pot Luck Lunch marks the 3rd Christmas lunch we've all shared.  Heroes is starting it's 4th year with us and I just got an e-mail from Pat stating that their contribution is 188 QUILTS to date!
They are amazing - all of them and all of you who come by to drop off those amazing quilts from your hearts and hands!!!!

Bill dropped by this morning with a car load of fabric for Heroes and everyone got busy sorting through it all - there are pre-made blocks and cut strips and all kinds of goodies including what we term as "bag" fabric - that's fabric we can make bags to put the quilts in from!  Not 100% Cotton, designer fabrics, heavier cottons, that sort of thing!

 I guess it was a day for sorting p Pat pulled everything out of the back room and sorted through it and repacked it!  They do this at least once a year and today was as good a day as any to clean out and re-sort, especially with all of the goodies Bill brought with him.....

We are really looking forward to starting a new year of Healing Heroes on Saturday January 7th, 2012! 

On that note I would like to introduce our new "Mascot" quilt to you....Andi was in the mood to do an applique quilt and found this set of patterns I had on the pattern rack - she fell in love with the pattern but says she has no where to hang it so it has to hang in the store.....I, of course, agreed!  So, hanging now behind the front desk is Andi's version of Country Cluckers!

It's one of those quilts you have to see in person, so you'll just have to come by and have a look, and maybe a cup of tea and some cookies!!!! 

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

What a weekend......

Saturday April 23, 2011

The girls arrive bright and early (10:00 A.M. - that's "my" early) to get going on all their projects.  They came up with this great idea, when they finished a project, they got to ring the Cock A Doodle dinner bell!  It's the bell I use to call them to meals.....

After Elaine started ringing the bell on a regular basis they decided to hide the bell from her - we also changed the rules - bringing finished tops that just need borders and binding made do not constitute "finishing| projects!  It's a new rule for the next retreat!

Marion is working on this fabulous applique - can't wait to see this one done!

Gillian has taken over the design wall with her One Block Wonder - it looks awesome.......

 Lunch has been served, Frittata, Salad and Cheese bread......

 Dinner consisted of one of our favourites, Hot Dogs, Beans and Potato Chips - they got brownies for dessert......

Karen showed off one of her recent Mystery Quilts - done!

Cathie and Andie are holding up Cathie's 4 Patch Posie.....absolutely awesome!

 Elaine thinks so too - this is her head taking a picture.......check her blog - her pics are less blurry......

Aha - I did get one decent picture......it really is awesome!

They worked hard - late into the night.......

 On and on into the night.......

I actually went home early but I heard they were there until midnight.......

Sunday April 24, 2011

Another day, more projects but first, bright and early and breakfast is served!
Pancakes......with cherry sauce and maple syrup!

 Here's Andie hard at work cutting 1" squares for her amazing quilt!

 Lunch is served, Fresh veggies with dip, cheeses and crackers....because I pu dinner in the oven and went home to rest up for the evening!

 Before I left I caught Elaine working on this Buggy Barn pattern......

When I got back Sharon had finished her Mystery Quilt from April and so we were able to put it next to Karen's - they really are all "one of a kind" and each of them is gorgeous!  Hmmm...should have put mine in the mix too!  Oh well, will remember that next time......

 This is the beginning of Andie's 1/2" square quilt - each square is a different fabric so far.....she intends to use 90,000 squares.........it's going to be amazing.......

 This is really what everyone was waiting for - dinner - Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Brussel Sprouts and gravy......dessert was Apple Strudel and Ice Cream......

 Hmmm.....this is what I was doing this afternoon while I was supposed to be resting.....slowly but surely and I will try to get at least one "unblurry" picture by the time I finish it.......

 To the right of my gorgeous batik is another one of Andie's creations which is going to be totally awesome and it is destined for our Healing Heroes program.  It will be stunning!

 In the meantime Elaine's stars are growing and growing........

 Again, they worked until almost midnight, some left a little earlier but most made it to the end......

Monday April 25, 2011

Brunch only - Egg and Cheese Casserole, Bacon, Suasage and fresh baked croissants - lovely warmed bluberry muffins and apple muffins for dessert!  Admittedly I spent most of my weekend in the kitchen but you have to remember I love cooking almost as much as I love quilting......

What a fabulous weekend, it really was alot of fun!  I think we'll definitely be doing this again.......hopefully soon!

I took a poll before they all left and they would all come back for this one!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann