Monday, April 20, 2015

Quilt Truck in town!!!!

For three days only Monday to Wednesday the Rolling Ray of Sunshine Quilt Truck is  in Watrous
Open from 10 am to 6. located at the end of Main Street by the info booth. There is some parking there sew that you are not on the Highway.
Stop in for your sewing notions thread etc and of course fabrics.
Remember for 3 days only and one is half done already
in stitches

this week in stitches

As the week blows past us ( the wind helps here a lot for sure ) I am managing to get a few projects done or at least near done. Last week I finished the attic window and this week I have just the binding left on the quilt I call rock climbing .
before the quilting
 This one is made with a pattern I came up with that I call Candy Bars it will be going off to Victoria's Quilts when done. I did get one more block of my BOM done 7 to go. And I did a little baking too. ( opps I forgot to hit publish sew I am continuing from last week ;0)    )
And after a busy weekend I am hoping to get a start on this years FMQ challenge. Better late than never.It will be fun trying out new ideas and creating pillows at the same time. I will share the links as I get going on it.
at the show
an old favorite
There was a quilt show in Drake this past weekend hosted by Between Friends Quilt Guild. I have never been apart of a guild but may have to stop in on a meeting sometime to see what it is all about.I have been a guest speaker with the quilts / quilt tops from the McCalls Quilt Star Challenge in 2012.
Any way there were a lot of lovely quilts at the show and a lot of friendly faces ..... a few from back home and some from the area I live in now....... good visiting all around. And a wee bit of shopping with 3 vendors 2 inside and a traveling one in a semi .
a new twist on an old favorite
all straight seams ... squares and triangles

I have been working on some class ideas for the fall and winter, I have come up with 12 different ideas and just have to fine tune them and maybe reduce the numbers a little and get that all to the college.
a few posies to brighten our weekend
Well now it is time to see what I can get done this week
Stay
      in stitches
            Annette

Thursday, April 9, 2015

In the Mail today

Well with the Spring Post Card Swap our cards have both arrived one day apart
Here is the one from Raewyn in New Zealand
what a cute little birdie after it's lunch in the spring........
I am sure we'll see this after our first spring rain
I am not sure if you can see all her lovely stitching on the card ..... it is just perfect for spring Thanks again Raewyn and Sheila of course for hosting the swap.

And this is the one I sent to her
Here in Canada we have a special stamp out ... a fabric stamp for the anniversary of the Canadian Flag. It is a $5,  which works well for the overseas postage.

see you at the next swap 
not sure what it will be 
but I am sure it will be another
fun theme

in stitches
Annette

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

still snowing .... still sewing

With all the snow happening I am glad that I love to sew and I have been teaching some  classes to share that love.
Here are a few samples of the T-shirt blocks that will become quilts.







I have put a few things together in the last couple of days
a couple of tote/shopping bags. Both from the same amount of fabric  just a different shape and handle style.

an idea for another class ...... no Y seams. This one is a perfect size for a baby quilt.

samples for my next class Pick a Block Place Mats..... the first one is ready to machine quilt. I had hand quilted the first samples.

my quick reference cards

I do find that I learn a little more about teaching from my students and try to improve with each class. This is coming from a gal that hates to talk in front of any size of group. But when it comes to sewing I seam to do a little better. I thank my students for their patients as well, sharing their joy of learning and conversation and of course energy ( I am always recharged after teaching a class )

Here is a little something that Hubby and I make ..... portable pressing surfaces, with a handy handle on the backside.
in my last class they all had them....and loved being able to have their work areas all together

I will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network  . It's been a while since I have linked up This is a great spot to see what ladies around Canada have been up to.
Now to go and enjoy a nice cup of cocoa.
Thanks for stopping by
in stitches
Annette

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Happy Easter

Spring is here even though we have a bit of snow hanging around
I want to wish you all  a Happy Easter
enjoy all your blessings
in stitches
Annette

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Spring cleaning ..... well sort of

Well this spring I have decided to try and not start too many new projects without getting some past projects finished. I am going to grab what ever project is out and deal with it and then grab the next one.
Sew last weekend I put together the spiderweb blocks from one of the classes I taught. Last night I machine quilted it and it is ready for binding.


Next I grabbed the BOM that I started last year. I had 8 blocks done now I have 12 and only 8 to go. Slowly but surely I will get this quilt done as well.













Today I would like to get a few more blocks made for the T-shirt quilt class. I cuddle up with Tees class started last week, delayed a couple of days due to the weather. The ladies are going to have some great quilts. I have 4 ladies taking the class and every one of the quilts will be so different.
One lady is making a special block for a grad quilt. Another is making a memory type quilt with tees from her daughter's collection from hockey and university. Then there is the one with John Deere tees and fabrics and we have talked about adding some  photos onto the tees to fill some empty spots. And the last one is all Rock concert tees...... what great graphics I think it will be a well loved quilt...... they all will be . I hope to get a few pictures next week to share.

And now for a little touch of spring......
love those bright little posies 

And for new projects I did get 2 aprons made for a friend for her girls


Sew that just about wraps up this past week and looking at the calendar the month of  March  as well. Sew that's the start of my spring cleaning ... project wise any way.
Have a great week and happy stitching
in stitches
Annette

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Panel and place mats

Good morning my friends
This morning  I am sitting here looking outside at the melting snow ...... not sure if spring is here or just teasing..... but we will take it.
The last couple of weeks have been very productive. We finished our Learn to Quilt class. It was 5 weeks full of new techniques and lots of homework. The ladies did awesome getting their blocks done. The next class on the list is a T-shirt class followed by a Pick a block Place mat class.
Pick a Block Place Mats
hand quilted and ready for class

I did get the  SK panel done for the Relay for Hope Quilt, it will be in the mail this week so that it can be added to the quilt.
 The finished quilt will be 12 feet by 12 feet. I can't wait to see if finished. It was an honor to be asked to be a part of the project. I hope they will enjoy the panel as much as I did working on it.

Let me tell you a little about the panel.....
I have created a background of a wheat field with a grain elevator, which every town had and as a kid you looked for when off to visit some family in the country. I have the geese flying in the sky as we are called the Land of the Living Skies. I have a silhouette of a RCMP on a red Maple leaf as Regina is the home of the RCMP.My friend Sheila sent me a photo of her to use for the silhouette.
Of course I included the Prairie Lily our Provincial Flower.
 The provincial abbreviation will be added in black when the quilt blocks are added to the center part of the quilt.

Thanks for spending a little of your day with me. 
Have a great Sunday and stay
                      in stitches 
                                  Annette