Reaching a goal....priceless

I reached my goal of 50 Books read in the 50 Book Pledge. There are so many talented writers out there and my local public library is terrific. I even have a few more weeks of reading time available. I hope Harper Collins continues to do this promotion. You have your own book shelf and a place to add a brief review. I don't do Twitter but I suspect the length of your review is the length of a Twitter comment. Just enough to remind you about the book if you are looking back. I have done this for two years now. It helps me keep track of what I have read, especially titles connected to authors if you are making a suggestion to a friend. Piecefully, Joanne

Welcome to Blogathon visitors

What is a blog post without a picture. So I looked for one that reflected some of what I do. I make scrap quilts, I like to use up the last of the little pieces and then 98% of the quilts I make get donated to one cause or another. This little one was made of bonus triangles and was just the right size for the Salvation Army Toy Drive a couple of years ago.
We have had way too much snow this week and the Highway was basically closed from Tuesday to Thursday. I was very happy to see my hubby get back here late on Monday from a few days of babysitting with the grandsons.
The other thing I find myself doing more of lately is testing other designers patterns. This involves making up the pattern in a specific size, checking measurements, yardages, instructional diagrams and making suggestions for any improvements I could identify. It keeps my mind working and I suspect at my age that is a good thing.
Ontario is the last day on the Blogathon and I suspect most you you have found many new friends through this experience. Thank you to Sew Sisters in Toronto for organizing this yet again. I think this week has shown that we Canadians have a good thing going in the blogging department. Piecefully, Joanne

Testing quilt blocks and patterns is my Sudoku

Over the past couple of years I have spent a fair bit of my quilting time testing. I have the good fortune to be on the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks testing team. The blog tour for volume 10 is happening this week. To visit the designers who are featured this year visit the Quilty Pleasures blog here 

I will never be a designer but I can check over and test work other designers have created.

This week I finished sewing a quilt top for a designer who lives in Arkansas. Some place I have never been. We met over the internet and yesterday as I was sending her the photo of the finished top and my comments we had a very interesting exchange. 

She is originally from Finland and I have visited there so I got a wonderful trip down memory lane.

The photo on today's post is one of my test blocks from Volume 10. 

All week the Sew Sisters quilt shop based in Toronto is hosting a Cross Canada Blogathon. They have us hip hopping across the country from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and today back to Alberta. What a great way to meet other Canadian bloggers. Piecefully, Joanne

Quiltmaker blog tour coming this week

The blog tour for Volume 10 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks is set to begin on Monday of this week. I have been a tester for this magazine since Volume 8. Each and every magazine finds new and talented designers and revisits some of our favourites. Testing for volume 11 has begun. Later this week I will be able to post some photos of my testing blocks. We do not have to specifically follow the suggested colours and once we are done testing, the blocks are ours to keep. I am building quite a supply of 12 1/2" (unfinished) blocks waiting to become a sampler or two. I have found very few issues with the blocks I have had the opportunity to test but we do pick up the odd little bit and that helps the magazine be even better.
Be certain to visit the Quiltmaker blog (here) for the tour schedule.

There have been a number of quilty moments this week. One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to present quilts at the official opening of the most recent Grey Bruce Habitat for Humanity build in Port Elgin. It was a very cold day and the wind and snow were blowing but the Highway was open so I could get to Port Elgin for the presentation. The build was a duplex and the two Mom's made wonderful heartfelt speeches of thanks to all involved. It was definitely a feel good moment. Our Scrapbag group has been involved with these builds for a couple of years. Sometimes providing quilts for the entire family and other times for the children of the family. Piecefully, Joanne