Wednesday, September 30, 2015

A little more testing fun

This lovely 12" paper pieced block was designed by Kristy at Quiet Play. She had a few out for testing and I was able to snag this one. As I have come to expect from her designs it went together beautifully. The one mistake I have spotted is mine and not hers. The other designs she had out were a mermaid, a cat  looking out a window and of all things a pig. I don't know where the other designs are in the testing process but eventually they will be available through her store.
I have done a couple of "I cannot talk about it" tests this month too. Enough said.
On the home front we continue to have our lesser moments. I would show my wrist from the attempted insertion of an IV drip but I might lose the limited readership I already have. I had not planned on a three day stay at the local hospital but that was what happened last weekend. They do look after you well there but I am happy to be home and on the mend.
I taught a strings workshop for my Guild this month and also had my turn for the Scrapbag group project. So a lot of preparation. Both events went well.
Bill and I got away for a shortened trip to Stratford. We went on the light side for this year's entertainment and saw Carousel and Sound of Music. The only down part was that our friend Ray was not well enough to travel from Cincinnati to enjoy the shows. He is hoping for next year. It is the first year he has missed in the 40 since he started driving up here.
I am hoping October brings some finishes. I have 2 three day get a ways with different sewing buddies so maybe there is hope. Piecefully, Joanne

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Working with some strings

I am giving a string quilt workshop at my guild in a couple of weeks. My samples are ready. In the morning we will make four basic styles of strings and in the afternoon I plan to give them some ideas about where to go for further inspiration. There are always more stings so hopefully this will be helpful to some for their scrap management. Piecefully, Joanne

Friday, September 4, 2015

September brings out the Lion, too late to be a Leo

I tested this block for Kristy at Quiet Play when she was getting ready for her Zoo Animal series. So it was done a long time ago. He was a challenge because of the set up for his mane. I was trying for different colours. I got it more or less right. All short comings would be mine not the designers.
Other than that I have been working on samples for the store (Shoreline Quilts in Port Elgin), doing some testing for Fandom in Stitches and for Cora's Gypsy Queen Mystery. What I really need to do in the final third of the year is finish some of my tops. My 60+ year old Bernina has officially died or at least that is what the repair man said. He indicated the motor was the problem and that could not be replaced because of the age of the machine. That is the machine I did my machine quilting on so I have not come to terms with how I will deal with this problem.
Piecefully, Joanne