Sashiko Workshop in Kincardine

We were fortunate to have Renske Helmuth come to the Kincardine Sunset Quilters Guild this week and teach a beginner Sashiko workshop. I was one of the lucky ones to get signed up. I finished one square at the workshop and have a good start on my second block. Renske started us off with paper so that we could easily see the progression of the stitches and how simple straight stitches can build up to the final pattern. We did both square designs and round ones. She also had some resources for us to look at and some beautiful finished quilts with Shasiko designs incorporated into the quilt. She will be teaching this workshop at Quilt Canada next June so watch for the sign up if this is something you may find interesting. Renske is an excellent teacher. I had a great time and it was certainly good to be back stitching.  Piecefully, Joanne

Kincardine Sunset Quilters Guild starts a new year

Mary Coates the guild past co-chair finished her quilt from the Scrap quilt workshop I taught last May. It is a hit with all her family and I can see why. Ann Finlayson our incoming co-chair is on the right. She was part of the measuring team. This year our Guild is joining the Walk to Niagara Challenge from the Canadian Quilters Association. So after show and tell the quilt or project goes to the measurement table for a measurement. We did not have a large number of items at this meeting.
The Executive has done a marvelous job of lining up workshops and programs for the coming year. There is a good variety, as they say, something for everyone. Piecefully, Joanne

A life well lived but ended far too soon

Our son-in-law passed away very suddenly two weeks ago. He was due to return from his two and a half years working in Virginia the following weekend. Mike was just 37. We have been doing what little we can to help our daughter and the boys during this incredibly challenging time. She has a wonderful group of friends and they have been a blessing. Mike's colleagues in Virginia were shocked too. They packed up what he had left in his apartment and drove his car back to Ontario thus sparing Jennifer a long weekend on the road.
My creative energies have gone into hibernation and I hope they are allowed to wake up soon. The only sewing I have done has been some mindless scrap quilt block components.
I saw a nifty (or at least I thought it was nifty) Quilt Along. It is called the Braille Quilt Along and can be found here. Piecefully, Joanne

The Giving Quilt, my version

This is my version of The Giving Quilt all done and ready to donate. I loved Jennifer Chiaverini's book of the same title. In my opinion she does a wonderful job of character description. After the book came out she published the directions for the quilt. As a scrap quilter I had to make some slight alterations. As an example the outer border is not quite the same as the pattern but I was (as usual) working with donated bits of this and that and had to figure out just what I could do to add the border. I keep hoping this figuring out is good for my brain and will replace Crossword puzzles as a brain stimulant.
Yesterday we had lots of excitement on our tiny street as the neighbours hosted a private concert with John McDermott. They had been the successful bidders at a charity auction and last evening was the result. We were a little nervous about how our grandsons would take this event because it was an adult occasion but they amazed us. Sat in the very front row and did not move until intermission. They told us the singing was good and the guitars were good too.
I am in the final stretch with my Quiltmaker's 100 blocks Volume 8 Sampler quilt. I have only see a few of the blocks from this upcoming issue but I believe it will not disappoint.
Piecefully, Joanne

A few quilts are getting finished

This pattern is called Sugar and Spice and is from Joan Ford's book Cut the Scraps. It was the sample quilt I used for my Scrap Quilt workshop earlier this spring. When I was dealing with the worst of the tendonitis one of my Scrapbag friends quilted it for me and then I added the binding and a label. The fabrics were samples given to us by the local quilt store owner when she was closing one location and moving to another. The finished size is 60" by 76". It feels good to get something finished and ready to donate. Piecefully, Joanne

Purple strings ready to donate

A friend quilted this for me as my shoulder tendonitis is making that task difficult. I added the label and the binding and washed the finished quilt. It is now ready to donate when needed. It was made with fabric another friend gave me and features dancing cows and frogs mixed in with pink and pastel green. The centre string colour was selected because of the purple challenge from the Heartstrings Yahoo group earlier this year. It was a lot of fun to make. Piecefully, Joanne

Mother Nature 1, Playhouse 0

Dylan is inspecting what remains of the kids playhouse. There were fierce winds yesterday and their playhouse was destroyed. Fortunately it didn't cause any damage to neighbouring homes as it blew away. Grandpa has taken one truck of remains to the dump and the second load is on its way here to see if anything can be rigged up at our place. Piecefully, Joanne