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

I just haven't had it in me

This is the quilt I made for our friend Ray. He is under going cancer treatments again so this is a hug from his friends north of the border. We have had a busy month, that included what is becoming our annual trip to Stratford. We saw 4 plays starting with Midsummer Night's Dream on Tuesday, then Beaux Strategem, then Crazy for You and finally The Man of LaMancha. We do the matinees and then go out for a nice dinner. Crazy for You and the Man of LaMancha were AMAZING.
I have been to the orthopedic surgeon and it looks like a new knee is in my future but not quite yet. I presented a workshop to the Kincardine Sunset Quilters Guild on Scrap Quilts with a focus on 5" squares (charms, nickels). It went well. Then the next day it was my turn to do the workshop at Scrapbag Quilters. I did simple string quilts. So prepared the foundations and then cut the centre strings. And brought 4 huge bags of scraps. Each sewer had a presser and the day went well. I am back to some of my testing for The Quilt Pattern Magazine. And I did a baby quilt for Shelley at Cora's quilts. That pattern is due for release some time in October. So one way and another I have been keeping busy. Piecefully, Joanne

Introducing Diana, a new quilt pattern from Cora's Quilts

Shelley from Cora's Quilts (here) put out a call for testers last month. Since I am not a designer and have no aspirations to be one but I am reasonably good at proof reading and following directions I signed on. The table runner I made is from the first pattern I tested for her. The pattern is called Diana and is due for release today. Be sure to visit her site later today as she has a launch post ready to go. With everything that has been happening around here I did not get this quilted, although it is pinned and ready to quilt.

Shelley described the technique she used as pinless and I figured I better follow the directions exactly since I was testing.  I can honestly say this table runner was totally sewn and assembled without the use of pins. The pattern instructions are clearly written with good illustrations and laid out in simple easy to follow steps. I like her writing style and hope to test for her again. Piecefully, Joanne