Some finishes are happening

This fun quilt is soon to be on its way to a new baby. It is a bit big for a crib but should provide a play surface for a while. I tested this design for Eileen at Pine Rose Designs. She has done a number of projects that start with a panel and add various borders. I had to buy the panel but had the other Cat in the Hat fabrics in my stash. Our daughter has a friend who at age 40 has finally had a baby and this quilt is going to him.
I have been getting a few tops quilted and spending a bit more time testing. The next round of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine testing has begun. I missed out on the last issue because of my knee surgery so it is nice to be back.
Last week I had plans to go to the Gathering of the Guilds in Teeswater and meet up with Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts. I ended up with an appointment in the middle of the day that made that impossible much to my disappointment so today I will settle for  Linking up with Lorna at SewFreshQuilts (here) Piecefully, Joanne

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Hop is on this week

This is one of my favourite blocks from the last round of testing. If I took better photos you would realize this flower looks much like a poppy. With this year being the 100th anniversary of the writing of In Flander's Field by John Macrae, and my sister having the roll of chair of the Guelph events to celebrate that occasion the block just resonated with me. I tested about 13 blocks for this issue. I have said many times it continues to amaze me how many talented designers are out there and the original designs they continue to come up with. Testing is well under way for Volume 13. So to date 1200 new blocks or variations on traditional blocks and new ones still arriving. To visit the blog hop drop around to Quiltmaker's blog (here) .
Piecefully, Joanne

Are you ticklish?

Well here is another feather to tickle your fancy. I tested this for Kristy at Quiet Play(here). She is hoping to have it in her shop around the first of November. It was a breeze to put together. The finished size is 5" by 10". There are several "feather" designs out there. I particularly liked the overall shape of this one. And of course it is paper pieced.
Much more testing happening here as the testing for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 13 is underway. Piecefully, Joanne

A little leader and ender fun

The little blocks for this project were assembled leader and ender style. I was gifted with a bag of 1" strips of varying lengths. Corey Yoder (Little Miss Shabby) had a tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop using the 2 1/2" candy squares. So I rummaged through my 2 1/2" squares for all manner of pink ones and made these little blocks that were then assembled into a top. Current size is 18" by 21" but it needs to grow. If it doesn't then it will be a doll quilt for the Salvation Army toy drive next November.
Other than that I have been doing more testing. We have been assigned about half of the blocks for the next Quiltmaker's 100 blocks magazine and I have a couple of paper piecing projects I am testing. For me the only real downside to the testing is that for the most part you can't talk about it. A couple of the designers I test for are happy to have the pre-release buzz happening but most (90+percent) prefer total secrecy prior to the pattern release.
Have also been working on samples for the store (Shoreline Quilts Port Elgin, ON) and taught a bag class last week. So one way and another I am keeping busy. Piecefully, Joanne

Edited to add Linking up with Cynthia's  Oh Scrap! Linky party at Quilting is more fun than Housework here (Oh Scrap!)

My tiny (and perhaps virtual) contribution to Spring Market

I tested these two patterns that will make their debut at Quilt Market. The top picture is called Strip Plus and is a table runner from Gundrun Erla's new Stripology2 book. I believe she will also be debuting this pattern in a regular size. Regular meaning using 2 1/2" strips rather than the 1 1/2" strips that her Stripology patterns use. It was a fun little pattern to do. Each of the 6 patterns in the book is presented in 3 different sizes. A mini quilt, a table runner and a baby quilt. The mini's would make cute little doll quilts if there is a little doll lover in your family.
The bigger quilt is called Charlotte's Lace. The pattern was designed by Raija from Quilters' Treasure Chest. She uses a lot of the Deb Tucker rulers in her designs. Her design will be featured in fabric from Timeless Treasures in their booth. It is a complex pattern but the result is worth it.
It is so nice to be able to talk about a test before it becomes a distant memory. I gifted the larger quilt to my sister in law who now shares a birthday with the new Princess Charlotte. The quilt had the name before the new princess arrived. But timely choice of name.
The testing for Quiltmaker's 100 blocks Volume 12 has started so I am back to work on that one. Piecefully, Joanne

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 11 coming out very soon

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Hop is happening this week. Visit their blog at http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/ to see who you can visit. This block was one of my favourites from the testing I was assigned. It is called Bicycle Path but when I looked at it I saw tumbling blocks. Testing has started for Volume 12. I can tell you in all certainty that there are still hundreds of talented designers out there. This magazine series has only highlighted a few.  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

Testing, testing

This is a charming double decker bus Kristy from Quiet Play (here) designed. She emailed  her tester group about a week ago to let us know she had some blocks ready for testing. I picked the bus and it was still available. She has done a whole series with a London theme. They are out at various testers and should likely be available through her Craftsy store soon.
I am almost caught up again with my Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 10 testing. No that is not a typo, volume 9 is available now and Volume 10 will be out in the fall. In the middle of all this my machine ground to a halt. I believe some thread is wrapped around a spot I cannot get to. Or at least I am hoping that is the problem. I phoned my service people and I can take it in for a look see tomorrow morning. So instead of hanging the wash on the line I will be spending 4 hours in the car taking my machine in for servicing. At least it is looking like the weather will be OK and I will get in a little visit with the Grandsons. Piecefully, Joanne

The local snow hill keeps growing

When the town plows out our tiny street, they pile up the snow on a vacant lot. This is the snow pile before the last four days of blowing snow. It is even bigger now. Why would a quilting blogger talk about snow? Well all the snow outside has kept me inside sewing. I completed the testing of another quilt for The Quilt Pattern Magazine. It is called Grecian Stars and the pattern will be included in their July issue. Unfortunately I can't show you a picture at this time. As the snow was getting started earlier this week the Kincardine Sunset Quilters held a Mystery Quilt workshop. Denise did one last year and is doing one again this year. The room we have to work in at St. Anthony's Church in Kincardine is lovely and spacious with good lighting. I got to step 7 out of 13. Second day of work is scheduled for this coming Tuesday. (And the Weather Network says 10-15 cm of snow). I have two new blocks to test for Quiltmakers 100 blocks volume 9 and in between I am working on some string blocks. Piecefully, Joanne

A second Project Linus quilt for January

This little quilt measures 30" by 32". The pinwheels came to me as bonus triangles in a baggie after our Guild's Mystery workshop a year ago. I turned the triangles into pinwheels and found a white with pink print and cut squares the same size as the pinwheels. then some random assembly add a border and quilt. I do like to "make something from nothing". In many cases the triangles would have joined the garbage.

I have been testing some more blocks for the next Quiltmaker's 100 blocks magazine. There are so many talented designers out there. I am learning and having fun at the same time. Piecefully, Joanne

Now that the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Blog Hop is Complete

I will show you the quilt I made from the blocks I tested. It is a simple nine patch setting. The fabric line is Feathered Friends from Northcott Fabrics. It had a number of directional prints and that required some thinking when I put the blocks together. I ended up quilting it myself on my 60+ year old Bernina because the person I had asked to machine quilt it could not do it when the time came to get it done. So I worried that my quilting on a domestic machine would not be up to current standards. But I think there are still a few of us out there who use our domestic machines for our own quilting.
I found the testing exercise a tremendous challenge and when asked, said I would love to stay on for volume 9. The testing has in fact started for that volume. All I can say is there are a whole lot of talented designers out there and I for one am happy to see Quiltmaker magazine giving so many of them the opportunity to shine. Piecefully, Joanne

The time of year for doll quilts

Or perhaps I should have said the time of year to finish doll quilts. I am not in any exchanges so the doll quilts that I make go to the local toy drive. The three pictured are the start for this year. The blue and green one has some of Mary from Kincardine's left overs added to some other scraps. I was able to get 8 windmill blocks and then added other pieces to make it a reasonable size. The middle one is made up of my tiny bricks in pastel colours. The one on the right has been languishing forever. It was the waste (or bonus) triangles from a mystery quilt made several years ago. I am trying to get some control back in my sewing room so every bit that gets finished and out of there is a good thing.
I hope everyone has enjoyed the Quiltmaker 100 blocks blog hop this week. The quilt I made of my tested blocks is in the magazine. I will post a picture in a post tomorrow. Piecefully, Joanne

A busy quilty week

It has been a busy quilty week at our house. Tuesday I attended a Take Four quilt workshop with the Kincardine Sunset Quilters guild. When I got home my preview copies of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 8 arrived in the mail. It looks wonderful. I tested about a dozen of the blocks so have had a bit of a sneak preview. Wednesday the Sewcializers took a road trip in the rain to visit a couple of quilt shops. Even though officially I only needed thread I did manage to boost the economy in both Markdale and Maxwell. Thursday I received an invitation to participate in the Quilt Canada Invitational quilt show to be held at Brock University next June and finally the Retired Teachers of Ontario asked me to talk about my experiences establishing a blog. Time to head out to the gym and have a reality check. 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

If it is not one distraction its another

Today we had to set up the newly purchased tent to ensure that all required parts were in the package. And they were so tent is now down. We are hoping the boys will be able to spend the night in the tent in a couple of weeks when they are back for their next visit. They were out in a nasty storm a couple of years ago and the older one has declared he is not going to sleep outside. This tent is huge so hopefully he will be OK. We can keep the garage door open and he can scoot in if he feels the need.
I have taken a bit of time away from my machine and done some reading. One book I found particularly interesting was Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff. It is a true story set in two different time periods, World War II and last year. A testament to character and perseverance.
Tendonitis is still a problem for my shoulder. One of my Scrapbag friends offered to midarm some of the bigger quilts that need finishing. It still takes a long time to piece a backing. I got three done and delivered to her this week. I will be more than happy to tackle the binding when they are done.
I have an applique block to test for Quiltmaker magazine and I really dislike applique so have been putting it off. It must get done this weekend. Piecefully, Joanne

I have an overwhelming regard for daily bloggers

Honestly I don't know how they keep up with life and write a blog too.The last three weeks have been a little more stressful than I prefer. At the left is a picture of Sue and Lorraine diligently working away on the Scrapbag project I organized for March. I will look forward to seeing the assembled tops when we have our April get together.
We had much better news on our Grandson's health after his visit to the oncology clinic at McMaster yesterday. Oh my, what a relief. Now all that remains is to get the family relocated by the first of June.
I have been doing some sewing but not finishing much in the last little while. So as the saying goes many works in progress. I am thrilled to say I am a Block Tester for Quiltmaker magazine for their 100 Blocks magazine. We are currently testing blocks for the fall issue of the magazine. The retired teachers of Ontario magazine Renaissance came out last week and I am included as one of the members whose hobbies and pastimes are featured.
I spent some time at the local hospital too. They care for you well in our small Emergency Department. It's not too bad during the winter months but once the snow birds return and the summer people settle in you can barely find a place to park let alone get a number to be looked after. They are looking at expansion but there is only so much that can be done. At our house we can't say enough positive things about the group that work there.
I am looking forward to spending some time with "the girls" sewing next week. Just one small interruption for an MRI but that should only take a morning away from the fun. Piecefully, Joanne