Back to sewing again

This little duffle bag was made for my grandson. There is a blue one for my other grandson. During my first visit to Charlottesville, Xavier found some bee fabric at the local quilt shop. He thought I should buy some and make something for him with the fabric. Hence the duffle bag. They are apparently just the right size for a sleep over.


My quilting "mojo" was lost in the shuffle of cleaning out my sewing room. I can say that my sewing room has been cleaned and everything has been sorted. The room is ready to be used. At the last Kincardine Sunset Quilt Guild meeting one of the members approached me at the break. She told me how her niece had been given one of the quilts I donated to Project Linus last spring. The aunt, a member of the guild, recognized it from show and tell at the quilt guild meeting. She had taken a picture of her niece with the quilt and told me how much the quilt meant to the niece. I was mighty close to tears. So often we make quilts and give them away hoping they will end up in a good home where someone cares for them. This time I got the proof in a picture and the story from the aunt.


I felt reinvigourated after the guild meeting and have been in my sewing room daily since then. I have a line up of over 8 quilt tops ready for quilting and several others close to being tops. The fun has returned to this activity. So over the next month as I get these quilted I plan to post pictures and I think I just might reach my goal of 50 quilts from stash this year. Joanne

What happened to the summer of 2011?

I can hardly believe it is September. We had a very chopped up summer with very little actually being accomplished. A wee little mouse problem has lead to the total clear out of my sewing room. No little guys in evidence but the thought still lingers. The total clean out did however make me realize what a pile of UFO's I have amassed and how much stash I have accumulated. I would say what was I thinking but there might be some doubt that I was in fact thinking.
All I have actuully finished this summer are three duffle bags. One is for myself and the other two are for the boys. The older grandson said bees and so bees it was. I found five different fabrics with bees on them and used them. Hopefully a picture can be taken soon and I can post it.
Quilt guilds start up next week. I attended the Project Linus meeting in Kitchener on behalf of the Kincardine Guild. I have yet to get ready my BOM for next week. So time to step away from the computer and sit down at my sewing machine. Piecefully, Joanne

Tuesday with members of the Grey Bruce Home Economics Association

I was able to spend Tuesday with other members of the Grey Bruce Home Economics Association. We made 132 blocks of the Anita's Arrowhead pattern. The pattern can be found in Quiltmaker November/December 2010 or in Anita Grossman Solomon's book Rotary Cutting Revolution. We each brought blue and off white/beige squares to work with and spent the day sewing. We took a break for a delicious pot luck lunch and again for a pot luck supper. Two of the members took the blocks home to assemble the top and a third member who does long arm quilting will quilt it for us. Eventually the quilt with find a home at the Habitat for Humanity build scheduled for Hanover, ON. It was a terrific but tiring day. Joanne

QAYG Apple Core Table Runner from Quilt Canada Class

Much as I tried to avoid being in the picture a part of me is there. This is the Quilt As You Go Table Runner project from one of the classes I took at Quilt Canada in May. It is much brighter and bolder than I normally go. There was technique to this table runner and I think I could do better on a second one. I do however like this one.

My trip to Virginia last weekend was good. It was very HOT there. I did manage to get to a quilt shop and I did manage to help out the local economy.The lady at the front desk of the hotel told me about another shop but a visit to that shop will have to wait until my next trip south.

Another Scrappy Finish

Yet another scrappy one. This one has gone in the mail to my nephew for a wedding gift. The pattern is called Angles and Squares and was taught in a workshop at the Kincardine Guild by Heather Stewart. I was very pleased with the result.

I am heading to Virginia with my daughter and the grandson's later today (well early tomorrow). My googling has revealed a quilt shop near the hotel we will be staying at. I called them yesterday and this weekend is their special Christmas in July event. I sure hope I get there. Joanne

A Flurry of Finishes

These two tiny brick quilts are my most recent finishes. I tend to get "stuck" on a particular design and go with it in a variety of colour ways or sizes. So three tiny brick quilts finishes and three more have the bricks cut out. They will be donation quilts when my guilds resume in September.

The final Scrap Bag Quilter session of the season was last Wednesday. We tied 10 quilts and sent them home with different members to have the binding completed over the summer. I only have one to do. In May I enjoyed a variety of quilting experiences. The Quilt Pocket (a yahoo group) held Jambo 2011 in London and I attended that. What a fabulous time. The organizers had thought of everything. We stayed in a Community College residence. There was time for sewing, time for sharing, time for fun, time for eating, especially chocolate and time for shopping. And a couple of us even managed to sleep a little.

Then two weeks later Quilt Ontario happened in London. I signed up for two classes. Karen Combs More Patchwork Illusions and Ursula Reigels QAYG Apple Core Table runner. Both classes were great. I have one project almost done and the other is close to finished. The shows associated with the event was inspirational. Although I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be an "Art Quilt" type of quilter.

Then in another ten days some friends locally organized and held a retreat. Again a well organized event with lots to do, sewing time, eating time, a couple of games and just great fun with friends.

I have hit the half way mark on my 50 quilts from stash this month. The list just needs to be updated.

That's about it for now. I want to get the binding attached to my Scrap Bag quilt so I can stitch in the evening. And my nephew is getting married next month so I would like to actually finish his quilt before the wedding.

Piecefully yours, Joanne

National Quilt Month in Canada

To celebrate National Quilt Month in Canada I am going to go to Quilt Canada in London, Ontario and taking two classes. I am also going to Jambo 2011 in London later this week. Jambo is the every other year event for the Quilt Pocket a Yahoo group. The planning committee has all kinds of quilty fun planned for us from Mystery bus tour to donating quilts we have made to the local cancer treatment centre. I seem to be aquiring all kinds of blocks that are ready to turn into quilts but don't seem to be taking that next step. I do however have my machine back from the repair shop. Our weather is finally warming up a bit so some outdoor activities can begin. For me that is hanging the wash on the line and admiring the work hubby does in the garden. Soon we will have our own fresh asparagus. Joanne