The Shop Hop Quilt is Done!

This is the week that we are usually scrambling, to to get everything ready for the Fall Shop Hop.
This year is no different.... Lots to do and time is running out! At least the Shop Hop quilt is DONE! I pulled an all nighter to finish it, in time for Jane of Jane's in Stitches to quilt it for me this morning.... The binding is on and ready to be stitched down by hand. (My project while I watch TV tomorrow night...the season premier of Dexer is on and I have to find out what happened!) Now, I just have to write the pattern and come up with our "give away" project. Good thing I work well under pressure! Lol


Here is a sneak peak! I had lots of fun working with the Moda collection, "Makin New Friends" by Deb Strain. There is an adorable panel that is incorporated into this pattern. It is really easy to piece with a little applique and paper piecing thrown in.... Again, it is easy and would be great for a beginner. We will have kits available at Shop Hop which runs this Thursday Sept 30 to Saturday Oct 2, 2010. Make sure that you stop by Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. We have lots of new things and we've been cutting all kinds of kits for a couple of weeks!



I have had some help getting everything done! Kadie is such a good companion and she is all grown up. She encourages me all the way! And I couldn't get better support... She's always right beside me. There is nothing better than a Golden.... She really is my best friend! :-) Life is good!

New Tea Towel Club

This session of classes at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co., we are offering a Tea Towel Club.
I have the pleasure of designing a new applique pattern each month. This is the design for September.
The patterns and kits are available exclusively at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. 211 Martindale Rd in St Catharines (905) 397-9500.

Charming Girls Quilt Club Goal List for September/October

Well, I joined an ambitious group of quilt bloggers called the Charming Girls Quilt Club. I'm waiting for the HTML code so that I can post a button for you to link to their blog easily but for now, you can find it in My Blog List. I'm hoping this group will help keep me motivated and on track.

I am to post my goals for the months of September and October so here they are:

Quilting Related Goals

1. Design and write the pattern for the Fall Shop Hop Quilt - Every year the shops in our area host a shop hop. One of the giveaways that every visitor to each shop receives, is a free pattern that is an original design. I love to create new patterns, so I'm quick to volunteer! This year's quilt features the fabrics from "Makin New Friends" by Deb Strain for Moda. Here's a sneak peak...



2. To complete Lovebird Lane. I started this quilt in March. All the blocks are done and I'm tackling the border now. There's lots of little pieces but it's adorable :-)



3. Move and organize my sewing room. My daughter decided she wanted to move her bedroom to the lower level of the house. She's got a pretty nice set up with an ensuite bath. That leaves her bedroom for my new sewing room! The only thing is...it is storage right at the moment. The walls are a gorgeous chocolate brown, which I absolutely love but it soaks up every bit of light in the room, so a re-paint is in order too. Did I tell you I hate painting? Hummmm.... What colour should I go with? I love so many...



4. Go through all those containers that are pictured above and get rid of everything that I don't need.

Right now, I sew in the family room.... Here is where I work... I want a real work space and a design wall!



Non Quilting Related Goals:

1. Sign up for my night school class
2. Apply to Niagara College for full time studies in the New Media Web Design program starting in January
3. Apply for OSAP and any other funding that I can find for an old girl like me to go back to school!
4. Post a new blog at least once a week

Ok, there they are... in black and white! Isn't that suppose to make them more likely to achieve? I hope so. Come back in Nov to see how I made out. All I can say is...I'm glad there are 31 days in Oct!

Best wishes to all the Charming Girls Quilt Club members. May we all complete everything on our lists!

One more thing, it is so hard to believe that it was 9 years ago today the skyline of NYC was changed forever. To all those who lost family members that day, I am thinking about you.
And to those brave men and women in emergency services, your efforts will never be forgotten.

Nancy's Little Hang Ups

Well, it has been a while since I have had time to sit and post to my blog. The summer seems to have flown by and fall is just around the corner! Yahoo! I love the fall and I find it's the best time of year to recharge my quilting passion... I certainly hope to post to my blog more often... With all my new designs, I should have lots to post about.

At Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. we are offering a new club this fall. It's it called "The Hang Up Club" and I will be designing all the monthly patterns. They are called the "Nancy's Little Hang Ups" series. Here is a sneak preview of the first one... It's called "Hallow's Eve". The standing hangers are available at the store for $23.95. It is easy to change each little quilt, so one per month will be fun. I have so many ideas and a monthly deadline so all is good! :-)

I never did get back to post the finished quilt for the Spring Shop Hop and it's almost time to design another.. Not good.... Sorry about that.

I've been thinking, sketching and EQ-ing some new designs for the new Christmas fabric that just arrived at Kindred Spirits. I love the new line "Makin New Friends" by Deb Strain for Moda. Of course it features adorable, happy snowmen - my favourite! The "Fruitcake" collection by Moda is awesome too. I can't wait to work with all the new fantastic fall and Christmas lines. We have several new books in the store too and two of my most favourite are "Schnibbles Times Two" by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilts and "Tidings" by Nancy Halverson of Art to Heart. Make sure you get your copy!

I'll be back again soon!

So you've come back and still nothing posted from my Jelly Rolls...

Well, what can I say? I have had a few interruptions along the way. I was going great guns making log cabin blocks from the lovely Wiscasset fabrics, when a few other important things demanded my attention. The Shop Hop quilt is a bit of a priority over my "play". As usual, I'm working last minute but it's almost done... This one is a little out of character for me...no batiks.... but it is really pretty. We have made a wall hanging size (65"x65") but it would be gorgeous on a bed too, so I'll write directions for a few sizes. We used the fabric collection "Wild Rose" from Maywood Studios. It's much more traditional than you might expect from me but I'm really pleased with the results, having "worked out of my box". I have just one more applique block to do, then it goes together. I hope to hand it over to Jane of Jane's in Stitches on Saturday. I photographed the pile of blocks all folded up to keep you in suspense!

Make sure that you mark your calendar for June 3rd, 4th and 5th and join us for our Spring Shop Hop! There are 3 shops included: Kindred Spirits Quilt Co, The Patchwork Porch and the Quilting Bee. There will be lots of free giveaways and of course food! We have been working on cutting kits and pre-cuts and have some really amazing new fabric lines, just for you!

Our hours are extended for this event!

Thurs 9:30am-8pm

Fri 9:30am-5:30pm

Sat 9:30am-5:30pm

Now, I must get back to work! :-)

What to do, What to do!....

You know life is good, when your biggest dilemma is what to do with this beautiful stack of Wiscasset Jelly Rolls from Moda! I've gotta tell you, it feels so good to sit and sew. I love the shades of the reds, tans, creams and blues in this collection. They are so traditional, with several paisleys (my favorite) some dots (my favourite too), and florals of varying scale. I was just thinking, I've been quilting for a very long time now (my first quilt was at 13 yrs old) and I have to admit that I have never pieced a whole log cabin quilt..... a block or two but that doesn't really count does it? This stack just might make a pretty log cabin quilt for my antique bed. You'll have to check back and see what I decide to do. If you have any suggestions, leave me a comment....

(It looks like I might not get much sewing done tonight, I've had too much fun blogging!)

Many of you have been curious about how Kadie is doing.... I have included some of my most recent photos of her. She's 8 months old now and weighed in at 58.6 lbs at the vet yesterday. We were there for the heart worm and flea thing ($210 later aghhhh). She is a very special puppy, I must say. She sure keeps us entertained.....

One of her favourite things is MUD! This photo is nothing, compared to some days. She permanently has a rim of mud on her nose 'cause its a dig and sniff thing. We have a whole new landscape in the back yard, with mountains and mainly gullies that we never had before! She's creative, what can I say?

She likes to cuddle with Emily too, but usually prefers to play when you want to sleep....just like any kid!

Last night, we had quite the downpour. It was teaming rain, along with thunder and lightening.... Where did she want to be??? Outside! She usually enjoys lying on the back step, taking in the world but last night, it came with a drink, delivered from the skys! She sat there sopping wet, with her mouth wide open, catching as many raindrops as she could! What a dog!.... Who wouldn't love her? I know I sure do.

May Flowers!

I haven't been designing lately but I sure have been sewing! Nancy Halverson's new book "Garden Song" caught my attention, when they arrived at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. 2 weeks ago. I just couldn't resist the new fabric line, by Benartex, that came in to go with it. The colours are so happy and I just love the prints. I've posted a shot of the table runner that I made. It's just waiting for Jane Sandercock to add her wonderful quilting touches! I have also made 3 other projects from the book. They will be perfect gifts for Mother's Day.... or just to celebrate spring!

My Adobe Illustrator course is complete. I really enjoyed learning how to use that program. It will make a huge difference in the presentation of my pattern designs.

Speaking of pattern designs, the next one will be for the Niagara Spring Shop Hop on June 3rd, 4th and 5th. We've been brainstorming ideas! We hope that you will join us for the hop. Don't forget, there is a giveaway at each shop!