Last day of the Wicked Hop

                                                                  Happy Halloween

(if you like this guy , he is in a quilt one post back )

well all good wicked things must come to an end but first check out the last day of the Wicked hop.

Wednesday, October 31st

Beaquilter
Fun Thread Designs

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

Made By A Brunnette

Buttons And Butterflies

The Recipe Bunny

Quilted Delights

Sunshine Reflections

Louzeekreativ

Mice In The Mix

Rosemary - That Other Blog
The Fuzzy Hat Quilter
Sew We Quilt

Hope you had the chance to stop by most of the blogs .... there were a lot of treats given away during this hop and it might not be to late to be included.
Thanks to all the creative minds that put together such a great hop for Halloween. Stay tuned to see what will be next. I know the next one I will be in  on is Holiday Lane Pillows in just a few weeks.... I best get busy with that.
I did get my FMQ challenge sample done ..... it was a fun tut playing with doodling and your name, all done in thread thanks to Teri Lucas and Darlene  for getting this one set up for us. I still have to check out the bonus tuts. It has been a great year for learning different ways to do our free motion quilting. Here are my samples.

my practice piece

and now on the sample quilt







I'll be linking up with SewCalGal pop over to see how everyone else did up their names.
As for my works in progress just some of the same ones just trying to give them some time. And working on my FMQing.
Pop over to The Needle and Thread Network  to see what the others have been up to.
Happy Halloween and happy stitching this week
in stitches

just a quilting

Quilting Guide me Safely Home

Well I have been working on my FMQ and trying to get one of my quilts finished before the end of the month. I really want to get both of my McCall's Quilting  challenge quilts done to take for a little bit of a trunk show that I will be doing in Davidson in November. This will be something completely new for me as I do not feel that I am a great public speaker ...... but I  am willing to try and learn to step outside my comfort zone ... at least just a little.( I'm sure it will be just like having show and tell :)   )
I have also been finishing up my blocks for the Wicked hop that will start next week ...sew stay tuned to see some great ideas and blocks for Halloween.

just a peak of my things that go
"bump in the night" quilt

I am linking up with The Needle and Thread Network and Monika ..... stop on by and see what everyone has been up to .
And of course there are only a few days left to get your votes in on this years McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star 2012.
take care and have a wonderful day
in stitches
Annette

W.I.P. Wednesdays..... fall is in the air, with a touch of snow too!

Another week has gone by sew fast. Not sure where it went just know that it is gone.  Sew what am I working on now.... samples for my candle mat class

candle mat samples

quilt for our son and items for another blog hop


both are hanging on my design wall

 and then back to the tomatoes and doing some fall cleaning around the house and putting up some fall / Halloween decorations

a friendly fall face

I am linking up with Monika and The Needle and Thread Network.
stop in and see what everyone has been up to this last week too.
And on the voting front with McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star ....... there are only 12 days left for voting, You can either use the link on the top of my page or go to there site www.mccallsquilting.com
be sure to check out both categories as they have great quilts in both.
Thanks for stopping by to see what I have been up to, have a great day ( bundle up if you are around my area as they are talking snow , brrrrrrr. Just sew long as it does not last like yesterdays snow we will be fine )
in stitches
Annette
P.S. remember this is the last day of the Leafs Me Happy Blog hop check it out an dget in on some of the give aways!!!!

Wednesday 10

Quilter in the Closet

SewMuch2Luv

Peanut's Patchwork

Quilting Lines

Mochawildchild

Ariane Quilts

Lily Patch Quilts

Cindy's Crafty Creations

Hill Valley Quilter

Count it *all* JOY!!!

Rose Creations

Sew We Quilt

W.I.Ps Wednesday ...... & voting

I have been busy getting my block together for the Leafs Me Happy hop. My turn will be on Monday the 8th, Thanksgiving here in Canada.

I have a couple peaks here and next I will be working on the blocks for Wicked another hop,over at Sew We Quilt aka Stash Manicure.
It will seam strange not working on a challenge piece now. As the last round of quilting is done and the voting has started. There have been some great quilts designed once again. I have been sew blessed to be part of this group of quilters.Check out the quilts with my link on the side bar.

a few blocks for my son's quilt
I hope to see it growing soon

sew now it will be time to take out a bunch of my UFOs and work on them I have a quilt started for my son and that will be the first one I want to finish. He had told me to put it on hold while I was in the McCall's Quilt Design Star Challenge.
I received good news the other day .... my sewing machine is all better. It had broken while quilting Holding On... and I had to borrow a friends to finish. sad to say I have not had it 4 yrs yet. But it is fixed and I can play with it again. I had trouble with the take up lever ( thread tangling on it and breaking, this is what the trouble was caused from as it loosen the lever and it came off as well as the build up caused the needle to miss aline when sewing decorative stitches ) I will be taking it for a good test run when I get it home again.
The weather has turned a little cooler here and they have been using that 4 letter word  .... snow..... It's much too early for that, but if it comes it should not stick around just yet I hope.
Well that's all for now be sure to check in with The Needle and Thread Network to see what everyone else has been  up to, I'll be linking up with Monika there.
in stitches
Annette

W.I.P. Wednesday

Even though it is early Thursday this is what I was up to yesterday.
I am working on my Leafs me Happy blocks

just a couple of sneak peaks

My FMQ for the challenge on SewCalGal   I would like to say thank you to both ladies, the book I won last month arrived and I am sew looking forward to some play time with it :)   I have linked up with the site to show what I have done , be sure to check how the others have made out with their FMQ.

September FMQ Samples

thanks Angela and SewCalGal
looks like a great resource book

I did up a couple more batches of jam and jelly .... might have to recook it as it has not set yet. Maybe the pectin  is getting weak or old not sure?? Maybe I should just leave the jelly/syrup as a syrup for pancakes and waffles.

And most important I put my quilt ,"Holding On .." ,in the mail to McCall's Quilting, sew they can have professional photos done as well as any judging of the design.
 I will have to ask to see when it comes home again.

 ...... and speaking of that I can go and get my Jewels of the Night , it was hanging in a museum for the summer.
It will seam strange not working on a challenge piece for McCall's anymore. If you count the Jewels of the night I have been working on challenges pieces since last December.
Oh don't worry I know that I will be busy.....
Finding the time to catch up with other projects and work  on a couple of blog hops that I have singed up for. One project will be the quilt for our son, it was to be for his 30th birthday. But when I entered the challenge and was selected to go on he told me not to worry about it and see how far I could go with the challenge with McCall's ..... thanks "Bud"
I will be linking in with The Needle and Thread Network  stop by here as well to see a lot of great works in progress....
until next time
stay
in stitches
Annette

Ready to Quilt !!

Well I had a busy day yesterday and I have my  MQS Design Challenge 3  quilt ready to quilt. I had planned out what I wanted to quilt this past weekend. Sew now  I just have to set my machine up for free motion and away I go. If I keep up to speed I should have the quilt ready to mail next week. I want to allow a little extra time for it's travel. I also will have to take it to the paper sew that folks in town will know that the voting starts October 2, on the McCall's Quilting web site.

just a peak
pin basted and ready to quilt

It will seam strange not to be working on a challenge piece. It has been most of the year that I have been participating in one challenge or another.
 It has been a good year of designing and I know I have a few more to work out after I have this one on it's way. And to clean up my sewing / quilting area.
I also have a suitcase with a few tops just waiting to become quilts and a few UFOs to finish up as well. Sew no worries I will be busy trying to get it all done.
I will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network , with Monika. Be sure to stop on by and see what the gals have been up to with thier works in progress.
Have a great day
           in stitches
                      Annette

W.I.P. Wednesday

It seams like forever since I last posted on a Wednesday.
I do have one main project on the go, and if you have been following me you'll guess that it is my Challenge 3 design for the McCall's Quilting  Design challenge.
I have a good start on the design wall. I have built my background and I am getting my applique ready to attach and then I will figure out what I want for my borders.
I did try to shop for fabric before I had the background size drawn..... big mistake. It left me open to too many choices  for color and block designs. I had wonderful help at the Haus of Stitches on the weekend .... thanks ladies....   I have decided on size and shape and even the number of blocks needed. I did do a little shopping at a friends in her scrap stash for a couple colors to add to the mix. What would we do with out our quilting buddies ??
And now that I have been home for a couple days I have the blocks built and assembled into the background. I went with what had been my first choice .... Log Cabin though Grandmother's Flower Garden was a close second ( forgot to grab the pattern Marci Baker has to build them a little quicker , I 'll have to put one on hold )

both log cabins are the same size
one is in a traditional setting and the other bright and off centered
with all sides the same
stay tuned to see how they work together

I know I have a lot to do in a little time  my weekends have been booked for the next little while sew I will be sewing a lot during the week. At this point I feel that I am on track and hope to be rolling right along .
I am linking up with The Needle and Thread Network. Check in and see what the others have been up to across Canada.
Off to sew
In stitches
Annette

W I P Wednesday & Voting

           Flutterbys in My Garden my McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star Challenge 2 Design.

Well it's been busy here with quilting this summer I have my McCall's Quilt Design Star quilt top done and submitted. it is now on line for voting  .... link on my side bar to make it easy for you. You can vote once a day until the 26th of August if you are sew inclined. Thanks for the support I get from you all with your comments and good wishes.

Now for the next item on my ironing board. I am participating in the Bowls with Borders blog hop found on Sew We Quilt / Stash manicure. We all were given the paper piecing pattern for the bowls and now it is up to each of use to come up with a few finished blocks for show and tell. I will  be featured on the 22 of August sew a have a few day in which I hope to get my blocks finished and made into something worthy of the hop

sneak peak at my bowls in progress

trimming away the extra fabric

I am linking up with Monika @ The Needle and Thread Network , pop on over to see what the other gals have been up to this week.

Next week I will get the chance to meet up with Sheila of Sheila's Quilt World as she will be in the neighbourhood visiting family. I am looking sew forward to meeting her , as we have been chatting almost from the beginning of my blogging.

in stitches
Annette

WIP ...... for the rest of the month

The challenge begins......I've been working on McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star Challenge 2   Go to  McCalls' Quilting to see who is still in and what the fabrics look like in both challenges.

McCall's Quilt Design Star Challenge 2
 professional challenge fabric

I was off to a slow start as I awaited the arrival of the challenge fabric. I started playing with paper cutouts from a picture of the fabric which helped me to come up with a few ideas of what I would and could do with it.

just a peak

Now I would like to think I am about half done and should be able to complete my design before the deadline of August 5.
I have a sneak peak for you.

I will be linking up with Monika at The Needle and Thread Network

kitty approval

I hope to post a few more pics as I get more done ..... wish me luck
in stitches 
Annette

Happy Dance

My design made it!!!!!  I am now in the next round of designing with McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012.

Thank you to all who voted  this round
in stitches
Annette
I just wanted to add that my wip is........ waiting on the mail  for the fabric that is to be a part of the Challenge 2 of the McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012. It will be my focus for the next little while. I will have until the 5 th of August to complete the next quilt top.
Sew in the mean time I will try and work out a few ideas sew that when it arrives I can jump into it. I will pull other fabrics from my stash and then pick up a few more ( we always need just one more it seams)  Then the playing will begin.
I am linking with The Needle and Thread Network
Thanks for letting me share my news
in stitches again
Annette

FMQ Challenge and WIP'S

I have been stitching out this months FMQ challenge and playing with it a little. It has been kind of fun just doodling with thread, and filling your spaces with many different designs. I have found that I need to use a better contrast of fabric to thread for it to show up nicely in a picture. This is what I have come up with this month.

I think I can practice this one more on some smaller quilts and loosen up my spacing. I find that I was wanting to stitch very tight and small, sew more practice will be required on my part to get this where I think it should be.

Thanks to SewCalGal for hosting this FMQ Challenge and to Cindy Needham for teaching us this month and showing us a different way to look at our quilting. I am always open to new ideas for my quilting,/playing. By learning/playing with our FMQ skills we will always be improving upon what we can do for ourselves and our sense of accomplishment grows......just watch that pile of quilt tops become quilts......

Now for my WIP's I have my Square in a Square quilt ready for the hand work part of the binding.

The doll has a little bra ( I may redesign that ) and I have started on her clothes. I just have to figure out how much embellishments will be done to them. I have tweak the top/jacket pattern by changing up the hem line and the sleeves, as well as adding darts to help give it shape.I do not remember if she had her hair last week but I know she has a do now. I may bead up some jewelry.

She's looking a little better now ....... just some fine tuning and hemming to do...

printed on fabric to make a garden flag

I am also making a garden flag to let folks know that I am participating in the McCall's QDS Challenge. I want to let people know that this is going on and for them to see what everyone in the challenge has created and to vote for their favorite.
 If you use my link to pop over to the voting you can use the slide show or gallery to view all the quilts in the professional category and then go to McCall's Quilting to find your way to the amateur category.

I will be linking up with SewCalGal`s FMQ June Challenge

as well asThe Needle and thread Network      ( a little later today I'm a ready a bit to early to post )
have a great day
In stitches
Annette

W.I.P. Wednesdays

Sew  now that the voting is in full swing on the McCall's Quilting site, I have some time to catch up on projects started.
I have most of the quilting done on my Square in a Square quilt from the conference

I love doing the candy ribbon in the small border      

I put a bust line on the doll from the conference as well now I can work on the clothes and then her hair sew she will not look like and alien.

ready to design some clothes and a hair do

I have Guide Me Safely Home all ready to machine quilt as well. That's the nice part about this competition the first two rounds it is a quilt top only that has to be completed and the last round it is a finished quilt.Quilt Design Star 2012 home page. Check out the site and read up about the participants on the Editors blog.
If you would like to vote for me I have a voting link on my side bar.

I also will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network,
 check in there to see what everyone else has been up to this week . Here is a link to help you find your way      The Needle and Thread Network
 I also want to say thank you to Flo for the little package I received yesterday in the mail..... a prize for the correct answers to her name that tune post cards.

thanks Flo

I'm  sure we all will be stopping in to check out the new to us shop
and all those threads you have in store

and another goes to Creative House .... they sent out some lovely threads with Monika when she taught a thread painting class here.  they also gave us each a spool of thread and a coupon for their shop..... a little late but thank you just the same.

thinking of new projects to try out with these goodies

And lastly Thank you to McCall's and all their sponsors for the QDS.  The box of goodies will take some time to fully enjoy ( a lovely selection of fat quarters from different companies as well as some other great  quilting items) The McCall's site has a better shot of the goodies.

And of course I want to thank you all out there that are supporting me with your votes.
In stitches
Annette

W.I.P. Wednesdays

Well I have been busy with my McCall's QDS  Challenge 1 and have submitted it to them, you can check it out on the 19 of June on the McCall's Quilting web site. I will have a pic on my blog as well.
And now that I have that all taken care of I have started on my square in a square quilt from the conference 2 weeks ago I have put all the blocks together and now just have to cut the setting blocks and put it all together. There is no right way or wrong way to do this one. You build your base pieces and play with them from there to create your blocks, each a little different and no two quilts will be the same. I found that the scrappier your choices in fabrics the more variety you will have with your finished blocks .Here are a few of the blocks I put together.

this is what a scrappier one would look like with 16 blocks
I did manage to get 21 sew I will use 20 to make my little quilt.
they are 6 in finished blocks

I will be linking with The Needle and Thread Network this week , be sure to check out what everyone else has been up to as well. ( link on my side bar)
in stitches
Annette

W I P Wednesday

Seams like a long time since I posted a wip. And right now I have a ton of pigs ( projects in sacks) from my classes last week. They are on hold as I work on the Challenge piece for McCall's due  for the 17 of June.

sneak peak

I just did a little sewing of another sort

in the garden now it can rain ... the sky was grumbling while I planted

Now to get back to my sewing.
I will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network , link on my side bar.  Check in and see what everyone has been up to.
Last picture is of a visitor we had last night while eating supper.

in stitches
Annette

resting out of the wind