W.I.P. Wednesdays

Just a few runners in progress at the moment two to do the binding on and one that I am just playing with ..... using up those left over triangles from joining border lengths.

Here is the fabric I have picked for a mystery quilt class I will be taking next month. I have to cut the strips for the class prep

Well that's it for now
Check out what the others have been up to on The Needle and Thread Network..... there is a link on my side bar.
in stitches
Annette

Tidbit Tuesdays

It's been a while but here's another tidbit........

Here is just a short little tidbit that I used this weekend making Picking Petals
found in Better homes and Gardens Quilts and more spring 2012.

back side of block with stabilizer

The tidbit is when removing the stabilizer from under your applique.

scoring the seam

run your stiletto along the stitching line and

lift off

the stabilizer almost pops off. This prevents pulling on your block.
 You can run the stiletto under the stabilizer to lift it off after scoring it.I found that this works great on small areas. I found that this went along quit quick and I was off to the next step of the project .
 Another use for your stiletto would be to score the back of the iron on fusible web  to remove the paper backing.
Hope you find this useful.
in stitches
Annette

Spring Fever

Well I had a finish this weekend.
I managed to get my D9P ( disappearing 9 patch ) quilted and bound.
This one features a charm pack by Moda called Spring Fever. I only had the one pack sew I used them in the corners and fabrics on hand for the sides and center.

I also was able to get a runner called Picking Petals found in Quilts and More Better Homes and Gardens spring issue 2012 pieced and ready to quilt.Might be using this one for a birthday gift.

I sure felt good to get something finished.
  off to quilt
       in stitches
         Annette

Friday finishes

that led into Saturday

well here is the little dolly quilt that I will send of to one of my daughter's friends little girl.

and here is the D9P  sample from the class I taught this past week  ready for the binding.

meandering loops

stitching close up of ribbon loops

I quilted  it with meandering loops and a ribbon loop in the small border and just meandering the last border.
I am also working on getting my fabrics organized to take to the stitches conference the end of May.
Once I have them organized then I will do the class prep that is recommended by each of the teachers.If I have the time I like to try out the item to be learned to see if I have extra questions for the class. Not sure if it is over doing I just like to get the most out of a class.
I have signed up for 5 different classes  2 quilting, 1 fabric painting and quilting , a bra class and a doll making class. Should be a fun and busy week . I am looking forward to it already. : )

And this is what is looking out of my living room window

not bad for briniging it up on the 23rd of Feb.
well that's all for now
in stitches
Annette

signs of spring

I have seen a few signs of spring ... the other day I saw a robin on the clothes line, I have seen the geese flying back from the sunny south, the snow is all but gone ( we had a few inches on the weekend )and I have seen a couple bunnies....

Thanks Sheila, for the cute Easter post card.They arrived just before the snow this past Friday
Here are a couple small samples of my fmq for this months challenge on sewcalgals blog.I will give it another try when I get my machine back on Thursday it is off for a check up and cleaning.

Sew this is my first attempt at this months instructions I hope to play a little this weekend if I get my machine back in good working order.      Something I learned this week .... check your warranty

I found out my warranty on electronics was longer than what the dealer thought I was glad that when she checked it out she found out that I had the correct info as there is something going on in that area with my machine and I am half way through the warranty.

Last night I had the second part of the D9P class that I taught here in Watrous. the Ladies are doing a great job on their projects. I may have a visit from a couple gals that are getting started with quilting sew that they can finish up their quilts and get ready to start the next one.

Putting the block together

Here is a little projec that I am still working on

I have the two center layers to add to this topper

I hope to have it done for this Easter

I will be linking up with Sewcalgal and The FMQ challenge

 as well as with The Needle and Thread Network ( side bar link)

Stay in stitches

Annette

tagged

It has been interesting reading the responses to the tagging going on out there.
Last week I was tagged by Sheila .... sew here are my answers to her query's....

1. Why did you start blogging?
     I had been enjoying Stash Manicure and reading a lot of the different blogs that had been featured and thought ....hey I could do that. Sew with my daughter guiding I started. I have enjoyed getting to know a few of you better through the blogs and learning from you all in one form or another.  thanks!

2. How long have your been quilting?
 30+ yrs

3. what project are you most proud of?
  At the moment it would be my quilt called Jewels of the Night the one I have designed and made for the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference 10 th Anniversary Challenge.

4. What other country have you visited and when?
    I have been to England and Germany in 1998 to visit family and my pen pal from high school( it was great to met her ) I have been to Mexico a couple times 2005 and just this month.I have been to Belize in 2010 to visit my niece and her hubby.And of course I have in to the USA to see some of the sights.

5.What is your favorite color and why?
  I think if is between a blue and green, why I think because they are bright and fresh colors.

6. Are you an animal lover and if so what is your favorite animal?
  I do not think I can say just one here either ... any critter that likes to cuddle   ( we have had cats and dogs )

7. Other than sewing / quilting what other craft do you love?
  I do like to knit and crochet I dabble in water color painting as well.

8. What is my favorite all time book?
    I have been enjoying the Elm Creek Quilt series by Jennifer Chiaverini.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you most like to visit?
  I would like to see more of my own country Canada. It is a large country with a lot to see. I would love to go out east in the fall to see the maple trees turn color.

10. What is your favorite comfort food?
        Chocolate of course

11.Who influenced you most in your life?
      Good question ...... family  would have to be my answer   my Mom when I was little , my
       siblings in those middle yrs ....and friends that have become family. I also remember a few   different teachers I had that had been very encouraging over those years. With out them all you        would   not be the person you are today.   

Thank you Sheila for giving me somethings to ponder.
Hope you all had a great week end. I hope to get afew things done tonight. Maybe I cold get a Xmas itme made yet today......if not I will have to try again for next month.
that all for now take care
in stitches
Annette

Getting back on track

Well it's been a busy week sew far.  ( at least that is how it feels)
Monday I taught a class on D9P aka Disappearing 9 patch / 9 patch with a twist.

I have 6 ladies taking it this time with a few brand new to quilting.

Spring Fever by Moda

Next week I will take a few pics to share the ladies fabric choices. Everyone is different and all look great. Every time I teach I put a few together as well and try to change it up a little with how I finish it, just to give the ladies more ideas. This also shows them that you can change up a pattern and it is okay to add those touches that make it yours and one of a kind.
I used a Spring Fever charm pack from Moda and then some fabrics that I had from my stash. I was able to build the whole quilt without buying a single piece of fabric, the charm pack was left over from another project a couple years ago.  : )
I surprised myself by getting it all ready to quilt..... borders and pin basted.

I also had pieced together a little dolly sized quilt with the left over strip pieced sections from the Easter eggs from the table topper that Amanda Murphy has on her site.I cute 2 1/4 in. units from the scraps and added a 2 in. strip to the l 3/4 in. side and the sewed them in alternating directions to get the finished top.
This will be a great place to play with some free motion quilting.

 I know a little girl that will be getting something in the mail before Easter........

Sew other than work that is the playing that I have been able to get to this week.
 some last minute happening's.....
This weekend we will have company .... Dance competition here in town as well as Provincial Mixed Curling.
 Not many places left in town. It will be nice to have a visit with our cousins., and maybe take in some of their performances.
I have some fresh Pumpkin/orange and cranberry muffins baked tonight and a pot of soup ready to cook in the morning. I'll have to figure out a couple other things, but that just might be on the fly.
 I do not think I will be getting any more done until mid next week
Well it's getting late
    better head off to bed
        in stitches and sweet dreams
Annette