Callenge 1 piece, ready for photo shoot

We spend the weekend at the camp grounds setting up for the summer. Now if the wind would die down we could go fishing too.

All set up at the camp grounds...... loven``
the little deck hubby built for the camper

I just finished my next piece for McCall's Quilting Quilt design Star 2012
We had to use the Storm at Sea block for the professional catagory ,the amiture catigory used the Amish Star. I will only tease you for now as I need to get a good picture of it and submit it on line to McCall's Quilting. I will post other pictures after the voting starts next week.

ready to play

Now with the piece done I can play with my new Elna 740, which has been watching me all week and waiting for it's turn to play. Not sure where to begin .... finish some blocks from the Square in a Square Mystery class ...make a bra ... play with the painted fabric etc.   I will just have to go and grab a bag and work with what is in it i guess.

Qtools give away

I do have a little give away Marci Baker gave me 3 sets of samples of the sewing and cutting guides that will stick to your machine or ruler to help guide you in your quilting.The Sewing Edge is  the purple one which  makes a nice little bumper to keep your stitching true. the Cutting Edge is  orange strip attaches on the under side of your ruler to aid you in your cutting.  Thanks Marci.
I may add a fat quarter or two or maybe even a charm pack. I will draw next Monday for the winners.

 These are part of her Qtools, the other one is Qtools Corner Cut 60 which has trimming edges to take of the dog ears and also can be used with the Sewing Edge to line up your quarter in seam allowance ( 3 choices there regular, scant and generous quarter inch). Marci has videos showing how to used these tools as well as very good instrucions included with them. Look for it in your local shops or check out Marci`s shop Alicia`s Attic.
In stitches
Annette

Sewing up a storm

Well I have been busy sewing up the storm at sea blocks for the McCall's QDS challenge 1. I think I only have 3 more to finish up and then on to the borders. I am enjoying working on this one as it is the first time I am working with this block. I have looked at it many times just never found the quilt that I wanted to make. I am hoping to have it finished by the end of the weekend. I have to have it posted by next Sunday.
And then I will play with the Elna 740. Right now it out of the box and looking at me, waiting. From looking at the manual it looks like it will be fun  to play with it and learn what all it can do. It did come with it's own quilting table. I think I will make another bra on it while I play.
I did get the garden all planted yesterday before what I thought was going to be a good rain, but it was mostly noise and just a sprinkle.
Well I best get moving..... have a great day
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

SSC Days 7 & 8 AND Viewers Choice

My last 2 days of conference were quit fun. We were do Sun Printing with Seta colors. I was with one of my classmate form last year, a very fun lady and we had a great time again this year.
On Saturday we did our sun printing and the weather was great, lots of sun shine ( we had a fair bit of rain all week with a chance of rain that day as well ) I was enjoying it sew much I had to go and get more fabric, sew I tried it out on a very nice and smooth muslin with a tight weave. It worked great, I will be doing this at home I am sure. I works best for items not getting washed all the time as it is surface design.
here are some pictures from both days



my star bursts.... now I have the fabric
I will be creating a fun summer wall hanging I think

star fish salt and plastic grass

orange peels

grasses  folding
we just played a lot

my lupin leaves framed and with some thread play

here two pieces of created fabric where used I missed the bottom
there is some purple in the one corner which looks great

the orange peel piece getting glammed  with other fabrics that shimmer

auditioning fabrics to from our pieces to complement the colors with in

Jackie Van Fossen and I
Thanks for a great class Jackie I had a blast

It was sew nice how we all learn little things about and from each other. I was sad to see the end of conference this year. But I know I will be busy for the whole year until the  conference comes again. If you are ever in the area you should check out the shop in Humboldt and get information. ( Haus of Stitches )

Jewels of the Night by me

I had mentioned earlier about the viewers choice in the 10 Anniversary Challenge Competition. The prize was a Elna 740 excellence machine. Sew yesterday at lunch they presented the winner with the machine. I am still kind of in shock. I now have a Elna 740 excellence machine in my home, waiting for me to play. Sorry I do not have a picture just yet the photographer will send me one shortly.
This was a quilt with many firsts, the first time I entered any type of competition, the first challenge piece , first time using the ruler I made the center out of , the first time using Electric Quilts 7, and sew on.

Made by Beverley Johnson( the fairy bra mother)

Beverley's quilt will be featured in A Needle Pulling Thread around Christmas, I may be featured later , nothing is definite just yet.
 I will now have to get back to my quilt for McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012, due for the 17 of June with Voting stating on the 19.
 I have found that I really enjoy the designing  and creating process and will do the best I can with this new challenge ( which  will be a little easier now that I am sewing in the house and not in the camper)

SSC Day 5

Dolls dolls dolls  there were dolls  that look sew cute and fun to make ... could we really do it in a day.

class mate doll

they can have hosiery

my gal sitting on the machine

one of the others doll head

well we did they may not all have hair or clothes but we did get them made. All different types, and colors we  will have fairies teachers and accountants.

I ended my evening with a campfire and marshmallows to make a smore
good and gooey

Now to start day 6 painting
chat with you soon
in stitches
Annette

SSC day 4 and Gala

Yesterday was a busy day full of things to learn about the square in a square ruler.
We had a lot of fun with Jodi Barrows and using her ruler as we did the Mystery Quilt. Each Mystery quilt is different.
You learned the  ruler as you made up the units to create your quilt.

square sets

Jodi explaining the blocks



Wendy Toye and I ( in reversed order)

Later that evening we had the Gala for the Challenge. The items were judged by a panel of 4 earlier in the conference. I was sew surprised when I was called up for 1st place with the Large Quilts.




The voting is on going for the viewers choice, sew we have no ides who that will be. .... good luck ladies.

now to go and pinch myself
in stitches
Annette




p.s here is a pic of the bra I made

The guest speaker tonight was Beverly the bra instructor for the 10 years of conference and bras were on topic.  ;)





SSC Day 3 and a little show and tell

Today I had the day off sew what did I do.
I went to the fabric shop and bought the fabrics that I will make my McCall's Quilting Quilt challenge piece with. I also have stitched up a sample of the block to be used as I have never done a storm at sea  block . It will be an interesting challenge.
I did also pop into a couple classes to see what the ladies where making,

my camping sewing space

class almost finished for the day  they will be back in the morning to finish working on their blocks

the above are some of Jodi's work below
are some show and tell items

and tonight Jodi Barrows was having a bit of a trunk show and tell.and there where a couple others that shared as well.

Well that all for now it's getting chilly out here at the picnic table and soon it will be dark.
have a great day
in stitches
Annette