some stitching that is long past due

Would you think a UFO of 10 years is a little past due. Well last week I took out the package tucked away safe and sound that I put together in 2005 after a family reunion. I had the family sign blocks of fabric and bought some fabrics to complete the quilt with and that is were it stayed. Last Monday I took it out and began to sew and design . I only had a simple block in mind and no real idea of how I was going to lay it out. Sew after a few days of sewing I now have it at the machine for quilting. I should have taken a few pictures along the way .... oh well I could not stop once I got going.

As I sewed along I did notice that there are a few of the names of family that are no longer with us, sew it was kind of  nice just to think of them as I sewed the blocks together.

Here it is .... what do you think sew far.....

at my machine

it is finishing 67 inches square

And a few other finishes  a FMQ challenge that I am way behind in

This is the January Challenge

Pillow back

Pillow front with a feathered heart

and another finished quilt

                                            and ready to go off to Victoria Quilts

 That's been that last week or sew  I almost forgot to link up with The Needle and Thread Network
stop by and see what everyone has been up to.

in stitches

Annette

another class wraps up

The ladies in the Pick a Block Place Mat class did a wonderful job. In 2 nights they got the 4 blocks made and one place mat ready to quilt. I did have one student that even had the chance to get 2 of her place mats quilted and ready to finish the binding by hand. It is always fun to see the different color combinations that arrive in class. I would love to show you but I forgot my camera at home :0(
Sew that class is a wrap, two more to go in May.
Have a great day and stay
  in stitches
      Annette

Quilt Truck in town!!!!

For three days only Monday to Wednesday the Rolling Ray of Sunshine Quilt Truck is  in Watrous
Open from 10 am to 6. located at the end of Main Street by the info booth. There is some parking there sew that you are not on the Highway.
Stop in for your sewing notions thread etc and of course fabrics.
Remember for 3 days only and one is half done already
in stitches

this week in stitches

As the week blows past us ( the wind helps here a lot for sure ) I am managing to get a few projects done or at least near done. Last week I finished the attic window and this week I have just the binding left on the quilt I call rock climbing .

before the quilting

 This one is made with a pattern I came up with that I call Candy Bars it will be going off to Victoria's Quilts when done. I did get one more block of my BOM done 7 to go. And I did a little baking too. ( opps I forgot to hit publish sew I am continuing from last week ;0)    )
And after a busy weekend I am hoping to get a start on this years FMQ challenge. Better late than never.It will be fun trying out new ideas and creating pillows at the same time. I will share the links as I get going on it.

at the show
an old favorite

There was a quilt show in Drake this past weekend hosted by Between Friends Quilt Guild. I have never been apart of a guild but may have to stop in on a meeting sometime to see what it is all about.I have been a guest speaker with the quilts / quilt tops from the McCalls Quilt Star Challenge in 2012.
Any way there were a lot of lovely quilts at the show and a lot of friendly faces ..... a few from back home and some from the area I live in now....... good visiting all around. And a wee bit of shopping with 3 vendors 2 inside and a traveling one in a semi .

a new twist on an old favorite
all straight seams ... squares and triangles

I have been working on some class ideas for the fall and winter, I have come up with 12 different ideas and just have to fine tune them and maybe reduce the numbers a little and get that all to the college.

a few posies to brighten our weekend

Well now it is time to see what I can get done this week
Stay
      in stitches
            Annette

In the Mail today

Well with the Spring Post Card Swap our cards have both arrived one day apart
Here is the one from Raewyn in New Zealand

what a cute little birdie after it's lunch in the spring........
I am sure we'll see this after our first spring rain

I am not sure if you can see all her lovely stitching on the card ..... it is just perfect for spring Thanks again Raewyn and Sheila of course for hosting the swap.

And this is the one I sent to her

Here in Canada we have a special stamp out ... a fabric stamp for the anniversary of the Canadian Flag. It is a $5,  which works well for the overseas postage.

see you at the next swap 

not sure what it will be 

but I am sure it will be another

fun theme

in stitches

Annette

still snowing .... still sewing

With all the snow happening I am glad that I love to sew and I have been teaching some  classes to share that love.
Here are a few samples of the T-shirt blocks that will become quilts.

I have put a few things together in the last couple of days
a couple of tote/shopping bags. Both from the same amount of fabric  just a different shape and handle style.

an idea for another class ...... no Y seams. This one is a perfect size for a baby quilt.

samples for my next class Pick a Block Place Mats..... the first one is ready to machine quilt. I had hand quilted the first samples.

my quick reference cards

I do find that I learn a little more about teaching from my students and try to improve with each class. This is coming from a gal that hates to talk in front of any size of group. But when it comes to sewing I seam to do a little better. I thank my students for their patients as well, sharing their joy of learning and conversation and of course energy ( I am always recharged after teaching a class )

Here is a little something that Hubby and I make ..... portable pressing surfaces, with a handy handle on the backside.
in my last class they all had them....and loved being able to have their work areas all together

I will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network  . It's been a while since I have linked up This is a great spot to see what ladies around Canada have been up to.
Now to go and enjoy a nice cup of cocoa.
Thanks for stopping by
in stitches
Annette

Happy Easter

Spring is here even though we have a bit of snow hanging around
I want to wish you all  a Happy Easter
enjoy all your blessings

in stitches
Annette

Spring cleaning ..... well sort of

Well this spring I have decided to try and not start too many new projects without getting some past projects finished. I am going to grab what ever project is out and deal with it and then grab the next one.
Sew last weekend I put together the spiderweb blocks from one of the classes I taught. Last night I machine quilted it and it is ready for binding.

Next I grabbed the BOM that I started last year. I had 8 blocks done now I have 12 and only 8 to go. Slowly but surely I will get this quilt done as well.

Today I would like to get a few more blocks made for the T-shirt quilt class. I cuddle up with Tees class started last week, delayed a couple of days due to the weather. The ladies are going to have some great quilts. I have 4 ladies taking the class and every one of the quilts will be so different.
One lady is making a special block for a grad quilt. Another is making a memory type quilt with tees from her daughter's collection from hockey and university. Then there is the one with John Deere tees and fabrics and we have talked about adding some  photos onto the tees to fill some empty spots. And the last one is all Rock concert tees...... what great graphics I think it will be a well loved quilt...... they all will be . I hope to get a few pictures next week to share.

And now for a little touch of spring......

love those bright little posies 

And for new projects I did get 2 aprons made for a friend for her girls


Sew that just about wraps up this past week and looking at the calendar the month of  March  as well. Sew that's the start of my spring cleaning ... project wise any way.
Have a great week and happy stitching
in stitches
Annette

Panel and place mats

Good morning my friends

This morning  I am sitting here looking outside at the melting snow ...... not sure if spring is here or just teasing..... but we will take it.

The last couple of weeks have been very productive. We finished our Learn to Quilt class. It was 5 weeks full of new techniques and lots of homework. The ladies did awesome getting their blocks done. The next class on the list is a T-shirt class followed by a Pick a block Place mat class.

Pick a Block Place Mats
hand quilted and ready for class

I did get the  SK panel done for the Relay for Hope Quilt, it will be in the mail this week so that it can be added to the quilt.

 The finished quilt will be 12 feet by 12 feet. I can't wait to see if finished. It was an honor to be asked to be a part of the project. I hope they will enjoy the panel as much as I did working on it.

Let me tell you a little about the panel.....

I have created a background of a wheat field with a grain elevator, which every town had and as a kid you looked for when off to visit some family in the country. I have the geese flying in the sky as we are called the Land of the Living Skies. I have a silhouette of a RCMP on a red Maple leaf as Regina is the home of the RCMP.My friend Sheila sent me a photo of her to use for the silhouette.

Of course I included the Prairie Lily our Provincial Flower.

 The provincial abbreviation will be added in black when the quilt blocks are added to the center part of the quilt.

Thanks for spending a little of your day with me. 

Have a great Sunday and stay

                      in stitches 

                                  Annette  

Socks and stuff

Well I finished that pair of socks in the pink twist bamboo yarn. My tension was a bit off with the first sock and that used a bit more yarn and then I ran out of the yarn for the toe of the second sock.
I did a blend of two yarns I had on hand
this is what they turned out like

Sew with them done it was time to grab another ball of yarn to see what they turn out .... here's the start of the next pair

 some great yarn I picked up in Alberta last fall. I really like that pattern that is appearing as I knit.

I have the place mats ready to bind and I have started on the panel for the Relay for Hope Quilt.

Here is my sketch with the panel underneath.

and here is the panel sew far

And that brings me to the the winner of my blog-iversay 

Sheila from Sheila's Quilt World was the lucky on in the draw.

Thanks to all who left a comment and thanks to you all for stopping in to see what I have been up to.

Sew until next time 

stay 

in stitches

Annette

samples under constuction

One of the classes that I will be teaching later this winter is a place mat class ......a mini quit of sorts.
I call the class Pick a Block Place mats
Here is a sample of them ready to make into sandwiches

pick a block
placemats

I started with a leaf print and went from there.

Now to quilt and write up the directions and I will be set for class.

Stay in stitches

Annette

SNOW and more Snow!

Well maybe not as bad as some areas but we are still getting snow this morning. I hope everyone stays safe and warm while these storm systems go through the country. The weather man says it will be warming up again soon and we will all get through the winter.

And with that said on to some good news, I have been blogging for 4 yrs now ( as of Feb 14) .
Sew do you know what that means......... a Give Away of course. I will put a give away together select a winner next Sunday so that will give everyone 1 week to leave a comment to be included in the draw. I will add a picture later today of the give way, so do stop by again to check it out.

I have been teaching classes again this winter and we are in the middle of a learn to quilt class. The next class will be making a quilt out of your T-shirts.  I have 3 more classes after that and have to finish up the samples for the class and write up the info to go with them as well.

I have also taken on the challenge of creating a quilt panel for the Relay of Hope. The panel is to represent Saskatchewan. It will be part of a larger 12 foot square quilt. The Relay for Hope will be run from April until mid summer where it will finish up in Hope BC. I have to check out the starting point again. You can also check it out by looking up Relay for Hope. This project will help to raise awareness and education for Aids and HIV. here is the linkhttp://www.relayforhope.ca/
I will share a little more as I get going on my panel.
Thanks for stopping and leave a comment if you would like to be included in the draw. Please leave a contact email if you are a no reply commentor  ( I know it is hard to keep resetting that button , I have ot found a long term  fix for it yet )

in stitches

Happy Valentine's Day

the one I sent off to Selina

Sending warm wishes and lots of hugs out to you all for this Valentines Day.
With the  snowy weather we could use all the love and warmth we can get.
I received a wonderful Valentine from Selina in the mail earlier this week.
We were part of the post card swap that Sheila had organized.

thanks sew much for swapping with me
hugs

So stay warm and cozy out there and have a great weekend.

in stitches

Annette

We Support You.......Feb 11, 2015

It has been a great hop. I've been blown away with sew many great ideas and sew seeing much support shown through the quilted items.

Thank you sew much Pat and Mdam Samm for putting this hop together through time and talent a lot of support has been spread out there.

a show of support ....... one cup

or two

I had a start on my project before going on a holiday. Sew when I got home and got rested up I was back on track working on it. Once I got started it was easy to keep working on it.

I chose to make a tote for a cousin of mine who is going through treatments. I thought it might be a nice way to have everything she might need while at the hospital and other appointments  There is enough room for a quilt or extra sweater, pockets for glasses, water, novel or what ever else she might need. And it is already in use as has received it in the mail already
 I have been sew impressed away by some of the other totes you ladies have made. All the projects have been great, and such a nice way to show our support to those around us.

Now to pop it into the mail sew that she will have it soon.

Do stop by and see what the other ladies have created with this little bra design.

Feb 11^th  

Buzzing and Bumbling

In Stitches and Seams (you are here )

All thingz sewn

The Slow Quilter

Crayon Box Quilt Studio

Sew We Quilt

I am sorry to say this is the last day of the hop .......... but I know there is another just around the corner.

Thanks for stopping by and remember

to stay 

           in stitches

                    Annette

We Support You..... the the hops goes on

I hope you are still following along with the hop.

There have been some amazing quilted items made with Madam Samm's design.

The "We Support You" Friendship Quilt Pattern is available 

for purchase for $12.00 by emailing Madame Samm directly to

  madamesamm@me.com

Here is the rest of the hop , stop on by and see what the ladies have made

Feb 5^th  

Selina Quilts

Dutchess Crazy & Sane Quilting World

Moose Stash Quilting

Lovelli Quilts

Feb 6^th  

I Piece 2 - Mary

Baa's Amazing Adventure

Quilted Delights

The Blended Blog

Feb 9^th 

Stitchin By The Lake

 Tea Leaf Quilts

Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc

Seams To Be Sew

Stitchen' My Life Away

Feb 10^th  

 ^{Creatin' In the Sticks}

^{The Quilting Queen Online}

^{Everyone Deserves A Quilt}

^{The Quilted Cat}

Hill Valley Quilter

Feb 11^th  

Buzzing and Bumbling

In Stitches and Seams

All thingz sewn

The Slow Quilter

Crayon Box Quilt Studio

Sew We Quilt

Thanks for showing your support by stopping by

in stitches

   Annette

Holidays and classes

Well I am back from holidays and getting back into the swing of things.
We had a great time in Hawaii, we did some sight seeing

the first time we saw Whales ...
awesome!!!

and even took in a class ....... Hawaiian quilting :0)

my orchid block

I found out that you just take your time and enjoy the stitching while you work away on your block. We took our class at the  MAUI QUILT SHOP.  Here is a picture of my friend and I with our teacher in the middle

Thanks Elyn for a great class

Now that we are home again I have been working on my project for the blog hop ( coming soon ) as well as the classes I will be teaching in the next little while. 

one sample using t shirts in a quilt

I had a little fun making a Valentine post cards for a swap the Sheila put together .... here is just a peek.

Well that's all for now I have a little more prep to do for my class this week 

sew I bid you adieu

in stitches

Annette