some stitching for me ....

cat tails and grasses
my try at an arrangement 

Well sort of ..... I did get those tote bags made for my daughter and her kindergarten class. I made 21 one for the teacher and 20 for the kids. This worked up 10.5 m of fabric. I used fat quarters ( 18 x 20 inch) to make them up. I had a few given to me by a good friend who thought this was a great way to use up those ones that had no purpose just yet. There was very little wasted off each fat quarter sew this was a great little project.

all boxed up

Then there was a little mending and   a little label ... here is a peek

the little guy on the top of the label

now it is time to work on class samples as well as make a few Christmas stockings .... some are gifts and some will be samples for the class in November.
I will be teaching a few classes this fall with the first one on the 15 of September. It will be an Attic Window class but with a twist. I am sure the students will like how it goes together.

The next class will be a Free Motion Quilting class. We will be learning the basics and working on sample  quilt sandwiches.
This will be followed by the stocking class and then a couple classes with  a appliqued wall hanging
and another quick wall hanging.

I have also been asked to be a part of a blog hop for Halloween ...... that should be a haunting good time.
Sew that's all for now ...... I have missed being in stitches  and sharing with you all.....
enjoy what's left of your weekend

some shy posies
 from my garden

in stitches
Annette

netting done now what??

Well I'm stitching again....... not all for me but that's okay.
I have been working on some netting for a friend. I had to move up stairs to sew as it was sooo big and I really needed the extra room. That's done just to be picked up.
Now I am working on some little totes for my daughter the teacher..... for the kids in the class room. I am using the green bag lady's pattern   Green Bag Lady Bag Pattern   to make them up and using fat quarters to use up some of my stash. Just getting started so a picture will follow soon. I am also getting things ready to teach a few classes this fall.
Hope you all had a great weekend and
stay
in stitches
Annette

home again

and back to work.......
I am hoping to get back to my sewing again and when I do I will be sure to share with you.
It has been a busy few weeks here with a family reunion and lots of company and of course back to work as others take some time off too.
So stay in stitches and I will stay in touch
In stitches
Annette

Mail....... post card swap

Good things are worth the wait
Our post cards must have been around the last to be received on both ends. But received and enjoyed they are.

I exchanged with Tina Marie and she made me this lovely post card with cross stitching and embroidery as well as some beading in the sea weed. I think she did a fantastic job on the post card.
and a little extra on the back

My post card was done with a product called  inkodye

    it is a sun sensitive dye and works like the blueprinting a did a few years ago. You can get it in a number of different colors and works like a charm.

  I did a little accent stitching and some applique. Tina Marie is very sweet and calls it a work of art. Thank you Tina Marie. I just love to play with fabric and paints too.

I did get some other sewing done in the last little bit .

I finished this quilt and just have the binding to close off on this one.

 Next will be working on the family reunion quilt for this years gathering I want to do another signature quilt so the major sewing will be done after the reunion so no worries about not having all the blocks built ahead of time. I did make a couple little bags that we Janel will fill with books for a kids item at the family reunion auction. 2 fat quarters make the bag ... quick and easy using the green bag lady's pattern.

We have been getting to the lake and doing a little fishing and relaxing.
So I may not post for a week or two again but I will try an d get some sewing in when i can .... even at the lake.... that's where I have been binding the quilts.
take care
in stitches
Annette

working on the attic

I have been working on an attic window quilt. I am making it a bit larger than a baby quilt but I have run into a standstill and have to pick up a bit more of one of the fabrics to get it to the size I want.
Here is what it is looking like sew far

on the design wall with the border strips 

I am liking it sew far and think the blues / teal will show up nice when the borders are on all around.

That's all for now 

have a great week

in stitches

Annette

a few stitches in time ..... or at least the last couple of weeks

Sew I have not posted much in the last couple of weeks but here is what I have been up to.
Some stitching for  a little girls birthday ..... for her dollie

the little dress from before with a hat and a tote.
accessories are important for a little girl's dollie

a little something for the beach
(beach towel and tote are made from a washcloth)

Both of these patterns the dress and the bathing suit I found on Craftsy. 

I then made another little item for the beach .......

Flip flops of course
one set glued and on set stitched.
I will wait to see how the test out for play.
and then refine them.

I then thought I would try a pillow case type dress for both the little girl and her dollie

After this stitching I then got busy with the quilt for our family reunion

it was a beautiful day sew I did my FMQ outside

quilting finished that day
and the binding by the end of the week
All ready to cuddle with 

Then I was getting busy with the post card swap that Sheila had organized  for the summer/beach / sun theme. I played with some sun sensitive dye ....more on that in a later post

just a hint of the postcard until it arrives

And lastly for a weeding shower this weekend I made this table runner and a couple of pot holders with the extra blocks

Well that's what the last couple of weeks were like in my sewing world. Next on my list of to do will be a couple of baby quilts and getting another signature quilt ready for this years family reunion.

I sew enjoy getting time with my machine and creating. Big or small I love to try it all. 

Thanks for stopping by and spending a little time with me. I hope you all have a great weekend. Ours looks a little wet right now , but that's okay we need some rain to get the crops growing.

In stitches

Annette

SSC Bra Design Class

Today was full of learning.
It was Bras Design changes day.
We learned the fundamentals in design changes on paper as well as on a 3D model.
There are sew many possibilities in designing a bra to suit your needs or desires. Some of the little changes on paper make huge changes in fabric. Here are a few of the steps we learned from our basic paper pattern

step one your pattern pieces

cut basic pattern out of a sew foam or light weight batting
to form a 3D form to draft on

cut on your drafted lines and then
make a paper pattern and then you
are ready to construct a sample cup

sample of a Diagonal seam cup
with a 3 pieced bottom cup and
a under wire inserted

Well there you have it in a nut shell of what we did today at Saskatchewan Stitches Conference.

There were sew many other great classes on the go today from garment sewing , quilting, spinning and of course bra making and a few more.
Tonight after meet the teacher I was told that the ladies were going to start making Pillow Case dresses to donate  to a case that one of the students came across........ sew on ladies 

That is all for me from the conference I only went to the two classes and wish I had signed up for a few more. This is a great place to get inspired and learn more as well as met new friends with the same passion as you. I am sure I will be back next year. 

If anyone is in the Humboldt area this summer stop in at the museum and check out the display of past projects as well as projects inspired from classes attened.

In Stitches

Annette

Sasskatchewan Stitches Conference 2015

Well it has begun .... that busy time over in Munster Sk at the abbey.
sew many stitchers in one place over May 28 to June 7 this year sewers quilters and knittersand do not forget the spinners and hookers..... rug hookers.
Our first night was to listen to a speaker on colors and knitting. The speaker was Brandon Mably from the London Studio where he works with Kaffe Fassett. Very interesting to listen to and afterwards you wished you had signed up for one of his classes as well...... those who did get in where very pleased with all they learned whether it was the knitting class or the quilt class.
 I took a class with a good friend this year, it was called the Brava Bag with Dianne Jannson. I was not sure that I needed another bag and then looked at my purse a while back and thought it is looking ready to retire so why not make one. And sew we did we both got our bags done and are using them already.
What do you think.

2 color choices and 2 very different looks

showing the back pocket

Today , Sunday is our day off. Sew with that we sewed. Susan finished her bag in the morning and I made this little dress.

a little doll dress

In the afternoon we started on some bras ...... that will be our class on Monday..... Bra Design changes.
This year I have only signed up for the 2 classes and I will surly miss the ladies when I go home after class tomorrow. One of my favorite teachers and a friend as well has headed back already. We did get a chance to chat a little but would have loved to have had the chance to catch up a little more. I will have to write or even give her a call and not wait until next year.
Last night the speaker was Liz from Janome , telling us of some the new machines. Tonight it was Dianne Jannson on quilting and Ron Collins on clothing construction and pattern choices.
It is great to get to met the teachers and find out what they are up to and make choices for next year.
Time to turn in as the alarm clock is set sew that we are not late for class.
Stay in stitches and I will tell more later
                Annette

one quilt starts another

I have my signature quilt done all but the label. Not bad for one that was started back in 2005 , that's when the signatures where captured. And with it at that point I thought about using some of the leftover fabrics from that and starting another. Sew I started cutting 5 inch squares and started to build 9 patch blocks and 30 units later I thought I had enough for a D9P  aka  a disappearing 9 patch block. And with a couple borders I have the top done and ready to pin baste as soon as I piece the backing. I will be using this quilt in our family reunion auction. I went with a scrappy look as I find those are the quilts that one tends to want to cuddle with and just plain use them. To have some consistency I used white on black and black on white as the center squares in the 9 patch.

And now a few days later it is pin basted and ready to quilt. it is about 74 x 92 inches almost a full queen size quilt. I love how it is turning out and I am sure it will be cuddled with by someone in my family. I hope they like it as much as I do.

I am all packed , sewing wise and just have to get my over night bag packed and I am off to the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference in Munster SK hosted by Haus of Stitches.
This year I am taking 2 classes one is called the Brava Bag and the other is a Design class for redesigning your bra pattern. Both completely different but should both be a lot of fun. I am taking them with a friend that had moved to Humboldt a few years back sew this will be a bit of a girls weekend :0)

Last weekend a very dear friend gave me this wonderful box of chocolates......

 but these chocolates have a different filling

who would not like to have
a few extra spools of thread
Thanks my dear friend

Well that's all for now I will try to let you know how the weekend is going .....
                  in stitches
                                     Annette

Happy Mother's Day

I just want to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day.
and a thank you to Mdm Samm for sharing this lovely card.
in stitches
Annette

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