This weeks hop spots

Featured Haunts On Monday October 26
Beads & Birds
Needled Mom
Fun Threads
Pampered Pettit
Vrooman’s Quilts
Pam G
http://grandmamasstories.blogspot.com/

Featured Haunts On Tuesday October 27
Tweety Loves Quilting
Sandy
Cate’s Place
Feather Your Nest
Why Knot Kwilt

Featured Haunts On Wednesday October 28
Bumbleberry Stitches
Meadow Brook
Sew Many Yarns
In Stitches & Seams
Seams To Be Sew

The Fat Quarter Shop is giving a $25.00 gift certificate for each day of this hop, You can enter at any of the featured sites of the day. Marian our host from Seams To Be Sew will announce the winner daily, and it will also be featured on any of the blogs that featured the giveaway entry for that featured day.

Only  3 days left in the Haunted Halloween Hop. There has been a lot of creativity out there from all around the world. Thanks ladies for sharing your talents with us.
in stitches
Annette

and the stitching goes on

 I am getting ready to do the next class at the college,Christmas Stockings I have enjoyed making these for a number of years and have even started to make them for gifts. 

I have been working on samples for the next classes and the  samples are now in to the college for the 2 wall hanging classes for Christmas one appliqued and the other pieced.

This week I got a little play time in and finished up another quilt for Victoria Quilts Canada. Nice color combo I am sure someone will really enjoy the warmth of this quilt.

all quilted and ready to go

I tried finishing the binding by machine, it stitched up nicely.
Well we are still having nice fall weather with cool mornings and sunny afternoons. I will take them as long as I can. I know that a change is coming and we will handle it just fine , I just enjoy the fall with it's sounds colors and smells. Each season has it's special touches sew let's enjoy them all.
in stitches
Annette

thursdays haunts

Featured Haunts On Thursday October 22
Quilt Shop Gal
Jane’s Quilting
U Can Quilt 2
RMS Handcrafted
Everyone Deserves A Quilt
Life In The Scrapatch

let's go hopping......
in stitches
Annette

and the haunting continues......

Featured Haunts On Wednesday October 21
Tea Time Creations
Grandma’s Stories
In The Boon Docks
Just Because Quilts
Just Let Me Quilt

Let go and see what creepy creations have be posted on these blogs today.
Remember to leave a comment and enter into the give away hosted by The Fat Quarter Shop.
I'm off to hop.....
stay in stitches
Annette

Day three of Halloween Haunts

Featured Haunts On Tuesday October 20
Quilt In Piece
The Quilting Queen Online
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Apple Avenue
Quilt Doodle Doodle

Remember to check out the blogs, enter in the giveaway from The Fat Quarter Shop. And if you are a no reply comment-er  pleas include your email so that the blogger can send a note your way. O know that even with resetting this on my blog that it just never sticks so I try to include a way to stay in touch.
Enjoy today's hops.
In stitches
Annette

a new week and some new spots to haunt

Mondays blog hop
Featured Haunts On Tuesday October 20
Quilt In Piece
The Quilting Queen Online
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Apple Avenue
Quilt Doodle Doodle
Happy hopping
in stitches
Annette

the haunt has begun .......woooooo

Featured Haunts on Friday, October 16
A Stitch In Time
Marjorie’s Busy Corner
Ravelly
Words and Stitches
Quilted Delights

Join in on the fun and see what has been brewing in these hoppers homes.

And on another note, this week we finished up the Free Motion Quilting class for beginners. I had 8 ladies learning and and quilting up their sample sandwiches. I know with some practice time it will be smooth sailing for them all. I remember when I first started to do fmq that I thought ," no way will I ever do this to a quilt", but now I do it more that hand quilting. I do love the look of hand quilting but find I need a long time to get it done and my hands get stiff so fmq is what I can do and get my quilts done :0)
In a couple weeks we will be working on Christmas Stockings. Right now that sounds early but when I look at the calendar I see that really it is not, just over 2 months until Christmas. Wow where did the year go??
Thanks for stopping by ...... now go and check out the hop
in stitches
Annette

Halloween Haunts 2015 Starts Friday !!!!

Here is the schedule for Halloween Haunts:

Featured Haunts on Friday, October 16
A Stitch In Time
Marjorie’s Busy Corner
Ravelly
Words and Stitches
Quilted Delights

Featured Haunts On Monday October 19
Charm About You
Quilting Affection
Moose Stash Quilting
Gracie Oliver Arts
Kwilt Krazy
Debbie

Featured Haunts On Tuesday October 20
Quilt In Piece
The Quilting Queen Online
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Apple Avenue
Quilt Doodle Doodle

Featured Haunts On Wednesday October 21
Tea Time Creations
Grandma’s Stories
In The Boon Docks
Just Because Quilts
Just Let Me Quilt

Featured Haunts On Thursday October 22
Quilt Shop Gal
Jane’s Quilting
U Can Quilt 2
RMS Handcrafted
Everyone Deserves A Quilt
Life In The Scrapatch

Featured Haunts On Friday October 23
Free Motion By The River
Quilt Art
Joan E
It Seams To Be Sew
From This To That

Featured Haunts On Monday October 26
Beads & Birds
Needled Mom
Fun Threads
Pampered Pettit
Vrooman’s Quilts
Pam G

Featured Haunts On Tuesday October 27
Tweety Loves Quilting
Sandy
Cate’s Place
Feather Your Nest
Why Knot Kwilt

Featured Haunts On Wednesday October 28
Bumbleberry Stitches
Meadow Brook
Sew Many Yarns
In Stitches & Seams
Seams To Be Sew

The Fat Quarter Shop is giving a $25.00 gift certificate for each day of this hop, You can enter at any of the featured sites of the day. Marian our host from Seams To Be Sew will announce the winner daily, and it will also be featured on any of the blogs that featured the giveaway entry for that featured day.

It should be a fun hop. There is sew much creativity out there and the ladies just shine when they get a little play time in. Enjoy and hop along with me.

in stitches

Annette

Thanksgiving 2015

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving
I am thankful for all my blessings
big and small.
Thank you for being among my blessings.
in stitches
Annette

What's in your Attic ?

Well for some of the ladies there dots or frost on the windows ...... some had critters and others just a nice print. Here are some pictures from the Attic window class ....

this 2 are going to be full size quilts
 so this is just a start

a couple for the kiddies

and for the holidays

a different attic window block
with lovely snowflakes in the windows

black white and grey
 what a great mix for the windows

Well done Ladies you made me proud of all you got done in class and your home work too.
Next week will be free motion quilting. This will be the first time teaching this class for me I am sure the ladies will do well.

I have been working on a few stockings for Christmas, here is the latest one finished and off to it's new home.

 I have been working on my projects for the Halloween hop coming soon. I will post the list as soon as it is up. Sew .....stay ......
In stitches
Annette

Fall classes have started

Yup I taught  the first night of my first class for fall this week. The class is a 3 D Attic Window  quilt.
It is done a little different only one seam per block and you get a window with little pockets. Pictures will come next week. ( forgot my camera ) The ladies have all picked different fabrics and have created some great combinations.
The class went sew well I am sure the ladies will have their quilt tops done by the end of the next night.  I will have a later post to show the steps and a link to the pattern.

A little frost on the roof tops again this morning. We have been picking off the garden and I have started doing up the tomatoes .... I will be doing them for a while with some salsa to help use up peppers as well.

Enjoy your day and happy stitching
    in stitches
         Annette

stitching stockings

A few stitches here and a few stitches there  and I  have gotten started on the Christmas stockings that I want to get made this year .....

2 down and about 4 to go.... maybe one or two extras I have to do a recount.
There will be a couple for baby's first Christmas.
With stockings this size I try to let Santa know that they do not have to be filled to the top, they just have room for those coloring books and story books and other such treats.
I will be teaching a quilt as you go stocking this fall sew this is a good way to get them made and get a little practice in for the piecing and quilting.
Some will be quilted after they are pieced and others on the go. The next one will have a appliqued center.
Have a great week and remember to stay
in stitches
Annette

newest member of my sewing collection

it came in it's own little travel / storage case

I guess it would be a collection when you have more than just a few machines. I may have to count them soon.
This week I acquired this one .......

A Singer 301A machine ... one of the first to have the slant foot I believe. Sew far it runs nice but
I want to clean it up as well as grease the insides before giving it too much of a work out.

I did some updates with my computer and I am having trouble loading photos sew it might be a bit before I get a bunch to share. There is always something to work our brains and retrain them it seams...lol
in stitches
Annette

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