I've got an idea

 ........ and I am going with it . I have been thinking of what I should design for the next and finial round in the McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star (QDS). Last week they told us who get to go on with the challenges and what the theme is. If you check out their site you can get more info. The theme is "Opposites attract". I have made a list of about 20 different possibilities and then narrowed it down to 3 and now I am working on one. I will be tyring out something different in this one .... fingers crossed I hope it turns out the way I see it in my head.


getting some ideas together

the first fabrics I have pulled for my design

Sew for the next little while I will be concentrating on this one quilt as I have to have it quilted and off to them around the end of the month.
Other than that I have been making pickles and starting to clear off the garden. Fall is here and today weather feels like it.

my jar of counter dills

the first batch of pickles

We have also started to bring back some of our stuff from the camp site, we  might get one more weekend out there. It was a very windy weekend ... just what the wind / kite surfer's like.

Well that's all for now take care
in stitches
Annette

Challenge 2 voting ends

It's down to the last couple of hours of voting, then the waiting begins. Tuesday at the end of the business day we can check the McCall's Quilting web page to see who the lucky ones are that will continue to design.There have been a lot of great quilts designed once again this round I hope you have checked them all out and in both categories.
It has been interesting finding out a few who have been voting and that they have gotten others on board to vote as well. It kind of snowballs. Sew I would like to thank you one and all who have taken the time to vote.
I can hardly wait to see who will get to go on.... sew it's fingers crossed while I wait. I'll be  keeping  myself busy while I wait to help the time go a little quicker. I think I'll be spending some time at the sewing machine. I have to get at my Free Motion Quilting Challenge and have it posted by the end of the month. I also have a couple small projects to get finished as well as getting my draw ready from my Bowls with Borders.
If you have not gotten in on the draw , check out the post and leave a comment and I will get you in.
I'll post as soon as I find out.
Have a good evening everyone
in stitches
Annette

Dead lines....

I finally got to my FMQ challenge for July and thought I better get that posted as today is the dead line to do that. I found that I wanted to stitch a little wavy when stitching the straight lines. Sew I took a straight edge, mine happened to be a small cutting mat to use as a guide.

using a guide to sew a straight edge

my July sample



tyring a little writing

 It worked great I just kept my foot along the edge and my line was then nice and straight.I know with practice that I should be able to stitch with out a guide but until then I think I will use it.

 I love this method of FMQ it has a lot of possibilities and I will be using it again. Thanks Angela Walters for the July tutorial , I 'll be watching for your books to learn more.
I'll be linking up with SewCalGal's FMQ July Challenge. I do not think it is too late to join in on the lessons. Check it out if you would like to learn a little more about Free Motion Quilting.

My other deadline is also drawing near ... Sunday midnight is when I have to have my design posted with McCall's Quilting for the Quilt Design Star Challenge. I will be sewing every night this week to get my design to the point where I feel it is done. Different folks think it looks great as is but I  feel it needs a little more and I want to make sure that I have my 20% of the challenge fabric in plus a little extra cushion to be on the safe side.I also want to do a little hand stitching on it as well. I do hope you all will like what I have created.


another little peak

It has been a little more of a challenge this time. As I have not had the extra time to work on it. I usually work part time and this summer it has been full hours for me, we have had company for a week  as well. I would not change it . as it helps me to focus when I am down stairs quilting and working with the time element is just part of the challenge.And who would have thought that I would run out of thread....... well now I have a good stock of colors for this quilt after my thread run on the weekend.
Voting will start on the 7th of August. Be sure to check out what everyone has done with the Challenge Fabric I know I will.
In stitches
Annette

Happy Dance

My design made it!!!!!  I am now in the next round of designing with McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012.

Thank you to all who voted  this round
in stitches
Annette
I just wanted to add that my wip is........ waiting on the mail  for the fabric that is to be a part of the Challenge 2 of the McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012. It will be my focus for the next little while. I will have until the 5 th of August to complete the next quilt top.
Sew in the mean time I will try and work out a few ideas sew that when it arrives I can jump into it. I will pull other fabrics from my stash and then pick up a few more ( we always need just one more it seams)  Then the playing will begin.
I am linking with The Needle and Thread Network
Thanks for letting me share my news
in stitches again
Annette

FMQ Challenge and WIP'S

I have been stitching out this months FMQ challenge and playing with it a little. It has been kind of fun just doodling with thread, and filling your spaces with many different designs. I have found that I need to use a better contrast of fabric to thread for it to show up nicely in a picture. This is what I have come up with this month.

I think I can practice this one more on some smaller quilts and loosen up my spacing. I find that I was wanting to stitch very tight and small, sew more practice will be required on my part to get this where I think it should be.

Thanks to SewCalGal for hosting this FMQ Challenge and to Cindy Needham for teaching us this month and showing us a different way to look at our quilting. I am always open to new ideas for my quilting,/playing. By learning/playing with our FMQ skills we will always be improving upon what we can do for ourselves and our sense of accomplishment grows......just watch that pile of quilt tops become quilts......

Now for my WIP's I have my Square in a Square quilt ready for the hand work part of the binding.

The doll has a little bra ( I may redesign that ) and I have started on her clothes. I just have to figure out how much embellishments will be done to them. I have tweak the top/jacket pattern by changing up the hem line and the sleeves, as well as adding darts to help give it shape.I do not remember if she had her hair last week but I know she has a do now. I may bead up some jewelry.

She's looking a little better now ....... just some fine tuning and hemming to do...

printed on fabric to make a garden flag

I am also making a garden flag to let folks know that I am participating in the McCall's QDS Challenge. I want to let people know that this is going on and for them to see what everyone in the challenge has created and to vote for their favorite.
 If you use my link to pop over to the voting you can use the slide show or gallery to view all the quilts in the professional category and then go to McCall's Quilting to find your way to the amateur category.

I will be linking up with SewCalGal`s FMQ June Challenge

as well asThe Needle and thread Network      ( a little later today I'm a ready a bit to early to post )
have a great day
In stitches
Annette

W.I.P. Wednesdays

Sew  now that the voting is in full swing on the McCall's Quilting site, I have some time to catch up on projects started.
I have most of the quilting done on my Square in a Square quilt from the conference

I love doing the candy ribbon in the small border      

I put a bust line on the doll from the conference as well now I can work on the clothes and then her hair sew she will not look like and alien.

ready to design some clothes and a hair do

I have Guide Me Safely Home all ready to machine quilt as well. That's the nice part about this competition the first two rounds it is a quilt top only that has to be completed and the last round it is a finished quilt.Quilt Design Star 2012 home page. Check out the site and read up about the participants on the Editors blog.
If you would like to vote for me I have a voting link on my side bar.

I also will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network,
 check in there to see what everyone else has been up to this week . Here is a link to help you find your way      The Needle and Thread Network
 I also want to say thank you to Flo for the little package I received yesterday in the mail..... a prize for the correct answers to her name that tune post cards.

thanks Flo

I'm  sure we all will be stopping in to check out the new to us shop
and all those threads you have in store

and another goes to Creative House .... they sent out some lovely threads with Monika when she taught a thread painting class here.  they also gave us each a spool of thread and a coupon for their shop..... a little late but thank you just the same.

thinking of new projects to try out with these goodies

And lastly Thank you to McCall's and all their sponsors for the QDS.  The box of goodies will take some time to fully enjoy ( a lovely selection of fat quarters from different companies as well as some other great  quilting items) The McCall's site has a better shot of the goodies.

And of course I want to thank you all out there that are supporting me with your votes.
In stitches
Annette

McCall's Quilting QDS has started and a Tuesday tidbit

First off  I just want to let you all know that the voting has officially started ...... link on my side bar. Stop on by and vote for your favorite quilt remember that there are two categories and you can vote once a day in each one. If you go to the McCall's Quilting home page you will find links to all the quilts in the competition.
Good luck to all the participants. There are some great quilts in this round.

And now for my Tuesday tidbit I kn ow it's been a while
sew with out further a due here goes
While working on Guide Me Safely Home in the camper I came up with a way to hang my design wall...aka plastic picnic table cloth with a flannel backing.

I used ..... what else but picnic table clips on my cupboards above the couch

This worked perfectly, and did not take up any extra space and did not damage the cupboards by slipping  the clips on. ( the clips are still there waiting for the next project )
I also will use the clips to hold a garbage bag at my work area just to try and be a little tidy.
 Now to  come up with a way to hang it in the house.... right now I use a bunch of pins into the frame of a bookcase.
That's all for today.

Remember to go and vote
in stitches
Annette

McCall's Reveal and give away winners

 The next round of voting begins June 19 - July 8

                                                           Guide Me Safely Home
My Challenge 1 piece using The Storm at Sea block from the McCall's Quilting Web sites free block patterns. Be sure to check out what everyone else has created and start to vote for your favorites starting tomorrow June 19.

doing a re- think on my layout at this point
sew I made my sea while I thought it out

a few close ups of the Applique,some hand and some by machine with a little thread play for detail

I hope you all enjoy what I created. I have enjoyed this challenge and how it got me thinking outside the block. I may have to do up the other quilt that I had designed using this block sometime this summer.





And now for the give aways of some of Marci Bakers QTools . Last week I mentioned the give away and from the comments left on that days blog  here are the winners

SharonB
Bonnie58  could you please contact me sew that I can get your mailing address ( non-reply comment)
Sheila from Sheila's Quilt World

I will be adding a generous fat quarter of a camping themed fabric for you to play with.
Thanks for playing along.   For more infor  about QTools check out Marci Baker's web site, while there check out her videos for using these products as well as many other useful videos.
Have a great day..... rain or shine
In stitches
Annette

Featured Quiter

Today I am the featured quilter on the McCalls' Quilting blog  here is a link to find it easier

McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star

Last night I submitted my quilt for the next round of voting. Which starts on the 19 of June Once a day until the 8 of July.
Be sure to go over and check out what has been created I am sure it will be a goo d show.
in stitches
Annette

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

one more sleep

almost all packed except for the groceries. On my way to the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference .( SSC )

 I keep thinking I am going to forget something...... but there are stores in Humboldt sew not to worry I can always go shopping.

I use the lable tags to mark the class
and day of the week to
keep the bags striaght

Trying to keep all the classes sorted out, I have them bagged in very special bags from one of my favorite shops... Haus of Stitches in Humboldt.

I will also be taking my lap top with EQ7 loaded and paper and colored pencils to play with some ideas I have for the Challenge 1 part from McCall's Quilt Design Star competition. I have to have my quilt top made by the 17th of June and voting starts on the 19th.I have a few ideas fooling around in my head I just have to fine tune them and then decide on one.
While I am gone my youngest will turn 30 I find it hard to believe that, that many years have gone by. They will always be my kids even though they are all grown up and doing well for themselves. We are very proud of what they both have accomplished in their careers.
One of the classe sthat I will be taking will be the start of the quilt for my son's birthday quilt.
Well it's getting late I best get a couple more things done,
in stitches
Annette

W.I.P. Wednesday

Boy do I have a lot of W.I.P.'s on the go..... at least that is how I feel
I have my Chickadee form the class that Monika taught on Sunday.

a little more shading done

I have a little table stand quilt with a home made chalkboard center to finish

memo board

May's FMQ Challenge

I have almost forgotten to get my FMQ challenge for May done ....Just finished it up. ( I leave on Saturday for the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference for a week )
I used a green thread on the pink, thinking it would show up more ....... really it is there.

I'll be linking up with SewCalGal and the May challenge with this one.
I'll also be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network with my W.I.P.'s
links for both are on the top of my side bar ..... be sure to check what they other have done .....



I also have one more item on the table, but I will not be showing it for a while
It is for the McCall's Quilting - Quilt Design Star 2012.
Be sure to check out the link here to see all of the winning designs in both categories.I'm in there in the Professional category.
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/contests/Quilt_Design_Star_2012.html

Sew now I will leave you with a finished quilted item...
Star Fish..... my blueprinting wall hanging  :) It took a while to get all the beading done.

In stitches
Annette




p.s. any one in the Watrous area ... there will be a small quilt show from May 29 to June 23 at the Gallery on 3rd.