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