Brampton Quilt Guild Quilt Show - TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was set up day for the Brampton Quilter's Guild quilt show.  Ah - one of my favourite days! It is a lot of hard work - well make that physical work. I don't mind that so much, but after 6 hours - well my leg just doesn't like standing for long periods of time. Yes - I must get to physio!

And yesterday was the first day that I got to TEST the wagon!  I LOVE IT!!!!   I put two big heavy totes in there, a box of bull dog clips, a ladder, my quilt and some other paper and in ONE TRIP - I was in the arena!!!!   Do I love my wagon?  You bet - it was worth every penny!

Carrying stuff into the arena for set up!

Anyway this weekend is the Brampton Quilter's Guild quilt show.
Saturday, May 2 - 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday, May 3 - 10 AM - 4 PM

Location - Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre - 292 Conestoga Drive

There is a LOT to see:

•  MORE chunk of the months (the block of the month that I designed) - great way to compare colours, values and quilting designs
• A couple of Dear Jane quilts
• Some Bonnie Hunter mysteries - several different years
• The results of a couple of challenges - amazing creativity
• There are loads and loads more to see

There are some GREAT vendors from out of town.  Yep - going to be some shopping happening. It is nice to get the vendors from places that we don't normally get to - like Fonthill, Alliston, Waterdown, Waterloo - oh yes - you got to come out for those!



Bring your camera - take lots of pictures - look for some great colour schemes, look for quilting ideas. This is the place to get those ideas!!!!   Nice hand and machine work on the quilts.

Oh yes - we have mini quilts for you to buy tickets on, our big raffle quilt which is beautifully quilted. Lots and lots of stuff to do.  Hope to see you either today or tomorrow.
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We had Thursday Therapy this past weekend and Oksana was getting herself organized for a gorgeous quilt.

Oksana's first block!

I have been doing some work myself - not much, but some!!!

Binding made for two fleece quilts - I cut the binding strips a bit wider than normal because of the thickness of the material used in the quilts

Bottom insert on my latest Chubby Charmer

I have been trying to get this mystery quilt done for Quilts at the Creek which happens this summer. Sherri Hisey (Border Creek Station) developed a mystery for people to follow along with the idea of having the quilts on display this summer. Typical Sherri style - there are a LOT of pieces!  But I managed to get the 12 main blocks DONE!!!!

12 blocks done!!!!!

 I sewed them together in rows (as per the instructions). I had pressed each row again - according to the instructions. Hmmm - now what? as I had not pressed the rows.  ACK - she wants the seams twirled! Well I love twirling so twirling it is.

The block pressed

The reverse with all the seams twirled

I am almost finished Month 5 and there is ONE last clue to finish the quilt. I haven't printed it yet, but hopefully on Monday night I will do that and then the final assembly begins.

I have to teach a short class this morning and then I will be at the quilt show all afternoon - hope to see you there!!!!!



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel...................

I am happy to report and my thumb is as well (it is getting pretty sore) that I am ALMOST done - well still about 3 - 4 more hours of correcting my mistake and then it will be over.  I can't wait as that seems to be weighing on me. Once it is done, I hope the flood gates will open and I can move on.  Not that I haven't been working on other stuff when I take a break.

Scraps and more scraps!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is what I found in the latest scrap bag.

Lots of cut offs to make half square triangles. There is enough there and they are bigger than the ones from binding strips so it might make a small memory quilt. 

Also found this sort of shiny knit fabric - looks like snake skin!!!   Well - it is chopped up and gone. 

Into the pet mat

Someone and for the life of me I can't remember who, but that is probably best. This is NOT a bag of scraps. Oh no - there is a LOT of valuable strips in the bag. Bright strips that will make an awesome kids quilt. The donor even said when she handed it to me that I would probably have fun with it, but wasn't something she wanted to deal with. No problem!!!!!

The rest of these pictures are from Thursday Therapy last week.  Looking for a cool new toy????   Look at this - do you know what it is????

Any ideas?????

It is Mary's little RED wagon - a FOLDING little red wagon!!!!   I love it!!!!!   There are many times when I could use that to get loads of crap from the car to a meeting or whatever. May have to look at getting one. 

Mary was working on a UFO and she had her blocks laid out. Love the colours!!!!!

Cathy was working on her mystery quilt - 

Anita was working on her Welsh whole cloth - it is stunning

Looking great -

Virginia and her cute little appliques for a border for a child's quilt - those circles are PERFECT!!!!   She used Karen K Buckley's Perfect Circles to make them

And look at that crisp clean edge of her applique.  I LOVE IT!!!!!

All her bits ready to stitch down - that is a LOT of leaves. 

Remember the other day when I was experiencing screwdriver envy?   Diane had come to a free motion class and brought with her, the cutest little orange screwdriver. Well - a quick trip to Home Depot and now I have not one, but THREE of the little screwdrivers!!!!!   They were $4.99 - great to tuck in a purse or project box.

Mini screwdrivers from Home Depot

Wow - always so much show n tell and I am still way behind in getting the pictures posted. Well about one week.

It's embroidery club and while they are stitching away, I'll be doing some correcting.

On that note - have an awesome day - it is going to WARM today.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!

Call me preppy!

Yesterday I had an AHA moment. I realized that I LOVE to prep projects. I could look and touch and feel fabric all day. I love to sort it, I love to figure out how best to use it, I love the calculating, I love the "what do I do if I run out", I love the labeling and sorting and bagging.  I am just a NUT!!!  But seriously - I love to do that. I also love the sewing part, but I never seem to get a lot of that done and when it comes to finishing? I'm not so good at that!!!

Before you think you can hand me your stuff to prep - think again!!!  I have so much of my own, I certainly do not need anything of yours to prep!  But figuring out what to do with boxes of scraps - yep - that is for me!!!

Did you have a look at that mystery from the Black Creek Pioneer Village??  I realized that Step One was the fabric requirements. That's a no brainer - I am using scraps and if I run out of scraps - I will cut the rest from yardage to create more scraps for the next project. So Step ONE - DONE!!!!   Step two has THREE separate sections for cutting and sewing. I have all the lights cut for all three sections. The medium (red) and dark (brown) are on the cutting table, waiting to be cut later today.   I also finished the prep on that other quilt that I want to make. It is all in a bag and waiting for some sewing time.

I did manage to tidy up the two LIGHT scrap boxes, but they are both ready to burst if much more goes in there. I am also using these light scraps for the Itty Bitty Blocks from Quiltmaker.  But there are a LOT of smaller pieces. I know what I want to do with them - just need some time!!!!

Last week instead of having embroidery club on Wednesday morning, we went to the Mississagua Guild to help with the Outreach program. We make up kits, some people sew, some quilt - can you guess what part I do???   Yep - thought you would figure that one out!!

The quilt that Tish built!

She is busy quilting it

Lynn putting borders on her quilt

Pat is busy sewing something

Oh - there it is!  Some panels she is putting together. Notice how she has set up a little sewing corner for herself. Ironing board, cutting table, sewing machine. She made herself right at home!!!!

This quilt was getting backing and batting raedy

Diane was working on this quilt. We had quite the conversation about the direction of that strip. Technically it is a vertical print. But I tried to convince her to use it horizontally. who is really going to care!!!!  And there were four pieces - perfect to get the right length!!!  We had a moment of misunderstanding when she was insisting the pieces weren't long enough and I was saying they were. Then I realized that she was taking into account the direction of that strip. Funny how we all see things differently. 

Lots of hands on deck make fast work!!!

The "shopping" area

Look what landed on my cutting table - I CAN'T help myself. I am attracted to the brights. 

 Next time - I will try to work with some of the florals because I have great ideas for those as well!!!! OK - that is not going to happen because I have a couple of other pieces (brights) waiting to be prepped into kits!!!

I managed to get ONE kit completely cut. Mary (from Monday) is lamenting that she is running out of projects. So I am going to keep her busy with the kits from the Outreach. She doesn't even belong to the guild but that is OK. It will be WIN WIN for all of us.

Bright kit for Mary to sew!!!!

Then we had Thursday Therapy this past week as well. Another awesome day!!!!

Mary (not the same Mary who has nothing to sew!) is making bags for her daughter's wedding shower!  They were all different and had a zipper. Very nice!!!!

Paula got her duffle bag completed

including the covered button!!!!   She thought the pattern said "covered button" instead of "covered bottom!"   We all had a good laugh over that one!!!!!

Susan was working on log cabin. This makes me want to get out some fabric and cut a log cabin. This is GORGEOUS!!!!!!

Each time we meet, our sewing groups are getting to know each other a bit better. We know each other's secrets (which we will NEVER share), but NONE of are willing to go this far........

Washrooms under renovations!!!!!

Actually - there was another washroom that we could use. But I had to laugh as I bypassed the "DO NOT ENTER" sign to see what was up. I knew there was some renovations going on as the men's washroom has just been completed. Can't wait to see the new bathroom when it is done!

I've been busy working and I have tons of pictures to show you. They are all edited and tucked into folders and I will get to them - a bit each day! I have NOTHING to do today. Well - I have NO appointments, NO classes, NO one is coming over. I don't even have to get out of my PJs if I don't want to.

But I have big plans for the day - I hope to clear off the cutting table  (and not just swipe it clean - no everything needs to be processed and put away properly!!)

Messy cutting table

And the ironing board and the floor around it

Plus I have two quilts I would like to get done today. So it won't be stressful, but it will be busy!!!!   Wish me luck and pray that I don't get distracted. I don't have time to get distracted. What - NEW FREE PATTERNS?????    Where?????   Check out this web site - you will be drooling before you scroll too far down the page.   NO NO NO - we cannot start a new project.  Many patterns are FREE, but others can be purchased.


My kid is finally getting the gardening experience. I know - she is a bit late for that. But we now have broccoli growing in our front room.

Broccoli - yes I have told her to keep rotating the pot so they grow up nice and tall

This is the tree outside the front window. That blue spruce is FULL of birds. In the morning, they are all a twitter and it is cool to listen to them!!!!!   I need to trim the tree, but they live there and I don't have the heart. We can't open the window because of the tree. I know - I need to trim the tree!!!!

On that note - I am out of here to get some work done.

Have a great day!!!!!!   Get outside - it is going to be nice!!!!!   The girls and I will go for a walk later.


Ciao!!!!!!!!

Paper paper paper!!!!

Ack - I just can't get ahead of the paperwork game!  I will try - I will really try, but I know it isn't going to happen for a while. I should try to throw out or deal with five pieces a day?  I know that won't work either. I am going to have to get up one morning with nothing to do (oh - there is the first problem!) and then purge purge purge!!!!

With clothes or kitchen stuff - it is easy to say NOPE - I don't like it or YEP - I like it. But with paper - well I might need that information, I have to process the information, then I have to find a spot to file it.  I guess the best thing for me would be to create files for everything without giving the content too much thought. Then when LIKE THINGS ARE TOGETHER, I can go through a folder one by one, I could evaluate what I want to keep.  Oh yes - OK - I am going to keep that in mind and try to file some stuff every day. Like things together - then purge! I think I can do that!!!!

Yesterday was Thursday Therapy. Another GREAT day of sewing, except that I forgot to pick Linda up!  DUH - it wasn't until about 10 AM that I remembered that I was supposed to pick her up. ACK - how did I manage that?  I had a lot of stuff on my mind that morning and that probably was the cause!

I went to see Still Alice earlier this week and this woman's early on-set Alzheimers is pretty scary, but I'm attributing this "lost memory" to a busy brain!  If you haven't seen the movie - I would recommend that you go. You will cry - take tissues.


I have learned that I am incapable of taking just one project to sewing days. Nope - I take several and why do I do that???  Because I am trying to fill my basket or whatever container I happened to be using that day!!!!

The bigger the container - the more I take!!!

Container of hand work!!!

Oh there are a couple of things in there that I brought home (donations from others).  But I did get some trimming done, I did get some tracing done for fusible applique, I got the snaps sewn on that jacket so that will never have to go back. I sorted out another project and got some cutting done.  Oh yes - I was very productive - now I just need a day where I can actually sew to get that stuff together.

The interesting thing about our sew days - you NEVER know what people will be working on. Remember Mary's itty bitty fabric swatch from a couple of weeks ago????


Shoot - that sample was so tiny - I can't seem to find the picture!

Anyway - Mary was working on some banners for her daughter's wedding shower!  I think the blues are a perfect match!!!  Since I can't find the swatch - we'll never know!

Banners for wedding shower

Anita's gorgeous cushion cover!!!

I see so many people coming and practicing their free motion.   They are pretty smart when you think about it.  Go to the class, get the information, then come to sew days and should they have a question or two - I am there to help them out!!!!!   Yep - that is why these sewing days were started!!!   And you should see how far some of these ladies have come with the quilting. I think it is time to step up the size of projects or the intensity of the quilting!  But seriously - the improvement is incredible!  Just goes to show you how practice and feedback are two CRITICAL learning tools.


Well I have a "free" hour this morning and I have two things to do - one of them involves paperwork so I had better get to it before I get side tracked onto something else.

Have a great day! - Stay warm!  (even me - who is generally optimistic all the time - I am getting a bit tired of the cold!!!   At least the sun is out and that makes me happy!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!

Progress..........................

It is COLD outside today!  However it is only as cold as you want it to be. You can be freezing or you can embrace the cold and enjoy the sun!  I think you know which side I am on!!

We had another amazing day at sewing yesterday. And the work that people are getting done is awesome. Here is a sampling of some of the stuff people got finished. Some of these pictures are from Monday!

Claudette went to a class (at Bead FX) where they decorated dominoes.  This is side one

And here is side two

I love that kind of stuff. Not sure what I would ever do with it, but I just like the idea of creating beautiful things and artsy stuff.  That is what I will do when I retire from quilting! Like that will ever happen!!!

Joyce brought in some of her 4th of July pieces to show us. 

Karen finished ANOTHER little duffle bag. See her first on on the left - this one is for a young boy to store his cars and trucks. I love that idea!!!!

And Tish finished her duffle bag. 

But I have to say that Anita stole the show n tell show on Monday. Why?  What was she making????  You would never guess - so I will just show you a picture.

Yep - that is a bra - she not only finished one of them,

 -She finished TWO of them

 She has taken some extensive workshops on bra making and I have to say that these looked VERY professionally made. She did not model them for us but we all had a good look at these ones and see the pretty little rose in the front!   They even have wires. Awesome job Anita!!!!

Karen was bound and determined to make another bag. She made this one at home - no help from any of us!!!  She did an awesome job. 

But something very interesting happened with this version of the bag. While she used the same filling in the handles as she used in the others, the handles on this bag were a bit whimpy. I find it hard to believe that the quality of the fabric itself affected the feel of the handle, but it did and by a lot!  So beware - watch the "thickness" and "quality" of the material. There is NOTHING wrong with these - they just have a very different feel from the other versions that she made.

Linda was working on her bag and decided to sew the instructions right into the bottom of the bag

Lynn completed her bag (notice that she dressed so the bag would match her outfit) and here she is demonstrating the correct way to carry the bag!  

Sharon got two borders on this bright panel quilt

And she also got the last border on this redwork quilt

Mary was cutting out a gorgeous quilt and this was the LEFTOVERS from the fabric requirements. That is a bit much for leftovers if you ask me. And she wasn't sharing those leftovers!!!!  They were beautiful colours

There was tons more - the room was jam packed on both days but I didn't get pictures of what everyone was working on!  One day - I must get them to pose for a picture!

I have several laundry baskets in the studio - each one has a different category of stuff in it. One of them is quilts that need to be hand bound. One needs labels, one needs borders - you get the picture.
Well last night - I got the binding completed on one more quilt. I think there are six left.

Binding hand stitching complete!!!!

This basket of quilts just needs labels!

Yes - I am working my way through stuff - just not fast enough, but the important thing is that progress is being made and well - that is all I care about.


This is what I was working on yesterday and I have a bit of an issue with it - OK - I worked on two things and an issue with both!!!!

You can see that I had to piece that black strip (we can see the wrong side of it here) because there wasn't enough black fabric in the box

But when I got home - I found this in the scrap box - I hope it will be enough to complete the project. 

I also got this next seam sewn  in these crazy blocks of mine.

I was looking at them this morning trying to decide what to do with them now and WHAM - it hit me. I know exactly what to do with them. Can you see it?????   Nope - you can't really tell by looking at it this way.  Just wait - all will be revealed in a week or so.

My crazy blocks

Now I read something the other day which I thought was funny. I am not sure if I can remember exactly what it said, but it was something like this - "I can't remember what I forgot!"   Come on - you know what I mean by that.  I need to make a list of things that I am looking for.  I am still looking for that sweatshirt that I was working on and wanted to finish. I was also looking for another project which I found last night while looking for the sweatshirt. But I am also missing one more box with my Itty Bitty Blocks in it. Where or where did I put that?????

You see - while things are in pretty good shape - when I have to move things around - well I lose a few things from time to time. They are here - just where??????

On that note - I have loads to do today and I had better get started.

Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!