BACK IN ACTION!!!

Hi Everyone:

I'm so glad to see that members picked up the slack while I was goofing off.  Well, not really goofing off, but let's say, 'otherwise occupied'.

Last week was another wonderful meeting, the highlight of
 which was Julia's mini-workshop on embroidery.
She had so many examples of amazing works she has
done - really beautiful!!!  We all got handouts of samples
of stitches and how to do them. It was a great lesson and
I am sure our next quilts will all have some embroidery on them!!













And...... one of us won a prize of floss and a pattern - ME!!!!!



Now these two beauties are
on their way to Scotland with Linda
for two really lucky young lads.
What could be more uplifting on a misty Scottish day!!







Mary T. and her musical themed quilt
for one of her grandchildren who's really
into music.  Boy, won't they get a
great kick out of this!!!







                                                     

And this is Mary S's result from last year's
workshop with Bethany Garner.  Now, this is
out-of-the-box.  But, I'm not going to make
any flippant crack about how long it took,
because,   




.....this is Sandra's "Autumn's Final Fling" which her
co-members saw her working on TWO retreats
ago.  Hey, better late than never!!!!  (And if truth
be known, I still haven't finished my Bethany
Garner!!!

Julia's bright and beautiful quilt (in the works)
for an ailing friend.  I'll bet this quilt perks
her up!!!








And finally, one of our quilts for the Quilts of Valour
made by guild members, but in the process of being
quilted by Mary S.





Next meeting, April 16th and Allison will be showing us all about snow dyeing.  I don't know where the snow will come from, I sure hope the weather doesn't supply us.  I'm sure Allison will have it all figured out.  Should be great fun!!!  Hope to see you all then.  Remember, if you know of someone who might be interested in our little guild, bring them along!  The more - the merrier!!!  See you all on the 16th.

Sandra

March 5th Meeting

Our last meeting was small but productive. There were only five members in attendance but there was lots of show and tell, stitching and chat.

                
  Anna had gone well beyond the points and curves applique demonstration given by Julia last year and finished a wall hanging with borders and embroidery.

Anna was working on the finishing touches to her wonderful lap quilt, which we have watched progress over a couple of years. Jae added her valuable comments on bead colour and it's nearly done.  

             

   
 Pam brought in her Sashiko square from Allison's recent demonstration. She also finished appliqueing the maple leaf on one of the quilts of valour strips.

Jae surprised us again with another completed quilt top. Last meeting she showed a cathedral window quilt she made after Julia's demonstration and then this top was made in just two weeks! Jae is now putting us all to shame.

Here is a close up of all her perfect points and great colour combinations.

           
This is a table runner Mary made in a course at Quilt University. It wasn't quite finished for last Christmas and still has basting threads, while she decides if more quilting is needed.

After the Holidays

Even the January freeze did not keep our guild members from making it to our meeting, bringing with them some wonderful Show and Tell.

 

Barbara brought in a finished top for a quilt that was inspired by Japanese fabric and design.
 

 

Rita shared her quilt-in-a-day put together using a package of squares purchased online. The quilt has a home; it is a gift for her friend's new baby!







 
Allison brought in some of the challenges she has been working on for the Beaconfield's Quilt Guild. This one showcases the use of modern technology in an age-old art, blending digital printing on fabric. The Chinese symbol in the centre means "joy."

Jae completed the quilt she started in the fall following our visit to Courrepointe Claire. She mastered three different quilt patterns within the design, and found time to cross-stitch the corner blocks in the middle pattern of the quilt. She really is an inspiration!
 
Mary displayed the top for the Quilt of Valour that her group completed on our latest Saturday quilting bee. However, I am not going to show it just yet. You will just have to visit us later when all three quilts will be on display!

Later,

Debbie

 

 

SOOOO MANY QUILTS!!!!!

Hi Everyone:

This is my third try!!!  Sometimes this thing just won't co-operate!!  Debbie where are you!?!?!?!?!

Well, we've had a busy few weeks.  This is one of those few times when we have meetings back-to-back because there are 3 meetings in one month.  So there's a bit to cover.

First off, the 6-Border Challenge.  The Unveiling was held and some of our girls went to see all the entries.  Below are the ones entered by our members.

This is Mary's.  You've see some of this before at the Retreat, but this is now the finished version.  Absolutely beautiful!!!  Who can resist those COLOURS!!!  Great work Mary.

And here's Anna.  Again, you saw the beginning of this
at the Retreat, but here it is with all borders finished.
Once again, WOW.  Look at those colours!!!!  Some
people have no fear!!!  Good job Anna.

And here's Allison's!!!  And leave it to Allison to come up
with something completely off-the-wall!!!  WOW!!!  Wonder where she comes up with these ideas.  Looks like she's pretty happy with it too!!!  You never disappoint, Allison!!

The above three are the Show and Tell that meeting.
The one on the left is Allison's.  Unfortunately, the computer refuses to see this as an ocean scene!!  What it sees, I have no idea, but try to envision it on it's side.  It's beautiful and what you can't see is that the foam is all beaded.  In the middle (below) is Rita's sewing machine cover.  Never has a sewing machine been so well cared for.  The quilt on the right is also Rita's.  I think we have another over achiever here.


Our first overachiever is Jae.  If you remember, she bought a bunch of fabrics the evening we were at Claires' and I joked that we would see a finished quilt by next meeting.  Well, I wasn't far wrong.  Here are two pictures.  The first one was shown at our first meeting after Claires, pinned, and the second one is the next meeting (one week later) with the center all sewn and the borders all ready to be attached.  Wouldn't we all like to produce like that!!!!

And here's Julia giving us a workshop
on Cathedral Windows.  She recently spent some time out East and entertained us with
her stories, pictures, and teachings.  Great
job Julia!!!

And finally, for Show and Tell, Anna, (left) and yet ANOTHER quilt.  This one has 100% cotton batting which she hand quilted.  She won't do that again!!!  And on the right, Sandra and her new jacket with fabric she bought at the Vermont Quilt Show.  So, you can see every Guild has the "quickies" and the "slowpokes".  Oh well, as long as we're still quilting!!!!

Speaking of quilting, we will all be getting together this Saturday, Nov. 17th, at the Church, to continue our work on our Raffle Quilt and the Quilts of Valour.  We will start somewhere around 10am and probably finished about 3pm.  You don't have to come for the whole thing, but try to drop in and spend some time with us.  We'd love to see you!!!

Happy quilting!!!

Sandra

A Visit with Claire & Saturday Morn

Hi Everyone:

Sorry I'm a little late with this, my computer and camera were not talking for a while, but all seems to be settled now - I hope!!

Tuesday evening we went to Courtepointe Claire, where Claire hosted a wonderful evening for us.  Here's Audrey, Pam, Julia and her friend - as you can see, some are looking at quilts and some are researching the sweets!!!  Claire and Julia provided us with the munchies and they were great!!!




And here are a few more desperately searching for something to buy - Linda and Mary - I am sure they didn't go home empty handed.





And Debbie and Jae - guess who doesn't like having her picture taken.  Jae managed to find all the fabrics for her upcoming quilt.  Guess that will be finished by next week!!

Everyone had a great time.  Claire showed us many of her teachers' and students' quilts and all the ribbons they had won!!  Claire talked to us about her many varied classes, her teachers and how she buys fabrics.  Really very interesting!

We spent a lot of time searching high and low for the choicest pieces of fabric and the best gadgets and, oh ya, KEYS.  Some dingbat, who shall remain nameless lost her keys.  (They were in the back seat of her car, unfortunately the car was LOCKED!!)  Many thanks to Allison who drove everyone home.  The dingbat was taken back the next day to retrieve her car.  All's well that ends well.





Saturday morning and many of our Guild members are hard at work planning for our new community project.  Three quilts for the Quilts of Valour project.  Here's Mary, Mary, Pam and Colleen with the arduous job of find the right fabrics for each quilt. They are going to be beautiful!!!

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And here's Sandra hard at work sewing together the squares that Allison got started at the Retreat.  Everyone had about 15 x  5" blocks to paper piece, then Allison put four together to make the star and now we're putting the stars together.  It really has punch and it looks gorgeous!!!  Which is making this job very easy for Sandra - we all know how she LOVES punch!!!

Another Saturday sewing day on November 17.  You should really come out - it's great fun!  Even if you just sit, chat and keep us company!!

See you on the 30th.

Sandra

AND NOW YOU'RE UP-TO-DATE!!

Hi Everyone:

Well, last night's meeting was jam-packed with all sorts of ideas and plans for the upcoming season.  Julia outdid herself!!  She is going to have us quilting, quilting, and, oh ya,  shopping for quilting fabric!!

First a reminder that the CQQ Meeting is Oct. 13th in Entrelacs.  Anyone interested in going, please visit the website for more information.  www.caa.ca

First up is a field trip to Courtepointe Claire in Laval.  Claire has a really nice evening planned for us - there'll be refreshments, presentations, she'll be talking about what workshops and services she offers and also give us some info on the trips to Europe she is planning.  Should be a great time!!!  AND, we can always buy some fabric!!!  We'll be leaving Montreal about 6:30pm on October 16th.  If you're interested in joining us, please email Julia and let her know if you need a lift or can drive.  Julia at stitchergirlca@yahoo.ca

On October 20 and November 17 we will be getting together at the Church to assemble all those beautiful squares that Allison put together at the Retreat!!  They are looking fabulous and we can't wait to see the quilt all put together!!  We'll be starting at 10am, bring coffee, snacks, a lunch and we'll work until we can't work anymore.  Also we're going to get started on our charity quilt.  Our charity this year is the Quilts of Valour.  This is a wonderful organization that donates quilts to our returned and returning servicemen in thanks and appreciation for their service to this country. If you can't come and spend some time with us, drop in and say "HI".  It would be really fun to see some of our Associates!!!

On October 30th, our super-organized Rita will be giving a demonstration on making 8 pointed stars.  Rita makes everything look really easy, so this should be a snap under her tutelage.  Also, if we're lucky, she'll give us some tips on keeping ourselves organized at the sewing table.  Take a look at the blog from our Retreat.  Talk about orderly!!!

Julia is heading out East soon to take a class on Cathedral Windows.  (Maybe she'll do a little shopping while she's there too:))  And, when she returns, she will teach us everything she knows!!!  So be sure to be at Guild on November 6th.

On November 20th, our computer wizards will introduce us to the fascinating world of computer workshops, including Quilt University.  The Fabulous Four will be Debbie, Allison, Mary S and Linda.  They've all taken classes and will show us how easy this can be.  Below are two pieces from a class on Baltimore needle turn.  If these are any example of what's to learn, I'm guessing we'll all be on our computers soon!!

A new challenge has been issued by the Cdn. Quilters Association.  The measurements of the perimeter of  all quilts finished this year
will be turned into the CQA in an attempt to get that measurement to reach from
the East Coast to the West Coast.  So everybody, get sewing!!!

Date of our Christmas Party is December 4th.  Please keep that date open.

And let's not forget Show and Tell -

This is Anna's circles - started last year, embellished like crazy at Retreat, and substantially disembellished for it's showing last night.  Sometimes, you just gotta undo!!  Looks beautiful!!

And Julia - we've seen this before unfinished, but now it's finished and gorgeous!!  Julia used some variegated thread on the borders and tufted the inside.  Looks really great!!





Well, that's all for now folks and it's about time too, eh?  Well, sometimes there's just a bunch of news!!!

Have fun quilting!!

Sandra