Feed Your Passion Sale at Quilts and Calicos

This Saturday, Linda at Quilts and Calicos is having a THREAD AND FABRIC sale. Here is one day where you don't want to sleep in as you miss out on extra savings!

If you arrive between 7:00 am - 9:00 am you will receive a ticket to get 35% off your purchase.

If you arrive any time after 9:00 am until 5:00 pm you will receive 30% off your purchase!

I wonder if we are allowed to shop in our PJs? Hope to see everyone on Saturday bright and early!

Spring Cleaning

Here is a cute cartoon that we can all relate to when we start our SPRING cleaning.

Pathways Stashbusters quilt finally finished

Yesterday at HITC I finished my February Stashbusters quilt. I think I will quilt it tomorrow because it is really pretty and I can't wait to see it finished. Also it is for a friend's birthday back in February so I have to get cracking!

Here is a photo of the top.

Jane at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co.

Today is the Grand Opening at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. where my best friend Jane has set up shop with her longarm quilting machine. I will be leaving in a few minutes to spend the day in Jane's new home away from home. Congratulations Jane!

OK I am home from Niagara on the Lake and visiting Jane at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. It was a very busy Grand Opening as everyone wanted to come out and see what the new shop was like.

Here is a photo of Jane in her new quilting room at the shop where she will be on Wednesdays. The rest of the days during the week she will still be quilting from her home studio.

SOLO meeting at Jane's

The last Saturday in February many of the local longarm machine quilters had a SOLO social at Jane's house. I was there for days getting ready for the event and to visit with Jane too of course. We Mari Lyn from Bytowne Threads displaying her threads and we all had to buy a few spools of Aurifil threads. The pot luck lunch was delicious and we even had a cake to celebrate Helen's birthday. Jane was showing us her newly expanded longarm studio and taking registrations for the longarm classes she will be teaching. April is booked up but there are still some spots available for May! Here are some photos from the event.

Quilts of Valor quilts

I will be dropping off 2 of the Quilts of Valor quilts I machine quilted for Quilts and Calicos. Linda has had a few sewing days to make the tops and I will be quilting them so expect to see a few more photos in the future! This organization donates quilts to injured Canadian Forces soldiers. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Here are some photos of the first QOV quilts.

February Stashbusters Class

Well my fabric is all washed- yes I said washed, and cut out ready to go to Quilts and Calicos this week for Heather Stewart's next Stashbusters class called Pathways. I am still trying to use up my stash of fabric so that I can have the excuse to buy more. Hopefully this class will make a bit of a dent. Here is a photo of the sample quilt.

Back from the class today and had a great time. Will continue to piece this quilt next Friday and post a photo when finished.

Cheap Trick concert in Toronto

Some of you may know that I am a HUGE fan of the rock band Cheap Trick. I have made a few quilts for the band and usually try to give the quilts to them at their concert. This past week they were in Toronto again and of course I was there. After standing in line for 5 hours I was guaranteed a front row centre spot to stand for the show. Here is a photo of the Sgt. Pepper quilt I made for them as they were doing some shows in Vegas this past fall. This quilt is like the bass drum that Bun E. used at the Vegas shows. I also have a link to an article that reviewed the concert. Here is the link or if you just want to read the exciting part this is a quote from the article.

Someone in the crowd even tossed a beautiful, hand-made Cheap Trick Sgt. Pepper’s quilt onto the stage. Rick wrapped it around himself like a shawl ......

I had an amazing time as always and can't wait until the next show.

Here is the photo of Rick holding my quilt on stage!

Quick Handle Bags

Here is a link to a cute and easy grab bag that I will be making this weekend at Memories Manor. They have other fast and easy patterns too so have a look around their web site for more projects.

GRAB BAGS

Will post photos when I get the bag done.

(I'm back and here is the photo of the cute bags I made. I am donating a couple of them to the Ilderton Skating Club so they can raise money at their silent auction this weekend)

I Believe BOM at Quilts and Calicos

I am just quilting this adorable BOM from Quilts and Calicos. They will be offering it soon so that we can all get a jump start on our Christmas projects and get them done in time! Here is a picture to tempt you add just one more project to your list.

New Patterns

Well I am back shopping on line again. Here are the first patterns to arrive. I am sure the others will be here next week and I will post them too. I must have been in a tree/ leaf mood when I bought these 3.

One Year ago today, US airplane in the Hudson River

I watched a TV show earlier this week where the pilot of the US airplane explained how he had to decide where to land his plane that had lost power. There were only moments to communicate with the air traffic controllers and attempt to land at any closest airport or runway. I think we have all seen the news coverage of the plane land in the river and float there as the passengers were rescued. Last May while I was at MQS one of the entries in the quilt show was that exact photo turned into a quilt. Here is the news photo and the quilt photo. The hands that were quilted truly tell the story of the landing.

Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Quilt

Grace Church and St. George's Church are participating in creating a quilt block for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer quilt. Lynn Trute embroidered the praying angel and I pieced the block. Here is photo of the finished block. Once it has been pieced I have offered to do the machine quilting. It will be interesting to see all the blocks from all the different churches.

Jane's In Stitches is Expanding!!

WOW, What a busy weekend. On Friday I went to visit my friend Jane in Niagara on the Lake. She is expanding her long arm quilting business and has purchased 2 additional quilting machines. Jane will be offering classes at her studio and bringing in long arm teachers from the United States as well. In February she will also host a SOLO meeting as it has been forever since all of us long arm machine quilters have gotten together.

We spent all weekend organizing her quilting studio, moving everything around and then bringing in the 2 machines and setting them up. We also found time to quilt on the new machines and decided that I should visit more often so that we can quilt together.

Here is a photo of her studio and then of the 2 new machines. Can't wait to go back!

News about The Quilt Project

THE QUILT PROJECT TO WIND UP OPERATIONS

After 11 years of service and raising over $1.8 for Support for People Living with Cancer, the Board of Directors of The Quilt Project has made the difficult decision to discontinue the project. The organization has begun winding up operations, in accordance with the registered charity requirements of Canada Revenue Agency.

WHY?

Discontinuing an organization dedicated to raising funds to support people living with cancer was not an easy decision. We have been challenged by the current economic situation and the budget shortfall arising from organizations and individuals reducing overall donation dollars to The Quilt Project. The Board was encouraged to make this difficult decision at this time because a number of organizations raising money for Cancer now provide funds for support programs.

We are justifiably proud to note that the early groundbreaking work done by The Quilt Project has translated into support being provided by many mainstream fundraisers.

WHAT ABOUT THE QUILTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED AND NOT YET SOLD?

The uniqueness of The Quilt has been the source of the funds – wonderful works of art lovingly made by so many contributing their time and talent to support this worthy cause.

Before the Board made the difficult decision to wind-down the project, The Quilt made a commitment to work with “Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada” on a fundraising initiative and auction, to be held in the summer of 2010. Willow is a unique breast cancer support organization that provides free information and emotional support for those impacted by breast cancer. We will use donated quilts for this committed initiative and others that are aligned to providing support for people living with cancer.

If we have your quilt from the 2009 collection with us, or you or your group have sent in a “call for entry” commitment or quilt for the 2010 fund raising season, and if you no longer wish to commit this quilt for our June 2010 initiatives, please contact us. Otherwise, we are thrilled you will be continuing to support people living with cancer. We have been quite heartened by the enthusiasm that has been expressed to continue our work in this way!

THANKS TO ALL

We want to thank all the quilt donors, sponsors, volunteers and staff who have been a part of our 11 year journey. Carol Miller - as founder and visionary - has been the single most significant contributor to the success of The Quilt. Her dedication and determination are an inspiration to many. We thank her on behalf of The Quilt Project for her years of service.

Again, we thank you for your support over the past 11 years. Should you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to contact our office at 519-272-2588 or via email to quiltinfo@thequilt.com.

Mark Wiltshire and Gail Johnson Morris, Co-chairs on Behalf of the Board of Directors