Ouvrages d'une Acadienne

Trapunto

2012-01-28T08:41:00.004-04:00

I did it!

tried several techniques but Karen Neary saved the day. I found some of the instructions tidiest and not very much fun. The instructions I got from Karen make trapunto fun and not so challenging or time consuming. Thanks Karen...
Now off to do a bigger piece...as I always say and
Kelly knows me to use this phrase!
"Go big or stay home" ..

La Guilde Acadienne de Clare is one year old! It is hard to believe ! So many wonderful things have happened with so many beautiful women. As I said at the meeting Wednesday ... "our hearts were filled with warmth every Wednesday as we gathered to exchange ideas on the wonderful art of quilting .
Quilting is the miracle of giving new life and purpose to fabric scraps. It can rejuvenate one's spiritual life, too, so you can imagine the spirituality that came through with the gathering of 76 women.

Now the guild is preparing to journey to:

http://quiltcanada2012.ca/

the Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax NS
in May on a bus tour... Fun!

May all your ups and downs in life be with a needle and thread.

All Done

2012-01-22T19:06:00.011-04:00

The quilt for the church lottery is all done and the tickets are ready to go on sale.

I signed up for ;

and I made a few pot holders for hostess gifts ...A Moda Bake Shop pattern

This was the one my friend Elaine thought at the Guild this week-end

The Fancy Folded Star......This pattern you will also find on Moda Bake Shop

and I made an embroidery one with my daughter Liette in mind as she collects birdhouses.. Perfect to put in her stocking...

I am now getting ready for a new project and I am going to try a new technique...

Trapunto.

It is bugging me to try this and now is the time. If anyone has any tips I would love to hear from you. Do you always use water soluble thread? I would like to skip the step where you wash your quilt to dissolve the thread. I am thinking I could stipple over the threads that outlines the "motif" (pattern) as I did in Karen's class of free motion. ???

A new challenge... How exciting!

The Bishop is Coming!

2012-01-12T13:30:00.007-04:00

I love to loose myself in an Amish book, and enjoy the simplicity of their lives. There are a lot of references to the Bishop in most of the stories and when I titled this post that is what came to mind.

Yes, the Bishop is coming..... to my church next Sunday to say mass and I thought it would be a good idea to spruce up the alter. There were table covers which needed to be replaced and so I made a couple of table runners. The embroidery design turned out very nicely.

and I must say they look very nice on the alter.

New Year's Resolutions.. NOT!

2012-01-08T13:58:00.012-04:00

I never make New Year's Resolutions and I have yet to look back and be glad the year is finished. That is not to say I did not have to face some challenges during past years but I never felt I wanted to wish time away. Sometimes I had to stop and go to my quiet place to reflect on a situation, only to discover what I knew all along. ---I was where I was suppose to be at that time and if things seemed unbearable I always remembered If He brought me to it He will bring me through it ... " Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted" .

Having said that I do like to brain storm as to what I would like to do in the New Year so I can have a plan of sorts. ( nothing concrete but a few directions)

Every first of the year my #1 goal on my agenda is to make a quilt to donate to my Parish for the yearly lottery. This is a donation I make in my father's memory and I love working on this project as I connect with my Hero, every stitch.

And Voilà here is the 2012 quilt.

The pattern is the Prairie Star; fabric, Garden Party by Blackbird. And now it is off to Agnes to be quilted.

On the new year's agenda is the Saulnierville Quilt Show. As I am responsible in organizing this event I have been listing the tasks which need to be done and when during the year they need to be done.

Check out the website to see the beautiful quilts from our region displayed at the 2011 quilt show. http://www.quilt-expo-couvertes.com/ ( leave a comment.. would love to hear from you)
Every year I think they will not be any more beautiful than the last year and every year the quilters come through with their magic and produce another aura of splendor. That is why I am so looking forward to the Quilt Show which will take place from July 30 to August 3rd/2012 at our beautiful church in Saulnierville NS. If you have plans to visit our region during the summer mark those dates... I will be there and would love to meet you!

I read on some blogs the "Word Up" for 2012 and they are all so exciting. Last year my word was "Lessen" and I think I really honored it. I was not overwhelmed with projects, and I have been using my stash and not buying new stock just because it is a new line that is out. I finished my term on a council and did not replace that task with another. I take time for "ME", which brings me to my focus for 2012... It is not so much a word but a sentence I want to live by ...

"I am the one in charge of my day" ...

Here's hoping you choose your days to be the brightest, the most peaceful and the happiest everyday..
Hugs♥♥♥

Christmas Through the Year

2012-01-02T22:00:00.007-04:00

Darlene from http://quiltingdaze.blogspot.com/ and Cheryl from http://polkadotsandrickrack.blogspot.com/ are hosting theLast year when Allie hosted this, I was tempted to join but I looked at what I had on my plate and felt I should refrain from adding on more. In the end I did work on projects all year. So this year I signed up in hopes it will keep me more committed to my blog. I miss connecting with everyone .
How much will I get done? ?? Now off to the planning of what I would like to make for my first project.
Happy Sewing.

Happy New Year....

2012-01-01T20:50:00.010-04:00

Wow! 2012 is here! It seems it was yesterday that we were warned the end was here at year 2000.

Looking back on 2011 I have had a good year. Nothing magical just a very good year; "contentment" is the word I would use to describe it. My mom of 91 is well as are my children and 4 grand-daughters and of course my husband of 42 years, Gerald.

Christmas was fantastic with the whole family together..Here you see me opening a Kobo reader from my grand-daughters. They think it's cool to have grand-mama interested in new gadgets...They know how much I like to read and also that I am de-cluthering ( Carol's word) as I am finding good homes for all my "already" read books. The Kobo reader will clean up my book shelves. ( Next to me, the new papa-to-be trying to hide from the camera)

I enjoyed making each of the girls cushions in their Movie night stocking.. Here is Laurène's who specifically hinted to everyone that Blue and Bright green are her favourite colors.

I made a special after Christmas gift for my sister, Simone who came to visit for three days after Christmas. She is into shoes.. She loves shoes and she has a lot of shoes so I could not resist making her an apron ( which she also loves) reflecting her love of shoes. When Simone left we visited her and her husband Phillip ( a six hour drive) to celebrate New Year's with them. Simone quilts and makes cards. She gave me a workshop on card making and here is my first card. Elaine my friend from the Guild came one day while Simone was here and we made this pot holder called the "Folded Star" . I absolutely love it and want to make another one but I think I will make it into a cushion.

So now it is back to a routine and enjoying the best life can bring.

Bonne et heureuse année 2012!

Acceuil/ Welcome

2011-12-19T07:30:00.006-04:00

( "Acceuil" means welcome which is the theme for the 4th Advent week. )

Hope everyone is ready for the big day! Oh! I don't mean the shopping . the wrapping or decorating but ready to "welcome " the family and friends with warm hearts. Ready to "welcome" the new born Child. Ready to "welcome" the person/persons who are different than us.
That is my Christmas wish for you all as we enter into the Christmas week.

Yes I feel I am ready... to celebrate: And this year Jesus' birthday cake is a family favourite Gum Drop Cake
******The night before cut and flour the gum drops with 1/2 cup flour and allow to set overnight making sure they are well separated.

Ingredients;
1 cup butter
8oz cream cheese
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
2 cups gumdrops (Remove the Blacks and enjoy eating them. They are not baking Gums)
2 tsp lemon rind
1 cup crushed pineapple

Preheat the oven 325º-350º
Tube pan lined with greased paper
Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar,
Add eggs one at a time
Add vanilla
Combine flour,baking powder, and lemon rind and add to creamed mixture alternately with pineapple starting and ending with flour.
Add gum drops
Pour in prepared pan and bake for 1 ½ hours . If browning too quickly cover with foil )
Enjoy!
Sure to be a favorite for your family too!

Last Wednesday La Guilde had their Pot luck and Tea Towel Exchange
This one I received ..... Made by member Paulette Comeau.. Absolutely gorgeous...

It was a fun evening with beautiful people, and delicious food. For two hours "tea towels' entertained over 40 intelligent women, made us laugh and got us to know one another a bit more... Now that is the spirit of Christmas. !

I may not have time to blog again before Christmas so I wish you all the Merriest of Christmas filled with Joy, Peace and Happiness in abundance♥♥

More projects accomplished

2011-12-13T07:03:00.002-04:00

More projects crossed off the list....

A "second" set of place mats for Liette's birthday .. And

This table topper

A while back we had a Secret Santa event in blogland and Esther had used this pattern for her gift to her Secret Santa. I was in Ahhh! at the beauty of her gift. Not forgetting about this project I connected with her and she directed me to the pattern. Voilà! Merci Esther.

Happy 3rd Advent week.....Theme is "JOY'
Something that can be found in the heart of most quilters♥♥♥

Fun Workshop

2011-12-04T16:07:00.001-04:00

Friday, a few girls, members from the Guild, went to our favourite sewing machine dealer, "Knit and Stitch", for a fun sewing day. We always have a lot of fun sewing with

Diane and Heather who are awesome teachers. The project we made

reversed appliqué

for a basket liner

It's our daughter, Liette's birthday on the 9th

I made her place mats

All chocolate covered

Yummy! I was drooling all the while I made these and even dipped into my Christmas chocolate stash ..

Hope everyone has a beautiful 2nd Advent week.

The theme this week is "Patience" . It is so easy to want things "yesterday" but we must be patient and enjoy every moment.

Hugs

How Time Flies

2011-11-27T06:40:00.001-04:00

I can' believe how long it has been since I posted...

Of course things have not been standing still ..

The Guild had a Christmas Tea for a fundraiser ....

The Hall is all decorated....

The food is ready

The tree is decorated

And Elaine and I are all ready to serve in our newly made aprons .....Designed by the "Pattern Basket".

The tea was a great success and a fun event which will become an annual one for "La Guilde Acadienne de Clare"

I have been busy preparing my Christmas projects and playing with my embroidery machine.

Here is a pillow I made for my sister Simone. When we were young we spent a lot of time singing Christmas Carols and one song that was popular was O' Come All Ye Faithful .

I finally finished Miss Émilie's quilt♥♥♥

Remember the Quilt Along... by Kelly and Carol..

Simple Things.

The embroidered blocks have little messages from "Grand-mère".

I also made a bag. We had a bag day workshop at the Guild yesterday

and I made this one for an example. I used the "Verna" Charm packs that were just waiting to be sewn....

As in previous years my kitchen is buzzing and you cannot miss the aroma of Christmas goodies being prepared. Today I am going to help decorate Adrien and Monique's Christmas tree. Next year will be a different atmosphere in that house with the sweet sound of a little one...

So, no. things are never at a standstill..... and I would not want it any other way.

Happy first Advent Sunday!

Christmas comes early for us!

2011-11-05T07:16:00.001-03:00

Yes the Christmas blessings have come to us early this year! Our son Adrien and Daughter-in-law Monique are pregnant with their first child and our 5th grand-child, due in April

The excitement here cannot be measured!♥

I finished my Christmas apron

Made in the "Peace On Earth" by 3 Sisters; Design by The Pattern Basket
so now I am off to seek baby quilt patterns :)

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T20:33:00.008-03:00

Pumpkin House a Timbleberries pattern by Lynette Jennings

Everyone gets a treat... Miss Émilie..

Laurène and Ariane
And DIL Monique (Red eyes do it well)

and all is well...on this Halloween night!

Inspiring project....

2011-10-22T15:19:00.008-03:00

I finished my project I had started at Karen's workshop and I am pleased with the way it turned out. This will be the piece I refer to, to see if I am improving in my free motion quilting.... Now on to implement this in a big piece YIKES .. It is so much easier when the teacher is there behind your shoulder..
The Guild meets at the Saulnierville parish hall, which is my parish. The walls are large and I thought it would be nice to dress them up with a piece of quilting. I wanted an inspirational piece to keep us grounded when we get frustrated with our quitling projects...LOL

This is the piece I designed for that....

I call it the "Quilters Cross" La Croix des Piqueuses ..... and I hope it will inspire our members to not give up on those projects which often attack our serenity.

Our Parish is named the Sacred -Heart ( Paroisse Sacré-Coeur de Saulnierville ) and I found this embroidery design which is a perfect fit♥
I had started the stippling before I went to my workshop and when I came back I wished I had waited so I could have used my new skills and added some free motion quilting. Oh well next one!

More family fun and Updates

2011-10-15T16:15:00.003-03:00

More family fun at Keji Park last week-end..... Almost enough family members to fill the forest!

And the winner ...of my 300th post Suzette .. ( a member of the Guilde) a Karen Neary pattern... http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/sewkaren/patterns.htm and speaking of Karen Neary I made her a pin cushion. I credit the Red cardinal for our meeting .. In 2009 I noticed a post on Karen's blog about a red cardinal . It was a picture of a red one taken in her yard and I ventured onto her blog reading about her up coming workshop "Diamonds Are Girls Best Friend". That was it! My sister , Simone, and I signed up and we have been going every year at the Fibre Festival to her workshop. She is a super... teacher and designer....

Simone makes beautiful greeting cards
and she made a variety pack for Karen which she loved.....

The smiles say it all Elaine and Alisa joined us at Karen's workshop..... Free Motion for the Absolute Terrified turned out to be soooo wonderful. The fear dissipated the moment Karen put her skills to the task!

Simone, Moi, Karen, Elaine. and Alisa

Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain....That is how we left the workshop. Confident we could master that technique....

Thank You Karen!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-10T08:15:00.022-03:00

Happy Thanskgiving to all my Canadian Friends....What a beautiful day it was to celebrate with family and friends... For that reason we decided to have an outdoor event and joined Yvelle's family at Keji Park, where they were campling, and had our turkey dinner (Deep fried Turkey...Yum!)(with all the trimmings) in the great outsdoors.The whole family was there So grateful for all the blessings... Children, grand-daughters, sons-in-law and daughter-in-law. And my best friend ..Gerald... Yes that is me sewing... my projects are the first thing I pack when I leave home...
and yes, I am grateful for the ability to sew and create .
The project is a candle mat. My second one. I decided a few of these would be great to have on hand for hostess gifts during the Christmas holidays . This is my first one and the October project for La Guilde Acadienne.

Now I get ready for Karen's workshop

Free Motion Quilting for the Absolute Terrified... the title fits me well..... but I am sooo looking forward to it...

And the winner is?

2011-09-27T18:58:00.012-03:00

Thank you, everyone who connected with me on the blog comments or my e-mail. The mistake was very visible. The middle piece on the place mats is upside down. I appreciated the encouragement you all gave me by telling me you like them anyway! And the winner is Suzette Saulnier. She is the social director of the guild. Congratulations Suzette!♥♥♥
This was the workshop we had last Saturday... The technique is fabric weaving and I made a mug mat for my project. Some of the girls who did the project at the workshop...I plan to make a larger piece probably with more Christmas fabric. And I am still working on my Garden Party Blocks..I have to start thinking how I am going to put them all together...
Hugs....

300 hundred Post....

2011-09-20T04:50:00.003-03:00

I am amazed at how many wonderful people I have connected with in the last three years since this blog was set up. The years have brought exciting times together and some wonderful support for the challenging times. I have often felt we were sewing together in the same studio with the quilt-along we had. I have enjoyed seeing your projects as well as meeting your families. I am especially grateful for the many tutorials that have been shared here in blogland and we cannot forget the delicious recipes.

I was fortunate enough to meet two wonderful bloggers in person.. I count this as the highlight of my blogging experience...

First, a wonderful Canadian designer and Nova Scotian Karen Neary... I happen to come upon her blog which had a post for one of her workshop at the Fibre Festival in Amherst. Diamond are a Girls Best Friend (Seen on the wall)
in 2009.

My sister, Simone and I signed up and drove the six hour drive to Amherst . We now make it an annual event. October 15/11 will soon be here :)

Next my friend Michelle...

We met when Gerald and I were on a bus tour to San Antonio Texas last year 2010... and enjoyed a beautiful dinner at TGIF in Little Rock Arkansas. Went shopping at Jo-Anne's and had a heartfelt talk which was so natural it felt we had been meeting every week.

And there is Kelly ...We never met in person but we skyped on Friday afternoons to sew together and shared wonderful life experiences.

The greatest honor I received was a quilt she designed and named itAcadienne in my honor.....

The honor was shared this summer when Kelly sent me the little quilt and patterns for the girls to use in La Guilde Acadienne de Clare. Merci! Kelly♥♥♥

Now to celebrate the event of my 300th post....

When a sales representative gave a gift of a fat quarter to the guild, Art Gallery by Cador Textiles, I decided to make this,

a Karen Neary design

Around the Table

Everything went well in making this project but at the very end of the machine quilting I found I had made a mistake. It was too late to correct it and I was not about to throw the piece away....

Now for the challenge I am extending to you.... can you tell me what the mistake is?

Visit Karen's website http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/sewkaren/patterns.htm to see the original pattern without the boo boo . Leave me a comment that you discovered the mistake and e-mail me your answer.
Do not give the answer in your comment post.
Your name will go in the hat for a draw and on September 27th.. my birthday. I will send the lucky winner a pattern of the Around the Table by Karen Neary.

Thank you for all your support et merci beaucoup♥♥♥

Even if we have not met face to face I feel we have a special bond and get excited to see your name when you leave a comment on my post. Quilters form a special bond and it is so great that it is felt internationally because of Blogland .

Let's move on to the next 300....

A birthday wish will be coming true...

2011-09-18T13:30:00.019-03:00

Our oldest daughter, Yvelle's birthday is in November Ariane, Maman Yvelle, et Laurène

And all her décor is country .. so what better place to get gift ideas
than in this absolutely gorgeous book from

Chery Wall....

Here is the finished product....
Garden at the Cabin
It is my first from this book but it will definitely not be the last...
And once more Agnes did her magic At hand quilting.....Love it!

I made a few Christmas projects The Gift Mug Mats ...

And I continue to make thesestar blocks.

I have not counted how many I have .. I just want to use as much of the Jelly Roll and Charm packs I have open and then I will decide how to put them all together.

The next post is...... "Drum roll please"..my 300th ..

Wow! three hundred♥♥♥

I have a little challenge organized to celebrate this event with my blogger friends so stay tuned!

As we say in French...

A La Prochaine ( Till next time)

Hugs:)

This is the kind of week it has been.......

2011-09-06T07:34:00.002-03:00

BUSY BUSY BUSY! As I had mentioned I had quite a few meetings scheduled this last week but they all got attended to and I did fit in some sewing....

Elaine came to sew on Friday and I think we chatted more than we sewed...

She is the Guild's secratary and so we discuss issues about the guild . We started the meetings again and 10 more people registered ...:) total 63 members

I did get a Little cushion made for the Guild..

An upholstery company from Toronto donated all kinds of fabric to the guild and I sewed the project as a sample of what we can do with it.

Elaine was busy and made this beautiful project...... Table topper, placemats

"Around The Table" by Karen Neary

and she made napkins to match. Beautiful... She made this for a friend she visited this summer in Boston.

You can purchase this pattern here and others she has designed..

For my weekly projects I did get all my stippling and quilting done

as well as my two star blocks...
Although the weather is not fall-like I feel that fall is in the air and with it comes the coziness of wood burning and long evenings. That motivates me to do some hand quilting.
So I have a little lap quilt ready in the hoop..
It took me all of last fall and winter to do one that size, so I imagine it will be my 2011/2012 quilting project.. I am a novice at handquilting but I enjoy it and want to learn the right way of doing it. There are amazing hand quilters in the guild and I do hope to get some pointers from them.

Best wishes go out to all the students and the teachers who have returned to school today

Amy ( grand-daughter)... Last year of University in Social WorkYvelle (1st daughter and teacher) Ariane ( Grand-daughter) Miss Émilie ( Grand-daughter)

Laurène (Grand-daughter)and Liette 2nd daughter and teacher)
And Monique DIL and Teacher)

NO I did not make a mistake ...... Miss Emilie is in pre-school..... already .. Can you imagine?

Happy Sewing ..

From August 1969 to August 2011

2011-08-28T18:26:00.001-03:00

August 23 1969The scene of a beautiful wedding.. the day was perfect as it was 42 years later.

I love the blueberry season and one of the first dessert I made in my own kitchen for my new husband back in '69 was a

Blueberry Pudding.. a very old recipe from my Grandmother's cookbook

Brown Sugar sauce:

1 cup Brown Sugar packed

1/4 cup All-Purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups water

1 tsp.vanilla

Mix sugar, flour, and salt together well in med. sized saucepan.

Stir in water and vanilla. Heat stirring, until it boils and thickens.

Makes 2½ cups. Serve over Blueberry Pudding

Blueberry Pudding;

3/4 cups granulated sugar

2 tbsp butter 2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1½ cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

½ cup milk

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Put sugar and butter in mixing bowl. Add 1 egg at a time and beat well. Stir in vanilla.

Add flour, baking powder and salt alternately with milk. Add blueberries that have been dusted with 1 tbsp. flour. Spread in greased 9x9 inch pan. Bake in 350º oven for 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Serve with Brown Sugar Sauce.

Yummy! The difference with this dessert in comparison to the one 42 years ago is that Gerald could enjoy it. The one I made "back when"... the sauce had burnt a bit and it had that strong burnt taste but Gerald did not say anything ... and ate it anyway! It was only when I tasted it I realized it was burnt! He said he did not want to hurt my feelings .....ahhhh! newly weds:)

Our niece, Gerald's brother's daughter and our Godchild.. Catherine is going away to a hockey school in Cornwall Onterio Canada. She is only 15 but she is an inspiring hockey player and this will be the determining factor as to which University she will be going to if she wants to pursue in hockey.

Remember this... my Jelly Roll Quilt? Well I gave it to Cath before she left... so she can enjoy the comfort of a warm quilt when she comes into her room after being on the ice ..

Wow! a week goes by so fast... I finished my blocks

I made my table runner Wrapping Presents

I finished the placemats #7 and 8

and .. the " This and That" Cinnamon Twist

This week is a busy week at work, meetings in the evenings and the Guild reconvenes.but I hope to do some Stippling on my friend's bed runner. Remember, Elaine, and her fear of free motion? I offered to do it for her...

Happy Sewing and hopefully Irene will not hit us tomorrow as predicted.

Birthday Girl......Check list and More...

2011-08-21T21:31:00.017-03:00

Miss Émilie 3 years old already♥♥ A perfect hostess at her party :) and an excited one!

Sunny asked me if I do get my weekly projects done. If they are all cut and prepared for assembling they usually get done, but if I just make a mental note I end up letting it slip into my UFO basket .

For the Quilt Block Sampler

Block #4 is done and

block #5 is ready and on this week's agenda

My Garden Party Star blocks are done.. and I have two more cut for this week

My "Warm Memories" "This and That" table topper " Holly Daze"... On the list this week~ the binding

#7 of 12 place mat all stippled and ready for the binding this week..And #8 of 12 ready for the stippling ~

I was able to do an extra table topper..

Another "This and That" called "Cinnamon Twist... " On this week's agenda ~~ More Stippling ....

I did stipple my friend Elaine's pillow top.

She is registered in Karen's class, but for now the fear of free motion quilting is still very real... knowing how she feels I offered to do it for her. This is a gift for her daughter Andrea ( a very special girl) and La Guilde Acadienne's number one supporter♥

And last but not least I decided to put this Christmas piece, "Wrapping Presents" on my list.

it will be a table topper of sorts... table runner? table topper? Not sure yet... It will be a "Show and Tell" at the Guild when we reconvene and an idea for a future workshop.

So this is this week's agenda... Have a good week and happy sewing♥♥

Back on a routine and schedules

2011-08-20T21:08:00.010-03:00

I mentioned how it is great to have a routine again and I find it particularly exciting to plan new sewing projects.

As my previous routing went, every Sunday I go to my sewing room and decide on what projects I plan to work on during the week.

If I have enough time that day I prepare all the projects and then I get to sew when I have a few minutes on my hand.

So last Sunday I prepared the projects for this week ..

#1 Stippling of another place mat from the Mystery BOM from Fat Quarters.

#2 ... my star blocks in the Garden Party

I make two in the same fabric

#3 .. A This and That table topper
In the "Warm Memories" by Kansas Troubles.

and #4 I decided to go back to the quilt "Sampler"

and I am making it in the "Pumpkin Pie" by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass.

So that is what I had planned and tomorrow is another Sunday...

Work in Progress and Resuming the Guild Meetings...

2011-08-12T10:00:00.028-03:00

I am presently working on these blocks and have no idea how I am going to put them together yet but the star is what attracted me to making it, with

my absolute favorite fabric line
Garden Party by "Blackbird"

Remember this quilt?" Apple Crisp" , I had donated it to the church for a fundraiser. the winning ticket belonged to Christine Young from Churchill Falls (Newfoundland) Congratulations!

The last meeting of La Guilde Acadienne de Clare was the last Wednesday in June and we had a wonderful evening to close for the summer.
The girls presented me with a gift (surprise and I am not good at surprises). It is a print made by my favorite local "artiste Denise Comeau" and
yes, the picture is "Quilts in the wind". I love it!

Although the Guild did not meet this summer a few of us did get to sew together and Thursday we met at Elaine's

Her sister-in-law and member of the Guild, Denise, turned the big 60 Denise

so we celebrated with...
Clam Rappie pie, (french Acadien Dish), cake and ice cream but it

did not keep us long Denise and Suzette

from our sewing projects Elaine, Simone and Anna

Busy at hand sewing their projects.

The Guild resumes their activities on Wednesday August 31 and the first all day workshop will be on September 24Th .The project is .... "Fabric Weaving"

Here is the first sample...

2 color place mat and 2nd sample with more colors ...

Our instructor for the workshop and also a Guild member isGaile

Tomorrow is back to work for me .... vacation is all done for a while and it is back to a routine. Not a bad thing at all.

It is also the National Acadien Day and the Tintamarre takes place tomorrow evening from across the distrcit of Clare!

Bonne célébration à touts les Acadiens!

♥♥♥Fière d'être Acadienne ( Glad to be Acadien)

Summer's End

2011-08-11T16:26:00.027-03:00

The Quilt Show is all over and it was a great success.. in part thanks to the many wonderful women who volunteered their time to helping out at the show. Here we see Elaine and Jacqueline greeting the many visitors to the show and there were many. Everyday there were at least 200 people who registered to see the quilts. We sold eleven large quilts and many smaller projects... Tree skirts, place mats, bed runner, pillows etc. Thank you to all of you who came to visit contributing to its success.

As you know the ..

is all over... I finished all my blocks but as previously mentioned on another post I decided I would make my 12 blocks into 12 place mats instead of a quilt and here are six all done...

I used the left over fabric to enlarge the blocks I had no problem finding some fabric.. Kim http://www.fatquartershop.com/ is very generous with her fabric in the kits....

All of them are different ... The wreath is still my favouriteI choose stippling for the quilting. And all the backings are the same... I have six more to do..

It will be interesting to see which place mat these cuties

Ariane and Laurène

will pick for the Christmas dinner at Grand-mère's.

Émilie
I titled this post Summer's End because that is how I feel. August weather has not been the best in fact it is very cool, and there is also the fact that my vacation is all done. It is back to work Monday ...

Gerald and I did get away .. with no agenda and no schedule..
First stop....

Gerald

August 8th....the birthday boy......

Moi

at Anne Murray's Centre, in Springhill Nova Scotia. What an interesting museum. She is quite the artist ....

We had a very relaxing trip and what was most enjoyable, there were no time limits or schedules. We planned as we went♥♥ Ate too much, shopped a lot and of course sew along the way. I sewed the binding on the place mats as well as cut out some appliqué for another project while Gerald drove.

Now I feel ready to go back to a schedule and "work" will do just that....

Tis the season!

2011-08-03T22:00:00.008-03:00

A lot of places have Christmas in July events and being a Christmas (fanatic) admirer/lover it sparked my desire to make a Christmas project. A "This and That" pattern
"Holly Daze" in Wrapped in Paisley by Kansas Troubles.

It is also the season which brings on our Quilt Show in Saulnierville and as in previous shows the quilts are absolutely gorgeous. Over 200 quilts were registered which is an indication the Acadians still keep the art of quilting alive. Some of the quilts on display....

First and foremost "The Acadienne" by Kelly Guy!
The quilt show is an activity which takes place during our Acadienne Festival ... what a beautiful quilt and an honor to have it on display at the quilt show. Kelly Merci!
Pattern for the Acadienne quilt can be purchased at Cotton Charm Quilt Shop Inc. This one all hand made and one of many beauties..! Made by Jeannette Comeau And another one...by Jeannette Christmas Place mats made by my friend Suzette Saulnier Stained Glass Flowers by Debra HowardThis one by Marguerite Sullivan Absolutely stunning....

And some have my signature on it . Like this Quilt -along we made in the Charming Girls Quilt Club with Kelly.

And as a lover of appliquésthis is gorgeous, "Fancy Park"

I set up some quilting frames so that the visitors could experience hand quilting. Men were encouraged to sit and try this technique. Here we have a visitor originally from Germany. Our Parish Priest, Father Hyacinthe Allagebe, c.j.m. originally from Africa was willing to lend a hand at quilting our little quilt. After inspection by experienced quilters he did pass the quilting test. His stitches were small and even.

This quilt show, one quilter was missed dearly, my mother-in-law, but displaying her last quilts projects brought warm memories of our quilting discussions we often had.

This quilt is fantastic and is getting lots of comments. It was made for one of La Guild Acadienne member. Gisèle Doucet, by international cross stitchers. All the blocks are messages of HOPE in support for Gis while her husband was terminally ill and still holds strong support after his passing.

We are going into our fourth day of the show and it has been wonderful to meet so many people who came to admire the art of quilting.

~! I cannot begin to mention by name all the the people who have come forward to volunteer their time to make it the success it has been so far. To them "God speed" and MERCI BEAUCOUP!

Lots going on!

2011-07-25T23:45:00.016-03:00

I booked three weeks vacation and now I am wondering if it will be enough to do everything I hope to do.

It started Sunday with a celebration of Acadian Day in Grand-Pré N.S. ( This is a historical park depicting the deportation of the Acadians from their land). Our Parish " Sacred Heart in Saulnierville was honored this year at a special mass on this significant day . The honor comes to those who promote and demonstrate the Acadian culture in its entirety.

Gerald and I were honored to serve mass in our Acadian costumes. The cross Gerald was carrying was made by our son-in-law Timmy for the Grand-Pré Historical Park in 2004 when we celebrated "Congrès Mondial Acadien" ( Acadian World Congress)

I am also finding time to sew...
I made this bed runner for La Guilde Acadienne de Clare to sell at the Quilt Show and the pillow to match. It is made in the "Folk Art" by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass

Speaking of the Quilt Show ...Everything is ready for next week and there is evidence that it will be a big show. I am looking forward to working with everyone who has so kindly come forward to volunteer their time to work at the show. I am certain we will all benefit from viewing these beautiful projects and be inspired to "Sew" all winter.

Speaking of the colder seasons... I am looking so forward to attending Karen's workshop . in October during the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in Amherst N.S.

Karen says there are still a few empty spots for her workshop and you can register by e-mailing her directly.

She has a beautiful piece on on her site which inpires me to get into the Free Motion mode. I tell you if I ever get to do anyting close to Karen's work of art there will be no more quilting in the ditch here.

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer and for those who are fortunate enough to have a vacation .. always play safe and enjoy:)

It's running again...

2011-07-10T21:48:00.007-03:00

What have I been up to?

I finished Yvelle (our oldest daughter) 's quilt. " Garden At The Cabin" by Cheryl Wall . It still needs to be quilted and I have not decided yet if it will be hand or machined quilted.
Remember this?

The "Two Bits" Schinnible I started hand quilting a few "24" hours ago?

It is finally done! Yippee....

I am so excited my fingers persevered the pricking of the needle. It makes this for a very special piece as it is my first hand quilting project so I just had to give it to a very special person...

In the winter months one of our special times together is when Gerald reads to me and I do some hand sewing. A fire in the fireplace, a good book and a lap quilt. We are all set but hopefully not too soon as it is a winter event!

I must say I really enjoyed hand quilting.

I decided to make another bed runner

"Turnabout Is Fair Play" by Kathy Brown

The cushion...

For our last meeting at the guild we had a pot luck supper and during dinner we all had a 10 inch block which we appliquéd on, between courses. Then we were to do with it what we desired, so I choose to make a pillow to match my bed runner.

In Kim Dielh's book she has"Penny Mug Mats"

which are so much fun to make...Perfect project to pick up while enjoying the summer sun on the patio.

My computer is up and running again! I guess it was very very sick but then so was I without it ):

I have been working on the

I've ordered the embroidery unit for my Bernina so I am hoping use it to embroider

in the center of my blocks .

What's next on my agenda?

I have two more weeks before I'm on vacation for three weeks, at which time it will be the annual quilt show at our Church.

2010 Expo-Couvertes/ Quilt Show in Sacred-Heart Church Saulnierville N.S.

I have started making preparations for the 2011 . It is a fun event. I enjoy connecting with quilters in the region and showing off their talents through the beautiful quilts.

As for my next project.. uhmmmm? I have so many listed in my head I am never certain which one will be next until the fabric is actually cut.

So looking at my list I am thinking that having your computer break down is not a bad thing :)

Treated and healed....

2011-06-23T18:27:00.010-03:00

My computer had to go to the Computer Doctor and the procedure it received was a success. ( of course the Computer Doctor is the best in this mother's eyes ). A few years back I remember saying how I had no use for a computer. Talk to me now!

I have been working on my

Quilt Along.. but I changed my mind again.. You know how when you make a project and have just a little fabric left? Well that would be the case with the

small version of the Quilt Along so I am cutting the larger version (Carol's) size but I am thinking I will make Kelly's version with the embroidery.

Meanwhile we had the Bed Runner workshop for the Guild and everyone had fun making the runner.

My version is on the wall in back..

This is not a very colorful picture.. my battery was low... but the colors show well in the

pillow I made to match.. This fabric is Wild Rose by Blackbird ...
And the last

Mystery BOM is done.. next; to put finishing touches on this project...

I did not answer your comments but the support is always appreciated and hopefully the computer will be on the mend for a while.

What would we do without the
C O M P U T E R!

Quilt Along with Charming Girls

2011-06-07T22:09:00.013-03:00

Oh! this is really exciting Kelly and Carol have teamed up and come up with two beautiful quilts and are hosting a quilt along:) I couldn't decide which one to make so I am going to make both.... This is Kelly's, the small version and I decided to make it with.... Lily and Will. I am going to make the small one first. This is Carol's and the larger version. I will make it with... Summer End..This pattern just speaks to me in Kansas Troubles.

I probably will only attempt the large on in the fall because the summer looks like it will be a busy one and I don't know how much time I will have to sew.

The instructions for making the quilts will be posted on the Charming Girls Kelly and Carols' blogs so head on over for all the details .. copy the button, feel the excitement and come quilt along.

It has a name...

2011-05-29T07:53:00.012-03:00

Yes, my table runner was given a nameJoan's Stepping Stones and the winner with the most vote for the name submitted was Alisa♥♥♥ Love it~!

Oh~! there is an excitement in the air... Karen will be doing another workshop at the

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in October in Amherst Nova Scotia.......
and my sister, Simone, and I are all booked... I am singing the "Happy Song"

Speaking of Simone, she was visiting on the week-end and she brought me a surprise, as usual...

She made me this beautiful bag.... Side #1Side #2

And the inside... with lots of pockets .. I l o v e it and I have already packed it for my next guild meeting..

The week-end was fun with Simone... even if we never made it to the sewing room... Oh! but we did shop for sewing goodies most of Saturday afternoon... FUN! FUN! FUN! ♥Sisters are forever♥

What is my next project? The next guild workshop will be a Bed runner

.. and I choose to make it in

"Wild Rose" by Blackbird....

It will be the guild's last workshop for the summer and then off to planning the Quilt Show at our church. Running from August the 1st to the 5th...

Of course there will be thoughts around projects for the guild to work on when we resume in the fall....and the planning of workshops and special events.

Garden Party .....

2011-05-21T17:11:00.008-03:00

All done:) It is made with fabric from my stash but mostly "Portabello Market" by 3 Sisters. One (of many) of my favourite line. I really enjoyed making this quilt and had all intentions of having the project last all summer. The appliqué was perfect to do on the patio(if we get warmer weather). Of course once I got some blocks put together I couldn't wait to to see it all done.
I guess I just have to find another lap project to work on, on the patio:)

"Quilting Wisdom" comes primarily from two sources--- one's own experience and the other quilters. (Taken from Rachel T. Pellman's book " Tips for Quilters" )

Where is spring?

2011-05-01T16:12:00.007-03:00

We are not experiencing the full sense of spring here yet but we are not as unfortunate like some other Canadian provinces. The low temperatures is the only thing affecting our spring growth.

The members of "La Guilde Acadienne de Clare" were very excited to make the "Braid" Table runner because it is a quilt-as-you-go, so I decided to put another such project together and came up with this one.......

I did not give it a name and I challenged the Guilde members to come up with a name for our new project. They have until the end of the month to submit their ideas.. and a draw will determine the name of the runner... It is almost long enough to make it into a bed scarf so I may make another one and add a another block for that purpose.

The May workshop at the "guilde" ( spelled with an "e" in french) will be given by one of our members.. Debra Howard, and this is the project she will be teaching...

A scrappy Lone Star... This is the quilt in its entirety....A B S O L U T E L Y gorgeous...I know everyone will enjoy working on this project♥♥♥

As for me; I finished my "Garden Party" and it is at Agnes' being quilted. As soon as I have the binding sewn on I will post it.. It is one of my favourite project .

My grand-daugthers are growing and soooo very special...:)

Ariane 8, Amy 22, Émile 2, and Laurène 10. This was taken at Easter . No grand-sons yet....

Have a good week.. Canada has been in the election mode for a while now and tomorrow we vote!

Yes, Canadians lets do it! Go Vote.....

Easter and April Showers

2011-04-23T12:35:00.004-03:00

It is very chilly in Nova Scotia today. Not at all like Easter weather so I did not mind at all to work on my mystery BOM with a Christmas theme The 11th block... only one more to go. It is hard to believe the end is already here. I had a lot of fun with the BOM. The fabric added to the excitement. Beautiful!

My Easter table awaits the gang for a brunch tomorrow♥♥♥

This runner was made with a spring fabric.."Verna" (which is a surprisingly a favourite of mine as I tend to go for darker colors). I did needed a runner for my Easter table, and as it turned out I made this for the workshop, I did, at La Guilde Acadienne de Clare on Wednesday.

Easter is a promise God renews to us each spring, and so may the promise of Easter fill your hearts with peace and joy!

Happy Easter

2011-04-17T15:15:00.012-03:00

This is definitely a time of Resurrection... and it has brought me back to blogland! I have been away from blogging far much longer than I thought I would be... but I have been busy and a good busy! Sewing is still on my daily agenda and now I get to enjoy quilting with all the members of La Guilde Acadienne De Clare at least once a week. I finished the Synchronised Spinning in the Folk Art by Buggy Barn. I am thinking this quilt will be perfect for our nephew who last summer had an accident in a pool and is now a quadriplegic. A 42 years old engineer with a promising career and a lovely family. Denis inspires us everyday to be grateful for what we have... even the little aches and pains. I have been dipping into my scraps and enjoying making small projects I was inspired to make some pin cushions from the CGQC ( Charming Girls Quilt Club) pincushion exchange Kris hosted. I was away when this was taking place so when I returned I decided to make a few which do come in handy when you need a quick gift. The Guild has been meeting to sew every Wednesday evening and an all day workshop on one Saturday a month. This last Saturday Lorna, a guild member choose a Thread Catcher as our project. The piece had a little bit of Paper Piecing which added just the right challenge. add a little pin cushion and everything fits just perfectly in my sewing centre.

This week is a very special week for me , I love Holy Easter week.

♥♥♥Easter spells out beauty, the beauty of a new life. ♥♥♥

And I wish you all a blessed Easter

Mystery block #10

2011-04-05T14:58:00.008-03:00

and possibly one of my favourite.... oh! what am I saying .. I love them all and the patterns are so much fun to make♥♥♥ I am also in the process of figuring out how to assemble these into placemats...

I have completed all my blocks for the Garden Party quilt

so now I am doing the hand...appliqué...

Whenever I have a big project going I like to get away from it for a while and work onsmall, quick projects...I made a few of these coaster sets ... and

I finished piecing another tree skirt for the church Bazaar.. now it is ready to be sandwiched and the quilting.... machine quilting: "that is".

Spring is slow coming but it does peek once in a while.. .. The quild is still going strong and lots of happy quilters contribute to making positive and happy attitudes. No matter what the weather the members always bring their own sunshine to the sewing circle. :)

New project...

2011-03-26T16:05:00.003-03:00

It is cold enough today to put anyone in the Christmas spirit but that is not why I choose this project. A tree skirt... made with my left over Glacé by 3 Sisters...
It is that time of the year when I prepare projects to donate to the Church Bazaar so I made a promise to myself, I will make one every week so I do not get bogged down with UFO's at the last minute.

I have already started planning for the Quilt Show in August, but before that event La Guilde Acadienne will be hosting a "Tea" on May 15th for our first Fundraiser. The girls in charge Suzette and Kathy have everything ready and well under control! I will have lots of pictures!

Lots happening

2011-03-21T21:10:00.007-03:00

Mystery block of the month #9 I love these. I decided I am going to make them into placemats instead of a quilt. It will make for an interesting dinner table conversation at Christmas .

The Tri-County Women's Centre had a special event's banquet to honor 7 women who made extensive contributions to their community on International Women's day

and Gerald's mom was one of the recipients. She was writer and a historian who will live on in the Acadian communities not just here in Nova Scotia but across the Nation.

Gerald was asked and honored to receive his mom's award. His acceptance speach was very touching.. Commencing with "What would Mama say?" (Her spirit was felt in the room. )

As I said; lots happening... I am sewing on my Garden Party quilt and also making a few projects for the church bazaar this summer.

I was very excited to be invited to special event in my community by "La Société Acadienne de Clare" where they honored a new society in the community....."La Guilde Acadienne de Clare " .

I did take some time off and Gerald and I went away to just relax.... NO cooking and nothing on the agenda!

Now it is back to work and a full agenda again... But sewing is always on the top of the list!♥♥

Project all done...

2011-03-09T18:07:00.003-04:00

I love this pattern from Karen Neary which you can purchase here I want to make this again because I think I will make my placemats a little smaller. I did not measure my table before so now I know it is a bit small for this set.

The guild is growing....

2011-03-06T20:08:00.012-04:00

Wow! It has been a while since I updated my blog.....but time and events have been constantly moving...

I was away on business to our beautiful capital city, Ottawa, last week and there was a bit of unpredictability in the weather, but my flights did not get cancelled or delayed.

The exciting news is La Guilde Acadienne de Clare is growing.

Here is our youngest member , Danielle, proud as can be after finishing her very first quilt... This is one of the objectives of the guild; passing on the skill of quilting to our younger generation so we can keep the art of quilting alive!

We outgrew our meeting place and had to move to a larger facility. We now meet at my church parish hall, and our new home has ample space.

Our Sewing day for the members was this Saturday.. and two of our members...

Nora and Alisa did a wonderful job teaching the class.
The project they choose for us to work on... "Whack and Stack" or "Kaleidoscope".

Alisa's quilt is gorgeous and

Nora brought two of her beauties for us to drool over....

everyone was excited about working on their project we hardly had time for lunch...
But it is always fun to eat lunch together..Space is not lacking and everyone had a good time ...

Our teachers had us make a "mug mat" so we all went home pleased with our day..
Here is mine....When I first watched Nora and Alisa demonstrate the block I was certain it was a pattern I would not do a big quilt with; but now I think differently.. It is fun to make and so exciting to see it come together ...There may be a "Whack and Stack" quilt in my future.

New Project

2011-02-21T20:16:00.007-04:00

I had mail.....from Karen Neary

A new pattern and you can order Karen's creation here Paper piecing is fun! The Table topper...I used the rest of the Portabello Market fabric so it makes my piece a bit busy...
And the Place mats... They are all ready for the quilting. I will come back with my "Around the Table" set displayed on my round table...

What am I up to?

2011-02-16T07:24:00.007-04:00

I just finished stippling a table runner for my friend Claudette in the Prairie Paisley by Kansas Troubles. Claudette does beautiful work and we share the love of Kansas Troubles fabric......

This is the project I am working on .. (It has been one of my favourite for a long time. )

and the one I choose for "My Guild Project"
The fabric is "Portebello Market" by 3 Sisters.

It has an appliqué component and

so on meeting and sewing nights, I can choose to sew on the machine or do lap work.....

It is a fun project to do and it uses fabric from my stash that I have been procrastinating to break open "the Fat Quarter Bundle"....

What a fun day!!!!

2011-02-13T22:03:00.009-04:00

La "Guild' Acadienne's First Sewing Day .. The project of the day was a "This and That" pattern... "Days Gone By" ...

I demonstrated the machine appliqué and the hand appliqué.. Some worked on the table runnerEveryone is enjoying a fun sewing day together......
Others worked on their own projects... The time just flies by...3p.m. comes and no one is anxious to go...
Debbra shows her finished project she had just picked up from the quilter... None other than Agnes!

Absolutely gorgeous...

♥♥Happy Valentine♥♥ day everyone... hope you spend a beautiful day with that special valentine. I know I will ...

A Simple Tutorial for Mitten Mat

2011-02-08T13:44:00.017-04:00

Hope the following will be helpful for those who e-mailed me they wanted to make a "Mitten Mat".

You need ...49... 2½'' squaresSew squares in rows of 7 squares to form the center of the mat. ( you will have 7 rows with 7 squares)Cut a 6" wide border to fit all around the center mat ....

14½ inches for the side 25½ inches for the top and bottom Trace 6 hearts and 6 mitten template to the "two-way" fusible pellon

Iron mittens and hearts on the fabric

Iron hearts on the mittens Layout the mittens on the 6"border making certain to reverse one of the same mitten in the pair. Sew a "Blanket stitch" all around the mittens and hearts
Join mittens with a "Stem stitch". I used "Pearl Cotton" thread but two strands of embroidery floss will work also.

Sandwich, and quilt as desired.

Bind with a 2¼ inch wide binding
I "Free Motion" Quilted mine

Finished size 25½ x 25½ inches.

I would love to see your finished project....

What do we do on storm days....

2011-02-02T16:07:00.009-04:00

Another blustering snowy day and it is warm and cozy here.

Our feathered friends visit often in the bird feeders and the berries on the 'Flowering Crab" tree.I could not open the door for fear they would fly away.. They were the most beautiful yellow!

Time to get the projects out...some of us like puzzles..The scene is one from Italy where Gerald visited...

My project? I want to finish my Saturday Sewing Party project...

Blanket stitch all around....and all done on my mittens and hearts...

Stippled and Binding sewed............. project done!

I am so excited .. at 6:00 pm I am going to skype with Amanda from "That Sew Mandy"! from Labrador. This is the first time we connect and I am hoping it won't be the last.
Have a good evening..............Keep warm and safe.... If you need to see a friend "SKYPE" ..

Word Up Sewing Day and updates

2011-01-29T08:32:00.016-04:00

"Lessen' I'm ready ....I decided to "Lessen" the load by making a small project .. even "Lessen" the fabric stash by .. using a "Petit-Four" in the Butterfly Garden and other Kansas Troubles. I will be making a winter table topper. My TV is ready.. The DVD player is is another room so I am relying on good old VHS to watch my favourite TV shows I taped...... My snack is ready also...and that has "Lessened" tremendously:)

Looking forward to visiting all you and enjoying the day sewing together...

I'm off to the

machine...

Update...#1

My center 2½ " squares all all sewn

And so is the wide border...

now I can place my

mittens.... I am calling this project ..."The Mitten Mat" ..

See you later for another update after I join you at the snack break:)

Update #2

the appliqués are traced on the

the two way fusible interfacing and fused on to the fabric

Then on to the wide border

Now I am ready for the lap work where I will be doing a blanket stitch all around my mittens .. This is where my word "lessen" comes into play . This project lessens the time I spend in my sewing room. I will be moving to the family room to enjoy some special company. I have three of my four grand-daughters visiting and two are staying for a sleep over.

So I put the videos away and turn on the children DVD.. I may not post anymore this evening ..it is 7:00pm here in Nova Scotia but I will post the finished project.

I really had a good time sewing with all of you and thanks to the wonderful organizers, Kelly and Kris ....

"" No distance of place or lapse of time can "lessen" the friendship of a true friend..."'

Good night my friends ...

A demain♥♥♥

What would Karen do?

2011-01-28T13:31:00.015-04:00

She would find some undisturbed snow and photograph her beautiful designs on a snowy background.. which by the way is not hard to find... "Meadow Song" by designer Karen Neary is complete and ready to be hung on a dry, cozy wall for the spring décor ..."I know there is still February to tend to".... (This was the project Karen presented at a workshop I attended with my sister Simone in Amherst in October...

The "fundraising quilt" for the Sacred Heart Church is finished... "Apple Crisp"

and Agnes did her magic as usual... Beautifully hand quilted...

Tomorrow I am taking part in the My word is "Lessen" so keeping that in mind I will choose a project with no intentions of finishing it before I start it.. I have not decided what the project will be that I work on at the party but I will choose it this evening. I do know I want to catch up on some of my shows that I tape all week because they air too late and I normally only get to watch them while I do the treadmill. As for snacks well... I have been really good keeping a healthy food plan since the new year so my snacks will be Yogurt...

Can't wait to meet all the participants and have fun sewing together.

Thanks Kelly and Kris for hosting ... See you tomorrow!

A new Guild is born!

2011-01-26T22:33:00.034-04:00

Let me introduce you to the members of "La Guilde Acadienne of Clare (2011)".Alisa and Anna.....Elaine..our secretary...Eileen.... eager to learn....Louisette, Aimée and Nicole...

Our experts.... Geraldine and Blanche....so much talent to pass on...The young generation.. Danielle Lorna..... would also be in the quilting expert category....Lots of discussion......Janine and Rose Marie The smiles tell it all.....Brenda Juliette and Cerita ... ....

The first meeting was for registering and getting to know each other, brainstorming and we did ! If we do everything we inspire to do we will live a long long time... There is so much talent in the group; there is no way we will be bored or not learn anything.Myra and Debra ( Alice peeking in the back)... Myra is the one who won the table runner.. "Days Gone By"
Suzette....... in charge of our social events and the fundraising ...

Our treasurer.. Claudette

Show and tell ..Nora.......had her "Serendipity Sunflower Tess" ..this was her first quilt she made

a"Bargello" in the Northwood Retreat...

As for me.. I was on cloud nine... to see all these beautiful quilters come together...

We start off by doing a Block of the month. It will be fun to see the different blocks and how they choose to put them together. Some do not want to make a big quilt so they may be using their blocks to make runners, table toppers, mug mats and/or place mats.

A sewing day planned for Feb 12....

Brrrrr...

2011-01-24T19:48:00.016-04:00

It is very cold today but luckily I have a very comfortable and warm working space. Let me give you a tour of my office....

The décor is all about my crafts ; needlepoint, paper toles and tole paintings, and of course a quilt..... Quilt books and the stress balls.... oh! and yes "C H O C O L A T E "

January events are plentiful... Mom's 91st birthday ...

Here with grand-daughter Liette and two great-grand daughters Émilie and Amy....
Mom and grand children.. Yvelle, Liette and Adrien with great-grand-daughters Laurène, Ariane and Émilie. GD Amy celebrates her birthday in January also... 22 years old

Now for my quilting.. I finished the "Better by the Dozen" in the Kansas Winter... Agnes did her magic with her hand quilting.

I have been busy putting all the final touches on the quilt guild's first meeting on wednesday. The name is "La Guild Acadienne de Clare" and the pre-registration is amazing... As they say it is the talk of the town and people are showing a lot of interests..... so to show my appreciation I made a "valentine" table topper for a door prize at the first meeting...

made in the Blessings......

So everyone stay warm... here the fire is burning brightly in the fireplace and it is very cozy in spite of the -27º with the wind chill..

January update....

2011-01-16T20:01:00.010-04:00

Here it is the middle of January and the candy jars are still half full. (That is a miracle with Gerald around)..The candy snacks are replaced by berry smoothies.

baked fish instead of high fat protein...
This is a delicious recipe...

Salmon With Honey-Citrus Glaze
Place salmon fillets or steaks in a casserole dish sprayed with vegetable oil..
Mix together:
4 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoon orange juice
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Heat oven to 400º Pour glaze over salmon and bake for 10 to 12 min..

Yummy!

Now what am I up to? I finally decided on how to quilt my Meadow Song...

I started in the middle thinking I would only stipple the flower blocks but then I liked the look of it so much I decided to keep going. so I am stippling all of it... it will replace my winter wall quilt .....

And I finished my "Apple Crisp".....

In the Martinique ..

Now it is off to the quilter, for Agnes, to do her magic touch in hand quilting.

This is a project for a fundraiser at our church......

How are you doing with you New Year changes? goals? ???

First Snow Storm

2011-01-12T18:46:00.007-04:00

Our Meteorologist indicated in her report that we have our American Friends to thank for the blizzard today.... This is our first ... in the West they have been getting all kinds of snow since Christmas... so thank you USA... I was working today but this evening is cozy and I have the machine revving while working on
some blocks for my "Apple/Peach Crisp". It is really coming along well and if the weather forecast does not change I will have some time off to work on my quilt tomorrow.

Miss Émilie loves snow days because she gets to cuddle with her mom who is a principal and can stay home because of school closure..

And I started a new book.....I have just read a few chapters but I am enjoying it....

Stay safe everyone, where ever you are and experiencing blizzards/snow squalls...

Back to a routine

2011-01-07T17:33:00.005-04:00

The holidays are over with and we are all getting back to a routine... work, reminiscing and play....

I finished my Christmas book...(I limit my reading to just before I turn the light off at night otherwise I can get lost in a book and not want to put it down.) This is a great way for me to unwind.

The decorations are all down and now it is time to bring in the winter décor...

" Lost Mittens" by Timbleberries replaces the Christmas quilt in the hall.

And the snowman replace the Poinsettias...

on my hall bench.. on the panels, I painted scenes for the different seasons. The (Cherry Bar Table runner is a pattern from Moda Bake Shop and it fits perfectly on the seat.. (My SIL makes custom-made furniture)

Now the next project I have to commit to...

I finally decided on the pattern for the quilt I am going to make for the church fundraising. It is called "Apple Crisp" but I think it has to do with the colors it is made in.. Taken from the Better Homes and Garden American Patchwork Quilting, magazine October 2010.

I am choosing Astor Manor and some Martinique so maybe I better call it

"Peach Crisp"

And my second finish of 2011

Synchronized Spinning...

Another one to put on the pile for Agnes to quilt...

"Lessen"........♥♥♥

Word Up Post

2011-01-05T20:03:00.002-04:00

Kelly wants us to choose a word that we can reflect on throughout the year..
Quote.. "A word to visit periodically and to focus on throughout the year".... unquote

What comes to mind for me is a phrase "Easy Does It" so for the one word to describe this I think I must submit "Lessen".

This selection comes from experiencing very hectic agendas in the past few years. Over and above my full time job as a Addiction Councillor (Not at all Stressful) in 2007 I was appointed to a National Seniors Council. My term on this council comes to an end on April 29th. I do sit on the Church council and I look after my 91 year old mom and ~~husband .~~

What I want to "Lessen " from is not fill the spare time I have with other commitments as some come to an end.

I do have one that I will commit to and that is the Quilt Guild in Clare. ( La Guilde Acadienne de Clare) The first public meeting will be on January 26th and I have 20 women registered so far. This is exciting and a lot of women have come forward to volunteer their services.

Moi, Elaine and Claudette

This was our first meeting of the executive. This has been my dream for a long time and one of the first rule established; members can only hold their service position for two years!

So in keeping with the "Word Up".. I must "lessen" the length of this post....

I can do this!!!!! Lessen.. to reduce..to make less...to diminish.. make smaller (oh! that is a good one)

...

2011... and my MUFs

2011-01-02T06:32:00.001-04:00

I did accomplish a lot of sewing projects last year but I did not set goals as I didn't want to stress out if I did not finish them. I do have a few that need attending but I have joined the
and I am not setting any time limits as to when I will get to them done.
#1 I do want to finish (someday).... Synchronized Spinning in the Folk Art by Buggy Barn

#2 and I hope to have Agnes hand quilt this one ...

Jelly Roll Quilt Along in the Decadent Victorian by April Cornell

#3 Next is another one for Agnes to hand quilt also.

It is a BOM I made from the book Better By the Dozen and I used the Kansas Trouble Winter.

#4 I do want to finish hand quilting this one , because I am enjoying the slow pace of hand quilting. It is so relaxing and I want to learn the technique.... A Schinnibles;Two Bits, in some more Kansas Troubles.

These are fermenting very well and will do so for a while because these are projects I want to hand quilt or machine quilt myself♥

Faith in Migration...
will probably go to Agnes so she can do her magic at hand quilting. I want to preserve this one and have it age well as it is one I designed myself.

Of course I have all these new projects lined up to do this year but the bottom line is I will enjoy every stitch!♥♥♥

Happy Sewing in 2011

The Last of 2010..

2010-12-31T08:39:00.017-04:00

I must say this year has been a bit hectic for us with some very unpleasant events but faith kept telling me things could be worst and I counted my blessings every day......plus four beautiful grand-daughters.

Some of those blessings are the wonderful friends I made through Blog land ! I know my blogging was sporadic this year but I do hope to be more dedicated in 2011. As mentioned the challenges were plentiful but being able to connect with some of you via e-mail was so uplifting and I thank you all for the support I received from you throughout the year! Sending you all a big girlfriend hug♥♥♥

Some wonderful events took place also and those are the ones I like to blog about!

Like meeting my friend Michelle http://thel7quiltco.blogspot.com/ in person and enjoying a wonderful dinner together in Arkansas ... (Both Gerald and I top this as the number 1 highlight of our vacation to Texas.)...

Our trip to Amherst to attend Karen Neary's workshop at the Fibre Festival was without a doubt a very special event.

The project Meadow Song
was exciting to do and I enjoyed working in all the different patterns she choose to make this quilt so exquisite... Pinwheels, appliqués and YoYos...

All put together .. let me introduce you to ....

the Meadow Song by designer Karen Neary....
I made it with "In the Pink 11 by Henry Glass "

published in the Spring 2010 issue of the

and on ***...the front cover...***http://quiltersconnection.ca/

I pray for the best for our world in 2011. Even though there may be "stress-ors" along the way I know I can always find serenity in a piece of fabric, cut it and piece it back together to make a quilt... and that I will have continued support and inspiration from all of you;

and can count on your guidance if the blocks don't always fit!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Back in the Sewing room

2010-12-29T08:38:00.012-04:00

Yippee! I finally made it to sewing... My new machine is all set up and it fits perfectly... Husqvarna......had to move over......... And the first piece I made on my new machine....

#7 Mystery Block of the month from "Fat Quarters" ...

I was a little behind the Layer Cake Quilt Along This is last week's block. I choose the fabric "Bliss" and I am not fond of it too much( too bright for my taste) so I am picking only a few blocks as I think I will make small projects with them. Maybe table toppers or runners????

Now for an update on the

I do hope I did not miss answering anyone's e-mail as they were coming in with inquiries about their Secret Santas. If there are still some missing their gifts I would like to think it is because of the mail service. For those of you who have sent their gifts and have not heard from your Secret Santa recipient, maybe you could connect with your partner to see if they received your beautiful gift? Also if there are any who have not had the opportunity to send the gift yet I think it would be a good idea to let her know your gift is just being sent. I was able to visit most of your Secret Santa posts on your blogs and I was drooling with all the beautiful gifts that had been made.

Thank you for taking part in the Secret Santa Swap sponsored by the It was a wonderful experience for me as I got to meet a lot of new friends in "Blog land".

I did get quite a few requests for the recipe for

click on the photo or the Cranberry Cheesecake recipe ....... for the link to the recipe....Enjoy!

Families are forever.......

2010-12-27T14:51:00.009-04:00

In french "La famille c'est pour toujours!" Embrace your loved ones....

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you the best of the New Year...

On Dec 20th we lost one of our family members... My mother-in-law Edith Comeau Tufts passed away peacefully in her chair at home three hours after she had distributed her Christmas gifts and hugged us all. Even though she was 91 we were not expecting her to be spending Christmas 2010 in Heaven...It was a shock! She was a remarkable women...mother of 15 children. (14 Still living grand-mother of 35 and great-grandmother of 15, and a member of the Order Of Canada.
and yes, she was a quilter...

The gift, still wrapped and hand written in her hand writing...

"We shed tears because she is gone... but we smile because she has lived.

.

These were the mug mats I made for the hostess at our Tufts family supper...
(I am very excited to report I used almost all of the Fruitcake Fat quarter bundle.. I don't like to have too much Christmas fabric left over at the end of the Christmas season)

This was my contribution to the Dessert menu...

Cranberry Cheesecake.. and it is YUMMY!

Also...

the Cherry Balls.....

A favourite with the kids....

Everything was wrapped and ready way ahead this year.. and "I did" question why I was so efficient????

Even if we don't know what's in store for the future there is ONE who knows and looks after us!

So Christmas morning .. Gerald is excited....

when he opens a massage chair pad .. no more tired back after curling....

In my stocking I get books...

My favourite kind of books....

Quilting books.....

Then... Gerald gets the big box out...

And Voilà

Oh! how excited I am!

This morning was the day I was getting this baby to run.. but we woke up at 3:00 am with no electricity... it lasted all morning and well into the afternoon.. the generator is not hooked up in my sewing room but I got to read the instruction books so now I am ready....

Noël 2010

2010-12-18T13:04:00.001-04:00

Greeting card generated with Smilebox

More preparations

2010-12-13T12:16:00.001-04:00

The meat pies are a favourite on the menu at this time of the year.... Made with three kinds of meat... pork, beef and chicken.Growing up mom always made her meat pies with wild rabbit.. but I have out grown that and I know it would not go well with our children. They would not be passing their plates for meat pie......Gerald doesn't like a thick tea biscuit crust so I make a thinner crust...

and of course with all that meat it makes a big batch so I freeze them .. Perfect for unexpected company over the Holidays....

You know when your children are young and just before bed they say,"Oh by the way mommy we have a bake sale tomorrow at school".

Well this still happens when they get to adulthood... Quote, "Mame, I need a gift for someone who loves snowmen" unquote... As I said on my post on FB .. I love that my children will always be children♥♥♥

Snowmen.. it is. This was for Second daughter Liette's Secret Santa at her School...

Made with "Fruitcake" by Basic Grey .. designed by "Moi"

Now I am off to bake some more for a potluck at work...

Hugs........

Enjoying my Christmas pieces

2010-12-11T12:05:00.012-04:00

I am still getting my Christmas decorations out..... and doing more of the stuff I mentioned on the previous post!

This was a fun project to do and one of my very first appliqué pieces.... I quilted it in the"Primitive Quitling ( Pearl Cotton Thread and large quilting stitches) the small children enjoying naming the big blocks
And this year I have a special piece under my tree......
'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend'... which I made at designer Karen Neary's workshop last year....

Now for the....

Wow! and more wow! is the expression I have as I visit your different blogs and see all your beautiful projects you made for your Secret Santa!

I hope everyone will honor their commitment to the swap. I have received quite a few e-mails to say you have not received your gift yet and would like to communicate with your partner or your partner has not acknowledged that she received your gift. PLEASE NOTE I do not give out anyone's e-mail address without their permission....Remember there are some Inrternational participants and it takes time for the parcels to arrive its destination!
Thank you all for participating!

Holly Jolly Bingo, Mystery Block #6 and other updates....

2010-12-06T21:14:00.000-04:00

Yes it's back....B I N G O
Click on the badge and head on over to "In Stitches" and join the fun for

another Holly Jolly Bingo...

And now for my November block...for the Mystery Block of the month I think all these blocks are so cute....

What have I been up to... besides.. shopping, baking , decorating.... wrapping...

and attending all kinds of Christmas parties?

Well, visiting Santa of course...with my grand-daughters...

Here is Laurène....
And Ariane...

and Miss Émilie.. hiding from Santa in her Aunt's arms... non! non! non! is how she greets the Big Guy!

I have been enjoying a good book...It really put me in the true Christmas spirit ...

Catherine was my favourite character in this book ...such an uncomplicated lifestyle!

As for my sewing I am finishing projects and enjoying the leisure time in my sewing room...watching Christmas movies... and the Christmas Daddies telethon...

Well I must go bake some more for our office party tomorrow!! Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season.. I enjoy this time "of preparations" just as much as the big day...

We did have bit of snow today .. our first one to stay on the ground...and it looks really festive tonight....

Another Maritimer and my Holiday Traditions

2010-11-24T10:56:00.020-04:00

Karen introduced me, through blogland, to another Maritimer Linda H and she has a giveaway... for her 300th post. Congratulation Linda.. Click here to enter...

As part of the CGQC activities for November/December Kelly has asked us to share some.......

On Christmas Eve the whole family attends the Christmas Eve mass at our church

in Saulnierville. Following mass we all meet at one of the Children's home, either Yvelle's Liette's or Adrien's to unwrap our Secret Santa gift. On our (Canadian) Thanksgiving we draw names for this Secret Santa. The gifts are all wrapped in the same paper and placed in a large garbage bag in the garage or entry before we actually come into the house, so no one can identify which gift we brought in. Then one of the grandchildren is chosen to pick the gifts from the bag and we get three chances to guess who drew our name. #1 When we first get the gift.. (Usually examine the wrapping technique) #2 when it is unwrapped and #3 another guess after everyone has unwrapped their gifts...

Then on Christmas day.. we all gather at our house for Christmas dinner. Santa still comes to our house even though there is just Gerald and I, so after dinner we gather in the family room and we get to see what he left at our house for everyone.

On the menu:

Lobster and various salads ...

Meat pie ....

and Rappie Pie.

What is Rappie pie you ask? It is an Acadian dish made of Chicken and potatoes. (The recipe is quite long as is the procedure to make it. You can find the full details of the recipe here

This is packaged grated potatoes. ( we used to have to grate our own but now they can be bought locally already grated)The stainless steel pans ( custom made to fit a big rappie pie) are well greased...This is the chicken broth with onions, salted shallots and pork fat.. which has to boil....

The broth is poured .. two cups at a time on the potatoes until about 28 cups of broth has been added and stirred well after each additions. The texture and color is never appealing to a new comer but I guarantee we Acadians do not see the color.. it just makes our mouths water..in anticipation for the finished product.Gerald needs to do the stirring. (This is where a man is really handy in the kitchen) A layer of potatoes goes in the bottom of the pan and the cut up chicken in the middle . ( Some people use other meat.. beef, wild meat and clams). Our preference is chicken)

And another layer of potatoes on top...And into the oven it goes at 400º for about 2½ hoursand voilà! Beautifully crusted ... Everyone wishes for a corner so they can get more crust...and it is served with pickles.. cranberry sauce and some like molasses on it...

So this is a traditional dish in most Acadian households at Christmas time and other occasions. It feeds a lot of people and everyone is sure to like their meal.

Good health, good food, good friends and lots of love is the tradition I hope will be kept alive in all our households for years to come...

Quick update

2010-11-20T07:57:00.009-04:00

Whew! time sure flies around here .. It is a busy time of the year... and I realize how busy when I see on my blog the last time I posted... Lots happening.. I have been attending all kinds of meetings to get the Clare Quilt Guild going. I am getting lots of interests for the guild; ( numbers of people who want to join go up everyday) so it is a go and it will be starting in January 2011.

I do get some sewing done .. Here is my Layer Cake Quilt Along #2 block in the "Bliss".

Michelle shared one of her projects with us on her blog and I couldn't resist making these right away ... (check out Michelle's giveaway)

" Mug Mats" .. in the "Fruitcake" by Basic Grey
Perfect for that coffee break....

and perfect for Hostess gifts

Now, I bet we have some busy

Secret Santas out there. I am anxious to visit all those beautiful projects you made and of course get inspired by your many talents. Don't forget to go to Kelly's blog and add your link to Mr Linky so it will bring us to your blog for viewing that special gift you made your secret santa........

Happy sewing everyone!

Time Change, Time flies and Busy Times

2010-11-05T19:13:00.012-03:00

I like the quote... "Time flies but the good thing is I am the pilot"!

It seems like I have been off the "Blog "radar for a while... It has been busy times, and my focus was on the I do hope everyone is enjoying the swap and will all be surprised with their special gifts. Please have your parcel ready for mailing no later than December 1st.

I do sew everyday and I did manage to keep up with the commitments I have enrolled in. First...and here is my Mystery Block #5 Next is the...

http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2010/09/layer-cake-quilt-along-2010.html

I choose my new Layer cake...

And here is my first block!

I am so excited with a new adventure I am working on :

I am in the process of organizing a "Quilt Guild" in our Community. My goal is to have the first meeting in January so their are lots of preliminaries to work out. The response to the the local TV ad is certainly indicative there is an interest for this activity; which is sooooo exciting. The list of projects and fun adventures I am inspiring for the Guild, are endless and will all come about with friends coming together to enjoy a common interest. Quilting! This is what will keep the art of quilting alive ♥♥♥

Fall 2010 Bloggers Quilt Festival is here....

2010-10-29T12:47:00.007-03:00

This is so exciting .. I love to visit Quilt Blogs and be inspired by all the remarkable talents there is out there in blog land. Thanks Amy for doing this.

This is my absolute favourite.....

Birdhwoodlane House.. in the Birchwood Lane fabric by ♥Holly Taylor♥...I made this quilt last year and have not stopped admiring it since it is finished.

I love everything about this quilt...
The fact that it is Christmas (My favourite time of the year ) fabric..and the colors are gorgeous.
My favourite quilt pattern of all, is the Log Cabin. The combination of the house and the log cabin blocks makes it the best(est) :) of all the projects I have made.
I enjoyed making it because I love strip piecing and the appliqué was a delight to do.
The embroidery was a bit intimidating but I was excited to add this to the project, a totally new technique for me.

This quilt will be hanging on the wall opposite my Christmas tree ...

Now I am off to blog hop... and admire those beautiful projects of those taking part in the Bloggers Quilt Festival......

Fall is really in the air....

2010-10-20T06:37:00.012-03:00

The weather has cooled and the fire is on in the fireplace... giving a cozy atmosphere, a desire to
hand quilt.. and the Christmas spirit comes to life in The Christmas books which are out and many projects are planned...

The first one from this book ....

"Wrapped Up in Ribbons" Table runner.

This is the project I worked on while my sister, Simone, was visiting this past week.. what a fun week....

Update on theThere are still some who have not contacted me with their mailing address so I have e-mailed them and asked they do so before the end if next week. I would like to have everyone paired by November 1st...making this the deadline for partnering . If I did not hear from the ones missing I will assume they have declined to take part..

Hope everyone is enjoying working on their Secret Santa project..Please honor your swap and have your projects in the mail to your Secret Santa December 1st... I look forward to seeing all those gorgeous projects... Remember to post them on your blog and connect your blog on Mr Linky on Kelly's blog and on "Flicker" on Pam's blog

Secret Santa

2010-10-19T14:58:00.011-03:00

First I want to say how grateful I am for all your patience with me in getting this Swap organized. It has been a challenge to say the least but as I told Kelly this is what keeps the brain in motion!!!!

I need to ask those of you to PLEASE send me your mailing addresses. If you are not certain that you have sent it to me send it anyway. I know there is another swap happening "Secret Santa Sister" and those who are registered to both may have thought they sent me their addresses when in fact they send it to the other swap...

#2 request... Would all of you send me an e-mail with the name of your Secret partner.. ( for my records so I can double check to be certain everyone was assigned one.

A few of you had not sent me your e-mail so I had no way of connecting with you and therefore assigned all the participants to a partner. I will keep your name in case there is one who needs to back out ( as this has happened already)

Now for the details of your finished projects...( You can make your project as you so desire... the fabric you wish , the pattern you wish and the size you wish...

When you have your projects all done... post pictures of it on your blog without revealing who the gift goes to and go to Kelly's blog where she will have Mr Linky set up for you to log on and direct us to your blog. Thank you Kelly

Also Pam has graciously volunteered to take the responsibility of setting up "Flicker" so you can post your projects there too.
This is the perfect opportunity for those of you who have no blog.
Thank you Pam
(Again thank you so much for all your patience)

And now for the Meadow Song workshop....by Karen Neary

What a fun event...

Met some beautiful people and learnt a lot of new tricks... from Karen

here is Karen hard at work....sharing her knowledge with us...

My sister Simone... we enjoy quilting together..

And behind us you see the finished project ( Meadow Song) designed and made by Karen...

Secret Santa Update

2010-10-13T11:42:00.001-03:00

~Whew~

and what a challenge it is!
I hope everyone who has submitted their e-mail has a partner. By the looks of my Inbox and Sent box I would say YES!

Now the challenge is to get everyone to e-mail me their mailing address. I have received e-mails wanting to know the address of their partner but as I mentioned in the first e-mail I sent everyone; I will e-mail the address as soon as I receive it.

Those whom I did not receive an e-mail address, I can only hold your name until others acknowledge they are still wanting to participate because as far as my records indicate everyone has been paired with a Secret Santa.!

......Please forgive any glitches... it was four intense days and.... four nights of just putting the names to the right blogs so everyone could connect to their partner!

Now for some excitement.... This is the week-end I am off to sew with designer Karen Neary in Amherst at the Fibre Festival! And the Meadow Song Workshop...( She has beautiful eye candy of the opening event!)

My case is all packed

And so is my sewing machine!

Road trip early tomorrow with two friends and my sister Simone...

Still missing

2010-10-08T21:55:00.010-03:00

For everyone to have a partner for the

I need to be able to connect with the participants via e-mail I am still missing the following addresses..

http://www.dewquilting.blogspot.com/

TRISH

BONITA

Some of you who did e-mail me may be on this list but because either your name is not listed on the post or your blog is not in the e-mail you sent me, I have no idea who you are. Again I do hope to hear from you tomorrow( no later than Sunday evening) so I can get the "many" Secret Santas paired up and we can get started with the fun!

The names of your partners will be e-mailed to you in the next few days and as soon as you receive the e-mail please reply to it with your snail mail address.This is very important so I can e-mail your address to your Secret Santa.

Registration is now closed for the

Have fun and enjoy making that special gift for your new friend...

It is sooo wonderful to see all the "registrants" . I can't wait to see your extraordinary talents put to work.

Lots Happening...

2010-10-03T07:03:00.031-03:00

It's back.....it's wonderful, it's fun and it's a different pre-cut ..... this time it's the....
at Moose on the Porch Quilts

starting November 2nd and every other Tuesday until May 3rd 2011

I have decided I will make my quilt in the.... which is the October selection for the Layer Cake club at Fat Quarters Shop

Now for the

#4 block....

and I made this table topper last evening for my "little" sister for her Thanksgiving table! She is not a quilter but loves the quilt projects my other sister, Simone, and I make"The Deveau Sisters"
Dianne's wedding 1992

(Always grateful for my two sisters.....)

Next on my agenda is to cut and pack for my workshop in Amherst by Karen Neary

The project is Karen's design, Meadow Song" that was in the Quilter's Connection Spring Issue 2010and I decided to use "In the Pink 11" by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass.

Kelly and I are really excited for the abundance of responses to the...

Just a few pointers to clarify;

#1 No it is not only open to the Charming Girls Quilt club... with so many asking to join the Secret Santa Swap even though they have no blog; Kelly and I felt it is Christmas, after all, and we will help these people connect and display their beautiful projects.

So, yes! everyone is in:)

#2 I need to be able to connect with you via e-mail and there are quite a few of you who have registered but do not have your e-mail address on your blog. I need this by the 10th of October at which time I will be collecting all the names and draw for the partners. (I have notified all of you individually by leaving a message on your last post of your blog about this! ) Your e-mail is what connects you to your Secret Santa so without it there is no way of connecting therefore if I do not receive your e-mail address I will assume you decided not to participate.

#3 I have visited most of the participants blogs and I would encourage you to put the Secret Santa badge on your sideboard so that it makes it official and visible to those who visit, that you are in the swap.

#4 I put the link to the previous post where you can register for the Secret Santa Swap behind the badge on the side board.

So that 's it from me for now but if you have any questions e-mail me...Next time I connect with you I will have the name of your partner to whom you will be the Secret Santa..FUN!

It's time....

2010-09-27T00:52:00.008-03:00

Registration is CLOSED on this day Ocotber 9th......

The way it goes down is this..

if you accept this invitation, submit your name in a comment on this post by October 9th. On October 10th I will have hubby draw the names to match everyone with a partner, SECRET partner that is.... I will email you the name of your partner and in your response to my e-mail I will need your snail mail address so your partner can mail you your Secret Santa gift!!! Then the fun begins, as you decide which "Christmas" quilt project you want to make for your partner. ( Table topper, bag, quilt, wall hanging and the list goes on) How exciting is that??? :)))))

Once you have decided which project you are going to make, you may blog about it and leave me a comment on this post but make sure you do not reveal the name of your Secret Santa swap partner...(Ahhhh so many secrets at Christmas time:)

(I hate a post with no eye candy so this fits this post)

This was the gift I made for Kris last year who was my Secret Swap partner...

I have not decided which project I will be making ( I want to wait and see who my partner will be and try to match her likes) but I will definitely be using

"Fruitcake " by Basic Grey.....

now the ground rules...******All Secret Santa Projects must be in the mail by December 1st.******
if for some reason you are unable to fulfill your commitment to the swap by Dec 1st please let me know.. .. It is so important that everyone receive their gifts in a timely fashion so they can enjoy it before the Christmas Season is all over and we do not want anyone to be left without a Secret Santa partner.

Have fun everyone..

"Tis the Season"!!!!

****Important message***** I am still missing some e-mail addresses and one in particular who does not have a blog; meaning I have no way of contacting you! Please forward them to me in an e-mail... Merci!

NOTICE... October 9th/10 The registration for the Secret Santa is now CLOSED...