This and That...

Last Saturday was the final workshop for this year. Monica W led a group through all the ins and outs of the Storm at Sea. Everyone enjoyed the day of sewing and camaraderie. Thanks Monica for a great day! We'll all look forward to seeing everyone's Storm at Sea quilts!

 Thanks to Susan D for the lovely photo of Monica with her Storm at Sea quilt.

 There are a few "events" coming up in the next few weeks - Quilt Shows next weekend in Saint John and Woodstock,  a Quilters' Bazaar in Moncton on May 8th and then a Quilt Show and Tea in Sackville on Sat. May 11th. See all the details on the sidebar. It's time to gather up a few buddies and hit the road to support our quilting "sisters" around the province!

To get you "in the mood" for the upcoming spring Shows, here are a few links for you to check out. First for all the Dear Jane lovers out there, there will be an exhibit of Dear Jane quilts from around the world, in Nantes France this weekend. Check it out here. The exhibit celebrates the 150th anniversary of the original Dear Jane quilt, made by Jane Stickle.

And below you can see the winners from the recent AQS Show in Lancaster PA. WOW! Talk about inspiring! Wouldn't it be wonderful to attend this show! This week is the big AQS Show in Paducah. I will add a link to view the winning quilts as soon as I see it online..





I hope you all are busily finishing up your Challenge pieces for our May meeting.. the deadline approaches...  Next up - I'll share some photos with you from our wonderful visit on Tuesday with Sussex Vale Quilters Guild. 

Workshop fun... One done, one to come...

Where does the time go? January is almost over and our first meeting and workshop of the new year are already behind us. Sande Gunning of River Gallery spent a day with 11 lucky members last weekend, teaching them how to do felted scarves of wool and silk. Here you can see Sande demo-ing the felting process. I hear they worked hard for their beautiful scarves! Thanks Sande for a great day!

 

Lap quilt - 48" x 64" before borders

Our next workshop, on Feb. 25th, still has some openings. It will be a Scrap Quilt project with yours truly. I have done a lap quilt, (measuring 48"x64" before borders), but there are also smaller options (table centre or table runner, pillow front, totebag front....) and as well several design options for the block. (Of course if you want to make a bed-size quilt, you can do that too!)The block unit is very quick and easy to make, and with a few short seams, you get two units at once. There is no cutting of triangles or sewing of bias edges- all pieces are cut square or rectangular. Most pieces are cut 2.5" wide, so if you have "leftovers" from jelly rolls or Bali Pops, this is a great way to use them up! I will also be giving some useful info on choosing fabrics for scrap quilts, as well as a number of tips to help you perfect your piecing skills. Why don't you plan to join us? We're going to have lots of fun! You will want to get most of  your cutting done before the class, so don't wait until our February meeting to sign up - give Ann Price or myself a call today and we'll get the Supply Sheet and cutting instructions to you.

Table Centre - 20" sq. Block variation with Half Sq. Triangles

April Workshop

Our upcoming workshop on April 17th has a few spaces still available. The project is a fabric totebag or purse made with a "star" construction method, and it will be taught by Dawn Sharpe and Robyn Allaby. It's a cute bag with a zipper closure concealed by velcro and has pockets inside and out. The straps are 30" to allow it to be "worn" over the shoulder, but these could be lengthened or shortened to suit your body/needs. Robyn suggests that you would get the bag finished or very close to completion in the workshop.

If you are interested, give Worshop Registrar Barb Frame a call at 459-4732.

Upcoming Workshop

Our upcoming workshop in March has spaces available. The project is a Stained Glass Christmas Tree Skirt, and will be taught by member Helen Steeves, on March 20th at our usual location, the Senior's Center on Johnson Avenue. Knowing Helen, there will be lots of fun and laughter, plus you'll get an early jump on a Christmas project- lovely for a gift or under your own tree. You know how busy things get in November and December, so why not start early and have fun with a group of quilting friends too!

If you are interested in joining in, please contact Workshop Registrar Priscilla Plourde at 454-1913 or by email at pplourde1913@rogers.com

Upcoming Bear Paw Workshop

Our upcoming workshop in February has spaces available. It will be taught by member Barb Foster on Feb. 20th at our usual meeting place on Johnson Avenue. Barb will be teaching a bias strip piecing method for doing half square triangles, which is very fast and accurate. Students will complete a 14" block from two fat quarters, a block large enough for a shopping bag or wallhanging. Or you might choose to continue on for a larger quilt. It's up to you! Barb will also share a number of variations for this traditional "old favourite"block! This class is suitable for Beginners and beyond.

Click here to see lots of Bear Paw quilts for ideas amd inspiration! If you would like to join us for this workshop, call Workshop Registrar Barb Frame at 459-4732.

By the way, did you know that "Bear Paw" is one of the oldest known quilt patterns? The story of this pattern begins even before pieced quilts became common around the mid 1800's. Earlier quilts were commonly medallion style surrounded by several borders; a sawtooth border was often used. Of course methods used to piece a border could easily be adapted to a block. The Sawtooth block appeared in many early quilts along with Sawtooth stars and diamonds and what became known as BearPaw. As with many patterns, Bear Paw became known by other names too, and each of these names also apply to one or more designs. Bear Paw has also been known as Duck's Foot in the Mud, Hand of Friendship, Tea Leaf and Cats Paw.

Workshop spaces available - "Victorian Noteables"

On Saturday, January 23rd, Linda Hubbard will teach our next workshop - "Victorian Noteables". There are still a few workshop spaces left, and you can sign up at our guild meeting on Tuesday, January 19th. The fee is $25.00 plus a $12.00 kit fee. The kit will consist of pretty much everything you will need, except your machine, cords, etc. and a spool of thread! Kit contents: 2 cards with cutouts and matching envelopes, patterns, precut fabrics, embroidery threads, beads, needles and perhaps a few other embellishments.

This class is designed to be a quick basic intro to Crazy Quilting so that you can try the technique without investing a lot of money in fancy fabrics and embellishments. You will learn
the basics of CQ design, hand embroidery, and embellishment techniques. And, best of all, you will go home with a finished product! You will have one card totally finished and if the second one is not totally done, it should be very close to completion.

UPDATE, Jan. 19th - This class has one space available