Clubs, clubs and more clubs... Sew much fun...!

Some of you might know that I have been running a number of clubs at Fibre Junction.   Allow me to share with you a new one I have started that is called Prairie Women Sewing Club, designed by Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts.

The first Journey was conducted in the summer and actually done in French.  What a blast it was!

Although my native tongue is French, I have lost some of my abilities to communicate in that language.  When your world is continuously in English, it is difficult to maintain a certain level of "French conversation".  The opportunity to conduct this club was quite a welcomed challenge.  Thank you Diane, Gisèle and the rest of the  Mötley crew! ;o)

The pattern for Gathering 1 is called Leap of Faith.

The key concept of this club is the "make-do" mentality, which is not as easy as one thinks.

In a disposable easily accessible world, "make-do"  has become quite foreign to many, including myself.  It is much easier to run to the quilt shop and buy more fabric than it is to look for something else that would work.

This quilt offered my first opportunity to "make-do".  I ran out of the background fabric!  Off I ran to Fibre Junction to purchase more, only to find that the bolt was sold out!!!!  WHAT??????

I seriously thought of making another top by buying using a different fabric.... but... that would be cheating.  Right???

I was forced to "make-do."  ;o)

The background on the outer edge is actually a fabric I bought back in 1996.  It was a remnant from the sampler quilt that is responsible for this obsession hobby of mine! lol  You may read all about here.

If anyone of you are interested in doing a "web" based Prairie Women Sewing Circle, send me an e-mail and we can chat about it.  I would be happy to open a group where we can chat and share our projects.

Thanks for stopping by!  Cheers!

Time is relative...... Thanks Einstein!

How easy it is to get caught up in time.  The next thing you know it's been a couple of weeks since you last blogged! sigh!

Here I am.......

Did you ever have that feeling that someone is trying to tell you something?

Leave it to my 14 year old Pumpkin to get a subtle point across! ;o)

Yea, the Spring Fling quilt is still on Penelope and has been for quite some time!

I guess it's time to take her for a ride and get that top finished once and for all!

Keep well everyone!  Cheers!

The designer gene...!

There are some individuals that were born with the designer gene.  They just seem to have a knack for decorating.

Take Kaaren from The Painted Quilt blog, she is just one of those talented people that I admire.  I look at the pictures of her home and WOW!  Wish I could do that.  She has such an eye for colour and placement.  There are many on blog land that I admire and I enjoy reading about their decorating adventures.

Sadly, I do not seem to have been born with that special decorating gene.  To compensate, I subscribe to magazines and at times buy books on the subject, all in the hopes that it will come naturally for me.

Let me share with you my latest magazine find.

A Primitive Place and Country Journal, what a great magazine!

If you are into primitive anything, this is the ONE for you.  Well worth the price!

I just love looking at the photographs and day dream!

Oh...... how I wish my home looked like that!

Of course,  I have to be realistic.  I could have it looking like that but ... I'd be spending my day following DD and DH with a vacuum cleaner and bucket to clean up after them and/or replacing the items to it's original place! lol  I would much rather be quilting!  Oh well!

They do have a blog called A primitive Place and Country Journal, for those that are interested.

Simple Country Wisdom - 501 Old-Fashioned Ideas to Simplify your Life by Susan Waggoner it another of my find.

Lots of pictures, which I so enjoy, and wonderful suggestions!

I have not finished reading it yet.  It has been so busy with the many quilting classes that I am teaching, but I have enjoyed what I have read so far.

On the quilting front, Spring Fling by Jane Patek is still on Penelope.  Sigh!  Not enough hours in the day!

I still have not attempted to transfer the design from the Santa's Comin' to Town pattern, so that means I am still itching for a hand project.

Today, I will be making an attempt to dig myself into my sewing room.  Yes, you read right!  It's been a dumping ground for the past 2 weeks.  Anyone want to come over and help me dig? lol

I did pick a winner of the "name that quilt" challenge and it is Pam from Pam's Place.  Pam, if you would kindly refresh my memory as to where I should mail this little prize, I would be much obliged.

Thank you for stopping by.  If you do not see me again for a while it may be that I have become lost in my sewing room.  Perhaps even managed to be under a fabric avalanche! lol  Cheers!

What's new in my world.....!

Really not much!  I do need a hand project badly, so yesterday I proceeded to work on getting some blocks ready for hand embroidery. Off I went to work on this pattern:

Santa's Comin' to Town by Olde Green Cupboard Designs.  I just love their logo, don't you?  Sweet!

I picked this pattern because it reminded me of the old colouring books I had as a child.  Besides, I love Santa and this project certainly has a lot of Santas! lol

So off I went to cut out my blocks and get them all ready to be marked.

I choose a pattern sheet, place it on my light box and proceed to trace.

Hum..... this isn't working very well ..... oh turn on the light......

Well.......!

That made it worse because the designs are printed on both sides of a thin sheet of paper.

Okay, so I guess I need to photocopy these pattern sheets if I want to be able to trace it. Somehow that bothers me! I paid $20.00 for this pattern, you would think I wouldn't have to go to a photocopy shop to get 9 sheets printed. Sigh!

It's those little things that really makes a difference between pattern designers.

You know, I have a whole new appreciation for those little things that makes working with a pattern simple!

Thanks for stopping by!  Keep well!  Cheers!

Talk about a good laugh....!

Donna from Chookyblue made a wonderful suggestion about placing a page translator on our blog. What a great idea! .

Of course, I have to try this gadget out!

So, I asked that my blog be translated into French and started reading.

Coming onto the post "Driving me to the Brinks," it could not translate the word "brinks"  (for the translator: Edge - like the guitar player in the band U2 ;o)

I continued to read and came upon the line, "there are quilters and than there are sewers."

So here is what the translator wrote in French, "there are quilters and than there are sewage systems"

I couldn't stop laughing!

The word "sewer" is "egout", which is correct except that I did not mean sewer in the sense of waste system but in the sense of a person who sews!

Hum... Although it is funnier as "sewer", I did reword that! lol

On a quilting note, guess what I'm working on?

I have just started a new BOM that Fibre Junction is offering.

I have completed 12 blocks so far! For a close up look, click on the block.

Let's have a little fun!

Since I haven't done a give away in a long time, if you can guess what the name of this new BOM that Fibre Junction is offering, your name will go in a draw for a notion holder.

 If you are not familiar with a notion holder, they are beautifully made by my DH, Stephen.  You may check one out here.

And ...... if you can guess which block I have not completed and your name is picked, I'll include an extra surprise!

The "give away" will close on October 1, 2011!

Thanks for stopping by and having a little fun/laugh with me!  Cheers!