Dog Day Afternoon......

So, let's start with yesterday before we head for the Saturday Dog Day's..........

The UPS truck arrived with loads of fabric so Sharon and I spent a couple of hours marking, cutting and moving....

First there is - Turn of the Century from Exclusively Quilters.....

..........and for a closer look...........

Then there's some great landscape fabrics........

And last but not at all least, there's Froggie's - adorable, colourful and lots of fun prints and co-ordinates....

And I too, have Block 2 done of the Marti Michell Block of the Month - American Beauty!

Last night was our monthly Sit & Sew and Lynn got her two quilts back from Margaret Mitchell who did a wonderful job quilting them both.......

They are for her twin grandson's - for their big beds........the boys are 3-1/2 aand sound like two handfuls but they will just love the bright colours in these quilts - I believe the fabric is the Califon line that Mark Lipinsky designed for Northcott......

Oh yeah, and here's Block 3 of American Beauty............

Today was our Block of The Month day however, it being the Saturday before Christmas, everyone seemed to be working on everything BUT their Block of the Month........Liz got this cute little paper pieced snowman quilted (She took Barb's paper piecing class a couple of weeks ago and I think she's made 3 or more)........

 

Libby stopped by in the afternoon with the new puppy - Luna, she is absolutely the cutest!  Her paws are bigger than she is.  She's adorable!

 

.....and Karin happened to have Blackie out in the car so he was invited in for a play date with Luna....they had a great time!  If only we could teach them to quilt.....we could double our output!  I'll have to have a chat with Bosley when I get home...he's gotta stop eating the fabric first!

Oh my look at this!  Here's Block 4 of the Marti Michell...........I was really on a roll tonite!

Block 5 is almost done as well - I think I may go home and start cutting sashing, I think I'm going to need it sooner than I thought..........I'll have to go check Elaine's blog (there's a link on the right side of our blog) to see how far she's gotten, but I think I'm well in the lead now.......We'll see if I can keep up the pace!

I have to start working on the "other" Block of the Month quilt too!  All the fabrics will be arriving on Monday and that one is machine applique so I have to start cutting right away......

I also started the newsletter today and I have to say - we have some really fabulous NEW classes coming up as well as another weekly Sit & Sew day......I'm getting excited and I really need to get home and get to bed....

Tomorrow is another day....

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Jo-Ann

Okay, so it took 3 days.......

I promised to take you to the "Dark Side" three days ago but for me it was just yesterday! You know what they say......."time flies when you're having fun!"

As most of you know I have been in the throes of giving up my "other" business and it has been taking up a large part of my days and nights. The last three days was spent racing to complete two year ends for the accountant and I just came back from delivering the second one to him in Unionville. Phew! just under the wire......but done!

Then there is "cause and effect" which created the "Dark Side". Beyond the classroom is the kitchen and then there is THE DOOR! The one that says "Private Office - No Entry Please". Up until Tuesday it was also referred to as the "Cold Storage" because beyond that point there was no heat! Hence "cause and effect"! "Cause there was no heat the effect was catastrophic! I will give you a rare glimpse at what no heat caused....

This is my office, heated for the past three months with a space heater......Side A......
....and Side B - it is also due to the fact that I have to combine my "old" office with my store office that chaos has reigned (that and the lack of heating)!

...and the REAL cold storage where there was absolutely no heat - our storage room! There was no way anyone could stay in there for more than 5 minutes once the temperature started to dip......

From this angle it only looks worse........

......and now for the real "Dark Side" - my son Jonathan! (Great scowl) He was playing with the camera and I told him if he didn't stop I would post this pic......guess what!

On Tuesday they finally came to install the duct work that is now FINALLY heating the storage room and my office.......they took apart the ceiling in the classroom........

.......the ceilings in the kitchen, the storage room and my office and I finally have heat!

My goal, along with completing a few more outstanding year ends (my companies, of course) is to get those two rooms in order - hopefully before New Year's! All I need is TIME!!!! (that 4-letter word again!)

I'm sure you all remember Country Haven - one of my favourite quilt patterns with that gorgeous fabric from Kim Diehl (no mine is not done - you're kidding, right!) Well just to jog your memory - look at the picture!

...and now look at what one of our customers did! Martha brought this quilt in today and made sure I got a look at it......not only is it the Country Haven pattern but she did it in a "quilt as you go" method! I should have taken a picture of the back - it is done in a checkerboard with the greens and the beiges.......isn't it gorgeous! When I first saw it - it looked familiar but I couldn't figure out why! How different the same pattern can look in another colour way and yet so completely effective!

You may all think because I haven't posted anything yet that Elaine is winning the Marti Michell challenge, but I'm not so sure! Here's Block 1 of the "Light" version of the quilt! (Take into account I've cut all my blocks now) ....and I am halfway done Block 2!

News from the storefront! (Enough with the back rooms!)

We have completely replenished our Sashiko cabinet and added a few great Japanese fabric packs - Charm Packs with 40 fabrics and 1/2 metre cuts! Along with loads of thread and Sashiko panels.....there are some books on the way as well - Barb thinks we should do a class and I'm agreed with that! We may even show you how to embellish these panels.......I can see places for beads galore!

Last, but not at all least, Nancy spent the day making tags for our pattern racks! She got out the old Print Shop and the laminator and went to town. We think it will make it alot easier to find things.....along with our pattern books! We've also gotten in quite a few new ones......

.....the rest of the day Nancy and I spent debating who was the "Start A Project" queen! I'm still not sure who's in the lead - her or me! Hmmmm! Do I see a resolution coming soon????? We'll see!

All I know is - I just looked at the clock and it's almost midnight so on that note I will close the lights and head home to bed......(I just started reading The Lost Symbol - so I can't wait to get home!) Tomorrow is another day, another block and we've got Friday night Sit & Sew so I'll be cooking up a storm.....

Nite all and Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann