Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Quilt Shop #4 Parma, Ohio

Back in September I went to Ohio to celebrate my Mom's 75th birthday.  She and my sister fly from Ontario while I flew from Alberta to meet them and go to mom's home town for a birthday celebration with many family members.   
 I also got a chance to visit with my father in a different town and do some shopping.  Of course what's a shopping trip without finding a local quilt shop.  My friend Google didn't let me down and found a shop less then 15 min away!!!
I neglected to get a picture of the outside of the shop (duh!) It's called
Quilter's Source.  It was a small shop and not overly stocked with items.  I could hear some great fun happening in the classroom.  I must say that the staff was not overly friendly or talkative to me that day. But that could just be that moment in time.  I bought a couple of fat quarters and a couple of patterns that intrigued me.  I wonder if I will ever actually make them.
 

It was neat and tidy, but not alot of selections for fabric.


Sorry for the poor picture quality, they were taken on my phone.

Well that concludes my quilt shop visits this fall. 
Maybe I will do some shopping locally and give my reviews. Who am I kidding of course I will shop locally, why just yesterday I was at two shops.
My darning foot I use for FMQ must have come up to it's 10,000km life span as it broke Sunday! So I had to replace it.  I was also looking for the fabric markers for labels.

How do you label quilts?
Happy Stitching,

Lee

p.s. Happy Halloween!
 
 

Monday, October 29, 2012

Quilt Shop #3 - Kamploops, BC

On our way home from Vancouver, (end of August)  after dropping our daughter off at university and clearing up the teary eyes I needed some quilt shop therapy.
Actually we had stopped in Kamloops, BC for gas and lunch and I googled again!  Low and behold this shop was on our way eastward!!! Katja's Quilt Shoppe
From their website:
Katja's Quilt Shoppe is a full service fabric and quilting store located in Kamloops, British Columbia. Rated as a top 10 quilt shop in the US and Canada by Quilt Sampler Magazine in September 2008, we carry thousands of bolts of designer fabric, perfect for quilting.

A wide variety of quilting classes taught by our in-house expert staff for every skill level from beginner to experienced, are both fun and educational. We also offer an exciting variety of monthly clubs and Block-of-the- Month programs, as well as a nice selection of quilting kits. We specialize in English Paper Piecing so check out our supplies.

Visitors say they feel right at home when they visit Katja’s Quilt Shoppe, but if you aren’t close enough to visit in person, feel free to call and order over the phone by using either our local or toll free number.
 
What a delightful shop and definitely a place to stop again. ( too bad it is is 8 hrs away). If you are ever in the area be sure to stop by.
 Very welcoming staff and a great selection of all things quilting. Of course I didn't leave empty handed. I added to my 1930's collection with a fat quarter bundle.
 
I love the quilt blocks on the outside of the shop. 


Do you check out quilt shops while on vacation or in a different town?

Happy Stitching

Lee
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Friday, October 26, 2012

Bloggers Quilt Festival Entry

It's that time of the year again. Amy from Amy's Creative Side is hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I am excited to show you my latest finish and to participate once again in the Festival. It's a great way to get inspired to quilt.

I made this quilt top about this time last year, but only got around to quilting and finishing it this year. I used most of my dark strings up to put this together. I love making string quilts.

 DSCN9891DSCN9892DSCN9896DSCN9893DSCN9899

I used a brownish-red thread and machine stippled most of it. In the black border I used a scalloped stitch.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest finish. Don't forget to check out the rest of the quilts in the festival!

Happy Stitching!

Lee

Blogger Quilt Festival Stats:

Size: 50" x 74"

Technique: String Quilt

Quilted by: Me

Categories: Machine quilted on a a domestic machine

Scrap quilt

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Blogger's Quilt Festival

It's that time of the year again.  Amy from Amy's Creative Side is hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I am excited to show you my latest finish and to participate once again in the Festival. It's a great way to get inspired to quilt.

I made this quilt top about this time last year, but only got around to quilting and finishing it this year.  I used most of my dark strings up to put this together.
I love making string quilts. 

 
 
 
 


I used a brownish-red thread and machine stippled most of it. In the black border I used a scalloped stitch. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest finish.  Don't forget to check out the rest of the quilts in the festival!

Happy Stitching!

Lee

  Blogger Quilt Festival Stats:
Size: 50" x 74"
Technique:  String Quilt
Quilted by: Me
Categories: Machine quilted on a a domestic machine 
Scrap quilt
 
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

West Coast shop #2


From Seattle we decided to take a ferry over to Bainbridge Island. One to check out the quaint island and two to get a cheap view of the Seattle Harbour area.
we walked from our hotel to the ferry dock, that was a bit of a hike with many a steep sidewalk.




Once we got to the island, I of course had to Google quilts shops in the area. since we were on foot we had limited range.

I came across Esther's Fabrics! Bingo

 What a delightful little shop.

They had a nice selection of fabrics but also offered wools and knitting supplies too
 
I picked up a fat quarter bundle of cute orange, purple and greys to make a kids quilt with sometime.  
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Sunday, October 21, 2012

West Coast quilt shop #1

In August our family drove out to Seattle and Vancouver for a couple weeks vacation and to take our daughter to university. 
Of course I 'googled' the location of a few quilt shops....just in case I was in the neighbourhood!

This shop was just a block from Pikes Market.  Yeah for me.

Gorgeou

Tourist!
Undercover Quilts was located inside a shopping center in a historic building.  
Husband's Chair or Disinterested friend or family member's chair
 
This chair sat just out side the door. Let's just say my family members all used it while waiting for me.
Luckily for them the shop was small and it didn't take me long to go thru...twice. they had some interesting west coast style quilts, fabrics and patterns.
 
Brewery t-shirt quilt in the brewery next door
I bought a couple of fat quarters.
Are you like me and find it hard to leave a quilt store without buying something? I feel kinda quilty if I don't, especially in the smaller establishments. You? 
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Friday, October 19, 2012

now back to July


In my next few posts I will  posting about quilt shops that I have visited in the last couple of months. 

First up M & L Fabrics in Anaheim, CA


Bonnie Hunter posted about this amazing shop last January or so.  I kept note of it then as I knew would be traveling to Anaheim in July. 

My daughters and 68 other dancers from our studio were dancing in the Disneyland Parade and doing some dance workshops on the Disney Grounds. 



I managed to sneak away from Disney one morning to find  fabric heaven. I even had one of the grandma's come along with me.
Let's just say, the chattter on the way over, quickly stopped once we opened the door.  I don't think I have ever seen so much fabric in one place.



Halleljuha

It was all very neat and tidy and well organized by style, types, colours and prices. (the aisles could be a bit wider as you couldn't get two grocery carts passing)
Yes grocery carts are what you need there and room on your credit card.  I read different reviews about the staff there.  We had no problems, in fact my cutting lady was super friendly and effecient.

Before going I did make a mental list of what I needed.  Because we all know what you need and want in fabric are two different things. 
 

bargain flat yardage
 
you name it they had it in every shade
 
What I came out with!!
 
The prices were amazing especially for us Canadians and the dollar was about par that day...bargain!!!I only wish I had more room in my suitcase!!!

I know I will be back to this store if I am ever in the are again!!!

Have you been to a fabric meca store before too?

Happy Stitching
 
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Charming little quilt

a charming crib quilt
If you read my post from the other day, you know I participated in the Curious Quilters charm swaps over this past year. (there is still time to sign yourself up to swap this round) 
Well here is one project I made from swaping all those charms (2.5"squares). It's not a huge quilt 35"x54".  I hope it will find a home and someone to cuddle soon.
 
 

hanging around in the sunshine

the back is white and turquoise swirly flowers

a rounded zig zag quilting in different directions

This is a little tiny quilt for a premie at a local hospital

with some loopy daisies

and a cheery backing.


Have you ever made anything with charms? 
I have another top completed with the rest of the charms so stay tuned.

Happy stitching

Lee
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Sunday, October 14, 2012

That's a wrap......

Daughter that is off at university needed a special wrap for her new special friend 'Mac!'
 
 
 
Keeps him well protected!
 
Happy Stitching!
 
Lee

Friday, October 12, 2012

Charmed I'm sure.....

Mary over at the Curious Quilter has been hosting a charm square swap each quarter of this year.  What are charms you ask?
Well really any size little square, 1", 1.5",2",2.5" etc.  A couple of years back I started cutting down scraps into 2.5" squares because they are so useful in projects.  I also started sewing those together into little 9 patches.  So when I read about Mary's swap I was thrilled.  I have had swap partners from Texas, Australia to Madagascar.  Every little square of fabric is different.  You swap 100 squares at a time or more if you have them.  You will have to go over to the Curious Quilter and learn more about charms and Postage Stamp quilts.  There is still time for you to sign up!

so much fun to play

colour piles

Standing up tall....well maybe 3"
You will be happy to know I have been sewing these little guys up like crazy.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

 
getting back into the groove,

 I am almost back into a quilting life & getting normal groove.  Our renovations are complete and the house has been cleaned top to bottom. Just a few pictures to hang and furniture to buy, but I have been able to do some sewing, whew.
 
Oh aand a lot of other things have happend since (gulp) July when I last posted. I did finish up my daugher's quilt for university.

 

Ta dah my one summer finish
 
She wanted a back that was totally different then the front!

 
 

in the center is her duvet cover
 
 
 

matching pillows
 


The whole ensemble including a huge body pillow


One last sisterly hug
 I have more to post about our summer and early fall activities soon. 
What have your been stitching in my long absence? (which I hope won't be so long this time)

Happy Stitching
 
Lee