Applique!

This is the applique block we made for our Beginner Hand Quilting Class. With this all our blocks our done and we are on to sashing. I love the way the block turned out even though it was a pretty long process. But I am really excited that I now know how to applique and I can't wait to get started on more shapes!  

Hand Quilting Class

I'm taking Jeannie's Beginner Quilt Making by Hand class. We started off last week. My hand sewing is not very good... well... I haven't done much of it so I guess I shouldn't keep saying that. I'm probably going back to the time I tried to piece by hand ... 4 years ago... with no templates and no instruction and ofcourse it was horrible. And I have been making the hexagons and they're not so bad so I really sould stop saying that! :)

Anyway... this the is fabric I'll be using. It's the Sonora Collection from Benartex. Love the colours. this neat package is from The Bargain Lover's Club. It's so neatly done that I didn't want to open it up! Great deal too.

We started off with a 16 patch. I made my first four blocks more as a trial. Will have to start working wiht the actual fabric now. I was always a little worried about scissor cutting but its not so bad once you make a template. I'm really glad I'm doing this class. It's a well designed class and by the end of it I would have worked on triangles, applique, tumbling blocks and a dresden plate! Yaay! :)

Grandmother's Flower Garden

I started making hexies about a month or so ago. You can see the post on that here.
I was urged to start because Judy offered me a free quilt if I would make a store sample of The Grandmother's Flower Quilt. I was hesitant at first because I haven't done much hand sewing in the past and was not sure how it would all turn out... especially if it was going to be a store sample!

Anyway... after a quick lesson I was hooked and I think my hand sewing is not so bad either. :)

We're making Grandmother's Flower Garden Kits in 1930's Reproduction Fabrics and Brights. And I'm doing the brights. They are the cutest kits. I almost want to buy them just so I can get my hexie papers and squares in a pretty package!

I'm thread basting but there's this neat new Bohin Glue Stick that I want to try out.

We're releasing two a week so there will be more of this. I'm thinking of going with a Kona White and doing hexagons all around for the background. What do you think?

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday on Quilt Story and W.i.P Wednesday.

   

Pieced the top!

Went in to the store today and pieced the top. This is the size the class is doing. It's 45" x 63" - a nice lap size quilt. I'm going to make it into a twin for my niece. She loves blue and I hope this is blue enough for her. I think I might add a border with blue fabric - something from the squares - so it looks a little more blue than it is now. What do you think?

45"X63" Lap Quilt

I love these fabrics. They are so bright and happy.
As I was piecing the top I felt so good just having the fabric on me... You know how you need to have the quilt top and quilt on your lap when you're sewing... isn't that such a great feeling. I had forgotten about that since I haven't sewn in 9 months.
Sigh... the simple pleasures of life! :)

And I love the Kona Snow for the back.

I want me one of these! So great to be working on a design wall. I can't thank Judy enough for letting me sew in the store. It's AMAZING!!!

Taking a quilting class!

I'm going to be taking a Beginner Machine Quilting Class that we are having at the store in March!!! :)

Beginner Quiltmaking by Machine

Wednesday Evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 beginning in the March 28th  (7 Sessions)
Instructor Jeannie Jenkins
$99.00
Learn the basics of quilt making by machine. Jeannie will take you through rotary cutting basics,
piecing, assembling the top, sandwiching, quilting and binding.  Sewing machine required.

This is so great! Jeannie Jenkins is a fantastic quilter and does a host of classes at Sew Sisters Quilt Shop. I'm really looking forward to it. There's another one I want to do as well - Introduction to Paper Piecing. I'm so looking forward to these.

I haven't sewn in six months and its driving me looney!!!! :(

Introduction to Paper Piecing

Tuesday May 8th, 1:00 - 3:00

Instructor Jeannie Jenkins

$20.00

Paper piecing is a technique of sewing oversize fabric pieces to a paper foundation.  This allows you to make accurate patchwork blocks easily and quickly without making any templates. During class you will be given some sample patterns and work on completing some easy blocks.  Suitable for beginners or anyone wanting to learn machine paper piecing.  Sewing machine required.

Can't wait to get back to work! :)

So I've been putting up a lot of fabric on the site. See it here.
I have my eye on a few that I'd like to buy...

• Heather Bailey's Bijoux collection is quite lovely. We have the Mod Beads in green, rose, and yellow. 
• Absolutely love Dragonfly Daze. Reminds me of a Gerrald Durrel book I read when I was a kid. Feel like going into the woods with a net and a jar!

There's so many more bolts in those boxes that I can't wait to get to! Have stacked up two boxes worth to upload on Tuesday. Check the store site to see what's New in January!

This is what I do...

Want to see what I was up to on my first day on the job? Check out Judy's post on the Sew Sisters Quilt Shop blog.

There's some lovely new fabric that's come in and you should check it out. :)

First Day of Work at Sew Sisters!

I've been dying to write about this but I held on till I actually started working at Sew Sisters Quilt Shop which was today! Yaay! :) This couldn't have worked out better!

I so enjoyed today. So grateful for being able to do this.

I looked up quilt stores in Toronto before we moved and signed up for their newsletter and liked their facebook page. I wrote to Judy in the beginning of January and asked if they had any openings and as it so happened... there was!

This is so big for me. Living in India and dreaming of being in a real quilt store... I can't believe I actually work there! It's two days a week for now I still have to find other work but this is such a gift! Thank you God! :)