One more week!!

I can't believe that the Studio Tour is only one week away!! I have so many things made, and have been working on it for so long, that I think I will be surprised by what I have accomplished when I go to set up in the middle of next week. I have finally finished quilting the four "Noel" wallhangings that I started making in the summer (while we were at the Sumler cottage), now I just have to sew on the binding and they will be reading to go. Here they are all lined up on my quilting frame.

If you have a chance either next weekend, or the first weekend in December, stop in to see me at Studio #7.

New UCQP patterns available online!!!

The two newest patternds that Nellie and I have designed using Northcott fabrics are now available on the Upper Canada Quiltworks Publishing website.

"Country Rose Garden" and "Flower Power" are now both available for purchase on our website. Check out the "Patterns Page" for ordering information.

Funky Gift Bags

Last year I bought this fun line of Laurel Burch Christmas fabric, but had no idea what to make with it. One day I was in my studio and decided to make the fat quarters into Christmas gift bags. I had co-ordinating fabrics that I used to make the ties. As I was looking through one of my cupboards, I found a bunch of Christmas felt cut-outs (reindeer, snowflakes and ornaments) that were just perfect to applique on each bag. They are all so cute and colourful, I think I will have to save a few for myself, but the rest are going to the Studio Tour.

Funky Stocking Kits Now Available!!

I've finally had a bit of time to sit down and do some maintenance on our website. As a result, the kits for my "Funky Stocking" punchneedle project that is featured on the cover of the 2010 Festive issue of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine are FINALLY available online!! These kits include the Valdani 3-strand embroidery floss and weaver's cloth needed to complete the project as well as one of my "Fresh and Fun Punchneedle" books FREE!!!!
Check our my website for ordering information!

Stockings

At our house everyone has a homemade stocking - even the two dogs and the cat!! So of course I wanted to make stockings for the studio tour. I had a bunch of leftover Jim Shore Christmas fabric (which I LOVE) so I found some co-ordinating fabrics and made the stocking bottoms using a quilt-as-you-go technique then added felted wool cuffs. There are green, blue and red ones and I think they turned out quite cute.

Bookmarks

A few months ago I decided to make some bookmarks for the Studio Tour - I thought they might make nice gifts, especially to give along with a special book. I used "Fast 2 Fuse", fabric scraps, decorative stitches and fun ribbons - and my new "Crop-A-Dile" to set the eyelets. They were fun to make and I hope they will sell well.

Halloween 2010

Since Carson was sick last Halloween, he didn't get to wear the AWESOME Ninja costume that I made him. Luckily (for me) he decided to wear it this year - and (luckily for me) it still fit. Aidan decided to not dress up. Instead he stayed in (where it was WARM) and handed out candy.

A very productive (and fun) day!!

Today I spent the day in Morrisburg with the ladies at Nellie's Fall Quilt Retreat. Since I have had a few weekends away over the last couple months, I decided that I was not going to attend the quilt retreat this fall, BUT since I was off today Nellie invited me to come up to spend the day (I got to use my friend Trudy's table before she arrived late this afternoon). While I was there I worked on my ornaments for the Studio Tour. I started them last weekend, and have been working on them whenever I had a chance, but with 5 dedicated hours today, I managed to finish up 45 of them. Here is a sample of what I have been making. I have 25 more to finish (but I still have 3 weeks!).I hope the retreaters have a great weekend and get lots of quilts made!!!

Studio Tour - only 4 weeks away!!!!

YIKES!! I can't believe that the "A Country Home Christmas Studio Tour" is only four weeks away! But I have been busy all year long (or so it seems) making things whenever I had a chance. So far I have tablerunners, stockings, some really cute bookmarks and a few new wallhangings that are either finished or well on the way to being finished. Now to get everything done!! Here is the website for Thousand Islands Arts studio tour : http://www.tiarts.org/tour_cc/index.php