Thanks for the encouragement QuiltE, it's back to work today after a long holiday weekend, so it might take me a day or two to get the pics of the blocks up, but I will, so stay tuned...lol

Thread Alert!!!!!!!!

Ladies, you might want to take a look at this thread (pun intended).....
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...d-t190278.html
and particularly posts #10 and #15
and this link
http://www.tristan.bc.ca/cart/home.php
Yea!!! .... O Canada, eh! :D

http://www.tristan.bc.ca/news.html
I guess I know where I will be on June 9, since it's only about 45 minutes from home. Thanks.

But, looking at their site, I only see Aurofil under clearance. I guess I will have to ask.

OMG ... YOU are SO lucky!!!!!!!
See the referral program .......
http://www.tristan.bc.ca/cart/pages.php?pageid=8

Time to catch up a bit.
ghostrider-I used that same leaf. I was not aware of the history until QuiltE told it to us. I am a bad Canadian. :( My excuse, I hated history in school and they didn't teach much in the way of Canadian history, anyway.

Jenniky - machine quilting always. I AM thinking of playing with a few more of those 60 stitches on my machine, though. Also, that nap blanket is really cute. Lucky child.

dublb - looking forward to seeing the next project. :)

QuiltE - sounds like a good weekend. Looking forward to seeing some photos. Have you asked about future classes or sew-alongs?

callen - Hope you decide to join the challenge. The more, the merrier and, you can see the variety of projects so, anything goes.

nursie76 - So glad we can offer some inspiration and encouragement. I'm looking forward to seeing a photo or two when you are able. As QuiltE has said multiple times, we will be here long after July 1 so will continue to provide encouragement.

I'm taking a break from mine for a bit because I made so much progress last weekend. But, if it rains all weekend I may just have to make myself a quilt sandwich.

Jenniky - love the little nap quilt. Shaun will look hard at all those pictures when he is having his naps.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I hope you spotted the thatched cottage in the background - there aren't that many around. By the way - we are nowhere near London! The flame is doing a grand tour of Britain and Northern Ireland and the route has been planned so it passes within 10 miles of 95% of the population. We saw it on Day 5 and it will not finish until the end of July.

Works4me - How many stitches!!?? One of the reasons why I'm a vintage machine girl...

Progress report - Finished the prickly leaves on the thistle, but the rest of it is going to have to wait because I have to finish the wall hanging this week. I hope to quilt it today. Had to do a shopping trip on Monday, an hour's drive to Gloucester, because I have bought all the gorgeous coloured cottons direct from the importers' showroom. All the applique I have been doing is in hand-woven and hand-dyed cotton made in India. Bought a beautiful plum red stripe for the border of the wall hanging.. Look at all these colours

http://www.oakshottfabrics.com/categ...g-fabrics.aspx

Pricey but worth every penny. I tested for dye fastness by sewing a tiny swatch of each colour onto a piece of white cotton, then pouring boiling water onto it and leaving it to soak in jug. Later I ironed it while it was still wet. There was a tiny bit of colour that ran from the dark red, but this was before I had given any of the colours a pre-wash. When I did the same thing again after pre-washing all the colours, there was no running dye at all.

Muv - old Kenmore, made by Janome, has about 16 stitches, newer Janome has 60. Also found out I can combine stitches so will have some fun on one of the next few quilts.

Those are gorgeous fabrics. Love how rich the colours are. I've never thought of Indian fabrics as being high quality. This goes back to the days of peasant blouses made in India that fell apart after two washings. Nice to know some things have changed.

Good Morning Ladies !!!!

Muv ... That was a fun little trip to your importer's site! Thank you for leading the way. Had to learn the new language .... packs and blocks!! And I really like those "shot cottons"!! I can't think of anything comparable here. Are you using those in your quilt/hanging? Looks like there's a reason for the deadline for the wall hanging ... perhaps to have it done for the week's festivities for the Diamond Jubilee. I'm disappointed as I'll be away on Saturday and will miss it ... they'll probably have re-runs of it at night, though it won't be near as good, as they'll chop chop the footage!

W4Me ... ahhhh ... another site for you to order from!!!

That WAS a yummy site, Muv. I LOVE shot cottons though I have, so far, resisted them. I'm too easily obsessed with new fabric treasures...first marbles, then solids, now batiks...I'm a very sad case. :o

We do have them here, meaning this side of the pond, QuiltE. Kaffe Fassett's line is often said to be one of the best quilting weight shot cottons and sells for about 20% less than the site Muv pointed to, around $9.50USD per yard. This site has the entire line. http://www.gloriouscolor.com/store.php?cat=126 (I have a reputation for being an enabler...)

Then I will be on the look-out for them!!!
I just discovered KF last year, thanks to many posts on this Board ... and saw them IRL for the first time last summer during a Shop Hop at a small store who carries the full line of KF. Not a lot of stores have them ... don't know if that's their choice? or if perhaps it's kept as an exclusive thing?

He's coming this fall ... and I'm signed up for one of the workshops
http://www.hyggeligt.ca/04-october-2...ist-available/

Just checked the site, and didn't see any shots ... though I bet she has them!! I'll be there during the Shop Hop this summer to stock up on my fabrics for the workshop, and will be on the lookout for them. Maybe I can even use them?

Glad you saw the site. I'm not sure I would use their shot cottons for piecing, but they are perfect for applique.

Been busy today.

Hello QuiltE, no, it's not the rose, it's an arabesque at the top of the wall hanging. The blanket stitch is done by hand. My machines only do straight stitch. I'm putting in the first line of quilting around the applique. On this picture you can see the machine stitching where I am going round the inside the nought of 2012.

Muv -Quite impressive hand stitching.

Everyone's projects are looking great... I've not been able to sit down and sew since I finished up dgs's nap blanket. My dd arrived in Texas alright and though she says she is exhausted she is happy she is finally there. House feeling empty atm. I need to shift gears and get busy back at the sewing machine.. that will cure my bleakness Im sure. :) Have a wonderful day. :)

Jenniky - Yes, cosy up to the machine again or, play with your stash. I find that just pulling out a bundle and reminding myself what is in it can go a long way to lifting my spirits.

Good to know she has arrived safe and sound.

Hello Jenniky - nothing like working with colour to lift your spirits - hope you feel a bit brighter soon.

Meanwhile today I'm doing the binding on the wall hanging...

This will give me incentive to do a wedding quilt (log cabin in RW&B) for a friend who is captain in U.S. Air Force and 70th birthday quilt for friend who is retired chief petty officer in Coast Guard. Does it count if I finish two quilts for the Veterans Hospital? They just need quilting.

Welcome. Sounds like you are planning to be busy. :) You bet it counts if you finish two quilts. That's a big part of this, encouraging people to finish things up or start new things.

Would love to see pictures.

I was planning to do the patriotic challenge, then when looking thru my stuff for inspiration, I found a kaleidascope I started while I was having to stay 2 extra weeks in Ohio this spring and got all inspired to work on it again. Hope I get back to a patriotic item again.

So sorry your dd will be living farther away from you. I know how that is, not easy.My heart and prayers go out to you. Did she move there for college or a job??My daughter and her husband moved to Colorado when our first granddaughter was only 4 months old--for 14 long months. Fortunately they didn't like it there and moved back to California and live 25 minutes from us. We used skype almost everyday-that helped.

Looking and touching fabric can definitely take your mind off things. Sewing helps even more, that is for sure. You've also got all of us quilting phanatics!!!

nHello, I stumbled in here the other day and, wow what a great surprise. Now here is the thing. My daddy is 73 and he wants me to make him a quilt. So I think it should be a quilt that is about him. And anyway I want to do a patriotic quilt. He served 37 yrs in the Navy, What I am looking for is a Emblem for the Navy, or the Supply Corp Navy. And guess what I can not find one. But I know that they are out there cause I have seen it with some of your quilts. Can one of you please tell me where I can find them.
Thank you in advance Audrey (wanabquilter)

Go to Image Google and type "Emblem for US Navy" or "Emblem for Supply Corp Navy".

International Patriotic Challenge
 

Hi All,
It's been a while but my quilt top is done and I still have time to quilt it too! Here are the pictures.
Patticake

I don't know but I hope that ya find one. What a great daughter ya are.:thumbup: Tell him Thank you for his service from me.

Oh that is darlin'. (10 min. block???)

Yes, it is a 10 min block with a little extra in the center. :) Not sure why the picture isn't full size but I'm really happy with the finished top. Now to quilt it.

wildyard - There is no deadline. We just used July 1 and 4 of this year because those are the birthdays of Canada and the USA. Guaranteed we will be around a long time after those dates.

Good luck on the kalaidescope and we hope you keep coming back to encourange us along on our projects and to be inspired for your project when you are ready.

I'm almost finished quilting mine but I'm not going anywhere when I'm done. I already have ideas for 2013 and 2014. :)

wanabquilter - That sounds like a wonderful gift for your father. I Googled Supply Corp Navy and then clicked to get Google images. A lot came up. I don't know which one would work but there should be a lot of inspiration on those Google pages. You can probably get a lot more specific in your search than I can as your Dad can give you more information. Good luck.

Patticake - Fabulous. Keep up the good work.

Muv - I hear there are a lot of festivities going on this weekend through to Tuesday. It's wonderful when one person can bring the country together like the Queen can. So looking forward to your progress, and maybe a small history lesson, too.

Bev I do believe Texas wants her.. LOL she is so happy and she's loving it and she hasn't even started her new job yet. When we talk every other sentence starts with Mom you got to see this or you need to visit and go here with me.. Or You will love this place. LOL dh and I are planning a trip to TX in late Aug or early Sept to go see all this wonderfulness she is talking about. :) :) :) Thank you ladies for being a source of strength and retreat to help me through the separation. I'm doing much better now.. um about 400.00 in fabric added to my stash later. Im ready to get back in my sewing groove and get things done. :) :) :) I did finish designing and making my block for the QB contest and sent in my entry. Sew very exciting :) :) Now Im going to focus on the mystery train hst's and then put the finishing sash on my Patriotic Mystery quilt and of course I will do a lil here and there on all my other projects as I go along. My focus though is to get the Patriotic Quilt complete. :) :) :) HUGS everyone!!!

I have just finished two patriotic tote bags, and a patriotic Bow Tuck. Do those count? I still haven't been able to get pictures posted, but will be trying again. I love my Bow Tuck purse. I carried it all day Friday, Saturday and This morning for our Statewide American Legion Convention. Had quite some interesting comments on it. Thanks.