UFO / WIP Weekend

Should I, Could I make a pun!

Okay Timberlane Quilters it is time to WIP your UFO’s into completion.  (Yeah, I know… not very funny… or even punny).  Quilt Show is only 7 weekends away.

It is a great time to finish your quilting projects with fellow quilters.   The Guild Hall will be open and available to all at 9:00am on Saturday January 31, and February 1.  Bring your projects, supplies, lunch, beverage, and whatever else you may need to finish your quilting projects.

Or even just stop by for a visit, and even lend a hand if you wish.

Have a great quilting weekend!

-Alice

yucky weather =good studio time

I’m being a chicken and not going to the guild this morn. I’d rather stay nice and cozy with my heater and my applique.
it’s countdown time-only 8 weeks til the guild’s show – BUT less than 2 weeks to get your entry forms completed.
I’ve been neglecting the fiber blog since I started it – so head over to Fiberwhimsys and see a link to a lovely website of colour,inspiration, and some innovative work with fabric paints and tyvek. The artist is Cynthia St Charles of Montana.
I hope to put up some links to my favorite blogs, vidcasts,online classes,emagazines, and galleries before the next computer demo class with Alice and then you all can visit beforehand. Get your questions ready for our very own computer geek(that’s a compliment)

Must be Serendipity

While we were in the mall today selling raffle tickets for the Catscan quilts, a former member came up to purchase some tickets and then asked if we could take some books for the guild library. Well of course Karen, we’d be delighted with the donation, and then she said that they were in the car and she’d be right back. yippee!

She brought back 5 books, several of which are Debbie Mumm’s books but not duplicates of ones we already have.
Then as I was paging thru them , I found the perfect watering can for a compliment to Doris’s lovely gardening hat that I am placing as the center of my next quilt. There is also a teapot applique that will be perfect on the pocket of that Apron I’m hoping to get done for the quilt show.
So I will quickly trace these applique shapes, prepare the books for the library shelves and have them ready for our next guild meeting.
I wonder what good things I’ll find in the other books? Isn’t a great when everything just seems to fall perfectly into place? I had good karma all day today.

shopping hints

Doesn’t it frustrate you when you see lots of hype about a new book or author and you can’t find anything in a magazine or on the web about the CONTENTS of a book?
I also hate the book reviews in the majority of quilt magazines, as they are publisher/author edited to help sell the book!
I have found very few websites that give me a honest critique about a book or author’s writing style and skills as a teacher. The quilting skill level is also not explained. About 1/2 of the quilt books at Amazon do have reader’s reviews , so I look to see if that can be helpful to me. And that is a good reminder that if you are thrilled with a book ,take the time to write a review so that your favorite author can sell more books!!
I have been very disappointed over many years of quilting, when the hype about a book just goes as far as the quilt on the cover.

There are 2 websites that I have found helpful.
Connecting Threads is slanted towards the traditional quilter amongst us,
http://www.connectingthreads.com/quilting+books.html

and Soft Expressions has a great selection of art quilt titles.
http://www.softexpressions.com/

BUT the great thing about both sites is that they have pics of the quilts inside the covers, just by clicking or scrolling down the page, you can get an idea if the expense will be worth it. Both sites have a button to view images- look for that button for happy browseing.
( just a warning- Soft expressions started as a quilt program/computer website and has expanded to sell all sorts of bling to entice us- use self control.)

Both of our friendly local bookstores, Breakwater Books and Coles, will gladly place special orders, but it’s nice to know what you’re ordering before asking them a favor.
I also like www.amazon.ca . Most titles from the USA website can be obtained from their canadian branch and if you place enough orders , you will get real deals/discounts and free shipping. Just ask me how I know.

week’s update

Although we had a disappointing attendance last night for our 1st class on exploring the use of the computer in your quilting, Alice did an excellent job of answering questions and clearing up some of our foggy notions.
Next month’s program will likely be at my house so we can have internet connections, The topics to be covered will include blogs, forums, paid subscriptions, online classes and vid casts.

I have updated a few links on the right hand side. You’ll be able to visit Shawn’s website to check out her quilting services and her threads, and then drop in and visit her new blog . She’s put up a tutorial for our recent Wonky Log Cabin workshop.

I’m pleased to see so many completed quilts in the Wonky Log Cabin style. Those member’s scrap bins must be pounds lighter.

Guild Challenge 2009 – Chicken Scratch Apron

After a little bit of discussion on Chicken Scratch at the demo this evening, I thought I would provide a few links on Chicken Scratch Embroidery, also known as (AKA) Depression Lace, AKA Australian Lace, AKA Snowflaking, AKA Tenneriffe Lace, AKA Amish Embroidery for those of you who are participating in this year’s Guild Challenge, or for those of you who may be interested.

There are a growing number of blogs, websites and other venues on the internet about Chicken Scratch Embroidery.  Do a google search and you are likely to get more than 24, 000 hits (that is how many webpages found with Chicken Scratch Embroidery mentioned).

There are a couple of good websites that explain how to do the embroidery, I have listed a couple here. (All links will open in a new window or tab).

http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/fypubs/WLG_31%20Chicken%20Scratch%20Embroidery%20Leader.pdf

http://www.craftown.com/instruction/chicken.htm

http://www.pegasusor.com/pdfs/chickenscr.pdf

http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/2008/07/stitch-school-chicken-scratch.html – this site shows very detailed close-up of the stitches.

A couple of sites that display either the chicken scratch patterns and/or chicken scratch on aprons:

http://lacenribbonroses.blogspot.com/search/label/Vintage%20Gingham%20Stitch%2FChicken%20Scratch%20Patterns

http://www.wellsphere.com/parenting-article/chicken-scratch-embroidery/438810

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/tieoneon/2007/08/chicken-scratch.html

There are also a few books for Chicken Scratch Patterns, one source is:

http://www.pegasusor.com/chicken.html

If you want to see lots of pictures/photos/images of Chicken Scratch Embroidery, goto google.com and type in Chicken Scratch Embroidery, then click on the IMAGES link near the top of the page.  Have fun!  You’ll see patterns, vintage patterns, aprons, pillows, quilts, vintage items, and much much more!

Enjoy!

-Alice

Quilt Show Registration and Guidelines

The Quilt Show is fast approaching, and the registration forms need to be into the Registration committee by the meeting on February 5, 2009.

I have included the TQG Guidelines 2009 and TQG Registration Form 2009 forms here, and on our website.

Alice M. is available to any guild member who wishes to have photos taken of their quilts for the registration form.  Contact Alice by phone or by email to make arrangements.

January update

First, it was nice to see so many members come out to the business meeting on thurs(8th). I was pleased to see 3 new members and a few guests. I was disappointed that I did not get to meet everyone at the meeting ,but hopefully new members were introduced to the library and our rooms downstairs.

I was busy handing out packets of raffle tickets and want to thank everyone for taking almost all of them off my hands. We have printed many more of the 3for$5.00 tickets and that is all I have left in my box.

The ticket money can be returned at any time and please let me know if you would like a few more books.
Ticket sales in the mall are planned for Sat Jan 24th in front of Shopper’s Drug mart. 2 hour shifts are almost full for both Jan 24th and Feb 14th.
CAUTION – please remember that the ticket books have 2 DIFFERENT prices and make sure friends and family fill out the correct ticket if they wish only one ticket at $2 or want 3 for $5.00
The revised Membership list and email list will be available for the next meeting. I have the revised email list to type today and forward to Jessie.

A description of the internet/computer demo night will be posted later this week-end. In the meantime I have to say the Weekend workshop today seems to have been a real success, and I look forward to seeing all the wonkiness at show and tell.

I will also be revising the list of member’s blogs and businesses in the next few days.

Happy New Year

Well, I’m sure that all of you are as sick of the snow as I am and here’s hoping that the weather is not a factor in cancelling any meetings or classes for 2009.

Please read my last post about the raffle ticket sales. The ticket packets are ready for pickup from my house or they will be available at the business mtg on Jan.8th.
Please come to pick up an envelope and sign up for the sale table in the mall.

Our Sat. workshop for the month is just 2 days after the business mtg – so prepare your fabric NOW and be ready to signup for the WONKY LOG CABIN scheduled for Sat. Jan 10th.
This is an excellent time to use up lots of those scraps, strips, and uglies that you don’t want to waste.
Sharon loves batiks but this project can be useful for any fabric choices. The stripes also DO NOT have to be straight of grain, or the same width.
What about bringing your scrap bin and making a top for the community quilts committee??

Alice Mcc is guiding us on a quilting exploration trip of the internet for our Thurs demo nights for both January and February. If you have any questions , I’m sure that she will be pleased to answer them. Here’s your chance to learn about vidcasts,podcasts,online groups,google searches and tutorials,freepatterns,and online classes.