Thinking of the "Fall"

Summer is not here yet and I am thinking  of the fall, because that takes me to the Fibre Arts Festival in Amherst Nova Scotia and a workshop with Karen Neary  Check her blog to see the beautiful project she has lined up for her workshop on October 13th.

Speaking of workshops...

On June 22 and 23 La Guilde will have a week-end retreat  with teacher Dorinda McCully .

Friday the project is the Celtic Pillow and on Saturday machine quilting. The workshop was full before I could blink. It filled up so fast I almost forgot to put my name in. 

On April 11th we were informed our application for a grant with the Government of Canada's  New Horizon's for seniors program was approved. We were granted a significant sum to start the program "Les Piqueuses de l'Avenir" ( a kid's quilting program)in our elementary schools.

The guilde members are all excited and hopefully we will have everything in place for the fall!

But for now let's enjoy the spring and summer. Here 's hoping it will be a good one!  

Fun Projects

I have been enjoying making new projects  

 Aprons are a favourite of my sister Simone, so in anticipation of her visit I made her  this one

 Then I found this pattern which is a different version of the Four Corners Apron  I made a while back . I had some Wiscasset fabric left over from a large quilt I am working on, and the 2½ strips worked perfectly. I am trying to use up the leftovers as soon as possible as my bins are getting full.  

More leftovers from a  Bali pop made this purse with a Bali Bits and Bites Pattern by Cool Cat Designs

Activities at the Guild are still going strong. We had applied for a government grant to start a program (to teach the students the art of quilting) in our elementary schools and we were awarded the full amount we asked for. Elaine and I have been shopping for supplies (15 sewing machines have been ordered ) and hopefully everything will be in place for the opening of the school year in the fall. 

Today was "Bring your daughter/ grand-daughter/ niece/ or significant youth" to sew.  

 They all made this cute bag

 with instructor Paulette Comeau.... and had FUN!

This is a quilt made by Vicky one of our members and hand quilted by members. We will have it on sale at  the Quilt Show in August . In the picture, are most mature members Marguerite and Blanche who love to share their hand quilting talents with the younger quilters.   

We are getting ready to go to Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax on May 31 for an overnight stay. 58 members will be travelling on a Tour Bus. What fun that will be!!!! I will have pictures.

So....  never a dull moment here is this corner. 

Happy Victoria Day... and enjoy the long week-end in Canada.   

What have I been doing?

Enjoying being a grandmother:

                                                                                  Miguel

                                                             Émilie, grand-mère  and Miguel

I did a bit of sewing. This Miss Kitty quilt for Miss Émilie

in the chenille technique


 Leibster Award



I have been honoured with a Leibster Award by Linda at:
  http://bumbleknit.blogspot.ca/
Thank You Linda

Liebster is a German word meaning "dearest" or "favourite"and I am suppose to pick 5 blogs that are my favourite but I have to say all of the blogs I follow are deserving of this award and Linda @  http://bumbleknit.blogspot.ca/ is definitely one of my favourite so right  back to you Linda

At the Guild we have been busy preparing for the new program,
" Les Piqueuses de L'avenir" for quilting with our students in elementary schools.
We are also getting ready for Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax. Our tour bus is full and all is booked. What fun!

And we finished one Ribbon Quilt for the Cancer Society

and working on two more .

 

News ... and good news....

I was nominated Volunteer of the year for the Municipality of Clare and

here I am  receiving the award at the awards banquet ..

Now for the Super news....

He's here:

2 hours old....

First grandson... Miguel Dominic Tufts

Born April 21st 2012 at 3:30 pm weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces.
Proud parents Adrien and Monique Tufts. 

Grand-père et grand-mère are doing the happy dance.

I did it!

As some of you are aware I have been wanting to do some Free Motion quilting for some time . Last year I went to a workshop with Karen ." Free Motion for the Absolute Terrified" and I am afraid to say it took me this long to get over my fear even after the workshop...

I finally took the plunge and did a large piece (not a practice piece) Am I ever excited

I need a lot more practice to get my confidence but working on an actual project made it much more real and comfortable enough to do another one.
I am not terrified anymore. Anxious a bit... ??? Yes!
This Saturday the workshop at the Guild is Free Motion.....

Easter or Christmas???

While the calender said Easter this week-end, the weather in parts of Nova Scotia said uhmmmm?Although in our part we just has a light brushing of snow the temperature was quite chilly. In my sewing room the confusion was there also. I made this tree skirt using a wedge ruler. A great tool!

Now let the grass get greener, bring back the birds to the feeder and in the sewing center.. well; bring on the spring like projects.

Happy Easter..

What have I been up to... or better still what has the Guild been up to....The Guild members submitted my Biography for Volunteer of the year and I was chosen. It is with great humility and gratitude that I accepted this award in our Capital city, Halifax. The most wonderful feeling was to represent my Municipality of Clare. This award has many finger prints on it, all of which are worthy of recognition because with only one person a guilde cannot be formed. I am very happy to be part of such a wonderful team as the one on La Guilde Acadienne de Clare.

We had a "bring your granddaughter/daughter/neice to sew" day Ariane ... my grand-daughter and her sister Laurène ... came to sew with grand-mère as well as their friend Sidney. They made a raggy pillow. The day was so rewarding to see the young and the not so young sew together. Now they want to became members of the guild. It was so much fun to see their enthusiasm.

We celebrated our first anniversary and the event was a great success. 6 guilds joined us for a quilting party and quilted on three of our quilts. Over 200 people came to visit and have lunch with us. The meal was the traditional Acadian dish, rappie pie and of course our celebration cake.
Now we prepare to journey to Halifax to Quilt Canada 2012 on May 31-June 1st . I have arranged to have a tour bus bring us for the two days. There was no problem filling the bus of 58 seats. I will have pictures for sure.

Happy Easter everyone...