April, May and June

Good grief time has flown!!  I am actually in the store today for a few hours.  Since the last post I have been out of the store as much as in.

April 12-14 we had a shop tour so the store was hopping for 3 days. 
Then I had a week to get ready for the Piecemakers Quilt show in St Marys for 3 days. 
There was one day to unpack and repack for the Ailsa Craig show.  It was great to see so many quilting friends and meet new quilters.  The efforts is so worth it.
After that show I had a week to get things put away and caught up in the store before heading to Kansas City.
Twice a year the quilting industry has a trade show.  In the spring it moves around so we have a chance to visit some interesting new cities.  Last week it was in Kansas City Missouri.  I walked and walked and walked.  I saw great new fabrics that we have to have, talked to big names in the industry about what they are doing and why, shopped and met authors. 
This week The Marsh Store has a booth in the Merchants Mall in St Jacobs from Thursday to Saturday.  Anne, Karen and Ela will be helping customers in the store.  It makes it so easy to be on the road when I know the store is in good hands.
Next week is another catch up week and a week to get ready for a workshop the week after.

The Canadian Embroiderers Guild London has a week long workshop in June.  This year Katie Pasquini Masopust is coming and I will be there 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.  I have been a fan of hers for, mmm, let's just say, many years. 

So in June I will take the time to write about all the wonderful new things I have seen and learned.  I can't wait to share!

It's a Good Friday

Happy Easter

Today we are closed for Good Friday and I am having a really great day.  Not only did we have time to take Nellie for a walk through the conservation area but I had time to get some sewing done. 
First I finished some curtains for the Enviro-Friends of Coldstream fundraising gala next weekend.  The theme is 'Titanic: A Night to Remember'.  The community comes out for a silent auction, great food, visiting with friends and dancing. 
Next I finished the bunny tea cozy I started at the retreat two weeks ago.  It will cover a good size teapot and is the same on both sides. 
Now on to a runner for my sister on Sunday. 
Happy Easter with family and friends!

Nellie's Birthday Specials

This is Nellie!

Nellie turns 8 this week so we are celebrating with specials.

30% off on any fabric with animals

8 bundles for $10  (bundles are 1/2m and are $2 each)

8 sale fat quarters ($2 ones)

I've put a 40% off sticker on a bunch of kits too.  They are the ones that have been around for awhile and it is time to say goodbye.

Everything Goes Bag--Round 2

Lennie, Letitia and Janet are nearly finished their bags.  After 2 days of intense sewing, most people take a break and finish the rounds of topstitching at home.  And they take some time to add buttons to the pockets.  But here are the latest bags from the Among Brenda's Quilts pattern 'Everything Goes Bag'.

    Each one is different and wonderful in its own way.  How soon before you start noticing other versions of Brenda's bag strolling through the mall or quilt show?!

Stockholm

We are ready for spring.  This line is called 'Stockholm' by Robert Kaufman.  That means there are great Kona cotton colours to add some quiet spots for your eye to rest on in the quilt. Karen is working on a sample for the store using the Atkinson Designs pattern 'Fire Escape'.  She is using Kona charcoal, fuschia, lime, mango and dark violet for the small squares. 

Echo by Lotta Jansdotter

Time for something different.  We needed something more contemporary so I thought this line is lighter in colour and bold in design.  We have been having fun trying to decide what to make as a sample. 
There are some blocks in the book "Modern Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favourite Designers', some new takes on traditional in the book 'quilt remix' or quilt ideas in the book 'Take 5: Quilts From Just 5 Fabrics'.
There is a quilt at Moda Bakeshop that would work with 10" squares. 
When I googled Lotta Jansdotter, I found someone wearing a dress from one of the Moira (large round floral) prints.  On her website there are bags with that same print.

Seems there aren't enough hours in the day.......

Karen and I lined up 2 colour groupings, turquoise-pink-blue with charcoal Kona and orange-yellow-gray with raisin Kona. 

It Seems Like Spring

New fabric arrived this week.  After putting it out and looking around it seems like I was choosing with a colour theme in mind.  But, it may have been the lack of snow in January that influenced the choices.  What do you think?

These are a combination of Timeless Treasures line of batiks called 'Green Tea' and Robert Kaufman batiks in the Geometric series in a turquoise colourway.

Timeless Treasures Green Tea 10 inch squares and 2 1/2" strips.  See their website for a beautiful quilt using one package of each.

And see how they would blend with the Hoffman Key Lime Bali Pop!

This is our Quilter's Shop Tour free pattern based on the beach theme.  It is more light turquoise than the photo shows.  And is the regular cotton version of what seems to be my theme......