Oh WELL!

Yes, it was WELL time this week! They chose the most gorgeous day to do it too! The beginning of the week was very cloudy with minor drizzles while the geothermal system work was concluding.

There isn't much to see when they drill a well although the equipment is impressive.

Lolah met two new friends on Wednesday. Marsha and Jeanette were here to work on their beautiful manly quilt, a project they're donating as a fundraiser. They took turns, each quilting a row while the other supervised.  

I just love that brown paisley border!! The blue in the quilt top matches really well with this new wide backing (now in stock in several colors as well as white tone on tones).

They chose Glide Vegas Gold thread and Vanilla Cream pantograph, a great combination!

Now this is concentration...  One must remember to stand up straight so one doesn't end up sore the next day.  And breathe!! I may have to start offering some yoga sessions for clients before and after Lolah!!

Oh such a handsome quilt... well done ladies!! I'm sure the group you're giving this to will  be thrilled with your efforts! Congratulations on a job well done!

I must say that backing is gorgeous!! :)

Lolah's schedule is filling up... make sure you call us to pencil you in if you want your quilt done before the rush of the holidays. And remember, if it's your second time on Lolah, (or third etc...) the learning curve and prep time are greatly reduced. You'll see what I mean; you'll become more comfortable with the process and your quilting will be more amazing each time. Imagine those unquilted tops turned into finished projects; some could even be gifts!! It's SO liberating! 

Next available date with Lolah is on November 5th! Madelaine, Susan, Marie or Holly will be available to book your time. Make sure you call them. YES... Spruce It Up Quilt Shop will remain open while Lorette is away! 

The Nova Scotia Fiber Arts Festival is running October 14-18th in Amherst Nova Scotia. It is a not-to-be-missed event!! Unfortunately, I will miss this show... however, if you're traveling to Amherst and want to stop in either on your way to or returning from, (or perhaps you're there to attend day-classes and want to come visit the shop in the evening) please call the shop at 506-538-7888... we can open earlier or stay open late for you! We can also accommodate large groups with advance notice (we have staff ready and willing to make this happen)... yes there is enough room in the yard to turn that bus or RV! I hope you all enjoy that show... I'm looking forward to hearing all about it! So pass the word along... come visit us while you're in the area!

I will be available by email but remember I can only pick up emails with WI-FI... heaven knows if that is available on the barge!

Our first morning before departing from Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic to cycle along the Danube last summer... BEFORE the record floods! 

Let's hope no one shows up in Berlin with a bad cold... never fun for that person and even less for the rest of us!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Lorette

Trenching...

The barn project has been busy for the past week. Geothermal heating system is new to us and so is the preparation for both the barn and the house/cottage. We did plan to install the in-ground tubing for both buildings this fall... weather-wise, we couldn't have chosen a better week even after a few delays!

The barn's tubing went in first... it's a deep trench at 6ft...

While the connections were pressure tested (an overnight test), digging for the cottage tubing layout was started... as you can see, it's a much longer L-shaped trench is needed.

 It's all done now and the tubing is sticking out of the ground ready to connect to the buildings.

Meanwhile, Lolah had a visitor last week... Odette was here to quilt her beautiful fall colors queen-sized quilt. She chose King Tut Shifting Sands thread which is a beautiful pale mixture of colors matching her top fabrics. It also blended very well with her backing.

A word to those who send their quilts to longarmers or who come to quilt on Lolah: Please make sure your backing is at least 3 to 4 inches wider and longer on each side. Odette's backing was just a wee bit wider and longer and we made it work but it's easier to quilt when there is more than a little extra width.

Such a beautiful scrappy quilt!! I wish I had some of these fabrics... the brown with the dashes and circles, the greens above and to the right... and so on and so on... the beige next to the brown looks like wood planks... so useful for a house quilt!

 Odette enjoyed her day; she took it slow and steady, not rushed and the result was amazing.

Sadly, the photos we took of the finished quilt disappeared when I downloaded newer photos... word to the wise: when your computer asks you if you want to save a new version of a photo that already exist in your folder, reply yes to all! I chose no and it rendered them unreadable. I've replaced the memory card in the camera with a new one while awaiting my guru who can recover them without having to purchase software. I will eventually have those photos to show you... just not today! So sorry Odette!!! Perhaps you'll have a photo that I can share before you give this wedding gift away?

Spruce It Up Quilting has new backings in stock! You'll love this new line and the awesome colors!!

Also back in stock are the Perfect Scissors, new colors of Kimono silk thread, zippers by the yard in white, and Perfect Thread Bags!

Coming soon is this beautiful owl fabric... watch for it... the images are beautiful!

Finally, you won't want to miss this new 2015 Block of the Month... it's a gorgeous pieced and appliqué design by Denise Sheehan, from her seasons collection. Starting January, it will run for 11 months! Price to be determined but you'll want to join soon since spaces are limited.

Come meet Madelaine on Monday... she'll be in charge for 10 days!! Lolah and Lorette need a rest!!

Toodles!

Lorette



OH... I almost forgot! Spruce It Up now has a Keurig (thank you to a generous benefactor) and new porch furniture! You can sip your coffee (small fee) while sitting in a sunny spot at an antique dropleaf table courtesy of DH who found it at an auction. Isn't he a thoughtful man? He knew we deserved the very best! Enjoy your coffee while you contemplate YOUR design for the Christmas Ornament Challenge or perhaps you may want to treat your DH while YOU shop!! :)

Dorothy's back!

Lolah had company last week... this purple beauty was loaded and Dorothy had fun free-motion quilting it. This is Dorothy's second time on Lolah... she did really well working her magic in 3 1/2 hrs!

Some ladies dropped by to shop and admired her work...

Excellent job Dorothy! What a gorgeous quilt!

Power was supplied to the construction site on a beautiful sunny day!

These pole riders were admiring the view...

One of two deer spotted munching away near the barn site...

Up next is Florence's quilt... a printed quilt she purchased years ago with intention to hand quilt it but didn't get around to it. 

As you can see, I basted this one from top to bottom... it will be all ruler work!

In the meantime, Spruce It Up Quilt shop has received 125 more bolts of fabric not including several beautiful flat fold bundles, some panels and much, much, more. DH had to make new shelves; this time they're on wheels! Not all bolts fit of course... there are some that don't reside on shelves still!

You'll have to come check these out... isn't it time to start your working on that Christmas list?

I leave you with a little reminder: Lolah will be unavailable from October 6th-21st.

Toodles,

Lorette

2014 Christmas Ornament Challenge

Spruce It Up Quilt shop is hosting its very first challenge! This challenge is open to all readers of the blog and visitors to the shop. Please check out the tab under the header to read the rules and have a look at the list of prizes for the winner. It's a wonderful opportunity to showcase your talents and at the same time, donate to a worthy cause, something we are passionate about in this family as my sister-in-law and a brother-in-law's sister are afflicted with MS.

In preparation for the event, DH has constructed a tree to hold the ornaments. We're eagerly awaiting your ornaments... the camera is ready to photograph each one when it arrives; the tags are ready to be attached to keep the maker's name a secret! 

You have until November 15th to deliver or mail your ornament. Please don't forget to include basic instructions on its creation so we can publish the instructions. Also remember to credit the designer of your ornament. Have fun creating!

NEW at Spruce It Up Quilt shop are these luscious fabrics:

On September 10th, Spruce It Up Quilt shop celebrated 3 months in business! It's been a real joy to meet each and everyone who has visited! In order to thank you, we are having a 3-DAY sale... I apologize for being late in posting this announcement on the blog but I did manage to post it in the newsletter... today is the last day... These flat folds are going $6.00/M... and that's a bargain! Come on by...

Toodles,

Lorette

Special Delivery!

Spruce It Up Quilt Shop was surprised to see the FedEx delivery van arrive yesterday! The man in brown is my usual delivery person! But look what he brought... TOTALLY unexpected!! 

You'll have to come see what was in those boxes to appreciate the beautiful colors... pinks, reds, blues, greens, blacks, browns, yellows, oranges, purples... OH MY!!! Some Christmas, some Halloween, some reds, greens, greys... some babies... some monsters!!! You must come see the selection!! DH is scratching his head! He will soon have to build new shelves! :)

So what else is happening in the shop?? This might be a clue... 

If you guessed another repair... you are right! This is the third ball of thread bits... stay tuned! More to say about this one.

The shop is continually evolving... you need to keep in touch... come by and don't forget your show and tell! I love to see what you're working on.

Toodles,

Lorette

Yoko's House!

Those of you who have come to the shop have seen the 4 blocks I've completed from Quiltmania's Quilt Mystère 2012 designed by Yoko Saito. I have blogged about them here too. (check the labels list to the right of the blog and click on Yoko Saito) I love every block of this quilt but time and other circumstances have taken me away from this project! 

Preparation of the pieces is time-consuming and I wanted to show how I go about it.

For me, the longest part of recreating the block is choosing the fabric. That's my focus today! 

The first step is to trace the pattern on freezer paper and cut out each part. I like to keep each house, tree, church etc separate. 

Then I lay out the fabrics I want to use for each building starting with the background fabrics... here you see it as a finished whole with the building templates on top of each pile. 

This "playing with fabric" session may take as little as a few minutes for a house to hours of placing and replacing choices all the while looking at the finished blocks that join the one I'm creating. I frequently go to those finished blocks to see what fabrics were used as I have several fabrics that are close in color and pattern. 

The next step will be to iron the templates to the back of the fabrics and cut them out. I love seeing them take shape... I will spread out the choices again after they are cut out to reassess the color combinations and how they play with each other within the block.

Before the work of turning the edges begins, I will bring down the other blocks and lay them beside this one and reassess the fabric choices.

It takes me awhile, especially with interruptions to play war and go fish... when was the last time you played these games? So fun... but not much quilting getting done... :) I don't mind... the days will be long and lonesome without him! Best to enjoy these times while he's here...

Grand Papa brought him to the County Fair today... What a blast!

Toodles,

Lorette