Memories of Quilt Ontario--the CQA show in London, Ontario

Quilt Ontario was held at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario at the end of May. My friend, Karen, and I attended the show and closing banquet. We were not allowed to take pictures at the National Juried show, but I did take this picture of Chistine's Carolina Christmas quilt at the Invitational show--all members of the organizing committee were invited to submit a quilt to this show. Christine and I spent 6 months last year working on our Carolina Christmas quilts together. Mine is not quilted yet, but will be soon.

Christine's quilt is spectacular! 

Karen and I volunteered at the banquet so we were able to hear and see "Dala" doing their sound check before dinner. "Dala" is a Canadian folk singing duo from Toronto who have been nominated for a Juno award and they were simply wonderful!

You can see the Leaf Bowls decorating the curtain at the back of the stage (The leaf bowls were designed by a member of the London Friendship Quilters Guild, Jill, aka the Quilt Rat)...There were also leaf bowls with candles in them on the tables...

And, in goodie bags at each place setting filled with thread, fabric, needles, pins, sewing gadgets, and little handmade items from quilters across the country.

Our napkins were even decorated with more gifts!

The meal was wonderful and then, after some presentations, Dala performed for over an hour. They received a well deserved standing ovation. I think I will try to go to one of their concerts sometime. I purchased one of their CD's at the end of the night to listen to in my car.

It was a wonderful day!  Many thanks to the CQA and the Local Organizing committee for such a terrific show and entertaining evening.

Spring... and a little sewing.

The crocuses in my garden are starting to bloom and, even though it snowed (again!) this week, they are doing their best to look cheery in the cold...

These daffodils had a thin veil of ice over them after the snow/freezing rain we had this week.

This chipmunk lives in my backyard and he came out for a while before it snowed to take a look at the garden. I have not seen him since it snowed on Wednesday.

This witch-hazel bush was just planted last year and it is in bloom too, although it does not look as happy since it snowed. 

The Elgin Piecemakers met at my house this past week. Our next charity quilt will be made from Asterisk blocks from the Selvage Blog. We are each to make 4 6" blocks--two with warm backgrounds and cool asterisks, and two with cool backgrounds and warm asterisks. Heather Stewart will be so proud of us when she finds out we are using the colour theory we learned in our Indian Orange Peel class in our next charity project!  I made my blocks today. See this link to the Selvage Blog to see how we are going to set them in a charity quilt or two.

I also finished off two more fabric leaf bowls for the CQA Quilt Ontario Show in May 2011 in London, Ontario. 

I may do some more sewing tonight... I will keep you posted.

Leaf Bowls and a Fabric Postcard

The London Friendship Quilters' Guild meets this week and I decided to make a postcard for the monthly postcard exchange. Do you need a quilting bee???  I love to get together with my quilting friends to chat and sew. We have not done this lately...we need to get together again soon!

The Canadian Quilters' Asscociation is holding their annual show "Quilt Ontario" in London in May this year. The call has gone out for volunteers to make these leaf bowls, designed by the Quilt Rat, for the banquet. Each person at the banquet will receive a leaf bowl with some quilting goodies in it. I made two bowls this week and hope to make a few more to donate to the cause.

By the way, since I put my "Let it Snow" sign away, we have had lots of rain and only a few flakes of snow!  I think it is working!!!