On Monday I provided a Trunk Show for the Etobicoke Quilters' Guild (EQG) and was able to bring along some of my very first professionally printed patterns to sell. It has taken me forever to find the motivation - and a printer who could offer me a decent price - but this is now happening!
You know I am a real country girl and literally live in the middle of nowhere.
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| Looking North, East, South and West from my home |
So heading to Etobicoke was taking myself WAY outside of my comfort zone. Like on the outskirts of the largest metropolis in Ontario. Population one two many digits for me. The big TO. Toronto, Ontario.
After a quick car wash to remove the dirt road dirt from a long winter, I headed out. And thankfully made it to the Neilson Creative Arts Centre on time and in one piece. I learned that the Etobicoke Quilters' Guild was formed in 1975 and has been the longest running guild in Canada. The show was a lot of fun and I enjoyed meeting all the members. Especially Judy, Karen, Janice and Chris. And I will be heading back to do a workshop in June.
I have not sewn a thing since finishing my KYSS Me by the Garden Wall. But have been working on revising and condensing patterns to prepare them for printing. And also working on new designs. The computer is, lately, more familiar to me than the sewing machine.
Thankfully, even though I have nothing of my own to show you today...
I do have another super sweet finish to share with you.
Christy sent me an email last week saying, "Just wanted to send a couple of pictures of the baby quilt I finished using the deer head and deer hooves patterns I purchased earlier this year. Love your patterns!"
When I replied to Christy's email and asked for permission to share, I also asked her if she could tell us more about this cute quilt.
And she said, "It ended up about 44.5 x 44.5 when I finished. My former manager was an avid deer hunter- and that would be putting it mildly. When I found out that he and his wife were expecting their second child I knew I wanted to find something that had a hunting theme. Because they didn't want to find out if it was a boy or girl, I decided to use Bonnie & Camille's Daysail fat quarter set. It had lots of primary colors and came together well. "
Christy went on to say, "I ran out of time when it came to finishing it so I ended up stitching it all in the ditch and then going back and adding some ribbon candy in the border and sashing. I would've like to have quilted it a little more, but just ran out of time!"
I don't know about you.... But I think this quilt is perfect just the way it is. And there is going to be one little hunter who will be very pleased to be cuddled up under this sweet finish!
NOW....
It's your turn for Show and Tell!!!
What have you been working on?
It's your turn for Show and Tell!!!
What have you been working on?
- Click on at least a few of the others who have linked up.
- In your blog post, please include a link back to my blog.
- Grab the "Let's Bee Social!" button from above and put it on your sidebar. This way others who visit your blog that week can join in the fun! Share the news of this new linky and Let's Bee Social!
- Following Sew Fresh Quilts is not required. But it sure would BEE nice!
This experience will change your life!!!!
Hosted by some lovely and very talented quilting bloggers,
Yvonne @Quilting Jet Girl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter.
Check out the details HERE!
Keep On Quilting On!
Darn...I missed you, my daughter and I took a trip to Toronto about a week and half ago. Since it was her vacation I only stopped at one quilt shop. Also due to silly extra ( High) phone costs I could not use my navigation to find other quilt shops. Would of loved to see your work in person. Working on a post for this weeks Lets be social, I like to see everyone's work, Thanks for having a post where we can share.
ReplyDeleteWow Lorna! You weren't kidding when you said country. I live in a rural village in north east England and I couldn't live in a city or a town to save my life. I love real remote for holidays, my idea of heaven just my husband and I with out two dogs, not sure I could do it permanently though.
ReplyDeleteAs my linked post says I just learned hoe to add buttons and Bloglovin and, as I link up with you almost every week, I added you to my sidebar. Thank you so much for your hosting Lorna, because of you and others like you new quilters like me can really connect with others.
Smiles
Kate
congrats on selling patterns - good luck with your venture - I bet it was both exciting and scary to go off to the city for a workshop especially as you were the leader that day! how far of a drive is that, you certainly are out in the country and here I am only 3 miles from a little village and 12 from a nice size town - I see I am not that far out in the country after all.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your printed patterns, they look great!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us your view and I love your neighbors! Congratulations on updating your patterns for printing! Thank you for the link party!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about spending more time at the computer than sewing; I just got my first batch of printed patterns yesterday. Yours look great and isn't it interesting how going back over old patterns with an eye for condensing / printing is an eye opening experience (well, it certainly is for me, anyway!)?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog message today. I had no idea that you lived really out in the country! How exciting you are professionally printing and selling your patterns. Love the deer quilt pattern! I am sure the couple will treasure it.
ReplyDeleteYay to getting your patterns printed! They look great and I'm sure it's a relief to have that taken care of!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your first printed patterns! That's awesome! I love the deer quilt! I ordered several brown Konas as I am hoping to sew some more reindeer blocks and dog blocks soon! Never enough time!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on taking the leap to printed patterns. I'm about to switch gears from sewing to computer work. I enjoy both but find it's so hard to balance doing a little of each at the same time.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely view from any direction! On some days, I feel like cows (or most animals, really) might be preferable to humans! :) It's tough going out of your comfort zone but almost always rewarding in some way. Kudos to you! :)
ReplyDeleteYay for printed patterns! Now you can take them with you to trunk shows. Not that I live in a heavily populated area, but I could get behind your beautiful wide open farm view. And I'm glad Christy let you share her baby quilt with us. Those deer really make for the cutest woodland theme.
ReplyDeleteThat baby quilt is too adorable! And I could relate to your trepidation about driving in TO...did it 6 years ago, no GPS, missed the exit to the airport, good thing my daughter kept me calm and we figured it out. Since then either my husband has driven, or I've taken the transit which is FANTASTIC. Love seeing your girls :-)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! While I really love the conveniecne of a downloadable pattern, I sometimes prefer for it to be all printed out and black and white for me.
ReplyDeleteWell, this pretty much looks like my view where we are getting ready to move to. While I grew up in a small town, I didn't really grow up really, really in farm country, so it will be a big adjustment fpr me.
Have fun this week behind the computer screen!
Those deer make a great baby quilt. Glad you could share it...and I'm glad you survived the big T.O.
ReplyDeleteSo good to see your printed patterns Lorna! They look really good, you must be so pleased :) That's one great baby quilt - I just hope the baby doesn't try to kill the deer! It could be messy!
ReplyDeleteThe Baby Quilt is priceless. Those deer head look so cute!! Congratulations on having your patterns professionally printed. When I see your country pictures - I get homesick for our 'country days', but I don't miss the 5 hour grass cutting :)!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting your patterns printed! That's great news :) And also, well done on that mammoth drive, I've recently started driving again after a few years, and although they're only short journeys, they're still quite daunting, thank goodness for sat nav is all I say!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new projects!
Congrats on the printed patterns! They look good.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think that I first met you in June 2014... only one year after you took part in the New Quilt Bloggers. Wow you sure worked hard and Sew Fresh Quilts has taken off like a rocketship Lorna!
ReplyDeleteChristy's deer quilt is very pretty and perfect for the recipients. LOL - I never would have connected those cute deer with a hunting theme, but it definitely works.
Hooray for you going to a big T.O. guild and planning to head back again for a workshop! You are blooming like Springtime Lorna!
Congrats on the printed patterns :)
ReplyDeleteYour views look just like mine! I also know very well the country dirt and my car probably looks the same lol.
Congrats on your first professionally printed patterns! That's very exciting! And Christy's deer quilt is quite cute!
ReplyDelete