It’s still quilting weather

So Wiarton Willie predicted an early spring. Really? The winter may have been too mild to freeze the canal for skating, but it is still looking pretty white and cold out there. (Although, if I have to shovel snow, I am thankful for cold temperatures that leave behind fluffy stuff, in lieu of the wet packing snow.) It looks like more quilting on my horizon before I am ready to bring out the bicycle.

The February sew-day was a busy, productive and fun day. The group paired up to add sashing and borders to the blocks on hand. Look at the beautiful tops that were finished! More went home for completion. The east end gathered to stitch on the National SewDay. Judging by those smiles they enjoyed a good day as well.

Our next sew-day is at Canna Connect on Wednesday, March 8th (9:30 – 3:00). We will be completing maple leaf quilts; we have blocks to make 2-3 quilts already.   Please bring along any maple leaf blocks you would like to donate (any colour, any size). We have a few colour ways happening.   Sashing and borders will be supplied for the blocks currently on hand.  Please bring back any partially completed tops you brought home last month so we can finish them, or if completed, we will pass them along for quilting. If you prefer some hand-work, there will be a few quilts that need binding and labels.   

What do the quilts mean? Look at the faces of the recipients. A Quilt of Valour represents recognition and appreciation — not just a positive job review but a recognition that the sacrifices are appreciated and valued. ” For many who served Canada recently or a long time ago, were wounded in action or got sick as a result of foreign land operations the bad memories remain, knowing that Canadians remember and show appreciation with quilts  made and presented by hundreds or thousands of their fellow citizens is heartwarming.
Your personal touch in making those quilts presentation adds to the dignity and significance of this event, please accept my heartfelt appreciation. I write this sitting in my lazy boy covered by my beautiful quilt. To you and all volunteers of the society thank you and best wishes for continued success in this worthwhile endeavour.“

Do you need a new sewing machine? Did you know that there is going to be a draw for a brand-new Janome 3160 sewing machine on June 11? To enter the draw donate a finished quilt to Quilts of Valour before June 11.

Spring is around the corner and with it will be the return of quilt shows. The Ottawa Valley Quilt Guild will be hosting its quilt show on the weekend of May 12 – 14 and QOVC (Ottawa) will have a booth at the show. If you can help to staff the table please drop a line to Christine at christine.langlois@quiltsofvalour.ca.

If you are looking for travel opportunities, Quilt Canada will be in Halifax from June 7 – 10. Quilt Canada is an amazing quilt show and they have some really interesting presenters. Halifax is a wonderful city to explore with lots to do before and after the show.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Nancy

Coming Events

March 8 — Ottawa Sew-Day at Canna Connect from 9:30 – 3:00 (215 Menten Place)

May 12 – 14 — OVQG Quilt Show (volunteers needed to staff the QOV table)

June 7 – 10 — CQA Quilt Canada, Halifax, NS

*For the health and safety of everyone, please be attentive to health protocols — vaccinations, masks when moving around, stay home if you are ill. Thank-you.

Happy February

Do you ever start a project, stitch three or four dozen blocks, and then start to question the plan? At the beginning of January, I found a few blocks that my mother had started to assemble some time before her death. I decided to honour her memory by completing that quilt. The problem was, she left me only 8 blocks, and a little bit of the fabric to make more. I started stitching more and more blocks, but the more I stitched, the less I liked the overall pattern. I was stuck making a bigger UFO than I had started with.

I had spread the blocks on the design wall in four different layouts, but nothing was screaming joy or comfort. Then I shared my conundrum with my quilting buddies and they made a couple of suggestions. I think Sue was just trying to make things complex, but she was on to something. Anyway, I have received the kickstart I needed. I’ll let you know next time how this one turns out. I want this quilt of valour to have my name and my mother’s.

How busy is your sewing machine these days? Are you working from your stash or have you visited one of our local quilt shops to pick up something delightful? Are you working on one of the kits that we have put together? One of the perqs of my job is looking at the regular quilt show of lovely quilts that have been completed to say thank you to our injured/ill military members.

The Cenotaph in Kanata is lovely place for a presentation, even in the winter snow. The final count for January quilt presentations from the Ottawa area is 28! The current tally of Quilts of Valour presented nationally is 20,208. Thank you to the Denise and Jacquie and Bonnie for all the presentations. Thank you to all the quilters who created the quilts.

Mark your calendars please. The Ottawa Valley Quilt Guild will be having their quilt show on the weekend of May 12-14. Quilts of Valour will have a table at the show. We will be looking for volunteers to staff the table.

I hope to see you at the National Sew-day later today or at one of our local sew-days.

Happy Stitching,

Nancy

Coming Events

February 3 — National Sew-Day via zoom starting at 12:00 (visit the national website to register)

February 7 — Ottawa Sew-Day at Canna Connect from 9:30 – 3:00 (215 Menten Place) (please drop a line to Christine.Langlois@quiltsofvalour.ca to register)

March 8 — Ottawa Sew-Day at Canna Connect from 9:30 – 3:00 (215 Menten Place)

May 12 – 14 — OVQG Quilt Show (volunteers needed to staff the QOV table)

*For the health and safety of everyone, please be attentive to health protocols — vaccinations, masks when moving around, stay home if you are ill. Thank-you.