Wrapping things up...

We have some loose ends we need to post about, so this is a bunch of mixed up topics and now you can't say we don't save the best for last?  We are working hard on getting caught up...not sure just what on, but always something right?   Here are two gorgeous examples of the Lincoln's Sampler challenge project - we didn't have a strong finish for this challenge, but perhaps these two examples will prompt those of you who are stalled out to get 'er done!!  The layout change on this first one really changes up the quilt we think!  Thank-you Judy and Evelyn for jobs well done and sharing your quilts!!

We have a couple of overdue winner's to talk about....from the Tri-County quilt tour event, Nancy Peck  got a whole handful of gift certificates - who hooo!!   And (drum roll here please....) our Two Thimbles gift certificate winner is Louise Murphy and we'll sneak a picture of her soon shopping for something she really needs!  Congratulations and thank you for attending the Quilt Tour event...we've got a great theme planned for next year, so creative ideas are starting to be tossed around for our project.  

We have a couple of photo updates from the workshop in March with Mary Elizabeth Kinch - one little completed project and some big progress with some little pieces.  What fun projects!

Evelyn Outside Her Box

We think that Laurie is well on her way to joining the SPA (that is Small Pieces Aficionado) Society!  Check out some other great completed small pieces work here.  

Laurie's Peel 1/4 done!

 And the most requested recipe from the workshop...Bob makes these for me, I mean our workshops, and although the recipe works just fine, I found that having a cook deliver them works pretty well and they taste great too....Can't beat that!  We'll have to make these a staple at any of our future events so that may just be reason enough to sign up for classes and sew-ins!  If you click at the bottom of the photo, the receipe will enlarge and you'll be all set to head to the kitchen.  

Bob's molasses cookies

And last in our round of housekeeping items, we finally have a completed Thimble SIX quilt pattern from our anniversary sew along last year.  Which means we are also close to rolling out a new anniversary quilt, and this time, you won't have to wait for a pattern - I found the perfect one waiting on the shelf!  So watch for a new little quilt soon.

Thimble 6 pattern cover

Hope you are enjoying our moments of sunshine!  And just a reminder, we are closed on Sundays for the rest of the summer ~ Enjoy some sewing time!

Gwen Marston ~ Minimal Quiltmaking

We have enjoyed hosting Gwen on a few occasions, and she is one of our favorite quilter's to spend time with as her style is both varied and unique.  We look forward to another workshop next Spring (yep, that is 2015!).  We don't have details on what or how or where just yet, but the dates are set March 7th & 8th, 2015.  So please block your calendar if you're interested in spending time with Gwen, and watch for an update with workshop specifics later this year.  

Until then, enjoy Gwen's latest book from AQS, Minimal Quiltmaking.  We have a few copies available and I as read through it, I felt like it was almost a visit in person with Gwen as she shares some perspective on the projects included in the book.  Beautiful quilts and some thoughtful insight about just what makes a quilt work...

And here is a fun way to get an update and visit in with Gwen as well - you can watch her lecture at the Dennos Museum Center this past January.  Enjoy the show!

English Paper Piecing 101

Join Us for English Paper Piecing 101 with Jane Buys

Learn paper piecing techniques with this introductory class!

Tuesday, July 15th OR Saturday, July 19th from 10:00am -12:30pm

This introduction to English paper piecing techniques will review a variety of methods and products that can be used to create all kinds of hand pieced projects (tote bags, wall-hangings, quilts, etc.).  Will review fabric considerations (such as value and fussy cutting motifs), various methods of basting papers as well as finishing techniques and ideas for a variety of projects.  

You'll have a chance to try these methods and sample a variety of product options - plus get some construction tips from an expert!  We'll provide 1 inch hexagons to get you started on OR if you have a particular project or paper piecing shape that you want to work with, please bring it and you can get some personalized instruction too.

Sign up at the shop or on our website

Jane's winter fabric challenge project

Jane's fussy flowers

This class would make a great refresher or a review for a novice too - we hope to be getting a patchwork of the crosses project underway and this class would be great to provide the tools to think about tackling that project.  Jane has lots of tips from her experience that will put you miles ahead right at the starting line!

Hope our weather holds beyond this long weekend for our Canadian friends...well into next weekend for our Memorial Day long weekend.  Enjoy your extra time with family and friends and maybe a bit of stitching!

Just a reminder - the Memorial Day parade will tie up Cornwall Avenue and our parking lot on Saturday the 24th - so we'll be closed for a few hours that morning and open late in the afternoon once the traffic has cleared.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

New Fabrics and then some

We are getting some fresh quilt samples hung in the shop...and lots of new fabrics for new summer projects.  And of course the anticipated spring issue of Quilt Sampler has arrived...just in case you need some ideas for where to go on your next outing!  We have a few copies left if you want to grab a little eye candy to keep you company with your morning coffee...or help put you to sleep at night lots of good inspiration to help you dream in quilts.

Bloom from Clothworks

It doesn't get any better than a princess in pink with a unicorn to call her own...or so I've been told. 

Bloom from Clothworks

We still have a couple of charm packs left from the Ladies Album collection but they have really disappeared quickly so don't wait if you are looking for some civil war style pre-cuts.

Ladies Album by Barbara Brackman for Moda

M is for Mystery from Marcus Brothers

We have toile challenge projects hung in the classroom for the rest of the month - they are amazing works of art and no two are remotely similar!  Come and see what creative ideas came about as a result of our toile fabric challenge!  Thank-you so much for participating and ...finishing your projects everyone that shared something.  We'll start a shout-out soon so watch for your name in the headlines.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Workshop wrap up

We had a great time with Mary Elizabeth last month, and from the feedback I am hearing, the lecture at the guild was great too.  Mary Elizabeth was willing to travel with two LARGE suitcases, packed with large and small quilts so we enjoyed a great trunk show with a good variety of projects.  I didn't snap too many pictures of her projects - it was amazing to see the quilts from her books in person - pictures never do the fabric colors and textures justice I think.  

Mary Elizabeth trunk show

scrap frenzy in progress

There was alot of fabric involved in the two workshops - and a few scraps changed hands a few times...here is a picture of one work-in-progress from the pumpkin peel - it was fun to see the variety of styles, colors and even strip width variations - all the factors combine to alter the results.  

Pumpkin peel in progress

We took some time to enjoy those days of early spring - the tulips were just hitting their peak and Mary Elizabeth had a chance to see the patchwork fields in all their wonderful color!

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields

We are starting a new program with reproduction fabric this month, and plan to feature a carefully selected group of six fabrics each month.  We will bundle up a limited quantity of these fat quarter bundles, priced at $17.45, and we think these gems will be a great addition to your stash.  Build up your fabric collection and include some unexpected and interesting fabrics - and before you know it you'll have just the perfect combination for a spectacular scrap quilt!

curated swatches

Our first collection - was inspired from some of the fabrics hand-selected by Mary Elizabeth Kinch during her visit to Two Thimbles.  This is your chance for your stash to start to resemble hers -  (well...in a small way that is, but you have to start somewhere)!  We'll feature these bundles each month on our website while supplies last.

Happy Stitching!

Tri-County Quilt Tour

We had a great tri-county event in late March - thank-you to everyone who stopped by and picked up a pattern.  The theme, a bouquet of quilt shops, had each shop featuring a particular flower.  We chose trillium - the provincial flower for Ontario, and a wildflower native to our pacific northwest area.  We had thought maybe the bloom time would overlap with our event, but ours at home were in full bloom about a week after the event...

trillium block potholder

We stitched up a just one block to try our fabrics and test our pattern - and decided it made a fun potholder so we left out the filler triangles that turn it into a traditional block shape.  We chose some woodland colored batiks for our project this year.

Vintage Trillium inspiration quilt

The original quilt that inspired our project and pattern creation was this one - hand quilted and completed during the early 1980's.  We weren't skilled enough to draft the alternate blocks and construction methods for this project so we opted to set our blocks with hexagons and triangles - then we ended up with an alternate star shape showing up which was kind of fun.  

Trillium Table topper 

Here is a photo of our table topper using a few of the trillium blocks.  We had an amazing woodland fairy scene happening - based on a modified bird house that was the focal point for our display.  We have some kits available for the table topper and still have our project displayed in the store (minus the fairy house), so if you missed the tour, there's still a chance to see our project.

Happy stitching!