Thursday 26 February 2015

Notions casting a spell...

I'm still finding things in the big notions box that arrived last week...


These are stencils!  There is a 5 1/2 inch Ice Crystal Blockand the smaller 3 1/2 inch Ice Crystal Block, the Scrolling Daisy Block at 4 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches and a 5 inch Dream Boat Block! See the stickers on the stencil? They show where to start stitching for a continuous line. 


The 2 inch Heart Vine Border also has a continuous stitch line suggested...the 9 inch Durham Fan stencil does not...making me think, it is more for hand quilting and could be used in the corners or as a medallion depending on repeats and placement.  

Just in case you were wondering, the gorgeous red material they are resting on, is from Stof and the flowers are poppies. 

I'm just beginning to explore stencils in quilting.  Next will be the things available to mark these patterns into your quilt.  There is a huge selection for marking on quilt tops from a regular pencil , chalk products to markers that disappear when heated!  

Meanwhile...


The basting pins will need to be removed, but what a possibility!  Not a queen size quilt, just a package of mini charms (2&1/2inch squares) sewn together. All in the name of, Learning to quilt! What a wonderful adventure! 

Wednesday 25 February 2015

It snowed again! ...spring-y fabrics...

It's been another day, well half day, of snow here in Amherst, NS, so I thought you would like to see some spring fabric that has arrived!  

Drumroll, please!

Introducing....'Spring Hare' by Lewis & Irene....


Also by Lewis & Irene is the 'Make a Wish' line...


And the Hoffman Challenge Fabric - Mandalay ( hoffmanchallenge.com ) is still available....


If you are interested in any of these fabrics, please e-mail and they can be shipped out to you! I'll be showing more of the Lewis & Irene fabric in another post and you'll be able to see more of the individual fabrics.  

Mrs P's also has notions! I thought I might be able to show some fun things of those too!


So, do you know what this is?! 


Hint...the plyable plastic discs hold something that usually gets all tangled up...and sits one on top of the other or can be separated....


Hmmm,  yes! A Bobbin Holder! 


A Stack'nStore Bobbin Tower by Clover gives a place to store up to 30 bobbins and keeps them neat.  You are also able to see the colours at a glance and, if going to a class or sewing date, take just the disc that you need!  You can also order via e-mail, the Stack'nStore Bobbin Tower to ship to you.  



Friday 20 February 2015

It might be a Snowday?...open this Sat!

This was taken just a couple of minutes ago...


More snow! 

Please email  mrspsamherst@gmail.com or phone 902-661-4260  if planning to go to the shop today.  For now, it is not open due to weather.

The Trans Canada here is closed due to white-out conditions.  Here's the problem...


Uhm, apparently, we may be the only area affected in the province!  Who knew we were so special?  
(Screen grap from the Weather Network)

Enjoy our snow day! 


11:15am 
As an update, Mrs P's will remained closed today due to the weather conditions.  Literally, the sun is shining on one side, yet visibility is so poor on the other side of the house- you cannot see across the street.   Lots of road accidents are being reported.  Highways are closed, open, closed etc.

This pic is the Tantamar Marsh from the NB RCMP Twitter account...


Although, closed today, Mrs P's will be open tomorrow, Sat from 10 am to 2pm- weather permitting! 





Saturday 14 February 2015

An 'Exploding Pachyderm' ?...

First, you have to find the pachyderm....


See, the hole in the herd? ( Or parade ) ... That was the one picked to play with.  A 5 inch square was cut out but the 'square' had to be turned on an angle to get 'trunk to tail' in... aka... fussy cut.  

The next piece of fabric is an equal square, in this case, 5 inches.  If you fold the fabric to find the centre, give it a small snip with your scissors in the middle...


Next, sew the right sides together around the outside.  You will use the small hole to cut from corner to corner with your scissors after you've sewn around the outer edge.


Oh, the pachyderm is emerging or 'exploding' from the block!    Press the block out and lay the block face down on another piece of fabric and cut that square out, put the snip in the centre and sew around the edge again.



I actually forgot to put the snip in!  I folded to get the centre crease and then pulled the fabric apart and   put the snip in and again, cut from corner to corner diagonally.  Press open.


Looking good! Next step, put the block face down on the next piece of fabric...


Again, cut the square of fabric the same size of the block.  Put the snip in the centre (because it is easier) .


Sew right sides together again, press and reveal the pachyderm...


You can keep going until you get to desired size.  I chose to stop.  Trim the block. This one trimed out to 10 inches.  It's a pretty neat way to make a 'square in a square' quilt block.  Some describe it as 'exploding' or  an easy pineapple block.  

This technique will not give  sharp corners, the edges are blunted by the seam lines but it's such a fun and easy way to make the block.  Everytime you press the block, a new look is revealed! 

I've been playing with this technique on a rectangle rather than a square....


I got a diamond, then bat wings! Oops!  


In the next post or so, I'll show how I 'fixed' the bat wing problem!  I really liked the diamond shape and wanted to keep it. 

A Wonderful Day!...

Wow!  Thanks to all who came out today for Karen Neary's book signing of 'Quilting Beauties Come in All Shapes & Sizes'!  It was a fun day!


It's so fabulous to be able to display these art pieces!  Sadly. My pictures do not do any of them justice.   On the other hand, Karen has agreed to have a couple of them on display for next week.  Copies of her book will also be available for $27.00 as well.  


Stunning! 

Mrs P's Fat Quarter swap was okay but a lot forgot to bring a trade item of fabric, so in honour of St Valentine's Day, ❤️ of fabric and the snow storm predicted...The FQ Swap table will be there for a bit next week.

As a quick note, Mrs P's has a new line in by Lewis & Irene...Make a Wish


So soft and springtime looking!  


There are 15 bolts in the line.   Choosing a favourite will be hard!  

To help make room for the new stock arriving, there is a table of fabric being offered from $6.95/m to 9.95/m.  The catch is, you must buy a minimum of 1 metre cut off that bolt to get the price.  Regular price will be charged for lesser cuts.  

I hope you enjoyed your Valentine's Day!

Remember Mrs P's is now on Twitter @MrsPsAmherst

Saturday 7 February 2015

Valentine's Day Book Signing at Mrs P's!

Just in case you haven't heard....

Karen Neary's book has finally arrived from the publisher!  

She will be in to sign her new book, 'Quilting Beauties Come in All Shapes & Sizes' on Valentine's Day from 10am til 2pm! 



It's been a long journey for Karen.  Originally due in Oct 2014, Karen kindly hosted a showing of her New York Beauty quilts minus 'The Book Quilts' at Mrs P's during the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in October. 

Part of the 'delay' was the publisher & Karen deciding to put the book patterns on a cd-rom, allowing you to print the patterns instead of tracing them or having them photocopied as was the normal before.  The pictures are fabulous, making 'Quilting Beauties, Come in all Shapes & Sizes' a very attractive book for quilters and non quilters. 

For a quilter, If you have never made a pattern by Karen, you are in for a treat!  She has pattern testers that give their input, making it easier for you to follow and understand how to make the block/pattern. 

New York Beauty blocks have spikes and curves that look intimidating, but Karen, explains bit by bit, and following her instructions, a block appears. The best part....all the parts fit together!  It's not a speedy process - the first New York Beauty Block you will make, but it's a real joy to work on her projects.

I'm a bit biased!  She's from Five Islands in Colchester County, NS and currently lives in Amherst.  She once challenged me to make a block...and I did it!  All by following her instructions printed in her pattern.   A real accomplishment for a non quilter!  That little block, is the potholder, that hangs behind the cash at Mrs P's...reminding me, I can do 'this'.

Mrs Pugsley's Emporium Inc is so pleased to announce, Karen and some of 'The Book Quilts' will be at Mrs P's in Amherst on Valentine's Day, Feb 14, 2015 for The Book Signing!  Yes, it's a Sat.  Mrs P's will be open from 10 am til 2pm that day.   Remember, Karen ❤️'s New York Beauty Quilts!  


Just to whet your curiosity...above is one of the NY Beauty Quilts by Karen Neary in the book! 

In celebration of Valentines Day, Mrs P's will also host a fat quarter swap.  It's fairly simple and meant to be simple.  Check your fabric stash, find a fat quarter that you no longer need/can live without and bring it in to be traded for another fat quarter.  Limit yourself to 1 piece of fabric to swap.  If you want to get rid of fabric and bring it in, that's fine too but it will only be traded for 1 fat quarter that will be in a designated area.  The idea is to help clean out some of your not being used fabric and maybe someone else will find a use for it.  

Mrs P's will start the trading with a few fat quarters on a table.  At the end of the day, any fabric not traded out will stay at Mrs P's to be either traded again or disposed of.  Mrs P's will not be reselling your fabric but it may be donated to someone, group or organization at a later date. (Any ideas on what to do with the fabric, please let me know.)

So dig around this week and see if you have a fat quarter that you are willing to swap for the unknown! It's meant to be fun and may become a monthly event.  Remember, Mrs P's ❤️'s Fabrics! 

Drop into Mrs P's on Valentine's Day from 10am to 2pm and enjoy the artistry of Karen Neary on display and hopefully, some the multitudes of fabric we all keep hidden/stashed away!  

Celebrate your passion this Valentine's Day!