Hello Friends. What an exciting time it has been here in our neck of the woods. First, the weather! We are experiencing spring like temperatures here in Northern Ontario. I love it! So much so that we took the boat out and had a little ride down the river. I don’t care much for winter myself, so I absolutely cherish these abnormal warm days. Secondly, with some hasty flight ticket purchases and very last minute packing, our daughter and granddaughter surprised us with a visit form their home in the UK. We had originally planned to travel to see them for the birth in May. However, the pandemic prevented us from travelling so this is the first time we have been able to meet the baby. Life lesson number five million…. plans are futile. Life lesson number five million and one… things always seem to find a way of working out. And I especially appreciate when they work out in my favour because they will be staying until early January so I can get in all those baby cuddles I missed out on over the last 6 months. Self isolating isn’t so bad when you can spend your days playing and getting to know your first grandchild!

Some of you know, I started doing a Facebook live chat series in October. I think it is going pretty well but sometimes I get a bit thrown off if I think too much about the fact that I am talking to a dot on the computer and trying not look too ridiculous. I also keep desperately trying to remember that there are actual people “out there” on the other side. Ha!. Fingers crossed I will get better as time goes on. Good thing I never pursued a career as an actress… I hated calling my live chat series “Live Chat with Carla”. Points for originality? Zero. So, I I offered a give-away for a fat quarter pack to any quilter who would submit a new name for these chat times. The prize went to Sarah Milne who submitted “River Ramblings”. I thought it was so fitting as I live on the French River and, well… I love to ramble!

Congratulations again to Sarah and hopefully we will see a photo of the creation using the Fat Quarter pack.

My efforts quilting Christmas gifts are going better than expected. I finished another gift last week (before the wee one arrived). This one is for my daughter and son-in-law in the UK. Lauren has always wanted a pieced tree skirt, and although I had made it a few years ago it happened to resurface again after the move, not quilted of course (bad Carla)! I saw it on Pinterest a few year ago, hunted down the book and there we have it. Needless to say, I don’t have one for myself. At least not a pretty pieced one like this…

We are well into construction on the quilt for my Quilt Along with Carla. I am so touched and slightly overwhelmed at the response. It was more then I had hoped for. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of those who have tuned in! Everyone is doing so well. Quilters! If you’re out there, keep those pictures coming so we can all see the different colour combinations you have chosen.

I am introducing one of my favourite tools this month to the Quilt Along group, the Tucker Trimmer 1. It is, in my books, a must have for all quilters. If you would like to learn more about this tool click here.

I’ve been busy as ever in the studio too and I am enjoying long-arm quilting more than ever with a squawking baby on the floor next to me! Most recently, “Day at the Lake” by Val Letford was the most recent quilt to be completed and taken off my long-arm. Absolutely gorgeous!

One of the Lofters kindly shared a photo of her finished project she started in the Loft. This is “Santa in the Pines”, a pattern by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings, pieced and quilted by Lorraine Cwethko. Lorraine added an extra tree to the runner so that it would fit her table. It turned out wonderfully. I may just have to make one for myself. Well, maybe next year! LOL.

Fay Blenkhorn also sent a picture of her finished quilt, “Love Links”, from a workshop she attended with me back in March. Beautiful, Fay. Oh, that seems so long ago now!

My workshop at Gem Sewing in Sudbury has been moved to November 21 & 22, due to the arrival of my daughter. Life lesson number five million and two, when life zigs, you zag! With that, my latest pattern “Marquise” is almost ready for purchase. It will undergo a fine tuning during my workshop and should be available by the end of the month. I must admit this is one of my favourites so far and I think it is because of the unique layout. Stay tuned for the release, and don’t forget you can get your pattern right here off my website under the “Store” tab or you can ask for it at your local quilt shop.

I think I see a granddaughter in need of some cuddles so I will sign off for now. Thanks for dropping by. Until next time, stay safe, quilt a Christmas gift and take time to enjoy the weather before we all freeze our ‘patoodies’ off!