Classes are full! New Date Added

All scheduled longarm class are now full, so I have added an additional Background Fillers class for Thurs. Sept 23. If you are interested in joining let me know soon and I will reserve your spot. There are only 2 spaces left.

I have to say that I am thrilled about the interest shown towards my classes and I am looking forward to these fun filled training days!

To view Complete information about classes go to Archives August 15.

Happy Labour Day & Nicaragua Update

Hello everyone, and Happy Labour Day. This is usually the weekend that the switch is flipped concerning the weather, and we can feel fall rapidly approaching. This year sure isn't any different. Windy and cool for the parades, but I am sure the party goers won't let that stop them.

My son, Bowen left for college today, 4 hrs away, his second year. He is so excited to be sharing a house with a couple of his friends. My goodness, the day is here, which at the beginning of this summer I thought would never arrive. ....What a great summer, I just wish I could make time stand still....The reality of Bowen leaving the nest has hit me suddenly like a ton of bricks. I'm not feeling so much in the party mood. People say,don't panic, and offer up some good tips to lessen the anxiety but the best idea for sure will be a sisters night out, this week. They always make me feel better. Don't get me wrong, it is so fantastic to see the happiness,and excitement in your child as he starts out another year. I am so proud of the man he has become and I am excited for his future. He's got it going on :) . I know, I need to start a new quilt that will fix me right up! Yes that's it, Devon your black and white Log Cabin is on the way!

The fall season, brings with it a fresh new start for all.

I have been busy preparing for the trip to Nicaragua, to teach Sewing and Quilting. The date has been changed to Jan. 3, and that's OK I'll be ringing in the New Year with my family - a good thing.

Every time I get together with the 12 other people on our team, the more excited I get about this whole trip. Each one brings their own unique reasons for being involved in this venture, and I have a hunch when everything is said and done, we will all be fast friends. Every time we meet, I find out more and more about the needs of the people that we will be working with. There has been some communication with the pastor of the community, and he has relayed to us that the women are very excited to know of our plans. It is their hope to start a co-op with the skills we will teach and one of the projects will be a traditional peasant blouse.

There is a trip planned one afternoon to visit a Women's hospital. The ladies travel a long way to go to this hospital for treatments and It is our hope to be able to take a gift bag full of toiletries and a nitie for each one.

I have listed some items in need and if you can help out, than please let me know and I will arrange to pick up and Thank you so much!

Soaps, Lotions, combs, toiletries, tooth brushes and paste.

We are looking to fill 50 bags. The small bottles that you get from hotels would even be great.

Head Scarves

Nities- Variety of sizes - new only please

Underwear - Variety of sizes - new only please

Clear plastic zippered bags - (the ones that a comforter or sheets would come in)

Hockey Bags for us to pack in - We need a lot of them!! :) Not the huge goalie ones and no wheels please.

Also just a reminder that the Pasta Dinner/Silent Auction fundraiser is on Tuesday October 26 at Club Belvedere, Thorold. Tickets are $15.00 each and available through me or at Kindred Spirits. Bring your family and friends, I can't wait to be your host!!

The Stitch-A-Thon is going to be great. And is coming up in a hurry! Friday Sept. 17. Our big hearted friend Sharon Watson has so graciously taken on the job of organizing the design and assembly line for the pad production. Her goal is 100 pads and extra liners! Thank you Sharon, I owe you big time! There are still a few spots left, so check out all of the information below and let me know if you can join in for this fun and worth while evening of outreach.

Stitch-A-Thon

Friday Sept. 17, 2010

Grace United Church Hall

222 Victoria Ave.
Niagara On The Lake

2 pm until you can't take it anymore!

Hosted by, Jane Sandercock

All proceeds going to PAN Missions Canada, Sewing Mission Nicaragua

This is going to be such a fun event!

We will start to gather at the hall around 2pm and if you can't make it then, just come whenever you can and join in. Bring whatever it is that you would like to work on and I'll make sure to have a couple of ironing stations ready to go. Be sure to bring your sewing supplies, and an extension cord.

If you would like to donate some of your time working for the cause, then I will have an assembly line in action to make sanitary pads. These are such a necessity, but sadly a luxury for the ladies in Nicaragua. All of the supplies and directions for this project will be provided.

All we need is an hour of your time, your capable hands and your sewing machines!

A Pizza Party is included, complete with snacks and dessert.

Bring your own drinks.

So please bring yourself, a friend or a group! Everyone is welcome.It`s a guaranteed fun night for a Great cause!

Call me soon to reserve your spot as space is limited. 905-938-8422

This is a fundraising event. When you sign up, pledge sheets are available or a personal donation is welcomed.

Well I sure did have a lot to say today!! Good therapy for an empty nester. :) Have a great rest of the Labour Day Weekend!!

Underground Railroad

I had the opportunity to quilt a couple of Underground Railroad Quilts. The pictures are above and I hope you can zoom in to see some of the quilting details. Same pattern and story, but different fabrics put an original spin on each of these beauties. The story behind these quilts is fascinating and here is just a glimpse of that. I have added this pattern to my list of things to do. Enjoy

Underground Railroad Quilt Code

Secret messages in the form of quilt patterns aided slaves escaping the bonds of captivity in the Southern states before and during the American Civil War.

Slaves could not read or write; it was illegal to teach a slave to do so. Codes, therefore, were part and parcel of the slaves’ existence and their route to freedom, which eventually became known as the Underground Railroad. Some forms of dance, spirituals, code words and phrases, and memorized symbols all allowed the slaves to communicate with each other on a level their white owners could not interpret. Codes were created by both whites aiding the slaves, and by Blacks aiding the slaves. The Blacks included other slaves, former slaves or free men and women. In slavery, secrecy was one way the blacks could protect themselves from the whites; even the youngest child was taught to effectively keep a secret from anyone outside of the family.

Most quilt patterns had their roots in the African traditions the slaves brought with them to North America when they were captured and forced to leave their homeland. The Africans’ method of recording their history and stories was by committing it to memory and passing it on orally to following generations. Quilt patterns were passed down the same way. It is interesting to note that, in Africa, the making of textiles was done by males; it was not until the slaves’ arrival in North America that this task fell to the females.

The quilt patterns, used in a certain order, relayed messages to slaves preparing to escape. Each pattern represented a different meaning. Some of the most common were “Monkey Wrench”, “Star”, “Crossroads”, and “Wagon Wheel”. Quilts slung over a fence or windowsill, seemingly to air, passed on the necessary information to knowing slaves. As quilts hung out to air was a common sight on a plantation, neither the plantation owner nor the overseer would notice anything suspicious. It was all part of a day’s work for the slaves.

Characteristic of African culture is the communication of secrets through the use of common, everyday objects; the objects are seen so often they are no longer noticeable. This applied to the quilts and their patterns, stitching and knotting. It has been suggested that the stitching and the knotting on slave quilts contained secret information, too, as map routes and the distances between safe houses. Using the quilts, spirituals and code words, the slaves could effectively communicate nonverbally with each other and aid each other to escape.

There is still controversy among historians and scholars over the quilt code theory, and whether or not escaping slaves actually used codes concealed within quilt patterns to follow the escape routes of the Underground Railroad. As oral histories leave no written record, there is no written proof that the codes in the quilt patterns actually existed. What remains are the stories passed down through the generations from the slaves themselves, and, following the code of secrecy, many of the stories were never told.

Fairies and a Rose Garden, By June

I recently met a very talented lady named June who is into embroidery work. And wow has she created some incredible pieces. These are just a couple that I loved. Look at the Fairies. They are just beautiful. I was amazed at how June used different textiles, shiny, textured and beaded to create this one of a kind crazy quilt! What a vision.




The rose garden below is a total play with thread! I bet the thread dealers Loooove to see June coming through their door. I can imagine looking out a window to see this view. Absolutely stunning work. Thank You for allowing me to share your treasures with my friends. :)
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Sew, Quilt or Knit Until You Drop Stitch-A-Thon!!

Friday Sept. 17, 2010

Grace United Church Hall

222 Victoria Ave.
Niagara On The Lake

2 pm until you can't take it anymore!

Hosted by, Jane Sandercock

All proceeds going to PAN Missions Canada, Sewing Mission Nicaragua

This is going to be such a fun event!

We will start to gather at the hall around 2pm and if you can't make it then, just come whenever you can and join in. Bring whatever it is that you would like to work on and I'll make sure to have a couple of ironing stations ready to go. Be sure to bring your sewing supplies, and an extension cord.

If you would like to donate some of your time working for the cause, then I will have an assembly line in action to make sanitary pads. These are such a necessity, but sadly a luxury for the ladies in Nicaragua. All of the supplies and directions for this project will be provided.

All we need is an hour of your time, your capable hands and your sewing machines!

A Pizza Party is included, complete with snacks and dessert.

Bring your own drinks.
`

So please bring yourself, a friend or a group!

It`s a guaranteed fun night for a Great cause!

Call me soon to reserve your spot as space is limited. 905-938-8422

This is a fundraising event. When you sign up, pledge sheets are available or a personal donation is welcomed.

New Fall Class Schedule!

This fall, I am offering specialty machine quilting classes, which are designed for operators of longarm and midarm quilting machines. Classes are taught on Gammill longarms and are friendly to all track system machines. They are hands on, with 2 students per machine.

Training days are intense, however, they are in a small group setting, with individual attention given to each student. Please join me in my Niagara On The Lake workshop, for a guaranteed fun filled day.

Lunch, take home samples and handouts are provided.

Space is limited so please reserve your spot early.
Call Jane at 905-938-8422

Fri. Sept. 24 & Sat. Oct. 23, 2011

Free Hand Fillers with a Twist.

So you have purchased your machine and have been “panto-ing” every quilt in sight. Now it’s time to come out from the back of that machine and freehand! In this fun filled hands-on class you will learn designs that can be used as tight background fillers or as a large all over design. Swirls, leaves, flowers and fabulous meanderings will be some of the styles you will learn.

Cost $199.00 + taxes
9:30AM-4PM Lunch is provided
Be sure to bring along a sketch pad and pencil

Samples of designs and techniques taught in classes. Also, browse side pictures.

Sat Sept. 25 & Fri .Oct. 22, 2011

So Much Fun With Feathers

If you know me, then you know that I love, love, love feathers! Come and learn with ease, the art of creating award winning feathers. This class will have you making fabulous feathers in no time. We will start with the basics of quilting the beauty of feathers and then move on to more advanced designs. Creating feathers in borders, blocks and sashings will all be covered in this class.
Cost $199.00 + taxes
9:30AM-4PM Lunch is provided
Be sure to bring along a sketch pad and pencil

Sewing Mission Trip - Nicaragua January

I am so excited to say, that I have decided to join another Mission Team, this time travelling to, Nicaragua.
My friend Kristyn McCoy from Ilderton, and 11 others from the Kitchener/Waterloo area and myself make up the team. Our team has one common goal in mind and that is to travel to Nicaragua, to teach sewing and quilting skills to a motivated group of woman who have a vision of starting their very own Co-operative. I for one going to work hard to make the dreams of these women come true and I need your help.
The area we are travelling to is called Niquinohomo which is a remote village in the hills. This area has many agricultural farms producing limes, oranges, mandarins, bananas and avocados. Nicaragua is the second largest country in Central America and the second poorest as well. It's population is just under 6 million people, of which 48% of the population lives below the poverty line and 80% of the population lives with less than $2 per day.

Our team will be working along side Panmission Canada who have been working and blessing the people of Nicaragua since 1997.
Panmission Canada worked in this community 2 yrs ago building a church, but our team will be the first to provide training in the interest of sewing and quilting. This is a huge undertaking and is going to require a lot of work.
We leave on Jan. 1, 2011, what a great way to start a New Year!! Since we are starting with nothing.....all quilting and sewing supplies are needed. Some of the items the group will be learning how to make may include diapers, crib bedding for the hospital, aprons, slings to carry their children, sanitary pads and other household items.
Nicaragua has such a disrupted power system, it is my vision to focus also on hand piecing and hand quilting. I know...there is something wrong with that....Jane Sandercock....Longarm Machine Quilter, teaching hand piecing? All I can say is "Thank goodness I have been working on a Farmers Wife Quilt...pieced all by hand". Seriously it only makes sense. Hand piecing projects can be easily picked up under any circumstance, and even worked by candle light.
This sewing program will need all the support they can get and once again I will be collecting sewing and quilting supplies. If you have anything that you wish to donate please contact me and we will make the arrangements.

Our Wish List for Nicaragua:

Pins and Needles
Scissors of all sizes
Thread - a variety of all colours
Elastic, Snaps, Buttons and Velcro
Fabric - at least one metre cuts
Rotary cutters, and blades (lots of blades)
Rulers
Thimbles,
Q - snaps
etc, etc, etc.
Quilt patterns written in Spanish - :) just thought I would put it out there.

Please be assured that any monetary donations made to me will be used to buy additional supplies, or will go directy to Nicaragua to bless a family in need.
Our team will also be visiting a hospital. If you are a knitter, then baby caps are of great need and would be so fantastic and booties would be over the moon! Recently an air conditioner was installed in the hospital facility, and the nurses, not use to the cold are freezing. We have been asked to collect button up sweaters (cardigans) or zippered hoodies. Thank you.
As the needs arise I will let you know.
Over the next few weeks I will be letting you know how you can become more involved so check back often. Fundraisers in the planning include; Quilt raffle, Sew-a-Thon, Pasta Dinner Night.
If you would like to be involved or have the vision and ambition to make a fundraiser of your own or in a group, that would be so amazing!


Gracias todo para su apoyo y generosidad en el pasado y en el avance y para el futuro.
(Thank you all for your support and generosity in the past and in advance for the future.)

Dia Bueno (good day)

Jane
905-938-8422