Classes for Fall 2011

The push has been on the last couple of weeks to get my samples ready for the fall classes at Katja's.  My first quilt is "A Quilter's Village."  I had so much fun making this quilt that I may just have to make another.

The blocks for this quilt are made with free form piecing.  Nothing really matters until the end when the block is squared up.  Your blocks can be as individual as you are.  Pick out a few of your favourite bright fabrics and give it a whirl!

This block featuring a lab puppy in it's dog house, is in memory of my "Angel."  I still miss her every day.

This is my second new class.  It is called "black and white and red all over."  A friend wanted to make this quilt from a pattern in a book.  It called for a very large connector at a thirty degree angle.  She phoned me and asked me to try to figure out a way to make it with one of my rulers.  I pulled out my tri-recs ruler and this is the result.  A simple strip pieced quilt that can be made in fabric of your choice.  With Christmas just around the corner, you can dig into your Christmas fabrics and make a special present for someone you love.

As well this session I will be offering my Beginner Quilting class and my Free Motion Quilting class.  The date for Free Motion Quilting is November 26, so if you want to be sure and get a spot, phone the Shoppe soon.  Katja will have her fall newsletter out mid August so check here and click on the newsletter link.

WhoTook My Chocolate!!

This quilt really says it all.  "Who took my Chocolate!!"  Often I need a little fix of chocolate to get me through the day and if I don't get it, look out.

The pattern for this wonderful little hanging is by Rabbit's Haven.  Arlene is a B.C. designer who now has a couple of lines of fabric through Red Rooster.  She is often accompanied to trade shows with her sisters who all pitch in to help with the booth. It's great to see a Canadian quilter have so much success.

My version of this quilt was embroidered by my mom Olive.  I used wax crayons to add a little colour, and then hand quilted it.  Another of my little treasures.

Drunkard's path beauty

Today I want to share with you a lovely drunkards path quilt.  The quilt belongs to Geraldine, who says she is almost 88.  The blocks were made by appliqueing a circle on a square, then cutting the square in quarters.

I first met Geraldine years ago when she was operating a pre-school out of her home.  Harvey attended for a few months and has so much fun!  The first time I saw one of Geraldine's quilts was at local quilt show quite a few years ago.  It was a show stopper.  I was so intimidated the first time I was asked to quilt one of Geraldine's quilts. Now I look forward to what she will bring me next.

Scallops, Vines and Waves Template by Quilt in a Day

Adding a Wave border to a quilt is fun and easy using the Scallops, Vines and Waves Template by Quilt in a Day.  Sylvia asked if I would mark the following quilt with a wave border before I quilted it.

I used the Template with it's very easy to follow directions.  

I marked the quilt with a blue water erasable pen.  Any erasable pen will work, as long as you can see it on your border fabric.

The inner wave was marked with the template about 1 1/2" from outer edge.

For the outer wave I used and extra ruler to measure from the first border just to be sure the template was straight.

Included in the template is a traceable corner unit.

This is what the edge looks like after a bias binding is added.  Wonderful job Sylvia!

The marked wave made a great edge for the feather border.  What a fun quilt to quilt!

Matt and Leslie's New Home

Saturday Matt and Leslie took possession of their new home.  Both of them were pretty excited to get the keys to their own place!  Congratulations to the proud homeowners.

The new homeowners set to work, with a little help from their family, painting the new dwelling. The previous owner was a smoker, so the entire house needed to be scrubbed down and painted.  Saturday was extremely busy with Leslie painting well into the night.

I arrived back this morning to find them both raring to go.  Matt was the jack of all trades today, including Starbucks run and going back to my house to let Blanche in out of the thunderstorm.  Leslie was a painting machine.  She was determined to get most of the painting done today.

We all decided that Leslie and Matt weren't afraid of heights, just afraid of falling.  Therefore, Doug and I climbed the makeshift scaffolding over the stairs to paint .

When I left this evening Leslie was determined to paint just one more wall before heading out. Way to go Matt and Leslie, you certainly got a lot done this weekend!

Bali Boxes

Bali Boxes is a fun twist on the traditional Bento Box pattern.  I used a Grasshopper Bali Pop and twenty assorted 4 1/2" squares.  This would be fun if you used a jelly roll and matching charm pack, or simply cut forty 2 1/2" strips from your stash and add in the twenty 4 1/2" squares.

To make one square you will need two 2 1/2" strips that contrast, and a 4 1/2" square.

Cut one strip into two 4 1/2" lengths and two 8 1/2" lengths.  Set the remainder of this strip aside to use in the binding.  Cut the second strip into two 8 1/2" lengths and two 12 1/2" lengths.

Piece the two 4 1/2" lengths to either side of the 4 1/2" square.

Add the 8 1/2" lengths of the same fabric to the  top and bottom.

Piece the 8 1/2" lengths of the second strip to the same two sides you pieced the 4 1/2" lengths to.

The last two 12 1/2" pieces complete the basic block.

Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut through the centre of the block both horizontally and vertically.

Turn both the lower left and upper right quadrants so that the little inner block is in the outer corner.

Sew the four pieces together to make one block.  Make twenty blocks in total and piece together as shown at the top of the page.

The finished quilt is about 46" x 57".  Have a great day!

Quilting Is A Gift You Give Yourself

Quilting gives me so much joy.  In this hectic life that we all lead, it is wonderful to take time with our families, friends, and our hobbies.  The following picture is of a little quilt from Applepatch designs.  The saying above the quilt was a gift from Terry.  She saw it in a quilt store in her travels and thought of me.  The wool is from Sharon.  It is from her own sheep (Shirley.)  Sharon spun and knit if for me.  Thanks to both Terry and Sharon for your kindness.  This quilt hangs in my living room and reminds me every day of what wonderful friends I have.

I do occasionally take time to knit a little.  Twist of Fate yarn shop is closing and has some wonderful deals on yarn.  I picked up these two beauties on Friday.  I might have to go back before the last day at the end of the month.

Of course I have done a little quilting this week.  I have just finished quilting a Sampler quilt for a friend.  I have quilted a few of these, so to mix things up, I played a little in the blocks.  The light in the log cabin was screaming for a feather, so I had to oblige.

Have a great day and remember to give yourself the gift of time to do something you really want to do!

In a English Paper Piecing Mood

One of my favourite things to do to relax is to english paper piece.  A couple of winters ago I decided I needed to make a miniature Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt.  I used 1/4" hexagons to make this little beauty.  The quilt is 12" x 14" and took me longer to complete than most queen size quilts.

Just in case you aren't up to 1/4" hexagons, here is a quilt made from 1/2" hexagons.  It is from the book Quilt's from Grandmother's Garden by Jaynette Huff.  The quilt is a little bigger at 23" x 26".

My current project involves kite shape pieces and the fabrics shown below.  Stay tuned to see what this becomes!

Nothing Like a Good Steam Iron

When I teach quilting classes I am often asked whether or not I use steam when pressing my seams.  I always use steam.  Of course if I'm pressing a bias seam, I need to be careful not to stretch the seam.  A good friend of mine remembered me once saying "there is nothing like a good steam iron."  She saw the little beauty shown below and purchased it for a birthday gift for me.  I'm so lucky!!!!!

The following pictures of steam irons were taken at the Chute Lake Resort that Doug and I stayed at recently.  The Resort has a wonderful assortment of antiques, ranging from steam irons to linesman tools, and lots in between.