Sunday, May 29, 2011

National Juried Show in Canada

Imagine my excitement that after 6 years of waiting,  I was finally able to attend my very first National Juried Show.   And to top it off I got to see four of my quilts in the show.

Even better, I was able to meet up with internet friends, old friends and new friends.  Needless to say, I had a total blast.   The competition was incredible.  There are some wonderfully talented quilters here in Canada.
The show was held at my alma mater, the University of Western Ontario.



And here is the sign I have been waiting to see for a very long, long time:


I was able to attend the awards ceremony with my dear friend Elaine Quehl.  Elaine had a gorgeous quilt in the Juried Show and another one in the Invitational Show.  She was also teaching a workshop there as well.   She is a super talented quilter from Ottawa.


CQA was celebrating it's 30th anniversary, so there was a huge cake there.

In a juried show, pictures are not allowed to be taken of the quilts.  But the exhibitors were granted a 30 minute time to enter with their photographer before the show opened.   I took advantage of this, and chose to stand beside 'Bye Gram, I Love You' for my picture.


I went through the vendors market and was in love with all the fabric and thread.   I met so many fantastic people.  It was just great being with quilters who share the same passion I do and can relate to all the things we deal with in quilt competitions.  I met the judges, and soon will get my critiques in the mail.   I learned a ton just seeing the other quilts close up and meeting the other quilters in the show.  
It was a weekend I will never forget.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Miniature Quilt

Our guild had it's President's Challenge last week.   The challenge was to take  a piece of fabric that you now say, 'Why did I ever buy this?' and use it in a quilted item.  Here is the fabric I used.



I found a piece that fit the bill perfectly and then tried to decide what I could turn it into.   I have never done a miniature quilt before, so thought this would be the perfect time to give it a try.   A miniature quilt is basically a real quilt pattern scaled down to a very small size, usually less than 24" in diameter.   After combing the internet for a while for tips, and not finding much, I forged ahead.

I also have never done the Dresden plate before.   The only problem is there is no pattern for the Dresden plate in a miniature.  So after several attempts with paper, I had a pattern I believe would work.

I did figure out quite quickly that I must sew with a 1/8" seam instead of the usual 1/4".  It is amazing what the iron can do to make your blocks look good.

I made four blocks and put them on a white background.  You end up with a hole in the centre, so I put a white circle in the middle, with a cute button in the centre of each.

Now just to be really crazy, I wondered how small I could make my prairie points.   I used 1 1/2" squares for them.   Let me just say this was fiddly work to stitch down.  



I'd love to hear your opinion on my newest quilt!
And this is the last day to vote for me, please click on the bright flower on the top right hand side bar and vote.  Thanks!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Modern 3D Art Quilt Finished

I put the embellishments on my modern art quilt today and it is now hanging in our dining room, welcoming spring.  

The quilt was made using scraps of fabric and a large piece of white cotton.   It is machine quilted using the free motion stippling technique.  I purposely only quilted in the large white sections so the coloured strips would pop out a bit from the background, and they do.  Although hard to see in the pictures.

I think I am in love with jumbo ric rac!   It is used in all three stems.   You will notice that I brought the stems right over the binding, I wanted to see what look it would create.   The two flowers on the outside are made from zippers with an adorable pull tab in the centre.  The middle flower is made using my scrap 'n' slash technique.   Of course that is what gives the quilt it's 3D appearance.

I have shown a before I added the embellishment shot.   As I know some people would like it just like that.

Here are the pictures of the finished quilt.  I have also included some close ups of the flowers, which I adore in every way possible!





And please don't forget to give me a vote, by clicking on the bright flower at the top of the right hand side bar, only 5 more days left to vote.  Thanks!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Experimenting and a Glimpse of a Modern Quilt

Loving quilting these days!  Well, truth be told, I am loving it every day.   But the current trends are fun. Lately every fabric designer is throwing in a clean, fresh white with their new collections.  If you look at any quilt these days that is considered 'modern', it has a good bit of white in it.  Some are mostly white with just dashes of colour throughout, while others have a lot of colour, but broken up by white sashing.  

I like that, it is very springlike.   For a while I used to use black as my background.   At the time I enjoyed it, now I don't think I could even work on a quilt surrounded by darkness.   I am going to give you a little sneak peek of my latest 'modern' art quilt.  Right now it just looks like a modern quilt as I haven't added the art onto it yet.  And by art, yes, I do mean 3D embellishments.   It should be finished in the next day or two.

Prior to this, I received a lovely package in the mail from my dear blogging friend Sarah over at Sew Joy.  She sent me some 2 1/2" strips of fabrics in blues.   They were beautiful, and they had circles in them.   Remember how my last mug rug had a run in with silly putty?   I thought this was the best way to use my fun blues.   And when you are making something small, it is the perfect time to just go a little crazy.   I stitched the blue strips together, then slashed, then stitched, slashed and so on.   

I ended up with three.  My mom got one as a gift because she had just spent two hours helping me make a costume and her kitchen are these exact shades of blue.  One is now sitting on my coffee table, and I am keeping the other one.... just in case silly putty shows up!

Thanks Sarah!


Can you give me a vote today?  Click on my flower quilt on the top of my right side bar.  There are only 7 days left to vote, so if you think of it, can you toss me a vote for the next week?
Thanks!


  • Sunday, May 15, 2011

    A Piece of Me Attended Market

    This past weekend was Quilt Market in Salt Lake City Utah.  This is where all the fabric companies and designers go and showcase their new products to vendors.   The booths are decorated to the hilt and are so fun to look at.

    Reading through blogs that have attended market is my absolute favourite thing to do!  I have never attended a market, but it is definitely on my bucket list, right near the very top!

    The darling Amanda, from the Quilted Fish, whom designs fabric and I am part of her Creative team, had a booth set up.  I just have to say it was fantastic!   She did a theme of the Mad Hatter Tea Party.

    Candice over at Made With Love  allowed me to post one of her pics here.  She is also part of the Creative team that went to Market with Amanda.  Go and check out her blog for some more great pics of the booth.  While you are there, you really must check out her Coffee Tote Bags from real coffee sacks!  Seriously these are  awesome.

    So, the super exciting part for me, was that Amanda asked her team to make something for market.  She is such a doll and loves showcasing us whenever she can!

    I made a cute teacup and saucer out of her new line Sugar and Spice.

    And ....(drumroll please)  here it is at a real market!  Something of mine at an actual quilt market. (insert me jumping up and down!)



    Here is a close up of it, before I sent it to Amanda.

    That is my excitement for the weekend.   

    Thursday, May 12, 2011

    Lola's Posies

    Take a look at Riley Blake's new fabric line, "Lola's Posies" by Lila Tueller.


    It is coming out this spring, and I believe being introduced at Quilt Market in Salt Lake City Utah this weekend.   I am thrilled to have this gorgeous fabric in my hands early.   As a Course Instructor for Riley Blake fabrics, I get to design a funky tutorial with this fabric.   How lucky am I?

    All I can tell you is that circles are involved.... just keep watching to see what comes up next.

    Tuesday, May 10, 2011

    3D Flowers

    I have been being a little bit overboard making more 3D flowers using a cute method of gluing and slicing.   I have named this my scrap 'n' snip flower.   I even made some to match a quilt that I had just finished. But I can't post that yet.  These little guys are great for using up those long skinny ends of your fabric.





    Here is a picture of two ties. Well they are not ties anymore, silly! But they each started off as a tie, until I got a hold of them. Then with some twisting and stitching it became a flower - 3D of course.


    Would they not look whimsical on a little art quilt? Or you could stick them on your purse or even wear as a brooch! Does anyone own or make anything like that?

    I have to design a giant art quilt and put all my 3D flowers on it!  That would be something, or maybe a little too much of something=)

    Please give me a vote today, just hit the bright flower quilt on the right side bar, under the words 'Vote for Me'.  Thanks so much!

    Thursday, May 5, 2011

    Winner and a Zipper Flower

    We have a winner of the 5 fat quarter giveaway.  It is:

    Glenys said...



    I'm just joining. Really like the birdies.


    Congratulations!

    I got my zippers and pulls today, as I had previously posted, and displayed them on my cutting table while I was working on a tutorial for my super favourite fabric designer.  

    But every time I reached for my rotary cutter I saw this:

    Now how can a girl, let alone a crazy quilt artist gal, resist that?   I just knew I could make something 3D with those supplies.   And we all know that I love 3D art quilts. 

    So I put my tutorial aside, (shh, don't tell) and grabbed some zippers, a zipper pull and my glue gun.  That's right, I am getting artsy with the glue gun!   After a little calculating, a little cutting, a little arranging, and a few little burnt fingers with the glue gun, take a look at this cute  3D embellishment:


    Come on, tell me you can't see that on one or two of my upcoming art quilts.   And for you crafty quilters, could you not just adorn this on the side of your purse, or why not right on your shirt as a cute brooch?  
    I used purples, in case I made a mistake and didn't want to ruin my fantastic pink zippers... but you know what colours I will be trying next don't you?  

    Just another little reminder that it would be so appreciated by me if you took the time to vote (yes, again) clicking on my right side bar, on the quilt under the text 'vote for me'.  

    Thanks super cool peeps!

    A Reminder

    I love getting mail!   Today was no exception.   I got my zippers from Jennifer at Zipit on etsy, and my zipper pulls.   Look at these fun ones she sent!


    Now if you order soon, Jennifer is giving a 15% discount on her etsy store to all my fab followers.  See this post  for the coupon.  And I am going to be a tutorial for the design team on my zippered pouches, which will require a 8.5" zipper or 10" total length.   
     I am also going to be showcasing some very funky zippered flowers as soon as I get playing with my zippers.  

    One last thing, please go and vote again, see my bar to the right, where it says 'vote', hit the flower and give me a vote.   You can do it every day right up till May 24th, and I would soo appreciate it1

    Thanks super fabulous followers=) 

    Wednesday, May 4, 2011

    Vote for My Quilt

    My quilt 'Whimsical Wonder' is one of 93 quilts to be approved for a McCall's quilting contest.   I would love it if you would go and vote for it.  Or at the very least, vote for one you like.   I believe you can vote every day from now till May 24th.  

    All you have to do is on the right side of your screen, on my menu selection at the top, you will see a pic of my quilt (colourful flower) and it says 'Vote for Whimsical Wonder'.  Click on the quilt and go vote!

    Pretty please with a pile of sugar, chocolate, ice cream, sprinkles and hot fudge brownie sauce on top?

    Thanks a bunch, super awesome followers.

    Tuesday, May 3, 2011

    Check Me Out!

    Does that sound super braggy?   I don't even think that is a word, but I digress.  Okay, and confess, I am giving myself a shout out!   Not sure if that is a sign of desperation or a sign of supreme self confidence?

    Let's just say it is the latter.  Onto super important matters.  As I was scrolling through my lovely blogs I follow, I checked out C & T Publishing's blog.  And much to my utter shock and excitement, I saw my quilt, 'Bye Gram, I Love You' being showcased.   Check it out!  

    This quilt is certainly making the rounds.  First juried into the Canadian Quilt Show, then juried into Sacred Threads, and now a little publicity over on C & T's blog.

    If you knew my Gram, she would be so surprised that a piece of her clothing was causing such a commotion.   And then she would tell everyone she knew how proud she was of her granddaughter.   In Gram's eyes, her grandchildren were perfect and could do no wrong.  She was that kind of Grandmother.  

    Easy Quick Artsy Coasters

    Are you one of those quilters that does your best work then gives it away?  Or you make some fantastic quilt art, but it just hangs there?   And when it comes to practical quilting, such as table runners, you are too busy, creative to make that 'other stuff'?  

    I confess, I am all of that, or maybe you will just call me lazy?   I am making a point here, and it is not to make you feel bad about your quilting practices.  

    I will tell you a quick story.  I had just finished making a rather large art quilt and decided I really should make myself a cute little mug rug.   So I spent some good time and made a cute one.

     Now my adorable son left his silly putty on it, let me just say, not pretty and even less pretty emerging from the washing machine.   That got tossed. 

    I still needed some mug rugs, but with young children around, I didn't want to spend a ton of time, but thought I still deserved something fancy for my every day life of coffee drinking.   (For the record, I do more than drink coffee).

    This is what I came up with.   Grab some timtex, or fusible fleece ( I just doubled it), fusible web, and your scraps.   Cut out your timtex the size you want for your coaster.   Add some fusing to the top of it.  
    Then cut out your scraps and arrange to make a funky little coaster. 

    And you are done!  Okay, you could quilt it, I didn't.  I know these are only going to last for a while and I didn't want to put the time in to quilting it.   Plus, it was realy fun to do something so fast.








    You only have 2 days left to enter my giveaway!

    Sunday, May 1, 2011

    Trying Out New Blocks

    It seems like tons of quilters are slashing and sashing their blocks in an unorganized manner these days.   I decided to give it a try with some leftover fabric I had.   

    I took the orange squares and cut them in one direction, sewed a strip in, cut in another direction, sewed another strip, and so on.   I used curvy seams and straight seams.  

    I think I would enjoy doing a whole quilt like this with solid and print fabric.    This means that I need to buy more solid coloured fabric.   Everyone talks about Kona solids, so I will look into that, unless anyone can tell me about another type of solids that are great to work with. 



    I think results in all solids would be very fun too, depending on the colours.   If you were really ambitious, you could put a little embellishment in random spots on the orange sections.    Perhaps a little of my 3D things.... but that is for later this week!

    Don't forget to enter my giveaway.   And for a great deal on all things zipper related, click on the link.