Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Madhuri Mini Modern Madness -Lots of Tutorials

Not too long ago, Candice was chatting with the design team of the infamous Amanda Herring's of The Quilted Fish and wanted to do a mini modern quilt exchange.   One thing led to another and we all did a mini modern quilt using Amanda's new fabric line Madhuri, and they went to Quilt Market with Amanda.

Now we each have put together a tutorial for our quilts and I encourage you to check out them all.  They are so stinkin' cute.

There is no doubt mine is the simplest of the group.   There is a reason for that.   Maybe you can guess, and if not, I will tell you in a bit=)




My little tutorial is easy.   
You will need a 24" x 24" piece of white fabric and 4-6 pieces of Madhuri fabric - any size will do, ie. 5" squares, plus backing and batting.  Your choice of fusible product is also required.

Apply fusing to the wrong side of the Madhuri prints.   Cut out the prints in 1" strips.   
Lay over the white fabric in a pleasing combination.   Once arranged, fuse down.

Pin the batting and backing to quilt top.
Take a piece of painters masking tape and using a ruler, pick a spot in the middle of the quilt and lay the tape down right beside the ruler.  
Now do a straight stitch right beside the tape line.   This will ensure that you have straight lines throughout your quilt.   Continue on and repeat if you want horizontal lines.   I did vertical lines equally spaced apart through the whole quilt and then did sections of horizontal lines.

Bind when done.
Simple yet kinda cute=)

Now go and check out the other mini modern quilts!

Sally's is here, and guaranteed she will boost your spirits.


Candice has an adorable one here.


Jana got hers done with a newborn by her side.


Stephanie's attracted a whole lot of attention.

Brooke was sweet and took pics of all our quilts at market.





Friday, May 24, 2013

A Check Off The Bucket List

If you have read my blog for even a day, you would know that I really want to get published in 'Quilting Arts' magazine and I really want a quilt to get accepted into Houston.
Well, guess what?  
I GOT PUBLISHED IN 'QUILTING ARTS' MAGAZINE!!!

They had a 'Map It Out' challenge and selected 10 winners to appear in the next edition of their magazine.   I mailed my little quilt off and then waited...and waited....and waited.   Finally it arrived and I was over the moon excited!

Here it is on page 81, in all it's little glory=)


Just to top my day right off, I get to work with 'Madhuri' from The Quilted Fish for a special little project.  It is so much fun.   I really could do my whole house in it, including my wardrobe.  Really!

Look at the selvage, how cute is that?


 Have a great weekend!


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

It's All About Me=)

I am joking with that title.. really.  
After my ten days of travel I am still trying to get my head out of the clouds and focus on a few tight deadlines.   In the meantime, I have some fun photos to show you.

Remember my Diva coat?   The other two Board members also made Diva coats and during the national conference, we proudly strutted our stuff.  I have never had so many people ask to take a picture of my behind.   I have to tell you this, one gentleman asked that question, and I smiled at him and said, 'Did you want me to lift the coat up or leave it down?'   His face turned so red, but it really was funny!


This is Laine and I.  She did hers all in thread outlines, it was very classy.  I took all the class right out of mine.  Much like the maker=)

Here is me, Laine and Judy...  without knowing both Judy and I did a polka dot binding.   


Laine and I got into the National Juried Show after the awards ceremony, (no, I didn't win one, as per usual=).  Here is me with my 2, I repeat 2 quilts that were juried in.


You can see the amazing winners here.

And here is some super duper exciting news.   My picture is on eQuilter... Luana Rubin's blog!   You only have to read the first paragraph. Please you must go and check it out.  Go right now=)

And lastly, at the end of the conference they have a banquet, and at the banquet they had a young Elvis impersonator.   Yes, that is me having him wrap a red scarf around my neck and giving me a kiss on my cheek.   I don't know which was redder, my face or the scarf!

Since I started my blog, I have lamented frequently about two things on my bucket list.   I stroked one off today.   I will post about it shortly, but here is a hint....  it is in the right side bar. If you didn't figure it out, then either check back in a day or two, or open your windows because I am shouting it out from the rooftops!



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Catching Up

I have been out of town for 10 days in beautiful Penticton British Columbia for our annual national quilt conference, put on by the Canadian Quilters' Association.

While I was gone, had an exciting email.   Pellon is launching a new product in Jo-Ann's craft stores and sent me the following message:

Jo-Ann wanted to feature projects on the packaging ... we chose to showcase a variety of projects that were made using Peltex®.  I'm happy to report that  one of your projects was selected to be on the packaging. This also means that the project title and your name will be listed on the packaging.

This is the project, Cup O' Tea.  You can find the tutorial here.

cupotea

I also managed to sneak away and do a few wine tours.


Now Quilt Market was on the same weekend as our national conference.   Don't even ask how sad I was that I had to miss market!

But one of my quilts was in the super awesome Amanda Herring's booth - The Quilted Fish.  By the way, her booth won 2nd place for the Booth Awards!   ( I like to think my quilt helped=)  heehee

Here is her booth:
IMG_2240

And here is my quilt in there:
IMG_2231

Thank you Sally for the great pics! Amanda's design team all made mini modern quilts for her to hang in her booth.  We are all posting tutorials on May 29th of our projects, so stay tuned!




Monday, May 13, 2013

I Am On The Road

 I haven't posted for a few days as I am at the other end of our fine country at the Canadian Quilters Association annual conference.   This year it is in Penticton, British Columbia.  

I have two quilts in the National Juried Show and am just so excited to see them actually hanging when the show opens on Thursday.  

I had time today to tour some wonderful vineyards and do a little wine tasting.



One thing I did notice is the doors on many of the wineries were huge.  Or maybe they just got bigger in my mind as the day went on!   Kidding=)


I better show a bit of quilting in here or you may really start questioning my passions.
This is a heart block made for a quilter who is having some medical issues and quilters were asked to make a 6 1/2" heart block.   Of course it is fused and machine appliqued, but the design is mine and I tried to make it whimsical by the little flair at the bottom.  I used The Quilted Fish's  polka dot fabric.


I will be back later in the week with more photos once the conference opens with all the shows!





Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Working, Working...

Oh, there is just so much going on right now.   Deadlines, submissions, preparations, and spring arrived!   That means everything else goes on hold and kids and mud and bikes and sunshine come first.

Although, once the sun goes down, the sewing machine comes up.   I have been plugging away at my new art quilt for classes.  Here is where I left off.  I stitched the petals down today.


I made this adorable little centre for it with greys and yellows and just love it.   Even figured out a new easier way to make it, love when that happens!


These very colourful little petals were made with the intent of going inside the large flower.  When I auditioned them, they just seemed too much.   And you know that must have been over the top, if I thought it was too much=)   Even though they are in the same fabric line, they just didn't 'work' for me.   

I then flipped them upside down and am very pleased with what happened.


 Now to get everything tacked down and maybe add just a little bit more embellishing!


Friday, May 3, 2013

Funky Friday #2

Look at this, I am starting a series!

This week was insane.   Literally.   Not even a joke.   But it kept on going and now we are at our second ever Funky Friday and I have something fun to show you.  

Remember this:
It is looking kinda flat and lifeless.   I used my magic wand and voila... look at it now!
I see that I better centre it a bit better, or maybe throw a few 3D butterflies flitting around in those corners.  

Disclaimer:  I don't really have a magic wand, in case you were wondering.

I love taking side shots of my quilts, they just show all that dimension.  

Here are the little petals going into the middle of this quilt:

This is for a class I teach on 3D quilts.   Trying out a new pattern.  

How is that for a Funky Friday feature?  I am even going to link up with Nina Marie.  





Wednesday, May 1, 2013

My Little Pom Pom Pincushion

Having some fun these days.   I have been making a few more tops for travelling and decided I needed a pin cushion as I kept misplacing the only one I have.   I had two, then sent one off, so was having to transport the one to the serger, ironing board, cutting table, and sewing machine.   I was constantly leaving it behind wherever I last was and my frustration level was starting to reach volcanic proportions.

I had a tiny bit of Madhuri left and some lovely pom poms, all from Riley Blake Fabrics.


 I sewed the pompoms to the back fabric first and then RST sewed the 2 pieces of fabric together.
I just love that diamond fabric to bits!


Riley Blake Fabrics also has a huge pin cushion tutorial collection.  Like gigantic!   Bigger than my fabric collection.   Okay, nothing is that big=)


This just cracks me up to bits.