Which Did I Choose?

Starting a new website has been a challenge! Thank goodness for a techie husband who did all the designing and building the site. However, blogging on the new site is still a learning experience. I do one thing and a dozen (well not exactly a dozen) things go on behind the scenes. I'm slowly getting up to speed.   

Well, enough of that. I have been busy (besides getting the business books ready for taxes) working on a quilted wall hanging. Here's the pattern. This was a zoom class sponsored by the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild.

My version is ready for quilting! YAH!! I don't often finish projects designed by someone else this quickly. This is an exception to the rule. One of the things that I had to decide before finishing, was the round circle in the middle of the grouping of houses. I tried several colours and finally decided which to use.

Which did I choose? To find out, hop on over to my new blog post to find out  or click on the My Web Site button at the top of this page. I did show how I made some of the windows.

• Dresden Neighbourhood with Kim Lapacek    
• Pinterest  HERE, HERE and HERE 
  
• Halloween Theme for the Neighbourhood
• Christmas Theme on Pinterest 

Stay safe 

Enjoy!

Scrap Bucket

Last night, I took part in a two part zoom class with Canadian Quilter on Fire, Brandy Maslowski. This class was sponsored by the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild. Of course, I selected the fabrics needed for the first part of the class. Wouldn't you know it! Brandy decided to reverse the order and jumped to part two. Was I prepared? NOPE! I was going to rummage through my stash on Thursday to get ready for the class that night.

Since I was in my own space, I had access to all my fabrics. I wasn't interested in making a wine tote that was been demonstrated. Several others also decided to do their own thing. I made a scrap bucket, which is a free pattern from Heather Valentine, The Sewing Loft. 

My base fabric is a dyed piece with raw edge strips stitched onto it. I left some of the base fabric visible. The strips were stitched in place using black Superior invisible thread. Black invisible thread does not shine like the clear thread does. Free-motion stitching is randomly stitched over the strips of batik fabrics. I opted to not add decorative yarns, buttons, ribbons or charms.

Base fabric (actually has greens but photo shows up as greys and black)

 Strips stitched onto the base

 

 

Close-up of stitching

Different views of the bucket

Scrap Bucket from last year

• Free patterns: Fabric Baskets    
• Pinterest: Quilted Organizer Patterns
• Tote Bag Patterns from Quilt Inspiration       
• Car Organizer Sewing Patterns     

Enjoy!

Stay Safe

Fantastic Fusion Workshop

For the past two Thursday evenings, I have participated in an online workshop, Fantastic Fusion, with Lisa Walton, Textile Artist, from Sydney, Australia. This was organized by the Mahone Bay Quilters' Guild for its members.

19 quilters were eager to learn something new. Many admitted that they were definitely out of their comfort zone. However, you couldn't tell that by the pieces that were created. Lisa was a wonderful teacher, quite prepared with samples, videos, photo gallery and live demos. It was six hours of fun! 

Using Zoom, we were able to see all 20 of us on one screen (thumbnails). We got to see what the other was doing, ask questions, make comments, chat . . . almost the same as been in a physical classroom. The other upside - no packing to go to a classroom, unpack etc. You know the drill. I was in my own space with all my 'stuff' at my fingertips. No, "Oh darn, I forgot to bring . . ." or "I have the perfect piece of fabric for this, but it's home". On that score, I prefer working here in my own studio!

These batik blocks are the result of week one. My colour scheme came from the colours in my back garden and the quilt my sister, Joan, made me for my July birthday, 2018. The blue represents the sky.

Week two

These are the same blocks from above. I chopped them up, cut extra strips and put them together to form this piece. I managed to fuse some of the pieces together but the rest are pinned to my board to do later. It measures approximately 18" x 26" and will be quilted and free-motion stitched.

My colour inspiration:

 

Thanks, Lisa. It was very nice meeting you.

• Lisa Walton on Pinterest HERE and HERE   
  
• Quilt Stories with Lisa Walton
• Abstract Textile Artists
• The Story of Abstract Design
  
• Abstract Textiles from Pinterest HERE, 
• Textile Abstract Art by Leah Gillette 

Enjoy! 

Trek to Avonport

Saturday, I visited Avonport Discount Fabrics in Avonport, NS. If you haven't visited this quilt shop, put it on your travel list. Have a look inside this shop HERE (post from a few years ago). Needless to say, I didn't come away empty handed!

These 1m cuts of batiks are just as brilliant as they appear here!

More Batiks - Fat Quarters this time.

Birch Trees - cotton

Forest - cotton

I also purchased some more Misty Fuse for a zoom workshop I'm doing with Lisa Walton from Sydney, Australia. The workshop is called Fabric Fusion, which has been organized for us by the program committee of Mahone Bay Quilters' Guild.

A few links from Britain:

• Gillian Travis, textile artist
• Very Kerry Berry  
• Fabric and Flowers, Sonia Spence
• Feather on a Wire    
• Tutorials from Messy Jesse  

Enjoy!!

Book Review: Mini Wonderful Curves

This next book is Mini Wonderful Curves, 16 Seasonal Quilt Projects Using the QCR Mini, by sisters, Jenny Pedigo and Helen Robinson. Patterns include tulips, sunflowers, pinwheels, hearts, fall foliage, bats, winter tree and more . . .  The book is full of beautiful coloured photos of the quilts and the patterns. There is no guesswork on fabric placement to create each quilted project. Again, as with their previous book, One Wonderful Curve, a pictorial tutorial for using the mini version of the Quick Curve ruler, is included.

The projects include wall hangings, table runners and quilts, in a fresh contemporary style with a curved flair. Again, another book to check out.

• Curved Piecing Quilts on Pinterest HERE and HERE  
  
• Sew Kind of Wonderful    
• Modern Quilt patterns    
• Tutorials  
• Machine Curved Piecing   

Enjoy!

Book Review: One Wonderful Curve

 

Today's book is One Wonderful Curve by Jenny Pedigo and Helen Robinson. The ruler to go along with the book, has been added to the Mahone Bay Quilters' Guild collection.

 

 

I find the 12 quilt designs in this book quite delightful! The designs are constructed using one simple curved block. Of course, by adding additional pieced elements to this block, you get totally different quilts. It is perfect for any level of quilter. The colours used are vibrant, which certainly draws my eye to them! 

 

This books teaches how to use the ruler through photos. Quite often this aspect is passed over quickly. Not in this case! The directions are easy to follow. 

Another great book to add to your collection!

• Curved Quilt Blocks on Pinterest HERE and HERE    
  
• Curved Piecing and a free block   
• Sewing Curves in a Quilt    
• Sew Kind of Wonderful    
• Quilt Social   

Enjoy!

Book Review: Modern Quilt Bible

Modern Quilt Bible by Elizabeth Betts, is another new book that has been added to the Mahone Bay Quilters Guild library. It has lots of colourful photos of quilts and illustrations for piecing them. The book is divided into two sections. The first one focuses on ten design concepts and ideas for modern quilting: (or any quilting)

1. Colour
2. Fabric
3. Compositional Elements
4. Grids
5. Negative Space
6. Symmetry and Asymmetry
7. Optical Effects
8. Playing With Shapes
9. Modern Traditionalism
10. Making Your Way

Each one of these also includes a project to make.

The second section features techniques and step-by-step illustrations that are used to make the quilts. For example: various ways to piece together blocks (paper piecing, curved piecing), applique and then finishing of the quilt.

This book is an excellent resource for those of you who are interested in making modern quilted projects. If you are a beginner or have been quilting for a long time, it is worth a look!!

• Modern Quilts   
• Modern Quilts on Pinterest HERE     
• FaveQuilts  28 Modern Quilt Patterns and Ideas 
• Modern Quilt Patterns  (some great ideas)  

Enjoy!!

Book Review: Cuppa by Sue Spargo

Today's new guild library book is Cuppa, by Sue Spargo. This quilt pattern book has detailed instructions and full-sized applique / embroidery designs for stitching and embellishing the quilt shown on the front cover (see below). The finished quilt is 38 inches square. Techniques for making this quilt, include wool applique, layering and hand embroidery. However, I can see using some of the cups and mugs in a mini wall hanging and on a tote or book cover. A bonus pattern is included to make a zippered embroidered applique project bag for holding threads, notions, and project blocks. (Also shown below).

Today, Sue Spargo launched a new on-line, free project to stitch, called Squash Squad.  To view the first block check HERE.  

Enjoy!

Book Review: Free-Motion Quilting 101

I'm back with another book review from the NEW books that have been added to the Mahone Bay Quilters Guild Library. This particular one, Free-Motion Quilting 101, Techniques & Patterns for Beginners by Ashley Nickels, is the ideal book for the beginner quilter and is a good resource for those who teach free-motion quilting.

To become comfortable with free-motion quilting, it needs to be practised frequently. In other words, set aside time to 'play' with your sewing machine, threads and fabric. This is where this book comes into 'PLAY"!! If you are new to free-motion stitching, this one can help guide you along in the quest to quilt your own project pieces.

Inside the book, you will find:

• workbook- style practise sheets which contains 15 foundational designs. For example: wonky hexagons, waves, whale tails. . .
  
• a project session containing 3 simple projects and 1 larger project that is a culmination of the techniques learned in the book
• and detailed information for finishing a quilt

I used this book as a reference when I taught a class of free-motion quilting techniques at my guild earlier this year.

Look inside the book HERE  

Please note: I have no affiliation with promoting or selling this book.  

There are lots of You Tube Videos HERE. 

Enjoy!

Quilt Book Review - Mahone Bay Quilt Guild

This is my second year as librarian for the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild, Nova Scotia. Part of my job is to purchase new books for our library. Of course, members give me recommendations on what to get! Last evening, the guild met virtually via Zoom and I did have a chance to show the books.  However, since we aren't meeting in person yet, I decided to start writing about them here.

I'll start with this one. 

If you have any hesitation about straight-line quilting, this book is for you! I'm not associated with the selling or promotion of this book, but I can definitely see it's value to any quilter. Natalia Bonner, expert quilter and author, has over 'sixty new linear patterns for triangle blocks, square blocks, borders, and allover designs.' You will learn to quilt on your domestic or long-arm machine, with only straight lines, using your walking foot or doing free-motion quilting with rulers. How great is that!!

The book has lots of step-by-step photos that any level of quilter can follow. If you wish to see inside the book, check out any of the popular on-line books sellers.  

Natalia also has a BLOG that is worth a look.

Enjoy!

 

Free-Motion Stitching Skill's Day

I have no problem staying home during this time of crisis, as we have lots to do inside and out. But I feel for all those who are forced to stay home due to the shut down of businesses. Here's hoping that everyone will cope in this difficult time. It's important to pay attention to the rules set out by the powers that be, stay safe and wash hands often!

I taught a Free-Motion Skills class on Saturday morning with some very enthusiastic ladies from the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild. It was a lovely morning.

Here's me doing a demo!

I took a few shots from the class:

View a few more shots from the skill's day, HERE. Scroll down for shots from previous events!

• An instructional video for beginners of free-motion stitching with Jenny Doan 
• Tips to set up your machine for free-motion stitching from Quilt Social
• Free-Motion Sewing Machine Embroidery 
• Leah Day's Free-Motion Quilting Tutorial Library
• Quilting Designs on Pinterest HERE

Enjoy!!

Wool Applique Workshop

Saturday, I attended a Wool Applique Workshop with teacher Linda Naugler and quilters from the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild. It was a relaxing day with no expectations of finishing a project. It was experimenting with stitches, chatting and seeing what everyone was working on. Here's the projects worked on:

The first bird is part of the teacher handout. We could do this pattern or choose one of our own.  The finished project is a needle case.

This fish is mine. I took the photo early on in the day and I didn't get a chance to take another one.

Tree of Life

January is going out with sunny skies and above freezing temperatures! It's a lovely day outside with no wind here in Pine Grove, NS.

On another note:

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I'm the librarian for the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild. As a perk of this job, I get to see the newest magazines before anyone else. The latest issue of Quilt Mania, The Quilt Magazine # 135, (which will be at guild on Monday), has a small applique felted wall hanging of a Tree of Life  This one is geared to Valentine's Day. To view a thumbnail sketch of the pattern, go to their site HERE. Scroll down and click on the picture to make it bigger. When I glanced at this particular pattern, I immediately thought that it could be adapted for various occasions such as Easter, Christmas, Autumn, Winter, Spring, Birthdays etc by adding pieces of Velcro to the background and to the small shapes to be used. It can be as simple or as complicated as you wish!The skies the limit!

 

See a few other trees of life HERE, HERE and HERE (this link has printables)

Enjoy!!

Afternoon Tea by The Sea: Table Arrangements

The Mahone Quilt Guild's, Afternoon Tea by The Sea with Extraordinary Quilter, Elaine Quehl, was a great success. We had lots of lovely compliments on the event. One of the highlights were the table arrangements put together by Beth Lawrence and Linda MacDonald. They decided in February, to take on this project. Last Wednesday morning (May22), they came with boxes of wrapped teapots, cake trivets and cups/saucers. Here's the results!  The pincushions were drawn for from the signed tickets and found new homes. 

The back of one above

 This centerpiece was on the table as visitors came in the door.

Great job ladies!
The event couldn't have happened without the many volunteers who signed up to do the various jobs listed and to those ladies who answered my many questions, gave advice, offered recommendations and donated their time to meet with me - you are all very special people. Thanks!!