New Booth

Day one, of the Anna Templeton Christmas Tea & Sale, is over! It was a great one.

Yesterday's set-up was fairly simple with my new 6 foot table top display that my husband designed and created. Have a look! The display frame and stand folds up and goes into its own custom made fabric case. The three blue and aluminum panels are packaged separately. It's all very compact. The lights have their own posts that fit into custom slots at the back.

The acrylic Shimmers stand on turntable (beside me in bottom photo), was also designed and constructed by my husband a few years ago.

All folded and ready to go (almost)!

Packaged and ready. We did a custom bag for the parts

A very well lit booth! Lots of compliments on the display today!!

Stumpwork Embroidery Workshop with Madeleine Ferland

Stumpwork dates from 17th Century England and is a style of raised and padded embroidery.

Last week I took a three day stumpwork embroidery workshop with Canadian Needlework Designer, Madeleine Ferland. Madeleine is a member of the Lakeshore Creative Stitchery Guild, Point Claire, Quebec. She started teaching when guild members began asking her to share her designs. Her design and drawing skills come from her past experiences as a drafts person, fashion designer and the arts. Madeleine has many designs and projects completed but only does a select few as kits / workshops.

She is a fantastic teacher and embroiderer. Her stitches are so precise and her written instructions are excellent. She taught two different sessions here in St. John's, Under the Red Oak Tree (I think it was the sheep that sold me on that one) and the Blue Flag Iris! I enjoyed the three days of stitching, however, it will take a great deal of work to get this piece completed. I've included photos of several of her designs.

The Royal School of Needlework has some samples of stumpwork HERE.
For samples of 17th Century stumpwork embroidery, check HERE.
Mary Corbet at Needle 'n Thread also has a great article with related links.
Video - making a wired needlelace leaf
Lots of stuff HERE

If you are interested in trying out this type of embroidery, Country Bumpkin has a free design for you to try.
Snail and Flower from The Floss Box

Enjoy!

Patterns

I'm always looking for patterns / unusual designs when taking photos. You never know what might trigger an idea - old vines on a brick wall in Kingston, ON; a rock wall and a brick road leading down to old Quebec City; waves created by bricks beside a water exhibit in Quebec City; a bridge across the river (check out the clouds). . .
Enjoy!

A Quilting Treasure!

In 2001, I was asked to curate quilts from across Newfoundland and Labrador, for the seventh annual Waterloo County and Area Quilt Festival in Ontario, Canada. As a result of this venture, I met Gertie Little from Appleton, Newfoundland. Gertie is a very gifted, self taught designer and quilter. She likes a challenge and prefers to make up her own design for bed quilts, table runners and art quilts. Last evening at the Eastern Edge Quilt Guild, Gertie had her own show and tell. Over the next several days, I will be posting (with permission) photos of her work. These photos show community scenes around the province of Newfoundland.
Enjoy!

Golden Quilter Awards 2012 - Winners

On March 16, I posted about the Golden Quilter Awards 2012. I had forgotten all about the winners until a few minutes ago as I was surfing the web. You will find the winners and their links HERE.
Enjoy!

Knitters - Take Note!

Yarn bombed? This pier in Saltburn-by-the-Sea near Teesside, England, certainly was! Take a look at some awsome photos of these Olympics-themed knitted figures that a mystery knitter did for the London 2012 Olympics. Check it out on this video by the BBC. Could there be a new knitting book out there soon? There is one about the Royals. Take a look at it on this video.

In this article, the creative knitting has been called Yarnstorming. Also check out these 41 Extraordinary Knit Designs. It's amazing what knitters come up with these days!
To find out about the history of knitting, check out Wikipedia's definition and links.

Now for some free patterns:

• mini christmas figures
• miniature dolls
• Easter Peeps
• Jack Frost
• Little Birds
• Gnome Children
• Ribbit
• Kitty
• Elephant
• Monster Chunks
• Tiny Perching Pigeons
• Miniatures - lots of them!

Golden Quilter Awards 2012

I came across the 2012 Golden Quilter Awards on the SewCalGal blog. They are hosting the voting for this event which is open thru March 31st. The winners will be announced on Monday, April 2nd. Check out the various categories:

1. Best Designer
2. Best Teacher / Instructor
3. Best Author
4. Best Quilt Store - Physical
5. Best Quilt Store - Online
6. Best Long Arm Quilter
7. Most Innovative Product - Physical
8. Most Innivative Product - Software Item
9. Best Quilt Book Publisher
10. Most Influential Person in the World of Quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement"

If you are interested, VOTE Here!
If you have time, check out the various links within the 10 categories - lots of 'stuff' to see/read. . .

Enjoy!

Canadian Artists - textile & fibre

Today I'm highlighting some Canadian Artists. Please drop by their sites. You won't be disappointed.
Enjoy!

Quilted Textiles of Andree Fredette
Andrea Graham, Feltmaker - Fibre Artist   Blog
Fibre Artworks of Deborah Milton
Patti Morris Fabric Art Designs
Karen Neary, Nova Scotian Quilter
Lesley Turner, Stitch Artist
Nancy Yule, Fibre Artist
Lesley-Anne Green, Fibre Artist
Quilt Matters, Ottawa, Canada
Pippa Moore, quilter, teacher, designer and writer from Vancouver Island

Grab a cup of something while you look around!

Design is Everywhere

Design is everywhere around us. I sometimes find it in unexpected places. 

For example, last weekend we were at Digby, Nova Scotia, where the annual Wharf Rat Rally was held. For those of you unfamiliar with this event, this is a rally for bikers. There were thousands of people with all kinds of motorcycles. The main street was shut down to all traffic except bikers and pedestrians. I'm not into motorcycles but I was impressed with the wide range of colours and designs of the various bikes. Big money is spent on customizing them. The imagery painted on some of the bikes was spectacular. I may not use any of the designs from the imagery I saw in my work, but who knows what tidbit from the whole experience might just influence something I do.

Remember, it's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

Chasing Cottons

Just when I was wondering what I would post today, I came across Chasing Cottons by Rebecca Johnson from Central Coast, Australia. Her latest venture into quilting is by offering Quilt Class 101 which starts on Wednesday (April 6) and continues for 12 weeks. The class runs every Wednesday. The best part - it's free. Here's her class outline:

The Course Outline

Week 1 - Fabric - Choosing fabric, fabric designers, fabric bundles, Fat Quarters, jelly Rolls etc, Where to buy fabric locally or online overseas, shipping costs.. My favorite online shops etc.
Week 2 - Design - 'Sew as you go' OR the Designer - Using a graph book and planning, no rules.. Books/ blogs/ flickr... all the online sources or inspiration..
Week 3 - Cutting - Tools I use, how to cut your material properly, to wash or not to wash, incorporating seam allowances etc.
Week 4 - Sewing - Your machine, threads, needles, 1/4" foot, seam allowances, joining seams accurately, pins,
Week 5 - Constructing your Quilt Top - sections etc
Week 6 - Borders - adding borders the correct way,
Week 7 - Batting - The different types and what each one is used for..
Week 8 - Basting - how to Baste your quilt, spray? Pins? Types of pins? Tape etc..
Week 9 - Quilting by machine - Straight line Quilting, using a guide, free motion quilting, stitching in the ditch etc..
Week 10 - Quilting by hand - Cottons to use, technique, needles, hoops...
Week 11 - Binding - By machine or by hand.. or both.
Week 12 - Quilt block techniques.... This last tutorial will prob run over another 6 week period where i will teach the basics to make various traditional and modern quilt blocks. Sewing curves, 9 Patch, Stars and diamonds, Stack and Slash, Raw edge applique, Needle turn applique, paper piecing, log cabin, spider block, etc... 

If you have not quilted before or are new to quilting, this just might be what you are looking for.

 

Graft Paper Generator

I was reading the most recent post from a blog called Sol Y Sombra, United Arab Emirates.  Ansie was looking for some triangular graph paper and came across a free online graph creator which is pretty neat. Quite a few years ago, I needed some specific sized graph paper too. At that time, I had to create my own. But with this handy tool, any type of graph paper is possible to make. Just think of the possibilities for your own design work! The best thing about it - it's free. Design and print. . .

Sketchbook Challenge

I did sign up to participate in the Sketchbook Challenge.
A while ago (year or two - not sure) I did an on-line course with Sharon B. from Pin Tangle called Studio Journal: A Designers Workhorse. It was the first on-line course I've done. It was quite a good one and I would recommend it if anyone was interested in that sort of course.
I have been looking through my journal as I had forgotten about some of the things covered in the six week course. Some of the pages from my journal are here on flickr.
January's theme is Highly Prized.

Happy 4th. of July to Our Southern Neighbours

Happy 4th. of July! My daughter and American husband are living in Chicago. They just started a new business, Forte Framing and Gallery. I've never experienced a 4th of July holiday but I hear there are lots of fireworks and other celebrations. I've found a few free patterns dedicated to the American 4th of July holiday, however, I realize these can't be completed for this year but maybe it will get you thinking for next year! Better still, why not design youe own simple wall hanging or placemats! Use my research as a jumping off place to give you a few ideas but take that next step and put together something original. It's easy to take someone elses pattern but with a bit of thought I'm sure you can do your own thing! 

Table Topper
Flag Block (scroll down)
Three Paper Pieced American Flags
Fireworks Quilt Pattern
Happy Flag Day
Shooting Stars Quilt
Independence Day Quilt
Fourth of July Placemat

Books

I just love Books and I have lots of them! I retired from teaching in 1997 and have been collecting an assortment of textile related books ever since. For some reason, Asian designs have always intrigued me. Here's some from my collection. I turned the photo on its edge to make it easier to read the titles.

I have a small collection of Japanese fabrics too. About 50 - 70 pieces (fat quarters & smaller) was inherited from an older lady friend who passed away a few years ago.

I found a few Asian things you might be interested in:
Check out the Chinese Lantern Quilt Block 
Japanese Fans by Marsha Evans Moore
Expedition Asian Wall Hanging  
Asian Fan Placemat  
Studio Aika  has lots of interesting information about Sashiko. Check out the Sashiko tutorials.
If you want to get started stitching Sashiko, I recommend Susan Briscoe's The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook. Susan also blogs about Sashiko and other stitching.

Garden Sewing Box

In 2005, I was contacted by Carla A. Cantonica, publisher of A Needle Pulling Thread, a new Magazine promoting Canadian needlework. Carla asked if I would design and create a piece for the spring 2006 Volume 1 Issue 2 of her magazine. Apparently she had seen one of my fantasy fish pins that a friend had and liked it. I agreed to do something and the result is my Garden Sewing Box. This piece started as a sketch showing various parts of my own garden and evolved into the piece you see here. When I start sewing, things change as I go along and the drawings are sometimes ignored, modified and/or adapted to suit the evolving idea. But that is part of the creative process. This is a functional piece with an inside box that comes out for easy accessibility of my sewing tools. Included in the box is a small embroidered needle case to match the outside, pockets for various things and a pincushion. I found a jewelery magnetic clasp at Michael's that was perfect to stitch onto the inside of the box to hold my needle. The closure for the top is large hooks & eye that go together perfectly. The feet are made from thin cording knotted to form balls and stitched in place.The full pattern for the box are published in the magazine.
Since its publication, this piece has won a couple of awards:

• Award for Excellence in Craft for Technical Mastery from the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2006
• A National Award for Original Design from the Embroidery Association of Canada, 2007

As a result of designing this piece, my mini pics series, Flower Pots, was born. These are a combination of machine and hand embroidery. The containers are stitched and appliqued onto the background.





 Since the topic is flowers, here's some freebies to get you started on your own project:

• If you are into machine embroidery, check out Erica's flower pots and watering can
• Free hand embroidery patterns at Craft Gossip 
• Flower motifs from Needle 'N Thread
• Native American Inspired Floral Embroidery Motif from You Can Quilt This
• Floral Sampler from Coats & Clark
• Spring-Colored Felted Bowl by Sarah E. White, About.com
• Baltimore Album Basket by Judie Rothermel

This is just a small sampling of what's available. Have fun!

Fabric Designs

Finding interesting fabric designs for a special project isn't always easy! Many textile artists will usually take a piece of fabric and change it in some way using such products as dyes, paint sticks, fabric paints and crayons, resist, stamping . . . the list is a long one! I have also printed directly onto cotton and silk from my computer.

In my search for things, I came across Spoonflower where you can design and print your own fabric. I was also fascinated with the blog for this site. Check out the many fabric designs. They are fabulous!

This site also has a list of interesting blogs and links to check out.

Fat Cat Patterns

In an earlier post I wrote about a monthly pattern by Fat Cat Patterns called Christmas Row by Row. The second row of the pattern was just posted today. If you want to get a head start on Christmas, 2010, this is the one to do! In fact, I can also see making mini quilts by using bits and pieces from the various templates. 

This site offers a wealth of lovely free patterns for machine and hand applique! Many of the ideas can be incorporated in quilts/wall hangings of your own design. Don't always settle on doing what someone else has done. Spread your wings and do it your way. This may take a bit of planning but in the end you have the satisfaction of saying it's your own design.

Christmas Tea & Sale

I spent a pleasant afternoon at the Anna Templeton Center Christmas Tea & Sale. The cookie selection was marvelous but I wasn't tempted to have any. I wandered around the booths chatting to exhibitors and admiring the items for sale. As a member of  the Craft Council of NL, I know most of the exhibitors. I had a grand chat with Vicky Taylor-Hood of Sea Strands Studio. Visit Vicky's web site to see her wonderful textile creations. Vicky was sharing a space with her mother, Mary Hood. Mary designs and creates toys for children. She is well known for her Burnt Island Bears. 

If you are looking for quality hand knits of Newfoundland such as caps/hats, socks & mitts, contact Christine at christinelegrow@nl.rogers.com. Her company is called Spindrift. I was also talking to Erin of Northeastern Folk Art. She specializes in handmade Raku pottery & giftware. I have a couple of Erin's pieces and have sent some as gifts. The bronze colour is beautiful.

Steph Squires of Fire Dove Jewellery has beautiful wire & gemstone necklace and earrings. Two of my stitching buddies also make jewellery and were displaying on the second floor. They sell pendants, earrings, rings & small knitted beaded evening bags under the name Jocale. Jason Holly and Roslind Ford, also jewellery makers, shared a space on the main floor. Jason designs chain mail jewellery as well as clay pieces and Roslind creates miniature hand dyed woven thread pieces mounted on silver. Very unique pieces.

There were some very lovely stain glass ornaments from Stain Glass Reflections. Many of the pieces are one-of-a-kind. I think there will be a blog designed in the near future, featuring the glass pieces.

The last booth I visited was Riddle Fence, a journal of arts & crafts. Take a look at their site.

Hand Embroidery

I found this neat site called the Hand Embroidery Network or HEN. "The website's aim is to encourage and pomote the practice and knowledge of the art of embroidery in all its forms and to bring together like minded people who enjoy needlework and wish to learn and share their knowledge."
You will find the following:

• An illustrated hand embroidery stitch A to Z
• Focus on embroidery basics such as threads, tools and fabrics
• Free projects such as design templates and creative backgrounds
• Take part in online exhibitions
• Embroidery events
• Embroidery techniques
• Members gallery
• Embroidery forum
• Video tutorials

The network also has a blog. Check out the listings for October's Stitch A Day. The stitch samples are quite well done.

Free Motion Designs

I found this wonderful site full of free motion quilting designs. Leah Day decided she wanted to create a design a day. I must say, she has done quite a job so far! In fact, she has also created short video clips to demonstrate her techniques.