Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!: quilt show

Showing posts with label quilt show. Show all posts

Sunday, May 06, 2018

Throwback Thursday - Colourful Scraps Quilt

I'm glad that some of our older quilts get a chance to shine in the blog spotlight in the Throwback Thursday posts. This quilt is still one of my favourites and although it was mentioned in a blog, I think that it deserves a little bit of time by itself.

Colourful Scraps Quilt

It's a hand-quilted scrappy quilt. The pattern is from one of the first quilting books I every bought, Better Homes and Gardens Quilt-Lovers' Favorites, Volume 4.

I remember being very intimidated in the choosing of fabrics for the quilt. I made sure that each fabric within a block had at least one colour that matched the other fabrics. That's now my formula for choosing colours in a scrappy quilt.

It took me one year to sew that quilt together, and another year to hand-quilt it.

This quilt was in the first quilt show I ever entered. It's also the largest quilt that I've ever shown.

At the Quilts in Bloom quilt show, 2012

What I learned

This quilt taught me to not be afraid of working with fabrics of different colours. My rule of making sure that each fabric in a block had one colour in common has served me well.
I absolutely love using white as a background but for quilts that are used a lot, it's not very practical since it gets dirty so quickly.
To date, this is the last hand-quilted quilt I've made. As much as it's relaxing, it really feels like it's never ending. Now I tend to do embroidery or English Paper Piecing for hand-work.

Thursday, June 01, 2017

Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in June

June is here and it's only a little over a month to Canada Day, our 150th birthday!

The Celebrate - Fêtons 150 had a good month although the numbers are down for the link-ups. That's probably because everyone's slab blocks have been sent to Toronto in preparation for Canada's Biggest Quilt Bee. I don't think that I will be participating, but I hope to visit and take pictures while I'm at Quilt Canada 2017. Your intrepid reporter will bring back photos of all that's happening on the Celebrate - Fêtons 150 front!

May's winner of the Sergeant Sesquicentennial kit from Quilty Pleasures in Orleans is Terry Aske of Terry Aske Art Quilt Studio. Congratulations!

Sergeant Sesquicentennial from Quilty Pleasures, Orleans Ontario

As you may be able to tell, I finished all of the free motion quilting (FMQ) except the borders. I did sew on the brass buttons once the quilting of the Sergeant was completed. When I finish binding and quilting the borders, I'll write a post on this celebratory guy!

More Canada 150 Quilts

In my last Celebrating 150 post of two weeks ago, I posted pictures of the Canada 150 Interguild Exhibit that was shown as part of the Ottawa Valley Quilter's Guild Show - Festival of Quilts 2017.

Now I have another treat - a selection of the quilts made by members of the Ottawa Valley Quilter's Guild. Some of the quilts were made as part of the President's Challenge - to create quilts representing the diversity of Canada. Other quilts below are not from the challenge but represent Canada beautifully (in my opinion).

This quilt is of the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. It has some lovely, subtle fireworks in the FMQ.

Parliament by Beth van Wyngaarden

In Canada, it's difficult to celebrate our country without the maple leaf. This first quilt has 13 leaves to represent the provinces, territories and the diverse people of Canada.

Canada 150 by Beth Cameron

Glorious Maple Leaf by Beth van Wyngaarden

We the North Since 1867
by Michèle-Renée Charonneau

These next quilts celebrate the diversity of the geography of Canada.

Canada - Natural Regions by Beth van Wyngaarden

Split Rock by Mary Walsh

Fall Foliage in Ontario by Patricia Ibarra

From sea to shining sea by Carol Gaudet
based on the pattern "Windows Across Canada"
by Dianne Milani

I hope that you've enjoyed this Celebrate - Fêtons 150 themed visit of the Ottawa Valley Quilter's Guild Show - Festival of Quilts 2017. Later this month I will feature Celebrate - Fêtons 150 quilts from Quilt Canada.

Neutral Lap Quilt - June's OMG

For my One Monthly Goal (OMG) for June I want to do some free motion quilting on my Neutral Lap Quilt - Take 5 Loves Coffee Milk. It would be nice to finish it, but if I can at least sandwich it and start quilting, I'll be very happy!

What I learned

When I'm too tired to work on ongoing projects, I'll sometimes play on a small project. That was my completed project and last's post - Classy and Scrappy, a placemat. Then, when I'm too tired to quilt, I read. Bottom line - I'm tired. I really hope that the spring sun will stay a while. I need it :-)
I've also discovered the joys of English Paper Piecing. I've worked on a few projects using freezer paper templates but so far with mixed results. I need all the help I can get on my accuracy, so I think that these new card stock templates I bought are going to be perfect (I hope!) Working with fun, colourful fabrics makes me happy :-)

Working with fun, colourful fabrics
makes me happy :-)

Related Links

Canada's Biggest Quilt Bee and Quilt Canada 2017
Sergeant Sesquicentennial of Quilty Pleasures in Orleans Ontario.
Celebrating 150 with Quilts, May 18, 2017
Ottawa Valley Quilter's Guild show - Festival of Quilts 2017
Neutral Lap Quilt - Take 5 Loves Coffee Milk, April Finishes, April 30, 2017
Sergeant Sesquicentennial (Finished!) June 4, 2017

For the link-up and comments prize this month, I will be picking something up at Quilt Canada 2017 - it's a surprise!

To download the button, click here.

An InLinkz Link-up

Linky Parties
I will be linking this post to the following linking parties: OMG - June Goal Setting Link-up, Free Motion Mavericks, Thread & Needle Thursday, Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Off the Wall Friday, Can I get a Whoop Whoop?, Slow Sunday Stitching, Main Crush Monday, Monday Making, Moving it Forward Monday, Linky Tuesday,

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Celebrating 150 with Quilts

I've had a crazy busy week with Art with Fabric on Monday and then a two-day surface design course with Hillary Rice. I can't wait to write a post about my surface design experiments, but it'll have to wait a few days, cause today we're going to Celebrate - Fêtons 150 with some amazing quilts from the Ottawa Valley Quilter's Guild Show - Festival of Quilts 2017.

There was an exhibit of "150 Years of Quilting in Canada" at the Festival of Quilts 2017. The quilt below fits right into our theme. The British Empire Quilt features many of the provinces of Canada. The quilt was probably completed between 1949 and 1956 since Newfoundland is included as a province.

British Empire Quilt

I love this block of New Brunswick since it's also part of the Ottawa region's history - "draveurs" or draftsmen taking the logs down the river.

What a wonderful piece of history!

New Brunswick depicted with
raftsmen on the river

The Canada 150 Interguild Exhibit was featured as part of the quilt show. Many guilds from the Ottawa area created their own Canada 150 quilts. The exhibit is travelling to various quilt shows this year. Here is a sampling:

Almonte Quilters Guild

Cornwall Quilters Guild

Lanark County Quilters Guild

Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild

Common Thread Quilt Guild
Postcard Quilt

Fireworks at Parliament postcard

Do you remember the Common Thread Quilt Guild's Postcard Quilt? It was also part of this exhibit.

Here are a few of the postcards:

Isn't it great how different the postcards are? So many different techniques and colours used.

Embroidered beaver postcard

Canada Goose postcard

This was my Canada Goose contribution.

Moose postcard

Double Double Coffee postcard

I couldn't resist ending with our national obsession for a certain coffee.....

There was also a President's Challenge as part of the Festival of Quilts 2017. There were some incredible quilts! I will include these in a later post.

Finally, here is what I'm working on - Quilty Pleasure's Sergent Sesquicentennial block. Don't forget to leave comments or to link-up your projects to the Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in May. You could win your own Sergent Sesquicentennial block kit!

The picture on the left was taken before I fixed the Sergent's torso. Turns out that he doesn't have very broad shoulders and a tiny waist!

Here's the latest photo. I picked up some brass buttons tonight so these will be added on once the block is finished.

Sergent Sesquicentennial block
almost done

Oops version of the
Sergent Sesquicentennial block

What I learned

I had an amazing time at the Festival of Quilts 2017. On my first tour of the show, I took it all in. Then I took photos on the second pass. Finally I went shopping! After that I was more exhausted than if I had worked a full day! I'm really going to have to pace myself when I go to Quilt Canada!
It was great to see the Canada 150 quilts. As I took pictures, I felt like a reporter going after the big story :-)
As you saw, I had some minor misshapes with the Sergent Sesquicentennial block. I really need to stop when I'm getting tired before making the mistakes. Luckily these were fairly minor - nothing that I couldn't rip out!

Remember to link-up!

Related Links

Joyce Wieland and Art with Fabric - May 14, 2017
Ottawa Valley Quilter's Guild show - Festival of Quilts 2017
Common Thread Quilt Guild Postcard Quilt - More Quilts to Celebrate, April 17, 2017
Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in May

Linking Parties - Come party with us! Check out the link-ups that are going on! I will be linking up to my very own Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in May. Moving it Forward Monday, Linky Tuesday, Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday, Off the Wall Friday, Can I get a Whoop Whoop?, Finished or Not Friday, MOP Monday, Main Crush Monday, Monday Making,

Saturday, April 01, 2017

Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in April

Welcome to the third month of Celebrate - Fêtons 150!

Let's party with quilts this year! Twice a month this year I will preview some of the great patterns and events celebrating Canada's 150th,

Canada 150 pattern by

Kathy K. Wylie Quilts

First thing - Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in March was a success with 11 link-ups. Including those from the More Celebrations the Quilty Way post (March 13, 2017), there was a total of 16 comments. The draw was based on 27, and number 7 was the winner - which is the link up from Kathy K. Wylie Quilts. It's really great that we have quilting professionals linking their Canada 150 projects. I'm looking forward to trying Kathy's technique and pattern this year.

Canadian Beaver Block - designed by Sew Fresh Quilts

We are also in for a special treat as Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts is donating one of her quilt patterns to the lucky winner of the April link-up. Thanks so more Lorna!

Here's one of Lorna's patterns that I just completed - the Canadian Beaver Block. It was a joy to sew and quilt (and believe me when I say that I don't find joy in piecing very often!) Thanks Lorna for this wonderful project :-)

What else is happening in the quilting world to celebrate Canada's 150?

Linda Hutchinson's quilt at QuiltCon

Canadian quilts at QuiltCon, Savannah

Did anyone get to QuiltCon in Savannah this year? As I've been reading blogs and magazines about the event, I sure wish I had the chance to attend. It sounds wonderful! Lisa from Sunlight in Winter Quilts posted a few pictures of fellow Canadian quilters' work. Here is an original piece by Linda Hutchinson of the Toronto Modern Guild. The quilt is hand quilted - and with luck we'll see it at Quilt Canada in Toronto this June.

Wonda's Designs - This is Canada

I haven't seen this design anywhere yet. The quilt is made up of 12 panels which can be bought in packages of 3. They can make a lovely quilt or wall hangings. See the link to Wonda's Desings in Related Links at the bottom of the post.

All Around Canada Block Pattern by Along Came Quilting Store in Calgary

This lovely 18" quilt block is the store's block pattern for the Northcott Trans-Canada Block Party. If you're in Calgary this summer, you can pick up the pattern or kit at the store. Otherwise, you'll be able to order it after September 1st.

My husband is going to Calgary in May, so I have a month to figure out how to convince him to pick up this beauty for me!

All Around Canada Block Pattern by
Along Came Quilting Store in Calgary

SeaSew - Canada's 150 Paper Pieced Logo

This is the official logo of Canada 150. Here's a free paper pieced pattern from SeaSew by Dana Szucs Hayden.

Canadian Critters Series Designed by A Quilter's Home

Celebrating with the Canadian Critters Series

After seeing this little Canadian Critter - I'm doomed. Celebrating Canada's 150 is definitely going to cost me a small fortune :-)

How can you resits? I'm not sure, since the other 2 critters are just as cute, and it's only March! You can purchase these kits individually or as a Block of the Month... one for each month of the year!!!

Celebrating Canada's 150 Events

I don't think that I can stand any more amazing quilts and blocks right now, so here are some websites to find out what is happening around your area (or places you will visit) this year. The links are all below, in the Related Links section.

Free Parks Canada
Discovery Pass

I have to start with the Free Parks Canada Discovery Pass. This pass will get your group free admission this year to National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites owned and operated by Parks Canada. It's a great opportunity to discover amazing places around the country. Check out the link below for details. You won't want to miss out.

Canada's 150 Site
The Government of Canada has an internet site and an app to help you find events celebrating this special year.

Quilt Shows and Events page at the Canadian Quilting Association Website

Spring brings with it the beginning of quilt shows around the country. I suspect that every show will have something to celebrate Canada's 150th. Check out what shows are coming in your area. Enjoy!

What I learned:

Although I usually attend only one quilt show a year, I know that this year will be different. Although I can't travel across the country to give you accounts of all of these quilting events, I hope that you will link up if you have a post of any of these shows with their Canada 150 exhibits.
Aren't these quilt patterns wonderful? I'm not sure how I'm going to resist getting many more of these special designs.
With everything that's going on, I posted my April objectives with my March Finishes. That's not how it works. So please bear with me as I repeat my April goals.

My April Objectives:

England Souvenir - to be quilted & embellished

My OMG is to quilt and embellish the England souvenir from the World Quilting Travel Adventure and hang it up in my kitchen;
Make more slab blocks, and if I’m really productive, finish a small quilt top for Canada's Big Quilt Bee;
Work on and hopefully complete my Art with Fabric project. I'll be posting on the first day - May 15th! No pressure :-)

Related Links:

Celebrate - Fêtons 150 in March (March 1, 2017)
More Celebrations the Quilty Way (March 13, 2017)
Sew Fresh Quilts blog
Sew Fresh Quilts patterns
Sunlight in Winter Quilts - Wow! (March 3, 2017)
Wonda's Designs - This is Canada (go to the fourth row on the page)
All Around Canada Block Pattern - Along Came Quilting
SeaSew's Canada 150 Paper Pieced Logo
Canadian Critters Series Designed by A Quilter's Home
Free Parks Canada Discovery Pass
Canada's 150 Site
Quilt Shows & Events - Canadian Quilting Association

Linking Parties: I am linking my OMG at Elm Street Quilts. See what everyone else is making this month. I am also linking to the following Link-Ups: Can I get a Whoop Whoop? Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, MOP Monday, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Moving it Forward Monday, Linky Tuesday, Let's Bee Social, Off the Wall Friday, Can I get a Whoop Whoop?, Finish or Not Friday,

Here is the button, if you want to add it to your blog!

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Generate your button code

Now it's your turn to show us what you are doing to Celebrate Canada's 150th.

An InLinkz Link-up

Saturday, May 07, 2016

Floral Fantasy Wholecloth Quilt

It's finished and now hanging at the CTQG So full of love quilt show this weekend. If you're in Ottawa, I hope you'll consider attending. We have very talented quilters. It should be a great show.

Almost finished Floral Fantasy Wholecloth Quilt

I didn't take a final picture of this beauty before it left home because the deadline for handing in the quilts was Tuesday at 6 pm. At 5:40 I was still beading. Thank goodness an extra hour wasn't a problem, but there was no time for pictures.

I've added a couple of pictures at the end of the post, now that I've finished volunteering at the show this afternoon.

This project is based on Cindy Needham’s Machine Quilting Wholecloth Quilts on Craftsy. One of the topics in her course is making a medallion wholecloth quilt, using a variety of stencils and free motion quilting (FMQ). I've used many of her techniques and advice in the last two years. This my second project based on her class - the first one was another wall hanging with tons of FMQ, but all made by following the printed fabric at the back of the quilt. It sounds weird but is so cool! This is a technique that I actually want to make again.

Figuring out what to do with the centre

Here's the process I followed:

I drew the stencils directly onto the fabric then added the batting and backing. It was nice not to do any piecing!
To be honest, I had no idea how to quilt this thing. I FMQ around the medallion using a relatively heavy King Tut variegated cotton thread.
I then outlined the border and added metallic thread through the bobbin. That was relatively easy to do since I only had to stay in the centre(ish) of the outline.
Finally it was time to outline the butterflies and add metallic thread to their body.

I still had no idea what to do with the medallion, so I ignored it. I knew that sooner or later I would figure it out!

Before adding pebbles to the circles of the flowers

I then proceeded to FMQ in straight(ish) lines around the design. I believe these are called match sticks. Since there are many angles to this piece, I just tried to be consistent when changing the angles of the FMQ.

When that was done, I still didn't know what to do with the medallion. I started by FMQ pebbles with metallic thread in the centre circle. I then echoed every second flower with the same variegated thread. Since the flowers that weren't echoed were standing out too much, I FMQ inside them, following their outline. As you can see in this picture, it was starting to look good, but I felt that the circles in the quilted flowers stood out too much so I quilted pebbles.

What I learned:

Floral Fantasy Wholecloth Quilt at the Sew full of love quilt show

I really wanted to block this quilt as Cindy Needham recommended, but I ran out of time. It really could have used it since the medallion was quilted last and was less densely quilted in some areas. Not good practice but if I had waited to quilt the medallion first, the quilt would still be a work in progress (WIP).
As usual, this project wasn't planned - not because I didn't want to but because I didn't know what to expect and what to do next. Now that I have some experience, I'll choose my next stencil pattern more carefully, based on how I'll be quilting it (I hope).
I liked the beads and may add a few more once I get the quilt back.
This was one of the first times that when I quilted the outline of the border, I should have taken the time to tie off the thread. It was a good quality polyneon thread but it tended to undo. Since I have quite a bit of this type of thread, I will try to remember to tie off my ends.
I wasn't as careful as I should have been when I FMQ the corners of the quilt. I actually had to go back and sew a few more lines on two of the corners. This happened because I was quilting them at an angle. I'll have to watch out for the corners next time.
I'm so happy that the next CTQG quilt show is in 2 years! I need a serious break from deadlines.