Has It Really Been 52 Weeks Since Jan. 2?

The scrappy 5-patch and snowball blocks are all sewn.  I have failed the 52 week challenge miserably, as I knew I would (and apparently others have too - right, Jeanne Kaye? :))  These blocks are a sew-along with A Needle Pulling Thread quilt shop in Digby, and the challenge was to sew one block a week for 52 weeks, using scraps from your stash.

The blocks went together quickly and easily, barely making a dent in the scraps.  I did have to purchase 3 Fat Quarters of cream as I didn't have enough 8" squares for the snowball centres. 

I drew up the design in EQ8 and decided that I wanted a 5-patch in each corner.  An 11 x 11 layout makes the top 82-1/2" square, before borders. That sounded like a good size. I laid out the blocks on the bed, spacing my darker creams and pure whites across the top. Then I picked up the blocks in rows and labelled each row.

We had a bit of snow overnight, so I took it outside this morning for a picture.  I wasn't terribly successful...as the sheet of clear plastic I use under my quilts stiffened up and buckled in the cold, refusing to lay flat.

 For once, the lumps and bumps under the quilt are not Polly (her feet got cold and she went inside.)

 Those lovely plain spaces are just begging for pretty quilting.  I keep seeing feathered wreaths. :).

I will set this quilt aside for a bit and decide what it needs for borders.  I've never made a square bed quilt before, and not sure I will like it.  I may end up making two more rows of blocks, and leaving a border off all together...although a plain border would look great quilted with a big, winding feather.   

 A traditional quilt needs feathers, right? :)

A Little of This, A Lot of That

There isn't much of interest to share from my quilting world;  for the last little bit it's been preparing for workshops, packaging pattern orders, and brain-storming new ideas for designs and teaching. Some days it all goes in circles and you end up back where you started. I've also been playing with threads, and exploring possibilities which hadn't before occurred to me.  This is a white/silver grey Aurifil variegated I bought to use on the Hoffman Challenge quilt.  Even though I won't be stitching it on white, I wanted to see how it looked in a feather.  I think it will be fabulous on the challenge fabric.

I picked up new 12 weight thread at Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium, and each spool came with a fun thread wrap.

The wrap will not only keep the thread ends tidy, but will also keep the dust off.  Sewing rooms generate a lot of dust...or at least mine does (!).

I didn't do anything too serious with the thread...yet;  it's all still in the thinking stages, but it's got the potential to be a really fun workshop.

The weather has been beautiful - it's supposed to go up to 12 degrees today! - and the snow in the backyard has gone down significantly in the past few days. This shot was taken a few minutes ago, and the back of the bench is now exposed.  Last week it was covered.

For my friend in "Upper Canada" tending her seedlings, here's a shot of our garden which is just to the left of the picnic table.  I don't think there will be fresh rhubarb for awhile yet...it's still about two feet under snow...but we're optimistic!

Almost There!

Here's a sneak peek at the quilt I am making from the Maple Rolls and Maple Cakes.  There are a few loose (thread) ends to tie up yet and then I'll show the complete set.  What a pleasure to work with such bright, happy colours!

Out Of The Nest

Out of the ballpark, really...

These beautifully executed feathers were stitched by Joan of ouvrages d'une acadienne.  I hope you leave a round of applause on Joan's blog.  Congrats, Joan;  we knew you had it in you :)

Feather Quilting Workshop

The 6th annual Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival is now a fond memory.  Class participants in my Beginner Free Motion Feathers class came from such places as Antigonish, Northport, Saulnierville, Moncton, Sackville,Springhill, Truro, Parrsboro, PEI...and even two from Amherst!  Our two Island gals especially had a lot of free motion experience under their belts and they really flew with the feathers (ahem...)... but for everyone, there was marked improvement in the stitching of the feather plumes between the start and end of the day. Folks went home pleased with their renewed  quilting confidence.

Sitting and stitching hours on end as you try to do your best work makes for an intense day, but the smiles stayed intact to the end. It's a privilege to spend time with such enthusiastic quilters dedicated to learning and improving their skills.

 Leave it to Joan to do something this beautiful on her feathered wreath:

Thanks to all for a great workshop.  It's both humbling and gratifying to have students return year after year and I appreciate your support immensely.   l look forward to meeting up with all my quilting friends for next year's festival - mark your calendars!

Finished Nine Patch Quilt

The decision got decided and the quilting got quilted.  In the end, I treated each of the three stripes in the border individually and carried the quilting motifs from the centre of the quilt out into the borders.
The blue stripes were sectioned off into squares using an air soluble marker to keep the lines true.  

 Inside each square, I did the continuous curve as in the  Nine Patch blocks.

In the white strip, a flexible ruler was used to mark a gentle curve running from one side to the other. This was all the marking I did, and it was merely to keep things symmetrical.  I find once you get the quilt under the machine needle, you loose sight of the big picture; it helps to have a line to keep you on track.

Using the purple spine as a guide, feathers were free-handed up this spine around the perimeter of the quilt.  This is one of the things we will be doing in the Beginning Feather Workshop during Fibre Arts Festival this October.  If you are interested in joining us, please email to get your name on the list.  The classes are filling quickly.

I'll show you the whole quilt as soon as I get some pretty pictures taken.  That won't be today however, as I am awaiting the arrival of a UPS truck delivering new fabric. Can't wait!

Philosophy Of Machine Quilting

I don't profess to be an expert machine quilter; I am merely one who is comfortable with what she is doing.  I enjoy both the process and the result.  Because it is unmarked, my stitching is not always even and frankly, I like it that way.  To my eye, it gives a charming look, one which signals that the stitching is not computerised but that each has been done individually.  Sewing continuous curves in a square block is particularly satisfying, both in terms of speed and effect.  I've chosen to quilt the Nine Patch blocks this way.

In conversation when folks ask if I quilt by hand or machine, I often say I 'hand quilt by machine'.  I've heard long-armers say "your eye corrects the imperfections in your lines" but I don't think that's right at all...I think your eye IGNORES the lines, and focuses instead on the "poufs".  What do you zoom in on when you look at these squares?  To me it is the pattern created by the gentle puff in each block.

Here's where I am so far:  the main part is all quilted - continuous curves and feathered wreaths - and now it's time to decide how to do the border.

I was hoping for divine inspiration to strike but it hasn't and I'm a bit stumped as to whether to treat each of the three stripes in the border individually, or as one.  I am leaning towards one big feather up the entire width of the border

Blue and White Baby Quilts

The following quilt was made by local quilter Bernice McMaster;  Bernice sent along the picture just to show what she was working on, but it was too pretty not to share. This is a baby quilt which Bernice made for Keillor House in Dorchester, N.B.  It will be set up in a frame for staff to demonstrate the art of quilting to visitors and then sold in the fall as a fundraiser for the museum.  Bernice used 12 different fabrics in this Trip Around The World;  the squares are only 1"! That's a true labour of love, Bernice.

Yesterday I started quilting the blue and white Nine Patch quilt;  mine only uses two colours, not twelve!  So far I have the feathered wreaths stitched in the plain blocks and will continue on with more free motion in the pieced sections.  Inspiration for the border has not hit as yet, but usually that becomes clearer when it's under the needle. 

Quilting ADD

The Nine Patch is smoking along:  the top is pieced and the borders are added.  I decided to go with a matching block in each corner. Once it is quilted and the seam lines are no longer obvious, what your eye will see is just that small square in each corner.  I like that effect.

The final step in sewing is to stitch around the outside of the quilt 1/8" away from the edge, in the seam allowance.  This secures the patchwork at the seam ends and keeps the quilt edges from "ruffling" when basted.

After a good starching and pressing (if you have taken a workshop with me, you have the starch recipe) the quilt will be ready for basting. I heartily dislike basting. :(  I procrastinate as long as I can. Fortunately, I love to machine quilt so that's incentive to get through the necessary basting step.

On the way to fetch the cornstarch, I spotted these leftover red and white fabrics beckoning seductively from the cutting table.  I confess to a weakness for red and white quilts at the best of times, but this gorgeous red Stof has me totally distracted.  (I'm even in love with the cool selvedge with the little roses.)

Isn't it just singing, "Oh, Canada"? :)