Out Of Africa Quilts

Rhino panel by Beverley Rebelo

Amherstonians were treated to a very special event today:  a showing of African quilts.  Presented by Zimbabwe quilter Beverley Rebelo, the quilts were part of this year's Out Of Africa exhibit at the London International Quilt Festival.
I confess that my attendance was last minute;  the magic of scheduled blog posts makes it appear I have been busily stitching along, but in truth I've been away the better part of the last couple of weeks and very behind in my work.  I almost didn't go. At the last minute I decided I would regret missing the show and I'm awfully glad I went.  I even remembered to take my camera.
Beverley began with a slide show and talk and then showed us some of these wonderful quilts in person.

 Village life by Beverley Rebelo

In "Village Life" she has framed hand-embroidered panels worked by local artists with colourful patchwork.

 Balancing Act by Beverley Rebelo

This picture does not do justice to the beautiful thread painted guinea fowl Beverley stitched here.  It's hard to tell,  but it is exquisitely machine quilted with tiny feathers.  I was not surprised to hear her  say that she stitches on a Bernina. :)

This is the back of a two-sided quilt... (that's Beverley on the right)

 ...and this is the front.  Unfortunately, I did not take note of the maker's name.

 Not the Big Five by Coleen Thackery

This colourful quilt is appliqued with lizards.

Beating The Drum

Knights of Greystone Park is a quilt which needs to be seen in person;  it literally sparkles with little jewels sewn in the night sky.

Knights of Greystone Park by Beverley Rebelo

The thread work is amazing.

These are "bush babies" climbing a cactus.  Look at the quilting detail - wow!

Beverley had a group of smaller quilts stitched by a variety of individuals which she allowed to be passed around the room.

 Though the picture is out of focus, you get the idea behind this unique piece.

I left the house in such a tear that I didn't even have a business card with me, but Beverley I do hope you were able to find this post.  Thank you for a great show;  perhaps you will consider returning with more wonderful quilts on your next trip to Canada?

"Works In Jammies"

I spent about 6 hours yesterday drawing, re-drawing, tweaking, digitizing, resizing, and labeling the templates for my latest design.  (So Joan, when you called at suppertime and I said I had to get dressed first to go see your beautiful purple quilt, it really didn't mean I had goofed off all day!)

I think I finally have things where I want them and will start the sewing today.  That beautiful red Stof makes an exquisite maple leaf.  Stof may be a Danish company but that's a perfect Canadian red!

A Little Yellow In The Patchwork

On the way to checking the bees earlier today we passed this very colourful field.

 If you are a local, this is Mapleton, Nova Scotia.

 The yellow is buttercups.

 The red is Sheep's Sorrel.

Gorgeous to the eye...but not to the blueberry farmers.

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"? :)

An Irish Connection

The cool thing about Nine Patch blocks is what they do when you alternate them with a plain block.

Can you squint your eyes and see the way the blocks connect diagonally to form a Single Irish Chain?  I can't wait to quilt that plain white space!

Simple Pleasures

I've been itching to stitch a Nine Patch and this soft blue is working up so nicely.  There is beauty in the simplest things.

Patchwork Possibilities

I got new fabric, and a new blade in my rotary cutter.  What a great combination - so full of potential!

Happy Father's Day

The commissioned antependium was dedicated this morning,  100% silk dupioni background and figures, Chinese silk for the world.

Machine appliquéd with blind and satin stitching.

The red cord couched with Invisifil thread.

Bottom trimmed with cotton fringe.

Most Dads mean the world to their kids.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

Close Encounters of The Bee Kind

After a rain-filled week, the sunshine was a welcome sight this weekend.  We checked on the bees.  In the first field, all looked very good.  The hives are full of bees and the worker bees were returning to the hives with the little pollen packs on their legs crammed full of bright yellow goodness.

 In the second field, the bees were equally happy.

This is an earlier field, and the blossoms are just about finished.  These bees will be moved back to home base shortly.

The third field held a box of surprises;  the last one we opened seemed to have about half as many bees as the others.  That comment had barely left hubby's lips when a man from a neighbouring property called over to ask if we were missing any bees;  if so, he knew where they were...

 In his pine tree :)

They weren't terribly high up so it was a fairly easy task for hubby to reach the branch and shake the bees into a hastily set-up box.

He found the new queen right away, so we are hoping she persuades her loyal subjects to make their new home in this box.  We will find out for sure later tonight when we go back to check.  Do you think they will still be there?

Edit:  8 pm  We got them!  They are now safely back at home base.

Oooooh - cupcakes!

(Or as Cookie Monster says, "Cuppie Cakes"!

I spotted this adorable pattern on Grandma CoCo's site.  Grandma CoCo intended them as egg cosies, but I am seeing these stuffed with a little fibrefill for a killer item at a tea party.  You can download the pattern here! 

Stopping Hopping

The Mirror Ball Dot Blog Hop is officially over.  I'd like to thank all who participated, and for the wonderful comments you left on each artist's blog.  I don't often get many comments here...which is always a bit of a puzzle as my stats counter logs an amazing number of visitors each month and I get tons of email.  I guess most of you are too shy to post "out loud" :)  It pleases me greatly to see that 3 of the winners are Canadian, two of them from right here in Nova Scotia.  Mark has written his wrap-up post here and I do hope you will take a moment to read it and leave a comment for Mark who put a great deal of effort into making this happen.

Calling All Maritime Beauty Fans!

Vote for Kate! (and after you've voted, scroll to the bottom to leave a comment for a chance to win a book!)

 

Antepenultimate, Penultimate...

...and now the ultimate:  the last of the commissioned antependia, this one for communion.  I spent a lot of time pondering how to quilt the background.  I wanted something quiet that didn't distract from the design.

 In the end, I settled on a simple echo and crosshatch - shown here from the back - and I am very pleased with the result.  Silk quilts up soooooooo beautifully.

There is a bit more stitching to be done before it's finished, but it's almost there.

Gail's Beauty

Here's the first finish in from the Sackville Quilt Guild Maritime Beauty workshop and it is

GORGEOUS!

This Beauty was stitched by Gail Baker who very, very carefully selected the colours for her points and quarter circles.  It took some time, but Gail meticulously matched her fabrics to the print used in the centre for a fabulous result.  Gail is planning to make a couple of placemats as well, which has her hubby wondering if this means they will actually get to use them.  I hope so...quilts are meant to be used and loved...and washed.  (That way when they wear out we get to make more!) Thanks so much for sharing the picture, Gail.  It's awesome.

Something fishy here...

We’ve been waiting with baited breath for the final designer stop on the Mirror Ball Dot blog hop; this week it is Nanette Zeller from North Carolina.  Nanette decided to make a 3-D object for her project and by cod, there's no need to be koi about it or skate around saying it: she did a great job. I’m hooked!  While you are on Nanette’s site,  just for the halibut make sure you take the op-perch-tuna-ty to check out her gallery.  I especially like “Oil Cans.” Her work embodies a lot of sole.

Personally, I’ve been having a whale of a time checking out all the Mirror Ball Dot projects these past few weeks; the projects have been so varied and creative, no floundering around and nothing to carp about.  If you have time salmon chanted evening, check out the complete list of participants:

April 21:  Mark Hordyszynski - Launch of the MBD Blog Hop and his project

April 28:  Jamie Mueller / Sunflower Quilts - www.jamiemueller.blogspot.com 

May 05:   Linda Solovic - http://lindasolovic.blogspot.com 

May 12:   Karen Neary - http://sewkaren-lycreated.blogspot.com 

May 19:   Elisa Albury - http://stitchoutsidetheditch.com 

May 26:   Dory Smith Graham - http://worthygoodstextile.wordpress.com

June 02:  Nanette Zeller - www.NanetteSewZ.com

June 09:  Mark Hordyszynski – Close of the MBD Blog Hop / More MBD Inspiration / Judging forBlog Hop Winner

Haddock enough of this nonsense? These puns have been a bunch abalone and your throat mussels no doubt hurt from groaning.  Hop on over to Nanette’s where you will be caught hook, line and sinker.

“You can tune a guitar, but you can't tuna fish. Unless of course, you play bass.”

~ Douglas Adams