Apron Fun

We've had a lot of wet weather lately, and my niece and great-niece are having a grand time together in the kitchen.  Just for fun, I stitched them some chef aprons from a solid blue bottom-weight cotton canvas.  I typed their names in a Word document, choosing 250 as the size for the font.  I selected "mirror image" on my printer so that the letters would be reversed.  This makes tracing them onto fusible web so easy.

This was a quick project, and I didn't want to remove any marks afterwards, so simply placed a print- out of their names underneath the fabric letters. I removed the paper backing from the web before I started so that I wouldn't disturb them once they were straight.

After fusing them in place with a hot iron, I placed tear-away stabilizer underneath my work. It makes such a difference in the final appearance of the stitches.

In the top is 50 weight Autifil thread, and in the bobbin is 60 weight Aurifil. I did a simple satin stitch around the edges of the letters.

I always keep corsage pins in my pincushion, and find a gazillion uses for them!  They are a big help removing tear-away from inside the letters

Luckily, these were both short names and I was done in no time. I debated about making matching chef's hats, and in the end wimped out and went with $ store versions...since I figured they wouldn't actually wear the hats anyhow.

My great-niece was excited to get a surprise parcel in the mail addressed to her, and was a good sport about wearing the silly hat.  It was a total guess as to the size, but I'd say there are a couple years of cookie-making in this apron for her.

Not Going Postal

Slowly but surely, my patterns are being reformatted for instant download.  I've added four this week, including Charm School:

and Oriental Beauty:

Should Canada Post carry through with their strike threat, we are all set with an alternate way to deliver patterns.  You can find the links to all the patterns available for download here.  

All That Glitters

It was SO hard to get a picture that did this fabric justice.  It's amazing.It's from Timeless Treasures, and features gold embossed Eiffel Towers on solid black.  Wow!

I decided a zippered pouch was a good use for this gorgeous fabric.  There may be enough to make one more, and I will take them along to the Zonta Bazaar at Fibre Arts Festival.

Ahhh...Paris...

Tea Cozy

Last week, on a visit to Mrs Pugsley's Emporium,some glittery gold fabric caught my magpie eye.There were three pieces, actually, that I couldn't leave the store without, even though I had no immediate plans - or vision - for their use.  Though these two are from different manufacturers, they coordinate beautifully.  The purple leaf is "Dynasty"by Timesless Treasures, and the to-die-for print is Robert Kaufman's "Holiday Flourish".Purple doesn't exactly define the holidays for me, it was the richness of the print I couldn't resist. I don't think it looks Christmassy at all.

It paired beautifully with Aurifil 2582 which I had on hand, so it was time to start the fun.

Because it reminded me of china, I decided to make a tea cozy. (Not everyone makes their tea in a mug :))

It`s a very feminine cozy, with ruffles and ribbon bows.

It`s completely reversible to the purple side.

The cozy slips easily on and off the teapot, and the ribbon snugs it up around the rim to hold the lid on while you pour.

To be honest, before I cut into that gorgeous fabric, I did a test run to make sure this was going to turn out the way I pictured..

It`s cute too!

I love stripes and florals together!

I will be vending at the Zonta Bazaar again during Fibre Ars Festival this year, and I expect a couple of these will make their way to my booth.  In the next post, I`ll show you the third piece of glittery fabric, and what it turned into.

Betsy's NY Roundabout

This picture was sent in by Betsy Dunphy, who stitched a New York Roundabout in Kaffe Fassett and black/white prints.  What a fabulous palette! I do love the movement in this design, and never tire of seeing how different it looks each time it is sewn.

With talk of a postal strike imminent in Canada, I have been busy figuring out alternative ways to ship merchandise.  Certainly a courier is not cost effective for a pattern, so I have been busy converting some of the more popular ones to digital files so they can be downloaded.  New York Roundabout Again has just been added to Craftsy, so if you have been waiting to download this pattern you can find it here. (you do not have to join Craftsy, you can log in with your Facebook info).
Thanks, Betsy for sending along the picture of your beautiful work!

Expo-Couvertes 2016

Now that we are into July, it's time to make plans to head to Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, for their annual spectacular quilt show.  Expo-Couvertes 2016 runs from July 25 to 29.

If you need further information, or directions, check out the website, or email Joan.

Clare & Argyle Pattern

The pattern for Clare & Argyle is now ready!  You can download it here.

Row By Row

Tomorrow - June 21 - is the opening day for the 2016 Row By Row Experience.  For those of you unfamiliar with the program, you can find more information here. Basically, it's a shop hop where each participating store gives you a free pattern just for visiting their quilt shop, and offers a generous prize package to some very lucky quilters.  There's only one rule: you have to visit the shop to get the free pattern (none of this photocopying and sharing business is allowed!). Kits containing the pattern and fabric may be purchased mail-order from the shop WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDS (Oct 31) if you are unable to visit.
The theme for this year's program is "Home Sweet Home", where shops present what home means to them.  To Beth at Mrs Pugsley's Emporium, home base is the downtown clock tower building, synonymous with Amherst, Nova Scotia. It's got to be our country's most unique quilt shop! She asked me to create the clock tower in fabric for her row. As a pattern-maker, it did present a few challenges;  look at all those peaks...and windows!!

So many angles...

As always when patterning, my rule is "simplify, simplify, simplify." There is absolutely no point in creating a design too difficult for another to follow. I started with this photograph. (To further complicate things, Mrs P wanted the building shown from the angle most folks see it when coming down Victoria Street, or turning from Church Street, rather than straight on from the front.) The row could be either vertical or horizontal, and I chose the former so that the building would dominate the space. The size presented another challenge, as the row needed to finish to an awkward 9" wide x 36" high.  

I traced the edges of the building and then began paring down to the bare elements. (or as Michelangelo said about his famous sculpture, "It's simple;  I just remove everything that doesn't look like David.")

Here's the result - a building with simple lines, yet immediately recognizable as the clock tower building. To make it look quilty, chequerboard patchwork defines blue sky and clouds, and 3-D mini quilts hang freely on the green space in front of the building.  The piece is finished top and bottom with a piano keyboard border. As there is a time element involved in the awarding of prizes, the construction of the quilt is kept very simple - fusible appliqué and strip-piecing for the patchwork.

A small flag flies from the spike on the tower, bearing the words "Mrs Pugsley's Emporium". This ribbon is included in the kits which are available for purchase.

 Here`s the quilt photographed against the stone on the back of the building.

You can check out Mrs Pugsley's blog here, or find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MrsPsAmherst

Good luck to all the "rowers"!

A Taxing Surprise

We've had a rainy few days, which has been a much needed break from gardening. I took advantage of the weather to sew string blocks for the beginner workshop I will be presenting during this year's Fibre Arts Festival. 

I've mentioned before that I often use pages from old telephone books as foundations, as they are thin and tear away easily after piecing...(plus they please my frugal heart!)  However, in today's online world, telephone books are becoming smaller, and scarcer.  I've been canvassing my neighbours -unsuccessfully to date- for old Aliant books to make sure there are enough on hand for the fall workshop. (Someone must have a stash somewhere...?)

Imagine my delight when my very resourceful hubby plopped these down on my cutting table:

The tax forms from Revenue Canada are printed on newsprint!  I tore into them right away to see how they performed.

 (I even learned a thing or two as I worked!)

The pages came away very cleanly and easily after stitching.  The newsprint is actually a bit thicker than the phone book, and felt more stable when sewing.

There are 26 usable pages in the Forms booklet (the T1 itself is too thick to use, but the Schedules are great), and 40 pages in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.  Using both books, you have enough foundations for 66, 8" blocks, yielding a quilt 56" x 72". Who knew there was a good side to taxation?

We have 32 blue and white blocks completed so far, and Polly is anxious to do more.  

I hate to think I am now looking forward to when tax time rolls around again next year!!

Jeanne Kaye strikes again!

Jeanne Kaye Speight of Fredericton has done it again - another Quilt of Learning.  Using fruit fabric adds another element to the teaching aspect.  How clever!  (Nate seems to think so, too!)

Jeanne Kaye writes, "This quilt is for a friend who is an elementary school teacher for her classroom.  I used all fruit, and where possible, placed the fabric to match the letters, a for apples, b for bananas, c for cherries, etc. I love this pattern!  I already have my next one planned!"

Look how much Jeanne's grandson Nate has grown since his quilt was made (That's Nate on the left, and cousin Ryan on the right...who also got a quilt.)

You can find the mail-out pattern on my website here, and a pdf format for instant download at this link.   Thanks, Jeanne Kaye;  can't wait to see the next one!

Diane's Joseph's Coat

I'm happy to share a picture of Diane Biscoe's "Joseph's Coat" quilt. Diane made this as a surprise for a Bible study leader, whose favourite story is that of Joseph.She really put a lot of thought into fabric choice, and colour placement. I love how she outlined the coat in red;  it really accentuates the shape of the patchwork.  Diane writes, "I did the border in blue stars to represent the dreams and then bound it in gold. The recipient loved it! So glad I found the pattern." 

It looks vastly different from my original!

As Diane had a very short time in which to complete her quilt, being able to download the pattern

 was a bonus.  You can find the pattern here, at Craftsy. 

Thank you, Diane, for sharing your talents!

Quilt Show Surprises

There were fun surprises at the Thistle Quilt Guild Show in Westville on Saturday. First off...it was a huge surprise that all of this (4 tables worth!) fit in one not-so-huge car...

...which also contained 3 adults.  (Mrs Pugsley sure can pack!)

It was a surprise to walk into the tea room and see a couple of my designs, sewn by member Anne Mattie, decorating the room.  (Thank you, Anne, for your thoughtfulness.)

 The biggest surprise came from Karen Roy, who showed up with these sweet treats.

Beautiful!  As my boys reminded me, I have a lot of creative friends. Thank you, Karen.

It's hard not to love a surprise! ;)

Popping Up

A quick note...tomorrow I will be at the Thistle Guild Quilt Show,vending with Mrs Pugsley's Emporium. The ingenious Mrs P has found a way to put wheels under her shop, and will have a wide array of gorgeous fabrics and all the latest notions...I'll have patterns and Aurifil thread. See you there!

String Tote

 

Instead of being home quilting this month, I have donned another hat which, for the most part, keeps me AFK (away from keyboard)...and AFSM (away from sewing machine!). I've been given the opportunity to act as photographer on a project that involves travelling around our province, visiting somewhat remote areas that I feel privileged to see...off-road spots accessible sometimes only in a big 4 x 4 "dualy" truck. My rubber boots are getting lots of miles on them.

Since sewing time is sporadic and interrupted, it's a perfect time for working on string blocks. I had leftover strips of blue and green Hoffman 1895 watercolours in various widths lying around, so I put them to good use in this quick tote bag. Instead of thin paper for the foundation, I used a heavy weight canvas which gives good body to the bag. There was just enough of a coordinating floral blue/green batik in my stash for the lining.

A machine triple stitch gives a nice, professional looking finish along the edges of the strap, and is both functional and decorative. Using 40 weight Aurifil thread through the needle gives the stitch a bit more "umph"; it resembles the stitching on a man's belt. On my Bernina 440, this built-in triple stitch is # 157.

To make the tote, I used the measurements previously shared here on my blog, adding an inside pocket made from a leftover block.  The bag will be a sample for my String Quilting workshop in October...cos what's a workshop without a trunk show of inspiration!

Polly was on the job to help me photograph the bag this morning.  She loves to climb!

My fall workshops are filling up quickly, so please email if you would like your name added to the list for this beginner workshop.