On the road again!

Hello Friends.  Its that time of year again when groups and guilds are holding year end workshops and get togethers.  I am so lucky to be part of all the "quilty" goings on here in Northern Ontario.

Spring brings out the quilters, as the driving becomes more favourable and we are in need of some quilting therapy!  But it's not just quilters that are out.  This week, we have had a surge in the animal sightings, with deer in the back yard and bears in the front.  The quilters who frequent the studio have had quite a show these past few weeks.  That's enough now - "get back in the bush."

My "out and about's" started April 22nd with a visit to the Rayside Balfour Quilt Show.  There were venders booths, with so many nice things that we need. :)  A beautiful boutique of ready made items to purchase, made by the guild members, and lets not forget the quilts.  Here is just a few highlights of some of the quilts that were on display.

Quilts from top to bottom:

My Mothers Garden - Paulette Prevost,  63 Sampler - Diane Blais,  Log Cabin - Gail Levesque,   Pop Stars - Pauline Soucy,  Christmas at the lake - Yollande H. Nepssy,  Close up of machine applique on Christmas at the lake,  Carolina Lily - Debbie Serafini.

A few days later the SUV was packed with supplies and off to Trout Creek and South River to spend time with the Almaquin Quilters Guild.  Wednesday the quilters embarked in a one day workshop where they learnt to make the beautiful leaf in the "Northern Neighbours" quilt.  Three Studio 180 tools, alot of laughs, great food, old friends and new acquaintances.

 All in all it made for a great day and I had a blast.  That evening, the remainder of the guild joined in as I was asked to show some of my other quilts in a Trunk Show.  I hope that I will be able to spend more time with this wonderful group of quilters in the future.  Thank you so much my new friends. 

Zoom Zoom, home for a quick repack and change, then off to Englehart for Quilt Day 9.  This is a yearly event that takes place in rotating towns in the northern communities.  The show in Englehart this year saw quilters from all over the north, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, New Liskard and all points in between.   I was asked to present my Trunk Show "What have I learned from quilting" Saturday afternoon.  When I got on stage to begin, I looked out to see a sea of faces.  Oh My Goodness!  There were a lot of quilters staring back at me!

 We were able to share some laughs, quilting tales and life stories.  With so many in attendance - Quilt Day 9 was a huge success.  A special Thank you to Lori Jordan, who's organizational skills made the day run smoothly and all the volunteers who were there both Friday and Saturday fussing about. The ladies who made lunch.  More Food!  You should have seen the food!  It's not like quilting is an aerobic sport.   

Well, It's not over yet.  This weekend I am hosting Kathy Wylie at the 2nd Annual Northern Ontario Quilting Symposium  I will have more stories and photos to share with you next time. Right now, I had better get into the studio to pack those boxes again.  Until next time, stay safe, quilt with a friend, and don't let the deer eat your tulips!

So much great news!

A summer evening at the lake.

Hello Friends and hello August.  Summer holidays have come to a close, and we are home from our two weeks of vacation at camp with family and friends, but it doesn’t end there.  Our youngest (the one living in London UK) surprised us on Thursday with news that she has some holidays and will be arriving home on Monday.  Monday, like, tomorrow!  So needless to say we are pretty excited at this house as we haven’t seen her in quite awhile. So family fun just keeps on for a while yet. 

That’s not all!  I’m happy to share with you some exciting news that I have been sitting on for a few months now.  Yours truly has had a quilt design accepted into The Quiltmaker magazine.  It will be in the September/October issue which should be in news stands soon.  The pattern is now available as a digital download on the Quiltmaker website.  Click here

For those of you who know me, know that I am not really fond of paper piecing.  I try to find innovative ways to strip piece block units so that I don’t have to paper piece.  Now don’t get me wrong, when it comes to Mariners Compass quilts or quilts by Judy Niemeyer there’s no way around it, they have to be paper pieced.  But here’s the funny thing, the folks at Quiltmaker wrote the pattern for my quilt in the magazine and the long right angle triangles are, you guessed it, paper pieced.  

When making my original quilt, I used the “Split Rects” tool by Studio 180 designs. 

For me, this construction method is faster, easier and just as precise.  It just goes to show you that there are many ways to make units.  You just have to find the way that works best for you. 

I’d like to take a few words here and thank my very good friend Catherine Sloan who Longarm quilted the quilt in the magazine.  The magazine omitted this information and well, it would not be the quilt it is, without the amazing job Catherine did.  Thank-you my friend.

My fall workshop, “Storm at Sea” information is now up on the website and I am taking registrations.  Workshop information packages will begin to roll out in a week or so if you have already registered.  There are so many design possibilities that I thought a few pictures of Storm at Sea in the next few posts would be a great way to get you familiar with the design and colour possibilities.

Made with dark and light blues with white.  

Well that’s what’s been happening here at the studio.  Thanks for dropping by, until next time, stay safe, have a great week, and water the flowers! 

In The Good Old Summertime

Hello Friends.  Summer is in full swing here in Northern Ontario.  I am trying my best to enjoy every lovely day.  I has been really hard to get into the studio these days, and I have used weeding the garden as a priority excuse.  Today, however is about 28C with a humidex near 39C, so I am inside and in the studio.

I have been doing a fair amount of online research with regards to my new obsession with mini quilts.  I stumbled upon this great little timesaving technique for hanging your mini quilts.  I wish I would have known this earlier, but you can be sure my mini's will have these corners instead of full hanging sleeves.  These are not recommended for larger wall-hangings as there is not enough centre support to prevent the middle from sagging.  You know, I have several table toppers that could double as wall hangings and by applying these little folded corners it seems quite doable, and would not add bulk when used as a topper.  To watch a video of this technique by Sherri McConnell and Kimberly Jolly of the Fat Quarter Shop  click here. 

I know that summer has just begun to settle in but I have had a few inquirers as to what this years fall workshop will be and when.   There were numerous requests to bring back an old favourite of mine, Storm at Sea.  Since I first taught this in 2000, it remains a quilt that keeps on giving.  With its endless design possibilities and the ability to strip piece the block, this workshop is an invitation to try it for the first time or revisit an old friend.  For more detailed information click here.  

In a week or so, the family and I will be going to "Camp" for summer holidays.  I will be absent from posting as there is no internet in the bush! LOL  I would like to take this time to wish everyone a safe and happy summer season.  Enjoy the sunshine, because you know that it wont be long before we are complaining about the cold!

Thanks for dropping by.  Until next time, stay safe, enjoy friends and family, and wear sun screen!