Just when you figure you've got a routine!

Hello Friends. What an exciting time it has been here in our neck of the woods. First, the weather! We are experiencing spring like temperatures here in Northern Ontario. I love it! So much so that we took the boat out and had a little ride down the river. I don’t care much for winter myself, so I absolutely cherish these abnormal warm days. Secondly, with some hasty flight ticket purchases and very last minute packing, our daughter and granddaughter surprised us with a visit form their home in the UK. We had originally planned to travel to see them for the birth in May. However, the pandemic prevented us from travelling so this is the first time we have been able to meet the baby. Life lesson number five million…. plans are futile. Life lesson number five million and one… things always seem to find a way of working out. And I especially appreciate when they work out in my favour because they will be staying until early January so I can get in all those baby cuddles I missed out on over the last 6 months. Self isolating isn’t so bad when you can spend your days playing and getting to know your first grandchild!

Some of you know, I started doing a Facebook live chat series in October. I think it is going pretty well but sometimes I get a bit thrown off if I think too much about the fact that I am talking to a dot on the computer and trying not look too ridiculous. I also keep desperately trying to remember that there are actual people “out there” on the other side. Ha!. Fingers crossed I will get better as time goes on. Good thing I never pursued a career as an actress… I hated calling my live chat series “Live Chat with Carla”. Points for originality? Zero. So, I I offered a give-away for a fat quarter pack to any quilter who would submit a new name for these chat times. The prize went to Sarah Milne who submitted “River Ramblings”. I thought it was so fitting as I live on the French River and, well… I love to ramble!

Congratulations again to Sarah and hopefully we will see a photo of the creation using the Fat Quarter pack.

My efforts quilting Christmas gifts are going better than expected. I finished another gift last week (before the wee one arrived). This one is for my daughter and son-in-law in the UK. Lauren has always wanted a pieced tree skirt, and although I had made it a few years ago it happened to resurface again after the move, not quilted of course (bad Carla)! I saw it on Pinterest a few year ago, hunted down the book and there we have it. Needless to say, I don’t have one for myself. At least not a pretty pieced one like this…

We are well into construction on the quilt for my Quilt Along with Carla. I am so touched and slightly overwhelmed at the response. It was more then I had hoped for. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of those who have tuned in! Everyone is doing so well. Quilters! If you’re out there, keep those pictures coming so we can all see the different colour combinations you have chosen.

I am introducing one of my favourite tools this month to the Quilt Along group, the Tucker Trimmer 1. It is, in my books, a must have for all quilters. If you would like to learn more about this tool click here.

I’ve been busy as ever in the studio too and I am enjoying long-arm quilting more than ever with a squawking baby on the floor next to me! Most recently, “Day at the Lake” by Val Letford was the most recent quilt to be completed and taken off my long-arm. Absolutely gorgeous!

Day at the Lake by Val Letford

One of the Lofters kindly shared a photo of her finished project she started in the Loft. This is “Santa in the Pines”, a pattern by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings, pieced and quilted by Lorraine Cwethko. Lorraine added an extra tree to the runner so that it would fit her table. It turned out wonderfully. I may just have to make one for myself. Well, maybe next year! LOL.

Santa in the Pines by Lorraine Cwethko

Fay Blenkhorn also sent a picture of her finished quilt, “Love Links”, from a workshop she attended with me back in March. Beautiful, Fay. Oh, that seems so long ago now!

Love Links by Fay Blenkhorn

My workshop at Gem Sewing in Sudbury has been moved to November 21 & 22, due to the arrival of my daughter. Life lesson number five million and two, when life zigs, you zag! With that, my latest pattern “Marquise” is almost ready for purchase. It will undergo a fine tuning during my workshop and should be available by the end of the month. I must admit this is one of my favourites so far and I think it is because of the unique layout. Stay tuned for the release, and don’t forget you can get your pattern right here off my website under the “Store” tab or you can ask for it at your local quilt shop.

I think I see a granddaughter in need of some cuddles so I will sign off for now. Thanks for dropping by. Until next time, stay safe, quilt a Christmas gift and take time to enjoy the weather before we all freeze our ‘patoodies’ off!

Happy Holidays! While the merry bells keep ringing...

Hello Friends.  Whether we are ready for it or not, Christmas is upon us and 2018 is just a week away.  Erin (oldest daughter) rolled in today and had supper in the oven and the wood stove stoked when I got home from Hubby’s office. Now that’s a Christmas present for sure. I have been helping out this past week at the office so there hasn’t been much quilting happening. I did get Millie the longarm back together again after her spa visit.  I am itching to give it a go and see how everything is running. I am hoping for some quilting time over the next few weeks.

As always, my head is full of ideas and things that I would like to get made.

I was able to throw together a table runner and I think it may be my test quilt on the longarm.  Sometimes I just have to make a little thing to get that feeling of accomplishment.  How about you?

With 2018 fast approaching, I took some time to surf the web and see what is new.  Well, the colour of the year for 2018 is Ultra-violet.  I know a few quilters how are going to be quite happy to have an excuse to throw purple into their quilt projects this year. 

Pantone announced “Ultra-Violet” as the official 2018 Color of the Year, a bright, highlighter hue. 

 Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, told the Times that the bright purple shade  “communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said by way of explanation. It is found in the cosmos (think of all those swirling purple nebulae!), the wellness movement (amethyst crystals!) and was a favorite color of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who, Ms. Eiseman said, used to wear a purple cape when he was trying to be creative. Ditto Wagner, who liked to surround himself with purple when he was composing.   

By the sounds of it, I should give purple some serious concideration. However, I have a mental image of quilters in their sewing rooms quilting with purple capes on.  LOL

Each new year I pick a word in January to focus on in my daily tasks.  2017’s word was “Organize”.  I have tried throughout the year to be more organized and I think it has been a success. Except that I have not had time to work on the staff quilt, as it is still in pieces, as it was the night of the office party. Hmmm!!

Do you have a word of the year?

I will have to spend some time over the holidays to search for my 2018 word of the year.  Please let us know if you would like to try this with me, or perhaps if you have a word for me!

 As we bid adieu to 2017 I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a safe and happy holiday season.  May your homes be filled with love and laughter.

Thank you for your support and readership. Until next time, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Hello Friends.  The Christmas season is in full swing here at the house and studio.  This evening is my husband’s annual Christmas party, which we host here at the house. This year (under advisement from my daughter in the UK) I am making Beef Wellington.  I had my IPad set up on the counter top and had Gordon Ramsey at my side while I seasoned and seared, wrapped and rolled.  What would my Mother say, as cooking now has a chef in your kitchen to walk you through the steps. As I was watching this world renown chef instruct me as to “how to”, I thought about all the videos on the internet that teach us “how to”.  There is virtually steps for everything from build a house to make units for quilts.  I also realized that even though the instruction is at our fingertips, we still have that ability to misinterpret and make mistakes. It is not like Gordon is going to jump out of my IPad and say, “just a minute Carla, that beef is not rolled tight enough!” Is this the most accurate way, or the best way to do something that will lead us to the best results.  So, my conclusion to this cooking experience is anyone can make a video and anyone can tell you “how to”, but it doesn’t mean it is always the best approach for success and does not always make up for someone being by your side watching for those errors that are unexpectedly make in the process.

Oh Goodness!  Quilting is much easier then cooking with Gordon, so fingers crossed and my goal is that the beef is moist and hopefully eatable.  LOL

"Love Links"  

Over the years I have posted about the quilt that I make for one of the staff at my Hubby’s office.  Well once again I have left this years’ quilt to the last minute(Ahhh!). Hey what fun would Christmas be if you were not behind in something!  The pattern is called Love Links (pattern by Studio 180 Design™) and it is made solely from flying geese units. Gotta love that Wing Clipper tool™ to make this quilt any size and with points.  It is not sewn together yet, but on the design wall for her viewing and that will just have to do.

I am all done my out and about teaching for a few months.  The last few weekends I have been in Sturgeon Falls O, at their local quilt shop “Diane’s Creative Elements” teaching a few classes.  Last weekend the quilters played with some busy print fabric, the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler and a technique called “Fussy Cut Lemoynes.”  Here is just a few of the blocks.

Fussy Cut Lemoyne Stars

Once we are on the topic of Lemoyne Stars, my most recent pattern, “Catch a Falling Star” is ready for sale.  I welcome shops to contact me for wholesale inquiries and general quilters can email me for their copy of the pattern.  I have had a few quilters from the Workshop in November, send pictures of their tops they finished.  Keep them coming so I can share your creations.

Catch a Falling Star by Diane Blais

As the weather turns colder and darkness sets in earlier every evening, I find myself doing more hand work in front of the television.  I have a few projects in que.  My newest project is “Oh Christmas Tree”.   I love snowmen, so this fits in nicely to the winter décor in the house.  I have used Apliquick interfacing even though the fabric is flannel and a bit thicker then plain cotton.  It has turned nicely with the assistance of the Apliquick tools, and I find that hand stitching the pieces on has been quite easy.  The thicker fabric hides stitches, making this project quite relaxing.  I am using Superior “Kimono silk thread and Bottom Line (60 weight) thread for stitching.  These threads are very fine and sink into the fabric.

I have also been making this French braid tree skirt that I fell in love with a few months ago.  I had to buy the book, because I saw the tree skirt on Pinterest and fell in love. That darn Pinterest!  Ug!  I am appliqueing a circle on top of the hole and making it a table topper instead. Now I just have to get it quilted – for next year?

Well it is snowing like the dickens outside and a little part of me is a bit nervous and hopes that Mr. Winter does not make driving a problem for the Christmas party tonight.  I have way too much food in the house to even consider cancelling. 

That’s all for now. Thanks for dropping by.  Until next time, stay safe, drive carefully and take time to enjoy the Christmas light