Soon I will be "hot, hot, hot!

Oh look the chairs are waiting for us!

Hello Friends.  Sorry for my absents, my "to-do" got the better of me.  With our upcoming vacation to the sun and the beach, I have been trying to get uber prepared for my spring schedule.  Well "trying" is a good word and not the one I had picked for the year.  I have been busy getting my next pattern off the ground and it should be ready for the printer when I return from vacation.  "River Rocks" has been long overdue and I have had the mind to rename it from its original "Di-Rects-ional" as it appeared in the Quiltmaker magazine.  

Deb Tucker and Studio 180 Design has put out a new book featuring queen and king size quilts made using the Large Rapid Fire Hunter's Star Ruler.  Yours truly had the honour of having two quilts featured in the book along with recognition to my dear friend Catherine Sloan who did an amazing job quilting the two pieces.  The book has a full page highlighting a portion of "Fractured Squares" to show off the quilting.  I am truly grateful to Catherine for working her magic and taking on these quilts.  Many, many thanks once again my friend.   

So I have to take a minute and let you in on a story.  When I made "River Rocks", my hubby didn't like the title.  He was not convinced that it represented a river flowing around rocks.  Actually what he saw were alien eyes.  Well now I can not look at that quilt without seeing all those centre four-patches (the eyes) looking at me.  Fast forward to the recent quilt featured in the Royal Treasures book called Diamond in the Rough.  He says " is that all you make are quilts with eyes"?  Ok so if you turn the quilt sideways it may look like eyes, or like my friend said, "big owl eyes"!  Oh dear whats a quilter to do? LOL

Galaxy - love my V-block tool!

There's a new quilt in the studio these days.  Welcome to "Galaxy". A quilt designed by Deb Tucker, and features the V Block™,  Not to be confused with the "Corner Beam", this unit looks like a "V".  I love this unit and have had a love affair with it for years.  I used this unit in many of my quilts years back when we used the "Tri-Rects" ruler.  Now with the V Block tool, this unit is easier then ever to get and keep those points pointy.  Galaxy will be an In-Studio workshop where you and your friends can come and learn to not only use the tool but make the block that makes up the quilt.  If that is not in your schedule then perhaps I might suggest joining me for Finishing School during the Northern Ontario Quilting Symposium and start this quilt with my help.  

There is still room for you to join Tracy Russell as she shares her designs in the Symposium weekend workshop.  Also i invite you to sign up and spend the weekend quilting with yours truly as we tackle those UFO's and difficult quilts that we took on and never finished.  For more information and how to register click here

With winter in full swing and everyone busy hibernating in their sewing rooms I invite you to send along pictures of the quilts you have been working on.  I would love to share your work with all our friends here at Quilting by the River.  So grab that camera or fancy phone and snap a photo. Your project today is our project for tomorrow.  

As I add to my daytime I noticed that it has inspirational quotes on the pages.  So I will end todays post with this little thought.

Thanks for dropping by.  Until next time, stay safe, quilt lots and eat some leafy greens!

A great time for quilting!

Hey! I have snow on my beard!

Hello Friends.  We have had a very gentle winter here in Northern Ontario this year.  Snow accumulations have been minimal and the temperatures quite lovely.  The down side of all this is the ice has been “iffy” so the usual winter walking trail has been off limits.  Hubby did venture out on the weekend to cut the downed trees and pack the trail for walking but temperatures have gone above 0C so we will have to wait for some colder nights before we can venture out without sinking and breaking through the snow.  

The registrations for the workshops with Anita Zobens are coming along quite well, but there are still a few spaces to fill.  If you have been contemplating or procrastinating signing up I urge you to call or email.  A full house would be nice considering that she has come all the way here and would be a shame not to take advantage of this opportunity. 

I have finished getting all the kits ready for the workshops, which means all you need to bring is your sewing machine and a few notions.  It is going to be such a fun and informative weekend.  Click here for more information on the Quilting Symposium with Anita Zobens.

Anita will be setting up her booth with all the threads and goodies for sale both Saturday March 12th and Sunday March 13th, after class.  This will be open to everyone, so pass this info along and come on down to the Holiday Inn in Sudbury for some threads and things shopping.  I will also have my table set up with my favourite things and more for sale just to make this a perfect weekend for some shopping therapy.   

Flying Swallows sample for workshop.  April 1,2,3 2016

Hurry, Hurry read all about it, my April workshop is open for registration.  Our learning adventure this spring will be playing with the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Ruler.

I have chosen this block pattern called “Flying Swallows”.  Strip pieced, no inset seams and Oh So Cool!  I can't wait to share it with you. We will be covering the two main construction methods outlined in the Studio 180 Lemoyne repetoir.  Mark your calendars as the date is Friday, April 1st to Sunday April 3rd 2016.  Click here to read more about it.

Speaking of workshops, Martha from Sault Ste. Marie, sent a picture along of her finished (but not yet quilted) Northern Neighbours quilt that she did at the workshop back in April of 2015.  It is stunning.  I so love seeing pictures of the finished projects.  Way to go Martha!

Martha's Northern Neighbours.  It is so lovely and they are all so different.

I couldn't resist posting the picture just to make you drool!

February is Holiday Month, Jim and I will be basking in the sun (not basting lol ) on a beach in the south.  Yahoo!!  I will be gone from February 8th to the 24th , available by email only.  Flying Swallows workshop information packages will be mailed out when I return home at the end of February.  I am working on a multicoloured sample for the Flying Swallows workshop and will post a picture as soon as it is complete. (hopefully before I leave on vacation) This variation is for those who want both a construction and colour challenge.  

This Saturday I will be creating Hunter's Star quilts with the gang in Dowling and Onaping Falls. It most certainly has become one of my favourite quilts and seems to be the technique that keeps on giving! I will be posting pics from the workshop so check me out on facebook and instagram. Click on the icons at the bottom of the page.

Hello to all in Timmins!  Looks like I will be spending some fabulous quilting time with the talented quilters to the north.  I am booked to be there the weekend of April 23, 24 2016. Project to be announced.    Check back often as with spring arriving things start to pick up here at the studio. Don’t forget to check the Upcoming events part of my website so you don’t miss out on exciting workshops.  

Thanks for dropping by, until next time, stay safe, watch out for ice, and Happy Quilting.

Completed Hunter's star quilts starting to show up!

Hello Friends.  Hard to believe that it's November! The weather has been so warm and sunny. Living in Northern Ontario, we know that it won't last and snow will be here sooner then later.  I thought I'd better get my outside decorating done while it was still nice.  Last year, my fingers froze and the earth in the pots was starting to get so hard that I was having a difficult time sticking things into them.   

With the holiday season fast approaching I thought it a good idea to start my Christmas sewing.  Now, why don't we learn and start in July or something.  But oh no, we wait until the man on the radio says, "41 days till Christmas eve".   I get a little butterfly in my stomach and think, "I wanted to make a new runner for the table, a new quilt for Jim for the couch....."  Well, I have one gift done, a set of placemats for my friend. 

I was playing with the migrating geese technique and one thing lead to another.  I have a lap quilt yet to tackle.  I am going to make a special lady a Hunter's Star quilt.  Ha Ha bet you didn't see that coming.  But the Hunter's Star is Oh so beautiful.  Here's the fabric I selected.  The star points are going to be alternating red and white. 

The quilters from the Hunter's Star workshop have been busy finishing up their projects.  Here is a few of the finished masterpieces.

Sheila's creation, she says this is just the beginning and there will be more! Way to go!

      Anne's Hunter Star, she wasn't sure in the greys were going to work.  I say "nice job!"

Jan made hers queen size. 

It is so great to see everyones quilts.  Keep the photos coming, they are all so different.  

With the fall workshop done and out of the way, my mind starts planning for the next one in April.  I know what I'd like to do so I thought I would tease you a little and show you the fabric I picked out for the samples.  

Ooooh! Jewel tones on black.  

This one, a more monochromatic colour scheme.

Of course I could not get out of the quilt shop without buying a little something for the house for the festive season.  Not sure when I'm going to get around to this one.  Maybe Santa will put it together for me.  Where are his elves?

I'm glad I could share all the beautiful quilts with all of you.  Now, I should go see if I can get some of my fabric cut before bed.  Thanks for dropping by.  Until next time, stay safe, watch out for the snow, and go quilt something for Christmas!