Small quilts at the auction

I'm back and thank you to everyone for the lovely emails I received. All is well but with the upheaval of renovations I kind of lost my blogging mojo. The renovations are for the most part complete. There are a few small jobs left but they won't require rearranging or packing up. The big job now is removing all the dust from the renovations. I clean it up and the next day it reappears! Oh well, I have a lovely new kitchen and bathroom.

My Guild has does a fundraiser every two or three years. Members make small quilts which are then auctioned off and the proceeds are donated to a local organization. This time we chose 416 Community Support for Women.  416 is a warm and welcoming place located in downtown Toronto. The staff provide a wide variety of programs and services to women who are dealing with mental health issues, addictions and social isolation. Several years ago I visited the centre; the place radiated warmth, caring and respect for all who entered through the doors. This organization gets no government funding and so relies on events such as our Silent Quilt Auction and donations from the general public to fund activities and services.

My Mom (Anne H) made three pieces for the auction. The first she called "Spring 2016". She dug into her stash of hexagons to make the small quilt. She tells me that the tall stalks are hollyhocks and you can see that she added a variety of embroidery stitches to "jazz them up". I don't know what the hexagon rosettes on the fence are supposed to be other than pretty! The centre of each is embellished with French knots. I machine quilted it for her and then she bound it with a facing.

The second piece was an orphan block made by a guild member in 2005. It was hand appliqued and machine pieced.  It was machine quilted and bound with a facing. Mom called this one "My Little Chickadees".

The third piece is an African themed quilt. Mom called this one "I hope I'm not late!". I love the little baby in the sling. This small quilt is machine quilted and once again finished with a facing. She really likes the effect of a facing because it she thinks it makes the quilt look like a page torn from a magazine.

There are lots of tutorials on finishing quilts with a facing but a really good one is available at Terry Aske Art Quilt Studio. If you are interested you will find it here. It included an updated method of reducing the bulk of the quilt at the corners.

I know you are all itching to see more of The Empire Quilt which will be my next Quilt Along design so I am sharing the middle section with the sides attached. I sure hope you like where I'm going with this quilt! I repeated the green fabrics from the centre panel in the outer borders of the quilt. My plan is to attach an narrow solid green border to the quilt once the other two sides are attached. Although it is a scrap quilt with lots of different colours it reads as a green quilt because I've repeated the fabrics in the centre and the borders.

I'll get back to work on the pattern shortly so that you can start sewing up your own Empire Quilt! Until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H

Cornucopia Part Deux (or two)

Today I've got more blocks to share with you and a second class sample... so it is Cornucopia part 2!

Let's get started with three more of my Mom's Africa quilt blocks.

Mom loves grandmas, children and chickens. This block has two of the three!

I love this elephant block. You can see she embroidered a little eye and the tail is not entirely stitched down so it can swish the flies away!

There are seventeen applique blocks in total and they will be alternated with blocks that are a variation of the drunkard's path block. She has used all sorts of scraps to make these blocks. The off white fabric with writing is a Christmas fabric! There is actually one block in the quilt that has that same fabric and right in the middle of the pie shape is "North Pole"! How funny is that I ask you? But it all works!

Mom has all of the blocks stitched together and I am going to quilt it for her. My goal is to have it finished in time for our next Guild meeting! I'm going to have to work my fingers to the bone to get it done in time.

For those of you who aren't familiar with my Mom (Anne) or her work here is a picture of her taken last year at our Guild's quilt show. She is standing in front of a collection of her African wall hangings. She received the third place ribbon in Viewers' Choice.

I've got two more Road 66 blocks. The design for this quilt is from Di Ford's book Primarily Quilts. I made this first block in the winter to try out the large hexagons. The outer ring of hexagons was made from a scrap of fabric and I was really pleased with how the block turned out.

I love the blue and red serpentine print fabric. I looked for a blue that was similar and used it in the middle. I wanted to create the effect of one large piece of fabric and I think that I succeeded!

The last piece I want to share is my second class sample. I will be teaching all of the techniques I used to make this piece at the London Friendship Quilters Guild next month (that's London, Canada). I sent off both samples and they were shared with the members at the last meeting. I hoped that they enjoyed seeing them and that they are inspired to take the class and create their own unique masterpiece!

For those of you who want a copy of my pattern 81 The Giant Monstrosity, now is the time to download a copy. It will be free for only another couple of days so get your copy here now!

I'm linking up with Angie over at Quilting Readers Garden. Pop on over for a visit. There's lots of inspiration plus Angie is running a giveaway! And don't forget to visit Esther's link up party WIPS on Wednesday; there's always lots to see there too!

That's it for today, It is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada so it is time to get cooking. Until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H

Gardens of a King, My Mom's African quilts, My quilt 81 and Lozagons

I continue to test the pattern for Missie Carpenter of Traditional Primitives. Her quilt pattern is called Gardens of a King and it is inspired by the King George III Coverlet. Here's a partial picture of Missie's quilt.

The pieces are small but once you get the hang of Missie's technique for making these amazing blocks it is so much fun! I'm using up so many little scraps which makes me very happy! There are sixteen patterns and the instructions call for two blocks made from each pattern. Here is one of my blocks! I've not yet cut out the second block because I'm so eager to try out the other blocks!

Now it is time for another couple of pictures from the 2014 Yorkshire Rose Quilters' Guild Quilt Show, mine and my Mom's!

This is my Mom (Anne H) with a Montage of African Quilts which were shown at the Yorkshire Rose Quilt Show in September 2014. The banners on the right and left were inspired by a Pippa Moore pattern but Mom personalized them to make them uniquely her own. The quilt in the third column, second from the top was inspired by a quilt made by Allison Wilbur. Allison's quilt was made for Quilt for Change.

I was finally able to get a picture of my quilt 81 - The Giant Monstrosity when it was hung at the quilt show. It does lay flat however we were asked to attach split sleeves to our quilts and this results in a bit of a hump in the middle of the top edge of the quilt.

I will be writing a pattern for making this quilt and it will be available for free on my blog in the near future. It looks complicated but I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is to construct. I did do a great deal of applique in the dark border but if you had a lovely big print it would be a good place to use it if applique isn't your thing!

Yesterday I got together with some friends so while we chatted and munched away on delectable treats I managed to get another Lozagons block stitched. Only 29 hexagon blocks to go!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

African quilts and 81 is DONE!

As promised here are the pictures of Mom's (Anne H) latest African themed quilts. I love her Masai pieces and hope that she has more planned. The colours are simple but striking and she is able to create so much movement in her pieces. The quilt is bound with a facing so the edge is "clean".

The tree trunks and branches are embroidered and she used acrylic paint to shade the trees. I quilted around the trees but not inside the trees so they are dimensional. I took the same approach with the Masai, the huts and the "drums" in the borders. The background is heavily quilting so the figures pop.

I like that Mom looks at her background fabrics and uses them to advantage. There was a dark mottled section in the middle ground and she lined that up with the doorway in the hut to create the illusion of a path. I think this piece turned out really well.

This is her second piece which depicts a village.

I love the way she made the roofs for the huts. She frayed the edge of the fabric to create the illusion of thatch. Another fine finish!

Speaking of finishes, I now have the final borders on "81". It is big....very big! It measures 92" by 97" and it is very heavy! I dread quilting it! I couldn't hang it to take a picture so I'm going to have to wait until some tall men drop by with a pick up truck. They can stand in the truck bed and hold up the quilt so that I can take pictures. In the meanwhile I spread in on a bed but can't get the whole quilt in the shot. But this will give you and idea! You can see some of the diamond border at the top.

No sooner did I get it on the bed when you-know-who showed up! Gump! I've said it before but it bears repeating....what is it with cats and quilts?

And before I go I thought I would share a few shots from the garden.

The hops are almost ready for harvesting

And the artic kiwis will make a nice treat

Gump the Quilt Whisperer

Until I post again, happy sewing!

English paper pieced diamonds for "81", Flare Fabrics and Mom's Africa quilt

All of my English paper pieced diamonds are now stitched together and ready to be appliqued to the border strip. They are so bright and cheerful and will be the perfect finished for my quilt.

As I was pressing them (with a little spray starch) before removing the basting threads and paper it occurred to me that they could be assembled into some interesting larger diamonds. Here are a couple of examples. I think there are lots of possibilities for assembling these into some new and interesting designs.

For now the diamonds are going to be appliqued to the border. I've cut  4 1/4" strips of fabric for the border. The next step was to draw a line 2" from the edge of the strip that will attach to the quilt and the line is on the right side of the fabric. I'll use this mark to line up the points of the diamonds. My diamonds measure just shy of 5" from point to point and my strip measures 85" (excluding seam allowances). This means I will be able to applique 17 diamonds. I found the middle of the strip and centred the first diamond over the middle being sure the line up the points on the pencil line. The basting threads and papers have been removed. I pin with applique pins and then applique the diamond in place.

Here you can see the tip of one diamond stitched down and the pencil line extending to the left.

The next diamond is positioned and ready to be pinned in place for appliqueing.

 And here is part of the border strip with a few diamonds stitched down. I'll do this sewing in the evenings so it will take me at least a week to get it done and then I'll attach the borders to the quilt. Can't wait to see them on the quilt!

Flare Fabrics is having a sale and until September 20th you can take an extra 20% off your order. Best of all shipping is free within Canada. Great deal! A deal like this is not to be missed so I ordered a bundle of 23 fat quarters and with tax it worked out to $47! Don't know what I'll do with these but they sure are nice!

If you want more fabric (need doesn't enter into it) head on over to Flare Fabrics! There's lots there to choose from!

Work continues on Mom's African quilt. Here are some pictures of what I've done for her thus far. She'll embellish with beads and embroidery and gold hoop earrings!

There'll be no post tomorrow because I've been invited to go hear Edyta Sitar speak. Should be a fun day out! Until I post again, happy sewing!

Swaps, treasures and quilting Africa!

Well I signed up for the Secret Tote Bag Swap and one of the things you have to do is make a photo mosaic of things you like to give your partner inspiration. Lest you thing I am adept at using the computer let me set the record straight! I am a picnic when it comes to the computer (problem in chair not in computer). I've tried making a mosaic and it generally reduces me to tears in a matter of only a couple of minutes so I decided I'll just throw a bunch of things I like on the wall, take a picture and call it a mosaic. So that's what I did and it worked!

The owl is a wall hanging I made last year and I call it Owl at Night (you can see the whole quilt in my Gallery). I hung four fabrics I really like at the bottom and on the left is a bag pattern I like. So if you are thinking of signing up for the swap but the mosaic thing is holding you back, just take a photo of things you like!

There was a yard sale on the weekend and I picked up two little treasures to add to the curio cabinet! The first is a cute little wooden house. I measures a small 4" tall! This is the front door with a path leading to it.

On the back are two people chatting.

I had no idea what it was but played around with it and discovered that the house comes off the base. It is a little treasure box! Wonder what I should put in it?

The second piece I got is a little cherub riding on a shell! Cute little vase!

I continue to work on Mom's African quilt. I removed the row of stitching above the fraying and did some jagged edge quilting instead. I am much happier with the hut now. The base of the hut is quilted with straight lines going back and forth.

I've quilted a square type of motif for the ground and will now have to think about the sky. Something simple but dense. I like the quilting in the red bands. I think it fits well with the "Africa" theme!

And here is a shot from the back. I love the way it is looking!

Time to take the cats to the vet for their annual exam and jabs! Until I post again, happy sewing!

Another African quilt and rabbits in the garden

I've not put the last green border on Picadilly to the Nines because I was out all day. But I did manage to get the fabric cut so it is ready to be sewn to the quilt. Tomorrow my job will be to layer, baste and start quilting a wall hanging for my Mom. She saw a quilt in a magazine and adapted it to suit her tastes.

 

Once I've quilted it she will embellish it with beads and maybe some embroidery. Here is a close-up of the huts. She frays her fabric to create the look of grass thatch. She has done this in her landscapes and now tried it out on the huts. 

I think it looks pretty good! I'll quilt a line just above the frayed fabric with invisible thread. It will keep the edge secure and prevent further fraying.

Yesterday Jack and Bunny were in the garden discussing carrots when they heard a noise in the undergrowth. Jack, with the most menacing voice he could muster warned the intruder that he had sharp pointy teeth and wasn't afraid to use them. A little voice replied "Please don't bite me - I am friendly".

He popped his head around the tree and said "My name is Lionel. I overheard you talking about carrots. I am crazy for carrots and wanted to join in!"

Jack thought that Lionel sounded relatively harmless. Anyone who likes carrots can't be all bad, can he? So he whispered to Bunny that perhaps they should introduce themselves properly. Rabbits, as a rule, are extremely well mannered. Bunny was not inclined to make nice and as Lionel stepped out from behind the tree she took in his full measure and realized he is a CAT! A big cat!

 



But before Bunn could say anything more Jack was off to do a formal introduction!

Bunny screamed "Jack - don't go! He's a big cat and cats eat rabbits!"

One thing lions cannot abide is misinformation so Lionel was eager to set the record straight. "Not all lions eat rabbits. The fact is I am vegan - I could never eat another creature! Carrots are something entirely different and in my humble opinion there's nothing better than carrots! Cakes, muffins, fritters, soup, pies, candied, boiled, mashed, roasted, and raw. Simply delicious!"

Jack could tell that Lionel was sincere and as a gesture of good will he reached out and vigorously shook Lionel's hand. He also complimented him on his lovely blue plaid pants which were very much like his own!

Bunny wasn't so sure about Lionel but given their apparent mutual love of carrots she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

And as it turned out they had a lovely afternoon in the garden swapping carrot recipes!

Until I post again, happy sewing!