Quilting Challenges

At the end of December I applied to be a tester, making scrap quilts for the Quiltmaker Magazine.  I answered an article asking for volunteers to make about 10 quilts over the next year.  I wasn't accepted as part of the team, but was given the opportunity to make test blocks for a book to be published later this year with 100 quilts blocks.

My editor (that sounds so official and important) sends me pattern instructions and I race to my sewing machine and choose fabrics to make up the block.  After the block is finished I fill out an evaluation form, photograph the block and email them back.

It's a lot of fun.  I see a block at a time instead of the whole quilt.  It allows me to think creatively by choosing fabric colors and combinations instead of being influenced by a photo in a magazine.  My favorite technique is patchwork, however; I don't get to choose which technique they send.  I get to test all kinds, whatever the editor sends I work on.

My least favorite is foundation piecing.  I just can't wrap my mind around the process.  Basically you sew pieces of fabric in a numbered order to a design on a piece of paper, stitching along the lines of the design on one side with the fabric on the other side.  Once the block is finished the paper is torn away and you have a multi pieced block with perfect points and angles.  It sounds simple but I am working with a design in reverse and often end up ripping out my seams to redo the step because my fabric didn't cover the area.

Foundation piecing example

I could probably make a quilt in the time it takes me to do one paper piecing block.  I have to admit this technique produces the most beautiful, complicated quilts you'd ever want to see.  I keep hoping if I try hard enough I'll finally get the hang of it and then I can have that beautiful quilt.  I'm thinking positive-- "I think I can, I think I can". . . 

Fragrant Mail

Homemade soaps by Inspired Notions of Canada 

Lola, my daughter-in-law launched her own soap business at the end of 2010, called Inspired Notions.  It was the perfect time of the year as people were looking for special gifts for the holidays.

Today's trip to the mailbox at the end of our property was like a breath of spring--literally.  When I opened the mailbox a lovely fresh smell flowed forth along with the letters and catalogs.  I knew without looking at the return address that my order of homemade soaps had arrived from Canada.

As I walked home across the field I wondered if all of the postal workers from here to Edmonton had paused to sniff my package.  That alone could account for the extra time it took to get here.

Each soap has its own name and fragrance.  Names like Zen, Healing, Love, Serenity, Whimsy and Druid.  However, after spending time together in the package the fragrances have intermingled creating a new unique one.  To help them regain their original identity I separated them to give them time to breathe. (I think I had to do that with my kids too, but it was so I could breathe.)  All moms know of what I speak.

If you're interested in learning more about these soaps you can read a full description at this website:  http://www.inspiredsoaps.com/  

Patchwork Play

 Am I ADD?  I think not.  I think I am very good at multi-tasking.

Bright colors to play with

Pattern combinations

I always tend to have several projects on the go at the same time.  I even keep a list so I won't forget to get back to working on them.  It's such a good feeling to be able to cross off the finished ones, that's because I'm always starting something new.  At this time I have about 22 projects going.

I like to hand quilt so there is always a pile of finished tops waiting their turn to be started.  (currently there are 2)  Once they finally get to the quilting stage they always have to share that step with several others  (now there are 4).  I can't concentrate on just one quilt at a time, it's boring.  I work on several switching from one to another whenever I get tired of looking at the fabric.

A few summers ago I started work on a flip flop quilt.  It required that I hand applique 16 pairs of sandals on small panels.  I got about three finished and slowed to a stand still on that job; but it was on my list to get back to.   Recently I learned that I could applique by machine and the project was back on.

Now my sandals are complete and the center of the quilt has been sewn together.  It's time to add a border to make it bigger.  I'm working on making orange and yellow log cabin blocks that will measure 7 inches square for the border.  After they are in place I'm thinking I'll need one more border to complete it --maybe, and then it moves onto the quilting pile.

A new kitchen on the rise.

The look of our kitchen has certainly changed since we moved here.  It was dark and dismal, still back in the 70's with a Harvest Gold wall oven, dark brown indoor-outdoor carpeting, walnut cabinets, wallpaper, overhead cabinets that divided the kitchen from the dining area and the list goes on.  It looked like a dark cave and I hesitated to cook in there for several weeks until I'd thoroughly cleaned what seemed years of crud from the stove top.

1970's look the day we saw the house.

Immediately some cabinets were removed from overhead to let in some light to the area. Then began the transition from wallpaper to painted walls.

Changes in progress, wallpaper gone and paint on the way.

Bright cabinets a nicer look.

A new overhead light and some shelves over the cabinets were added to hold glass jars of staple goods. The backsplash behind the stove was replaced with tile and a decorative border.  Three beautiful drop lamps were hung over the sink to light that area and it began to look so nice that I just wanted to look at it and smile.  What isn't seen is the repair work on the corner lazy susan cabinets, a pull out trash can and special racks on the door of another.

The brown carpet and wall oven are the ugliest remaining remnants of what was here when we arrived.  We've been slowly making changes as we moved toward what we'd like our kitchen and downstairs to look like.  In the future the wall oven will be removed and the sink and dish washer will be moved to that side of the room.

New fallen snow

A wonder world of white.

It's a beautiful sight, so fluffy and lacy.

Yet this is where we'd like to be--sun, warm sand, ocean breezes.

To our family and friends in Canada this is just another day and nothing to be excited about.  Winter is white and spring comes in its own time. Yet they too like to escape to the south, much farther than we are, to soak up some sun before returning to the long, cold winter.  

This morning we awoke to a new blanket of snow.  The old stuff from previous storms had just cleared away over the weekend and now we have a new, fresh, fluffy start.  Our dogs are happy to be hopping and rolling around in it, following scents that none of us can see.

However, many are already saying "enough, I'm ready for spring."  Maybe next week, maybe next month . . .  We still have the windy month of March to endure; nevertheless, I'm keeping my eyes open for the first signs of spring.  A few robins in the yard and some colorful patches of crocus.

Fun visit

I just love it when the boys come to visit.  Last weekend Mike and his boys dropped in for a few hours.  I had cupcakes baked and ready to have icing added.  That was Aidan and Colin's job.  It only took a few minutes to top off each cupcake with loads of icing and even less time to eat them.

The little baker boys

There's no neat way to approach a fully loaded cupcake.

Baby Boys

For baby Michael in Fort McMurray

For baby Liam in Athabasca

February has been a month that welcomed two baby boys into the lives of our friends.  I've been at work over the past few months putting together a quilt for each.  The quilts are almost finished and now the push is on to complete them so they can be put to use.

Last summer when each mom announced they were expecting I hoped at least one of them would be a girl.  I spent a long time at the TruValue store in LaRonge (the only place in town that sells fabric) choosing just the right combination for a pink little girl quilt.  And then word arrived that boys were expected.  I had to do a bit of reorganizing my colors.

My best quilts are those that put the pressure on to make substitutions for decisions already made.  I had to dig around in my stash to come up with blues to add.  This was not an easy task as I'd recently tried to use up all of my blues by making a scrap quilt for the cottage.  Now I'm going to have to plan a pink one to reduce all of the pink fabric, unless someone is planning to have a baby girl in the near future.

The Ugly Quilt

The quilt that traveled the world

In 1948 this quilt began it journey around the world, hidden in the bottom of a suitcase, unfinished and forgotten.  It was made from used clothing.  The owner's mom had intended to give her daughter the quilt as a going away gift.  Mom being quite disappointed in the direction it appeared to be going, claimed it back from the quilter, handed it over to her daughter who popped it in her suitcase and set sail to China.  It was her intention to have someone in China finish the quilt.  She never managed to have it done, perhaps because she wasn't that fond of it herself, saying that the yellow was an "unfortunate" color choice.  Years later, back in Canada it transfered to a closet shelf and finally in 1998, upon the owner's death, was handed down to family members in its still unfinished state.

The women in the family loved the unfinished quilt which had belonged to their favorite aunt.  Its history made it even more special, but all agreed that it was indeed ugly, and thereby it became known to all as "The Ugly" quilt.  It still brings peals of laughter as they often share stories of its history.

In 2008, while visiting and hearing the story of the quilt I offered to complete it for the family.  Sharon, the owner, and I went off to the fabric shop to find suitable fabric for border and a backing.  We looked for material that would complement the fabrics of the clothing used to make the stars hoping the finished quilt would look as though it was completed as planned years before.

We found a lovely blue and white fabric with tiny daisies and a bit of white for a narrow border.  Once the  borders were added it became clear that the clothing scraps used had been carefully chosen so that the stars were made from colors that were found in the background; a yellow with blue, red, green and white flowers.

When I returned the finished quilt to the family Sharon and her daughters were delighted.  The quilt had transformed into something quite lovely and worthy of its new name, "The Wonder Quilt."  The beautiful, yet fragile quilt, has added a new chapter to its lengthy traveling history.  It now travels with Sharon's daughter, Claire, who has grown a fond attachment to it.

Getting started

It seemed like a good idea to set up my own blog.  So I am venturing into the world of blogs with the idea of sharing my life in Canada and the US.  I plan to share my quilt ideas, projects and plans with my quilting friends as well as travels and life at our cottage on a remote island in Canada.

And as the seasons change and we revert to life on the US side of the border, family and friends can keep up with the projects my husband and I have on the go.