Refurbished Quilt

Hello!

We just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past September.  This was an almost 3 week trip south to the ABC islands and Florida.  As we have a fur-baby that needs to be taken care of, my sister was kind enough to come up to the Soo and do this for us.  So I decided to finish re-making a quilt our grandmother had given her years ago, as a thank you.

Now this quilt was pieced by our aunt, and then hand quilted by our grandmother.  The fabrics she used were the clothing that was worn by the family over the years.  All her quilts are this way.  We love them!  My sister REALLY loved hers.... to pieces!  Some of the fabric was disintegrating and the back was in shreds.  When she gave it to me, she asked if I could repair it.  I said no.  BUT maybe I could use parts of it to make her something smaller?  She readily agreed as she wanted something of our grandmother to keep.

  So I spent some time taking the blocks apart and then using a fabric shaver to get rid of the pills.  I cut the blocks down to a uniform size.  then sat down to figure out what I could do.  My sister had created these tie died pieces the summer before, and one of them were the perfect colours to add to this quilt.  Then, I used some sleeves of our father's shirts to make a border.

The backing and binding are flannel, as she usually used flannel sheets to back her quilts then just roll the fabric to the front and sew it down.  Our grandmother did one specific style of quilting, which I have learned is called the Baptist Fan.  So I asked a good friend to use this pattern on her long arm to mimic our grandmother's style.

I called it 3 Generations.  It is now a memory quilt she will hopefully enjoy for many years.
It was completed in time for me to display it at our quilt show in July.

Hugs!
Cindy :)

Trend Tex Challenge at Quilt Canada

Hi!

I got inspired to try a challenge last fall.  Each year Quilt Canada has a few challenges and this one is sponsored by Trend Tex.  We purchased a registration kit which included 5 fat quarters.  We needed to use all five of these on the surface of our project that would be no bigger than 72" in diameter.  The theme was #Trending.  I do not do Twitter, so this in itself was a learning curve!

I came up with the idea that mermaids were popular, therefore trending?  The one fabric spoke scales to me so I went from there.  I used the fancy stitches on my sewing machine for the first time, and also used the fabric paint again to highlight the scales.

I'm a confessed Disney nut, so when I saw these buttons, I just KNEW it had to be a twitter feed from Ursula (The Little Mermaid witch)

Hand stitching the letters, and free motion quilting trying to mimic fish and bubbles.  I went to visit my work at Quilt Canada in June, but this competition required you to donate the piece for a silent auction at the show.  I couldn't justify the costs of trying to place a winning bid to receive this piece back though, so I hope whomever now owns it, likes it!

Hugs!
Cindy

3rd Story at Quilt Canada

Hi!

In June I was lucky to be able to attend the Quilt Canada Quilt Show in Ottawa.  It's an easy drive from here and my cousin was also interested in going with me.  We decided to take a class with fellow Canadian Andrea Tsang Jackson.  She was showing us the basics of Foundation Paper Piecing.  We were able to complete the 16x 16" top in the full day class.  And was it FUN!   Andrea is a very patient teacher and was willing to jump in and help us when we got turned around.  "Ok, no problem!  We'll just do this!"  Her company is https://3rdstoryworkshop.com/ and we used her Sleepy Fox pattern.  SO CUTE!!!! She also taught us a woodgrain free motion quilting technique and made it look so easy, I actually tried it!  Works great!

I've decided to take a picture with the teachers I am lucky enough to meet.  So here we are!

Thank you Andrea for a great day, and I apologise for the late thank you!

Hugs!
Cindy

More Banners

Hello!

Here are some more smaller projects I completed to date.

This Easter panel was my first 'original' design.  I simply copied one of the bunnies on the fabric and the mirrored it smaller to make the second bunny.
This summer, the US guild had a juried quilt show and I wanted some feedback on my work, so I wanted to include this one.  But it wasn't quite right....

So I took my fabric paints and painted over this finished and quilted piece!  I took a chance, but I'm happier with the results. The judges deemed it a 'good' work, liking my applique.

I also finished a quick Halloween panel from my UFO pile.

Thanks!
Cindy

Mother's Day Challenge

Hi!

This year I've mostly focused on wall quilts, or banners.  I can quilt these myself easily and they get completed quicker too.

I also belong to a quilt guild across the border in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA.  Living in a border city does have some perks!  These ladies are fun and inspirational and I get different ideas for my work through them.  This guild is called Keeping the Piece Quilt Guild.  They had a mother's day challenge where we needed to use a particular fabric and have the word 'mother' (or similar) on a wall quilt.  The Mother's Day challenge.

So with this fabric fat quarter (purchased by the guild):

I created this piece highlighting all the women who support, love and inspire me.
I called it 'My Sheroes'
The lighting was not the best...

I am not one to play with florals usually, so this was a challenge for me.
I am French Canadian so some of the words are the French term, as I call my grandmothers 'Memere' for example.
I think it turned out ok :)

Hugs!
Cindy

New (Old) Machine

Hello!

This past year has been a bit nutty.
I volunteered to co-chair a local quilt show for our Quilting Guild, Stitches From the Heart, I volunteered to redo and maintain the guild's website:  www.saultquilts.com and have been managing the library and taking pictures at the meetings when needed.

Oh yes!  We also just celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a big trip to the southern Caribbean and Florida.

So I will try yet again to pre-plan some posts and keep on top of it...

Today I want to introduce you to my newest (senior) machine.

I wanted a smaller, lighter machine for taking classes and easy to maintain.  Luckily one of our guild members had a few extra and was willing to sell me one.  This Singer 221 machine is as cute as a button and runs so beautifully!  It only does a straight stitch forward and back, but for most classes, this is all you need!  From the Serial number, I believe her birthday is in 1938.

Unless one dies, this will be my limit.  Well…. MAYBE an embroidery machine one day....

LOL!
Cindy

More Scraps!

Hello!

Last post (quite a while ago) I was commenting on the piles of scraps I seem to have accumulated...

I actually actively keep an eye out for some fabric scraps...
You see I took a class last year on English Paper Piecing.  Darn you Lily!  I am HOOKED.
In the evenings I calmly wrap pieces of cardstock with fabric scraps and hand sew them in place.
Once I have enough, I connect them into flowers.
Once I have enough flowers, I started creating a quilt top with them.
I do this while watching TV with my hubby, or when I go visit my aunt in Quebec, or if I know I'm gonna be waiting a bit for an appointment.  Not the last step though!  Just the individual pieces and flowers.

Here are some pics of this process...

I'll let you know when I've got a top ready to border...

Cindy