Calmest Christmas Ever

I'm not sure why but this has been my calmest Christmas season in years....I'm not even all that CRABBY. Perhaps the fact that we are not in the middle of a major renovation might have a little something to do with it. Or maybe that we didn't just move or have some other major event happen. This is the first Christmas Eve in my entire life that we actually have no plans. How lovely.......considering the fact that there will be fourteen of us for dinner tomorrow.

My husband spent the day in the kitchen preparing for tomorrow's meal........something he actually enjoys immensely (sorry, I just don't get that whole love cooking thing). Oh did I mention he actually likes wrapping presents as well.......I know, I know, I have it ridiculously easy.

So I spent my time setting up for tomorrow's sit down dinner for the fourteen of us. The biggest open space we have is the downstairs, family room/studio, so you guessed it.....time to convert the studio into a dinning room. Easy peasy......I am very much a believer that most of the rooms in the house have to be multipurpose.

 

Step One...roll out the sewing machine cabinet and drag in the four collapse-able tables.

 

Get the Christmas table cloth....this is just outdoor fabric that I sewed together several years ago. The nice thing is it actually is sort of water resistant which means "stain resistant" a win win in my books!

 

A couple of poinsettias later ......

 

 

Another multipurpose hint.....this is my cutting mat turned upside down.....perfect for the Christmas Puzzle! Not that I can put a puzzle together for the life of me. A few weeks ago, I told my six year old Ellie, that I was never very good at doing puzzles........her face lit up in surprise "Not even when you were a kid?" She asked!!! Hmm what is she saying?????

 

And yes, things are progressing rather well in the kitchen!!!

We have simplified a few things over the years....such as drawing names for gifts. No sending out Christmas Cards (whoops, I actually quit that forty years ago) and no deadline Christmas sewing (that's a big one for me). For me, when things are a little simpler, I enjoy them more.

I think one of our biggest highlights was watching our two six year old granddaughters at their school Christmas Concerts....we were both a bit teary eyed that day. Something so lovely and sweet about children's concerts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!

The Dozen that Didn't

Since this blog is about my quilting journey......I should probably share the bad with the good.  There has been a frenzy over on Instagram this week with everyone sharing the joys of having their quilts accepted and the sorrows of having their quilts, for lack of a better word "rejected". In my opinion it's an emotional experience either way, having experienced both sides of the coin.

My strategy for Quilt Con 2017 may well have back fired. In the past, I submitted three at most with the hope that one just might make the cut. So my reasoning this time around was the more one submits the greater the chances of acceptance....right!!!! What I wasn't quite prepared for was TWELVE "thank you for entering......but" emails.

It doesn't change the value of the work. In my case it will motivate me to pursue different venues. For some strange reason it doesn't really effect my confidence as an artist. But in all honesty it's never easy. Difficult as it may be, it really is part of the process. I just hope that it doesn't stop anyone from trying again or seeking a different audience.  

Hey...I will admit I was a bit thrown by receiving that many "rejections" in one day.

BUT I AM STILL STANDING!!

A Sketch Book of Sorts

Many quilters and artists have sketch books....I have tried, but have never been able to create a successful one that works for me. Others keep journals, again, I have never lasted more than a few entries. This blog has been the closest thing to a journal or sketch book I have been able to maintain.  So what do I do with all the creative, quilting ideas running around my head? I create quilt swatches or Works in Progress if you will. Trust me, I have piles of WIPs.  I think of these as ideas that are simmering.....some have been simmering for several years. Hmm.....maybe I'm just rationalizing but hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

 

These are a couple of WIPs that are over five years old.

 

These are my experiments with fusing.

 

I have added a little matchstick quilting.

 

The matchstick quilting, although easy, is pretty time consuming.

 

I have been having fun playing with my new iPad Pro.....just testing out some quilting lines. I have never tested quilting lines before....well, I guess there's a first time for everything.

QUILT AS YOU GO Leftovers

I have been having fun for the last two weeks playing with some QAYG Leftovers.

On the right hand side is the quilt the leftovers are from.

Finding ways to set these already quilted pieces into blocks has been rather rewarding.

Workshop In Edmonton

Hi Everyone

If you happen to live in the Edmonton area and are interested in a one day workshop, I will be teaching Wonky Curved Piecing (based on my quilt Ripple Effect II)....for only $30 on August 23/2016. For more info and to register go to http://www.emqg.ca/ 

While you are there check out the class that is being offered the following day as well.

We have a fabulous facility booked and there is still room.....We would love to see you there. 

You Do The Math

Twelve 18"  Blocks Finished. 

When you have twelve finished blocks you have twelve positions to place the blocks......but, remember each block has four sides. Yikes, just how many options do I have here??? ANYONE CARE TO DO THE MATH??

Of course, that doesn't take into account any of my joining decisions. And.......what if I should happen to get Rotary Cutter Happy??? Oh, let's not even entertain that possibility. 

Do Your Quilts Talk to You?

It's been so long since I stopped in here.....I'm not sure where to start. The ease of Instagram has turned me into a lazy blogger.

A few weeks ago I just couldn't fine any Quilty Motivation. I sometimes find, that if I actually go and do something the motivation starts to creep back in.  Every once and in awhile it actually returns with a vengeance, exploding full of ideas. It was more of a slow go this time.

So...I started by cutting strips....and cutting more strips!!! I do have a tendency to carried away.

I have four favorite "go to sizes". They are 4.5", 2.5", 2" and 1.25". These are the sizes I use for joining blocks (narrow and wide joining strips). I also use the 2.5" for binding. Plus these sizes give me plenty of variety to play with.

I also threw in some fairly large prints from my stash, that for some reason I have been hesitant to use.

After a week or so of cutting strips.....I just started to play.

At some point it almost feels like the quilt starts talking to me. Let's hope I can hear what it's saying. Do your quilts talk to you???

Renovation Aftermath

I'm still a little out of sync or should I say a lot out of sync, after living through a three month renovation.  One has a way of underestimating how invasive a home renovation can actually be.

Yup....things got a little messy.

Every area of the house seemed to be turned upside down!!!

Then amongst the chaos, I had to put together quilts and samples for an upcoming workshop in the Vancouver area. So last Friday morning, the last detail, of the renovation was finished and that same afternoon we flew to Victoria.

Loading up the quilts

I actually look like I might be organized!!!

Just before flying out, I got the fabulous news, that three of my quilts were accepted into Quilt Canada 2016.....so exciting.

Here is the aftermath of three trunk shows in two days.

Then a sick day.......

Such a lovely view out of our hotel window.

Some free time on Granville Island.

Then a two day workshop over the weekend, here in the Vancouver area and another one, in Victoria next week.

I hope to find some normal after the dust settles........but then normal is probably highly overrated.

Apartment Quilting/Renovation Update

Did you know that in the seventies QAYG (Quilt-as-You-Go) was sometimes referred to as APARTMENT QUILTING. Quilting in sections takes up less space than more traditional methods.........especially when it comes to basting.

Since my home is still under renovation, I have been spending my time APARTMENT QUILTING.

I took a WIP (work in progress) from way too many years ago and turned it into a charity quilt. The apartment was a bit dark so I took to the snow, for a few pics. The weather was so mild I was out without my coat.....what a mild winter we are having.

Charity Quilt

Quilt Back

Such scrumptious fabrics.

I've also been playing with a bundle of linens from Moda..........those colours!!!

I think I have taken APARTMENT QUILTING to a whole new level. It didn't take me long to set up a few foldable and height adjustable tables from Costco....alright so I set up four, I do have a tendency to get carried away.

And it wasn't my fault that the guys working on my renovation took down some of my design wall.......so I threw them in the car and leaned them on two of the tables.

Below are a few renovation updates..........

The cabinets were installed on Monday..........I am absolutely giddy with excitement!!!!!!!!

Meanwhile, my bedroom is a disaster........we moved the doorway.

I decided to be brave and give the half-bath a hit of turquoise........and why not!!!

I am loving the white cabinets with the blue.

Well back to my APARTMENT QUILTING...........what else is a girl to do when her house is under renovation.