Finishes for 2011

I'm happy to say, despite the many starts, I also finished a few quilts this year. I was also delighted to realize I had fulfilled last year's quilting and blogging goals. 

So what 's up for 2012....much of the same I hope.

• perhaps a few tutorials
• pursuing some of the ideas running around my head
• another year of blogging
• more new starts 

• finishing a few of the above
• finish setting up the West Coast Studio (below)

I'm looking forward to seeing what you are up to as well, for 2012

It was Love at First Sight....for Jessica

It was love at first sight for Jessica, when she saw Strips on Stripes 2011



Quilt Label

So guess where Strips on Stripes is going ?

You guessed it.....to Montreal with Jess and Jeff. It will be so hard to see them go tomorrow, at least a little of my love is going with them.

Love you guys.....this quilt should look right at home in your new, funky, loft-like apartment.

Folded Up And Ready to Go....just one last look

Dresden Gone Urban all washed and folded up, ready to go.......

Just one last look

Up close and personal

Another peek at the back.....and this one's for you Dave (my wonderful son-in-law).

A Little Show and Tell

Back in Alberta....so sad to leave the coast. But before I left, a blogging buddy, that works in the Satin Moon Quilt Shop, 
wanted to see Strips on Stripes in real life.

So here is Sarah from the After Craft.......

having a little touchy, feely time with Strips on Stripes. See  you next time I'm back on the island, Sarah.

Strips on Stripes Finished.....

 Where did it start? ........Where is it going?

I've been a asked, a number of times, what inspired this quilt. For me, inspiration is not always that straight forward. It started with a few fat quarters and me wanting to make a sample, for joining blocks, in a QAYG tutorial. I simply got carried away, but there were a few other things rattling around in my brain, at the time.

 The Ticker Tape thing was pretty prevalent in blog land last January and I was trying to come up with some way, of avoiding, all those little pieces and stitching around all four sides of each piece.....some laziness going on here. The first thing, that came to me, was strips....thus eliminating half the edges. I then realized, I was not all that fussy, for the raw edges, so I appliqued the strips, in order, to avoid that.

But, these were are just methods I was playing with.....part of the process, but not all that inspirational.

Right around this time  Chawne, gifted artist that she is,  knit a BLANKET.........it took my breath away. I wanted that type of texture and excitement in a quilt.......and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was part of the inspiration for my quilt. Thanks Chawne, for letting me use this beautiful picture in my blog.

The interesting thing about inspiration is that it always leads to more inspiration.......

Strips on Circles  is the next quilt in this series....if you can actually call it a series.

Dresden Gone Urban/Lily's Quilts QAL

Here is my finished quilt...... Dresden Gone Urban..... for Lily's Quilts QAL. I managed to take a few quick shots outside yesterday morning at 5:30 am before I headed out to the airport. For a little more info check out my guest post over at  Lily's Quilts   

Quilt Back

I Might Never Hand Sew... Binding Again /Project Monogamy

I might never sew my binding by hand again, thanks to Rita of  Red Pepper Quilts. I have always admired her crisp, neat bindings and all by machine. I thought I would give her method a try ......... so I reread her Binding Tutorial and gave it a shot. It works like a dream. I didn't bother zig zaging the edges or pinning anything, like she does, but it worked anyway.  I love it.

I couldn't resist a picture of the folded quilt.

So after practicing project monogamy I completed this quilt....binding and all, in twelve days. So satisfying...but sorry Chawne I can feel my wandering ways calling my name.....although it is so nice to have one finish for 2011.

Quilt Back 

Before my multiple project syndrome kicks back in...I will put together the promised tutorial, for the QAYG Log Cabin Quilt. My new computer arrived last night and I am typing at it, as we speak....so to speak.

Finding a Home for My Quilts

I don't know about you, but finding the right person, for one of my quilts is serious business. Oh, there are times I make a quilt specifically for someone...such as baby quilts etc, but many times I just start creating and let the quilt talk to me. Often I'm not sure what direction it will take and If I start, with someone particular in mind, my creativity gets stunted....will he or she like the colours, the patterns and on and on.... rather than just letting go and letting it happen. Even making a quilt, for a specific spot, in my own house can be a bit stifling.

Not Your Paint By Number

The closer I came to completing this quilt... the voice of an amazing 4 year old, kept ringing in my head. We had gone to visit the (retired) grandparents, who happened to be, big into paint by number that year. My wonderful boy was truly puzzled and appalled.  He  later asked "Who would paint by number??...I'm Unique!"

That was thirty years ago!!  This one's for you, Mark. 

Love Mom

Modern Day Quilts

Modern Day Quilts, originally uploaded by moderndayquilts.

Check out this new blog.

Heather is featuring a new quilt,

 by a different quilter every day.

What a great idea!

Thanks for choosing this one today.



QAYG Improvised 2011 Completed

Out in the snow...a few to many shadows across the quilt but I love the light. I tried yesterday, but it was grey out and the colours of the quilt looked so different, than they really are. Besides it supposed to get cold again this weekend, so this will have to do.

 

Maybe I should have gone off the deck, into the yard, but the snow was so deep....and I was to lazy to get my boots....

 

All done and ready to be washed. I have taken way to many pictures of this quilt already.

Quilt Back