Snowflake Quilt

Snowflake Quilt

60“ x 72”

Pattern by Nicole Daksiewicz, Modern Handcraft

Anyone who follows me knows that I am not much of a pattern (or rule) follower. Once in a while, though, something just grabs my attention and won’t let go. From the first moment I saw the Snowflake pattern I knew I would make one. I tried to resist, honestly. But the design was too good to let it slip by. Then, shockingly, I went start to finish on this quilt quite quickly. The top did not sit for months or even years. I finished the top a little over a month ago and the last stitches went in the binding last week, making it the first finish of 2020.

The pattern itself provides instructions for making it a bold two colour quilt, one with four background stripes, or this scrappy option. And if you follow Nicole or the hashtag then you can see many, many more creative options people did. Things like plaid, diagonal stripes, fussy cutting. #snowflakequiltalong

I may have been following someone else’s pattern here, but I did stick true to my style, even if it wasn’t a deliberate decision to do so. Low volume and scrappy, please, you know I like it! While I did debate a four colour linen version I ditched it because of seam lines. Like panty lines, I didn’t want them visible.

My girls helped me baste the quilt - some crappy Christmas movie their entertainment - which made me very happy. Time together and voluntary help! It went so well I asked them to help me baste a second quilt but that is a different story.

While quilting I did attempt to do something a bit fancier but not really. To emphasize the snowflake I did point to point straight lines, a mimic crystal. The hardest part was making sure I repeated correctly on other points of the snowflake. My plans for the background were more intricate, then I reminded myself that you don’t see the quilting much on a scrappy mix of fabrics, so why go through the effort? Wavy lines for texture and to remind me of snowdrifts. It does add a nice contrast to the snowflake itself. All quilted with Aurifil 2600, that beautiful pale gray.

Because I love a contrast binding I was going to choose a pale pink to finish it off. However, I used the only pale pink in my stash on the back of the quilt! Binding went on just before Christmas when hibernation mode was strong and the budget was gone. Into the stash for this lovely gray instead! I’m pretty sure the pink and the grey (plus some of the blues) are Uppercase fabrics. All the fabrics came from my stash.

A number of family members are trying to lay claim on the quilt. My husband would be glad to see another quilt out the door, but this one is going to keep me snuggled for this winter at least. It’s only January so there is a lot more winter to come. That means a lot more snuggling.

Morning Make 2020

Morning Make

A daily (or mostly daily) practice of creative action.

Completed before caffeine, social media, regular media, or even interaction with family.

A moment, the moment, where one creates for the sake of creating and the rest of the world falls away.

For me, this has always meant doing it first thing in the morning. I set my alarm at least 20 minutes before I have to actually get up. It required an adjustment at the beginning, and a readjustment after each school break where we all sleep in, but it is worth it. I don’t feel that anything is lost because my mental health AND creative production benefit. Others I’ve spoken to about Morning Make find that the first thing timing is hard. So make it what works for you. Right after the kids go to school, home from a workout, in the quiet after bedtime for everyone else. The real key to success is to make this a regular practice.

I’ve chosen the word practice quite deliberately. While I like the stretching of yoga it isn’t spiritually my thing. Same with meditation. But the notion of showing up regularly and being completely present is central to both. And it is exactly the same with Morning Make. That is why I do it with no media or entertainment for company. Just me and the creative action. I am completely present. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the more you see the benefits. Like a practice.

You can do your own Googling, but the benefits of a regular meditation practice are well known. For me, a regular practice reduces stress and calms my anxiety. If I miss Morning Make for a few days because my sewing room is engaged as a guest room I definitely get antsy. Those are the times I have to do something else like write and sketch to make sure my stress levels don’t increase. A regular practice boosts my creativity because, like any other muscle, your creativity grows when you use it. Most days my Morning Make is the only creative time or sewing time I get. It might not be long, but a lot can get done when you show up every day.

In 2020 I’ve decide to change things up a bit for my Morning Make. Just a little push for myself. Instead of sewing on whatever project happens to be out at the time I am going to create monthly motives for my Morning Make. It might be sewing, it might be writing, it might be something else entirely. A month doesn’t seem like a huge commitment to try something different, but also a good way to get some different skills primed, try new techniques, and devote time to my creative development.

Here is the brainstormed list of ideas.

• Letters

• Improv Doodles

• Houses/Buildings

• Haiku

• Quilt Sketch

• 30 versions of a block

• NaNoWriMo

• Nature Photo Macros

• Sunrise Pictures

• Free Motion Quilting Doodles

• Tassles

• Dream Big brainstorming

• Plant Sketch

• Watercolour Abstract

• Carve a Stamp

• Make Cards

• Embroidery stitch sample

There are obviously more than 12 ideas here. And I certainly open to more suggestions. Each month I will decide what to embrace. The decision will be based on desire, motivation, and what exactly our family schedule looks like that month.

Here’s to a year of making!

PS For January, I’ve chosen Haiku. One poem a day.

Unexpected Gifts for Quilters

Okay… send this post to you partner, your spouse, your boyfriend, your grandkid, your mom, your girlfriend, or even your best quilting buddy. Sure, they can all give you a fat quarter bundle, another ruler, or a gift certificate to your favourite shop, but that is so cliche! (Albeit, always welcome!) Instead of the usual stuff, now is the time to drop some hints for the unexpected, but greatly appreciated. These are the gifts that will fuel your creative fire. Not to mention, get you using the fabric they bought you last year.

1. Art Gallery/Museum Membership

Most major cities have an art gallery, or two, that host both regular and touring exhibitions. Stepping out of your usual textile world is a great way to soak up inspiration. Special exhibits on top of the regular showings introduce you to a load of new concepts and ideas. You may think that you would rather spend the time sewing than an afternoon out, but it is well worth it. Bonus, if you have a partner or children it makes an excellent date!

Here in Calgary I am a fan of The Glenbow, the Esker Foundation, and Contemporary Calgary.

2. Subscription to an Audio Streaming Service

Avoid the ads, for one. But this is great food for the brain while you sew. I know a lot of people who will ‘watch’ shows while they sew. Something familiar that they listen to but don’t actually watch. Skip the pretense and listen to your favourite tunes or get engrossed in other people’s stories. True Crime, Humour, Books, even sewing all have podcasts delivered regularly across platforms. It could be Apple Music, Stitcher Premium, or Spotify, among others. Check their preferences.

3. Really Nice Markers, Pencil Crayons, and/or Pens. Plus a Bullet Journal.

Sure, we’ve all sketched something on a scrap of paper with what ever nub of a pencil we found or meticulously planned a quilt on a standard pad of graph paper. Okay, some of use computer programs, but you folks are in the minority and skilled in a totally different way. Getting to play and draw out our ideas with real colour in things that flow on nice paper is a true privilege for most quilters. It is not another pack of Crayolas for the kids to steal. These are our things that will be protected at the same level as our fabric scissors.

While I, personally, am not someone who does the Bullet Journal thing, I do like the dotted paper that most journals have. It allows you to make and use grid lines without having the lines be so prominent like they are on graph paper.

4. Long Arm Classes

A long arm sewing machine is not in the budget of most quilters. (Remind me to tell you of the time my husband discovered the prices). However, there are stores and long arm quilters across the country who will rent out time on their long arm machines. You just have to be certified first. Give the gift of the class.

If an in person class is not an option, splurge on a long arm gift certificate. Your favourite quilter can get their big quilt finished without intimidation.

5. Time

Give them time. A weekly or daily time where they are free to sew - GUILT FREE - while you take care of the rest of the stuff of life. It might be a sew date with a friend (who needs book club when you can sew?), mornings while you get the kids out the door, or at night when it makes zero difference to you anyway (but you can fold the laundry while they sew, right?) To many of us would love to do more but the grind of daily life means that time is at a premium. The gift of time means so much.

Remember, none of these gifts are about getting more quilts done. Don’t ever make that the goal. That will probably go over as well as buying someone a gym membership if they casually mention they wish they could lose five pounds. Bad, bad idea. No, your goal with these gifts is to encourage their creative exploration. You are promoting their natural curiosity, enhancing their skills, and showing your unconditional support for something that brings them joy.

Snowflake Quilt Top

Unequivocally, I am a winter girl. When it looked like this last week I texted my two best friends and said we had to get out in that fresh snow for a walk. It ended up being a slippery walk. I neglected to wear snow pants and that was a mistake as I kept wiping out on the ice under the foot of powder. I was wet through to my skin yet I couldn’t help but smile. It was just so beautiful. And I had good company. It was all too good to resist.

That’s how I felt when I saw Nicole’s Snowflake quilt. Modern, bold, and the kind of thing - if I’m being honest - I wish I had designed. I tried to resist, but it is too good. So I slid into my stash and picked fabrics to carry this love of winter year round in a quilt. Her pattern is fantastic.

The pattern provides options for a scrappy look like I did, a four colour version like the cover, and even a really bold two colour one. If you’ve seen anything I’ve ever done you know I went for scrappy. Oh, and low volume. Shocker.

We had fresh snow again this week. I can’t wait to go out for a walk and to come home and quilt this so it is ready for snuggles all winter. It is Calgary, after all, I have many more months of winter left to enjoy both.

Thank you to Nicole Daksiewicz of Modern Handcraft for generously providing me with her pattern.