Happy 50th Birthday to The Maple Leaf

It was Flag Day here in Canada the other day. And this year The Maple Leaf turned 50. Because we are Canadian the celebrations were somewhat subdued. Some people, however, really got caught up in it.

A few months back I had the pleasure of an email conversation with a quilter in Ontario. She was planning on a big celebration and wanted to include my Oh Canada quilt as part of it. And what an awesome job she did! Check out this clip on The National. (That's the nightly, national broadcast on the CBC for my international readers.)

It got me all excited that I decided to celebrate as well. So from now until the end of the month the Oh Canada pattern is on sale in my Etsy shop. $1 off for the PDF version and free shipping on the print version.

#Flag50

Caterpillar from Sherbet in A Month of Sundays

Caterpillar

66'' x 85''

One day my nephew will understand exactly how much I love him because I put all this Charlie Harper cardinals fabric on the back of his quilt. For now he knows that I think he is pretty awesome and funny and cute and full of spirit. And he knows I want him to be warm and snuggly and have bright things around him. All because Aunty Cheryl made him a quilt.

This isn't his first quilt from me, he did get a baby quilt when he was born. But this is his first quilt as a boy. He's nearly 4 and within second of giving it to him he was running around the house with it as a cape, wrestling with his brother on it, and has slept with it every night since. Now that is a quilt success!

This quilt started off as a class sample for teaching Sherbet (from A Month of Sundays) last year at Quilt Canada. The class was great as I walked everyone through the steps for making this quilt. It is an easy quilt to make, but it takes some time with the cutting, strip piecing, cutting again, and assembly. It is worth every bit of effort.

When I decided to appropriate my class sample for my nephew I adjusted only the size of the final borders, making it more fitting for a twin bed.

With the original made in a lovely palette of low volume fabrics with a solid Snow background this version stands in sharp contrast. I definitely turned up the volume on this one! I think it works wonderfully both ways. Just shows that the patterns in A Month of Sundays don't have to be limited to low volume fabrics.

This quilt was quilted (by me) on the APQS long arm, rented at my LQS. I used a variegated thread in reds. oranges, and yellows from Wonderfil. In the end we called the pattern a watery meander. It came together quite quickly and worked perfectly.

As I said, one day my nephew will appreciate the depth of my love through this quilt (and my actions) but right now I think I can sense his total appreciation too.

Playing With Circles in Quilting - Part 2

Ride the Waves

50'' x70''

Improv curves are fun. In a fit one day last year I pulled out a playful and lovely combination of fabrics and made a whole bunch of blocks. It was just one of those quilts that came to be with no rhyme or reason. I'm pretty sure I had it done in just a couple of days. Then it sat. The moment passed and there was little motivation to finish it.

Then you realize that someone needs a pick me up, a hug as much as possible. And in your head you kind of realize that these fabrics are so her. So her, in fact, that you may have picked them with her in mind. You may have stuck with this size of quilt because it is the perfect size for her.

And then you finish it with big lines of loops because they are fun and everyone deserves a bit of fun. And she deserves a finished quilt so the loops make that happen too. So does binding it among a stack of quilts you feel you just have to get done for Christmas. That way you can give it to her when she most needs it.

Then she texts you that night to say how much it is helping in the dark and lonely moments and you realize that this is indeed why we work hard to make quilts for people we love. This way, love is all around them.

Even her dog approves. Then again, there is no accounting for taste.

The improv curves are easy to do and totally take any mystery out of curved piecing. There really are no mistakes with this technique. You can see that sometimes I doubled up the curves and other times they are just simple. All together they echo quarter circles. Which means you can use them like you would any other Drunkard Path block. I chose a setting that creates diagonal lines of movement across the quilt. Simple, fun, and effective.

Overall, that's what the quilt is - simple, fun, and effective. Design wise, yes. but also in spirit.

All year I am going to be posting more and more circle techniques. This is some time to play with circles and there are so many things to do beyond the basics. Join me for the monthly series, Playing with Circles in Quilting.

If you want more details on making circles or any of the techniques I introduce here, check out my Craftsy class: Inset and Applique Circles by Machine or my workshop in the book, Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking.

Talking Quilts... Inspiration

Keep your eyes open.

Keep your spirit open.

Carry a phone, a sketchbook, a photographic memory.

Never stop dreaming.

Look up, down, and all around.

And then...

I can never think of such cool things.

There is no way I could turn that into a quilt.

My brain just doesn't work that way.

(The texture of these boards with the mix of colour has me thinking about the woodgrain fabrics I've been collecting.)

Today I'm talking about inspiration. Namely, the inspiration for quilts. The colour combinations, patterns, and ideas that get us buying fabric, cutting it up, and sewing it back together. All in the name of a warm end product.

Quite often I am asked just where I get my inspiration. Frankly, it is kind of a hard question to answer. That's because, for one, there isn't a single answer. And two, you really never know when you will be inspired. Inspiration isn't something you can teach. Translating it, yes, but not finding it.

That means I will answer that it can be anything like...

... a toddler's scribbles (Inspired Improvisation)

... a handful of crayons and some painful experiences (2+2=4)

... family property (Roots)

... the tool of my trade (Sewing Machine Quilt)

... a hike with the family (Mountain Meadows)

... my flag (Oh Canada!)

... a necklace (Austin Circle Sampler)

Among others. 

(I've never actually made a rainbow quilt, but the lines on this sidewalk art for Pride have me thinking of trying something a little different when I do feel motivated to do one.)

There have been bundles of fabric that get me excited, colour combinations dancing around and waiting for the right pattern. It can be a feeling I get that needs to come out and fabric is the way. It can be a tile floor, a comment or request by my husband. Frankly, it can come from anywhere and you never know when it will hit. 

Then there will be times where nothing comes, nothing seems exciting, nothing gets you wanting to sew. For a creative person those times are really, really awful. Burnout, stress, being overwhelmed. When there is too much other stuff crowding your heart and stealing away your energy then the inspiration doesn't find you. Rather, you don't see it.

That's because it is always there. As people who work in colour and shape on a regular basis it is impossible to not see quilts in so much around us. When people ask me about finding inspiration the answer is truly in being able to see it for yourself. I can't give you my inspiration and expect you to get jazzed about it. I can only encourage you to see it as something you can do for yourself. The inspiration is there.

(One of those aspirational magazines you find in expensive hotels, but I loved both the art and the layout of this article.)

Those platitudes about opening your eyes and your heart are true. When we are closed off and walking around with blinders on we can't see everything that is around us. (I'll admit, there are times when this is a good thing.) To see the inspiration we need to be open to it.

I truly believe that we all need a way to capture the inspiration. A dedicated sketchbook works for me, as do pictures. The main reason I believe in capturing everything is that when the darker times come, you have reference material. You can show yourself things that once got you excited. It is also handy when a deadline of a baby or magazine looms, you have something to call on. Inspiration on demand is a hard thing.

Not everyone tracks things this way. Some prefer to let the good ideas stick around as they need to while the others trickle away as less exciting. Whatever works for you.

(Inner tubes, for my circle obsession. Plus, who doesn't love the turquoise of summer pools and Caribbean beaches?)

Quilt stores try to do a lot of this work for you. So do magazines, books, and pattern designers. Inspiration doesn't mean you are creating your own unique designs all the time. It is still inspiration when you are drawn to the cover of a pattern or the bundle the store put together. Does it get you excited to quilt? Does it make you want to create? Then it is inspiring. 

Inspiration isn't magical or ephemeral. Bluntly, inspiration is something pretty that makes us want to create. How and what you create is up to you. So, yes, keep your eyes open. Then get your butt in the seat and sew.

This is the first post in a monthly series on all the steps of making a quilt. Musings and thoughts on the process. 

A Year in a Quilt - Alturas is Done

Alturas Quilt

60'' x 75''

A true labour of love and joy is finished! Almost a year to the date of starting my first major hand appliqué project the last stitches went in the binding and the last threads were buried. This is the Alturas pattern from Carolyn Friedlander. And when I started it I thought I would only make 9 blocks in an attempt to simply say that I tried hand appliqué!

I never got bored making these blocks. They were the perfect on the go project for me. Small, very portable, and easy to both prep and finish. Once I realized I was going to go beyond my original intention of a pillow it was easy to get caught up in the process. From picking fabrics to prepping the appliqué, from receiving fabric donations to round out the combinations to all the places they went with me. They always kept my attention. I must admit, I was a little bit sad when I finished them.

I'm not sad that I've finished the quilt, though. It makes me smile. There are so many memories in this quilt. Really, I should just call it 2014. And so many more will come in its enjoyment.

Initially, I thought the binding would be a coral print to bring out the colours of the appliqué. But when I put it up against the quilt I found that my eye was drawn out to the binding, not in to the appliqué. So I picked a pretty, but much more subtle fabric from my stash for the binding. This is a great print from Violet Craft's Brambleberry Ridge line with Michael Miller.

The binding does tie together the few bits of yellow I decided to add to the quilt. Just enough.

The quilting was super simple. While I'm not opposed to quilting over my hand stitching on all that appliqué, I wanted to go easy on the quilting with this one. It would be soft no matter what because of the Quilter's Dream batting, but I really wanted to emphasize the appliqué with minimal quilting. So I went in the ditch on all the patchwork. Around the borders I added additional lines. And each Alturas appliqué has a bar tack in the centre. Nothing fancy.

Let me tell you this though - that was a lot of threads to bury from 72 bar tacks!

Well now I think I will give this quilt away to a friend. This quilt was entirely about the making of it. Almost all of my joy and pleasure in this quilt is already there. Sometimes you get so excited to finish a quilt, the excitement builds and builds to a giddy little dance when you are done. This was different. I enjoyed all the appliqué, all the making so much that the finished quilt is not as exciting. Don't get me wrong, I love it! But my heart is already IN the quilt, I don't need to be under it to feel the love.

It's funny. I always talk about how Improv is about the process. Starting without much more than an inkling of where it might end up. While I started this quilt with little intention of a finished product, I never would have figured that appliqué, for me, would be ALL about the process. Seems silly, in retrospect, because slowing down in order to appliqué inherently makes it about the process. I just never clued into that before.

I sure am happy I've got that now.

Worn Out Binding

It's a good thing that your quilt gift is so well loved that this is what the binding looks like.

This is from the wedding quilt I made my Brother and Sister-in-Law. They didn't quite get it in time for their wedding, but it is still 14 years old. It lays on their bed and gets used every single night. My SIL is from New Orleans and even in the summer in Alberta she likes to have the weight and warmth of the quilt on her.

When I was visiting them a few weeks ago my brother pointed out to me that the binding is quite worn out. Yes, yes it is. That means I need to replace it. The original was a double fold binding, hand stitched to the back. One layer of the binding is worn through, as you can see.

Would you remove the original binding first or put a new one over it?

Marching Together

We don't celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in Canada. As I've said before, we frankly aren't taught much about the civil rights movement. Not because we aren't without our own shameful past (and present) of racism, but the marches and protests of the 50s and 60s aren't much of a topic in our history classes. Until my trip to Birmingham most of what I knew was from pop culture - hip hop, novels, and movies.

When I found myself with an hour of unexpected free time yesterday I couldn't help but pull out my march inspired blocks. It seemed appropriate on the day and all.

My blocks were pressed, trimmed, and a lay out determined. I filled in the blanks with more white. Now this large block measures about 30'' x 32''. It needs to be framed or made part of something larger. I'm just not entirely sure what that next step will be. Right now I'm thinking a Courthouse Steps kind of construction for framing it. But I've also thought of making 4 more similar large blocks and doing something with those.

For now, I will keep this up on the design wall to contemplate the options, and the precious and passionate sacrifices that inspired it.

Friday Favourites - Silk Thread

Okay, so it isn't exactly breaking news. But silk thread for appliqué? Oh my word, this stuff is awesome.

We know that I have the full on appliqué addiction. I started another new project for appliqué this week (In my defence, it is a class sample for a hand appliqué class I'll be teaching.) So I pulled out the thread Carolyn sent me for Christmas. I figured that if she recommended it and I was addicted to her patterns as much as I am that I should try it.

Life changing. I was using Aurifil 60W before, so not exactly bad thread. But that's like comparing a glass of clear, filtered water to drinking water as it drips from a glacier. Or a fantastic bar of Ghiradelli chocolate, then a chocolate piece right from a swiss chocolatier's hand. Both wonderful, both without any reason to complain. But one is clearly better than the other for the task at hand, whether that be refreshment, pleasure, or hand appliqué.

If you are interested in learning appliqué yourself and are local or close to Calgary, check out the schedule at My Sewing Room. And make sure you are all subscribed to the newsletter for all sorts of events, announcements, and extra bits.

Low Volume Shoeman's Puzzle Update

This week's old project to work on was these Shoeman's Puzzle blocks. I was originally inspired by Denyse Schmidt's version in Modern Quilts Traditional Inspirations. Hers, however, is a two colour quilt.

The low volume prints mean the pattern is quite subtle, but it is there. That's because I used various shades of solid white for contrast. Print will always contrast with solid (as long as it isn't too tiny of a print) so the design still comes through.

I am so in love with these blocks. A lot of the quilts I've finished in the last while I've given away, or they are for teaching. This one, this quilt will be mine. With the slabs it captures the essence of my first book, especially because it is mostly made with the scraps from second book. Most of the slabs get made while I'm teaching - I use these as demo sewing. I feel it represents everything about my quilting as a career to this point. There is no way anyone else will get this quilt.

There are still more blocks to make. How many, however, is still up for debate. In my head I'd always pictured it 70'' x 70''. A generous lap quilt for me. For a brief moment I considered making it 80'' x 80'' so it could go on one of the girls' beds, but thought better of that. When the rows are an odd number the pattern is even. Normally I am all about the symmetry, but I kind of prefer the look with the uneven number. 50'' x 70'' is fine for a lap quilt, but I don't think that is enough to get the full effect of all the secondary patterns formed by this pattern.

So, I guess that means I have at least 21 more blocks to make. At least.

Playing with Circles in Quilting - Part 1

What happens when you use pieced blocks for your circles?

I've experimented with improv blocks, for both the circle and the background, with good success. This time I wanted to try some precision pieced blocks, to see if there is any difference. I was also interested in testing out the new machine with my trustworthy technique.

These were orphan blocks I found in my closet. I didn't make any of them and, to be honest, I'm not sure where they came from. Perhaps extra donations from the Just One Slab charity quilts? They seemed perfectly appropriate to experiment with.

The small circles were regular appliqué circles. I had some old templates out and they were just the right size. The technique works great, but next time I would just make new templates. My guess is that I set these templates aside because something about them wasn't quite round. Not to mention that freezer paper loses its crispness after a while. As a result, my circles aren't terribly round. But, the idea of this with the pieced blocks works great.

The big blocks were made with the Reverse Circle technique I teach. I thought it best to try this with the big ones for a couple of reasons. One, new freezer paper. And two, I suspected these would end up looking better. The seam allowances of a pieced block don't make the edges of the circle bulky. My suspicions were confirmed. I kind of love these blocks.

If you do use pieced blocks for circles keep in mind that part of your piecing will be cut off. You can lose points of a star, or entire sections of a rail fence. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is a design consideration. I actually think it could look cool if you had a quilt of chopped off blocks, but each block was chopped off differently. Or maybe you take an entire quilt top that you don't like, and make circles out of it. Then piece the circle blocks together in the order of where they were cut. It would be like portholes into another quilt. Whatever you cut off are generally useful scraps too, so don't be afraid of wasting fabric.

All year I am going to be posting more and more circle techniques. This is some time to play with circles and there are so many things to do beyond the basics. Join me for the monthly series, Playing with Circles in Quilting.

If you want more details on making circles or any of the techniques I introduce here, check out my Craftsy class: Inset and Applique Circles by Machine or my workshop in the book, Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking.

Lucky Lady

Check that out! Mama got a new sewing machine for Christmas. Hubby and the kids were very, very, very, very generous. And here I thought we were having a low-key, low budget holiday.

To be honest, I gave him grief for going all out like this. We are supposed to be in budget mode these days and a new machine wasn't in the cards. But he said he knew I needed a new machine and that I wouldn't spend the money myself. All true. So I will tighten the purse strings a bit more and thank him profusely for spoiling me.

Once I figure out how to use it.

Bernina refers to this machine as a sewing computer. That seems fairly accurate so far. I'm finding myself a bit frustrated with figuring out the commands, not to mention the knee lift. It's just because it is something new though. With some practice, play time, and a good class I will have this baby motoring. 

To break it in I thought some easy sewing was in order. And with my commitment to work through the Quilts Under Construction weekly I pulled out more Round and Round blocks. I feel like I need to really get into some chain piecing to maximize my time at the machine, so I hope to make a few more blocks this week. Right now I'm up to 12, including this one here.

I've got a few quilts I would like to get quilted as well, to test out the Bernina Stitch Regulator. To free motion at home again feels like such a luxury. And did you see the size of that throat? Almost makes me want to make a king size quilt. Almost.

Vintage French Quilt

About 18 months ago our wonderful neighbours moved. They were the first people to welcome us into the home. Of course, they thought my husband had moved in with his parents not his wife, but we totally forgave them for that. Over the years we've shared anniversaries together, summer nights with gin, and family gatherings. They treated us like another set of kids and our kids called them Poppa and Grandma. We miss them terribly.

On the day they were packing up the house Poppa showed up on my doorstep many times. Dropping things off, asking to borrow something, needing a break. Then he showed up with a mystery box labeled Quilting Pieces. Rather than let his wife go through it and hold on to One. More. Thing. He squirrelled it away to my house, a loving home for it. Inside the box were many interesting things, but my favourite was the quilt top.

Over the holidays our old neighbours invited us out to Banff, where they had travelled to spend the time with family. It was a great opportunity to hand them back a finished quilt, and get the story of it. Grandma Betty tells me the top was made by her mother, probably in the 50s. It was filled with fabric from old clothes, plus some commercial fabrics. She recognized a few charms from her own clothes.

It was a thrill to be able to take something that had languished, site unseen, in an attic box and turn it back into a family heirloom. All I did was add a simple stipple in Auriful 2600. The piecing was good, but not great so I did not want to straight line quilt. A gentle wash removed the stains I found on the quilt top. And then binding in some vintage inspired Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy.

I'm happy that this quilt is now back with its family, where it belongs. Three generations are living on the same street, so this quilt will be continuing a tradition of love and comfort.

On the name, French is their last name. This is not a French quilt nor does it have, as far as I know, French fabrics.

2015 Goals

So I sat down and wrote out my goals for 2015. It was a long list. A list that seems really great on a piece of paper. Full of optimism and lofty dreams. But that only makes part of a good goal. A good goal must also be defined well and specific. So that cut out a few from the list. A goal must also be trackable, be measured for success. That was there in all of them so no more made the cut.

I could have whittled it down in the interest of making it seemingly more manageable. But I like to dream big. And I'm willing to put the work in to make things happen. The only thing that usually stops me from reaching my goals is the reality of time available and a desire to actually mother my children. But I'm sure going to try no matter what.

2015 Studio Goals

1. Start, and possibly complete, the next two quilts in my Alberta series.

2. Record at least 1 new online class or set of classes.

3. Launch 2 more print patterns.

4. Attend 1-2 quilting retreats as a guest and not a teacher.

5. Pick up 3 new freelance clients.

6. Celebrate the launch of You Inspire Me to Quilt, because I never did that for A Month of Sundays and I missed that.

7. Explore print and pattern making through regular sketching, play, and learning design programs.

8. Lose 20 pounds. Actually, closer to 25 if we count the holiday weight. I lost 20 pounds last year and want to continue on the road to health.

9. Find an agent/publisher for the children's books I wrote.

10, Spend at least 1-2 hours a week working on one, any one, of the outstanding Quilts Under Construction. Focused, steady progress should move some of those through the list, even when I'm starting new quilts all the time.

These goals are a mix of personal and professional development. I can't have one without the other. They are specific and measurable. And this time they are going up on the studio wall to keep me focused.

I do have a lot more I want to do this year, and those things will get done as well. Stay tuned for some fun new things on the blog, and the new design coming soon.

Thank you so much for joining me on this great creative adventure. I wouldn't be here without you.

Goals for 2014 - How Did I Do?

I'm a big fan of lists. Every week I create a to do list/schedule for what's on deck. It helps me remember and keep me focused on tasks. I don't lose sleep when something gets transferred week after week to the next list. It will get done. That regular check in, though, does wonders for keeping the tasks front of mind. And the reason they move onto the next week is more than likely because I procrastinated on something I didn't really want to do.

My quilting tasks make their way on to the lists as well. In fact, they gets their own list. No point mixing them up with the boring stuff like scheduling doctor's appointments!

What I did not really do with my weekly lists, however, is compare them to my annual goal setting. Oops. They kind of operated on a short term thinking, instead. But I still need to check in and see how I did. Then come up with a strategy to combine the short term and long term thinking. Here are the goals as I laid them out in January, and where I got to with them.

1. To turn all quilt tops sitting in my closet as of right now into completed quilts. There are 10 of them. And 2 others already being quilted.

Nope, not even close. A few got done. Or are in the process of getting done like the Voile Quilt, or Antonio's quilt. But most of the quilts I finished in 2014 I started in 2014 as well. The exception being There Is Peace in Pattern.



2. To distribute all the Just One Slab quilts before the end of winter.

So, so close... There are about 10 quilts in my studio, a few needing binding yet. Then the last quilts will be distributed. I delivered 30 of them in a big batch to a seniors home in October, I still need to tell you all about those. Soon.

3. Stay on top of my accounting with a monthly sit down in front of a spreadsheet and a pile of receipts.

Well, it didn't happen monthly. It only happened twice. Totally worth it though and motivation to get on track for monthly work in 2015. I had some big thinking to do a month ago as we looked ahead as a family to the coming year. Knowing exactly where the money came in from this work I do and where I was spending the most was very worthwhile. It completely focused the discussion. Money isn't the only reason I do this as a job, but you can't ignore it.



4. Revamp my website and blog (with the input from all of you!)

Oh man, this work is nearly done... I am not one for web design and this constantly got pushed to the bottom of the lists. But it is close. I am really hoping for a January launch.

5. Produce at least 1 new pattern for sale.

It is being designed as I type. So look for it in the new year. It will be available for print, but I'm not sure about the PDF as the new EU VAT laws are making a mess for small businesses like pattern sellers.

6. Finish one of my novels.

Not even close. In fact, I barely worked on them. I did get a bit of a creative breakthrough on one of them recently that has me excited to find some dedicated writing time in the coming months. If only The Garbage Truck would go back to sleeping in to at least 7 again so I could get back my quiet mornings alone.

I did, however, write two separate children's books. I'm pretty excited by those stories and am looking forward to moving forward with the potential for publication.

7. Complete at least 3 quilts in a series I've got planned. This Mountain Meadows would be the first one in the series, but I have sketches for many more.

Only got Mountain Meadows done. I am totally thrilled with it. And finishing that one does have me motivated to try the others. I'm looking forward to some play on those this coming year.

8. Teach the girls, as they ask, how to use the sewing machine on their own.

Woohoo! This one came true. I'm thrilled beyond belief. I let them come to it on their own. And because I got a new machine they clued in to the fact that they would get more access to sewing. Of course, sewing still takes a backseat to watching Marvel movies with Dad or Dutch Blitz tournaments, but they are in there with me from time to time. No complaints at all.

9. Make exercise a daily part of my life again. (I consider this a Studio Goal because it is part of my overall time management for work.)

Um... okay... well... Exercise didn't exactly become regular. But it has creeped back into my life a bit more than it had been before. Not as much as even I would like. It went in fits and starts, honestly. On the plus side, we got a new family dog in the summer so at least there is some regular walking in the schedule.

10. Start and finish my third quilting book.

And done. In fact, my last edits were due on the 23rd. You Inspire Me to Quilt will be published this coming spring. My work on it is done, the publisher is finishing up their last bits, and then it heads to the printers.

There is absolutely no disappointment on my end in not achieving all my goals. I worked hard this year, and I enjoyed the work. In there I also managed, mostly, my family. There was also some fun, some travel, some unplanned experiences, some tears, and a lot of joy.

The goal setting process certainly provides long term focus. The review process is great for reflection and going forward. If I didn't reach the goal, should it still be on the list? I'm not a big corporation, no one's bonus (ha!) is dependent on whether I get 80,000 words written or work out 4 times a week. As an independent business, however, having focus for my determination keeps me from chasing rainbows, or rainbow covered fabric bundles.

My next post here will be about my 2015 goals. And stay tuned through the newsletter (sign up on the right there) for regular updates on my goals, lists, and extra motivation for work.

Quilts Under Construction - December 2014

My finishing kick for December is still in full swing. So far I've finished 4 quilts - the Christmas Tree quilt and 3 others I still need to photograph and share. There are 2 more waiting for binding, but those won't get done before the end of the year. And if the kids cooperate I might get just one more done before midnight...

Hubby bought me a new sewing machine for Christmas, so I see a lot more finished coming as I will be able to free motion quilt at home again! I've got ALL the motivation now. If only I had the time.

To keep me on top of things I've decided to update this list quarterly. I've also got a goal in mind for keeping moving on some of these longer term projects, more about that in my next post. So here is the list as it stands. Watch for the updates. And look, the number is below 40 now! It is exactly how old I am, how convenient.

Quilt Tops Ready for Quilting

1. Cosmos Blocks
2. Improv Sampler
3. Checkerboard from Sunday Morning Quilts
4. Slaveship Quilt -
5. Old Amy Butler quilt top
6. The Evil Genius' Triangle Quilt
7. A low volume rainbow mini quilt that I've never shared with you.
8. Giant Hexagons
9. Values Plus
10. One red/purple turquoise quilt intended for magazine publication
11. Cirrus Solids Pinwheel top

Quilts Being Quilted

12. Low Volume Circles - I'm plugging away on the hand quilting, slowly. Actually, I don't think I've touched this in 2 years. Maybe this winter?
13. Antonio's Quilt - For some reason I've stalled on the quilting, yet I don't have much more to do.

Waiting for Binding

14. Alturas
15. QuiltCon Quilt
16. All voile quilt

Blocks and Process

17. Mid Mod Bee - Blocks to be assembled into a top
18. Hand Pieced Diamonds - I think I'm done with these, but I would like to get it into a quilt top.
19. More Cosmic Burst blocks - I have a whole other set of blocks for a baby quilt
20. Name quilt for my daughter - still haven't done anything on this. It might become the back for a new bed quilt for her. Maybe.
21. Chandelier quilt - was so close, then discovered a big mistake and have never fixed it
22. Liberty Circles - These have sat, but I was recently thinking about them. Maybe this winter?
23. Respite - a project started in a Bill Kerr design workshop
24. Pieced Stars - a BOM I started years ago when I wanted to do some precision piecing breaks when doing a lot of improv
25. The Water Quilt
26. Low Volume Shoeman's Puzzle/Slab blocks
27. A values quilt in neutrals (Class sample, so I keep adding more blocks each time I teach the class)
28. Green/Yellow/Orange Improv blocks (Class sample, so I keep adding more blocks each time I teach the class)
29. Sunday Morning in Solids
30. Edges/Studio Stash Play - I do hope to finish this for a friend. It requires a day or two with no deadlines/kids in the studio
31. Beach Grass Take 2 - this would make a perfect bed quilt for the girls and their new beds. And it goes together so quickly...
32. Y2K quilt - slowly, slowly with this one as I piece it as leaders and enders
33. Another leaders and enders project, intended to be like Up, Up, and Away from Sunday Morning Quilts
34. Round and Round blocks - these are addictive and I wish I could make them all day long
35. Snippets on Dates
36. Circle Lattice
37. Leftovers from Modern Paris
38. Orange Circles from Craftsy/Perfect Circles class samples
39. Gee's Bend inspired blocks after my trip to Alabama.

Finished

Improv Drunkard's Path - a gift, yet to photographed and shared.
French's Vintage Top - quilted, bound, and recently gifted back to the family it was made by/discovered.
Argyle - A gift for my nephew, but also a potential magazine publication, so I can't share it yet.
Caterpillar - I've shared the top before, but I need to share the finish quilt.
There is Peace in Pattern
Mountain Meadows
Giant Dresdens
Playground
Modern Paris
Improv Sewing Machines
Shimmer Table Runner
Equalizer - coming soon in You Inspire Me to Quilt

Christmas Tree Quilt

Christmas Tree Quilt

64'' x 70''

Sometimes you get something in your head and HAVE to do it. I thought that about three or four years ago, when I cut all those blue and green squares for a quilt. Then life got in the way and I never made it. After my quilting mess a couple of weeks ago I got cranky. I didn't want to bind or quilt. I wanted to piece a top. And not just make blocks, contributing to one of my many other ongoing projects. I wanted to make a whole quilt top. So I looked to my quilts under construction for possibilities.

Conveniently, these blocks were cut and sitting in a pretty little pile at the bottom of my closet. And they always were intended for a Christmas quilt. It was meant to be.

I must have anticipated a layout like this, I can't quite remember. But I had enough blocks cut, with only a handful leftover, to do this.

My quilting disaster happened on a Thursday. On Friday afternoon, while the Garbage Truck napped and the girls watched a movie, I got all those rows together. By Sunday night, while Hubby was playing hockey, I got the top pieced. All that background fabric only accounts for 6 pieces. Some thinking was required to get there, but it wasn't difficult sewing.

The next Thursday I was back at the long arm and this was the first quilt on the machine. Just a straightforward simple meander. Big and loose and loopy. It was fast, a good warm up for the other work I needed to do, and perfect. I could barely see the quilting as I was doing it - Aurifil white on that dotted Robert Kaufman print - so there was no point obsessing over how to quilt it. After loading the quilt it took me about an hour to get it done.

Lucky for me I had some turquoise binding already made for a photo shoot back in the spring. So that went on that Thursday night. And two days later - a record for me - I had the binding done and the last threads buried. 

What a sweet print for the backing. I don't exactly stash Christmas fabric. And the LQS I was at obviously has a pretty serious clientele for Christmas fabric. They usually have a huge stash, but most of it was gone when I went to the store to get something. But I really wanted to extend the holiday theme to the back. Something fun and pretty for the family. This candy print fit the bill. And I love the pink on the back. 

While this is technically a quilt for the whole family, I did kind of make it for my little guy. He's coming up on 3 and currently obsessed with Christmas. He gets it this year and the waiting has been sheer torture for him. If you ask him what he wants for Christmas - which adults love to do to children - all he answers is "A Christmas Tree!" We don't normally get ours until the weekend before Christmas so this way he got one a little bit early.

And he's already taking advantage of it. 

 May you and yours have a wonderful holiday (if you celebrate). And may you find joy, peace, and love. Throw in some giggles and a romp outside for good measure.

Finish All the Quilts

Well, I know how I'm spending my Christmas vacation. Lots and lots of binding. Oh wait, does having the kids and Hubby home for two weeks with me qualify as vacation?

That is four quilts there waiting for binding. Two of them are king sized. Those ones I got back from Andrea at Urban Quiltworks. Beyond excited for what she did on those. Wait until you see them. Alas, those have to wait for presents and magazine projects to be finished first.

Did I mention I finished two other quilts last week? And I'm hoping to get my Alturas quilt quilted and bound before Christmas as well? I'm on fire! If I get all these done that knocks of 6-7 quilts from my massive Under Construction list. Woohoo!

Honestly, I am on a finishing kick. And I'm already anticipating a very, very busy January and February. There won't be a lot of quilt finishes or sewing for fun for the rest of the winter. But there will be some very exciting things to come. No complaints here. In the meantime, I'm happy to snuggle with my hand stitching and Downton Abbey and Mad Men reruns.

School of Sewing (Weekend Reads)

A zipper pouch. People, I made a zipper pouch. I'd set a goal to learn how to install a zipper this year and thanks to the encouragement of Jen and the instructions from Shea Henderson in her book, School of Sewing, I did it. I did it!

And honestly, it wasn't that hard. I was a fraidy cat for nothing.

It really helps that Shea's directions in the book were so clear. The step by step photography (by Lauren Hunt) was perfect. I'm not the kind of person to enjoy following directions, but when I am going to do it I am religious about going along. And it was so easy doing so for this project.

This book is kind of amazing. It is set up to lead sewers through a series of basic projects that, at the end, culminates in their first quilt. Along the way they pick up skills that will allow them to sew nearly anything. And it is all broken down in clear instructions with a lot of encouragement and humour.

Shea started writing the book after gathering a group of friends and neighbours to teach sewing. While people were always asking her how to sew she never taught them, preferring to send out a standard email full of resources and encouragement to do it on their own. But when enough people at the same time asked she decided to invite them all into her kitchen to learn. Many hadn't met before either. One of my favourite things about this book is that it also tells the students' stories. We learn who each of them are, we get commentary from them along the way, and the photographs include them and their journey. So this isn't a random book of instructions, it really is a school of sewing.

Initially I got the book in my hands for an article. For good research I read it cover to cover. Trust me, that was not a sacrifice. Shea has filled it with so much useful information - from shopping for fabric to sewing machine basics. Even an old quilter like me learned a few things. Plus, her voice is there throughout the writing. I know Shea in person (she has turned me on to the best milk ever) and I could hear her speak as I read the book. Her humour and enthusiasm come through so well. I couldn't help but want to try something new.

A zipper pouch it was. I have a collection of old zippers from a box. I have loads of beautiful fabric. I had a quiet afternoon to myself. I went for it. And in less than an hour I had a little zip pouch. No swearing, only a few mistakes made (easily recoverable), and a whole lot of pride in my new skill. I want to put zippers in everything!

With all the other projects in the book from bags to ruffled key fobs to endless layouts for a half square triangle quilt there is no shortage of directions and inspiration. This book is a must have for any beginner sewer. And a perfect tool for a teacher. If home ec were still around then School of Sewing should be the textbook.

Quilting - K.I.S.S.

In the real world I hover somewhere between planning as much as possible and flying by the seat of my pants. I used to plan everything, research it all, and know what I was doing before I took a step. Then I met my husband, a very, very spontaneous person. And I became a mom, where planning causes more anxiety at times than learning to go with the flow. So now, I occupy a lovely space of chaos somewhere in between.

It is no different with quilting. I adore improv and hand appliqué, I write and make precision pieced patterns, and I will happily straight line quilt as much as I will free motion.

All that being said, I learned a lesson in the past week.

I had a stack of tops and backs ready to go and an appointment on the long arm. I had plans for what I was going to do, or at least ideas. The first quilt went well. Even when I changed my quilting plan as I loaded the quilt top on the long arm. The second quilt was a fast make - I had an idea and made the entire twin sized top in a few days. I thought I knew exactly how I would quilt it. It got loaded up, I checked my tension, and went for it.

And right away I knew it was wrong. But I kept going because, hey, I'm here! Can't waste the time! I finished one pass across the quilt and stopped. Staring at it wasn't going to make it any better. My stitches were fine, but the pattern I went with was totally wrong. The idea surpassed my skills, for sure. It was also too fancy for the quilt.

So I tried something else. And that was just as bad.

I was totally overthinking things. But I was convinced that because I was on the long arm I had to do something MORE than the usual. So after some frantic texts to Andrea and chatting with my friend Phil who watches over the renters I decided to cut my losses and take the quilt off the frame.

Ahead of me looms hours of unpicking my quilting. But that is better than the alternative - giving away a quilt I cringed over. Sure, it is only a gift for a 5 year old boy. But I love that boy as much as I love my own kids, he deserves some quality work.

I will head back to the long arm and not only quilt something closer to my skill level, but also more appropriate for this quilt. This was a painful reminder that simple can be quite good, quite perfectly imperfect.

Don't get me wrong, I do indeed believe in continually pushing ourselves to improve, to be better. And the only way to do that is by doing. But we also need to give ourselves and our quilts perspective. This isn't a show quilt, it doesn't need super dense quilting. It's going on the bed of a thoughtful and funny little boy. It will be jumped on and barfed on. The dog will also find it cozy. It will hopefully last him long enough for me to make him a quilt when he leaves home and has a bigger bed.

I need to take some of my chaotic energy and calm it down with both a clear plan and a sense of adventure when it comes to this quilt. Something all over so the piecing shines and not some awful quilting. I'm going to unpick those stitches and keep it simple, stupid.

The Little Spark (Weekend Reads)

What a fun, fantastic book!

Carrie Bloomston has written a book that will appeal to everyone from the dedicated quilter (who will know her from her fabric designs and Such Designs) to your neighbourhood mom. And the baker down the street and the barista and the grandfather mowing his lawn. That's because, as Bloomston reminds us, everyone is creative.

This book is an excellent resource and reminder for all of us. It needs to sit next to the teapot or on the bedside table. Grabbed when you are feeling both a bit rundown and totally inspired. That's because its premise provides focus, optimism, and the opportunity for reflection.

Organized around 30 Sparks, or activities, that you can do to bring your creative life into focus. Do them in order, do them randomly, or pick and choose. It doesn't really matter. Some, for example, are in the spiritual realm where I simply don't work. I'm a more literal person and it didn't bother me at all. But that's me. I found so many exercises to be a good opportunity to be introspective, to look inside and examine some long held beliefs or discover a truth I wasn't facing. I've read the book twice. And I know I will go back to it again, and again.

Yes, this book is kind of like therapy. But fun therapy where you are creating along the way and encouraged to keep going. It is also tremendously inspirational. Filled with quotes, stories, and examples of people living a creative life - from a juice bar owner to a modern dance studio where the women are all over 40. It doesn't matter your craft or activity, you will find inspiration in here.

One of my favourite Sparks was "Have a Secret". In this section Bloomston encourages us to create something and not tell anyone about it. Don't show it to anyone, don't share it on social media, don't even tell anyone you are doing it. Quite poignant in this day and age, don't you think? (And totally contradictory of me who lives an online life and has published books filled with my work and family.) But it is a telling lesson, to create for yourself and only yourself. To not worry or feel prying eyes. To not look for validation.

I'm pretty impressed with Stash for having published this book. You know how I feel about quilting books with more writing in them (Yay!) so to have published a book with no sewing at all, that's impressive for the publisher. I think it was a calculate drisk that will pay off because this book has a big life outside of quilting. Of course quilters will love it, but so will anyone else with a creative spirit. It goes without saying, of course, that the book is a visual cornucopia too.

"Creativity takes courage. It takes courage to be who you are. It takes courage to step into the unknown, to dig around in your soul and see what you find, to follow your passion, to start something new." 

Stash and Bloomston are giving away copies of the book. You need to go to Carrie's blog to enter. Even if you have your own copy I would enter so you can get a copy to give to your best friend! Go here to enter.

Disclosure: I was provided a review copy of the book and asked to write about it. But I'd already read it in preparation for a class I am doing in the New Year and will be recommending it as part of that too.