A few more completed

Realized that this has actually been a pretty good year for finishing quilts.

This bluestar one was done just to prove to myself I could actually do something in blue. I like it more than I thought I would, also fills the "seasonal" need to have something reflecting Winter.

At one point I realized that wanting a Christmas seasonal quilt meant that I had to get working on one before Christmas so, after a Pinawa retreat where Judy Blatz helped us discover the "split nine-patch" this festive number was done with those Christmas fat 1/4's I'd purchased early in my quilting career before I realized that a fat 1/4 is really useless unless you buy about 20 of them...so some of my ugly Christmas themes got used in this one and it still looks nice :)

A fun experience was a workshop with Heather Lair from Gimli. One of her trademark pieces is the crafting of Quilting postcards. Doug actually bought me my first one when he was on Staff retreat one fall. I loved it and when the opportunity came to do a workshop with her I was tickled. This is the post card that came out of it...I think there are a few more in me! This one went to one of the "used to be church ladies".. Karen when she moved into her new house and hosted us for a fabulous dinner...Love those ladies!

And now for the actual pics! Had some trouble with these last night, try again.

This was a commission for a wedding. Siblings purchased it for their brother. Variation of the "round in circles" original design done for Westgate Mennonite Collegiate Bursary fundraising banquet in 2010. Have since done two wedding quilt commissions of this pattern or a variation. This one is lap size, 55x60.
Here's the "crazy eyes" with it's retro girl. still love the polkadots on the dark purple.

Hotshots is the pattern, super fun was the quilt-making although, deceptive is the pattern in it's apparent simplicity. ripped more simple seams on this one that ever I think! Experimented with machine quilted feathers, and, they turned out super for first time! Even the arch and the corners turned out slick...maybe I'll have to try those again!

these are a few of my favourite things

Here's a few of the quilts that have flown off the machine in the last little while. Oh, and the recipient of the whacky one from the previous post.

Loving my loft space for working, open the door and the window and nice little breeze wafts through. Thanks to the insulating the boys did last summer, it's actually not even that hot up there (yet!). Looking forward to some stitching time during vacation! Can hardly wait, first actual paid vacation that I can remember, usually just get vacation paid out at the end of the job. Thought I'd do it differently this time.

Here's a crazy one I worked on last fall, I'm finally ready to quilt and bind it, I think it will go to my niece Alanna. Happy grad, ( a year or two late) and thanks for house sitting/cat sitting and just congrats on moving out on your own. She's a 70's retro kind of gal. Hope she likes the whacky design.

THe Wedding quilt that was, then was not

Well, it's been a while! I'd like to say I've been so busy quilting that I haven't had time to update but that would be blatantly untrue... Mostly it is that I've quite enjoyed life without feeling guilting about updating here...who's reading it ?

As I'm quilting differently these days, I've been bouyed by affirmations on designs and projects I've done and thought that they actually might be interesting to fly up on the cloud and let other's view. So, here's the story and a picture...

Benefit quilt (#5) for the Westgate Fundraising Banquet was quite a success (see picture here). Titled "Running round in Circles" reflecting the pace of life with four kids in different kinds of schooling and 3 different schools... The Chinese auction was a great success with my tin being filled with ticket droppers who desperately wanted my quilt. ( A full tin of tickets means that I will indeed continue to donate a quilt to the next year's Fundraising Banquet). So, the quilt was won (by another quilter of course, who was thrilled) and a disappointed ticket dropper contacted me a couple of months later and asked if she could commission a quilt for her daughter's wedding. (Thrilled I was, flattered and hoping for an opportunity to raise some money for said school tuitions). We agreed on a price (barely living wage but hey, who am I to complain?) and a size (Queen) which was substantially larger than the lap size of the donated quilt. So, to the drawing board, re-measuring and balancing size of centre, size of circles, size of borders and sashing to replicate the quilt on a larger scale. (Kids, if you think you'll never use math skills again... holy cow think again or choose your hobbies carefully!). Close to the assembly completion, waiting to finish on the "long arm machine of infinite entertainment and joy", a phone call came with the timely news that the wedding, would not be happening. (at this time). Mom indicated that wedding quilt was still desired but just not with the same deadline. So while celebrating the wisdom and courage of the young not-to-be bride, I will now take that queen size "Running 'round in Circles" and stitch in thoughts of respect for the wisdom of a young lady who realized what she valued in life and relationship and stitch in prayers that she will find a partner more suited to her wisdom. Good on ya.

Moose Lake Quilt Retreat Info

Hey Friends and blog visitors, thought I'd update this before any of you came to see stuff and found nothing.  SO, I'm going to upload a copy of the Quilt Retreat brochure so anyone can print and then register by mailing in; I'm going post some pictures of the Beginner Project (Fat 1/4 lap quilt) and a couple of pictures from an earlier post that showcase the possibilities of the "Stack'nWack" project that Adina Boschman will be teaching.  If you've got any questions, it would be best to email me at vpank@mts.net.  Hopefully these posts will lure you out to Moose for the weekend.

This is the beginner lap quilt.  It can be done with one feature fabric like this picture or, each point of the star can be done with a different co-ordinating fabric (8 fat 1/4's), you also need a cbackground, neutral fabric.  It's got a country look when done with different plaids/homespuns.

Okay, having some trouble with the PDF Registration form.  The "Stack'nWack" is on my earlier April 15, post so you can see the squares there.  I'll try to fix the other posts later, sorry ...email me and I'll send them to you :)

Preparing to retreat!

Hey Friends, I'm planning the Moose Lake Quilting retreats even as I enter an update here.  I hope to post a registration form here within the week!  Looking forward to celebrating 10 years at Moose.  Come on out and celebrate with me (and others!) or just do a drop in for the day on either Saturday and bring your show and tell.  Hope to post the brochure here  as well.  First weekend October 31, Nov 1&2, is a project completion weekend, bring all those Moose Lake UFO's and finish them, and bring all the Moose Lake projects you've finished for show and tell!  Nov 7.8.&9 is a Kaleidescope stack and whack with Adina Boschman and she'll have all sorts of appropriate fabrics for purchase so either drop in at her store before retreat, on your way out or she'll bring it with her.  You can see my squares for this project on my previous post.  This weekend will also have open house on Saturday.  Judy Blatz is doing a "baby blanket blitz" for the Villa Rosa on both weekends so you can donate your one meter flannel or panel pieces and come help "tie" up some blankets for charity.  Lots of fun stuff.  Hope to see you out!