When there’s a will there’s a way

I’m was in Grand Cayman on vacation at the beginning of the month and had taken some quilting to do while I was visiting. I had packed all the fabric and book to make a Quilt in a Day Log Cabin Quilt. I had all the strips cut and packed, the book, my seam ripper, thread, pins and scissors. I started to put the quilt together, was ready to cut the first strip into sections when I realized that I had not brought my cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler. )(*&*^(*^))(&. What is a girl to do…..improvise of course. I visited the local hardware store, picked up a utility knife, dug out the plastic cutting board from the kitchen along with a T-square my uncle had at the house and I was in business. Actually…and surprisingly enough, it really worked well. I managed to cut my strips into 2.5 inch squares.  When there’s a will there is always a way.

Mini Dresden Fun

This is one of the funniest classes to teach at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. It’s the Mini Dresden,  three classes of fun in miniature. All the ladies did such a nice job on their mini versions. It always amazes me how different each quilt can look based on student’s fabric choices.

I loved them all, but might be tempted to try a Christmas version as Kathy’s turned out fabulous

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Beginner’s End

After seven weeks of cutting,sewing, picking out, sewing again, measuring, ensuring 1/4 inch seams and learning the dreaded ironing tips…plus the tricks of the trade for borders, the beginner’s have finished their beauties. These ladies all did fabulously…and their quilts look amazing.  What a great group of students!

The Centre of Attention

This is the centre of my Fons and Porter Christmas quilt. Lots of flying geese and half square triangles, but well worth the effort. I’m just about ready to put all the pieces together and it will end up a nice size at 54X 54.

The corner blocks are sweet too…little stars with holly leaves appliqued and button berries.

Thimbleberries Entrance

Years ago my mom had made a Thimbleberries  quilt and had lots of extra scrap fabric left over. She was cleaning out some of her excess  stuff and brought me a huge bag of the extras. I was even lucky enough that some of the scraps were already sewn in strips for a  piano key border. It was just a matter of cutting them into blocks and sewing them on point. She even had enough stash scrap pieces that I could get a small border plus the binding out. Voila, a perfect runner for my front hall entrance way. The lovely painting above the cupboard is an original painting by my mom as well.  I love when I get all these fabulous finds from her.  I really like the way this scrap runner turned out and at such a great price…free.

Can’t see the Forest for the Trees

I have been trying really hard this last year to finish off some projects I have had in my stash for literally years. I had bought a kit in 2009 at a little shop just outside of Rochester. I got it for a steal as the whole kit ( fabric, pattern, binding) was half price for $35.00. It was a Fons and Porter pattern and immediately took my eye. I had tucked it away in my stash and with the Christmas season approaching decided it would be nice to do something in the spirit of the season for myself. There was a total of 12 trees to complete in the pattern and I love the technique to get these together…lovely little flying geese all lined up in a row.

Simply Beautiful

Jane, one of my original beginner girls, has been busy continuing her new found love of quilting. Though the pattern is quite simple, the quilt is stunning (and huge)…95X95. Made from a layer cake of Luna Notte it turned out amazing.We quilted it in the pantograph pattern called Taro and it was perfect.  Jane I am so happy that you are continuing with your quilting ventures, your quilt is lovely!

A picture is worth a thousand words!

My daughter, bless her heart, always takes my grandsons to get professional Christmas photos taken. This year she was very excited as she managed to get them adorable matching “ugly” Christmas sweaters and had the highest of hopes that the pics would turn out amazingly.

With a 1 year old and a 3 year old together, confined in a 8X8 room with a backdrop, blaring lights, wrapped Christmas present props and a 25 year old male (professional) photographer…by the way, who doesn’t have kids, doesn’t want kids and after meeting my grandsons, never ever wants to even be in close proximity to kids…what could possibly go wrong!

My daughter went onto describe how the photo session started off well then went downhill faster than an Olympic skier winning the gold medal. The youngest was taking flying leaps at the $10,000 backdrop while the oldest was sure all the wrapped present props were gifts Santa had left him and started unwrapping them all. Needless to say the photographer was less than impressed and after 5 minutes of shear bedlam and fiasco driven frenzy he indicated that perhaps they should come back another day.

Any mother in her right mind, knows that this is not an option after getting 2 kids under the age of 4 dressed, psyched, out the door,  in the car  and hauled into the store for pics.

She in the calmest of voices, probably in the low tones of  Linda Blair during one of her sessions in the Exorcist,  screamed…..Take the Picture!…..

This is her Family Christmas photo…..love it, one of my favourite.

This picture is now on America’s most wanted profiles.

Crazy for Crazy Eights

This was a fun BOM that was offered at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. It was a block offered each month from the book and ruler called Lazy Angle. It was so much fun to create each month. This finished setting pattern was my design and was offered as a finishing kit for quilters. This version is Linda’s and she brought it to be long armed. It turned out gorgeous….and the blocks were awesome to create.

Over, Under, Under Over

Linda, one of my favourite customers, brought me this wonderful geometric quilt to long arm. She indicated that is was from a Quiltmaker magazine that she had bought some time back. I love the look of this design. It looks like the pattern pieces go over and under at each intersection. She lucked out finding the most amazing backing in the same blue shades…plus the same zig zag pattern…Bonus!

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Red, Black and White Mystery

My friend Pat finished her Mystery quilt and brought it to be long armed. I just love this one. It’s a mystery I taught last year at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. called Chicago Undercover. I love the way the blocks look like they are woven in and out across the quilt. This has to be my favourite mystery class so far. Pat you did an amazing job on this one.

Mom’s the Word

Judith is surprising her mother with this quilt for Christmas…so mom’s the word…no letting the quilt  cat out of the bag. It’s a fabulous log cabin and it truly looks amazing. Judith your mom is going to love this. We used a pale blue thread and the pantograph pattern Country Garden to quilt it. It was the perfect pattern for this quilt. The fabric had roses throughout as does the pantograph. Judith’s daughter will paint her grandma’s room as her part in this Christmas gift and Judith promises to send me a photo of the bedroom makeover when everything is complete. Can’t wait to see!

Beginner's Luck

I was so surprized when I received a call from Lorna who is in my beginner class that she had a quilt she would like to have long armed. We haven’t even finished the class yet. Low and behold she shows up with this wonderful quilt she completed on her own. She did a great job, and that is no beginner’s luck. She was a seamstress previously so she had the basics. I love the warm and rich tones of this quilt and I love the 2nd border with just a few patches in it. Lorna, great job and I can see you are already hooked on quilting!

Starry Starry Night

This is a perfect quilt for a young man and Carol Ann’s nephew will be delighted to receive it. It’s made using a charm pack and co-coordinating fabric and I love how easy the stars are pieced. It looks great quilted and will be a great keepsake to curl up under.

Granny Square Quilt

I love this block, it’s all the rage right now,  over all the quilting sites and blogs…..see everything old is new again. Carol Ann did a fabulous job with this quilt. I love the colors and how the complimentary colors just work together. She has made this for her niece…what a lucky girl. I’m not sure I would have the patience to sew all those little squares together, so I give Carol Ann credit….well done and so sweet!

Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend

OMG I love this quilt!

While I was making it I wasn’t feeling the love though…but now that it’s all done and long armed…It looks amazing. The pattern is called Diamond Ring Quilt. The background is Freckles by Northcott and the diamonds are from the new line Little Black Dress. Overall the quilt was fairly easy to construct…the dilemma was my challenge of curved piecing. I was able to get the finished quilt on the long arm machine and was able to “Quilt it out”. It turned out amazing and is another one of my favourites!…..I’m getting alot of these lately. It’s just too hard to choose.

Oriental Rail Fence

Mary I love this oriental beauty that you’ve finished. Wow. It is stunning and I know oriental fabric is your weakness! The pattern is Rail Fences by Pauline Smith and was a featured quilt at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. Mary and I chose a light gold thread and the pantograph pattern Taro to accentuate this quilt. The gold threaded pattern shows beautifully in the background and is just the perfect level of subtlety. Looks amazing Mary….

(Blue) Black Magic Dresden

Now…anyone who knows me, knows I don’t do custom quilting….other than my own. I’m just too nervous doing something artistic on someone else’s quilt. If it’s mine and I screw up, no problem, it’s mine. My friend Pat coerced me to custom quilt her Black Magic Dresden. This is my pattern design that I have been teaching at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. I love how it turned out but I can’t tell you how nervous I was while completing it. Pat would be the only one that I would agree to do this for…so no one else get any ideas!

Deck the Halls

Connie’s halls will be decked out beautifully with all the fabulous projects she’s been finishing up. Here is a lovely wall hanging she brought to have quilted. I love the music panel that is printed on the fabric…..Connie, she is so smart…she left the label areas attached so that her grandkids could sign the quilt with their names…what a keepsake.