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Saturday, November 28, 2015

Board Basting and More

We had a great demonstration on board basting quilts by Marijke from Loose Threads and the Beaconsfield Guild. All you need are two boards and a table. She wanted a method to baste quilts that didn't require her to kneel on the floor. None of our knees are what they used to be. Check out her blog for lots more information: thedoodlequilt.com

As always was Show and Tell:



Barbara had a quilt made from Japanese silk and maybe not silk kimonos. She had sewn on pearls and was ready to remove them but we all thought they added to the effect.


Linda had a table runner made with a special ruler she was taking on a visit to Nova Scotia 


along with a lovely pastel baby quilt for her new great niece.


Allison missed the meeting with our first and last quilts so she brought hers along. This is her first quilt made in the 1970's and taken away to university. It was made with scrap fabric from sewing projects and lightly matching quilted. Even then Allison didn't hand quilt!


This is Allison's latest project. It was for an online challenge, pleated, buttoned and quilted.


Roz too, brought in her first quilt. She made it for a class taken at a quilt store that used to be on Westminster. The colours and blocks are great. Apparently the class was finished before they learned how to do binding. Roz had to improvise. 


See you all at our Christmas party December 8th for appetizers and desserts!

Thursday, October 8, 2015

First and Last Quilt

 This week we were all showing our first and last quilts. Some people brought in one, some both and a couple could only talk about them. As quilters are prone to do, many people pointed out all the faults in their quilts, especially the first ones. The stitch length, the thread used and the fabric although not perfect are all part of their history. 


This is not Charlotte's first quilt it is her last. We had seen her first one before and in is now in Denmark. She was trying to figure out the binding as she didn't have too much fabric left. 


Laura brought her first quilt that she made a number of years ago while living in France. The squares were all hand pieced and it is hand quilted. This lovely quilt is used everyday on their bed. Her last quilt is a work in progress and again all hand pieced.


This is Moishe's first quilt. He certainly didn't start with a simple pattern. There are even rouched flowers in the central basket. He didn't quilt it himself but had it machined quilted.



This is Moishe's last quilt a very interesting log cabin pattern. The close up shows the composition in both the light and dark squares.



Monique made her first quilt for her daughter. It wasn't a simple one either and is all hand appliquéd and machine quilted. This was a much loved quilt so Monique now has some repair work to do.


 This is Monique's last quilt, not yet sandwiched and quilted. It is for a friend's daughter with bright pictorial fabrics and a number of cross stitched squares. 


Anna made this quilt in the 1980's. A group of friends would get together to do hand craft projects and they all decided to make squares for everyone. Anna gave them all the beige squares and they could do anything they wanted on it. There weren't sixteen of them so Anna made more squares herself.


 This is Anna's last quilt. She did some fruit printing after a demonstration Barbara did last year.  It is also embellished with embroidery, buttons and beads.


 Mary made baby quilts for all her grandchildren and then quilts when they turned 21. This is the last quilt for her youngest grandson who will be 21 in a couple of years. She received the jellyroll pack but didn't like the look with the squares all next to each other. She added narrow yellow and turquoise borders and everything came together. Now it just needs to be hand quilted but she has time.



 Barbara showed us her first and second quilts. Her log cabin is actually a rectangular wall hanging that she made without any knowledge of quilting. No matter what she says it looks great. She then took a quilting class and made this second quilt. 


This is one of Rita's first quilts. She made it for her father to take to the park. She pictured him having a nap with the dog but he thought it was too good to use and put it safely away.


This was Mary's first quilt. It was started in 1972 and finished in 1975. Unlike her last quilt it was made from fabric remnants from sewing clothes and not from fabric bought just for quilting. So each square has its story. Mary wasn't very impressed with her early quilting but the quilt is still together and has even been used.

We have seen all of Jae's quilts from her first to her last. She didn't have any to bring tonight as she has given them all away. Linda F. showed us her first quilt on new members night. She had pictures of all her quilts but in her rush to get to the meeting she forget them. Joan was busy at the meeting quilting on her last quilt a cute pink pattern for her granddaughter. Priscilla has also shown us all her quilts starting from mug rugs. Her latest project consists of small hand pieced blocks.

This was also IFFI pledge night. We were pledging to finish projects or "I Finally Finished It." Everyone could decide how many projects, how finished is finished and how much money would be pledged. We have until June and the money from any unfinished pledges will go to the guild.  


This is Moishe's paper pieced project for his IFFI pledge
he says he finishes everything and it is the only
unfinished project he has!


Rita had three finished quilt tops and a number of squares that she has pledged to finish for her IFFI. We know they will be sandwiched, quilted and given away before June!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

BATTING, BATTING AND MORE BATTING!!!

Hi Fellow Quilters:

 Wow, is it every great to be back!!! There were so many new faces last night, it was really fun to meet all the new quilters. Really looking forward to seeing more of their work as the season moves on!!

 Anna gave a fabulous presentation last night on batting. You name the batting, and Anna had some info on it. She gave us all samples of various types, from the richest to the poorest, she also gave us a breakdown of  where we could buy them, and the cost. She even provided us with a glossary of batting terms!! What a girl, our Anna!!!!

 

Nathalie is one of our new members and worked on this quilt while at our retreat.  The quilt is for her daughter who wanted grey, black and white - no tone-on-tone, just solids.  What a great job, but a long, long way to go.  The retreat really gave her a boost to get up and go!!  Good job Nathalie!

I sure hope the rest of the 'retreaters' behaved themselves.  Not too much tea, I hope!!



Next up, Joan, also a new member..  Here she shows the baby quilt she is working on - ALL HAND DONE!!!  Beautiful job!



Rita, who seems to always have the latest in fabric, once again has a whole new supply.  She ordered it on line, had it sent to where Roz was going on retreat and Roz brought it back to her.  Good kid, that Roz.  Now feast your eyes on the deliciousness!!!





Last of the quilts is Mary's pig quilt.  Look closely, all those pink squares have pigs in them.  The quilt is for Mary's sister, who has been waiting for 4 years!!!  Let's hope she still loves pigs by the time she gets the quilt.  Only kidding, Mary!!!  It's beautiful!!!


Last, but not least for our 'show 'n tell' is Barbara.  Barbara was recently in an art show and two of her sculptures were featured in the catalogue.  Great work Barbara!


Dates to put aside: 

 The retreats have been so successful, we are going to try to have 2 per year.  The next one will be in the Spring - Apr. 15 - 17.  Please put the date aside - the retreats are great fun and if you are having trouble getting started on a project, or simply having trouble, this is the place to be.  Lots of encouragement and help. 

We're set up for next Fall also - Sept. 30 - Oct. 2.  This is not a great date, but all we could get and we're on a waiting list for a better date.

Mr. Kamel is scheduled for October 3rd, at 9:30 at the Church.  He will clean, oil, repair our machines for a VERY reasonable price.  $40 for the clean and oil -  repairing will be extra.  Speak to Linda Wishart if you're interested.

October 6th is 'First and Last' - bring your first quilt and last quilt made to our next meeting.  Also Rita and Roz will explain IFFI.  Sounds like a busy evening!

See you all then!!

Happy quilting,

Sandra








Tuesday, September 22, 2015

We Are All Back Quilting!

Our new season 2015/2016 has begun with a number of new members who we are very happy to welcome. Those present at our first meeting all showed us some of their work and we look forward to  their participation. We have an excellent program for the year, put together by Roz and Rita. They will keep us all busy and inspired. 

Last week, nine of us were off to our annual retreat at Ermitage St Croix in Pierrefonds.  Many arrived around 2pm on Friday so as to get in all the quilting possible.





 Anna was our most adventurous participant. She went swimming in the pool and changed in Changing Room #1. We all thought this was very funny as there was only one changing room. Anna went outside in the rain and sketched, did some indoor water colour, worked on bright patchwork scraps and organized batting. 


Linda is half finished her quilt blocks with curved piecing done with a curved ruler. 


France was busy finishing a woven zippered bag and a great Christmas table runner.


As always, Rita was busy cutting and piecing a baby quilt for another friend.


Mary's sisters Betsy and Jeannie enjoyed all the quilting and they finished projects.



This is Nathalie one of our new members who was brave and came on the retreat. She got to know us all and stitched 1/3 of a quilt top for her daughter. We will soon see it finished.


This is Allison with a pile of squares waiting only for a glass of wine and good music to decided on their positions in the quilt top.


Mary has been working on a "pig" quilt for her sister Jeannie for about four years. Here is the top all put together. Much of the pink fabric has pigs on it.

We enjoy the retreats so much that we have now reserved time for a spring retreat; April 15-17 2016. Our next fall retreat will be September 30 - October 2, 2016. 



Friday, May 15, 2015

QUILT SHOW 2015

Hi Everyone:

Well, it's done!!! And what a 'done' it was!!!  Someone said "tiny but mighty" and that about sums it up.  It was a great show, many, many quilts, over 130,  - many more than we imagined!  And fabulous quilts they were!  Everyone worked hard, many of us only left to sleep and a huge THANK YOU to the husbands who stepped in to give us a hand setting up.  Honestly,  we couldn't have done it without them.

Our 'meeters' and greeters,
Mary, Audrey and Rita and
our FABULOUS raffle quilt
behind them.







Our vendors!  And we
loved having them there!!







This is our collection of 'preemie' quilts
to be donated to the Royal Victoria.
This was our community project for
this year.





 Our tea room,








our Boutique,







AND FINALLY OUR WINNERS!!!!

Linda in the
Bed/Lap
category -






Marilyn in the Wall
Hanging category -






and Mary's in the
Challenge category -
Borders.








Congratulations to everyone!!!

It was an excellent show, fabulous quilts,
hard workers, and great camraderie!!!

WHAT A BUNCH!!!!
Small, but mighty!!!

Sandra