June 26, 2011
HOW TO create a signature quilt
Signature quilts begin with an inspiration
and desire to share a theme ,
be it
a landmark celebration,
or a beloved collection .
Once you have a purpose , then you need to a group of participants.
How many are willing to make a square ?
Can anyone sew ?
Does anyone have time to sew or learn?
Will you do the majority of the assembly ?
Or can you hire someone whose passion is quilting ?
Take the time to look though some books.
Many talented quilt authors have assembled
ideas and examples in books and on the web ,
that might spark you.
maybe with scrap sashing , with or without
prints or appliques ,can be the basis of a great quilt.
Use Bethany Reynold’s friendship block to create a pieced block quilt.
Consider using precuts charm squares to save time.
Confident quilters can consider a traditional friendship block,
or a simple paper pieced block.
Most important is ensuring that there are enough squares for the quilt
and that they are all the same size.
Distributed your squares, fabric or blocks with very clear instructions.
Mark “no write” seam allowance
or provide frames to center and trace .
For less stretch and tug when drawing , iron on
freezer paper .
Mention NOT to write on the paper side, but the fabric side.
“Do not underestimate how your carefully crafted instructions will get misinterpreted!”
For more fun, and control, assemble a party and create together .
demonstrate
encourage practice of signatures and quotes
with Y&C FabricMate fabric pens
or our favourite
Fabrico pens .
Try Lumiere for printing or painting
for drawing.
They are the easiest to use…we highly recommend them !
Signatures or further embellishment can be done with with Lecien floss,
and new Sparkles thread.
Use a hoop and try a simple
Colour and symbols can be added with
basically a fabric collage using Steam a Seam ,
or needle and thread.
Lace and photos can be incorporated .
The more complex the embellishment and construction of individual squares,
the greater the challenges when piecing together.
Blocks may need some sorting
pressing and squaring up.
Once your squares are consistent
make your plan
and sew your top, block to block ,
and row by row, to assemble the top.
Sandwich together the layers,
then tie ,
or machine quilt .
Bind the edges,
Wrap
and enjoy !
June 19, 2011
Signature quilts : Connecting friendship and comfort
Great-Grandma made a “friendship quilt”
Of scraps of calico.
Her neighbors gave small bits of cloth
From each new gown, and so
Great-Grandma fashioned deftly
A quilt of cheerful hues,
And sewed with tiny stitches
The pinks, and grays, and blues.
from The Romance Of the Patchwork Quilt in America
Friendship quilts were made from pieced blocks inscribed with names,
verses, or sayings.
In the 1840’s and 1850’s friendship quilts reached their zenith.
Rebecca Wickersham’s 1854 signature quilt
was a memorial to her late husband, John Wickersham, signatured by family members and friends.
Lately , several Circles of women,
have been in to learn about and
compose group quilts for healing ,
wellness , support and comfort,
weddings,
and congratulatory celebrations .
serious fund raising ,
and awareness quilts
motivate many other signature quilts.
Single pattern quilts are often referred to as “friendship quilts”
or Album quilts .
Signature quilts may use a collection of different blocks ,
pieced,
or embroidered .
Have a cup of tea
and start thinking about a signature quilt.
I’ll give you some how to’s next week!
May 30, 2011
VQG QUILTING IN THE TREES- The West Coast Summer Quilt Retreat
Victoria Quilters’ Guild
25th Annual
Quilting in the Trees summer quilting retreat
June 9th – 12th 2011,
outside of Victoria BC
on Vancouver Island, Canada.
from
Calgary, Alberta returns to teach
Dimensional Leaf Blocks and a great pieced bear in I Can’t See the Berries for the Leaves quilt,
and an introduction to
fabric painting.
Judy Farrow,
recently from Canada’s
far North
will delve into the mysteries of crazy quilts and dye baths .
Dynamic duo Arlene Mackenzie and Kelly English
will lead Day S’Tripper Kaleido-Strata
and a new Mystery Quilt.
Laine Canivet, our favourite
birthday girl and
journal pattern designer
leads not only a Lutrdur workshop
but daily yoga for quilters too!!
introduces her new pattern Medley of Leaves with a plethora of applique techniques
and exquisite hand piecing with her Crown of Diamonds design.
(special order at Satin Moon)
Coreen Zerr from
home of Nanaimo bars,
shares her award winning techniques during In Living Colour,
designing and piecing quilts from pictures of flowers,
and Paint and Play
creating painted and discharged fabric.
BUT WAIT, there’s more – lots more!!
Join us for the annual Saturday night dinner party – open to all, but do reserve ahead,
and don’t forget to wear a Diva Dangle
(available at our SATIN MOON SHOP AT PEARSON.)
May 22, 2011
NEW CANADIAN BOM : Shoreline by Susan Teece
Award winning Canadian Artist Susan Teece
has artfully captured the west coast, in a magical and cohesive
new multi block quilt, Shoreline Stories.
She encourages you to recall playful summertime fun with traditional piecing,
walks through wild flower filled rain forest with textural stitching,
historic lighthouses and ocean action with easy fused applique,
lazy afternoons on the links with raw edge applique,
delightful adventures for the confident beginner in old town,
united by a quintessential flowers basket.
Patterns and kits are available individually , as a collection , and soon as a block of the month,
from Satin Moon .
Designing takes place
in Susan’s studio/living room.
Ideas are shaped by her extensive designing background in the fashion industry , costume design, display and advertising .
Even as a small child Susan was obsessed with collecting and cutting up fabric.
She is intoxicated
and inspired by fabrics,
and the joy of stitching them
back together .
Heirlooms,
and antiques
inspire and assist.
Her father’s paintings of Canada surrounded her as she works.
May 9, 2011
Romantic Quilts of Rabbits’ Haven
Arlene Neely,
paid us an enchanting visit last week, on her way to Quilt Market
with a suitcases of new quilts for the big show in Salt Lake city,
and a suitcase full of quilts and patterns to leave with us!
Thanks to Jan P. , who needed “Tea in the Garden” to accompany her on a cruise,
I had contacted Arlene and was invited into her world,
of watercolour soft fabrics and
the delicate stitchery motifs of hand drawn rabbits.
Arlene and her three sisters, now often mistaken as quadruplets
live in sight of each other on Mayne Island
next to the Mayne Island Light house .
The sisters have quilted together for over 30 years .
For five years from 1996-2001 , they filled Arlene’s cottage gift shop
with their handmade goods – specializing in vintage chenille jackets, pillows
and wooden painted rabbits.
Now they continue to support Arlene and Rabbit Haven Designs year round.
Arlene’s design company came about in 2002
after she created a quilt from one of her original watercolour paintings, embroidery and traditional patchwork .
She continues to draw inspiration from her sizable collection of memory laden sketches and watercolours.
The French publisher Les Editions De Saxe has collected her
poetic and charming universe of designs into Quilts and Stitcheries , a gorgeous soft cover book , in French.
Last year Arlene premiered her Nana’s Garden fabric collection.
Last week we saw her second collection of fabrics , Always Believe , as it made its way to Market .
You can see it in Mark Lipinski’s Fabric Trends
and soon at Satin Moon.
Arlene finds that embroidery stitches, particularly back stitch, capture the detail she desires.
Fine quality Japanese Lecien threads ( available at Satin Moon) are her first choice .
She loves the whimsy of fluffy raw edges, which she accomplishes
by cutting straight line like stems on the bias, which fray without long thread strands.
Arlene is inspired by the colours of her gardens,
vintage chenille and
She likes to wake at sunrise to write down her dozens of new ideas before sketching new designs ,
working on ongoing projects ,
and pausing to take tea in the garden with her three sisters,
while they cherish their moments together.
Do stop by this summer to enjoy the Rabbits’ Haven show, and get to know Arlene’s delightful work .
April 3, 2011
CRAFTY RABBIT PROJECTS
Ahh, the Westshore show is over,
time to hop to it
and create hand crafted memories for Easter.
This fabulous paper cut designs by Ellen Brown , is perfect for thermofax , a stitchery or trapunto .
Bunny finger puppets can also be place holders and table decorations.
A little embroidery adds whimsey and love napkins or bread cloth .
Create a lovely stuffie with rattle for a new grandbaby.
Use stash treasures to create smiles,
and year long comfort.
Whip up a quick kit of icing sugar fabrics.
or an adorable pillow case ,
and a book to snuggle up and share .
March 6, 2011
FOODIE WEEK: gourmet recipes and patterns
Its a foodie kind of week.
California Strawberries are in and local ones are only months away.
Seed catalogs are arriving
and home canned fruit is a summer dream.
This Thursday March 10, participate in Victoria’s Premier Food Tasting Experience.
Culinaire will present the wonderful world of fine cuisine,
and provide scholarship awards for students enrolled in the Camosun College Culinary Arts Program.
It inspired me to treat you to tastings and recipes, such as these
Veganized Pinwheels
and free patterns for quilts like
Springtime Mosaic Pinwheel Quilt Block
and food useful patterns , like this cute basket for your pinwheel cookies.
Start with a Chef hat of course .
Add a cute apron to buy , or make ( we have LOTS of patterns.)
Don’t forget safety with hot holders,
and free patterns for oven mitts ( we have the Insulite and Insul-Brite.)
Grab an Energy Bar, and start cooking !
We’ll begin with Gordon’s favourite : fruit crisp,
kept nice and warm in Chili Pepper’s elegant casserole cover,
and free carrier pattern.
Drop by Thursday for a taste of Gordon’s home made island berry delight,
and a cup of coffee.
Baked Potato soup , regular or vegan,
will be the taste treat on Friday.
We have potato baking bag kits , potato fabric,
and both designer and free lunch bags pattern.
Saturday drop by to try Matcha Tea mini cupcakes ,
indulge in a low fat free quilt pattern,
Find many more Satin Moon favourite recipes on Our Shop page.
For a spectacular end to the week, join us and the Victoria Grandmothers for Africa
this Saturday at the Gala Dinner & Textile Art Auction.
See the quilts this week at the Martin Batchelor Gallery
or in the show catalog available at Satin Moon .
February 27, 2011
Victoria Sewing show -from Buttons to Bustles
A big kiss to all of you who braved the snow
and visited us at the Victoria Sewing Show .
My most exciting find was The Button Lady.
Wendy is another very talented local, Pender Island artist
With pottery and glazes in my personal history , I really loved the Bubble gum buttons
and the thumb buttons. You will find them embellishing our bag models
and for sale at Satin Moon SOON.
But it was Farthingales
that set me off on a whole new area of learning .
Treat yourself to their blog and video fashion shows!
I laughed myself silly !
Lucky there were no Bum rolls
or bustles to try on too !
I would love to arrange a night of champagne,
and try-on/dress up with corsets
followed by a one day waist cincher class.
Why a corset?
- Wear a corset to be noticed.
- Wear a corset to feel confident.
- Wear a corset to get a vintage silhouette and fit a period costume
- Wear a corset to fit last years dress or this year’s bargain buy
- Wear a corset to fit into vintage dresses!
- Wear a corset to support your back
- Wear a corset to encourage better posture
- Wear a corset for FUN!
- Wear a corset for elegance
- Wear a corset because there is no better way to go strapless!
- Wear a corset to make a statement.
Let me know if you would like to join the
comfort and fun !
February 20, 2011
A few of my favourite spring things
Treasures to share
from Carolyn Bruce
ornaments for you home,
your self
and your tea pot!
lovely baskets to make for Easter and
spring
and a Rosalie Quinlan doll house quilt to craft lovingly
Enjoy them with us !
February 13, 2011
XOXO Inspiration and Joy
My best find at the Tea Festival was
Carolyn Bruce DESIGNER of the THE PAINTED COOKIE
- originally from New Zealand, now in Vancouver, she creates EXQUISITE
- blissfully blingy tea pot themed beaded charms and jewelry.
- I have a treasure box full of her creations to unpack and share with you!
- My inspiration distilled from The Tea Festival is contemplation about the soul of of quilting.
-
- What are those elements that feed our creative spirit?
is definitely central to our love of creating .
is a scary mystery to many.
Tuesday, Feb 15 Marie will
guild play and understanding
of Primary and Secondary colour
with your currents projects and project ideas in class
#163 Colour 102! Give yourself the gift of confidence!
The seductive sensations of textures inspire us.
Karen of Treenway Silks
will be with here Wednesday Feb 16 and Thursday Feb 17 to explore the colour
texture and
dimension or art quilting
during her Silk Fusion Workshop # 202.
Definitely sheer delight for EVERYONE !
I wish you a week of inspiration and sweet joy!
Don’t miss your chance to come in and admire the fresh and exciting designs from
Blue MeadowDesigns, this month’s featured artists!
xxoo
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