She's Racing Me...

Gloria has done it again! She has raced me by completing another little Miniature. (I am still working on borders.) Here is Gloria's second Log Cabin, a different block configuration this time. Well done Gloria! You get a gold star!! Another member of the New Glasgow Guild has done a lovely writeup on my Miniatures class and the previous evening's Trunk Show and Dessert Party, and it has now been posted to their blog. Click here if you would like to read it; the text is fine, the photos are a little wonky...not sure what's going on there.. they look like they have been "posterized"...???




I do have some exciting news to share- I will be teaching a Miniatures class at this year's Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival, held in Amherst, October 14-18. My class will be on Saturday, Oct. 18. If you live in the Maritimes, put these dates on your calendar now. (It's a great way to get some more fibre in your diet! teehee) The official schedule will be announced by the end of the month and brochures should be available shortly thereafter. In the meantime, check the Fibre Arts Festival blog here for updates. The Festival website is being revamped and should be back very soon. If you are interested in registering for my class, leave me a comment, or send me an email and I'll put you on the list.

Now, back to my current Miniature. It has taken a backseat the last few days as I'm trying to get work done outside. Here is what it looks like right now- there will be one more border added - in the navy fabric. Hopefully I will get those on tonight and perhaps figure out how it will be quilted also.

When I did the Trunk Show in New Glasgow a few weeks ago, I told those gathered, that every quilt  or project has a lesson. I truly believe you learn something from each and every project- even if it's only that you don't want to do that again! That's still a valuable lesson, isn't it? Whether it's that you don't like that technique, or you could do it differently and save time or fabric, or you could have been more accurate and had better matches at your intersections, or one fabric should have been darker or lighter in value to show up better, or whatever.... every project teaches a lesson.

One lesson I have learned many times over (yes, sometimes we still need reminding!!) is not to choose sashing or border fabrics until the blocks are together. Often the one fabric you thought would be just perfect turns out not to be... I had this soft gold print that I thought would work well - the little red "figures" looked like doves to me, appropriate since this block is called Dove in the Window, don'cha think? When I laid the four finished blocks on it, it was just blahhh. Flat. I tried several other options, but nothing looked quite right. I kept thinking it's going to have to be the red, but I was afraid the red would be overpowering or too strong. I don't like looking at a quilt and the first thing you notice is the sashing. But I think the red works. I think the navy/tan contrast is strong enough to stand with the red....What do you think? Be honest!

Peace,
Linda

"In the canvas of life, a flat landscape would be pretty boring. It is the valleys and the mountains that help us to appreciate the flatlands. It  is the dark that makes us appreciate the light, and the cold that makes us appreciate the warm." ~ Anne Copeland