NSFAF 2014, Part 2

It's been a dark and dreary day (in more ways than one) - we are supposed to get heavy rains and wind in the next few days and indeed, the rain has begun. I have been tuned to the tv all day watching the events unfold in Ottawa. How very sad, a young reservist has lost his life while standing guard at the national War Memorial. Nothing much is yet known about the shooter and what is behind this... such a senseless loss of a young life. As I get older (and perhaps a bit wiser?) I often hear my Mother's voice saying "What is this world coming to?"  I too am shaking my head and wondering what is ahead...

So we had best head back to Amherst and view some more quilt beauty, don't you think? The Cumberland Quilt Guild always have a wonderful display of quilts in First Baptist Church, and once again they filled the sanctuary with much quilty goodness. Although the church was a bit dark, I did my best to get some decent photos.

In Christ Church nearby were more beautiful quilts, and if I remember correctly, every one was hand quilted. So nice to see as it seems more and more these days are done by machine.

The fourth show was a display of  New York Beauty quilts by Karen Neary, at the local quilt shop, Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium. Karen's work is exceptional and each one of her pieces was beautiful, but many were hung in the windows, which made them just about impossible to photograph. You can see Karen's beautiful work on her blog here and of course she has many patterns for her New York Beauties which you can order. Karen made a gorgeous NYB quilt and donated it to the festival for the Pin It and Win It draw- some very lucky person won it.. sadly, it wasn't me...   :(  That quilt, "New York, New York" graces the cover of the current issue of Quilters Connection, and the pattern is included in the magazine, so be sure to pick up a copy..
Karen's latest book, QUILTING Beauties will be released very shortly, be sure to watch for it, or you can order it directly from Karen.


You can view more photos of the NSFAF by two other Maritime quilter/bloggers by checking out  Sheila of Sheila's Quilt World and Leslie the Cuddle Quilter. Sheila took my Miniatures class last spring and stopped by on Saturday to say Hello- it was great to see you again Sheila -  thanks for dropping by! I haven't met Leslie yet but I know her sister. I'm sure we'll cross paths one of these days.. no doubt at a quilt show...

Piece!
Linda

"Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears."
~ Edgar Allan Poe

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival 2014..

This past weekend it was an honour and a privilege to teach a class at the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in Amherst N.S. I think I was as excited as my students were, perhaps even moreso. I do love teaching my Miniatures class, you know!   :)  We had a great day together, in a wonderful venue - nice and bright, spacious with lots of tables and electrical plugs - a perfect classroom! There was only one thing wrong with the day - I forgot to take some pictures during the class. You would think that as I watched my students taking photos of my miniature quilts, it would have jogged my memory to get out my own camera... Nope. Totally did not occur to me to take some "class in progress" photos until the day was over and students were packing up... I rarely do take photos during a class; I know some people are not comfortable being photographed... but I must make a conscious effort "next time" to take some class photos- Bonnie Hunter style! lol So you'll just have to believe me when I tell you we all had great fun, and I think they all enjoyed the class and found the info and tips very helpful. I will share photos in the future of students work, if  I receive any...  :)

This is the third year I have attended the NS Fibre Fest - naturally I go on the Friday when the quilt shows are on - this year there were four shows to see! My first stop was at Town Hall to see the newly formed Maritime Modern Quilt Guild's display, and to meet fellow blogger Linda Smith of  Scrapmaster. Their display of modern quilts was very impressive, especially since this is a relatively new Guild. There was a wonderful variety of pieces, from full size quilts to pillows,  and Linda did a great job of talking to visitors and explaining what the "modern" movement is all about.
Here's a quick look at the MMQG's display....

I have long been a big fan of  Bill Cosby, so loved this quilt with his wonderful portrait. I laughed when Linda told us someone else had come in and commented about it too- how much they loved Reggie Jackson!! Too funny!

Piece,
Linda

You can't buy happiness... but you can buy fabric and that's pretty close...

Tiny Treasures - Miniature Quilts class

On Saturday October 18th I'll be teaching a class on Miniature Quilts at the 2014 Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in Amherst, N.S. The class runs from 9a.m. to 4p.m. with a short lunch break, and we are fortunate to have a wonderful bright spacious venue at the Adult Bridge Services building located on Station Street in downtown Amherst, just steps from central Victoria Street.

This class is a "combo deal" - it's a skills/techniques class as much as it is a project class. Students will pick up many tips and techniques to improve the accuracy of their work. When working in miniature, piecing accuracy is very important, but who wouldn't like to improve their piecing skills and precision for quilting projects of all sizes? There will be many demos and extensive notes given, as well as time to sew, beginning a Miniature of your own. This class is geared to the Intermediate level quilter and beyond, it is not a class for Beginners. I am assuming you already have knowledge of and experience with the basic quiltmaking process. ie. I will not be teaching how to add borders, do binding, etc.

Students will choose their own pattern or design, with guidance. Like beginning quilters who are encouraged to start with blocks that have few seams, I will be suggesting you consider fairly simple blocks for your first miniature, such as Nine Patch or Four Patch, Shoofly, Anvil, Churn Dash, etc. Students will also choose the size of block they wish to make; I am not going to put pressure on anyone by telling them they must make 1" blocks! If you wish to work very very small, and already know how to paper-piece, that is an option as well. (Please don't feel intimidated by my tiniest works- most are foundation pieced.) Everyone will receive a sheet of paper-piecing patterns for a number of very small designs, extra sheets will be available.  Like any new skill, working in miniature improves with practice; one cannot expect to jump right in and work in the smallest size. Everyone's skill level is different and you know better than I how accurate and consistent your own work is. I will encourage you to take that into consideration when choosing the design and size of your blocks.

Topics covered in class include: choice of the best tools and equipment for working in miniature, choice of fabrics, threads and needles, tips and techniques for improving accuracy in cutting and stitching, the use of Thangles for making very small Half Square Triangles, how to make very narrow flat pipings, how to stitch a 1/8" wide border, and more.

Above all, I want the day to be an enjoyable one - lots of FUN and stress-free. There will be many demos given, I bring all my Miniature quilts as well as a number of books and magazines on Miniature quilts (no shortage of inspiration) and there will be door prizes too- all miniature related, of course!

My Miniature quilts can be viewed under "Galleries" on my blog sidebar. Watch for new additions. The size of each quilt is given.

Lastly I feel it only fair to warn you: working in miniature can be addictive. I cannot be held responsible if you begin hoarding all fabric scraps larger than 1/4", or going through others' garbage to retrieve their fabric scraps. (Both behaviours are commonly seen in those bitten by the Miniatures bug. There is no known treatment or cure...I suffer from this affliction myself.)

Registration for the class is done through me, not the Fibre Arts Festival. (Each teacher handles their own registrations.) If you have any questions or would like to register for the class, you can contact me at hubbard2(at)nbnet(dot)nb(dot)ca or leave a comment on this post. Fee for the class is $60.00; your spot is secured upon receipt of payment and I will then forward  to you the supply list for the class.

EDIT, Sept.21 - The class is now 3/4 full. If you are thinking of registering, don't wait too long, you may be disappointed.

Piece!
Linda

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival 2014

The 2014 Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival brochures are now out! Classes are listed and registration is now open. Although the new website is not quite ready yet, the NSFAF blog has a listing of Instructors and Contact Info so you can get in touch to register soon for the classes of your choice. Workshop/class descriptions are also there. My class on Miniature Quilts is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th. You can email (or call) me for further info, or leave a comment here on this post. I will soon be adding a button to my sidebar which will link directly to a post with further info.
EDIT: The new website is now up and running and can be viewed by clicking here.

Peace,
Linda

"Never be afraid to do something new. Remember amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic." ~ Anonymous

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

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival

This past week was the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in Amherst and I was happy to get there for a day. There are different things going on each day so one has to make choices... never easy. I chose to go Friday to take in the Zonta Fibre Bazaar and two quilt shows as well as the other exhibits which were on all week (Fibre Art Walking Tour, hooked rug displays, etc.). I had originally hoped to stay over for Saturday but that didn't work out. And Mother Nature gave us a rainy day on Friday, but I didn't let that slow me down.

My first stop was to the new quilt shop in town, Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium. Yes, I have my priorities straight - shop FIRST!! I have eagerly been watching and listening to my friend Karen talk about this shop and all the exciting preparations to get it open. How exciting to finally walk through the door and meet owner Beth. It's a great little shop and I look forward to returning again when I am passing by.

Next a stop in to Deanne Fitzpatrick's Studio. Deanne is  a well known rug hooker and her shop is always a riot of color and fibre. I resisted all temptation there but it wasn't easy... Then further down the street was the Zonta Bazaar. This is an awesome collection of vendors with "all things fibre" that your little heart could desire. The festival brochure described it as a "dazzling fibre arts shopping extravaganza" and dazzling it was!!! Did I take photos? Sadly, no. (I  really wanted to!)

There were many artists there with original works and often they do not want photos taken so I "didn't go there". You'll just have to believe me regarding its awesomeness. There was lots of yarn, much of it hand-dyed and hand spun, wool fabric for the hookers, cottons for the quilters,  knit goods, tatting, jewellry, a great variety of original fibre art and much more. I treated myself to a wonderful needlefelted mixed media piece by textile artist Alison Murphy of Hampton N.B. Click on the link to see more of her wonderful pieces. I know I'm going to be looking for her work next time I'm in Saint John, at Handworks Gallery on King Street.
There were two Quilt Shows set up in churches side by side - perfect for the rainy weather- you could almost dash between the raindrops from one to the other. The Cumberland Quilters Guild Show was in First Baptist Church, with quilts beautifully displayed over the pews and hung from the balcony. This always proves a challenge for photography though - it's difficult to get a good photo of an individual quilt. So just enjoy the "group" shots... There is something about quilts in a church sanctuary.. so beautiful...

 The second show was in the smaller Christ Church and it was just as beautiful. At this show we were asked to pick our favourite for Viewer's Choice. Arrggghhhh! It is SO difficult to choose just one! I did of course, but there are always at least three more that I would like to vote for as well... I wonder which one won? These quilts were draped over two pews so it was possible to get a slightly better photo of individual quilts. Ya hafta work with what ya've got....

That's a brief look at another wonderful Fibre Fest in Awesome Amherst. This was the sixth annual. I'm already looking forward to number seven. Mark your calendars now- it's always the Tuesday through Saturday following Thanksgiving weekend. Watch these Youtube videos if you need a little more encouragement to attend - they'll have you wanting more fibre in your diet....
I am linking up with Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River. Check it out for even more fibre in your diet today!!

Peace,
Linda

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul." ~ Elder Uchtdorf

Awesome Amherst continued...

I was having trouble with Blogger over the  weekend, getting my photos to load, hence the post being delayed until Sunday. (I've now figured out the problem, I think - finally) As it was, I had to cut it short on the photos, so today here are a few more. I just had to share some of Don's amazing birdhouses with you - I do hope you went to his Facebook album to meet The Corkers - they are worth getting to know!! Edit: Be sure to visit my friend Gail's blog here to see her birdhouse pics.

 Amherst is such a nice little town. As I get older (oh no) I find I'm more interested in things like local history and architecture. I couldn't resist a few pics of some of the Victorian homes. I know older homes can be a lot of work to update, and costly to heat, but I would just love to live in a sweet little house like this first one. Isn't it darling?? 

Bank of  N.S. House, c. 1870. 192 Victoria St. East. Gothic Revival style

Dickey House, c. 1870.  169 Victoria St. East. Second Empire style

 

Peace,

Linda 

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, be it ever so humble there's no place like home.