QC 2010 Part 4 - for you Applique lovers...

Photos of the National Juried Show winners are now up on the CQA/ACC website; go here to see them. You can click on each one for a larger view. Unfortunately the photos are not that large and it is impossible to see the detail in these amazing works of art. Those of you who are CQA members will of course get the NJS catalogue with full color photos of all NJS entries, in the Autumn newsletter in early September, but one really has to see these shows in person to appreciate the quilts - photos, even large ones just don't do them justice. That's why everyone should start making plans now to attend Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax. Even if you go to simply view the Shows without participating in the Conference... you won't regret the trip. Halifax is a very easy drive for us now, with divided highway the entire way. It is an opportunity not to be missed, to view and study work of this calibre.

The NJS Viewers Choice, Ruffled Feathers by Roxanne Nelson, (also the winner of first place in the Representational Wallquilt category, for a total of $3,500.00 in prize money) was truly amazing. You would swear that you could pat those "real looking feathers". All prize winners were very worthy of their awards, and there were many others that I would have pinned a ribbon on, as well. Truly, all entries in this Show are winners...

One three dimensional entry was disqualified from possible awards because it was on a "frame" of sorts, (this is against NJS "rules") but it was getting a lot of attention from the viewers. Picture a pop-up book type of quilt- it was 5 layers deep, mounted in a 12 - 15" thick(?) frame, which was covered in pieced and quilted blocks. The scene was a small girl walking into a wood, with a cottage type house in the background. The foreground "layers" included much foliage, tree branches, flowers, etc. If you stuck your head "into" the quilt, all pieces were backed with traditional blocks as well.. it was amazing. The maker, from Quebec, worked on it for 2 years. Unfortunately, as I've explained before, no photography is allowed in the NJS so I could not take a photo... Too bad, as it was one of the most amazing pieces I have seen anywhere...

The photos on this post today are from the Joy of Applique Show. The Wild Rose Stitchers of Cochrane AB are a chapter of The Applique Society and were proud to curate the first all-Canadian TAS exhibit at QC2010. The exhibit included pieces with many varying techniques of applique, both hand and machine, on works traditional and contemporary. I am not a hand applique person, and doubt very much that I ever will be, but I certainly admired the highly skilled workmanship that was displayed in this show. The hand quilting was incredible, the applique was perfect, the three dimensional work was exceptional......

From the top are: Reminiscence by Dawn Hunt with Grace Whiting, Wildflowers by Betty Bailey, Alberta: Moments and Memories by Jennifer Hill, with several closeups for your enjoyment, and lastly Kootenay Star by Dawn Fox Cooper, again with several closeups for the detail.... This is a small taste of The Joy of Applique Show. Hope you enjoyed it!

Piece (or maybe today I should say Applique!)

Linda

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." ~ Franaz

Quilt Canada Part 3. More Winners

Here are more prize winners in the Trend Tex Challenge. The winner of the Trend Tex Award was my absolute favourite. It also won the Viewers Choice award, so I guess a lot of folks picked it as their fav! It is titled Lucy (the girl with kaleidoscope eyes) and was made by Susanne MacDonald of Medicine Hat AB. It was a beautiful piece and I loved the Beatles portraits along the bottom.

First place winner (below left) was Flying High by Linda Schmidt of Penticton BC. It was an incredible piece of work and certainly deserving of it's prize. I thought she made excellent use of the fabrics.

Second place (below right) went to Carol Greenhalgh of Kamloops BC for Celestial Stitching. This was also one of my most favourites. As with the first place winner, her piecing was exceptional.

Third place (left) was won by Wendy Tassone of Jasper AB for Spirit in the Sky. I missed the opportunity to get a photo of this piece, so I have taken an image from the CQA website.

This show never ceases to amaze me. There were over 100 quilts returned this year.The creativity and the variety of interpretations of the theme just blow me away. Congrats to all entrants as well as the winners. All entries can be viewed on the CQA website here

Next, photos from The Wild Rose Stitchers, the Cochrane Alberta Chapter of The Applique Society.

Piece,

Linda

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars".

~ Les Brown

Quilt Canada 2010 Part 2

The Trend Tex Challenge, one of the national shows that can be seen each year at the annual CQA Conference, is a fundraiser for CQA. Fabrics are generously donated by Trend Tex Fabrics; they are cut up and packaged into kits which are sold to members and the public. Each person gets the same five fabrics, 1/4 meter of each. Quilted wallhangings are made on the chosen theme and donated back to CQA, then are sold by silent auction at the Conference.

The pieces are judged and prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, as well as the Trend Tex Award- this piece is given back to Trend Tex Fabrics to hang in their Board Office. Each of the three judges get to choose their favourite for a Judges Choice Award, and the viewers vote for their favourite to win the Viewers Choice Award, announced at the close of show. Shown here are the three Judges Choice awards. Above, right is It's a Lovely Night for a Noontrance by Kate Madeloso of Halifax NS. At left is We Must Reach for the Stars by Anna Hergert of Moose Jaw SK. At right, is Up,Up and Away by Joanne Love of Whitehorse YK.

Coming next are the other TTC prize winners....

Piece,

Linda

Victory comes by looking up, not back.

Quilt Canada 2010 Part 1

I'm baaaaackkkk.... What can I say- Quilt Canada 2010 was awesome! The shows were amazing, the merchants mall was large and well attended, the Organizers did a great job... everything was wonderful except the weather! (Of course, we have no control over that, but the snowstorm we had on Thursday was just a bit much! 8" of wet snow, very strong cold winds and hail/rain.. I was SO glad I took my sandals... haha).

I know you are anxious to see photos from the many Quilt Shows that were held in conjunction with this Conference. There were 13 shows in all- the three that always accompany the annual Conference- the NJS (National Juried Show), the Trend Tex Challenge, and the Invitational Show, plus 10 others put on by "local" guilds and groups. No photography is allowed in the NJS. Photos of the winners will be posted on the CQA/ACC website and when I see that they are there, I'll post a link so you can view them. Those of you who are CQA/ACC members will of course receive the NJS catalogue with your Autumn CQA newsletter. Not being allowed to take photos of the NJS was most frustrating for me, because this Show is the creme de la creme, and let me tell you, there were some amazing pieces of work - some real showstopppers. It was nice to see a lot of new names and a number of first time entrants. Every entry was exceptional and I would not have wanted the job of judging.

What I am showing you here are some of my favourites from the Invitational Show. This show is by invitation to the Conference teachers, jurors, judges, the CQA Board of Directors, the Local Organizing Committee, CQA Regional Reps, and Canadian Quilter newsletter volunteers. Because there are no guidelines other than a maximum size, there was a wide range of work - large, small, traditional, contemporary, and abstract - shown in this inspiring collection. At the top on the right you see Karen Henry's Golden Tree on Halifax Harbour. I had seen this quilt before, but what a treat to see it again. The colours are wonderful and I love her pieced background, done with the woven technique that she teaches.

Above is Esmerelda Meets Her Knight in Shining Armour by Heather Stewart. I love quilts with humour and the expression on Esmerelda's face just made me smile. Heather's quilting, especially of Esmerelda's scales was wonderful.

The third photo is Expression of Morris by Katie Frieson. Katie was teaching applique classes and if this quilt is an indication, I'm sure her students must have been thrilled with their classes. I don't think you can see her hand-quilting in the closer shot but I think they are the tiniest and most even hand stitches I have ever seen... Click on the photos for a larger view...

This was Katie's first time teaching at a CQA Conference, in fact her very first time at a Quilt Canada. I'm sure we'll see her again in the future...

Renske Helmuth's Longevity was one of my absolute favourites. I love her Sashiko work and her applique is among the best! The cranes were so perfect - her curves were smooth and the applique stitches invisible. The sashiko stitches were perfectly even. And look at her hand quilting!! Wow!!

I have to say I've never been terribly crazy about black and white quilts, but Ana Buzzalino's On the Wings of a Dream was a beauty! The hot pink made it sing! It was stunning! It has won a number of prizes in previous shows in the USA.... no wonder!

That's all for now. I'll post more photos from another Show in another day or two... I'm off to Moncton tomorrow and back on Thursday, check back then....

Piece,

Linda

"We would accomplish so much more if we thought of the infinite possibilities."

~ Linda LaTourelle

Westward Ho!

I've been very busy trying to tie up all loose ends before I head off to Calgary. Getting daughter moved home and settled/organized, sorting out what will be moved to her apt. while I'm away, getting some work done outside in the flowerbeds (gardeners beware- the lily beetles are already on the move- I've found a few marching towards my lilies with love in their beady little eyes!!), getting the house reasonably clean, laundry done, canvassing for cancer finished, new pants hemmed, plants watered... on and on.. you know how it is when you are going away... a hundred things to take care of...

Anyway, by the time you are reading this I will be on a flight winging my way to Vancouver. I will spend a four day weekend with a good buddy in Chilliwack, then head to Calgary on Monday evening, for Quilt Canada 2010. I can't wait. It's going to be a great conference. I can't wait to see all the Shows - 13 in all!! Be prepared for some serious photos when I get back!!!

Don't know if I'll have an opportunity to blog while I'm away- probably not. So I'll likely be absent from here for a while- see you after May 2. Westward Ho!!!

Piece,

Linda

"On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again....." ~ Willy Nelson

Wordless Wednesday.... Spring Beauty...

Piece,

Linda

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." ~ Ruth Stout

Art to Walk On, Part 2

Well it's been a busy weekend and I am late showing you more photos from a local Show by the Heritage Rug Hooking Guild. I promised to share a few more of my favourites with you and here they are. This Show is SO worth a visit- the work is amazing. The largest piece is a wonderful large rug (6 or 7 feet square?) hooked by Shirley Lindsay over a span of 17 years. I have known Shirley since I was a young child and have admired her work for years. But this piece is without a doubt her most spectacular, in my mind. It depicts all the provincial flowers, and was adapted from a quilt pattern that appeared in Chatelaine magazine years ago (I remember that pattern!)

Her use of colour and shading is wonderful, and I joked with her that this rug would look sooo perfect in my home, but she didn't take the hint... I can't imagine why.. surely after working on it for 17 years, she must be tired of it by now...??!!!

Other pieces also showed wonderful colour use and beautiful shading - the skies in Inukshuk by Shirley Lewis and Blue Heron by Mary Grant are just so realistic, and so well done, don't you agree?

I seemed to be drawn to many of the pieces that had "Maritime flavor". One of my most favourite pieces in the entire show is by my good friend Carole Christie, My Dream Summer. Carole has mastered the art of using thick textured yarns and wool roving to add more texture and dimension to her work. I'm sure this piece was inspired by the cottages at the Amherst Shore in Nova Scotia where Carole spends her summers. Below are a few other favourites: Whale by Elaine Gunter, Seagull by Gladys Connely and Periwinkle Blue by Lynne Fudge. Do check out this Show- you won't regret it...

Piece,

Linda

Every man is an artist painting his life every day.

I'm a Hooker Wannabe....

Tonight I have mainly photos to share with you from a current Show in our city. The Heritage Rug Hooking Guild have a beautiful display of rugs in the Gallery at Government House. The Show is titled Art to Walk On and it is on display until mid May. As you can see here, it is certainly worth a visit.

My Mother was a hooker... uuhhh.... that doesn't sound good does it? A RUG hooker, I mean.. and I have often thought I'd like to give it a try, but I cannot find enough hours in the day now, to do what I want to do, let alone starting something else... But I'm sure you'll agree, this is beautiful work.. we have so many artistically talented people in this city... it's a shame there is not more recognition...

I'm a little short on time tonight so am just going to add some photos for you to enjoy. I'm off in the morning to "fetch" my daughter home from University for the summer. I'll add more photos on Saturday night or Sunday so visit again then... In the meantime, enjoy. The four rugs shown here are all done by ladies who are also quilters and fellow members of the Fredericton Quilters' Guild- such talent! In order, from the top, are Fishing Shacks in Autumn by Carole Christie, Village by Jean Ketch, Windsong by Jane Seabrook and Vines, Leaves and Flowers by Ann Price. Come back on Sunday to see more...

Piece,

Linda

"Creativity takes courage".

~ Henry Matisse

April Daffodils

April is Daffodil month- please help out the Cancer Society by buying a bunch when you see them on sale this week. And please make a donation when a canvasser knocks on your door. The amount doesn't matter, every bit helps. We have all been touched by cancer, if not ourselves, then a friend, family member or neighbour... I lost a very good friend a year ago today.. my beautiful friend Sandy was taken by bowel and liver cancer. I think of her with each step I take while doing my door to door canvassing, and also was thinking of her on Monday night as I counted, bunched, wrapped, and boxed over 2100 daffodils.

So please help. Together we can beat cancer.

Rest in peace, sweet Sandy girl...

Peace,

Linda

Legend of the Daffodil: Each time a guardian angel notices a good deed, a prayer, kindness or sacrifice, she plucks a gold star from the heavens and sends it to earth, where it blooms as a golden daffodil.

The Top Five...

A while back, I picked up what I thought looked like an interesting book at Winners. It was titled "The 10 Best of Everything - An Ultimate Guide for Travelers". That intrigued me so I brought it home. It contains lists of 10 bests under many categories such as Sports, Places (islands, gardens, museums and galleries, national parks, etc.), Travel (landmarks, cruises, drives, vistas, etc.), Foods (coffees, chocolates, steak houses, ice creams, etc.). Interesting reading, for sure....

As I was sitting at the sewing machine the other day, I thought- What would I choose as my 10 best or favourite sewing tools or equipment? I pondered this as I was working on my teeny tiny blocks. I decided 5 might be an easier number to start with as 10 seemed a bit daunting... So after some thought, here are my Top Five. (Perhaps I'll add five more later, for a total of The Ten Best... )

1. Bernina - without a doubt the one thing I would never want to be without is my Bernina sewing machine. I have sewed on a Bernina for almost 20 years now and I would have no other. Their slogan is so true: "Nothing sews like a Bernina. Nothing." I love it's perfect tension, it's beautiful satin stitch, it's workhorse attitude.. I love everything about it. Yes, it's heavy, but that's a sign of quality. Metal parts as opposed to plastic. The Swiss know what they're doing... Swiss Chocolate, Swiss watches, and Bernina...

2. Bendable Bright Light - this is probably the best light I have ever used for sewing. I have Ott Lights, both floor and desk, and they are great too. But for a bright light exactly where you want it, you can't beat this little gem. A non-magnetic bracket attaches to your machine with a strong double sided adhesive, and the light snaps into the bracket easily. The gooseneck allows you to adjust the bright white LED light to exactly where you want it. It makes sewing at night and/or with dark fabrics a breeze...I don't know how I ever sewed without this light.

3. Micro Tip Fiskars Snips - I love these little babies. They are SO sharp; I love their spring action (easy on the hands) and small size. With their sharp points, they are great for snipping into small corners or curves.... I've been using these for quite awhile now and they are still very sharp. Just love 'em. Just sayin'

4. Fons and Porter marking pencil - I have tried out many marking pencils over the years but I do believe Fons and Porter have come up with the best! The leads that come with the pencil are white but you can also buy a package of dark leads. The leads are made from a water soluble ceramic material; they give a nice fine line that is very easy to remove - either with the eraser (extras also available) or with water. What more could a gal want? Read more here.

5. Travel Case - I have been lugging my machine around for years, between taking workshops and teaching.... Don't know why I didn't get one of these years ago... A travel case on wheels, similar to luggage. It holds my machine, foot pedal, power bar, all cords and lots more. Pockets on outside can hold extra items. Just makes travelling to teach SOOO much easier....

Good equipment makes this hobby so much easier and more enjoyable. What would you count in your favourites?

Piece,

Linda

"Buy the best you can afford. It's money well spent and better than buying cheap and having to continuously replace..." (good advice from my Mother)

Here's the proof...

Spring is definitely here, even though the weather forecast for the weekend includes the possibility of some rain and snow...(ugh!) These pics were all taken this morning in my gardens. I haven't even cleaned off all the winter protective leaf mulch yet, as you can see. I'm afraid we may still get some nights when the temp dips below freezing so I am resisting cleaning it all off just yet. It's hard to believe that it's only April 6th - this time last year we still had a lot of snow on the ground... Easter weekend was so lovely with lots of sun and warm temps, what a lovely treat- the weather was almost better than the chocolate! (I can hardly believe I said that!)

We had an overnight visit from Ian and Tiffany and they took back Easter treats to Mark and Laura.

I'll be returning to my sewing machine tomorrow as the forecast is predicting rain for the next 6 days. Certainly that should be enough time for me to make decisions and finish up Blueberries and Cream. And I already have plans for the next Mini - can't wait to get started on it - I promise it will be colorful!! Just remembered I have a class to teach this Saturday, so guess I have to prepare for that too!

I'll leave you with this delightful little poem I found...

First a howling blizzard woke us,

Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before our eye can focus,

Crocus!

~ Lilja Rogers

Piece,

Linda

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day". ~ W. Earl Hall

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! It's a beautiful sunshiny morning here in Freddy Beach. I hope you all are enjoying a sunny day as well; I'm sure the Easter Bunny had no trouble doing his rounds last night as it was warm and clear. I thought I'd show you some of my bunny and egg collections today, and share with you some of the important lessons I have learned from the Easter Bunny:

~ Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

~ Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

~ All work and no play can make you a basket case.

~ There's no such thing as too much chocolate.

~ Some body parts should be floppy.

~ Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans.

~ Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

~ Good things come in small sugar-coated packages.

~ The grass is greener in someone else's basket.

~ To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell.

I've been having trouble with Blogger today, and wrote this post this morning, and am just able to get it to publish now at 8:30pm. So please forgive my late Easter Greetings....

If you are a recent reader of my Blog, you might get a kick out of my Easter post from last year when I told the story of my son trying to trap the Easter Bunny... you can read it here.

Piece,

Linda

There's no such thing as too much chocolate...

"Blueberries and Cream" preview

I had hoped to have more blocks done by now, but the weather the last few days has been SO beautiful and WARM, I just couldn't bring myself to sit at my machine when the sunshine was calling my name... Here are the first 12 blocks and a piece of blueberry fabric that I'm pondering the use of, either for a border, or possibly the backing. Not sure yet... Still haven't decided on the setting either- whether to put the blocks on point with alternate plain squares between or just block to block, or perhaps use some sashing.... And I haven't decided on whether to stop at 16 (4 rows of 4) or do 25 blocks for 5 rows of 5 blocks.... Not very decisive am I? The blocks will be 1 1/8" finished, the HST's are 3/8". Each block uses a different blue and a different cream fabric. (These blocks are foundation-pieced, so they are not lying pefectly flat at this point). The idea for this Miniature came from a photo in an Australian magazine, the design was called Blackberries and Cream. And since I am a blue fan, of course I had to do Blueberries and Cream.... More photos later once it's together.

Piece,

Linda

Delight in small things.