Crazy Heart Quilt Progress

Crazy Heart CQ started some time ago. Truth be told I had begun the inner 'heart' while I was mulling over getting started on the Smithers Centennial Quilt which was the early days of 2012. How time flies!

I decided again this spring of 2017 it was time that 'Crazy Heart' found a home and direction. I had originally used some fringy braid that was hand sewn around the outside edge of the heart. But when I reviewed this peice, the fringy braid had to go. It was this initial start to remove the fringy braid that I realised underneath the braid, the heart was simply hand sewn with a light hand.

The new trim I chose to use was brown and black varigated wool. I did a quick and rustic whip stitch twice over to couch it down to the center of the quilt.

I have been working on this quilt in hopes of getting it done for my sister's birthday, but missed that deadline and so it goes.

But only time will tell me when its done!

In the meantime, here is another project I'm working on. This one must be done for July 1 Wedding Bells. I will post a full write up on making a denim quilt using photo transfers later this summer.

Take care and thanks for dropping by to read up on my projects and do leave me a comment.

Happy Quilting!

Circles-Till Death Do Us Part

I fell in love with making circle blocks as if they were the cats meow of all quilt making? 

Yes, its been a while to complete them and then I missed the wrap up over at Quilty Folk. But so what?

and More Circles

In the work of hand applique so far has lead me to realize I really like applique.

I even got really crazy and appliqued the cut off bits from around a cut circle, making just the right sized circle. I know, who knew that I'd fall head over heals in love with applique!

My orphan Hexie blocks found a new life while becoming circles. 

As I worked, the circles became 25 in number and then more squares and circles were cut to keep up my daily stitching. In the midst of unpacking, resorting, more culling and doing it all over again, I found peace and contentment through this action. I can think about a lot of stuff while stitching. 

I can relive joyous moments and smile or frown with concern when a difficult memory opens in my mind. If you hand stitch or hand embroider, the intense focused stitching gives me a sense of accomplishment when little accomplishment can be found in other parts of my life. I am very sure you know exactly what I mean?

I counted and pinned up the squares I'd completed so far. I began to see the quilt emerging and speaking to me. I listened and continued with a renewed sense of purpose.

Even the "Little Ones" found a home alongside the building blocks of circles. Slowly but surely, I began to have quite an assortment of  small circles accumulating. 

Reusing from clothing is alive and well in the wild assortment of squares I've chosen. The beige flowery right hand side of this photo is from my wedding dress. I was finding homes for all sorts of stash scraps as I worked through to the other side of this project.

This long weekend in B.C. is going along fabulously. I am stitching away......

Hope your weekend is finding you with a needle and thread too!

Blooming Crazy Quilt

Hello to all my quilty friends!

Super excited that I'm finally able to get into some new fabric and some new quilts. More on that later. But just received some fun project supplies from www.fabricspark.com.

A few years ago I was inspired and fell in love with Jen Kingswell designs! My work on her pattern "Midnight in the Oasis" gave me pause for a whole bunch of reasons.

I have done so many quilts that pausing has been good for me and my aspirations.

I lingered on modern versions of crazy quilting using machine stitches and machine embroidery.

But I love hand stitching, so.....

I journeyed deep into the cool pool of water. We all come forth via water. I paddled upstream and downstream and got caught in a tidal pool or two.

I find now that I am fearless! I know I can't help it, I go around sharing my inner thoughts as if we were having a tea on the deck. I hope you are not bored?

Since moving, I have been overwhelmed with finding a new home in Victoria. But if you live in B.C. you'll know that we are for an election soon and we are having a real estate crisis!

Distractions are every where!

My carefree attitude has come from walking the road of developing my own voice like these two great ladies of stitching, Jen Kingswell and Marge Sampson George.

My own personal quilt known as the "Happiness Quilt" is coming along and soon to be machine quilted!

And then spring has sprung finally in Victoria! I say finally, as I was convinced that we had brought the winter with us from Northern B.C. when we moved down here in December.

Thank you to Delores for giving me some awesome advise and I've got some fun hand stitched new baskets coming along for these two quilts.

No fear, we are coming along into a full blown spring.

And so is my new quilt "Blooming Crazy Quilt"

What do you think?

Baskets for Sisters

Hello quilters! 

We are finally into a real springtime here in Victoria!

Therefore, I was feeling springy on this past weekend and began working on these basket blocks again.

I intend to have these Baskets for Sisters done by Mother's Day. I have so much more energy since loosing 20 lbs using the Military Diet and Power Water Walking at the pool.

What do you think? What would you do with these, keep them as a sparce more modern style of quilt or use sashing between the blocks, maybe embellishment? 

Tell me what you would do?

And last weekend, while at a retreat, I did  some free-play to recreate my influence of Freddy Moran.

I have started a new crazy quilt that I can share here because its not part of my ongoing book Artisan Crazy Quilts. I really am drawn to sunset colors!

The bee print fabric is one yard I bought from Fabric Spark from Toronto. This new print from Jane Sassaman, Leaf Dance-Busy Bee-Golden is lovely.

Thank you to all of you followers who keep showing me my work has value to those who have never met me or learned of my unique style of crazy quilting.

Kerry's Bar Towel Quilt

We had such a great time at the Makehouse on Fort St in Victoria on March 11! Victoria's downtown core was alive with raindrops and bustling feet. I even found a parking spot not far away!

I have been in love with the ambiance at Jenny's Shop since the first time I saw the photo of her window display online.

Jenny Ambrose is so sweet and is passionate about reusing. The new fabric classes for lingerie shows in the various items hung around her shop.! 

Her classes are full of interesting fashion and home decor that would suit most learners with new stuff being added all the time. Also, what is coming are more quilting classes and for a video view of her shop, this video is a great promo of herself and her concept once you are at her site.

In the meantime, quilty folks! I watched a beginner make her first t-shirt quilt from bar towels. Yes, who knew that bar towels like these from different pubs from across the world even existed?

Kerry's undertaking was a bit over the top for a beginner. But it didn't slow down this energetic and focused student! Such a joy to watch a student learn. She trudged on like the best of them. She chose decorative top color thread that made this quilt bold and comfy all at once. 

Her hubby will be be very proud I'm sure!

This is me back in 2010 having made a custom t-shirt quilt for the then, Mayor of Smithers Cress Farrow's RV with formed corners, so I've not been stumped yet in what you can use in place of t-shirts for your quilt.

My services are available if you want a one of kind custom family heirloom, contact me!

 This t-shirt quilt below is one of my favorites. The owner commissioned me to "just put it all in something nice" and I think I did.

Moving right along with an upcoming quilt retreat happening this weekend. I'm off to get my quilt tops I want to finish up with this weekend.

This photo below was my most challenging t-shirt quilt.

Only one t-shirt you ask?