Black and White quilt

Daily Quiltspiration - Take advantage of the great quilting books available at your local library.  It's a great way to explore different styles and color options for your own quilts without spending a lot of money.


Hello everyone!  A few days ago I mentioned two-colour quilts in my daily quiltspiration.  I thought it would be a nice change to make a black and white quilt with a dash of colour added just for fun. 



Here are my black on white fabrics....

  

...and the contrasting white on black.




I can't decide which of these would give my quilt the most zing...that hot pink in the back is a definite contender.  The solids are from Kona - I bought them in July and have been too afraid to cut into them!



Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

Shop hop

Daily Quiltspiration - Grab your favourite quilt magazine or book and take a few moments to look and dream and plan.  I have a pad of post-it notes next to my reading chair so I can jot down ideas for future projects and then place them on the magazine page for future reference.

Hello everyone!  I am so glad it's Saturday.  I've been planning a shop hop for a few of my quilting friends and today is the day!  Yoohoo!  Beginning in January, we will meet once a month to cut fabric, sew and make some quilts for charity.  Some of us have been quilting for a few years and some are newbies, but regardless of experience, it will be fun.  To get us in the quilting mood, I thought a trip to a few quilt stores in town was in order.  Here are the links to a few of the shops we will visit today:

1.  http://www.mysewingroom.ca/
2. http://www.traditionalpastimes.com/pg/index.php
3. http://www.frecklesquiltshop.com/index.html
4. http://www.alongcamequilting.com/

Only one store is not on the web, A Sewing Sensation.  Next time, we'll have to head out of town, as I've heard of a few great quilt stores in Lethbridge (south of the city) and Airdrie (north of the city). 

Happy quilting!
Mary-Frances

How many days to Christmas???

Daily Quiltspiration - If you find the idea of colour selection daunting, why not make a classic two-colour quilt, like blue and white, or red and white.


Hello everyone!  We've made it through another week, yoohoo!  Please make sure to take some time for yourself today, even if it is only 5 minutes.  The crazy hectic time of year is fast approaching...although, for some, it's always crazy hectic :-)!

This summer I made a quilt for my DD's boyfriend, it was from a kit.  After that lovely experience, I told my DD that I would never, ever, ever, make a quilt from a kit again....famous last words, as since then I have made one baby quilt from a kit (although I did change a few things and added some wonky blocks) and am now thinking of making this Christmas wall hanging.  I just can't help myself I guess, I see these lovelies on display at craft/quilt shows and I think, "yeah, sure, I could do that, it won't take much time, I'll just whip it up, all the fabric is selected for me, the instructions are easy, I'll have it done in no time." (cue hysterical laughter)  Righto - does any of this sound familiar?  I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this. ;-)

So here goes nothing...wish me luck!

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



This is the center panel for the wall hanging - a total cheater, but the Santa's are too cute, so couldn't pass it up.



I'll use the rest of the fabric to make twister blocks (you can see them on the pattern on the right) and a red flange around the center panel...and that's it.



Quilters and their pets

Daily Quiltspiration - Colour selection often strikes fear in the heart of the new quilter.  Let the designers do the work for you and select fabrics from a coordinating line.  This guarantees that the colours will work well together and you can focus on making your first quilt!



Hello everyone!  I just want to let you know about a wonderful photo display being held at the Quilt University website. Quilters were asked to submit photos of their pets in the quiltroom and there are some really cute ones.  http://www.quiltuniversity.com/

Be sure to check it out, it will brighten your day.  I missed the deadline for submission this year, so here's my entry.


Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

Quilt approved by Max - No matter how often I tell our dog to get off the quilt, he has to sneak back and give it his seal of approval!

A language all our own!

I saw this yesterday and thought it was too good not to share with all of you.  Thanks Joyce of jdebreuilsartandquilts for bringing it to my attention and thanks to Michelle of With-heart-and-hands for compiling the list.

Take a peek here to see what I'm talking about...http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

A few more hexagons

Daily Quiltspiration - Don't focus on the idea of perfection, that's the realm of the divine.  For many of us, a quilt is meant to provide warmth, to comfort, to express friendship, that in itself is enough.

Hello everyone!  I have a few more hexagons to show you.  I've managed to do a few more, but am not overextending myself as I don't want to hurt my wrist - (is there such a thing as quilter's wrist or elbow?  Just wondering).   I have 30 hexies made, I need 16 more and then I can start putting it together - yoohoo.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances





Couldn't resist laying them out to get an idea of what the quilt will look like.  I still have to select a fabric for the setting triangles.  I'm thinking of a solid, something with a 1930's feel to it..perhaps sky blue or lilac?



Keeping it simple

Hello everyone!  I'd like to extend a great big welcome to Lisa, thank you for joining us!

My wrist is acting up again, so haven't been doing anything much on the quilting front but I did put up a few more of the Christmas decorations this weekend.  I'm keeping it simple this year as once the new year arrives we will be super busy with renovations, putting the house on the market and then moving into the new house, as well as moving DD from Montreal and then on to England - phew, I'm tired already just thinking about it!

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



The mantel is done, like I said I'm keeping it simple this year.



I added two of my santa's and used two medium-sized glass vases filled with non-breakable ornaments then wound two strings of silk holly leaves around everything.



This rolly-polly Santa makes me laugh - he's so jolly you can't help but smile when you see him.  I purchased him at the Festival of Crafts two years ago and the woman who makes them had a booth full of santa's, snowmen, elves and mice, it was so cheerful!




A few of my snowmen, tucked away in a corner on the piano this year.




The tall santa on the left was hand carved by an artisan in Quebec, I keep him out all year in my sewing room with a few of my other favourite santas.  The santa on the right is a candle from Pottery Barn - love their candles, but sooo expensive.



A few little figurines from my childhood - does anyone else remember these?  My mother would take my little brother and I to Montreal to see the Christmas decorations and she always bought us a small figurine as a memento. 



Our mini tree is set up in the foyer.



Here are two beautiful candles I purchased at Pottery Barn two years ago, it was a splurge but were well worth it...

 

...here's another look without the flash from the camera, that gives a better idea of what they look like.