Early Morning in the Zone

I got up and started back to my current project - a baby quilt from a commercial pattern.  It is amazing how differently you look at a pattern after writing a few of your own.  Things like, are there good illustrations of the steps and blocks, are the illustrations in color or black and white, are there pressing instructions so all your seams nest nicely,....

I also reflected on how the last time I made this pattern that I had a friend to share some tips and tricks.  Whilst sewing can be that quiet place where we can get into the zone, there is no replacement for sewing with firiends or meeting new friends at a class in a bricks and mortor store.  

So, here is the result of efforts from the wee hours this morning.

Now I'm off to Addies, for some flange fabric.  Didn't think I needed it originally, but it is sure nice to go and get what I need rather than wait for the mail!

Count down,....

A stack of patterns awaiting a cover and folding.  It is quite the process.  One cover quilt was completed, but for the binding, last spring. I wrote the pattern in the last two months and I finished the other cover quilt after Christmas.

Thanks to the support of a great friend, Armiel, the pattern was tested and reviewed this past month.  I couldn't have completed the pattern without her help!  

Pictures in the Snow

What happens when you didn't complete a quilt before the snow arrived?

You are out tromping around in your boots, dragging your quilts in the fresh snow, putting plastic bags on your camera tripod legs and praying it doesn't start snowing again before you get your photos.   Thankfully it was delightfully warm, I didn't even need to have my mitts on.

So, what do you think my friends in Phoenix area will think when there is snow on the cover of my new pattern?  Those crazy Canadians!

My new pattern"Rail in a Rail" is in the final edits.  There is a 42 inch square baby quilt and a 72" square lap quilt for two!  A quilt that fits only one person is of little use in my household.  Here is a peek at the colours in the baby quilt

I will release my pattern in February 2016.  The final edits always take longer than I would think.  Stay tuned,.....

Down to the last scrap

What to do with all the leftover "Holly Topper" scraps? I am always short of place mats.  So, this year I am going to make 14" x 18" place mats with the leftover blocks/pieces of blocks from my projects.  Bind and back them with the same fabric and I will have a matched set of sorts.  Let's see how long it takes my family to find their favourite one and then the jockeying for "their" mat will begin.  

I had a bit of fun adding in the 3" house block from the Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks series from 2015.  This block is addictive.  You can find the 12 months of Bitty Blocks on their website.  These are yet another great leader and ender project to have beside your machine.  I am rather addicted to these small blocks and have only made 2, so far!  Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks  How many will you make this year?

Spring is Around the Corner - the beginning of a New Year!

I have been "holed up" in my studio for the last few nights now.  Yes, even last night for a couple of hours.  I can't help but think that spring is around the corner when I am working with such spring themed fabrics.  That is, until I peek my head out the window to a foot of snow on the ground.  Here is a view of "Holly Toppers Gone Spring".  This is a sample for a class I am teaching.  The colours just make me smile.

This morning is the start of a New Year.  I have so much to be thankful for - family, dear friends, health and overwhelming inspiration around me to continue sketching and taking these designs to finished projects.  So here is to seeing the inspiration around us this year!