Tuesday 19 June 2012

Mr Roosevelt's Necktie

One more thing I did tonight - it's Stash Bee time again this month. Evelyn from Mamabill Quilts gave us our pattern this month. It was for Mr. Roosevelt's Necktie. A simple block, great for summer sewing.


Cut six 3 1/2" colored squares and eight 3 1/2" light squares. The colored squares can be all one color or six different ones. Cut one 4" colored and one 4" light square. Cut each of these 4" squares on the diagonal. With a light and dark triangle right sides together, sew a 1/4" seam on the diagonal side. Repeat with remaining triangles. Press seams toward the colored triangles and trim blocks to 3 1/2". Sew squares together into four rows and press. Simple!


Thanks again for stopping by, I promise that's all for tonight.
Adrienne

Plus some 1930's

This past weekend was a quilting marathon . I have decided to make a move into a friend's house in just a month, so I was hot to finish a project that needs to be in the mail in August. The result of this fevered sewing was this


I have been keeping (ok maybe hoarding) a stash of 1930s reproduction fabrics for quite some time. Once I made a Triple Irish Chain with these fabrics which I totally loved, but since then was at a loss of how to take these retro small scale prints and make them read "modern".



I have seen a lot of this "plus" pattern lately and I thought this would make a great pattern to highlight the prints. So I did it! Baby size for an soon to come little boy, I am very happy with how this one turned out. I kept the quilting simple and used a sunny yellow backing.



The pattern is very simple. I used 5" blocks, but you could make the blocks whatever size you like just keep them all the same. Lay them out on your design wall (for me the floor..) into the plus pattern and sew together rows and columns.


When piecing this type of top, I use a chain-piecing method I picked up somewhere along the line, do all the columns and then the rows. Makes piecing the top very quick. Here all of the rows and done, waiting to do the columns.


I was so in the zone on Sunday that when I finished the binding I still wanted to do more! I took one look at my stained ironing board, and the leftover yellow backing fabric and the board got a makeover!



So it is time to start packing my stash and machine (and me beautiful ironing board) to get ready for the move. I am just moving to a new neighbourhood in Ottawa, so not a giant move, but of course the first thing to do will be to set up a place for me to sew!

Thank you for stopping by
Adrienne

Thursday 7 June 2012

Maritime Inspiration

This week I am having a holiday in the Maritimes. While I have been living in Ottawa for the last few years, Nova Scotia is my home. There is nothing like the salt air to get my inspiration pumping! I had the opportunity to visit one of the places that first inspired me to quilt, Suttles & Seawinds in Mahone Bay. Suttles has an extraordinary selection of gorgeous clothes and accessories, many locally made. But what drew me, was the Quilt Barn!


Inside this unassuming historic barn is a cache of fabric and beautiful quilts hung on every surface made by local quilters.


I remember seeing the "Canada" Quilt for the first time and thinking "I want to do this!"


Two full floors of quilts and fabric, it is hard not to hunker down at their cutting table and get to work.  Especially with their great selection of Kaffe Fasset fabrics.


While I was drooling over the Kaffe Fasset, I was also drawn (several times!), into a back corner filled with ocean themed rugs, pillows and fabric.


Obviously I was feeling very touristy, because usually this theme does not appeal. But I found the perfect fabric that screams for fussy cutting! Not sure what it will end up in yet, but I am sure I will find those lobsters and crabs a good home.


The best part of the day... my family! While my Dad was not as enthralled as we were about the fabric (he was guarding the parking lot while we shopped), my sister and mom also found lots of inspiration in the rafters.


In fact, I was surprised to hear my mom say "Adrienne I found the next quilt I would like you to make me" and when I looked up, it was a modern design!


This asymmetrical design is gorgeous and for once Mom and I are on the same page! So for sure, this is going on to the "to do" list.

A trip to Suttles never let's me down. It is a trip down my memory quilty lane, and I always come away with a piece (or twelve) of new fabric, and some inspiration for a new project (or ten!). Not to mention, on the way out I found these great chairs. Too bad I need to fly home, or these babies would have been snapped up!


Is there a place on your quilting journey that stands out for you?

Thanks for stopping by
Adrienne