Libby's Log Cabin Quilt

Some quilts go together easy and others are just plain work. This one was one of the easy ones. Made for a repeat customer, she selected the fabric line she liked (Country Orchard by Blackbird Designs from Moda)

My version of Libby's Log Cabin

Because we didn't have a pattern selected, I ordered a 1/2 yard pack of all the fabrics in this line from one of my fav online fabric shops, The Fat Quarter Shop. Plus a few extra yards of a couple of the greens for the final binding.

The original Libby's Log Cabin from Fons and Porter

I'm always searching for inspiration for my next project and when I saw this pattern on the Fons and Porter website, I sent the link to my customer and she agreed that it would look great in the fabrics she chose. The pattern is called "Libby's Log Cabin" and is found here: http://www.fonsandporter.com/articles/libbys-log-cabin-quilt-project

Because the quilt I needed was larger than the pattern was for, I first calculated how many blocks I needed for the larger quilt. Then I took one of the greens that I had extra of & the solid 1/2 yard pieces and made the star centres for each of the blocks.

Pieced stars for centre of log cabin blocks

Log cabin blocks with cornerstones

 Then, when I went to a quilt retreat this past fall, I took the pattern & fabrics along, thinking I might get some blocks done, but never expecting that I would get them all done!

Pieced log cabin blocks

The quilt went together so well - the perfect combination of fabrics I love and a twist on a traditional pattern.

My version of Libby's Log Cabin before quilting

The top was quickly finished and sent off to be quilted. I chose a plain cotton muslin back and left it up to Marie from Blueberry Hill quilts to select a quilting pattern.

Piano Runner - variation of Libby's Log Cabin pattern

Then, the next step was to make a runner for my customer's piano. She specifically requested a size of 10"x80" and the same pattern as the quilt. Because the quilt blocks were 15" square, I eliminated the centre star and just made the courthouse step blocks in 10" squares.

Piano Runner - variation of Libby's Log Cabin pattern

The quilt came back from being quilted, the binding put on & it was time for this quilt's turn in the spot light and a little photo shoot in my back yard.

My version of Libby's Log Cabin

My version of Libby's Log Cabin

And a close up of the quilting

This quilt was so hard to pack into a box to ship, but the consolation prize is that the left over fabrics are waiting for me to turn them into something wonderful! I can't wait to show you what I get inspired with!

--Ann

Snap Bags

Just a quick post today. I always find that I do better at craft sales if I have some smaller items on my table so this year I've been making snap bags. 

I bought this bicycle fabric specifically for the bags, but I will have lots left for something else. 

And I needed to buy a tape measure as it wouldn't do to deprive my husband of a proper measuring tool in his shop. 

This is the final result. Whatever is left after my 2 craft sales will be listed in the Etsy shop. 

-Ann

Pink & Red Twin Quilt

A simple 9-patch quilt block has been the basis for many of my baby quilts, but this is the first one I've made larger into a twin size quilt. First choice was the pretty retro looking red floral used in the border.

Then a selection of pink and red fabrics that were the same shades as in the border fabric. I cut a selection of 2.5" squares from the pinks and reds and a bunch from white Kona cotton and pieced my 9-patches.

Next step is putting them up on the design wall and making sure that I didn't get too many of the same fabrics bunched together. 6.5" white Kona cotton squares were added as alternate blocks, blocks were sewn into rows, rows together into the centre of the quilt.

 

A plain white border was added and then the cute red & pink floral. Marie from Blueberry Hill Quilts did the quilting and added the name of the quilt's recipient into the white border. We've done that for a few twin quilts - a nice subtle way to personalize a quilt.

Quick & easy peasy!
--Ann

Blue is my favourite colour!

I've had this fabric for quite sometime and have had it out a time or two to consider what I might make with it.

Runner and placemats

 Well, I finally figured something out. Originally I matched it up with a green fabric as an accent, but it just didn't inspire me, so I stuck to the blue print and a matching blue monotone print.

Maple leaf runner in blue

Maple leaf runner in blue

Some classic maple leaf blocks, lined up and twisted and turned and set off with sashing.

Set of six placemats

And a set of 6 placemats to match!

Runner and placemats

And from the selvage edges of the fabric, a mug rug of course!

And a mug rug to match!

And now, there's not much left of that pretty blue foliage print except a few scraps that are going in my scrap basket!

Do you have a fav fabric that you are waiting for just the right project?
--Ann

Quilt Labels

Quilt labels are an important finishing touch for your quilts. I get my labels for the quilts I sell printed through an online company called Spoonflower. I think the next time I get them printed, I will add care instructions to the bottom. The process is not too difficult. I spent some time on my computer's Word processor to get the label look I wanted, then printed it out to make sure the size was ok. Spoonflower requires a graphic image, not a word processor file, so I then scanned my paper label to a GIF format at 300 dpi and uploaded it onto my Spoonflower account. You could also just draw out your label in your own hand writing and scan it for something truly handmade.

Printed labels from Spoonflower

I have room on these labels for a quilt name and I add the year the quilt was finished behind the Calgary, AB - . You can also scale the size of your image in Spoonflower, making your label larger or smaller, depending on what you want.

Pigma marker on plain cotton label

My personal quilts have been a little neglected in the label department. My go-to label before I had them printed at Spoonflower was a nice little 2"x3" piece of plain white cotton fabric and the details written on with a Pima marker. Many of the quilts I have for personal use were made from blocks from fellow quilt guild members, so I'm probably a little reluctant to make a label and forget to include someone who may have contributed a block to the process.

There are lots of tutorials on line for making your own labels, so I'll let you do your own search and see all the creativity there is out there.

Just keep in mind, the bare minimum of info you should include is your name, the name of the quilt, where you made the quilt (where you live) and the date completed. If your quilt was made for a special occasion, you might want to add that. Or if it was for a specific person, add their name. If your quilt was quilted by someone else, either by hand or by machine, add that person's name too.

Future quilt collectors will also want to know if the fabrics were from a particular designer, what pattern was used (or if it was an original design), where you found your inspiration.

It's not New Year's, but I am making a resolution to properly label my quilts and perhaps get a few of them documented in 2016.

--Ann
 

Alberta Quilt Study Society

Recently I had the opportunity to take part in a quilt documentation day with the Alberta Quilt Study Society (AQSS) put on in cooperation with the Dalemead Quilt Guild. (Apologies for the fuzzy phone photo!)

Documenting a quilt in Chestermers

The mission of the AQSS is to "promote an understanding, appreciation and knowledge of quilt making and its heritage in Alberta and beyond". Appointments were made for about a dozen quilts and as each quilt was spread out and documented, we learned about the quilter, the fabrics and the patterns that are all part of the quilt.

Antique butterflies. Top bought from Tennessee, Machine Quilted by Marie Lingwood from Blueberry Hill Quilts

I didn't bring any of mine to be documented, but will probably do so in the future. I am pretty good at taking photos of the quilts I make and putting labels on the quilts I have sold, but I am not so great at doing the same for the quilts I keep for my home and the ones I gift to family.

Antique Butterflies Summer Coverlet made by my husband's grandmother

So, last night, I set out to make a list of the quilts I currently have at home that are being used on a daily basis and there are at least 13 that do not have labels. Some of them I know when and where they were completed, but for others, the details are getting fuzzy. If I don't remember, how will I ever expect my family to?

Double Wedding Ring made by me. Started in 1986, Finished ~ 1996

Quilts documented will be added to the records of the Royal Alberta Museum and eventually added to the online records of The Quilt Index.

Do you have antique quilts? Quilts without labels? Does your family know the value of the quilts that you have made? Do you?

Stay tuned to find out what you should include on your quilt label!

--Ann

More Mug Rugs from Selvedges

Just a few more finishes from the pile of selvages I have been collecting. These are the ones from the Christmas fabrics

Christmas Mug Rugs set #1

Christmas Mug Rugs set #2

Christmas Mug Rugs set #3

I love the way these turned out & am thankful I could find great fabrics to bind the edges!

--Ann

Victoria Quilts

Victoria Quilts is a great program that provides quilts to people with cancer in Canada. You can find them here at http://www.victoriasquiltscanada.com/index.html It is one of the many charities that take donated quilts and a great cause.

 This quilt became part of the Victoria quilt story when my quilting friend Joyce brought a quilt top to our Monday night meeting of the Fabric Stashers quilt guild and said she didn't want it and wondered if I could use it. Never one to turn down a bargain (this was a huge quilt!), I took the top home, thinking I might take it apart and make two quilts for Victoria Quilts sometime in the future.

 After a few times of spreading it out and looking it over, and talking it over with my long-arm quilter Marie, it was decided that we would leave the quilt top intact. She would quilt it, I would list it in my Etsy shop and when it sold, the profits would be donated to Victoria Quilts. I found a backing fabric, and brought it to Marie's for quilting.

 Fast forward a few more weeks and I receive a request for a queen size quilt for a Christmas gift. Not having any currently made and ready to ship, I sent off a quick response that I didn't have one and was not taking any more custom until 2016. Later that day, I remembered this quilt top that was waiting for quilting. I sent a note back to the customer that I did have something, not one that I personally made, but would be great for her husband's Christmas gift.

She loved the quilt and the fact that the funds would go to such a great cause! So, a quilt top that someone no longer wanted became a beautiful gift for a special person and enabled a good donation to a great cause!

Do you donate to any special causes? Have you got a project that is sitting in your closet that you no longer love? I would love to hear how you give back to your community!

--Ann

More Red & Gray Quilts

And here's a couple more quilts made for a customer that loves reds and grays and blacks.

Red & Gray square in a square - SOLD!

The square in a square block is a pretty basic block and I chose to do it with a common center of red fabrics, but it's also very effective when made with alternating blocks of a dark outer square with a light inner square and a light outer square with a dark inner square.

Christmas Present Runner - SOLD!

And the Christmas present runner is one that I've seen many times online - I didn't look for a pattern, but just drew this one out on graph paper & put it together - I may make this one again will some more traditional red & green Christmas fabrics!

--Ann

Christmas in July

One of the things I enjoy about sewing for an online audience and doing custom work is the opportunity to work with fabrics and colour combinations that are not part of my normal. I've made a few red, gray and black quilts for one of my customers and she found this line of fabric from Henry Glass Fabrics called Holiday Magic by Jan Shade Beach. You can find it here at the Fat Quarter Shop.

Red & Gray Christmas fun! - SOLD

The printed panel had 15 pictures on it and I had some fun coming up with some block layouts that highlighted the adorable pictures.

Christmas in red & gray - FOR SALE

I've seen a number of quilts that alternated a pictorial block with a chain block, so that's what I did for 2 of the quilts made from the panel. The other quilt I arranged differently and set the pictorial blocks off with star blocks.

Christmas in red & gray - FOR SALE

The last two of these both have a hanging sleeve on the back so it can be hung on the wall or they can be used as a table topper - would look great in a black & white kitchen or dining room!

I still have quite a lot of the fat quarter pack left, so there will be some more red & gray Christmas projects coming!
 

Japanese Tinner's Exchange Blocks Completed

Our guild had a challenge called the Tinner's Exchange where everyone brought a tin and $10 and in return, received a tin with a fabric & a theme or a block pattern. Every month, the tins changes hands and when everyone had completed all the tins, we drew for who got the tins.

These were the blocks I received last year here. I picked up a border fabric and put it away for a while, packed it up to sew on at a retreat last January and sent it off to my friend & fellow quilter Marie from Blueberry Hill Quilts for quilting.

Tinner's Exchange Quilt

The back is a burgundy flannel - it looks a little too red for the front, but it is the background colour in the border fabric.

Tinner's Exchange Quilt

 I gifted this quilt to my mom this August for her birthday - it fits just perfectly in her house and I know she appreciates the workmanship of the many quilters who made the blocks.

Tinner's Exchange Quilt

Have you made a group challenge project? A special quilt for a special person in your life? Tell me about it - I'd love to hear your stories!
--Ann

It's Hard Running an Online Business without Internet!

After months of no internet at home, I'm finally back connected on a regular basis and ready to begin posting here a little more frequently. I have gotten to know my local coffee shops with free WiFi and have spent more time face to face and it's been a good summer.

I did manage quite a few finishes and this disappearing friendship star was one of them. I blogged about the block back in April here. I have been looking at many quilts online that have been "quilted to death" and thought I might like to try quilting with some dense quilting and practice my free-motion quilting at the same time. Click on the photos to zoom in closer if you want to see the quilting patterns more clearly.

Disappearing Friendship Star Table Topper

Corner detail

From the back

I am glad to have this one done and ready for use - it is up for sale in my Etsy shop here. Although I enjoyed the process of quilting this table topper, I still prefer my quilting to be less dense and a little more free form than this, but I will keep trying different things as I love to learn new techniques!

 

--Ann

 

Being Productive

My internet has not been working great for a few months, so blogging has taken a backseat to vacations, yard work and sewing. 

I am getting better at organizing myself and my sewing space so when I do get a few minutes to sew, I can be productive. 

Sometimes all I want to do is take out fabrics from my stash and match them up for possible projects. 

When I have a stack of 3-6 fabrics, I will try to match or think of a pattern that will work with them. I'll ask if I have enough for a larger project like a lap or bed quilt or if maybe what I have is more suitable to a table runner or wall hanging. Is there enough fabric for binding and backing? 

When I've thought these things through and come up with a plan, the fabrics and any sketches I've made go into a large ziplock bag or a project box so they are ready for the next time I'm ready to sew, but don't have a project already planned. 

What do you do to stay organized, motivated and/or productive? Inquiring minds want to know!

-Ann