Happy Holidays!!

I would like to extend my warmish wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

It's been a crazy few months - hence the lack of updates.  Customer quilts have been flying off the quilting machine (a few of mine too - shhhhh) and I am finally all finished and ready for Christmas. Well almost - there are a few gifts yet to purchase - so I am sending out my husband, Santa Sam to get the last few for under the tree.  Thank goodness for him - I am dead on my feet and am looking forward to the break over the holidays.

It's been quite a year and I look forward to new adventures and challenges in 2011.  Please stay tuned for all the exciting news to follow.

Liberated Strip Piecing

This past weekend I took a class with Elaine Quehl on Liberated Strip Piecing.  Rotary cutters but NO rulers allowed.  It was fun to step out of my comfort zone.  I used my hand dyed fabrics from my Dye Happy class and I am very pleased with the results.  It's nice starting a new project and finishing it in two days!!!

Check out Elaine's website (http://www.elainequehl.blogspot.com/ ) and Blog (http://www.elainequehl.blogspot.com/) for more on this class and hand dyed fabrics.

Woven Wall Hanging

I would like to share one of my wall hangings that I completed this year.  I took a class at Machine Quilters Expo in Rhode Island back in April with Debbie Travino.  The wall hanging has a woven background and is based on Anna Faustino's book "Simply Stunning Woven Quilts".  The flower petals are individual silk petals sewn on in layers.  These petals are from Bella Nona - http://www.bellanonnaquilt.com/  Ann at The Country Quilter also has some in stock for those of you in the Ottawa area.

I will be teaching this class May 14th, 2011 for The Ottawa Quilters Guild.

New York Beauty Quilt

One of the projects I was working on in September was my New York Beauty Quilt.  It has been pieced for quite some time and was just waiting to be quilted.  I was inspired one weekend and went to town.  My friend thinks I should call my quilt "Not Me!"  This came about because as I was describing my weekend to her; Housework - Not Me!; cooking - Not Me!; laundry - Not Me!;  I just quilted and quilted.  It was a lot of fun trying new techniques and glitter thread!!

I will be teaching this piecing technique at The Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild in November.

Here are the steps taken to make this quilt beautiful.


Waiting to be quilted....

On the machine and ready to go...

Thread decisions????

Closeup of stitching

Adding the crystals - New York is all about the Bling!!

.....and she is done!!

Double click the picture to see the detail.

 

Dye Happy Class

I am not sure what happened to September....it's was a very busy month.  Back to school means back to quilting with a vengence.  I must say that after taking a few weeks off in August it is nice to get back to what I love - quilting!

I am also taking a fabric dyeing class with Elaine Quehl over the next few months.  What fun and YES I have a new passion.  Can't wait for the next class.  Below are some of the results from our September class where we learned low water immersion dyeing and parfait dyeing methods.

Please visit Elaine's website to learn more about her amazing fabrics, patterns and classes.  http://www.equarelle.ca/






9 Step - Two Colour Run



Parfait Dyeing

3 Colours used on this beautiful piece of fabric

 




5th Year Anniversary for Cherry Tree Quilts

Sometimes it's hard to believe that it's been five years since I started this quilting journey. The amazing women and their beautiful quilts have definitely made my life richer. I am always thrilled at the variety and breadth of the quilts that cross my machine. It soothes me and challenges me all at the same time. It makes me feel that their quilts are a little bit mine when I quilt them. Please visit my updated "Customer Quilt" page to see some of their wonderful work.

I have also updated "My Quilt" page. These are quilts that I have pieced, quilted and taught. Some of them are for sale - so please contact me if you are interested.

In celebration of Cherry Tree Quilts five year anniversary I would like to offer a 15% discount on quilting services for quilts booked by the 15th of September. Please call or email to reserve your spot and mention “Anniversary” to get your discount.

Laurie Swim's Studio

On our adventures through the Maritimes we stopped off in Lunenburg and visited Laurie Swim's Studio.  She is a very well known fibre artist from Nova Scotia and I had the opportunity to hear her speak at a local quilt guild in 2008.  It was very inspirational to hear all about her bodies of work and what a fasinating journey she has been on.

Unfortunately Laurie was not in that day but her partner Larry Goldstein was kind enough to come in and open up the studio for us.  What a wonderful man, sharing his time and stories with us!

There were so many wonderful prints of her work that I was having a hard time choosing which one to bring home to my studio.  In the end I chose Magic Hour - Blue Rocks.  Larry indicated that they lived in Blue Rocks and recommended we take the 10 minute drive up there to see where Laurie was inspired to create this work.  Check out her website to see her Quilt Magic Hour http://www.artquiltpublishing.com/ and to find out more about Laurie.

Blue Rocks, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Camping in the Maritimes

My husband Sam and I have been traveling throughout the Maritimes over the past couple of weeks with our wee travel trailer. I had hoped to share our journey chronologically but when we were setting up our trailer just outside Halifax we had a little visitor and I just had to share.


This is truly a Canadian chipmunk. He went right for the Tim Horton's Timbits!! And forget the plain timbit. It was the frosted one for this little guy.

Stay tuned for more of our adventures through the Maritimes. We even found a few quilt and fabric stores along the way......

Okanagan Quilt Shops

On a recent trip to Penticton, BC, to visit family and friends, I visited several local quilt shops.

In Oliver, I found a quaint little shop called Wine Country Quilters Market run by Michelle Morisset. There is lots to see and it takes several turns around the store to take it all in.

In Kelowna, I also found several very nice shops such as: Linda's Quilt Shoppe. They have the biggest classroom I have ever seen. Lots of quilts hanging from the rafters and throughout the store and classroom. It's like going to a Quilt show! (http://www.lindasquiltshoppe.com/),

Dragonfly Quilt Studio - what a find. I loved all the eye candy. It has that country chic charm. The store is run by mother and daughter, April and Ashley. (http://www.dragonflyquiltstudio.com/);

and Cottage Quilting - Wow!! They are also unique to the two other stores. They have a country charm as well. The Japanese fabrics - to die for. (http://www.cottagequiltingonline.com/).

Memories of Mom

My mother-in-law, Doris Gillespie, passed away on July 19th at the grand age of 90. She was a wonderful lady who loved life to the fullest and found the good in everyone. She loved my quilting and admired the work involved with the piecing and quilting process. She sits in front of her memory quilt that we made for her 87th birthday. It shows her life and adventures with family and friends. Everyone in the family contributed in the process from gathering pictures to piecing blocks. On the backing everyone made a square which included their handprints and special message to Mom. We will all miss her greatly.

Moving Home!

On Sunday, 27th June, with the help of family, friends and a 16ft cube van, we packed up and moved out of the Running Stitch and back into my home studio. After a short break to move my son out of the house (he is rooming with college friends), we reconvened for a work party and bar-b-que dinner. My cupboards and shelving were re-assembled before dinner and the Longarm was up and running shortly after dessert! While I am going to miss the comraderie of the staff and customers at the store, I am eager to start working again from home with all my clients and friends .

Big News!

After over a year operating Cherry Tree Quilts from space rented at the Running Stitch, I have decided to move back into my home studio. I am relocating my machine at the end of June and will be up and running by Monday, 29th June. I will continue to offer quilting services from home as well as instruction through local stores and guilds. Stay tuned for news about classes and other topics of interest.