lots going on!! Happy Canada Day

My dad came to my home last week with a wonderful surprise!! Look what he made me hangers for my quilts..he was so worried that I wouldn't like them he was right!! I love them.. he is now sent home with making a couple more and also a few frames for some mini's and a quilt ladder!! you can see that I have my One Block Wonders on Display..oh happy day

I still have my Winter Wonderland quilt on my bed but it is so nice and light that it is great to sleep under for my parents.. this was done in 6 months when we had our SARS scare I was quarentined 2times cause I worked at the ER were it started and then was working at the other hospital where we had a break out.. it was a very scary time for me.. I had bought the focal fabric on a whim (before the scare).. there was a teacher there and she asked what I was going to do with "all" (8meters) that fabric.. not sure yet but now you can see what. I found the pattern in a Quiltmaker Nov/Dec 2002 mag machine pieced and then hand quilted it in 6 months.. it is my memory of walking my dogs in the winter time...at that time I was not allowed to go anywhere.. you don't realize your freedom until it is taken away from you.

This is the other One block wonder doesn't my Dad's quilt hanger's look awesome!! he is looking for orders if anyone is interested that lives close enough to deliver (postage would be expensive) or maybe one of the stores in our area would like to have some there to sell my dad is very reasonable just email if you are interested. Alot of thought and caring goes into these

This is a mini that I am working on.. pattern was from a Fon's and Porter mag last 2008 borrowed the mag from my mother but gave it back

And this is an ongoing project I am working on.. it is my own round robin. The pattern in the middle was designed by someone in a Prim group I belong to and I wanted it as a medallion. The next blocks are an old pattern English Ivy.. it is one of most favorite patterns I have used it before and one day will make a whole quilt with it.. but love the effect it makes as a boarder.. now to think of another round.. it will be applique for sure..

I also have been visiting and catching up on what others are doing in their blogs I really love the design wall theme that is going on!!

Well Happy Canada Day hope you are able to do something great to commemorate.. We went to Montana's and ended up ordering the "Great Canadian Burgers" with sweet potatoe fries.. delicious!!

Creative Sewing Festival-well toot my horn!!

What a fantastic time!! I was invited by York Heritage Quilt Guild http://www.yhqg.org/to Teach One Block Wonder at the Creative Festival and it was really worth it!! The class was sold out which ment there were 20 brave students to try something different.

My friend Monica on the right with her OBW (a class I had taught earlier at another store) called me weeks in advance and asked me if I needed help. I am so glad I took her up on her generous offer. Monica had to take a day off of work and when I was told I was not paid to do this class it was to represent the guild she still was willing to participate. The pics you see are what she done while I was instructing.

Monica was the best assistant that anyone could have. I don't know how to thank her but if you all have any ideas please let me know she really deserves so much. What a wonderful friend!! Thank you, Thank you she knew where to be and what to do it was a magical day with great help from a guardian quilter.

Back to the show you can see to the right the view we had from the class room we could se the whole festival going on. I did not get a chance to visit due to teaching all day and then working a night that night. We had.. I my opinion the best class. I had called in advance to speak to the coordinator and asked about what was avaliable for class set up and gave her the basics what was required.

When I walked into the HUGE class room I was so totally impressed. There were 20 Husqavarna Sewing machines set up with the 1/4in foot that I requested and also a representitve that was there to make sure that everyone knew how to wind their bobin/to thread their machine/ and how to operate. The students were totally impressed what these machines can do especially some of us that have only straight stitch and zigzag.

Marilyn (the rep) was very very helpful and super nice anything requested she pulled it out of her sleeve...and was there for great support. Cutting boards and rotary cutters were avaliable, nice long tables for us to prepare properly for our OBW's, numerous irons and boards.

You can see below this fabulous fabric that one of the students brought.. this would be perfect for a OBW.. I sure hope you get the incentive to try one.

Here I am counting the repeats on this luscious sunflower fabric.. it was the same fabric I had used on one of my OBW.

Below showing students how to piece accurately so that all the pieces would go together smoothly even when you started sewing row by row. Aren't they so attentive??

Here I am starting to place what blocks they were able to get together on a porable design wall. The students did really well on getting the amount of blocks pieced so that they can start to see some results. They were very helpful and giving advise on where the blocks should be placed which told me they had the right idea and were well on their own on how to put together.

Monica and I commented at the end on our way home that we could not have had better students in our class and really thank them for their enthusiasm and willing to learn and step out of the box to create their own OBW... they each took my email and promised to email their final results.. I so cannot wait and hope to share them with you as they are completed.

I do hope that you are able to take a fabric and buy the book One Block Wonder/or Encore part 2. I would love to see your wonderful masterpiece.

Happy Piecing...

Lots of Questions..

..are being asked about the One Block Wonder.

To start "yes" when I teach this class everyone has to buy their own book it is only fair to the developer of the technique. Plus I am sure once you have started with this technique you will not be able to make just one and you will need the book to refresh yourself when making your next one. Honestly most have made a second or third after taking the course. I would ask if they completed theirs and the reply would be "oh I am on my second one now!!" LOL.

Fabric selection is important. If you want print this page and bring to your store for assistance when buying your fabric. You should get a fabric that has movement in the back ground as well as some movement with the motifs. I find the orientals are a little difficult for the OBW technique there is to much color.. you are looking for fabric that has 5 colors or less that would mean your background as well. When you get your book you will see some of the fabrics that Max and Joy had used.

How much fabric?? if your fabric is a 24in repeat you will get a double size quilt this will include your boarders as well. Remember if you want a larger quilt you will need to get 2x the amount of repeats. If you are making the hexagon that means 6repeats of fabric. You are making a kalidescope and you need to stack 6repeats to make that kalidescope. DO NOT THINK IN METERS/YARDS!! think in how many repeats. So if you want a larger quilt you will need to by 12 24in repeats. I really hope this helps...if you are short repeats your fabric will end up being a 4patch posey instead.

Since talking about repeats if your repeat is only a 6in to 8in measurement I suggest you double the count of repeats. Your material will be easier to work with. So that would be 6in repeats x 12.

If you are going to do the octagon block you will need to buy 8 repeats of fabric to make a block you can see one of the octagon quilts to the left and I had posted another one earlier.

I know that most stores in Toronto are carrying the book and they will gladly order it for you. I am sure you can call them and ask if they will have it at the Creative festival as well.

I have quilts hanging in The Sewing Machine Factory, Cockadoodle Quilts, and Cozy Quilts (in Cobourg) if you want to take a look at them up close and in person.

The most important thing is this will be fun! bring a sharp blade and your design wall. Oh the design wall that was another question.

I used a piece of insulation board cut in half, used some clear duck tape to put together both pieces so it opens like a book and then put batting (cotton) all around again attaching with duck tape (clear). You can also use an off white quilters flannel as well. I am not sure if we can just tape our design wall (batting) to the walls but will find out.

As they say "don't worry.. be happy" this will be mega fun!! Can't wait to see what everyone pics!!

Deb

One Block Wonder News!!

I have been accepted to teach at our Creative Sewing Festival on Oct 17 http://www.creativfestival.ca/ . It will be the One Block Wonder (OBW). I have taught this many times at our local and not so local quilt stores such as.... http://www.thequiltingpatch.ca/

http://pictonfabricworld.com/ and a couple of stores that have now changed hands. Every student that has taken this course have been so amazed at the outcome of their creation.

I am posting a couple that I have done. I hope to see everyone at the Creative Sewing Festival for 2008.

This one was with penguin fabric very simple.. you are looking for fabrics with no more than 5 colors this would also include your background color... it is also advisable to use fabric that has great background movement. You can see the fabric used on my webshots photos.

I had to laugh when Encore came out they had used the same fabric on one of their quilts!!


This is the type of quilt that you can be creative even as a beginner. You learn more about how your color values work for you to create your own personal work of art... remember it is only one fabric, one block how can you go wrong??

This beauty below is with a wonderful sunflower fabric... this fabric is for more the intermediate that knows their design will be on the wall for a couple of weeks before a clear decision can be made. The pic on the right is the fabric that is used as you can see there are more colors so there is more thought into the placement of your values when designing your quilt.

After effects of cutting and designing.. this is so much fun but better in a workshop so that you can see what others do with their fabrics.

Another Before...

Below is the after.. this is using the 8 wedges rather than the six wedges in previous... I would advise using the 6 wedge to start... you have 3 sides to choose from when piecing your blocks to take advantage of your fabric.

Well as you can see I am very excited by this technique and am glad to share it.. I would advise you to get the Encore book if you are going to make it... it has all the information required so that you can make the cubes as well that are displayed... they didn't put the cube pattern in the first book...
Off to work to dream of quilting....

Deb