Wednesday, June 30, 2010

First Quilt is Completely Finished!!

Today... the very last day of June, I finished sewing the binding on my first-ever quilt! What a relief!

I'm pretty happy how the quilt turned out, even with its little mistakes mixed throughout. If I would do this quilt again, I would have chosen a solid brown for the binding as I think the binding blends in with the sashing on the quilt top too much (they are the same fabric). However, I love the fabrics & the pattern, and it will be a great keepsake.

Quilt measures 41" x 53".

Quilt Name: Winter Blue

Quilt Design: by Claudia's Quilt Shoppe

More about the Mystery Quilt...

Last week I cut the blocks/squares for my Mystery Quilt that I'm doing through "Needlesworks" here in Calgary.

Today, I picked up the instructions for the first part of sewing for the Mystery Quilt. I'm so excited to see the quilt finished, but I'll just have to wait another 2 months until it's done.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

First Quilt-top Complete

Tonight I finished my very first quilt-top! Oh, what a great feeling!

I did my share of mistakes along the way... some I had to undo & refix. Others will be left alone. Despite pin-basting the quilt together, I still managed to somehow cause an extra tuck to the backing - perhaps I'll fix it later?? And stitch-in-the-ditch???? Well, let's just say I defied the laws that suggest practicing first on some scrap fabric. I did my share of wobbly-stitch-in-ditch lines, but I think I have finally accomplished the real deal (stitch-in-the-ditch).

It was a great learning experience, and I am looking forward to doing many more quilts over the months & years ahead. I'll keep this quilt, and one day I'll look back at this "Winter Blue" quilt & realize how far I've come & how much I've learned.

Baby monitors: The essentials for quilting/sewing Moms to get their work done!!
My Kenmore walking foot has been good for me thus far...
Close-up of my quilt:
Quilt-top all done! Now I will have to do the trimming, then sew my label to the backing before adding the binding.


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Maple Leaf Block


I bought some Fat Eights a few days ago so I could try this sample Maple Leaf Block. I was actually doing a combination of 2 patterns, so inevitably I messed things up & the block isn't exactly what it should be.

I had a 9"block pattern from About.com & a 12" block pattern from Canadian Living, but the Cdn Living magazine kept referring to everything in centimetres. Now I am a true Canadian & LOVE the metric system, but all the quilting guides/rulers are in inches! I was confused & got some measurements incorrect.

So here's my first Maple Leaf block - 12". I have calculated all the measurements into inches, so I think I'll have to buy some more fabric - then I can re-do the 12" block & make it look nice.

Canada Day is only 11 days away... (July 1)!!! I am proud to be Canadian!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Mystery Quilt

Needleworks Fabrics here in Calgary is having a summer Mystery Quilt. It will be a 36" square quilt using 3 fabrics (for the quilt top). I have signed up with this Mystery Quilt. I don't yet know what it will look like (that's why it's a mystery).

After registering for this Mystery Quilt, I have accomplished:
Step 1 - selecting fabric

I wanted to do something unique for fabric colours. These are the 4 colours that I chose; the 2nd from the right on this photo below is the fabric that "grabbed" me & was my inspiration to choose the other colours. Incidently, it has a Japanese or Asian flair to it. I just love it.
The backing, "Wasabi" colour:
My main quilt top colour, called "Wasabi Lilac"
A 2nd quilt top fabric, called "Mauve"

The 3rd quilt top fabric called "Lauren"


Step 2 is cutting the fabric.
Steps 3-8 are finishing the various sections as per instructions. I will need to return to the store every 2 weeks to show them what I've done for the quilt before I will get the instructions for the next step.

Completion date will be September 18. On September 20, there will be a draw for a $75 gift certificate. Oh, I hope, I hope I win! (I NEVER win anything, so I won't count on it!)

I'll be posting pictures as the Mystery Quilt reveals itself!

Waiting...

My son has been feeling under the weather, so he's needing lots of cuddles. That means I'm not getting any sewing done, but that can wait.

Here's my first quilt awaiting more sewing (pin basting done).
My first attempt at a tote bag is also awaiting my sewing moments. The brown with white swirls will be the inside, the brown pattern/flower fabric will be the outside of the bag.
A closer look at the interior fabric for the tote bag. (I used this fabric to sew a skirt for myself about 2 years ago. Hint to self: find skirt - perhaps wear this year??)
Another look at the fabric for the outside of the tote bag. I had purchased this fabric in Africa (Cotonou, Benin, West Africa) a few years ago thinking I'd make a skirt, but since it was sitting in my fabric box, I obviously have not done anything with this lovely piece of fabric.
"Lick of Lime" Fat Quarter bundle:
"Parfait" Fat Quarter bundle:

Thursday, June 17, 2010

My First Quilt Block

The 2nd Thursday of each month, Freckles Quilt Shop (in Calgary) presents a quilt block that sells for $4 ("Two Xs Toonie Thursday"). The proceeds are donated to schools' lunch programs.

I decided to try my first quilt block. I discovered that Freckles' Two Xs Toonie Thursday quilt block is the same pattern from September to August but the colours vary per month. I guess I'll just have to do a table runner with the 3 blocks that I'll make; in September, I can start working on the next series of Two Xs Toonie Thursday quilt blocks!

This was my first quilt block, which I think is very nice. It measures ~10"x10"

Baby Block

I found these cute "Soft Blocks to Sew for Baby" on the Canadian Living website. You can check out the link for the blocks here.

This was the first block I made, which is now in my son's possession. He's 9 months old, so he loves to fling it around.

My First Quilt Project: June 2010

Somewhere, somehow I decided that I needed to start quilting. My sister Melissa is doing some quilting applique, so she has also inspired me to start quilting.

I found a free pattern called "Blue Winter" on the internet (Claudia's Quilt Shoppe) and it was labelled for "absolute beginners" so I decided to give it a try.

These are the fabrics that I purchased at Calgary's "Freckles Quilt Shop":

The fabrics for the Rail Fence Blocks:

Fabric for the Checkered Blocks:

Fabric for the Backing:

Close-up of Checker Block #1

Close-up of one fabrics for the Rail Fence Block & Border & Binding

Close-up for second fabric for Rail Fence Blocks

Close-up for third fabric for Rail Fence Blocks

Close-up for fourth fabric for Rail Fence Blocks

I finished the quilt top this week.

I layered the backing, batting & quilt top on the kitchen floor then pin-basted it together.

My "Other" Craft: Photography

My hobby for the past few years has been photography.

You can check out my photos at: www.photosbywilma.ca or my blog at www.photosbywilma.blogspot.com

Here are a few of the photos I have printed that I have available for sale. Please contact me at photosbywilma@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these photographs.

"Creek Splash" - Kananaskis country, east of Banff National Park, Canada (2008)

"Craig's Hut" - Australia (2004)

Melbourne City Slickers - Melbourne, Australia (2004)

Pelicans - Victoria, Australia (2004)


Quilting Inspirations from Other Women in my Life...

My mother-in-law Delphine is an amazing woman. Not only does she passionately love the Lord, she also is a great quilter. She has been inspiration for me in my quest to start quilting. However, she lives in Saskatchewan - a 7 hour drive from Calgary.

We received this beautiful Christmas table runner from Delphine in December 2008.

September 2009. When my son was born, my mother-in-law gave us 2 quilted blankets. I just love them both.

Delphine also gave us this crochetted blanket for our son

My Mom is probably the biggest influence in my life. She also is an amazing woman who loves God and is very devoted to my Dad & our family as a whole.

Growing up, my mother did a lot of sewing. With 6 girls in the family, there was always something to fix, repair, alter or hem. Mom is best known for knitting & crochetting, and each of her now-14 grandchildren has received a baby blanket, hat, jacket & booties from her.

Sadly (I'm embarrassed to admit) I did not take any photos specifically of the blanket or the clothing that my Mom made for my son last September. I guess I was having too much fun having my parents visit us & see their new grandson!

Here is the blanket that Mom made for Nathan:

My grand-aunt in Edmonton also made us a beautiful crochetted baby blanket. Tante Iempkje (Aunt Irene) is about 90 years old, yet she loves to keep busy.

My husband's maternal grandmother quilted this beautiful baby blanket for Nathan last year.

One of my baby shower gifts was a Quillow: a quilt tucked into a pillow, made by Barbara A. from our church. She quilts a baby blanket for each baby boy or girl born into our church family. She's amazing! (Everyone loves to watch what kind of quillow Barbara is going to make for the newest baby!)

Barbara sews a little bag & adds that to the quillow gift

The quillow un-folded:

This April 2010, we drove to Saskatchewan for Grandma's 90th birthday. In the church annex (where the birthday party was held) there were tables featuring some of Grandma's handiworks (quilts) that she has made over the years. Grandma might be 90 but there is no stopping her quilting!!

This was Grandma's latest quilting project:

August 2008: My husband's cousin Carolyn was married. She had cut out all these blocks of material. At the wedding reception, we all were asked to writing something on a block of material & one day Carolyn would add these pieces into a wedding quilt. I'll have to ask her if she ever finished it!! :)

This is our attempt at adding to the quilt. (I can barely draw a stick person!)