Saturday, January 9, 2016

People and Places: Inspiration and Motivation

Took these on Thursday, January 7, because the sun was kind of out, it was 41F/ 5C and I'd just taken the Buggy Barn Christmassy quilt off our bed and unrolled People And Places, my January on-our-bed quilt.  So, excuse the crumpled look as that is what happened literally moments before I flung this quilt onto the patio, lol.

I wasn't going to link up this month, as I'm a tad preoccupied with Dayna's quilt and heading to Florida shortly.  However, the day was balmy, the sun out a bit, so it had to happen.

As the newsletter person, I ran the Block of the Month for the Fort Saskatchewan Quilt Guild in 2003.  I found this BOM online, designed by Tish of Florida.  (interesting, I now count amongst my dear QBL friends another Tish) I did a search and can't find anything anymore.  What I loved was that the blocks were different sizes and that there were two or three options as to fitting them together for the final layout.  She gave you a little story as to the personal meaning for her of each block she chose.


I went a little crazy with FMQ.  I had found Kathy Sandbach and she it was who changed my FMQ life.  I saw her on Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts" on HGTV, and bought both of her books.  WOW.

Don't you just love both FMQ snowflakes? Sulky Holoshimmer thread in much of this quilt
I used a lot of leaf motifs in the quilting.  I bought the main fabric on a guild quilt shop hop in Stettler, Alberta.  If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that this is my favourite combination, blue and green.  I loved the frost-edged leaves!

Feathers in the border! Hands down my favourite motif. I see this today, and I would be adding pebbles in the spine, echoing 2-3 times, and mashing down around the feathers
In 1999 I'd been involved in a round robin with 4 other quilters in the guild.  I had done this diamond border on one of the girl's rounds, and it turned out so well that I wanted it on one of my own quilts.  Tish's BOM ended at the very centre; you were on your own with borders.  I added three.  Unfortunately I did not have enough of the two blues to do all 4 sides; enter making do.  I did have the bare trees fabric in both pale blue and green, and enough of the hunter green I'd used in the blocks, so two sides of each was born.  I love it.

Love how all the various-sized blocks fit together like a puzzle
The blocks range in size from 3" to 15".  I'd seen Jinny Beyer on "Simply Quilts" as well, and noted that she said one should always add a bit of black in a quilt, which is why you see hits of black here and there.  I also realized that the leaves in the main fabric are resting on a black background.  Cool.

Used up extra pieces and one extra boat block on the back. Pieced my label in as a part of the backing
I wasn't sure about the floral fabric, even though the colours are perfect, but I went for it and I like it. I used Warm 'n Natural batting.
2003 Block of the Month
Started in February 2003 and finished in February 2004 for the big reveal at the guild.
Lovely texture, and here you can kind of see the Holoshimmer sparkle on the 36-patch centre of the star
As you know, some more than others, who have held and are still holding my hand, I'm quilting pretty intensely on Dayna's quilt.  There has been, ahem, a little angst.  When I took this older quilt out earlier this week, and my eyes fell upon the quilting, done on my then brand new Bernina, I thought, Sandra, get a grip.  LOOK at what you did 13 years ago!!  As both Judy and Tish said to me, "You got this!"  So I went back with vigour.  Here's another sneak peek:

The star centre motif is one Judy found. Love most madly!

I wasn't going to post, because it takes an hour usually for me, overthinking that too, am I?!  Oh yes, overthinking is what I DO...  The quilt measures 69 X 71 3/4".  Outside of the leaves main fabric, I bought the striped binding fabric at a quilt shop in the country near Sangudo, Alberta, a shop my aunt had taken me to.  All the other fabric I had in my stash.  Apparently I've been a stash-extender for some time.  Not a hoarder, no not me.

Anyhow, I might not respond for a few days to comments, but I will, rest assured.  I'm linking up with Jen at A Quarter Inch From the Edge for Throwback Thursday.  Love this linky party.


Lakeside Beach, Lake Erie January 7 - look at that sky!
Unbelievably warm weather still.  Rocco has worn his hoodie a couple of times this month, but on that day, and still now, he has no need.  Some ice is forming along the edges here, and more will form as a winter storm is heading our way tomorrow...time to get out of Dodge, methinks, right?! One more in the sun shot because I did, and I can.  I learned that it's not only the Internet and books where one can get inspiration and motivation, it's one's own quilts.  :-)


18 comments:

  1. My dear sister HOW how HOW can you doubt yourself?? You've done so many incredibly exquisite quilts that there should be no doubt whatsoever about Dayna's!!!! Oh MY I LOVE that centre light purple design...kind of like overlapping hand held fans....absolutely stunning!!!

    And the blue and green quilt is gorgeous!!

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  2. Isn't it amazing how far we've come? When one looks at quilts from early on in their quilting, one can't help but be amazed the skills progression. The borders in your TBT quilt caught my eye right away... incredible! And the FMQ on Dayna's quilt. Unbelievable! Thanks for linking up with Throwback Thursday @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge!

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  3. It's great. I love the blues and greens. Hurry up and get Dayna's get done and get to Florida. I need to live in the sun vicariously through you. ha ha ha ha

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  4. Absolutely stunning like all your quilts. I ususally go for purples but I really love this blue and green combination. Your FMQ is amazing - I'll have to go and look up Kathy Sandbach it sounds like there is another book I need :-) I can't wait for the reveal on Dayna's quilt. And like Anya 'hurry up and get to Florida already' - it has barely stopped raining here in Scotland for the last month, I could do with some vicarious sunshine too!

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    1. Cannot find you Michelle, and I realize you probably won't come back here to read this, but in the event you do, can you send me your email? Thanks for such a wonderful comment and compliment on my FMQ.

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  5. Absolutely stunning like all your quilts. I ususally go for purples but I really love this blue and green combination. Your FMQ is amazing - I'll have to go and look up Kathy Sandbach it sounds like there is another book I need :-) I can't wait for the reveal on Dayna's quilt. And like Anya 'hurry up and get to Florida already' - it has barely stopped raining here in Scotland for the last month, I could do with some vicarious sunshine too!

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  6. I have a dear Canadian friend who once told me "blue and green together should not be seen, except in the bowl of a washing machine." I ignore her and so glad to see that you did too. I think your quilt is stunning and the quilting is beautiful. If you were doing that well years ago, maybe there is hope for me too as long as I continue to sew quilts. Hoping your holidays were merry and bright. Mine were incredibly busy as I said goodbye today to the last of our family as we took them to the airport. Busy is an understatement of my holidays with 5 grown kids, 4 spouses, and 4 grandchildren visiting us here in sunny and warm, scratch that as it was cold and rainy, Arizona. Karen

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  7. It's so fun to look back and think about those who have inspired you on your quilting journey. Sandra this quilt is gorgeous! And to think - you are friends with Tish now! I love that about blogland! It is great what you said about being inspired and motivated by your own quilts too.
    Dana's quilt is shaping up to be a masterpiece!
    You are headed south just at the right time - we're going to be freezing our biscuits off this week.

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  8. Oh the quilt I'm to start next is blue and green . Love the way your borders turned out, they work really well . Hope the storm is not too severe

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  9. Love your quilting style. I used to live (20 years) in Sherwood Park AB....right next door to the Fort. Now we are retired and living on PEI. Loving it because there is lots of time for quilting, hanging with my hubby and walking our two standard poodles in the park behind our house.

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  10. What Linda said!! ;) I have done one blue and green quilt, batiks, LOVED! And my nephew loves it too, it has its permanent place on his couch so it is in reach for a quick cover. Gotta love that!

    This green and blue quilt is awesome! Quilt on, sister, you are doing awesome. Although I'm guessing you are packing up and leaving today. Safe travels my friend!

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  11. Let me start off my saying Dayna's quilt is looking great! I love that center purple square. I love sampler quilts where the blocks are all different sizes and fit together like a puzzle. Kind of shakes things up a bit. And the half purple half green border rocks!

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  12. This quilt is so pretty. I love all the details you put in and the two color border. And seriously, Dayna's quilt is impressive. Thanks for the sneak peek.

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  13. Love this quilt--and my favorite part is the you that you added to the pattern: the two different colored borders. Your quilting was awesome back then. But look at it now on Dayna's quilt. I'm blown away!! It does look like you are leaving just in time. All I can say today is "Brrr" I'm wearing a fleece vest and a fleece jacket over my t-shirt indoors and am still freezing. Have fun in the sun!

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  14. I loev what you did with the borders in your older quilt. And, well, LOVE what you're doing on Dayna's quilt. Yes, I do think "you've got this"!

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  15. Oh, I so agree with you about how the parts of a quilt can fit together like a puzzle and the different sizes of yours do that so well. The quilt you are working on looks amazing! I am in awe of your skill. And I agree, blue and green is a wonderful combination - works well in nature: sky, grass. Beautiful.

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  16. Oh, I so agree with you about how the parts of a quilt can fit together like a puzzle and the different sizes of yours do that so well. The quilt you are working on looks amazing! I am in awe of your skill. And I agree, blue and green is a wonderful combination - works well in nature: sky, grass. Beautiful.

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