I just received a picture from Anna Kurrent, who ordered a copy of my “Australian Shadows” pattern last month. She’s finished her quilt, and it’s gorgeous!
Anna Kurrent’s Australian Shadows
Have you made a quilt based on one of my patterns or classes? I’d love to show everyone, if you have. Just send me a picture!
Today’s letter is:
Our categories are:
COLOUR
With such a Variety of Vivid, Visible Variations possible for this category, where shall I begin? From Vermilion to Violet to Vanilla. And such Vivid Views! My choice is Verdigris – a loVely colour, and one that I actually found in my house! (If you just keep enough stuff, it’s amazing what you can find when you’re looking for something unusual!)
A verdigris candle holder.
WEATHER
—- VANE! John and I were visiting a friend in Quebec many years ago. We had a day to relax, and I decided I wanted to retrace the steps from my childhood – once, my parents and I were in Quebec and they bought themselves a weather vane. So, John and I and our friend went down to the local hardware store, where we met the owner (and former Mayor of town). Everything was done in a mixture of French and English: a weather vane, in French is called a “girouette”. I wanted one in the shape of a rooster (un “coq”). We were shown into the basement, in a back dusty corner, to two boxes with “girouettes”. One, “un cheval” – a horse, and one a sailboat. The owner was very entertaining, and upbeat – he opened one of the boxes and said – “Look, you even get some hardware (screws) to install it!”
I said “Je prefere un coq, s’il vous plait”.
and HE said: “You get four free screws a she STILL wants a “coq”!!!
To my eternal regret, I didn’t buy the “cheval” or the sailboat, holding out for the “coq”.
POINTY
It’s spring here, and I’m just planting my garden before we head out on tour again. While preparing the bed to receive my tomatoes and squash and kohlrabi plants, I found some remaining carrots from last season! Too woody to eat, alas, but they are my pointy VEGETABLES!
VIBRANT QUILT
If you’ve been reading this blog before, you’ll know that I’m in the middle of an art challenge with two friends. By next February we are each to have created ten pieces on the theme of “Refractions”. Then, we’ll display our work in a local gallery. In my last 6 months (mostly) home, I’ve been on a wonderful journey to create the first 6 pieces – learning curve is very high, and I’m starting to think more as an artist. These pieces will be for sale when the show is on, also a huge step forward for me, who gives away or keeps everything she makes. Here is the most vibrant piece I’ve made for this challenge, based on pictures I took of two straws in a glass of water, in front of rainbow fabric. The glass was fluted, leading to some really interesting refractions of the straws.
Drawing Straws
If you’d like to see what some of the other participants did for this challenge, check out Cinzia’s site, where you’ll find links to everyone else’s responses.
I hope I can continue doing this challenge while I’m on the road – we’ll have to see! Next time, we do M: Sport, Foreign, Animal, and Modern Quilt.
We have begun our 24 month journey into the Star and Plume block of the month, and a few people have already completed their first blocks! You can see them at www.starandplume.wordpress.com. Each and every one will be so different. It’s very exciting for me to see the fabric and colour choices each person has made.
And it’s because of the Block of the Month that I’ve not doing much else on this blog! It was a busy time to prepare the patterns, and make sure I had everything ready before the launch. I’m back now.
John and I are in final preparation for another tour. We’ll be driving north, this time, to a place in Canada I’ve never been – the LAST place in Canada I’ve never been: the Yukon!
It’s a bit of a “busman’s holiday”, I suppose, but we do have some shows as we go. Our first is in Dawson City Yukon – yes, famous for the Klondike Gold Rush. I expect we’ll be steeped in gold history while we’re there. I’ll be teaching my Mock Mola class for them while we’re there, and doing a concert at the Dawson City Museum (May 24th).
Then we’ll head across to John’s old stomping grounds: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He lived there for 11 years, and that’s where I met him. We haven’t been back up there for years, and it’s about time for him to visit, see some old friends and check out how the town has changed, now that the gold mine is closed and the diamond mines have created a bit of a boom there.
Then we’ll be back down in the “southern climes” for a show and class in Whitecourt Alberta (just outside of Edmonton), and Calgary. From there, I’ll be flying down to Quilt Camp in Flagstaff Arizona, for some quality quilty time with friends there, two classes and a concert by myself 
I’m just finishing up my 6th Refractions quilt. This one is a little mini-challenge within the larger one: Eileen (the painter) did a sketch and painting in what she thought of as a “quilterly” style. Louise (potter) and I were then to create pieces based on Eileen’s painting.
Here’s the original sketch:
Eileen’s original sketch
And here’s what I have made. Still finishing up the quilting on it, but I’m happy with the result. I used Katie Pasquini Masopust’s idea of subdividing the pieces vertically to enhance the depth.
Lake Cowichan sunset
That’ll be the last bit of quilting I’ll be doing for a month or so. Now I’m looking for more inspiration. Perhaps this next adventure will provide some fodder.
Another fortnight, another last minute mad dash to figure out my four categories. This week our letter is:
The topics are: Sky, Purple, City and Lap Quilt
SKY:
I’ve been following the adventures of Canada’s favourite spaceman: Chris Hadfield. Chris is currently the Commander of the International Space Station, and he’s doing more than anyone else to demystify and popularize the goings on up there. He’s using social media a lot while he’s there, and sending back lots on Facebook and YouTube. I’ve seen videos of how you sleep in zero gravity, how you get a haircut, and how to brush your teeth. Even a science experiment suggested by a Canadian student about what happens when you squeeze a soaking wet facecloth in zero G! (you’d be surprised what does happen).
I have a personal connection with Chris – he’s a musician and songwriter too, and he’s been working with my producer, Paul Mills, to record a bunch of songs FROM SPACE! It’s going very well, I hear.
Chris is taking some amazing pictures from space, and here’s one that he took of the rising moon – otherwise known as Luna.
CITY:
I’ve already taken a sneak peek at Cinzia’s post this week, and she chose the city London. As in England. I have been there too, but actually I grew up in London Ontario. Not quite the same cachet that the other one has, but it’s where I’m from, so this is the one I chose.
And yes, the Thames River runs through this one, too. AND Stratford upon Avon is not far away!
PURPLE:
I have lavender growing in my yard. This time of year, it’s not very purple, but it will be. Here’s what lavender looks like in the spring in Victoria BC.
Just beside the first shoots of lavender are proper purple flowers:
LAP QUILT
This is one I made with my Mock Mola Applique technique. It’s a combination of two Labyrinths, the top is Caerdroia Labyrinth, and the bottom is a Roman one.
That’s all for now. In two weeks, I’ll see you with Vs: Colour, Weather, Pointy and Vibrant Quilts!!!
To see some of the other Scatterdayers, there’s a list of all of us on Cinzia’s blog.
The Star and Plume Block of the Month will be up and running in one week!
On May 1st, the first two blocks will be sent out to everyone who is participating. If you haven’t signed up by then, you’ll have to wait until next time.
Just to whet your appetite, I have a picture of the first two blocks on the BoM blog. I am making the quilt again in shades of grey, as you can see. I can’t wait to see what colours the participants choose to work with ! Each different colour decision will make the quilts look entirely different. You will be able to see the evolving quilts as they get made on the blog.
For details about signing up for this BoM, visit www.singingquilter.com.
Do you want to make this quilt?
Over the years I’ve had many people (including Leah Day of Free Motion Quilting fame) approach me to get the pattern for this scrappy sampler quilt: “Star and Plume”. I made it to illustrate the lyrics to the song I wrote of the same name: 48 blocks telling the story (through the block names) of a happy-ending encounter between our favourite quilty gal Sunbonnet Sue and an evil, thieving, “slasher” guy. Sue “outguns” him (thanks to blocks like Bear’s Paw, Indian Hatchet and Anvil), and they live happily ever after – together. The blocks mostly came from Barbara Brackman’s wonderful book “Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns“.
The idea of writing a pattern for this quilt is daunting – it’s really a book, and I’ve been quite overwhelmed with the work involved to write it all up. I see it as an instruction book for many of the essential skills for quilters who want to get better at – and be less fearful of – tackling new and more challenging blocks.
So I have decided to offer this as a Block of the Month. It will last for 24 months, with the patterns for two blocks sent each month. I will send the patterns and instructions out via email, so there won’t be any shipping costs (or delay) involved. I won’t be including fabric, so that each quilt will reflect the stash, scrap bag and taste of its maker, but there will be lots and lots of valuable technique information and advice. I’ll also be available to answer any questions from participants. This is not a beginner quilt, but beginners can learn, through making the blocks, how to be better quilters. My own learning curve, while making it, was huge.
What will you make?
The quilt is made up of 48 nine-inch blocks, mostly traditional, with sashing and cornerstone blocks. It measures 68×88 inches finished. This could be augmented to a larger size by adding an outside border.
What will you learn?
Four-patch and Nine-patch construction, chain piecing, set-in circles (for Drunkard’s Path), half-square triangles, quarter-square triangles, foundation paper piecing, curved piecing, set-in seams (ie for Lone Star), diamonds, mitering, machine and hand appliqué.
What do you need?
A sewing machine. Access to a photocopier. A stash in your chosen colours. A binder to keep all the patterns in one place. Each pattern will tell you exactly what you need to successfully complete the project, with pictures, when necessary.
By the end, you will have a binder full of essential information, tips and techniques to help you make quilts forever.
I plan to start this block of the month MAY 1st, 2013.
So: who’s with me?
You can register for this BOM on the website now.
Just want to watch (although it won’t be NEARLY as much fun)? I have a new blog for this BOM at
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that one of my highlights from last year was my appearance on The Quilt Show with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson. It was broadcast (on-line) in February.
Consequently, I’m on their mailing list – if you are not, it’s easy to do, and you can receive their very entertaining and useful newsletter for free, as well as being able to subscribe to the show if you wish.
But I didn’t know they were in on the ground floor developing new and wonderful products as well. Alex’s son is into computers, and has developed a fantastic new app for the iPhone. They have just sent out a promo video for this amazing item: the Stitch Eraser!!! Sometimes something is invented in this world that just takes your breath away with its practicality and genius.
Check out the video here.
What on earth took them so long?!?!?
Happy Easter, everyone (and soon to be April Fool’s day). I’m enjoying spectacular weather here in Victoria BC – it feels almost like summer!
This time, our Scatterday challenge was S: Female, Ice Cream, Empty and Stash.
Female:
A few years ago we were visiting our good friend Jan in Brisbane. Our concert was held in the Mary MacKillop Primary School. I was interested in the name of the school, since my father’s great grandmother was Catharine MacKillop, from the Isle of Iona. They had a little display about her in the school, and I was interested to find out that she was from the same relative area as my gggrandmother. Since them, Mary MacKillop has been Sainted!
Saint Mary MacKillop
It’s an unusual name, and I’m SURE SHE’s a relative!!! (Just haven’t found out how yet…..)
Ice Cream:
We were on tour in Oklahoma with our RV many years ago. It had snowed overnight. (BRRRR!) In the old days, we had to check our email by going to the camp office and plugging into their telephone. I was doing that when a local came in and started talking about SNOW ICE CREAM!
Being a good Canadian, used to snow, I was amazed that I had never heard of this before. Here’s the recipe:
1 gallon snow
1 cup white sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk (or cream)
Mix the ingredients together and eat it.
Make sure you use clean snow, not what I’m standing on here.
Don’t use this snow to make ice cream!
Empty:
It’s a beautiful Spring day here in Canada, with the temperatures climbing and the sky clear. Time to do some Spring cleaning! It’s the only way I’m ever going to find an Empty Shelf anywhere in my house!
Stash:
Okay, I admit it: I keep almost everything. I throw out fabric that won’t cut a 1 1/2″ square, but keep everything else. I even keep Selvedges! Here’ s my bag full of selvedges, and what I do with them (obviously I’m a bit behind in this – time to start crocheting again…..). To keep this extremely S-y, I’ve added three of my favourite Scissors, as well!
Selvedges and Scissors
Next? We’ll be doing As: House, Bird, Junk and Art.
See you in two weeks!
Today’s Scatterdays challenge: the letter D
Feet
Something Humorous
Furniture
A Quilty Display
Feet were made to DANCE!!! Here’s the cover of one of my recordings, featuring the song: Dance Beneath the Moon. I hate this cover, but it’s a real “blast from the past” to see my hair like this again – very 80s, dontcha know! (PS it never was this big – the artist drew in some of the top hair because the picture was cut off…..)
Funny hair, horrible album cover, but it was a good song!
Furniture: My desk!
This is as clean as it ever gets…..
Something humorous: sorry, I’ve totally blanked on this. I’ve no idea. Dada? a funny disguise? a Dirigible? a Dromedary? a Dodo bird? How about the book series by Patrick Taylor that I’m reading: An Irish Country Doctor? There are several books in the series, about a freshly minted Irish Doctor who starts working in the fictitious town “Ballybucklebo”, complete with its hilarious finely drawn characters. I’ve laughed out loud many times while reading this book!!
This is the first book.
A Quilty Display: Here’s my selection of hand-Dyes and fabric I’ve Dyed. I’ll do more. It’s so much fun!
Next? S: Female, Ice Cream, Empty, and Stash. See you in two weeks!
It is now possible for you to order CDs, books and patterns from me directly on my website, using credit cards, without having to print out the order form and mail it in to me, or even use the telephone. Of course, you still can do that, if you want to talk to me, or like to keep the postal service in business.
I’m planning a very exciting project for everyone to do for the next two years. Do you enjoy Blocks of the Month?
While I’m setting up my block of the month project, I’d love to hear from you. What do you love about them? What do you hate about them? Are they worth the money? If you’ve never done one, what would entice you to sign up? If you have done one, what was your experience?
I want to make this a smooth and wonderful learning experience for everyone. What will be the quilt, you ask?
Do you want to make this quilt?
The STAR AND PLUME!!!
