Weekend Designing - Zig-Zag Layout

Zig-Zag Layout
Originally uploaded by maripenquiltmomI spent the weekend designing my next quilt-along quilt which is happening at the ORBC Quilt Along flicker group.

I am planning on doing a twin size quilt that will measure 72 x 90 inchs. My fabric choices were inspired by this.

Also, if you want to see what everyone else is planning or you want to join in the fun click on the Zig Zag Quilt-along button in my right sidebar to take you to the flckr group.

There will be lots of WIP photos to come on my progress with this quilt and also another quilt-along by Crazy Mom Quilts (I didn't join in on round 1 so I thought I'd join in on round 2 since I am accumulating so many scraps - this ones a great scrap stash buster).

WIP Old Red Barn Co. Quilt-along #2

My sister and I have been busy sewing up a storm. Actually, we have had several storms and a serious heat wave here in the lower mainland of British Columbia. I haven't been able to get motivated to clean or really do anything in this heat, but there is always energy for sewing.

As I mentioned in the previous post my sister and I are both sewing quilts inspired by the Old Red Barn Co. quilt-along flckr group. Last week we got together and sewed all the strip sets. Then this weekend we cut all the blocks and today decided on layout.

Diagonal view of my quilt layout

It's been great sewing with my sister, it's always fun working together.

My sister's quilt

My sister and I each had enough scraps from the ends of the strip sets to make coin quilts. Below is a picture of the 6 columns of coins I sewed together, so, 2 quilts for the price of one - almost!

Second ORBC Quilt-along Quilt for Megan

Second ORBC Quilt-along Quilt for Megan

Originally uploaded by maripenquiltmom

I've been enjoying the laziness of summer but I still manged to get a second Old Red Barn Co. Quilt-along quilt cut out. Aren't these fabrics fun. I'm going to call this one Paula meet Sandi! I'm using Paula Prass' Flights of Fancy and Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market. I'll be using the fabric on the top right for backing and second from top on right for binding.

My daughter saw Quilting Barbie's quilt when I had it here for quilting, and said "mom, I want one with some of those fabrics" so I thought why not, I'll make her one too and bonus, my sister will be piecing one right along with me! Our own little quilt-along. Hopefully soon I can do a post on both our quilts together. She is using mostly Farmer's Market fabrics for hers!

My first ORBC Quilt is on my longarm machine. I have a few rows quilted but I thought I may as well get started on the next one.

I'll be piecing it at the same time as the zigzag quilt-along that this group is moving on to. I can't wait for that to start on Monday! I'm still picking out my fabrics from my stash for the zigzag. I'll show you my selections soon.

My First Quilt

Camille and Carrie are hosting a Parade of Quilts and I had a last minute thought to participate. Today is the last day to enter.

My first completed quilt is a Debbie Mumm Maple Leaf quilt done up using Fall colours. I still love it today. I made this quilt in 1995. As a matter of fact, I have it hanging in my longarm studio and I gaze at it several times a day. It was a great quilt to start off with as it has basic piecing as well as lots of half square triangles; so, lots of skill development opportunity.


My very first pieced top was actually the Woodpile Log Cabin in Barn Raising pictured below. I am still today not finished this quilt as I wanted to handquilt it and have been doing that on and off since 1995. I kept losing interest in it even though I still love the colours (I love brown and cream). About 2 weeks ago, I actually pulled out all the handquilting which was more than 2/3 done and I'll be machine quilting it later this summer. I'll show it to you when it is finished.


My last completed quilt is a baby Stacked Coins quilt which I longarm quilted with "Daisy Swirl". I found this awsome tutorial at the Moda Bakeshop by Simply This and That. Instead of the traditional white columns I decided to sash it in yellow and I have come to love the effect. I continue to learn new things with every quilt but I think the most important thing I have learned is to take risks with colour, it usually pays off.


I have been working on many quilts since this last one; I'm the type of quilter that needs lots of projects going at once.


Thanks for hosting this Camille and Carrie. I really look forward to the Parade of Quilts wrap-up tomorrow!

Whistler

We got back from a 5 day holiday at Whistler. Unfortunately, I kept forgetting to take my camera along when we walked through the village. People watching was the best but unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the street entertainment.

The weather was nice the first 2 days but not so nice the last 2. There was lots of rain and it was cold the last 2 days. The only picture I took was the one above. It was really nice to have a change of scenery though.

We still had a nice family time. The boys did lots of mountain biking and a bit of shopping. All of the kids did lots of swimming every day.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom townhouse. We were fairly crowded as there was 6 of us plus 1 of the kids friends and our 2 schnauzers. We had a lot of forced togetherness, which was great. At home we are always going in all sorts of directions and it was just nice to be together. We played some Cranium, lots of Dutch Blitz and Uno.

Fabulous Sunset at Green Lake

Since I didn't get too many pictures I thought I'd show you some of our pictures from last years holiday when we went to a friends cabin in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia (Green Lake or often referred to as 70 Mile House). This was approximately a 4 hour drive from our home.

The girls sitting on the dock having a quiet moment.

Kia loved being up at Green Lake but wouldn't go near the lake. She hates getting wet.

Jasper loves to be near dad and the kids who are swimming here at dusk; so, he's getting as close as he dares. He did actually jump in once but immediately regretted it and had to be rescued.

All in all we thank God for safe travel, no injuries while mountain biking, and wonderful scenery to enjoy while holidaying.

Catching Up Longarm Quilting for Clients

1 row of Butterfly Charm

I've been trying all week to catch up with my client quilts as I am planning to take the rest of July and all of August off. I may still be quilting my own tops or my daughter's (she is working on a special project with my cousins daughter - more to come on that later).

I quilted this quilt which was pieced by M.O. Last year, I ran a promotion during my first year of business. Anyone who brought me 5 quilts in my first year of business would get a sixth one free. This is M.O.'s free one. I used Flowing Feather pantograph as an overall texture design.


Sandra brought me two more quilts. An animal print Yellow Brick Road quilted with Carpet of Leaves and an Oriental Magic Tiles quilted with Butterfly Charm.

Animal Print/Yellow Brick Road

The following 2 pictures are of Sandra's stunning Oriental Magic Tiles Quilt

Canada Day - July 1st

On Wednesday we celebrated Canada's birthday. Abbotsford had a parade down our main street, South Fraserway, and fireworks at our Exhibition park. We watched the fireworks from our back patio as we live right near the park.

We went to the parade, our middle school (Mennonite Educational Institute) marching band was marching. Unfortunately, my daughter was in the last row on the opposite side of where I was sitting so I couldn't get a picture of her, but she was there!


It felt like the whole community was out. The sun was shining bright and the street was crowded with people. Some of the floats were pretty cool. I really liked this Safari one.


And lots of kids were riding their bikes in the parade.


There were quite a few car collectors driving there vintage cars too.

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All in all, a great day to celebrate Canada's birthday.

More Quilting on Old Red Barn Quilt-along for Mary on Lake Pulaski

If you've been following my blog you know I gave away free quilting service to Quilting Barbie on the Old Red Barn quilt-along as she was online when I made the offer for the first email from B.C.

Within seconds, I received a second email asking if I would quilt for her even though she was not from my area. I decided to do the quilting for 50% off providing all postage fees were also paid. Mary on Lake Pulaski took me up on this.

Isn't her quilt great? She used "Red Letter Day" by Lizzie House. She used the lime green with geese on the back. It's so cute with the little turquoise geese distributed at intervals all over the back. She also did some great piecing with her leftover strip ends. Great job Mary!


Head on over to Mary's blog to view her photos of her completed quilt with binding on. Also, if you click on Mary's picture of the back of her quilt you can see a large view which makes it appear the geese are floating on quilted waves. Mary picked Happy Times pantograph for the quilting design.

Thanks Mary, for choosing me for the quilting of your awesome quilt!

Free Quilting for Quilting Barbie

A few weeks ago while reading the discussion board in the Old Red Barn Co. Quilt-along Flckr Group I got a little caught up in the excitement of it all and offered free quilting services to the first person from British Columbia or Washington State that emailled me. Within a few minutes I had 2 emails seconds apart.

1 row done

I was taken up on my offer by Quilting Barbie. She made a fabulous quilt using many fabrics from the Flights of Fancy Line by Paula Prass. It really is better to give than receive. I've enjoyed seeing and hearing her excitement about winning free quilting service. You can read her thoughts here and here.

I received the quilt last Tuesday. We decided to use a pink and brown variegated cotton thread and the pantograph we chose is Fantasia. It turned out great. I finished quilting on Monday and the quilt was back in the mail to her yesterday (Tuesday).

Quilting Barbie pieced an awesome back for her quilt using the scraps that were left over from her strip sets.

I really enjoyed quilting this quilt for Quilting Barbie and hope to meet her when she travels through my area sometime this summer!

Quilting friends are the best!