Barb Mortell Class – August 8 and 9, 2014

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Norma Hanson

This weekend, I attended a two day workshop (August 8 and 9) with textile artist, Barb Mortell of Denman Island. Description of the first class from Barb: Day 1 : Triangles, Diamonds, Value and Colour (Rulers rule!) Description: This workshop is a composition workshop, and a place to make experiments in colour and value. Each person will make their own unique patchwork, and perhaps work out a system that sustains the artist for many months or longer. I know I could work on triangles for a long, long time without becoming bored of them, there are so many variations….We’ll be learning a variety of traditional and speedy techniques for making triangles one at a time and in bulk, and there will be instruction in cutting and sewing different types of triangles and diamonds. Once we have decided on a technique, we’ll move into colour and value studies with the idea that the studies, perhaps with some bending and twisting and stretching, will all fit together to create a small quilt top. The point is, with trials and experimentation, we will come away with a better understanding of Colour and Value, with the added benefit of trying out some new techniques. We started the day with an inspirational show and tell of some of Barb’s work. This was my little creative space for the two day workshop. I shared my design wall with three other talented and inspirational quilters. My HST’s are on the left of the design wall in this picture. Do you recognize my signature green? 🙂 My squares were not sewn into blocks at this point. I now have the HST’s arranged in an entirely different setting on my design wall at home. I am trying to figure out what setting I like best before I commit to sewing my HST’s into blocks and my blocks into a small quilt top. The next four pictures are of other students’ work in the class. I loved this piece. This person plans on making her quilt top into a pillow. She focused mainly on white, black, and grey with just a pop of the turquoise and purple. Stunning! Description of the second class from Barb: Day 2 (Saturday, Aug 9th, 2014) Improvising with a Simple Shape, with Focus on Colour and Value (Shake off the ruler) Description: We will decide on a simple shape, such as a triangle or diamond or ??? and play with scale as well as colour and value, with the aim of making a small composition. No real techniques taught here – just permission to free cut and lots of design help along the way. If you were in Day 1, this is a great forum for carrying on with those experiments, or feel free to start fresh. We started the second day with some more inspirational samples of Barb’s. I think I enjoyed working on the wonky triangles during the second day more than working with the ruler on the first day. Barb told us all you had to remember when working in this format was if you want to make your piece smaller, cut it off and if you want to make your piece bigger, add something to it. These were my blocks after the second day. I was thinking that I should be naming my piece, “Pine Beetle Forest” since the Pine Beetle is the only thing I know of that will change a green pine tree orange/red with blue wood. 🙂 As you can see, I earned an “A” for my work from Barb! The following six pictures were taken around the room at the end of Day 2. What an explosion of colour! This was a great two days. As always, I am recharged and inspired.

“It is value that does all the work, but colour gets the credit” ~ Barb Mortell

Four UFO Finishes For the Table

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Norma Hanson

Yesterday, I took the last stitches in the four table toppers/runners that I quilted last weekend. These projects have been on the UFO pile for years. I set out this year to quilt as many of the tops that have been sitting on the flimsy pile as I could. I had some incentive from the guild’s UFO challenge this year which I won in June. I am on a roll and don’t plan on stopping soon!

This group shot photo of the four finished projects was taken from the deck directly above the grass where i placed the quilts. This may be my new favorite way to take pictures of quilts. 🙂

This sunflower table runner is from the pattern, Easy Striped Table Runner by Karen Montgomery of The Quilt Company. Years ago, this was a free pattern on the Timeless Treasures website. They have taken it down now, but the pattern is for sale on several on-line quilting sites. The following is taken from the pattern jacket.

Although the pattern jacket says that this is the easiest project you will ever make, this project has been sitting on my “to be quilted pile” for years! I made one of these table runners for my Mom years ago and I started one for myself right after finishing my Mom’s. Like so often happens, the project that is destined as a gift gets finished and my project sits in the flimsy pile waiting for me to have some spare time to quilt it. The pattern says that the runner finishes at 45″ long, but my version is only 35″ long. Once you understand how the construction works, you can vary the size of the finished runner easily.

This lilac table topper is from the Spirals pattern by Ursula Riegel of Designs to Share with You. I have made this topper many times over the years. It is a great pattern to showcase a novelty fabric.

While in Oregon on a trip with my Mother and Aunt in May 2008, I picked up this cute lilac print fabric. I made table toppers for my Mother and my Aunt. In 2009, I made a topper for myself. It has sat in the flimsy pile waiting to be quilted until now.

This is another table topper made from Ursula Riegel’s pattern. Did you know that Ursula Riegel is a Canadian designer? She is located on Vancouver Island in Victoria, BC. I love to promote Canadian quilt designers. 🙂

This table runner is from another of Ursula Riegel’s patterns called, It’s Fast, It’s Easy. This is another pattern that I like to go to for seasonal projects as it showcases the novelty fabrics so well.

Pam sent me the St. Patrick’s Day fabric back in 2006. Back then, it was nearly impossible to get any novelty fabrics for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter in Canada. Now because the Canadians are demanding these fabrics they are a little easier to find in Canada. Believe it or not, I have one more table runner made from this same batch of fabrics that is still on the “flimsy pile” waiting to be quilted. 🙂

Lindsay’s Wedding

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Norma Hanson

Today was Lindsay’s wedding. Lindsay has been part of our family for what seems like forever. Lindsay is the same age as our son and has been a best friend to our daughter over the years.

I made this quilt as a wedding gift for Eduardo and Lindsay. The pattern is Random Reflections by Karrie Lyne from Freckled Whimsy and can be found on the Moda Bake Shop site. The quilt is 60″ x 80″ which is larger than the pattern. I wanted this to be a quilt that could be used to wrap in on cool winter nights while watching TV. When I asked our daughter what Lindsay’s favorite colour was, she replied, “You know how I like purple and green? Well, Lindsay likes green and purple.” That comment made me chuckle. Since my favorite colour is also green, there is no shortage of green fabrics in my stash. And so, this quilt was made from strips of the many green fabrics that line the shelves of my studio.

This is the backing fabric that I used on this quilt. It is called, “The Bee’s Knees” by Terrie Mangat for Free Spirit Westminster Fibers. I wanted something that was a bit modern looking since I was told that the groom prefers the “modern” look. This fabric had a touch of purple for the bride and the large design made it very modern looking which was perfect for this quilt.

This is Lindsay and her Dad walking down the aisle.

Lindsay was Maid of Honour for our daughter two years ago. And today our daughter was Matron of Honour for Lindsay.

The happy couple with our DD.

My husband and I with the happy couple.

Challenges

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Norma Hanson

I am working on two quilting challenges right now.

1. The first challenge is with our local Fall Fair. This year is our 110th Fall Fair and our 66th Corn Festival. The theme of our local fair is, “Year of the…Honey Bee!”. In conjunction with the theme of the fair, our local fair committee issues challenges in the categories of needlework, quilting, baking, and canning in keeping with that year’s fair theme. Under quilting, the challenge is to make a, “Fall Fair Theme Quilt – using the honey bee theme. Any size. Open to all age/groups.” When I was at the Langley Quilters Guild show in May, I shopped in the guild’s boutique and picked up a used applique pattern for $0.25 that I think will work perfectly for this challenge.

2. The second challenge is with our local quilt guild. This year our quilt show is October 17 and 18. The theme of the challenge is, “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue.” The rules for this one are:

– Each challenge piece must include at least one rose and at least one violet. Feel free to add more if you want.

– Your challenge piece must be no larger than 96 inches around or if you want it square, it is 24 inches by 24 inches.

– You are free to include any fabric or technique you wish, piecing, applique, photo transfer, beading, ink-work, embroidery or ???.

I have the pattern and two of the fabrics that I want to use for this one. I am still on the hunt for one more fabric and then I can start the piecing.

I can’t show pattern or fabric details for these challenges at this point as we are supposed to be keeping details a secret until unveiling. …so stay tuned!

Prizes

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Norma Hanson

For the last three months when I have attended a quilt guild meeting, I have won a door prize.

In April, I visited a new guild (FVMQG) and won a door prize–two fat quarters wrapped up with a pretty blue ribbon that were donated by Lynn.

These fat quarters are responsible for my new love of Tula Pink fabrics. Both fat quarters were from Tula’s, “The Birds & The Bees” line. The fabric on the left is called Swallow Skies and the fabric on the right is called, Little Bits.

I had so much fun at the FVMQG’s April meeting that I went back in May. At May’s meeting I won another door prize–two packs of Moda 2.5″ squares and a spool of coordinating thread donated by Sheri. The two packs of squares are from Moda–Sphere by Briditte Heitland and Simply Style by Vanessa Christenson.

Last night, I went to my regular quilt guild and I won a door prize–the Spring issue of Quilting Quickly magazine and some gingerbread tea.

Wednesday night, I also won this wonderful stack of fat quarters for having finished and shown during show and tell the most UFO’s this year. These fabrics are from Windham Fabrics’ Tavern Signs line. Windham worked with the Connecticut Historical Society to reproduce these fabrics.

The following is taken from Windham’s site and describes this fabric line.

TAVERN SIGNS

In Association with the Connecticut Historical Society

Long before neon lights or billboards, painted tavern signs were the primary form of outdoor advertising. And before interstate highways, these signs marked Americans’ travels along dusty or muddy roads by horse, private carriage, or stagecoach. In the 18th and 19th centuries, taverns and inns provided essential services, ones so important that colonial laws in Connecticut required every town to have an inn or tavern identified by “some suitable Sign.” These establishments were places for travelers to find food and lodging for themselves and their horses and for locals to meet, drink, and share news.

Between 1750 and 1850, there were more than 50,000 inn and tavern signs produced by American painters, creating a distinct visual language and offering a glimpse into tavern life, travel, and patriotic ideals in early America. Only a fraction of these signs survive. The Connecticut Historical Society’s collection—numbering more than 60 signs—is by far the largest and most spectacular in the country. Bold eagles, exotic lions, prancing horses, cheerful travelers, patriotic heroes, Masonic symbols, and beautiful lettering adorn these signs, along with dozens of other images, each unique.

Windham Fabrics in association with the Connecticut Historical Society is proud to bring to life this glimpse into America’s past. Our fabric collection commemorates the road traveled by those pioneers who made America great. Founded in 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society inspires and fosters a life-long interest in history by helping people today connect with the past though its remarkable collections of artifacts, graphics, manuscripts, and printed materials. You can discover more about the Connecticut HistoricalSociety at www.chs.org

I am going to have to find a special pattern to show these historically significant fabrics.

Silver Thimble Quilting

Every quilt has a story to tell; if you are quiet and listen, you will hear it.

Author Archives: Norma Hanson