Hi folks,

I know I've told you that when I'm getting ready for a trip, I like to make a new bag to take with me. Well, when I'm getting ready for company, sometimes I like to make new throw pillows. You might remember this proverb quilt that I posted about last week:I was really intrigued by the idea of letter quilt blocks, so I headed home that night with a project in mind. I don't have time for a full quilt right now, but I do have a big pile of scraps, and I enjoy free-style/improvisational piecing. After a couple false starts....

If seam ripping is required and it's after 10 pm, it's time to quit for the night.

...I woke up in the middle of the night on Friday and thought: Foundation piece it! Last night I finally had the chance to sit down with my scraps and my sewing machine to turn out this pillow.

I made it from scraps left over from the stacked coin quilt I made as a couch throw (you can see part of it there on the left), and once I had the foundation-piecing breakthrough, the pillow came together pretty quickly.

The fabric is Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope from Free Spirit, (with some plain brown cotton from Fabricland). I backed the pillow with a square of the cheater print from her County Fair line.

This is a great stash-buster project and I think it would make a great present for a child who's just learning his or her letters – or for someone who loves unique monograms.

Hi friends,

As promised, here's a sneak peek at some of the excitement the Creativ Festival holds for quilters, courtesy of Rita Gramsch, producer of the festival.

Things to See

There are more than 260 blocks in the Quilt of Belonging.

The Festival showcases the work of several fibre artists, including award-winning quilt exhibits from Lenore Crawford and Elizabeth Dillinger, as well asthe not-to-be-missed Quilt of Belonging (seen above), a collaborative textile work that portrays the rich cultural legacies of all the First Peoples in Canada and every nation of the world.

Things to Do
Colour and design workshops for quilters are plentiful. Enjoy quilting cool diamonds with fibre artist Kaffe Fassett (England), knitting persian poppies with Brandon Mably (England), creating fabric art with Lenore Crawford (Michigan) and turn fibre rovings into works of art with designers Norm and Gio Gaudet. Thread paint with Elizabeth Dillinger, make memory quilts with Jean Boyd or create stained glass quilts with Susan Purney Mark. If you’re a beginner quilter, make a Kaffe Fassett fabric pillow with Hyggeligt.

People to Learn From
Kaffe Fassett
This incredibly talented artist, visiting from London, England, is renowned world-wide for his colour work. He shares his vision and inspiration in frequent lecture tours, exhibitions and television appearances. He is the author of more than 12 books including Passionate Patchwork and Kaffe Knits Again.

Lenore Crawford won the 2007 AQS 'Best Wall Quilt' award in Nashville, Tennessee. Her new style of art quilting inspires others to reach outside their normal style. Lenore was the hit of our spring show and an absolute must to experience this fall.

Elizabeth Dillinger is an award-winning quilter and a rising international star. Winner of Viewers Choice for 2009 Canadian Nationals and 2nd place Award of Excellence, her work is on display in the Netherlands, featured in magazines and on TV, including Quilters TV.

For your chance to a pair of tickets and class passes to the festival (or to enter to win a book, if you live too far away to attend), leave a comment on the contest post telling me which prize you'd like.

Hi folks,

I'm up to my elbows in ribbon and glitter glue today but I wanted to take a quick break to point you toward this neat quilt-along project over at The Sometimes Crafter. Christina, her mom and her friends wanted to spend some quality time together and they wanted to learn to quilt, so voilà, this sampler quilt sew along was born. Each month, Christina posts a new tutorial and participants get busy crafting the next quilt block. When they're finished, they'll have 12 blocks, enough for a quilt top!

I have always been intrigued by the idea off making a sampler quilt, but put off by the traditional look of the blocks (not that there's anything wrong with traditional blocks, they just aren't to my taste for my home), and that's where the genius of this project comes in – this project has a thoroughly modern look. I especially like the flying geese colour wheel block from July.

Following a quilt-along is a great way to learn new techniques at your own pace, and Christina's tutorials are clearly written with lots of great photos. The fact that there's a different block each month helps keep you motivated to keep going (as any quilter would tell you, a little momentum can help a lot!). 

Have you ever participated in an online quilting bee or quilt-along? Did you like it? How did your quilt turn out?

Hi friends,

Another quick note today – this one's for the quilters in the crowd. A couple of my coworkers pointed me in the direction of this article from Masthead Online announcing a new Canadian quilting magazine, Quilter's Connection.

The first issue comes out this September; look for it in select quilting stores across Canada, and at events such as Quilts at Tanglebank Gardens (Sept. 12, Abbottsford, B.C.) and the Creativ Festival (Oct. 16-18, Toronto). Or, subscribe for $29.95/year and have the quarterly mailed right to you. (Read more about the origins of the magazine here.)

I'm excited about this – an all-Canadian quilting magazine will be a welcome addition to my subscription roster.

Have a great weekend!

Hi friends,

One of my favourite blogs is the Detroit-based Sweet Juniper!, and recently I've also been enjoying Sweet Juniper: WoodCraft. The blogs are both thoughtful and thought-provoking; they make me laugh and, often, touch my heart. The WoodCraft post that went up last Tuesday was no exception. I'm not always a fan of T-shirt quilts, but this one, and the story behind it, left me sitting at my desk with tears in my eyes.

Of course, as often seems to happen in the blogosphere, it wasn't long before I saw another touching t-shirt quilt; this one made for a young lady's 18th birthday. This has a different style and a different feeling, made as it was for a girl who'll be heading off to college in the fall, but it too left me feeling a bit wistful.

If you're interested in making a quilt like this, head over to look at our instructions for making a memory quilt. Or take a stroll through blogland. There's lots and lots and lots of inspiration (and instruction) out there.

If you have made a quilt like this, I'd love to hear about it. E-mail me photo or leave a link in the comments section, and I'll feature it on the blog!

ps Don't forget to enter for your chance to win one of TWO prizes. Each winner will receive an assortment of Bamboo Baby yarn from Patons. To enter, leave me a link to your favourite Canadian craft blog on yesterday's post. As usual, the contest closes Friday at 5 p.m. and I’ll post a winner next Monday. Good luck!!

Hi friends!

Phew, it's busy-busy here today, but I couldn't wait any longer to share this little DIY project I put together last week. I've been hard at work on my latest quilt, and it is hard work: each block is made of 39(!) different pieces. This is the first quilt I've made using templates instead of rotary-cut shapes, and I quickly found myself challenged by the prospect of all that tracing. The fabric moved around under the template, the marker bled, ugh.

Tracing a template onto fabric can be frustrating.

I was telling my tale of woe to Tina (you'll remember her as the quilter/organizer extraordinaire from last week's organization Q+A post) and she suggested a solution that I liked the sounds of. With a little bit of foam core, some spray adhesive, a sheet of sandpaper and a bit of non-slip drawer liner, she said, I could solve all my tracing woes. She was right!

I stopped to pick up my supplies on my way home from work. A quick search for foam core was fruitless, so I decided to use a clipboard instead. I subbed heavy-duty glue for spray adhesive (it was raining; I couldn't do the spraying outside and didn't want to have a sticky kitchen table). The total cost of my supplies: less than $10.

Clipboard with garnet sandpaper.

First, trimmed the sides of the sandpaper to fit the width of the clipboard. Then I spread a thin layer of glue on both the clipboard and the paper, making sure that the glue went right to the edges. (Obviously, I was working over newsprint, not quilt blocks as above!) I used clothespins to hold the edges of the sandpaper down while the glue dried.

Non-slip drawer liner keeps the board from skating away while I work.

Next, I cut two bands of non-slip drawer liner roughly the length of the clipboard, and attached them to the back of the clipboard with more of glue. It was a challenge to make sure that not too much glue seeped through the liner, and I made sure to leave it to dry upside down, lest I come back and find it securely stuck to the table!

Let's get to work.

Ta da! Once the glue was dry, I was ready to get to work. The non-slip liner keeps the clipboard from moving while I'm tracing; the garnet sandpaper is rough enough to grip the fabric but not so rough as to pick or tear at it. I use a sharp HB pencil to mark lines and dots for cutting lines and seam allowances - the pencil will wash out and I don't have to put up with a stinky marker. (Always test a scrap of fabric before you mark it, though, just to be safe.)

And look at that – quilt ring #1, done and done. Thanks, Tina, for the great advice!

Do you have and tracing hints and tips for me?

PS Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Stitch ‘n Bitch, a knitting book with attitude, AND six balls of beautiful angora/bamboo yarn from Patons. Leave a comment on Monday's post telling me what your favourite craft resource is. Comment by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 5; I’ll post a winner next Monday, June 8. Good luck!

Hello there,

Continuing with yesterday's theme of crafting for a good cause, today I'd like to share some inspiring words and pictures with you.

Sharon Watson of Wool 'n' Things, a quilting and yarn shop on Manitoulin Island, wrote in to tell me about a great fund-raising event she sponsored last weekend. Here's some of what she wrote:

"The Quilt is a registered charitable organization dedicated to proving emotional and physical support to cancer survivors and their loved ones. (Not just breast cancer, as it was in the beginning about 11 years ago).

I issued a challenge last year to my customers here at Wool 'n' Things, on Manitoulin Island, to make a 12-inch quilt block for this cancer fundraising project.

Myra and Sharon with the finished quilt (from www.woolnthings.org).

We had such a good response that we decided to have our own 30 hour marathon for The Quilt in order to raise more funds for this worthy cause.

Quilters of all ages got in on the fun.

Early in the spring we gathered teams of 6-10 quilters that would donate 3 hours of their time to hand quilt and seek pledges from family and friends. In the end we had 10 teams and 65 quilters registered to help out.

Sharing a laugh.

We started at 6am Friday May 22nd and worked through until midnight, continuing for another 12 hours on Saturday May 23rd. Besides having fun dressing up in various attire, our quilters were pampered with gifts, refreshments and a souvenir t-shirts during the event.

Local politicians lend a hand.

They also had to share their seats with local dignitaries and onlookers who were encouraged to put in a few stitches. Other attractions during the event were a silent and a chance auction, local musical talent and even some dancing in the street.

Look at that - three times the goal!

Our 30-Hour Marathon was a great success. Our goal was to raise $5,000, and we reached over $15,000 for our charity."

Sharon, thanks so much for telling us about this great event - it's so inspiring, and it sounds like it was so much fun. Congratulations on your success! I'm sure someone somewhere is going to get great comfort from that beautiful quilt.

(Have you participated in a community crafting event that you'd like to share? Please, send me an email (agilliland@canadianliving.com) and tell me all about it!)

Have a great night, friends.

PS Don’t forget to leave a comment on Monday’s post for your chance to win the The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit and coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. This week, I’m interested in hearing about your favourite craft to take on a road trip.

Hello, crafters!

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend and got to spend a little time outside, maybe watching some fireworks or working in the garden. I went on a little fabric shopping spree (thank you very much, Canada Revenue Agency) and came home with 6 metres of Kona cotton and 31 fat quarters. Just look at that teetering stack of fabric!

Yes, I finally started the Single Girl quilt by Denyse Schmidt (the title is derived from the design, a play on the traditional Double Wedding Ring pattern). Did you manage to fit any crafting in?

Now, on to the important business of the day. The winner of last week's giveaway, the book Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot by Mary Beth Temple, is...

...Lorraine, who claims to be "crochet challenged." Congratulations, Lorraine, and here's hoping that this book sets you on the right path!

For Weekly Giveaway #5, I've got a treat for the apron enthusiasts in the crowd. The Perfect Apron (35 fun and flirty designs for you to make), by Rob Merrett, is jam-packed with ideas for aprons. I think there's something in there for just about every occasion, whether you're hosting a cocktail party, having a special guest over for high tea, or having a bake-along with your favourite wee one.

(Or maybe you're looking for something new to make before the next Tie One On deadline? The summer theme is "Pie Makin' Apron," which reminds me of the wonderful movie Waitress. Now there's a way to spend a weekend: watching movies, making aprons and eating pie. I think I'd start with Rhubarb Sour Cream Pie. Yum!)

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite craft-inspiring movie by Friday, May 22, at 5 p.m. Do you take a second glance at your drapes every time you watch The Sound of Music? Do you go crazy for the cut-and-paste scenes in Amelie? Do you reach for your sewing basket, not the Kleenex box, when you see that Stepmom is on?  I’ll round up the answers in an upcoming inspiration post, and, as usual, I'll post a winner next Monday.

Have a great week!

Hello!

Just  a quick note today, but I wanted to share this with you. I was delighted to find an email from Sheila Gehrke,  of High River, Alberta, in my inbox the other day. Sheila writes:

"I am sending you a picture of the quilt I made from the Jan/Feb 1978 issue I purchased when it was only  available on the newsstand. I had collected all the fabric and when I  retired it was my first project to do and now I am an avid quilter. I  completed it in January 2001...Quilting has become a great passion for me and I find it such a relaxation in this busy world that we are now in."

Sheila's first quilt.

Wow! Sheila, it looks fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Do you have a project from the pages of Canadian Living that you'd like to share? Leave a link in the comments or send me an email, and I'll post it here.

Have a great day, friends.

p.s. There are only a few more days until the launch of "Get Crafty." If  you haven't already signed up, get thee to the subscriber page, because now, there are prizes! Because crafting can be a messy business, we're giving away two Hoover Platinum Collection Cordless Hand Vacuums, valued at $170 each. You might never have to sweep up thread clippings or sawdust again.

Hello, friends.

Thanks to everyone who has been entering Weekly Giveaway #3. There are some great craft questions coming up in the contest entries – it looks like I'm going to be learning some new things, too! I chose an easy question to start off with. This one's from Emily, who writes:

"I would like to try making a baby quilt, but I don’t really know how to go about it. I have a sort of pattern from a book (the Bend The Rules sewing book by Amy Karol). My question: is it worth investing in a rotary cutter and mat set? I have a decent pair of fabric scissors but it seems like it might be easier to do piecing using the mat and rotary blade. Then again I’m a novice so it seems like a hefty investment."

Easy question, easy answer: Emily, it's worth it.

When I started quilting, about five years ago, it didn't take me long to discover that I'm useless at cutting a straight line with a pair of fabric shears. After a single very frustrating afternoon of cutting crooked squares and uneven seam allowances, a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler and mat set made its way to the top of my shopping list.

My well-loved (and much used) rotary cutter, rulers and mats.

Using a rotary cutter enables you to make quick, straight cuts with reliable results every time. The super-sharp blade is capable of cutting through multiple layers of fabric at once, which is a godsend when you're working on a quilt with dozens (or even hundreds) of pieces. The self-healing mats and acrylic rulers come in many shapes and sizes, so you can find one that works for your workspace (I like the larger mat now, but the small one was ideal when I was living in a tiny apartment without a dedicated worktable.)

I bought my original Fiskars set for about $25-$30, and over the years I've added new cutting mats and rulers as I've needed them.  OLFA is the other source for excellent cutting tools, rulers and mats for sewers/quilters, and though their prices seem slightly higher, I think it's worth it. (Consider how long you're likely to be using the tools – and how much trouble they'll save you. I use them for all my sewing now, not just quilting, and I've been doing so since 2004. That works out to only $5 a year – not bad!)

If you're worried about the expense, it is worth checking the sales at stores like Fabricland/Fabricville, which often have big seasonal discounts, even on notions. And don't discount your local quilting shop – many of them offer packages for beginning quilters.

One caveat: be careful. A rotary cutter is as sharp as a scalpel. Never, ever leave the blade open when you're not using it. Keep your rotary cutter out of reach of curious kids. And if you drop it – jump lively!

Just a few other notes...

• Have something to add to the discussion about rotary cutters and cutting mats? Please leave a comment!
• If you're looking for a good resource book, I'd recommend The Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting. It's an excellent resource for beginning and more experienced quilters alike.
• Don't forget to add your crafty question for the chance to win one of two copies of Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes.
• It's only a few more days until my e-newsletter launches. Don't forget to sign up!

See you again soon!