One Word Wednesday

Go with style

New Work

I've just finished a new quilt that is packed and ready for the postal strike to end! it's heading off to the APWQ show for their travelling exhibit. www.apwq.org
The Pacific West Quilt Show is the premier quilting event in the Pacific Northwest and features quilts from the western Canadian provinces and many of the western states. It runs from August 26-28 and if held in Tacoma Washington.
The theme of the quilt is Spirit of the West and entitled Red Sky at Night. t
The exhibit will travel around the US for two years and then be auctioned off at the Gala Banquet at the APWQ show in August 2013. I used photos of sunsets hand dyed and painted fabrics in a collage format and then did free mtion quilting over top, it measures 24" x 36".  I was inspired by Charlotte Ziebarth and her book Artistic Photo Quilts.

Fabric Imagery -- New Store

Fabric, thread, texture, imagery, pattern and colour, each evolve and develop into your creations.

Explore your ideas and images in this creative space.
When we stretch and reach, searching for challenges to our art we cannot be bound or held back. We are limitless in our imaginings.
So, imagine, create and be bold in the possibilities………

I've just started a new online store that features my hand dyed, printed and stamped fabrics, coloured theme packs of fabrics, linens, threads and more, thermofax and custom thermofax service as well as art quilts and more....
Please take a moment to visit:


www.fabricimagery.com

One Word Wednesday

Curious

One Word Wednesday

Bath with a View

Books on Sunday

Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter
by Carolyn Woods

I bought this book because I'm in the midst of planning a major redesign of my studio, so I need all the help I can get! Besides I'm a sucker for nice looking books and this one fits the bill.
I've enjoyed reading through the ideas and plans for keeping it all tidy, I even actually use a few of them, like the stacking wire baskets. And there are other ideas that I know I'll want to implement when the major redesign is completed, so I'd recommend this book to any one looking for help!

Here's what the blurb says about the book:
A daily serving of tidy makes all the difference

• Practical guide shows you how to organize and maintain your quilting space, no matter what size
• Learn handy ways to sort and arrange all of your fabrics and supplies into easy-to-use stations
• Actual organizing solutions from quilters' studios, including Alex Anderson and Diana McClun

Create a calm and happy place for all your beloved fabrics, books, notions, tools, and even UFOs. From small closets to large studios, you'll see real examples of what makes an efficient, functional, and inviting quilting space. You'll identify what's causing the clutter, learn how to turn it into a more creative zone, and find more time to do what you love-quilt!

You can also download it as an e-book at: http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=2335
ISBN 978-1-60705-209-8

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Design Notes Newsletter

My Visit to High Prairie

I just got back from a visit to the High Prairie Quilt Guild in northern Alberta. I've never been that far north and it was wonderful to see the sun shining even at 10:30 pm! The weather was warm, the food was deleicious and the quilters were welcoming!
I taught my Shattered Angles class and the students worked hard to produce some exciting blocks.

The blue and pink strip units sparkle. Perhaps Sophia is planning on a table runner?

Melanie used solid colours for the strips and a leaf pattern for her insertion strips.

Colleen chose soft green and blue greens with a lovely blue for the insertion strips.

Karen had fun using pinks and browns....sort of like her top!

 Corinne chose turquoise and gold tinged Asian prints for her Shattered Angles project.

Thanks, ladies for a wonderful visit.

Thoughts and More Thoughts about Haiti

Its been a month since my return from our trip to Haiti, and its taken a while to process my thoughts and feelings about my experience.
A bit of background first, I was part of a seven person team from western Canada (Victoria and Vancouver) that went to assist at a home for children and young adults with disabilities. We were under the auspices of the Canadian Foundation for the Children of Haiti http://www.cfchcanada.ca/ and our team consisted of a physiotherapist, an early childhood educator, two nurses (one is my husband), and two women who have extensive experience with Hope Home and the children and then me! My husband has been to Haiti several times and the remainder of the team had made many trips, it was the first time for me and even with my husband along side, I admit to some fears. Foremost I was concerned that I would be useful, I have not spent time around children with disabiltites, I have no medical training and wasn't sure I actually possessed any skills that would be of benefit. Later I understood that indeed my sewing skills would be of immense use!

My sewing machine and "studio" at Hope Home! That little hand cranked Singer could sew as well and maybe even better than my expensive Bernina! Six layers of vinyl was no match for that little workhorse. I spent a lot of time sewing covers for cushions, seat covers for the wheel chairs and covers for the mattresses.

We had each packed two large plastic garbage cans of supplies such as clothing, medicines, toys, food, diapers, bedding, towels and more. These cans were our "checked luggage", our carry-ons contained all our personal items....

We were each responsible for one wheelchair that we took for the children.

I knew it would be hot and humid in Haiti, I have lived in humid climates but had forgotten that 35-40 degree Celsius temperatures mean that you simply cannot work at the same pace as home. Keeping hydrated was important as was looking for shade when outside. Fortunately the weather did cool down a bit at night and when we had electricity, the fans were very welcome.

The news has told us a lot about the deadly and long lasting effects of last years earthquake and we could not move without seeing the truth of that. The tent cities were beyond what I had expected, the conditions were incredible. But one of the women on our team had been in Haiti last November and commented often that the cities were smaller in number and size and construction was going on wherever we went. In fact we saw piles of cement, sand and rebar all along the streets when we went from our lodging to Hope Home.

A distant tent city that was largely deserted.

A "tap-tap", local bus transport around Haiti, highly decorated trucks and jeeps. When the passenger want off the truck, they "tap-tap" on the metal roof.

We stayed in a "guest house" while in Haiti, sort of a private hotel that provided breakfast and dinner, this is common for aid workers and visiting teams. One of the other residents we met was a Haitian nurse who was deeply affected by the earthquake and told us about how many people coped with the tragedy. Visit Rigan's blog http://www.haitinurse.blogspot.com/ and read about his work: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/article_504d4df0-57b9-11df-a85a-001cc4c002e0.html

I am so thankful that there are people like Rigan in our world.

I was able to play along side some of the children such as this bright little spark:

My local quilt guild and many others supplied bibs for the children at Hope Home and they were paraded in the last day. Many thanks to all our friends who were so generous with their time and talents.

An empty lap was an invitation!

My husband and Peter creating a bed chair (bed on wheels) for one of the children who can no longer sit up due to scoliosis. the bed had been a bunk bed and had the top portion removed. Standard supplies are limited so we made use of what was around us, often remodelling and revamping.

Street vendors are commonplace, selling everything from food and snacks to cell phones and household articles. This women was a moving fabric store.

After a couple of days working at Hope Home our team leader asked me about my feelings. I think I replied that I shifted from feeling that I couldn't leave soon enough and the opposite end of wondering how we could afford to come on a work team every year. Now, after a month, I am looking forward to returning whenever it is possible.

I know that I cannot change the world, but if I can make a small difference in a child's life, then I have been of some use.

Scissor Ramblings......

I'm in the midst of packing for a teaching trip and as I reached for my sewing kit and tucked my scissors in to it, I wondered what you like to use for scissors? How many pairs do you have, what sizes, how often do you have them sharpened and do you have any special "couldn't be without them" kinds?

I have a large pair of dressmaking shears that were my mothers and I love them partly because they were hers and partly because they stay sharp for ages. I dont use them much but I'd be lost without them.

The second pair I have are actually "pizza" scissors.....yes, you read right! They live in my kitchen and they are perfect for cutting pizza instead of a traditional wheel. If you are wondering what they look like:


http://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/product.asp?sku=14323090&
Maybe you're wondering what to get the guy who has everything?

Seriously though, I do love several small pairs that I keep misplacing and finding again scattered through the house. I use them for thread and small snipping jobs. And I always have a pair next to me at the sewing machine.