Posting for CQA/ACC Conference Coordinator

December 16, 2014, 6:11 am

The Canadian Quilters Association/Association canadienne de la courtepointe is seeking an individual to plan and coordinate the Quilt Canada 2016 conference in a major centre in Ontario. This will be a part time position beginning on the date of signing the contract and ending on the date of submitting final reports after the 2016 conference, no later than 30 days post conference. The contract will be renewable annually on approval of both parties. Compensation to be negotiated.

Skills Needed:

· Experience organizing events of this type or similar events

· working knowledge of computer software - esp. Word and Excel

· demonstrate oral and written communication skills

· demonstrated marketing skills

· demonstrated negotiating skills

· demonstrated leadership skills and ablility to work as part of a team

To perform this role successfully, an individual:

· Must be proactive, logical, efficient and be able to multi-task.

· Must be well organized, have effective time management skills and able to work within established timelines.

To inquire about this position contact the President atpresident@canadianquilter.com

↧

Youth Challenge - Alexa's Idea

December 18, 2014, 11:51 am

≫ Next: Member's Approach to the Trend-Tex Challenge-2

≪ Previous: Posting for CQA/ACC Conference Coordinator

Alexa Kalist, one of our 2014 Cantik Batiks Youth Challenge winners, had a wonderful idea for teaching youth to sew. Make a simple stuffed animal (stuffie). They’re easy, fun, and quick. They can be stitched by hand and/or machine and the project is suitable for all experience levels. It’s a great way to unleash their creativity and build confidence.
Alexa designed an original stuffie and wrote the following tutorial. I’m thrilled to share it with you.
I made my own stuffie, using Alexa’s pattern. You can see him below and in the step-by-step photos. His name is Mulligan. He likes to collect lint and has a knack for finding lost pins and needles which makes him a handy fellow to have around.

Mulligan

I’d like to challenge our youth to make a stuffie. They can use Alexa’s pattern or design their own. Send your photographs, and the story of your stuffie, to youthprograms@canadianquilter.com. I’d love to share them on this blog.
Please leave a comment at the end of the post so Alexa can see how much we appreciate all her hard work.
Jo Ferguson

How to Design and Make Your Own Stuffie

By Alexa Kalist

Alexa's Stuffie

Have you ever wanted to make your own stuffed animal but didn’t know where to start? Well if the answer is yes, then this is a project for you. This is a step-by-step guide to designing, making a pattern, and sewing your very own stuffed animal.
1. Start by figuring out what you want your stuffie to look like. You might want it to be big, or really small. It’s totally up to you.
2. You can use the pattern that I’ve provided or you can make your own. Here’s a link to my pattern:

Here’s how to make your own pattern:
STEP 1: Start by folding a piece of paper in half. You can use a simple sheet of printer paper if that’s the size that you want your stuffie to be, or you could use a bigger piece if you want a bigger stuffie.

STEP 2: Starting at the folded edge of the paper, draw half of what you want your stuffie to look like.
STEP 3: Keep the paper folded and cut out your ‘half shape.’
Now, when you unfold the pattern, you’ll have symmetrical shape that looks like what you want your stuffie to look like.

3. With the paper unfolded, pin the paper to the wrong side of your desired fabric. Draw around the shape, take off the paper, and with an adults’ help, cut out the shape. You can now repeat these steps on the fabric that you want for the back of your stuffie.

4. Now you’re going to want to make some eyes for your stuffie. Cut our some round white circles, the size that you want for the eyes, and some smaller black circles for pupils.
*TIP: You can use the lid from something in your fridge to make these circles.
5. Sew the white circles onto the piece of fabric that you want to use as the front of your stuffed animal. Put another piece of fabric on the wrong side of your stuffie shape under where you want to put the eyes. Make sure that you’re sewing the eyes on to the right side of the fabric.
6. Now that you can sew the black part (pupil) on top of the white part. You can also sew on a smile with some red thread or embroidery floss. You can add any other embellishments you’d like.

*TIP: You can use a glue stick to help the whites and pupils, of the eyes, stay where you want, while you are sewing them on.

7. You now get to sew the two sides of your stuffed animal together. Make sure that you face the fabric right sides together while you sew, otherwise, your stuffie will be inside out! Use a simple running stitch, and leave a gap of about 2 inches un-sewn.
8. Now that it is sewn all the way around, except for the gap that you left open, turn your stuffie outside-in, and stuff with polyester filling, or whatever you have on hand to fill it with.
*TIP: You can use the end of a pencil to get the stuffing into all the tight spots like arms and legs.
9. You’re almost done! Just sew the gap closed that you left open with a needle and thread, and voila!!

You have yourself your own personally designed stuffed animal.

↧

Member's Approach to the Trend-Tex Challenge-2

December 21, 2014, 4:33 pm

≫ Next: Cochrane Quilters' Guild First Parade

≪ Previous: Youth Challenge - Alexa's Idea

Lezley Zwaal is sharing her path and thoughts as she prepares her quilt for the 2015 Trend-Tex challenge with the theme "Blowing in the Wind”. In our last episode, we left her searching for an old family photograph. Her story continues....

I found the photo, and now have my sister’s permission to use it!

see note below

The picture? Not yet my quilt. However, a picture can tell you a story: My dad flew kites. As a young girl in Regina (windy prairies – open skies) dad made “box” kites - and they went waaaaay up high! I loved to watch him work on them, and get them soaring high! I don’t recall ever trying to fly them – I think he valued his hobby too much.
Then as time passed, life happens and dad’s kites no longer flew. Then I moved to Edmonton. It was a lonely first Christmas there – my hubby and I didn’t know anyone – and I missed my family. I wondered what to get the parents for Christmas that would be easy to send back home! I found a kite store when I was Christmas shopping! Memories flooded back – and I HAD to buy him a kite – maybe in his retirement he would be able to find time to fly them again!
He loved it and his hobby was renewed!!
Super fast-forward to 2014 when I open the website for the CQA/ACC in Lethbridge and see the BLOWN AWAY logo! Again – memories flood back! Now – to turn this into the challenge piece.
The kites he is flying!!! Does this not say “Trend-Tex Challenge colours?”

Lezley

please note: this photo is a very old family photo!

↧

Cochrane Quilters' Guild First Parade

December 23, 2014, 12:15 pm

≫ Next: Article 1

≪ Previous: Member's Approach to the Trend-Tex Challenge-2

Cochrane Quilters' Guild were in the First Cochrane Christmas Parade on Dec. 13. Suzanne Stranks was very instrumental in bringing the idea to the guild and organizing the volunteers.

Her DH (Dear Husband) works for TransAlta and they sponsored our float providing a truck/driver and entry fee.

The entry fee was waived by the parade committee so we were able to buy fabric (yes what a chore for a quilter isn't it) for red fleece skirts and white fleece scarves. We are all tickled pink to have been given First prize and a free entry into next year's parade.

Suzanne Stranks holding the trophy

With the win we led the parade through downtown Cochrane. We had to go past Addie's Creative Fabrics, our lqs (local quilt shop), and not one of us got out to shop!

Cindy Simpson
Regional Rep for Alberta

In this photo two of the gals with their backs to us..... they were busy watching the fellows with the Men in Kilts Window Washing truck/float. They did indeed have kilts on!

from all of us who are a part of CQA/ACC!

↧

Article 1

December 24, 2014, 6:04 am

≫ Next: Best Friends Forever - CQA/ACC Member Challenge - Winter 2014

≪ Previous: Cochrane Quilters' Guild First Parade

↧

Best Friends Forever - CQA/ACC Member Challenge - Winter 2014

December 30, 2014, 12:39 pm

≫ Next: Lollygagging to Lethbridge - 3

≪ Previous: Article 1

This challenge brought in a variety of interpretations of the theme - mostly people who have been friends for a long time, some who are missed, as well as animals.These amazing quilts made it a difficult job for our judge, Elizabeth King (CQA/ACC Apprentice Judge) to select winners.Thanks to Elizabeth for helping with this task.
Also a special thanks to Susan Aylesworth of Quilting Confections of Windsor, ON for her donation of 3 fabulous prizes to go to the winners of this challenge.

This piece entitled “Memories” was created to honour my best friend Sandy A. She will remain my Best Friend Forever because she introduced me to quilting shortly after starting our quilt guild and shortly after that she passed away. The pictures taken with cameras of her, her work and the workshops and techniques she inspired us to try, are all we have to remember her now. She was a quilter’s best friend.
Pat Golem

Having lived, all of my life, on a farm I have noticed new and odd friendships blossoming. A new born calf and a week old foal became the best of friends, which was to be a friendship forever. For many years they looked out for each other and were never far apart.
This is a 22 1/2" x 28 1/2 " wall hanging, using applique and free motion, that I designed myself except for the shapes of the cow and horse that I borrowed from a twenty year old coloring book that I had saved for a someday project.. I painted the facial expressions to suit my hanging. I have used real hair for the mane and tails, artificial nails for the cows' teeth, hot glue for the cows' horns and specialty buttons for other embellishments. The background animals are fussy cut from fabric and the quilt on the barn is painted.
Linda Hatten

Friends of all ages are drawn together to sit and chat. This is from a commercial pattern which I have since lost so don’t know who to credit. It was fun to create 3-D hankie and belts.
Susan Wilson

Susan's third entry is whimsical, three friends playing in winter. My own design based on a Christmas card. I tried using Texture Magic and embellished with beads and buttons. It was quilted with the words Let It Snow and snowflakes.
Susan Wilson

The quilt I have entered was completed with thoughts of my sister. It hung in her room at the Palliative Care Unit for 11 weeks. She was such a awesome and strong woman. She lost her battle with cancer and now has her wings. She was my sister, my best friend, my mentor and my mother in many ways.
Quilting was also one of her many passions.
Unfortunately due to renovations I have misplaced the pattern with the name, but I do know the pattern was designed by a quilter in Brockville, Ontario.
Helen Lane

This is Keeta - Bill's best friend for 16 years. Bill is my brother-in-law. Keeta is starting to show a little grey on her mussel so I wanted to do something special to keep her around for many years to come. She also happens to be my dog'grandmother.
Sue Scott

Penpals -I have been penpals with a woman for the past almost 48 years...we started writing to each other in grade 6...February 1, 1967 was my first letter to her. Over the years we have shared many "best friend" experiences...each other's weddings, each other's daughter's weddings, births of grandchildren, taking motorcycle trips together along with our husbands, and eventually sharing a love of quilting (me first, then I got Peggy involved).
In March 2011, I suggest to by BEST FRIEND, Peggy, that we make round robin quilts. Attached is our story and a photo of my quilt. These quilts are our own design. (I didn’t attach this as there were names and is very lengthy - but if you wish, I can)
Mary Weber

This challenge was certainly challenging! Which friend? What to quilt? Finally I went back to the basics – my family. Mom, dad, 2 sisters and 1 brother – best friends in the blood. And this quilt displays an oft repeated scene lately – I arrive to visit my mother just in time for tea. I make tea and put out a treat (usually Christmas cake) then sit and chat with my mother and 2 sisters (one doesn’t drink tea and one only drinks Moroccan mint green tea!). We catch up with our brother’s latest phone call and updates about his family (hockey playing daughters in Calgary) and then go on to talk about the books we are reading.
Lauren MacDonald

This is me and my oldest best friend, taking selfies in the mirror, after we discovered we both had felt winter hats.
Laine Canivet

↧

Lollygagging to Lethbridge - 3

January 2, 2015, 1:42 pm

≫ Next: Is this job for you?

≪ Previous: Best Friends Forever - CQA/ACC Member Challenge - Winter 2014

Well, to get back to our trip this month (I think I got a little side-tracked with Christmas and the holidays).

On the road again - we just left Dryden, ON and are heading down the TransCanada Highway on to Kenora where the Lake of the Woods Quilters’ Guild meets. Their small group just had a quilt show at the local museum featuring 60 quilts from their members.

Keeping to the TransCanada Highway in this “wilderness” area of the province, we got to see some wildlife and lots and lots of trees.

Now we are travelling through the coldest part of Canada - I shudder to think of these cold days, with the wind blowing across the prairies - I sure hope we've got lots of quilts to keep us warm at night! BRRR!!!

Crossing the border into Manitoba, we checked CQA/ACC’s guild membership list to find many guilds that could be visited:
Winnipeg has the Manitoba Prairie Quilters with over 300 members from all over the province and workshops that focus on member interest - their latest being “People in Nature” in Dec.
Barnswallow Quiltersin Morden meets every week on Wednesday afternoons and quilt on Monday evenings. They first started meeting in a barn - bet that was a little cool in the winter months.
While in Morden (which is about 1 ½ km sw of Winnipeg), we visited the Quilters’ Den to check out all the neat fabric they have (how could we quilters go by a quilt shop without checking out fabric?)
Country Lane Quilters meet in Portage la Prairie, MB on the 3rd Monday of the month.
Nifty Needlers (Brandon) are also a busy group, meeting every other Wednesday, fall to spring.

Although there were other guilds and shops to stop at in Manitoba, we have to keep moving - we’re just a little over a third of the way to Lethbridge. We received quite a few inches this past week, which has helped get us this far. More than we thought, as many guilds don’t meet in December or just meet for a “Christmas Party” (with lots of good food, of course).
So keep sending those inches to diratlarge@canadianquilter.com. We have a little over 5 months of sewing and sharing to get us to Lethbridge in time for Quilt Canada 2015 on June 4-6, 2015.

↧

Is this job for you?

January 7, 2015, 5:09 am

≫ Next: Lethbridge Awaits You

≪ Previous: Lollygagging to Lethbridge - 3

CQA/ACC is seeking a Conference Coordinator for the 2016 Quilt Canada. This job is a paid position.

What do you need to do this job?

Are you a proactive, logical, efficient person? Do you have effective time management skills? Your excellent communication abilities could be used in organizing our 2016 Quilt Canada Conference!

Please contact president@canadianquilter.com for the job description and to express your interest.

↧

Lethbridge Awaits You

January 11, 2015, 4:53 pm

≫ Next: Giveaway on our Facebook!

≪ Previous: Is this job for you?

Registration will be open on Jan. 14th to ALL quilters for Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge AB!

Early registration has been open for a few weeks but there is still space in most workshops and all other events. Did you get a long-arm for Christmas (I really wish I did) or are you thinking about buying one? Sign up for Joanne Flamand's class, Introduction to Long-Arm Quilting. This is a lecture class - well actually it’s two class topics combined into one class. The great thing about a lecture is you don’t have to operate a machine you have never used before. The teacher sketches designs from basic to complex and you sketch along with her. This builds muscle memory so when you try it at home it’s much easier. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better instructor.

Are you a quilter who likes to paint? Combine the two in Margie Davidson's class, Paint and Piece. Margie is well known for the individual attention that she gives to each student in her class. She was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award in 2013!

These are just two of the exciting workshops available for registration.

And don't forget to get a ticket for Weeks Ringle's lecture, Transforming Traditions: Modernism and Quilts.

Book your spot before it’s too late. It may be cold out now but it will be sunny and warm on June 4 – 6. Register for a class, attend a lecture, tour the amazing Waterton Park by bus.

Waterton Park is one of my favourite places. The flowers in springtime are spectacular. Just think of the quilting inspiration you can find! The list of activities is endless and you will be ‘Blown Away’ by the beautiful and immense Alberta sky.

Shena Boes

↧

Giveaway on our Facebook!

January 14, 2015, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: It's Time for Colour Hits the Road!

≪ Previous: Lethbridge Awaits You

That's right, January 15th is another amazing giveaway on our facebook page!
We will be having one each month, so please like our fb page. You don't even have to be a member!

Here is what is up for grabs:

Unique Folding Cutting Mat 24" x 36" Blue

The folding cutting mats are a great space saver when it comes to storage. Because they fold to a compact size they are also great for taking to classes. The cutting mat is made of 3 ply, 2.5mm self-healing material. It is single sided and has both metric and imperial measurement markings. It also has 30°, 45° & 60° angle markings for all your quilting needs

Komfort Kut Rotary Cutter 45mm

The 45mm Rotary cutter is the most popular size of cutter. It is designed for cutting on a variety of materials, fabric, leather or paper. It is convenient and comfortable to use. There is a sliding cover that extends a blade guard for safety when not in use. The High quality blades are razor sharp.

Please note: It is just one mat, but we wanted to show you how it folds.

↧

It's Time for Colour Hits the Road!

January 16, 2015, 3:37 pm

≫ Next: Membership Director - Laine Canivet

≪ Previous: Giveaway on our Facebook!

The long-awaited "It's Time for Colour" travelling quilt show is now officially on tour across Canada. A total of 36 quilts have been split up and half has gone to the Northwest Territories and the rest to Manitoba (see below for a specific schedule).
Although many of these gems have been sold, they remain on display with the tour, along with cards of these amazing quilts that are also for sale.

Isla Marsh, CQA/ACC Regional Rep for Manitoba, is really excited about the arrival of the quilts in Manitoba.

She's says "I'm beginning to feel like some sort of a celebrity - whenever I show up, people get so excited! Okay it's not me. It's the quilts they're excited about. And everyone raves about the quilts."
Turn out to see the display has so far surpassed expectations and there have been lots of good comments.

Isla seems to think that the little "blue suitcase (that the quilts arrived in) needs a name. When I opened the door to find the little suitcase standing there, with no one in sight, it looked like a little orphan. Made me thing of the little robot that hitch-hiked across Canada last summer".

Or perhaps another "Flat Stanley"??

The other half of this show is currently up north in the Northwest Territories (see also their schedule below). Of course, here's a picture of the “little blue suitcase” that arrived for Shona Barbour, their CQA/ACC Regional Representative.

Sounds like a show not to be missed when it comes to a location near you. Keep posted. There will be a monthly schedule here, and of course, afull schedule.

Schedule for Manitoba:
December 30 - small group, Winnipeg - for visiting embroiderer from Ottawa
January 7 - Anglican-Lutheran Centre - Winnipeg
January 9-11- St Benedict's Retreat Centre - Middlechurch
January 12 - Kenora Quilters - Kenora Ontario
January 13 - Frayed Edges quilt group, Winnipeg
January 19 - Country Lane Quilters Guild - Portage la Prairie
January 22 - Manitoba Prairie Quilters - Winnipeg
January 27 - Little Britain Quilting group - Little Britain
January 28 - Nifty Needlers quilt group, Brandon Embroiderers group - Brandon
January 29 - February 1 - Quilting Jewels retreat - Winkler
February 2 - Barnswallows - members only meeting - Morden
February 4 - Barnswallows open house - Morden
February 5 - Winnipeg Embroiderers Guild - Winnipeg

Schedule for Northwest Territories:
Inuvik - Jan 16-18 - Centennial Library
Yellowknife Javaroma - Jan 23-25

↧

Membership Director - Laine Canivet

January 22, 2015, 4:44 pm

≫ Next: Kathy Tidswell - Wearable Art

≪ Previous: It's Time for Colour Hits the Road!

It is always fun to write about members of the Board, because it is a chance to show you just how much fun and friendship is available on the Board. Don't get me wrong, we do alot of work, mostly through the hundred or so emails that fill up our inboxes daily, but all of that is worth it at the end of the day.

One such board member who has not been highlighted here makes us laugh till we cry, keeps us in shape during board meetings and brings fabulous snacks.

It is none other than our current Membership Director Laine Canivet. If you run into her at a conference, she is the one promoting CQA/ACC in her gentle manner, encouraging quilters to enter the NJS and completely interested in whomever she is chatting with.

Under The Leaves

What always comes to our minds when we think of Laine is her exceptional attention to detail. Prior to moving into the Membership role, she was our Secretary. Her minutes were incredible, her notes on topics were exact and you could always count on her to find that resolution or comment that was made. We still rely on her when we need information not readily at our fingertips that rather requires some digging.

Danish Village

It was Laine who spearheaded and single handedly organized and launched our first ever quilt tour around Canada. The hours she put in just prepping the quilts to be turned into greeting cards is overwhelming and shows of her dedication to our organization.

Machu Pichou

When she is not immersed in our organization, you can find her doing yoga, biking, and working in her studio.
What is wonderful is that she shares much of her knowledge with us. At the last board meeting, after sitting for a few hours, she had us all doing yoga stretches - working on whatever part of our body was sore. It was wonderful!

Tribal Colours

Laine is always willing to show us whatever latest art quilt technique she has learned with us and often brings her work with her so we can admire her results.
There have been times at conferences when she shows her hidden sense of humour. One such time, in Penticton, she had a board member laughing until midnight, barely able to breathe, because she was being so funny.

Laine truly is a professional, dedicated to CQA/ACC, a dear friend to the board members and a talented art quilter. The best thing about Laine is that she is always up for splitting a decadent dessert with you!

↧

Kathy Tidswell - Wearable Art

January 28, 2015, 10:36 am

≫ Next: Judy Villett - Judge & Quilter

≪ Previous: Membership Director - Laine Canivet

Have you ever wanted to create a jacket or vest that was uniquely yours - a one-of-a-kind? In a recent conversation with Kathy Tidswell regarding her upcoming classes at Quilt Canada 2015: Blown Away, she passed along some pictures of the amazing wearable art that she has created - Art that you can learn how to create if you sign up for her class on Wearable Art at Quilt Canada 2015.

Everyone likes to have their own personal style with regards to the clothing that they wear, and what better way to exude your own style than wearing one of your own creations? Rest assured that no one would have a jacket or vest that matched yours.

You will learn many skills in the class on Wearable Art. Kathy, winner of the Teacher of the Year award in 2005, will also give tips on the type of pattern that can be adapted to wearable art, as well as numerous embellishment techniques that can no doubt be used in other areas of your quilting life as well. Skills like lace cutwork, bobbin work, trapunto, arranging appliqués , and new methods for attaching appliqués . You'll be able to look at samples and even get started on your own creation under Kathy's watchful eye.

Kathy also graciously passed along some photos of her work, many of it shown at previous Quilt Canada conferences. The trapunto jacket was the winner of the CQA/ACC National Juried Show Wearable Art award in 1999. The silk cape featuring a 3-D thread appliqué Great Horned Owl was juried into CQA/ACC in 2012. The silk hand painted cape features three free motion thread owls. The jacket with the lake sunset scene received Honourable Mention in 2005. The fireworks jacket was accepted into 2001 National Juried Show.

Check out Kathy’s classes being offered at Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge, AB on the CQA/ACC’s website.
Shena Boes
LOC

↧

Judy Villett - Judge & Quilter

February 1, 2015, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Top Ten Reasons to Attend Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge

≪ Previous: Kathy Tidswell - Wearable Art

Judy Villett of Vancouver, BC was one of the judges for the CQA/ACC National Juried Show 2014 at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.

For many years Judy taught the principles of judging quilt shows, trained new judges, and offered classes for interested quilters who wanted to learn more about the judging process for quilts and textile pieces. Now, as one of CQA/ACC’s Certified Judges, she is looking forward to participating in more judging opportunities, while encouraging others to become interested in this aspect of the quilt world.

Judy recently completed a large piece of textile art called “Aspen Grove,” which is now hanging proudly in her new studio space in New Westminster, BC.

Always one of Judy’s favourite trees, the aspen is known for the fluttering of leaves in the slightest breeze, their smooth, gray-green bark, and random branching with rich green leaves that turn brilliant yellow in the fall.
Judy’s “Aspen Grove” captures this feeling and connection to her beloved aspens very precisely in this large installation piece, now on display at Braid Street Studios. It is a new studio space for 16 artists to work, teach and display their art.
The piece consists of 18 fabric panels, 7 inches wide, all of varying height, not less than 5 feet. True to the definition of an aspen grove that moves and flutters with the slightest breath of air, Judy’s piece moves as well. In this dramatic space with 20 foot ceilings and wonderful light, half of the panels are suspended from a wall using exposed nail heads and raw earth magnets. The other half are suspended from a free-standing rail and move as people walk by. As an accomplished machine quilter, Judy planned to scatter life-size leaves over the surface, letting the piece dictate their placement. Due to time pressure, she opted to hire Moira Perlmutter, who operates her long-arm quilting studio in East Vancouver.
Using both their skills, the final machine quilting was a perfect finish for the panels. Moira is a watercolor artist as well as a quilter, so her eye for colour for the machine quilting threads was ideal.

The result is stunning. Each leaf motif was placed on the panel, in the spot where Judy wanted it to be, outlined by Moira who then connected all the leaves with swirling machine quilted lines simulating their pathway as they fell from fall trees.

This was one of the first opportunities that Moira had to work on an art quilt and the first time that Judy has used the services of a machine quilter. Both are delighted with their new knowledge and with the final results. Batting and seam allowances were trimmed by Elizabeth Murdoch, Judy's studio apprentice. The initial piecing was done during a working retreat in Courtney BC with painter friend Martha Jablonski as they started a joint "tree" design project. The fabrics were purchased during a road trip with husband Michael Scales who patiently stopped at every quilt shop from Vancouver to San Francisco. "Aspen Grove" is a true collaboration!

Barbara Spence

↧

Top Ten Reasons to Attend Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge

February 6, 2015, 2:06 pm

≫ Next: Meet Our Treasurer - Lynn Mills

≪ Previous: Judy Villett - Judge & Quilter

Windswept Snow - Tracey Lawko
NJS 2014

1. An all-star line-up of teachers and their workshops are filling up fast.

2. Great chance to meet up with “old” quilting friends and to also make some new ones.


Pillars of Strength - Veronica Puskas NJS 2014

3. See the latest gadgets and fabrics in our wonderful Merchant Mall.

4. See the “cream of the crop” quilts in the National Juried Show.

Earthscapes - Janet Rhind
NJS 2014

5. Enjoy a phenomenal speaker/lecturer Weeks Ringle (Transforming Traditions: Modernism and Quilts)

Alaska Nasturtium - Catherine Sloan
NJS 2014

6.    Get inspired by all the wondrous works and you might be invigorated to start a new project or finish a UFO.

7.    The opportunity to learn some interesting machine quilting skills.

8.    Stay in an up-to-date residence with microwaves, fridges and TVs.

Tours

9. Visit another distinct part of Canada that you may not visit on your own.

10. Attend the closing banquet of the conference with a celebration of quilting, friends, a delicious meal, gifts and entertainment.

Delft - Jim Wilford
NJS 2014

↧

Meet Our Treasurer - Lynn Mills

February 11, 2015, 3:54 am

≫ Next: February 15th, 2015 Giveaway

≪ Previous: Top Ten Reasons to Attend Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge

You know the saying, behind every good man is a woman? Well let me tell you how that relates to our organization. Behind every good organization is an amazing Treasurer!

And we know that CQA/ACC is an incredible national quilt organization in Canada, which leads us to the fact that we have an amazing Treasurer in Canada keeping us in line. Lynn Mills is back on the board for a second time as treasurer. Her work is flawless, detailed and she always has an answer for us at a moment’s notice.

Lynn with 'Mrs. Cardinal' a quilt she has started in one of David Taylor's classes.

She is just that good. In her other life she is CPA CMA, which I am pretty sure stands for CQA/ACC’s Perfect Accountant/Counting Money Always. Apparently she tells me it really means Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant. I still like my definition better.

from a photo in Coreen Zerr's class

When she is not volunteering countless hours balancing the Trend-Tex Challenge, accepting payment for NJS entries or tallying totals for Quilt Canada 2015, she actually works full time and raises five kids with a fabulous husband. I say fabulous on the husband part because this man actually takes her around to quilt shops on the weekend! For real! Try telling that to your husband and see what happens.

What happens when you sit down and sew, cut, sew, repeat.

Lynn mentions that she hasn’t had a lot of time to quilt in the past two years, but every time we mention a quilt teacher at our board meetings, she has taken a class with them! This girl loves taking workshops. The latest workshops she has done are with David Taylor. Lynn is really enjoying the technique he has taught about taking photos and turning them into art quilts.

What to do with a jelly roll you are never going to use? Sit down and sew and call it a modern quilt!

She loves trying any type of quilting and judging from the workshops she has taken, she has tried them all. When she wants to relax and take a break, she will still turn to traditional and pull out her machine and just sit and piece blocks.

Stargazey pattern

When asked what her favourite food was she said ‘see food’! For clarification, she does love a good seafood and is looking for an excuse to head to the east coast to enjoy their selection.

With her infectious laugh and amazing financial talent, it is a true pleasure and thrill to have such a dedicated Treasurer looking after the finances of our organization.

↧

February 15th, 2015 Giveaway

February 14, 2015, 1:31 pm

≫ Next: Lollygagging to Lethbridge - 4

≪ Previous: Meet Our Treasurer - Lynn Mills

Be sure to check our facebook page on February 15th for this terrific giveaway for large and small Clever Clips.

Durable spring loaded clips hold fabrics securely, quickly and easily.

The wide opening of these clips makes them a perfect alternative to pins when working with thick quilts, heavier weighted fabrics, vinyl or piled fabrics.

Every quilter, crafter and knitter should have this tool for holding sewing projects with layers; e.g. quilts, handles, piping, bias strips etc. Clever Clips are quick and easy to remove when sewing or serging. The semi-transparent color makes it easy to see through to the fabric.

Be sure to head to our facebook page on February 15th!

↧

Lollygagging to Lethbridge - 4

February 15, 2015, 4:10 pm

≫ Next: Canadian Quilt Talk Podcast on Quilt Canada 2015

≪ Previous: February 15th, 2015 Giveaway

It’s time for the next report on our trip to Quilt Canada in Lethbridge, AB for June 4-6, 2015. We left Brandon, Manitoba in the “coldest” of cold winters and headed into Saskatchewan and right to Regina where there are several shops and a couple of guilds to visit as we lollygag on our way.

"Herbie"

Cindy-rella’s Sewing and Craft Place was our first stop in Regina. They offer a wide variety of sewing machines for purchase, furniture and of course, classes galore - quilting and knitting/crocheting for everyone from beginner to advanced. We would have loved to stay longer here as the “It’s Time for Colour” travelling quilt show was going to be on display from Feb. 14-23rd. We’ve had such rave reviews from our Regional Reps who have travelled with the show. One rep has even named the suitcase that carries the quilts “Herbie” (we’ll have to wait for another blog to find out more about this name).

We stopped by Stitchn Be Artisan Boutique (of course to check out their fabrics and make a purchase or two) before we headed to the Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild for their monthly meeting held on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7pm. The Prairie Piecemakers have been a great contributor to collecting our inches as well - boy are they an active group - Mystery Quilt and lots of quilting and Show and Tell. They just announced a visit by Ricky Tims to their area!

Thought we might take a detour to Moose Jaw (of course, weather permitting) to visit The Quilt Place quilt shop and the Moose Jaw Prairie Quilters.

sample of tablet bags that have been made

Then on again heading for the Alberta border where we’ll stop at Medicine Hat, AB. Haven’t found a quilt shop or guild here yet. But no matter, maybe we can catch a break in the weather and also catch up on our sewing. We were hoping to make a “tablet bag” for Quilt Canada 2015 - maybe this stopover is a good time to get that done and sent on the committee for the final banquet.

Stay tuned for our next leg of the trip - hoping to get to Penticton and back to Lethbridge in time for the conference. Don’t forget to keep those inches coming in to the Director at Large (diratlarge@canadianquilter.com). Of course, we might have to wait for some of our “snowbirds” to help us get those extra Show & Share/Tell inches.

↧

Canadian Quilt Talk Podcast on Quilt Canada 2015

February 19, 2015, 4:20 am

≫ Next: Quilt Tour Hits BC!

≪ Previous: Lollygagging to Lethbridge - 4

I often listen to podcasts, and one of the shows I listen to is Canadian Quilt Talk, hosted by Brandy Lynn Maslowski. To give you a bit of an idea of what she talks about, I'll use her own words. This quote is from her website: "Canadian Quilt Talk is a weekly online podcast that aims to inspire quilters and fibre artists alike with tips, tricks and the latest products. We aim to highlight the stellar Canadian teachers, quilt shops, and products and keep you buying local first before turning to online buying or over the border adventures. We’ll dig into the history of Canadian quilting and explore how far we've come with the gold mine of Canadian talent."

Since I am a few episodes behind, I was not aware until another member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) mentioned to me that Quilt Canada 2015 was featured on Canadian Quilt Talk this past week! As soon as I had a chance, I gave it a listen. It is chock full of information about the conference, from the different instructors and where you can find accommodation in Lethbridge, to details on the different quilt shows that Quilt Canada is hosting.

Here is the link to the latest episode and all the other previous episodes on the Canadian Quilt Talk site. Just click on 'Play Now’ under each listing and you'll be taken to the page where the episode will play automatically.

Then simply sit back, enjoy your cup of coffee, and learn all about Quilt Canada 2015!

Shena Boes

LOC

↧

Quilt Tour Hits BC!

February 20, 2015, 5:29 pm

≫ Next: Youth Challenge - Last Week

≪ Previous: Canadian Quilt Talk Podcast on Quilt Canada 2015

It’sTimeForColour!–TravellingtheBCInteriorinMarch

“It’sTimeForColour!”isacrosscountrytravellingexhibitof36award‐winningCanadianquiltartists. SponsoredbytheCanadianQuiltersAssociation,fundsraisedfromthesaleofthesefabulousposter‐sizeartworksandtheircolourfulcardswillsupporttheChildren’sWishFoundationofCanada.InMarch2015,18beautifulpieceswillbeshownintheBCInterior.Theseamazingquiltsneedtobeseentobeappreciatedatanyofthefollowinglocations.Askallyourfriendstojoinyouandcomeouttoseethisfabulousshow!

Date	City	Venue	Address	Time
March5	Vernon	StJohn'sLutheranChurch	5151AlainRoad	Noon‐5
March7‐8	Penticton	HomeandRenoShow	273PowerStreet	10‐5Sat,10‐4Sun
March9‐10	Oliver	BeyondBliss	6250MainStreet	11‐5Mon,9‐5Tues
March11‐16	Rossland	RosslandArtGallery	2004ColumbiaAve	11‐5WedthruMon
March17‐18	Creston	Chamberof Commerce	121NorthwestBlvd	2–8:30Tues,9‐5Wed
March20‐24	Kelowna	CottageQuilting	2000SpallRoad	regularbusinesshours
March25‐29	SalmonArm	ThreadNPaper	650TransCanadaHwyNE	regularbusinesshours
March30‐31	Kamloops	Katja'sQuiltShoppe	1967TransCanadaHwyE	regularbusinesshours

ForfurtherinformationcontactCatherineHendersonatbcinrep@canadianquilter.com

↧

Latest Images