I had technically finished my buzz saw quilt a little while ago, but had dilly-dallied in completing a label for it. In the few quilts that I have completed, I’ve made sure to carefully label them. (you know, for quilt historians 100 years from now)
This ‘ode to green’ quilt is absolutely perfect for our couch. It worked out to be just the right length. For the backing, I used a large swath of Denyse Schmidt’s wallflower in piney woods green. I just love this vintage-y print! I also used scraps from the front to create the stripe down the side. To echo the buzz saw points on the front, I cut the scraps on an angle. I machine quilted it with two different Valdani variegated threads and echoed the buzz saw pattern about a half inch around the inside and then the outside. I really like the effect this gives.
The binding is also made from scraps from the quilt. I find this most satisfying when I get to the end to use up leftover bits to make the binding.
For the quilt label, I hand embroidered using the dark variegated thread I used to machine quilt. To make the label a bit more interesting, I did a teeny tiny bit of patchwork and attached it to the end. Cute! I think I will always do this for future labels.
Yay! I can finally cross something else off my finishing list. Which is perfect timing because tonight I’m starting to make the Cog & Wheel quilt!
I really want to thank you for comments on my last post about my stolen camera. You made me feel so much better with all your cheer, support and suggestions. You are the best pep squad a girl could ask for!
I went out yesterday and bought a new camera, a Nikon D90. I NEED to have a camera. Here’s my rationale for making myself feel better. I had my D40, plus lens for over a year and a half. If I break it down, I paid $2 per day for that camera. What a deal!! All that happiness and preserved memories for less than a cup of hot chocolate. Rather than stay with the same level of camera, I felt I should upgrade now and really continue to push myself to become better with my photography. Screw you, camera thief!
These are some of the first photos taken with my new camera. First impression – LOVE IT.
We received a large shipment of the latest issue of Uppercase Magazine. I was absolutely honoured that Janine asked me to participate in this issue by writing an article on textile design. I interviewed three incredible ladies who have inspired me with their pattern design and successful careers. Denyse Schmidt, Lara Cameron and Michelle Engel Bencsko were kind enough to tell me all about their working process. Their answers were totally fascinating. I hope you enjoy reading it. The entire issue is jam packed with wonderful features, including cover art by Matte Stephens. Uppercase just gets better with each issue. You’ll also notice the workroom’s first print ad (whoo!) at the back of the magazine, designed by Andrew.
365 : hope valley fat quarters
I really love taking photographs of fabric.
For the shop’s anniversary, the lovely ladies who work here gifted me with some incredible cookies that spelled out the sweetest message. If that wasn’t enough, I found out that the cookies were made by the deliciously talented Nikole. Too much!
It’s Friday, which seems like the perfect day to post a slew of my favourite links from the last month. What better way to ease through the work day and daydream over the weekend?
- ok, joy the baker. i will try your easy no roll pie crust, but if i learn to bake pies, i might never eat anything else.
- so excited about denyse schmidt’s new quilt patterns – there’s a little sneak peek on her site
- i like this! mud is the medium.
Have a super weekend. I’m working on a new section for the blog that I think you’re going to like. Check back on Monday!
I’ve decided to start yet another quilt! We’re doing an à la carte quilting series at the workroom. Since we’re learning a new block every month, I’m going to put all my blocks together and make another sampler quilt.
The Dresden Plate was really fun to put together. I love all the orange petals that radiate from the centre circle. The fabric in the centre circle is from Denyse Schmidt’s Flea Market Fancy collection. It was one of the first bolts of fabrics I bought for the store and is the colour inspiration for my new sampler – grey, orange and brown. It feels very cozy and fall-like.
I’m pretty new to quilting, but it seems perfectly acceptable to have various quilts on the go at different stages of completion. Clearly, I am embracing this notion as there are now 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (this one!) in progress over here.
Hi, how are you???! I know things have been really quiet here, but generally that means that things are bustling with everything else in my life. The biggest thing keeping me busy has been preparing for the upcoming Holiday Trunk Show at the workroom. It’s Sunday December 7th, noon – 5pm, which happens to only be 10 days away!!! From now until the show, I’ll be posting about all the wonderful vendors you can expect to see at the show. It’s a really great mix of people and I’m so excited to have them all together.
In other crafty news, I finally finished my upholstered cube. What a super fun class that was. I had the hardest time deciding on fabric. I put it off until the very last second and finally decided to go with the Porch Ribbon fabric from Denyse Schmidt’s County Fair line. I love it. I just need to head over to Lee Valley to pick up some legs. I really love the idea of making and upholstering your own furniture. How I would love to re-upholster my couch. This may be way too ambitious for my own good though.
Nora and Kathryn made little presents for everyone in the class congratulating them on their finished cubes. I tried to hold off eating the sweet treat inside until I had actually finished my cube, but alas, my willpower is not that strong.
I always feel a bit sad when classes like that end. In a way you wish they could just go on forever. But then there’s always something new to learn…like UNDERWEAR, in January.
I just wanted to gush a little over the darling little coin purse I made in a class taught by Reva on Sunday. Figuring out how to make these purses with the metal frames was on ‘my crafty list of things to do’, so I was delighted when Reva proposed this as a class at the workroom.
I used fabric from Denyse Schmidt’s new line ‘County Fair’, it’s a heavier canvas weight perfect for home decor and accessories. The lining is a print of antique coupons by Anna Griffin.
These little purses use very little fabric, so you can make a few from just a fat quarter or make good use of your scrap stash. With all the different sizes of frames in the shop, I see a matching token purse, sunglass case and clutch bag in my near future.
This is Lorelei. She is the centre piece fabric in an epic Queen-sized quilt that has been ‘in the works’ for over five years. It is also my first quilt. Now that I’ve got my own quilt and fabric shop, I think it’s time to push this project back to the front of the line.
I first took notice of quilting years and years ago at ICFF in NYC when I saw Denyse Schmidt’s quilts for the very first time. It was one of those moments when a whole new world opens up before you and swallows you whole. I started collecting fabrics for a quilt that is inspired by a couture quilt that Denyse did for the amazing store Takashimaya made from vintage Kimonos. I collected fabrics for this quilt until last summer when I finally found the last fabric to complete the collection… for the quilt top. I’ll fill you in on the quilt back fabrics later on.
Lorelei is a vintage cotton print that I bought off of ebay. Everything about it is perfect. The name, which also happens to be the name of one of my favourite songs by the Tom Tom Club. -love!- The typewriter font notes on the selvedge, which also read “Never Misbehaves”. -love!- The colours and the off-set printing of that sweet floral. -love!-
I’ll be introducing you to all the other fabrics of this quilt in the next little while. I hope you love fabric as much as I do.
