Work in Progress?

Some days things just flow and everything seems to come together. And some days, like today, its seems as though everything is working against you, including your own furry assistants. Today is a day when its miracle any work gets done.

Design Events - Come Up to My Room

This past weekend’s was Toronto ’s very own unique design event at the Gladstone Hotel – Come up to My Room. A part of Toronto’s International Design Festival, the event featured a eclectic mix of designers, artists, craftspeople and students.


I favored the more literal rather than conceptual designs that shared a relationship with the hotel itself or the surroundings relating to the hotel with themes like beds and sleeping.


Personal favs included:

Julia Hepburn’s sleeping bird with creepy dream dioramas, was like watching a bird dream. It was intimate, fascinating and a hint of dark all at the same time. http://juliahepburn.blogspot.com/

Noelle Hamlyn, perhaps this is my personal bias towards textiles coming through, “The Breathing Room” contained handcrafted paper lace that looked like lungs. The room was filled with texture and sounds and provided sensory relief from the buzz of the crown. Check out: noellehamlyn.com

Richard Unterthiner and Paolo Ferrari's "Bed Memories", which after walking down a disorienting mirrored hall, led you to a light filled room with words suspended in the air. Not unlike the act of letting go and falling asleep. You can anonymously post your own memories at their blog: http://bedmemory.blogspot.com/

First Try

Here is my very first try on something small. Generally, I work quilt size and not in fine detail. Its not quite as well as hoped but not bad for a first try. This is inspired by a Denise Schmidt pattern from her book named Steve. So its a pleasure to introduce you to Steve's Cousin. He's made from a combination of scrap fabrics and an old pillowcase.


Come back next week to see where exactly this one goes...

New Year and New Table

Its a New Year and to start things off I am now the proud owner of an amazing, custom built quilt table. Hopefully this will start many new projects and make cutting and laying out quilt much easier and more efficient.

Here's my current work is progess being marked and pinned. Most quilters don't generally use wood clamps to keep the fabric tight and down but it works well and uses a lot less masking tape. This is one of the first time I have pinned a quilt on a table and not on the floor and its quite an improvement. A big thanks to my Dad for his hard work!

November Book of the Month

So the book of the month series had devolved into book whenever I am inspired. And inspiration has struck. Denise Schmidt has such a unique quilt style and color combination that her book became a must read. The use of modern fabrics with some traditional patterns, with a twist, is a great way to move quilting to from Grandma’s pastime to a modern day trend. Her slightly off-kilter designs are a reinterpretation but add whimsy to the straight edges and formality of many quilt patterns.

Her book offers up a range of patterns, from full size quilts to aprons and scarves. Her example of a stuffed animal cat was so cute, I used it an inspiration for an upcoming quilt. You will see the results soon…

All Squares

This is a simple design with all squares. It was designed mostly to use up some old Beatrix Potter themed fabrics and also the rather large supply of pink fabrics that have accumulated. More pinks to come - or time to destash.

It was paired with the previous Beatrix Potter panel quilt as a gift for twins.

New Quilts, Old Fabrics Part Two

This is the second wedding quilt from this past summer. These are the first two larger sized quilts in a long while and it was quite an adjustment to working with all that fabric.

Both quilts are made with vintage fabrics and new fabics, past and present coming together to make something new. The challenge of working with old fabrics is quite large, given the limits of selection and colors. Overall the quilts were a success and a great learning project.