Row by Row Tour de Fraser Valley.

Last week I decided to drive out to the Fraser Valley and pick up some of the row by row patterns from a few shops I rarely go to.  The first stop was at Hamill's in Chilliwack.  I've always loved this shop and it has been a main stay of Chilliwack for many years.  A few years ago they moved the shop out into the farmlands so it is a pretty drive off the highway to get there.  They carry some of Primitive Gatherings and All Thru the Night wool patterns amongst some very modern fabrics and batiks.

 Love this whimsical owl embroidered piece.  I think it is by a local designer.

 Love that guy hanging upside down.

 This place is stuffed to the rafters and has an upstairs I didn't go up to this visit.

 Here is their winning quilt.  Their row is on the bottom.

 They have a small but colourful selection of wool.

 With a bit more adjacent.

 And a bit more.  They also carry DMC six strand embroidery thread and Valdani Perle cotton.

 Cute Kimberbell pillow for Summer.

 Here is they row.

 Next I drove into Chilliwack to Country Folk which is in the old Hamill's Fabric shop!

 Here is their winning quilt.

 They had the Spring Kimberbell pillow on display.

 Back to Abbotsford and A Great Notion to pick up their row.

 They also have a second store in Surrey where I found this row.

 They also offered this second bonus row for purchase as a kit that I've not seen anywhere else.  It is a row by row fundraiser.  I may have to go and get one.

I also stopped in at Castle's Sewing in Surrey, I didn't realize they have a very small selection of fabrics along with sewing machines for sale.  I think their pattern is digitalized for embroidery but will probably try and do it by hand.


I then went to Tom's Sewing in Surrey but forgot to take a picture of their row and then to Burnaby Sewing Centre and got their row.  Country Folk, Tom's Sewing and Burnaby Sewing Centre are all owned by the same family.

So here are the row patterns.  The only stash enhancement was a piece of Soft Fuse to try out.

Hamil's Pattern.

Country Folk, love the Herons, I often see them in the river feeding outside my condo.

 Abbotsford.

 Surrey/Langley.

 Surrey Castle's Sewing Centre.

Tom's Sewing Centre.

 Burnaby Sewing Centre.

 When Anna and I visited in La Conner, I mentioned I had a wool teapot block of the month from The Quilted Strait from many years ago.  Well I pulled it out and found I've stitch 6 of the 12 blocks.  They still have some lovely buttons to add but they may be damaged by heat so I'll add them once the top is quilted.  The BOM started in September.

 Not a cat person but love this guy.

 Great pumpkins Charlie Brown!

 Figgy pudding for Christmas.

 Snowman's face will be done in buttons.

 So I cut some fabric and did the embroidery for the last six months.

 And almost have completed March.  Can you guess what it will be?

Enjoy your week!

Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild Showcase

Yesterday I battled traffic to cross over the Ironworkers Bridge to visit the VMQG Showcase at 115 Victory Ship Way in North Vancouver.  It was their first show and different from the typical quilt shows as they did not have a vendors market and one great feature no drapes hanging.  You got to enjoy the glimpses of quilts and their backings without having to use the white glove treatment.           This first piece is by my friend Felicity here instagram feed is found here. She was my vice chair when I was evening chairperson at FVQG.                                  

 These were in the Round Robin section of the show.

 I happily walked around and took pictures of the quilts but not of the maker's of them but happily Felicity provided me with some of their creators.   This was a quilt made with block from a lotto win.  The block is called Converging Corners by Film in the Fridge.

 This beauty was made by Terry Aske, I took a workshop from her learning her circle techniques and recognized it before checking the label.  Her instagram feed can be found here.

 Here is her wonderful back art.  She shared several pictures of her work on her instagram last night.

 See what I mean about enjoying not having the quilts hung on draperies.

 This piece is by Karen Cooper, I didn't realize this is actually the back of the piece one of her extra Opalescence block.  Check out her instagram feed for the front. It is lovely.

 Paula Bohan made this mini that was created during a Gwen Marsden workshop.

 Paula Pearson made this interesting black and white with solid colour study.  Check out her instagram feed here.

 Joan Elliot created these two black and white studies.

 Loved this mini colourful study by Trish Poehnell.  Love the illusion of the circle your eye sees with the straight lines.

 Jade Prosser made this lovely piece love the aqua and white background.  Here is her instagram feed.

 Another Karen Cooper piece.  Love the folk art influence in the flowers.

 This piece looked spectacular against the yellow wall, the lighting changed the colours.  Twinkle Twinkle by Niki Storr.

 Love this piece by Krista Hennebury Round Peg Square Hole.  It was a challenge piece for RJR Fabrics Cotton Supreme Solids that she designed.  Not only does she have her poppyprint blog she has an instagram feed here.

 Berene Campbell made this beauty with blocks made by her online bee.  It is called Hundreds and Thousands.  Check out her instagram here.  And another feed can be found here just about the quilt creation.

 Loved these two similar but different stylized rose studies. Left by Matt Wheeler and right by Alicia Storrey.

 And viewed from the back.

 This mole hill quilt was started in a workshop with Latifah Saafir.  Here is a link to that post. Amy Dame made this one and helped me with the missing names, thanks Amy.  Her instagram feed is @amyamydame.  The machine quilting was done by Stacy Murton @hushrules on instagram.

 Love this unconventional rainbow was made by Berene Campbell.

 They had a wall of minis with a legend of who did what that was very effective but hard to photograph.

 A bit more.

 And the rest.

 As I left I took this picture of the downtown Vancouver waterfront.  I'm proud to be a born in Vancouver Gal.

If you are in Vancouver today the show is open go and check it out.