Friday 25 August 2017

Down the Rabbit Hole, Murals, Sunset, Eclipse, Dresden Plate idea, Bees and Flowers.

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I've been stuck with a step with my Down The Rabbit Hole Quilt.  The next round are 40 houses and I've been trying to figure out what colours to use.  I finally bit the bullet and have cut them out and so far have sewn four roofs for house 1.  There are ten of each and the roofs are done with paper foundation piecing.  Then there is the actual house that has windows in it.  No pictures yet but a start.

I have come up with a plan for the next couple of months.  The picture below is combining two different months.
 The smaller quarter circle and points with be the corner block of the house row.  There's a difference in size as there will be a narrow border before we start the next row.
 I've decided to have different colours rotate around the flower and have cut multiple prints in each of the sizes.  I've got four different petal prints which will also be rotated.
 I'm still playing around with how I'll be pairing them up when I finally applique them down.
 I can't do needle turned applique to my satisfaction so I have made heat resistant Mylar templates to aid in turning the points on the petals.
 I also made templates for the quarter circles.
 I'm also playing around with different prints for the leaves.
 I think I've flipped the leaf that the wider end will be near the stem and the skinnier end the top.
 Yes I've five choices.  I think I'll mismatch them also and then will make a fifth one as a pillow, or even part of my label for the back.
 So many choices I may have to make a mini sunflower hanging.
 I also have to choose what to use as a stem, but I think I've got a couple of options from what I used on the smaller flowers in the medallion centre.
 There are also four half Dresden plates in the middle of the row with the larger quarter circle flowers. This was my first layout but then I realized that those four Kaffe fabrics blend together.
 So I swapped them with polka dot prints to help play with the contrast.
 Vancouver had a celebration of revealing some new murals earlier in the month.  I took my mom to see some of them last Sunday.
 This mural wraps around the corner of the building.  I couldn't get a good photo to share but will go back again and take some more.  They are located in the alleyway just off of Hastings and Hawks street.  In the area called the Downtown Eastside.  It is Canada's poorest neighbourhood.
 This one was in the same area, nice to see the neighbourhood brightened up with some street art.
 This reflects some our indigenous First Nation heritage.  The N to the right is one of I believe three different indigenous languages that all say the same thing.  I need to go back and get photos of it and find out the translation.
 It was a gorgeous day to take these photos.
 More art from the alleyway just off of Main Street above 6th ave.
 This one was incredible but I don't recall ever seeing magnolias and giraffes together when I was in Kenya.
 Love his long tongue coming out to sample the tidbits.
 This photo was taken on August 20th just before Eclipse Day.
 Can you spot the guy walking along the train bridge?  It was safe as the swing bridge was open and he was probably leaving at shift change.
 No flash was used for these photos.
 That small group of window on the top right is our Light Rapid Transit called the SkyTrain, it's elevated at this point of the route.  This is the Expo line that opened up in 1986. It was an alternate mode of transport when I worked if the road conditions were too snowy for my liking.
 One of the last shots for the night.
 My one and only picture on Eclipse 2017.  I didn't have the right filter or protective glasses so I took this just before the eclipse started and then stayed indoors.
 I thought I'd share my plans for the Dresden plate curved top. I made pencil marks in the three holes at the top of the cutting template.
 I then made a smaller heat resistant Mylar template of the curve and connected the dots.  Ending where the seam will finish.
 Just a smidge away from my drawn line I did a running stitch that I had knotted the thread.
 Thread cut and ready for the next step.
 I pull the thread and then press it in place.  Then I use a paint brush to paint liquid starch and press it again over the template.
 I flip it over for another quick press.
 Here are the larger blades being prepped.  Ignore the stains from the starch on my old pressing square.  The pins hold the template in place.
 I'm holding the template in place and pulled the thread taunt to mimic the curve. To take the picture I've caught the thread under my fingers.
 My first press to stablize the curve.  Then I paint it, can't show that one handed.
 Iron the wet fabric and make sure there are no peaks.
 Then I flip it over and make sure it is completely flat.
 Yesterday I went out for breakfast and walked along the quay.  It's interesting how the flowers planted along it mimic my fabric choices.  Now remember I started making my choices in February before the colour of the flowers were chosen and planted.
 Love this pink/purple.
 Lots of bees and bumble bees visiting the flower beds.
 This guy was extremely busy.
 Farther down these purple flowers were also well visited.
 Love this guy balancing on the edge of the blossom.
 This plant reminds me of Lanterns.
 Wonder how this snail managed to climb up on this leaf?
 Love that pop of yellow against the soft pink against the succulent purple/grey/slate tones.
Off to make some house roofs and the the building and windows.

Wednesday 16 August 2017

Mini Shop Hop to Calico Creations, Cotton Pickins' and Aunt Mary's Quilt shops.

Yesterday on a whim I decided to head south of the border to visit a few of my favourite Northwest Washington Quilt Shops.  When I was down there in early June the row by row patterns weren't available and when I came home from Sisters in July the stores were all closed.  First stop was at Calico Creations in Mount Vernon.  Love all the wonderful samples they have in their store.  Anyone ready for Christmas yet?  Laura Heine designs these wonderful collage patterns.
 I've been to Laura's shop in Billings Montana and I'd be in deep trouble if I lived closer to it.
 I love the effect of these quilts on the rustic brickwork.
 Cute sly fox.
 Love this rainbow coloured quilt with the black and white background.  See that car in the lower right corner.  That is the shop's On The Go row.  I can't believe I forgot to photograph it.  Unfortunately she only has the pattern on the free giveaway and no picture.  I'll have to look and see if I can find an image to share with you.
 I'm not a cat person so when I see dog quilts I giggle, aren't these guys cute/
 Rainbow houses.
 Look at all those White and Black fabric!
 All those fabric to the left are part of her $8 corner!
 Another view of the corner and yes I did find something to come home with me in it.  Afterwards I saw a sign to my left of where I was standing and there were more clearance fabrics in a large storage cupboard!
 Great fish and bird quilts for the nature lover.
 Look at her collection of Kaffe Fasset fabrics!  I think it is the biggest in the Northwest.
 Baby bear over the door as I exited.
 I found Calico Creations Facebook page here.. I borrowed the image of their row to share with you.  Is it not too cute!
                                     
The next stop was at Cotton Pickins' in Stanwood.  Made sure I photographed their row right away.  You can see their Flower row from a previous year to the right.  She also designed a wonderful mermaid row for the water year.

 Great inspiration for a quilt and sewing machine shop.
 Love this little Halloween corner.
 A few more of her Halloween goodies.
 She has designed some fun wool felt pins kits.
 She participated in the Wooly Block last year.  Sadly I'm not a cat person but her block is cute.
 Hello Kitty!
 This is part of her children print corner with some lovely bright colours.
 A corner for chefs.
 Some lovely inspirations on the wall.
 At her entrance she had a quilter's garage sale happening.
 Under the mini lights is where she cuts her fabric and rings you out.
 Cute button and a mini trailer quilt.
 Love the pink flamingo and the retro trailer.
 The final stop for the day was Aunt Mary's Quilt shop.  A favourite place to stop with mom when we travelled along I-5.  Carol always asks after mom who has gifted her with some of her knitted dishcloths over the years.  Is this house row not too cute!
 Snowman alphabet.
 Carole's previous row by rows
 Here is this year's On the Go.  She always has a fun embroidered and coloured row.
 Love this version of Laura Heine's travel trailer.
 Love this triangle quilt.
 Carole always has some lovely vignettes on the top of her shelves.
 I have a cousin Carol and her mom was my Aunt Mary!
 Is this dachshund quilt not adorable!
 This pillow is wonderful, I think a friend may need to make two.  She just adopted two dachshund cross puppies.
 That quilt draped over the chair looks like it belongs to the witch enjoying her brew.
 I did buy a bit of fabric.  First from Aunt Mary's if you see anything you want you can contact her here and I'm sure she will send it to you.
 I missed the cabbages the first time they came out so I got it along with the sale dots...
 ..and this Seattle inspired print from Calico Creations.
 I have a featherweight and am always photographing bees so these two came home with me.
 Along with the bee on the go!