The Challenges of the Trend-Tex Challenge

Are you busy working on your Trend-Tex Challenge?  We sure hope so!   Some have already arrived.
While I was encouraging members to complete their Trend-Tex quilt because that is the second component of the fundraiser, our Director at Large, Laine Canivet facebooked some of her dilemmas with this challenge.

While it is not nice to laugh at others, Laine has made it so entertaining that you simply can't help but chuckle.

The conversation started with me asking the Regional Representatives how they were making out with their Trend-Tex Challenge.  Then Laine joined in.

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  Laine Canivet 

Funny you should ask. I have had nothing but trouble. I have ended up having to

 paint all the white fabric to cover up the stain after trying bleach, unsuccessfully. Then I 

had to paint all the pink fabric to hide the bleach stains that seeped into it when I tried to

 fix the white. The last coat of paint is drying, as we speak.

January 9 at 6:52pm · Like

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  Laine Canivet Mine will be the only one where the white isn't really white.

  January 9 at 7:05pm · Like
• Laine Canivet and the pink isn't really pink
• January 9 at 7:06pm · Like
• 
  
• Laine Canivet I agree. - and I hope you have better luck than me. I just put my finished 
• piece on the wall to admire it - when I realized I forgot to use the blue fabric. Maybe I'll 
• just paint a spot blue and call it a day!

You can see the line of white paint does not quite touch the pink fabric.

The pink paint on some of the pink fabric so it matches the well-painted pink fabric (not shown) that got inadvertently bleached. 

I  doubt there will be anyone who has quite as many issues as Laine did with her Trend-

Tex Challenge! So please, if you have bought the fabric, whip up a creation and enter it in 

the Challenge.  There are 10 kits left and would love to sell out, so if you need one, let me know.

Winter Wonders - Member Challenge

Are you stuck inside with snow piled up to your window sill and hoping the power doesn't go out?

If so, why not cozy up to your sewing machine and whip up a quick creation to enter into our current challenge?

 All you have to do is show us something wonderful about winter. Your entry will get published either on our blog or in the magazine. Send us a digital image of your quilt, any shape and size based on the theme ‘Winter Wonders’.  Deadline to send a photo of your entry is March 25, 2014. 

Full challenge details here.

Oh, and great prizes, too. This challenge is sponsored by Fabric Spot, an online fabric store with the largest inventory of organic fabric in Canada. Visit their website and their blog.

  First prize is Diamonds in the Sky Quilt Kit Featuring Tula Pink's Acacia Collection (retail value $140).

Second prize is a 'Pretty In Pink'  Kona Fat Quarter Bundle (retail value $50)

Third prize is a $25 gift card.

Judy Martin - Simply Amazing

When CQA/ACC member Judy Martin puts her mind to something, she follows through. Even if it takes 4 years and hundreds of volunteers, countless hours of dedication and the utmost of patience and perseverance.

Here is Judy's explanation of her wonderful creations of 4 quilts over 4 years:

This exhibition will highlight the amazing four year long Manitoulin Circle Project.  Every Thursday between October 2009 and August 2013, regular and drop-in stitchers met in the United Church hall in Little Current,  Manitoulin Island ON and worked  together all day at hand stitching.  In total, 144 participants.  

Four large meditation panels are the result.  The eventual location of these panels will be in the sanctuary of the Little Current United Church, Little Current, ON.

  

Earth Ark

Recycled linen damask, new silk and cotton, vintage handkerchiefs, hand and machine pieced by Judy Martin with community assistance, 2011, 90" x 90"

Earth Ark detail

I designed the panels, taught the techniques to the participants and enjoyed working with them to create these pieces.  Two of the panels are completely stitched together by hand.   The main fabric was donated recycled linen damask table cloths.  

Mended World

recycled linen damask, new silk and cotton, hand and machine pieced, hand quilted by Judy Martin with community assistance, 2012, 96" x 96"

Mended World detail

Precious Water
recycled linen damask, new silk, completely worked by hand.  Hand applique, hand piecing, hand quilted.
2013, 86" x 86"

Precious Water detail

Layers of Time

Re-purposed vintage wool blankets, vintage lace doilies, linen damask table linens, and new silk.  Completely worked by hand with hand embroidery, layering methods, and hand quilted.  2013, 92" x 92"

Layers of Time detail

The titles of the four panels refer to the nurturing of our environment and memory.  The vintage fabrics in all of the panels refer to domestic ritual.

The panels are intended to be hung in the sanctuary of the Little Current United Church in 2014.  They are united by the circle in square imagery and by the use of white, a celebratory liturgical colour.

Installed on the second floor of the gallery will be my monumental stitch journal that I kept during the same time as the Manitoulin Circle Project.  The art gallery has used this journal piece on the invitation.

As you can see Judy has once again stunned the quilting world with not only her dedication to this lengthy project, but to the beauty of the quilts she has created.   

The opening reception of the Mended World exhibition at the Art Gallery of Sudbury, ON January 18, 2014 at 2 pm. The exhibition will remain on view until March 2, 2014.

All photos done by Klaus Rossler.

Walk To Brock #4

I thought we would collect a HUGE number of inches in December while everyone hurried to finish gifts. Alas, I think we all slowed down and enjoyed the holidays.   Now let's add another resolution to stitch extra hard in January.

Considering it is the dead of winter and there isn’t much choice for travelers like us, leaving Inuvik and heading to Brock, we hopped on a plane and flew in a bee-line to Yellowknife.  Plus there is no road anyway.

In January the average high in Yellowknife is -20°C and the low is -27°C. 

Yellowknife, on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake and on the edge of the Arctic Circle, is famous for spectacular wilderness. We are enjoying the dark winter skies lit up by aurora borealis, dog sledding, cross-country skiing and backpacking. If that sounds too cold, let’s visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Look at the 'Online "Exhibit under 'Staff Picks', the 'Tremain Collection' with extraordinary embroidery and beading on clothing dating from the early 1900s.

I’m sure we will get a warm reception when we visit our member guild, the Yellowknife Quilters Guild, who contributed almost 18 thousand inches to help get us here.  

The Penticton Quilters Guild reported over 43 thousand inches this month, mostly from one quilter who stitched almost half a mile (I don’t think she sleeps).

And from the Timmins Guild when they sent me their inches: “at our last meeting, the sister of one of our members came as a guest. I was quite excited to see she brought a "show and tell" - a few more inches for our coffers! However, when I snuck out my measuring tape and mumbled "Walk to Brock" she was immediately on to my mission...and the inches were saved to be reported by her own guild in Thunder Bay. We enjoyed viewing her quilt nevertheless!”  

Now that's the competitive spirit=)

Looking forward to seeing how far we get next month.  Keep it up quilters!

Guild Charity Knows No Bounds

It is simply amazing when you look around at Canadian quilters and see what they do with their talents and resources.   You only have to look at your nearest guild to see the charity work they do with quiltmaking.   Here are just a few unique samples of how our guilds give back.

The Kennebecasis Valley QG in Quispamsis, NB, ( near Saint John) is one such guild that believes in charity.  From making tiny quilts for the Neonatal unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital, to making quilts for one of the local nursing homes each year, donating quilts to be used as raffle quilts for worthy causes, when possible giving quilts to people in need, and also supporting Victoria's quilts (a national organization which gives quilts to people with cancer.

Pictured below are some from the latest Victoria Quilt Day.  

The Sudbury & District Quilting and Stitchery Guild “adopted” a family in need of some holiday cheering in 2013.  The family was identified by the local Lion’s Club.  The parents and each of their four children will be  warm this winter with the new quilts lovingly made by the members.  Other gifts from the guild included Christmas stockings for everyone that are overflowing with goodies including mitts and hats; wrapped toys and jammies  for under the tree; a gift certificate for Cineplex; food enough for their Christmas dinner and more, plus a gift certificate at a local Grocery store.  

The London Friendship QG had a Place Mat Colour Challenge. They used lovely greeting cards from J.Lee Cards and Photography in St Thomas, ON. Those who entered the challenge picked a card (sight unseen) and then made a place mat using as many of the colours in the photo card as possible. The place mats were all donated to Meals on Wheels.

by Megan Griffith - 1st place

by Lorna Martin - 2nd place

by Edith Ward

by Cathy Shephard

by Tiny Campbell

It is so inspirational, not only reading about what charity the guilds do, but the creative ways they go about making it fun and interesting to their members.

If you have something fun to share, please drop me a line at vicepresident@canadianquilter.com.

Jackie W.

Member Challenge Participants

There were eleven thoughtful and sometimes humourous  entries for the challenge "Things I Can't Live Without".

Every entry seemed to be oh so true. Really, can you live without your birthday or your socks?

Our apprentice judge, Valerie Harrison, who is enrolled in CQA/ACC's Quilt Judge CertificationProgramme had a lot of fun picking three winners for the great prizes provided by Carol Richards from Sew Sisters, a Canadian quilt shop dedicated to all things quilting. Check out her store at 3961 Chesswood Drive Toronto, ON or online.

The three prize winners, as chosen by Valerie, will be published in the next issue of 'The Canadian Quilter'. 

by Sherri Watier

I always seem to have cold feet, so when thinking of this theme's challenge, I immediately thought of SOCKS!  I am always wearing socks around the house and I made this mini quilt from a photo I took of my feet!

 by Mary Field

We all must eat and my large collection of fruit and veggie fabric inspired me to create this tablecloth.  The saying "Eat Food Not Too Much Mostly Plants" is a quote from Michael Pollan. When my grandson Joseph was about three he "read" it when we were all seated at the table as "eat food, not too much, mostly flowers" ... we still chuckle.

by Mary Field 

I created this wall hanging for my daughter-in-law who is a dietician and sometimes uses it as a backdrop when she does presentations. 

by Diane Carson

BIRTHDAYS!  Who can live without them?  Our family has fun with this wall hanging with interchangeable numbers.   It has been used for Grandchildren 3 and a Aunt at 103. Designed by Terry Griffin , Long n, lean series.

by Marvella Smith

I created a bingo card but used a more appropriate word to reflect things I can't live without and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it as winning at bingo is very much like life....you can't always have a full card.....sometimes it's just a line that pays off! 

I included my husband as well....a carpenter so he's represented by the tools.

by Rolanda Tovey

  I couldn’t live without my sewing machine.  I learned to sew when I was very young on my Great-Grandmother’s treadle machine and I’ve since acquired one.  I love to piece quilts, table runners, wall hangings...anything but clothes or mending.

This piece was done in memory of my Mother who taught me to sew and only trusted me to use the treadle machine, not her “good” machine. 

by Catherine Henderson

 I absolutely can't live without COFFEE!

While learning an arrowhead block, I came across a package of coffee themed fabric, grabbed some extra fabric from my stash and put together whatever combinations took my fancy, eventually ending up with enough blocks for 12 mats with a Bali batik border. 

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the challenge!  See how easy and fun it is to do, and only members have the opportunity to win these fantastic prizes.   Stay tuned for the next challenge, it is going to make you chill=)

Editors

It started with an email to the Board of Directors back in 1997 from President Dusty Newey, that looked like this:

And boy did Marsha (now Cleveland) 'freshen up our newsletter'!  And along the way every member got to know her gentle patient nature.  Whether it was getting your quarterly newsletter, sending her an article or just asking her a question, you were interacting with one incredibly talented woman.

Marsha has now officially retired as CQA/ACC's Editor and if you are curious to see what she is going to do with all her spare time, read on.

 I am closing off the year with travel, something I haven’t done for a while. A friend I met in high school (so we have been friends for a long, long time!) asked if I would like to go to New York City with her.  Then I have a trip planned to Toronto to visit my Aunt and Uncle. I plan to spend more time with my grandson Riley.

After that, you can picture me spending nice, snow laden days snowmobiling with my husband Dwayne. When the weather changes completely, we will be boating out of nearby Pugwash Harbour or I will be sitting in the window overlooking the harbour in front of my sewing machine – and I will probably be sewing. Already, I have started to finish some of the many quilts I have started. I am also hoping to become, once again, more involved in my community.

It feels a little awkward to be recognized for doing what I have loved doing – I have had the most incredible experience working with so many talented and special people. That is without doubt what I will miss the most – well, after missing all those emails!

Thanks to all the quilters out there who have contributed/helped over the years. I wish Marcy all the best in her new position and know that she will be blessed with your wonderful support.

Marsha, there are not enough words to thank you for making 'The Canadian Quilter' what it is today, and not enough accolades to say thank you and we wish you all the best!


As you may be aware, we were fortunate to find a bright, exceptionally talented woman to become our new Editor.  Marcy Horswill has risen to the challenge of looking after our quarterly publication.

Here is a little background information from Marcy:

I currently reside in Cumberland, British Columbia, an artsy little community of 4,000 outside of Courtenay, BC. 

I am a quilter and fibre artist. I have been quilting for over twenty years. I started quilting traditionally at first, but moved to designing quilts and now on to fibre art, specializing in machine felting and the use of Tyvek. I belong to the Comox Valley Schoolhouse Quilters’ Guild, and we boast over 140 members. I am proud to be part of this guild and volunteer as the Program Coordinator.

I am a graphic designer and have been for over 28 years. This is apparent in my fibre designs... simple is better in my world. Despite my move to fibre art, I cherish hand work and love to hand bead and hand quilt.

I am excited to be the Editor of 'The Canadian Quilter'. I have wanted to be an editor of a magazine since I bought my first 'Victoria' magazine in 1989. This position is a dream come true 24 years later.

Already Marcy has her editorial team hopping and several new ideas are in the works.   It will be an exciting and fun time as we see what Marcy has planned for 'The Canadian Quilter'.  

Welcome aboard Marcy!

Jackie W