Getting Creative

This looks like a short post, but it has some wonderful links that I encourage you to take the time to read.
The first one is called the 'McDonald's Theory' and it talks about brainstorming and thinking outside the box.  It can apply to everyone, and most definitely to creative quilters.

Now once you have got your juices flowing, check out CQA/ACC's 'Quilting Standards'.  This is not solely meant for having a quilt judged, but is a wonderful tool to use to help you make your quilt the best it can be.

In conjunction with the Quilting Standards is a great aid called 'Elements of Principles and Design', also found on our website.

To finish off your creative process is a very informative article written by member Anna Hergert titled 'Deciphering The Myth Surrounding Original, Derivative and Copied Work'.

After going through this creative process, why not enter your finished masterpiece in our National Juried Show?   Here is the Call For Entry.

You can get a ton of inspiration by looking at past NJS winners.   For more interesting articles check out our website.

These Boots are Made for Walking - Member Challenge

Get Published! Show us boots, shoes, feet – whatever it takes to get walking!

Join the fun with our current challenge. Your entry will get published either on our blog or in the newsletter. Take a couple of hours and create a quilt, any shape, based on the theme ‘These Boots are Made for Walking”. You can use any embellishments you want.  Deadline to send a photo of your entry is September 25, 2013. Full challenge details here.

Oh, and did I mention prizes?

Three great fabric prizes sponsored by: Fridays Off Fabric Shop.

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1st prize is 5 fat quarters of Valeri Wells-Wrenly Christmas.

2nd prize is 5 fat quarters of Little Red and Lady Bug Garden.

3rd prize is 5 fat quarters is by Anna Marie Horner-Field Study.

An Interview with Christina Belding

Have you ever met a person that just exudes charisma?   You love being around them as they are so passionate about something they adore?   I had the good fortune of meeting such a person in Halifax at Quilt Canada 2012.   Her name is Christina Belding, a CQA/ACC member living in Nova Scotia. 

Tell us a little about yourself.

  I consider myself to be an independent, creative, free spirited, and active world   traveller, with a strong sense of order and organization.

I have been working for Air Canada as a Lead Station Attendant since 1987. I marshall the aircraft on the ramp and load and off-load airplanes.

A collage based on the portrait above.

My hobbies are scuba diving, fitness, yoga, movies, reading, cooking and baking. Quilting was an unexpected activity that has tapped into my creative nature. It is now a passion and an identifier of who I am, where I've been, inspiring me on where I like to go creatively-future fabric expression!

How did you start quilting?

I took a class in the fall of 2009 to make Christmas stockings, rented a machine, discovered it was fun and it seemed easy. For Christmas that year I received a sewing machine. I started making pajamas and bags.  I still make and design my own clothes and bags when I am inspired. I like creating things with fabric; quilts are just one of the things I like to do.

I belong to the Mariners QG in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Mahone Bay QG.

I am inspired by colour; I flirt around with art, traditional, and modern quilting. I create my own designs, depending on what grabs me.

Christina's first foundation pieced quilt called 'Lady Liberty Goes to Hawaii'

You have some exciting news about a recent quilt?

My quilt 'Jeweled Diamonds' has been a home run for me. It was juried into the NJS 2013, AQS Paducah 2013 and now juried and selected as the Signature Quilt for the Houston International Quilt Festival 2013! It is on the promo materials, tote bags etc. After Houston it will travel as part of an exhibit called 'In American Tradition 2013'. I am beyond thrilled and still can't wrap my head around it.

Christina in front of 'Jeweled Diamonds' wearing a skirt she made.

I was inspired by Kaffe Fassett's 'Bordered Diamonds' quilt pattern. I began collecting Kaffe Fassett  fabric, as well as metallic fabrics. If it's shiny, I am smiling. 

My idea was to make a large 100" by 110" king size quilt.  I wanted it to look like stained glass, luminous, which is why I sashed each diamond with a metallic fabric. Each block is unique and does not repeat in the quilt. There are 70 + fabrics and 30+ sashing fabrics.

I used wool batting which is why you really notice the overall quilting pattern. It was machine quilted locally. I am currently using the scraps from this quilt on an ambitious foundation pieced project.

Original Collages titled 'Mermaiden' and 'King Neptune' inspired by Susan Carlson

I like to quilt fabric then make jackets from it. I choose my own fabrics and avoid safe choices. I follow what works for me, my vision of the project and what makes me smile.

Do you hand or machine quilt?

I have no interest in hand quilting. I like to quilt my own work if it small enough for my home machine - a Janome Horizon 7700. I would love a larger machine to be able to quilt all my work.

I try to complete one project at a time and don't have any UFO's. I am goal orientated and have a running list of future projects. Winning the 649 would allow me the time and money to make things happen sooner than later in that department!

'Glitz' made entirely of metallic fabrics and quilted with metallic thread by Donna Hazelton.

 What is your favourite food?

Pizza is my all time favourite ..Montreal pizza and bagels ..hands down! I keep M&M almonds and peanut butter pretzels by my machine so I can snack and sew without getting my hands dirty.

Thanks so much Christina for giving us a glimpse into your life.   We look forward to seeing where quilting takes you!

Jackie W.

Quilts for Kids Inc.

Quilters are the most generous and loving people in the world.  Their creativity doesn’t stop once they’ve given quilts to all their family members and friends. But what do they do with the quilts they can’t seem to stop making?  

Quilts for Kids Inc., founded in 2000 in the USA, has the answer:  donate them to hospitalized children fighting a life battle with an illness or to children suffering from the affects of abuse or natural disasters. And now you can do this in Canada:  help children fighting a life battle with an illness - in your own back yard.

By working with the charity Quilts For Kids, Inc. you can make a difference in Canada just like the quilters all over the U.S. are doing.

QFK wants to work with quilters who would like to head up chapters of the charity throughout Canada. WHY? Because Northcott – a Canadian fabric company – has partnered with QFK and they have fabric to donate to groups wishing to be a part of the charity they hold near and dear to their hearts. If you have the talent, a sewing machine and friends, a church group or quilt guild who can help make these colorful works of art – QFK is interested in chatting with you.

All photos used with permission from QFK website

With the USA having 97 chapters of Quilts ForKids Inc. nationwide, these volunteers have made tens of thousands of crib sized colorful quilts in child-friendly prints, bringing a smile to the faces of children going through the worst that life has to offer. The quilts are approximately 40”x46”.

Now, thanks to the support of Northcott and other Canadian textile manufacturers, Canadians are able to start their own chapters.

Giving a child a quilt not only comforts the child, but also the whole family. They are so uplifted by the thought that a total stranger has made a quilt for a child they don’t even know.  Your quilt makes a difference in the lives of these children.

Founding President, Linda Arye, knows first-hand how it feels to wrap a quilt around a child who needs comfort.

“As a mom whose daughter was hospitalized I knew what it was like to spend long days in a stark hospital room.  My daughter, Mollie, wasn’t allowed her stuffed animal “Bear-Bear” due to allergen issues (he was sort of her version of a dust Bunny as she’d crawled around the floors with him for a long time). If she’d had a patchwork quilt that could be washed often the hospitals would have allowed her to have something to hold onto while going through frightening testing.”

Please visit www.quiltsforkids.org for more information on how to start a chapter, or email them at info@quiltsforkids.org for information. Remember to say you are interested in starting a chapter IN CANADA.

Here’s a documentary that will help you see what it is is the charity does first hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP6kbgc9jh8&feature=youtu.bes

by Linda Arye

Judy Kelly- Our President

As you all know, CQA/ACC is run by a whole gang of wonderful volunteers, from Sylvie, our French translator to Jo our youth ambassador, to our fun gang of regional representatives, to Jill our Artist in Residence and to you, our members who support and encourage quilting in Canada.

Among all these fantastic quilters there is a fabulous lady who simply adores quilters and wants to do all she can to promote quilting in our country.   This gal is none other than Judy Kelly, President of CQA/ACC.

If you know Judy, then you are blessed.   To hang with her and share in her hilarious sense of humour, or talk to her in her calm easygoing manner, or watch her at a vendor's market is pure pleasure.   That is our Judy.

If you don't know her then you simply have to meet her, whether it be at Quilt Canada or virtually by email.   She is someone that impacts your life, in all the right ways.

A WIP- Judy wants to be able to quilt faces better.

It seemed a good time for you to get to know her a bit better as she has took over the helm of our organization about two months ago.   The best way to do that is to delve into her quilting life.

What type of quilter are you?
I am an art quilter wannabe! I have done lots of traditional quilts, but I am easily bored with repetitive things. Art has always interested me, in one form or another. I recently joined SAQA, thinking it would put me in touch with art quilters in my area. Apparently I have the distinction of being the first Newfoundlander to ever join. So I will have to source out information online. Modern trends are starting to pique my interest, also.

'Girlfriends'  Judy is the one in the middle.

 Do you hand or machine quilt?
I do both. I use the machine for anything that it can do. With the resurgence of handstitching, sometimes I tend to use this technique to embellish pieces.I would have to say free motion is my favorite method. I like the  freedom and the fact that there are no rules! It’s like I can play all day with my sewing machine, using the needle as a pencil and the fabric as a sketchpad.

3D quilt for her granddaughter Amy

Lastly, what is your favourite food?
Cod is my favorite food. Cod Loins,  Cod Tongues, Cod Sounds, Cod Cheeks ,  Cod Heads, Cod Britches, Cod Cakes, Salt Cod,… anything Cod!!! I didn’t   eat it  until I  was 50 years old,  just because my mother told me I had to. Now I eat  it, in some form or another, everyday, to make up for lost time.

Judy loves dyeing her own fabric.

She has even tried ice dyeing.

Pictured below is Judy teaching her beautiful granddaughter Amy how to quilt.   Good job promoting youth quilting Judy!

Here is a little secret about Judy that only her guild knows about.  She brings a little basket to every guild meeting and sets it at a table by the door.  Do you know what members put in that basket?

Selvedges, hundreds and hundreds of selvedges Judy has collected over the years.   Here are two of her projects that she has made with the selvedges.

Please say hi to Judy at president@canadianquilter.com!   She loves getting to know the members, and be sure to ask her what she is going to do with all those selvedges!



Jackie W.

Trend-Tex Challenge Teaser

Do you know what the Trend-Tex Challenge is?   If you are a new CQA/ACC member, you may not be aware.   In its 26th year, the fabulous people at Trend-Tex Fabrics donate bolts and bolts of 5 different fabrics for our annual fundraiser.  The CQA/ACC member purchases 5 fat quarters, and makes a small wall quilt based on the theme for that year.   The quilt is sent to the annual Quilt Canada conference and is purchased by lots of fun bidding during a silent auction.

As Vice President, I was the lucky gal who got to pick the theme and the fabric for the 2014 Trend-Tex Challenge.  And just for kickers added a new category!  All details will be inside your newsletter and also posted on our website on September 1st.

It might cause a bit of excitement if you got to see what the fabric, found out the new category and the theme a little ahead of time, right?  If you think so, then let's get this Trend-Tex party started!

You may have noticed a trend in modern quilting that has been cropping up everywhere.   I thought it might be fun to jump on the band wagon and have a theme titled 'Modern Ways'.   It is left to your interpretation, so if you are not into the modern quilting, then have a go at your own spin on the theme.  It is all about having a good time as a Canadian quilter!

Here is what arrived at my doorstep in June from Trend-Tex Fabrics.

35 luscious bolts of bright, beautiful fabric!   All mine for the cutting, and yours for the quilting.

Tell me you are not a little curious about that striped one?   Why did I choose that particular fabric to go with all those gorgeous solids?   I'll tell you, because there isn't one CQA/ACC quilter that I have met that doesn't have a little bit of craziness to them.   Not one!   So that piece is in there for YOU.

So you don't die of curiosity, here is a shot of the fat quarter opened up.

Are you as excited as I am?   And I haven't even told you the super fun part yet.   The part about the newly created category.   Here it is - a Quilted Wearable Category!   I can already hear your mind turning over the possibilities.   

Whether you have entered every Trend-Tex Challenge CQA/ACC has ever had, or never entered one before, this one is going to be a blast!   Looking forward to seeing your work of art.  

Start designing!

Jackie W.

Tutorials Galore with the Amazing Gail Fearon

Quilters are such a modest bunch.  I have been working with Regional Representative Gail Fearon from New Brunswick for well over a year and just by chance discovered she had a blog.  Well, not just a quilt blog but one filled with all sorts of interesting tidbits of quilting information!

She made an iron tote caddy after she found this tutorial online.

After perusing her blog for another minute, bam... another fantastic idea!  She learned this one at a Gathering of the Guilds.   It takes the curved sewing out of the Drunkard's Path block by using coffee filters.   Seriously, you have to go and check it out here.

Gail told me that she has two or three projects on the go…a BOM on Sindy Rodenmayer’s website, quilting a pinwheel baby quilt in a hoop, and piecing some tops for Victoria’s Quilts.  She prefers to work on scrappy quilts and  usually by hand.

Now look at this picture....

…they are bags of balsam fir tips.  Gail picks them early in June when they are lime green. She only picks the very tips of the balsam branches, brings them home and lets them dry to a very dark brown. Gail then places them in sewn muslin bags. Next she embroiders Christmas pictures  (or makes traditional blocks in Xmas fabric) for the outer bags.  She has sold many at quilt shows. Believe it or not, Gail has some sachets over 10 years old and they still smell as fresh as the day she made them.

Thanks Gail for sharing your blog and tips with us!

Anyone else want to share some fun quilting tidbits?  Email vicepresident@canadianquilter.com.

Jackie W.