Sunday 29 January 2012

Quilting Lessons


Check out the quilting classes I’m teaching at Out ofHand
Mumbo Gumbo in February
Quilt Primer in March (this is the beginner class) and
The Next Step in April (a nice follow-up to Quilt Primer)
I also have a couple of Friday Finishing Schools in March and in June, enjoy dedicated quilting time with me there to offer guidance and encouragement! 
Here are some pictures of what The Next Step Quilt can look like, I teach you the techniques and you get to arrange the blocks according to your creative genius.

My Fiery Abstract

Oriental by Lynette

Kind of Anthopologie by Brynne

Butterfly Kisses by Carolyn

A gift for mom by Carol
Maxine's quilt for her sister


Wednesday 25 January 2012

Feathered Star




Today is my oldest son’s birthday, so I thought it would be nice to show his quilt. 
This quilt with the Feathered Star pattern was started at a Quilting Retreat at Emerald Lake Lodge.  The centre of each star has a block which is eight by eight inches, so there are at least 64 pieces in each centre, probably more because there are a lot of triangles.  It has a border of one inch triangles as well.  The colours were picked for Kevin; and he helped select the fabrics. 
The back of the quilt is a black paisley print which was bought while we were on a trip to attend my brother-in-law Nigel’s wedding in Washington DC.  His bride Cheri was from Lancaster county Pennsylvania - Amish country - and the Amish women are famous for their impeccable quilting, so I knew I wanted to make the two and a half hour trip from Washington to see some quilts and buy some fabric.  We saw so many quilts, hanging on fences, porches and clothes lines and visited many quilt stores, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven!  This quilt was made about twenty years ago and has been loved to pieces. 
Happy Birthday Kevin!

Sunday 22 January 2012

Urban Baby


This is the first quilt that I did on my longarm quilting machine.  I saw this lovely bright fabric which was just screaming for me to do something with it.  The fabric line is called Urban Landscapes and it is designed by Kathy York.  I made this quilt from a free pattern download from Clothworks. 


I had the top of this quilt ready for quilting when in April I went to SparrowStudioz in Edmonton to take Beginner Longarm Quilting from Matt (manquilter.com) Sparrow.  A full couple of days for me as I had taught quilting the evening before until 11pm, got up at 5am to drive to Edmonton and be in class by 10am, spent the day learning and being inspired! Got back to the hotel, where my husband met me with a bottle of wine, we then found a nice place to eat and I enthusiastically talked his ear off about all that I learned & Matt's fun personality. Richard (my husband) said 'It sounds like you've found a mentor'. Next day we stopped by EarthlyGoods Quilting store in Edmonton, drove home; I made supper and then proceeded to 'custom' quilt my first quilt 'Urban Baby'. I was inspired.  And that was the beginning.

Saturday 21 January 2012

Quilting Classes Calgary




Time to start posting some pictures.  This first quilt is Mumbo Gumbo by Pie in the Sky Quilts and I will be teaching a class on how to make this colourful quilt at Out of Hand (Needle Arts) in February.  I love scrappy quilts and this is definitely a good way to make a dent in your fabric stash.  You will get a chance to try the AccuQuilt Go Fabric Cutter, quick way to cut fabric and easy on the arms and wrists.

Friday 20 January 2012

Welcome to Inch by Inch Quilting


I’ve done it; I have finally started my quilting blog.  My hope is that this will be a place where my students, customers and friends can visit and see what I’m up to as I’m living my passion of quilting, teaching quilting and longarm quilting.  It will also be my web presence for my Longarm Quilting Business.  Daily posts would be nice; however I would rather be quilting.  So, my intention is to post pictures of my customers and students beautiful quilts as well as my own - and perhaps stories about the quilts - whenever another one is completed.   I hope you enjoy your visit at Inch by Inch Quilting.