Where the creativity blossoms

My Studio, if you can call it that, I certainly do and it is all my space.  Once a nice size master bedroom with a little walk in closet and an ensuite master bath, complete with jetted tub, now the jetted tub holds packaged batting, the ironing board is in front of the sink, and the walk in closet has shelves on 3 sides and holds my bolts of fabric, projects I am working on, and boxes of fat quarters and bolts of backing.

It looks like chaos to others perhaps, but it is organized chaos, and it is my space.

Various dressers under my long arm quilting machine as well as against a wall hold all kinds of threads, stencils and other tools of the trade.  My cutting and sewing table is a kitchen table purchased years ago with a composite top, perfect for what I do.  A fantastic light system over my long arm is outfitted with daylight bulbs, giving me bright daylight anytime, day or night.  A wire basket shelf holds some of the pantographs I use frequently.

I love my studio, it is not ideal, but it is the best I have and it is organized so everything is within easy reach.

Cathy....It is Done!

On December 1st I was blessed with a brand new beautiful Grand Daughter.  Arley Jane is her name and she is a perfect little bundle.

Although I make lots of beautiful Quilts, I needed one that was different from all the rest and I asked cathy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/clubaloha?ref=ss_profile to make me one of her beautiful and unique Owl Quilt tops in bright pink and green colours.  She did an exceptional job making this gorgeous top and I just finished quilting it with teardrop meanders all over.

I know that AJ will get to enjoy this Quilt for many years to come.  It is well made and well quilted, even on the big appliqué owls and the tree trunk.

Check out cathy's store, she has many beautiful Quilts, unique Boxer Shorts for him or her, pet collars and other one of a kind gifts for any and every occasion.

Thank you Cathy for making this special Quilt so Special.

Here are a few new items I have been working on and finished.  my sewing room looks like a bomb went off in there and my fabric closet will throw fabric back at me if I try to put anything else in there.  Time to get going and use the scraps again and make some Quiltlover's Scrappy Quilts.  In the meantime ... I just love these prints and hope you do too.

My Revenue goals for 2012 are pretty high.  In order to achieve that, I have to have product to sell.  Owning your own business and wanting to succeed, i.e., make money to pay the bills, not just to cover the cost, takes a lot of hard work and dedication.  I work my business 24/7, and have reaped the rewards with record Sales in 2011.  I am currently part of a labor force survey conducted by The Government of Canada and was asked recently how many hours a day I work.  Well, there are days I work 16 hours a day and it was funny....that was not computing in their computer software and outside the scope of acceptability....what a farce!

Anyway, this gorgeous Quilt was in the making from 0800 this morning and was listed, completely finished, shortly after noon.  There is no compromise in quality, either in materials or workmanship...top value all around.  I don't sell anything I wouldn't be proud to own myself, and if you don't believe me...check out my Feedback http://www.etsy.com/people/QuiltLover/feedback

Passion Tea with a few pieces of Chai Tea to round if off and a gorgeous border of co-ordinating colours....another custom piece for Sylvia, complete with minky backing and quilted pillow shams.  A versatile hobbs 80/20 cotton blend batting and Tiger Swirl quilting pattern executed with Butterscotch variegated thread make this set complete.  I love it and I hope you will too.  Thank you for returning to me to make these Quilts for your home, truly the best compliment I could ever get.

I received my order of pantographs a few days ago and one of them just begged to be used on this Quilt I made for a special customer.  The fabric line is called Earl Grey and is a batik Collection by Hoffman of California.  The Quilt itself is a queen size 90" x 105" and needed to be masculine.  Each of the batik pieces in this collection is full of design elements and I have a hard time cutting these up into small pieces, so each fat quarter was cut into 10" blocks and then randomly sewn into the Quilt top.  A 7"  border of co-ordinating silver coloured Batik as well as a rich chocolate brown Minky and cotton batting make the Quilt complete.

The pantograph is called "Dazzle" by Lorien Quilting and I just love the ease with which it is executed as well as the gender neutral design.  I used a silver coloured thread and I think it looks "smashing".  I know my customer will be pleased.

A beautiful collection of Robert Kaufman Asian fabrics, along with a mint green and aubergine coloured Fusions was used to make this gorgeous Quilt.  I used the Quilt in a Day flying Geese ruler for the Flying Geese border and it was fast!  Love it when things work out.

I am not too crazy about the thread I used to quilt this piece.  The Aurifil is just a bit to thick, or perhaps the needle was too small, I don't like the way the stitches are so pronounced.  Perhaps the colour purple is too dark?  It could have been lighter.  So many variables.  Every now and then this happens.  As a rule I make the right choices, in my mind anyway....and it is still a gorgeous Quilt!

Clean and simple, yet so appealing and very versatile.  I have made a few of these Whole Cloth Coverlets/Quilts and decided to add a fun and fresh bed runner and 2 Accent cushions to this set.  The Hits and Hearts the set has received during its short listing time tell me that it is as popular as its predecessors and will probably not last long.

A new year, a new beginning, a new venue

I have been hard at work beefing up my inventory with some new and old favourites.  The absolute gorgeous Serenity Collection was used to make this elegant generous lap Quilt.

Bright and beautiful, happy and welcoming a new day, the African Women are dancing and playing with their children in this one of a kind queen size bed Quilt

I was able to make another Quilt like the one that was "lost" after it was delivered at a customer's address in California, one of 3 packages that happened to at the same address, what a violation and disappointment something like that is.  The Quilt is gorgeous and I hope that whoever has the 4 Quilts they are not entitled to.....well I will leave that sentiment up the the reader to finish.

Here is the Dreamcatcher Quilt made with Joel dewberry "Heirloom" collection

Northern Lights Log Cabin Quilt

It is a gorgeous Fall day here in northwestern Saskatchewan.  The sun is shining and the golden leaves of our Poplar Trees are just about all down.  Hubby decided today was the day to put the sweeper on the Tractor and sweep all the leaves of the 5 or so acres of grass and it is quite the job, gotta love his enthusiasm.

I decided to machine quilt this log cabin I had sitting in my pile and list it.  It turned out just fine, with a fay Feather pattern, Aqua variegated thread and 80/20 cotton blend batting.

Grandmas Fan Quilt

I tried something new recently.  I found a pattern called Grandmas Fan made by Quiltsmart with printed interfacing.  It was surprisingly easy but very time consuming to put together.  I  don't think I will do another of these, but I have many other Quiltsmart patterns I will try in the future.  The Fan Quilt was fun to quilt, all free motion, no stencils or other tools.  The quilting really raises the Fans and it looks really neat.

Of course, this beautiful, old fashion Quilt is for sale and listed in my store.  just click the picture and it will take you there.