People and Places: Inspiration and Motivation

Took these on Thursday, January 7, because the sun was kind of out, it was 41F/ 5C and I'd just taken the Buggy Barn Christmassy quilt off our bed and unrolled People And Places, my January on-our-bed quilt.  So, excuse the crumpled look as that is what happened literally moments before I flung this quilt onto the patio, lol.

I wasn't going to link up this month, as I'm a tad preoccupied with Dayna's quilt and heading to Florida shortly.  However, the day was balmy, the sun out a bit, so it had to happen.

As the newsletter person, I ran the Block of the Month for the Fort Saskatchewan Quilt Guild in 2003.  I found this BOM online, designed by Tish of Florida.  (interesting, I now count amongst my dear QBL friends another Tish) I did a search and can't find anything anymore.  What I loved was that the blocks were different sizes and that there were two or three options as to fitting them together for the final layout.  She gave you a little story as to the personal meaning for her of each block she chose.

I went a little crazy with FMQ.  I had found Kathy Sandbach and she it was who changed my FMQ life.  I saw her on Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts" on HGTV, and bought both of her books.  WOW.

Don't you just love both FMQ snowflakes? Sulky Holoshimmer thread in much of this quilt

I used a lot of leaf motifs in the quilting.  I bought the main fabric on a guild quilt shop hop in Stettler, Alberta.  If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that this is my favourite combination, blue and green.  I loved the frost-edged leaves!

Feathers in the border! Hands down my favourite motif. I see this today, and I would be adding pebbles in the spine, echoing 2-3 times, and mashing down around the feathers

In 1999 I'd been involved in a round robin with 4 other quilters in the guild.  I had done this diamond border on one of the girl's rounds, and it turned out so well that I wanted it on one of my own quilts.  Tish's BOM ended at the very centre; you were on your own with borders.  I added three.  Unfortunately I did not have enough of the two blues to do all 4 sides; enter making do.  I did have the bare trees fabric in both pale blue and green, and enough of the hunter green I'd used in the blocks, so two sides of each was born.  I love it.

Love how all the various-sized blocks fit together like a puzzle

The blocks range in size from 3" to 15".  I'd seen Jinny Beyer on "Simply Quilts" as well, and noted that she said one should always add a bit of black in a quilt, which is why you see hits of black here and there.  I also realized that the leaves in the main fabric are resting on a black background.  Cool.

Used up extra pieces and one extra boat block on the back. Pieced my label in as a part of the backing

I wasn't sure about the floral fabric, even though the colours are perfect, but I went for it and I like it. I used Warm 'n Natural batting.

2003 Block of the Month

Started in February 2003 and finished in February 2004 for the big reveal at the guild.

Lovely texture, and here you can kind of see the Holoshimmer sparkle on the 36-patch centre of the star

As you know, some more than others, who have held and are still holding my hand, I'm quilting pretty intensely on Dayna's quilt.  There has been, ahem, a little angst.  When I took this older quilt out earlier this week, and my eyes fell upon the quilting, done on my then brand new Bernina, I thought, Sandra, get a grip.  LOOK at what you did 13 years ago!!  As both Judy and Tish said to me, "You got this!"  So I went back with vigour.  Here's another sneak peek:

The star centre motif is one Judy found. Love most madly!

I wasn't going to post, because it takes an hour usually for me, overthinking that too, am I?!  Oh yes, overthinking is what I DO...  The quilt measures 69 X 71 3/4".  Outside of the leaves main fabric, I bought the striped binding fabric at a quilt shop in the country near Sangudo, Alberta, a shop my aunt had taken me to.  All the other fabric I had in my stash.  Apparently I've been a stash-extender for some time.  Not a hoarder, no not me.

Anyhow, I might not respond for a few days to comments, but I will, rest assured.  I'm linking up with Jen at A Quarter Inch From the Edge for Throwback Thursday.  Love this linky party.

Lakeside Beach, Lake Erie January 7 - look at that sky!

Unbelievably warm weather still.  Rocco has worn his hoodie a couple of times this month, but on that day, and still now, he has no need.  Some ice is forming along the edges here, and more will form as a winter storm is heading our way tomorrow...time to get out of Dodge, methinks, right?! One more in the sun shot because I did, and I can.  I learned that it's not only the Internet and books where one can get inspiration and motivation, it's one's own quilts.  :-)