Gallery

Oh Canada

My homage to the awesome place where I live.

March 2013

Scraps Like Dat

This is an alternate version of the Scrapper's Delight quilt from my book Sunday Morning Quilts, co-authored with Amanda Jean Nyberg. I chose to use low-volume scraps in this version. It shows that you can use these fabrics in many different ways.

Quilted by Janet Madyski.

Wine Gums

This is my version of the Gumdrops quilt from Sunday Morning Quilts. I made it the same size as the pattern, but put my own multi-colour twist on the design.

February 2013

Additional photos and details here.

Skittles

This is an anoher alternate version of a quilt from Sunday Morning Quilts, co-authored with Amanda Jean Nyberg. If you look closely you can see this is a bright version of Candy Coated, the quilt on the cover of the book. I focused on the warm/cool juxtoposition. It was also a great way to use up all my strips in the scrap bin.

Quilted by Janet Madyski.

To a T Quilt

Made to showcase the possibility of a single, simple block design. The block is To a T, from the book, Modern Blocks.

March 2012

More details here. Including photos of the quilt well loved.

Kananaskis

Inspired by the mountain rivers for a couple that spent a lot of time on or beside those rivers. Made for my youngest nephew, their second son.

December 2011

Additional pictures and details here.

Waves

Based on Amanda Jean Nyberg's 36 Patch Quilt Along. I chose the calming colours of the ocean. The quilt now sits wrapped around the legs of dear friends to mark their wedding. It seems appropriate because they live on the East Coast of Canada in a historic house in a historic community.

December 2011

For additional detailed photos visit the blog.

Network

A whole schwack of half square triangles and some gorgeous, watery colours came together for this wedding present.

September 2011

See more picture of the quilt and the lucky recipients here.

Camouflage

A nearly wholecloth quilt. Challenged my usual norms with the use of solids, no wild piecing, and the improvised straightline quilting.

September 2011

For additional photos, details on the construction, and the history of the concept go here.

The Triangle Quilt

With the contribution of blocks by my Pieced Together II bee members and more by me this quilt came together to grace my daughters' bed.

September 2011

For more details on the construction and history go here and see it on the bed.

Kinda Herringbone

The talented and lovely Jan DiCintio from Daisy Janie gave me some of her Shades of Grey line of organic fabrics to play with. I took my inspiration for the design right from one of the fabrics.

June 2011

More details on the quilt available here. The pattern is also available for sale.

Heartening

Made with Natashia Ciona, my sister-in-law, for my sister's 40th Birthday. My sister, Janet, deserved a quilt all of her own. It was great to take a modern construction concept, Chopsticks, and use it with softer, more traditional fabrics.

May 2011

Additional photos and details.

Ornamental Organic

Ornamental Organic was a challenge to make an ALL organic quilt. The fabric is the first line from Daisy Janie, Geo Grand, combined with Robert Kauffman organic solids. I used an organic cotton batt and even organic thread for the piecing and quilting.

January 2011

Additional photos and details of the finished quilt here. The pattern is published in Fat Quarterly, Issue 4.

2+2=4

2010 was a rough year and this quilt was one way to put it behind me. Named for the number of pregnancies and miscarriages at the time. Inspired entirely by a random handful of crayons my daughter placed in my hand.

January 2011

Additional details on the quilt, including close-ups of the quilting, here.

Values Quilt

A test in values. Take two squares of contrasting value, sew together to create two half square triangle blocks, then have a lot of fun in the layout.

This is often a class I teach. Check out my class schedule for information.

December 2010

More details on the quilt.

Nadine's Bookcase

A mom from my book club had a baby. She is a beyond vibrant person too. This was a commission piece where she let me have free reign. It was a lesson in commissions for me, but a great quilt in the end.

August 2010

See more detailed photos here.

Five

A simple, graphic quilt. Customize the number or make it a letter. Originally made for a cousin's baby. My cousin is 5 days younger than me. This means I am also 5 days smarter, better looking, and funnier than he is! (Oh, the family jokes.)

May 2010

Free pattern available.

More details on the quilt.

Roots

An abstract and improvised representation of the house and garden at my Baba and Dido's place. It is the place of our family, where my Dad would take us frequently. My family came together to make this quilt for my Dad, as he struggled with cancer. He passed away from lung cancer in April 2011, but this quilt kept him warm as he got sicker and covered us at night as we slept with him in the hospital in his last days and weeks.

May 2010

Additional photos, including close-ups of many details of the piecing and quilting can be found here.

Egg Table Topper

Take the leftovers from naturally dying Easter Eggs and add fabric. Rinse well, sew together, and make a fun Easter Table Topper. Just for fun.

April 2010

Process photos and details here.

Snowman Pillow

In January 2010 I had a lame but spectactular wipeout skiing. It meant no sewing at my machine for a few months. With little in the way of hand sewing experience or skills I managed a couple of small projects. This pillow was one of them. It is completely inspired by the style and optimism of Marisa of Creative Thursday.

February 2010

Additional photos of this sweet pillow are here.

Black and White Hand Quilt

My first attempt at a completely hand done mini quilt. I had no choice - the need to create and the inability to use my legs much after a skiiing accident. Not my best work, but a good challenge and a great marker for that period of time.

January 2010

Close-ups of the quilting and additional details here.

Gratitude II

The second version of a quilt made for a Quilt Along. The colours were inspired by a pinstripe suit combination I passed on the street one day. In this case my inspiration didn't translate as well as I would have liked, but it is a very vibrant quilt.

January 2010

Quilt Along Details available.

More details on this quilt.

Footballs of Destiny

This one was named by my husband, can you tell? Oddly enough, he isn't a football fan! This is a quilt for the son of a friend. It was made using the 6-minute circle technique, but obviously with an oval shape. While I am confident in my own circle technique, I wanted to try this because I like the reverse applique look you get with the 6-minute circle technique.

January 2010

Full post of the quilt here.

350

Have you ever been on a plane flying over farmland? The distinct, yet uneven, landscape of quarters of land is a comfort to a Prairie girl like me. I put that inspiration into this quilt, a giveaway to recognize the 350.org organization. Having worked on sustainability and climate change issues for a decade it was a great way to bring together two passions.

December 2009

Gratitude

Originally made for neighbours who designed our basement layout but wouldn't accept payment. They deserved a warm thank-you, hence the name of the quilt. Also designed to be an on-line Quilt Along.

Part 1 - Picking Fabric

Part 2 - Cutting the Fabric

Part 3 - Sewing and Pressing

Part 4 - Cutting the Blocks

Part 5 - Putting the Quilt Top Together

Part 6 - Finishing Touches

October 2009

More details on this particular quilt.

Luck Be a Pink Hat

This was one of those quilts that sat around, lingering, aging, while I found the motivation to finish it. The center portion of the top was a prize from a retreat for a group of Red Hat ladies (me, being a pink hatter). The pattern comes from Strip Pieced Quilts by Maikke Baker. The borders were my own invention. This may be one of the last quilts I put a conventional border on.

June 2009

More photos and details here.

Wednesday Night Races

Named for the races at the sailing clubs on Wednesday nights because it reminded me of saling flags. This was my entry for Project Improv. It is a log cabin block, but started with a triangle instead of a square or rectangle.

May 2009

Additional photos and details here.

Key Lime Pie

As both a food writer and quilter it is hard not to combine those two passions. This quilt does it perfectly as it is completely inspired by Key Lime Pie! After a family trip to Mexico and numerous key lime pies made, this quilt came into being for my nephew. He was only a nubbin on the trip, so this quilt brings the pie, and the memories, to him.

May 2009

Detailed photos and information on the quilt here.

Your Parents Are Cool

Take two parents with a great eye for design and a quilter who aims to impress and you get this quilt. I was stuck on what to make for so long for my pending nephew, then I saw the nearly finished nursery. The quilt was a no-brainer after that.

April 2009

More details here and here.

Thirty and Three

For my 30th birthday my husband gave me a new sewing machine. Finally I was able to execute some quilt designs that my old 1960s Brother couldn't handle. This was one of them. It only took me 3 years to finish.

February 2009

More details on the quilt here.

Garnet Gals Birthday Quilt

As part of the Red Hat group I was in, The Garnet Gals, we did a birthday block exchange. Everyone chose their block style, often based on their nickname or the block recipient. This is the quilt I put together from my blocks. When I received a block with quite a bit of yellow I decided to make it work together with that yellow and pink fabric.

January 2009

More details, especially the label.

Inspired Inspiration

Insomnia and the inspiration of a child's scribble came together in this quilt. In the end, I gave it to a mentor and friend who was struggling with a heart condition at the time. Since then he's had a successful heart transplant! Inspiring indeed.

January 2009

An image of the scribbles that inspired the quilt, plus additional photos are here.

Dynamo

This quilt started with a pile of half square triangles. After playing with the layout I decided I wanted the half circles added. Those were created right from the half square triangles. A lot of play time and the top came together. Made for the baby of a dear friend.

December 2008

Photos of the finished quilt here.

Hippocampe pour Oceane

Playing with half square triangles again. The pink, yellow, and grey combo was perfect for a little girl. I'd never intended to applique anything on the quilt, but when the baby was born and they named her Oceane I felt the need to add a bit from the ocean. The seahorse is hand appliqued on the quilt.

November 2008

Details of the finished quilt here.

Solar Soleil

There is so much (self-inflicted) pressure when making a baby quilt for one of your own kids. I did not get this done in time for her arrival, but this is my second daughter's baby quilt. Again, with the half square triangles! And the circles. I was on a circle kick for a while too. I adore this quilt for it's bold nature. It matches my daughter perfectly.

July 2008

See more of the quilt.

Tuesday Night Quilt

This was my first real foray into improvised piecing. Gathering with a friend on a weekly basis we decided to make a green quilt. She pulled out Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking for inspiration. We made a pile of blocks and split them up to each finish our own quilts.

March 2008

More details on the quilt.