Sunday Musings

I didn't have either the time or desire to start on a new project since I was asked to design a line of fabric for Blank Quilting about six short weeks ago. 

The package containing the proofs that I was waiting for arrived on Thursday.  I was totally blown away with how well they understood and interpreted my vision with respect to the final appearance of the fabric.  

Now that they've been given my stamp of approval with respect to the artwork and color...with only a few minor changes...I decided it was time to take the plunge and dive into a new project.  So on Friday, I started cutting out the pieces for Leanne Beasley's "Journey of a Quilter" using fabrics from the 'Provencial' line by Iron Orchid for Clothworks.

NOTE:  I've had several requests as to where both the 'Journey of a Quilter' and 'Down in the Garden' patterns can be purchased.  If you didn't get a direct response from me, it's because you're showing up as a "no-reply" blogger.  The designer is Leanne Beasley from Australia.  If you Google her name, on her website in the left column is a list of shops from around the world that carry her patterns.  Failing that, my only other suggestion is to email Leanne directly.  I got my 'Down in the Garden' patterns from a friend in Australia who purchased the patterns for me from one of the local shops and sent them to me.  I was lucky enough to have a nearby friend lend me her copies of 'Journey of a Quilter'.

When I purchased this fabric, I really liked it...

And still do!

But it is so NOT me!

As I was ironing, touching and admiring the half yard cuts, I found that I was not getting as excited as I usually do when starting into something new. But I persisted, all the while telling myself that they'll grow on me and to relax and enjoy the little journey out of my comfort zone.

I cut out and prepped the pieces for three of the nine blocks yet that "buzz" just wasn't happening. So last night I decided to abandon ship...not with making the quilt...but with my choice of fabrics.

Lesson learned...again!

I feel that we devote too much time and effort into making our quilts, so why continue with something that I wouldn't be totally happy with in the end? We all have our comfort zones and I'm a firm believer that if you're happy and comfortable with something...whether it be color, style, design or whatever...then why try changing things just for the sake of change?

So it's back to square one. I'm not saying that I'll never use these fabrics for something else but for this particular quilt, it's time to pull those "me" fabrics from my stash and to start over.

*sigh*

Will I ever learn?

Probably not.

*sigh*

Happy stitching!

I'm still here!

Confession time.

I haven't sewn a stitch since I was asked to design a line of fabric.  Virtually all of my waking hours have been devoted to first coming up with a theme and then developing and working through the designs.

Book and pattern publishing aren't new to me.  I published three books and over 200 pattern designs before retiring from the decorative painting industry in 2006. Fabric "publishing" or production on the other hand, is entirely new to me. Thank goodness the Creative Director at Blank Quilting was able to understand and embrace my vision and now that vision is coming to fruition on fabric.

I really haven't been able to concentrate on anything since this venture started just a short while ago.  Thank goodness my next project for Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine was already finished before starting to work on the fabric designs.  All there is left to do is to write up the instructions and I'll be able to send it off before my July 15th deadline.

One thing for certain is that this new venture hasn't put a damper on my quilting-related buying habits.  Every time I'd buy something new I'd ask Mr. Painted Quilt if he'd mind taking it upstairs to my sewing studio where of course it was dropped in the first available space.  

And the result?  

Chaos!

My mind simply shuts down and refuses to work when surrounded by clutter and disorganization and that is probably one of the main reasons why I've been remiss about starting into something new...not that I didn't have these other distractions going on in my head.

So today I decided that it was time to do some tidying up which surprisingly didn't take as long as I expected.  

Everything is back to "normal" once again...

and I even managed to pull some fabrics for my next project, Leanne Beasley's "Journey of a Quilter", which I was going to start before being asked to design a fabric line.

I've decided to go with a line called "Provencial" by Iron Orchid Designs for Clothworks.

These fabrics are very "provencial" and feminine and are waaaay out of my comfort zone but I wanted a challenge that would force me to climb out of that comfort zone and also stretch my boundaries.  I'm looking forward to the distraction and the cutting will hopefully start tomorrow!

Pictured below is a photo that I took a couple of weeks ago of a completed "Journey of a Quilter" that was on display at a local quilt show and sale that I attended a couple of weeks ago.  Because of the fabrics I've chosen, combined with the changes that I'm going to make, mine will look quite different.

In the interim, I'm trying to exercise patience while waiting for Fed Ex to deliver the first set of proofs for my fabric line to arrive from Blank Quilting in New York City.  According to the tracking information, the package has cleared customs in Montreal and I'm hoping that they will be delivered to our little corner of Nova Scotia on Monday.  These are 'just' the colored artwork proofs and basically will be the final step where I can make any changes or alterations that I deem necessary.  

I can't wait to see them!!! 

Happy stitching!

Quilt and Rug Hooking Show

I was invited to participate in Centerville's 6th annual Quilt and Rug Hooking Show that took place on Friday and Saturday of this past week in Centerville, Nova Scotia, and what an amazing show it was!

The venue, Centerville Baptist Church, was absolutely incredible.  

The church is relatively new and everything is on one floor and seems to go on for miles and miles.  There were quilts, rugs and related hand crafted items in almost every room and I believe there were over 500 items in total on display.  

It really was a sight to behold and totally overwhelming!

Only one of the many rooms displaying quilts and hooked rugs.

I didn't take anywhere near the amount of photos that I would have liked but I'll be sure to take more next year.

I can't imagine the amount of work that went into staging a show of this size.  It was very well organized and everything was presented so beautifully.

My "Safe Harbor" quilt, top center.

I had to go around several times just to make sure that I took everything in.

"Journey of a Quilter" by Leanne Beasley...my next stitching project!

A wonderful hot lunch was available to purchase on Friday and Saturday and dinner was available on Friday night as the show went until 8 p.m.  

Beautiful quilts, rugs and good food...is there a better combination?  Oh, and I have to mention that there were 4 vendors there selling their wares as well.


Darlene from A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop in Digby, NS...

Faye from Avonport Discount Fabrics in Avonport, NS...

Anne from Panier D'Art in Saulnierville, NS...

And Vicki from Hooking by the Sea in Brier Island, NS.


These four shops are must visit destinations when travelling through the Western Shores of Nova Scotia!


Mr. Painted Quilt (if you can believe it) and I had a great time.  Not only was it wonderful to meet up with old friends but I also had the good fortune of making several new ones as well.

Quilting and hooking are very alive and well in Nova Scotia!  

I can't wait till next year's event!

Happy Stitching!

Road Trip!

We had an early start to our day. 

Ollie had an 8 a.m. appointment at the doggie beauty shop located about 45 miles away from where we live. It has taken us a long time to find a good groomer so we definitely don't mind travelling 'up the road' a bit.

After dropping him off, we stopped in at the local coffee shop...

ordered a cup of java and a bagel and tried to decide what we were going to do for the next three hours while Ollie was having his spa treatment.

Before I knew it, we were back on the highway heading east in the direction of Avonport Fabrics...

my not-so-local quilt shop! 

I didn't ask to go.  I just happen to have one of the most thoughtful guys on the planet as my husband! He will be the first one to tell you that I need more fabric like I need a hole in my head but it was his call, his decision and he was driving. 

And do you think I was going to try to change his mind? 

Not in a heartbeat!

After congratulating me on my new line of fabrics, Faye, the owner, escorted me to what she knew were "my kind of fabrics"...Kim Diehl, Civil War and reproduction. 

At $7 a meter ( a meter is 39"), look what came home with me.

Hmmmm...not bad choices!

One and some two yard cuts of twelve different prints from the "Jefferson County c. 1860-1880" by Jeanne Horton for Windham Fabrics...and Frankie approved! 

Be still my heart! 

The colors are incredible and I think I see a log cabin quilt...something I've never made but that's been on my "to do" list forever...in the not-too-distant future.

After stopping for lunch, we picked up a much cleaner and shorter-haired Ollie and slowly made our way home.

Aren't I sooooo handsome?

I had my snooze on the way back...Ollie and Mr. Painted Quilt are sawing logs on the bed as I'm writing this.

It's been a great day!

Happy stitching!

All is calm...

And all is bright too!  

Oops, wrong season!

But things have definitely calmed down in the Painted Quilt household.

Why, you might ask?


Well, the package containing the line drawings and instructions for my first fabric line arrived in New York City on Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after they were picked up here by Fed Ex on Tuesday.  I received a phone call on Thursday to tell me that everything was great and that they will now go "into production".  I'm not quite sure what that means but the Creative Director told me that they will have something for me to see and approve this week sometime.

To answer your questions with regards to when it will be available, I did ask and was told that they will be ready to ship to shops in April of 2016.  There are a lot of steps and procedures to go through from the designing stage to the actual production of the finished product and because this is all a new learning experience for me, I'll be sure to fill you all in as I am made aware of what's happening.


As you can well imagine, it's all quite exciting and very overwhelming!

It looks like it's going to be another beautiful day here in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia after a long, hard winter with waaaaay too much snow.  It's all gone now and even though the weather has remained on the cool-ish side, it only took about a week or so for it all to melt away.

Yesterday Mr. Painted Quilt, Ollie and I spent about two hours outside doing some much needed yard work.  Three trailer loads of leaves were raked out of the flower beds and there's still lots more to go, but the main beds are done. 

The tulips and daffodils are about 6" high and many perennials are waking up and breaking ground after their long winter nap.  

It's such a beautiful time of year.

Happy stitching!