So Many Challenges!

Challenges... as in themes.  Here's my WIP Wednesday installment.  Quilting Arts has a challenge to make in 8x8 art quilt featuring your 'Signature Color'.  Though I'm not sure I have an actual signature, I do know I have a favorite!!  It's chartreuse, no matter what.  So here is my work in progress.  It's due by the end of the month.

I heart chartreuse.  x o

That to-dye-for stormy sky was hand dyed and given to me by the very talented Heather Lair from Manitoba.  She's an award winning quilter from Gimli, Manitoba.  I'll stitch all that it by machine and by hand.  I made the bottom lumpy on purpose.  We'll just wait and see how I bling this on up.

Our guild's theme from the big 2013 biennial show was announced last night.  "Fanning the Flames"  Oooh that's a tough one, but I'm sure it will produce some amazing results from many of our members.  Me... I'm thinkin'!  I'm thinkin'.

We had very fun 'name that tune' challenge too last night.  Want to play?  Here's one of Flo's many entries.  I liked it so much that she gave it to me. : )))

'Name That Tune' challenge quilt

Here's my only entry.  I never did quilt our member "Sheila" like I had planned.  :(  I ran out of time Sheila!  Sorry!  I started "Leather & Lace" by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, but never finished it.  I wanted to do Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" but thought someone else might do it.  No one did.  lol  I DID complete this one.  Beck from Solar Threads has already guessed it correctly.  Let's see if you can!  Take a look & guess.

"Name That Tune" challenge quilt

 Linking to The Needle & Thread Network.  ; )

See you soon!
~Monika K.

You Want Talent? We Got It!

I wanted to show off a whole bunch of of things from the show, with permission from the makers.  I started snapping some photos and when I mentioned I was taking them for my blog, I got some some looks.  You know, the look of shock and disapproval.  I know this is a touchy subject, and I got completely embarrassed and put my camera away.  The first few pics I did take were the products of a few quilters I have talked to a lot, so when I asked them, they happily consented.  I apologize that I didn't take photos of EVERYTHING, because truly, EVERYTHING was incredible.  Here are some of my friends' exhibits that did make it onto my camera.  They are on this blog with permission.

"Roberto Ferrari" with "Rudy", by Cindy Ganes.  Original pattern is Chicken Shaman by Eleanor Peace Bailey.

THE CHICKENS!  Okay - hands down, this was my favorite.  I couldn't help but go right up to them and burst out laughing!  Look at their poses!  Look at the knee joints!  On closer inspection, they also happen to be incredibly gorgeous.   Look at those tail feathers!  Cindy, I love these guys.  : )

Here is my friend Kerrie's quilt.

The Monster by Kerrie Serben

This batik beauty is gorgeous.  I think the word 'monster' has to do with her process of putting it all together.  It's a BIG quilt.  I never did find her other entry which was floral with gold on it!  (She showed me after the show).  Lovely! : )

Nintendo Game Quilt by Sheila Clark

This is the quilt all the kids were raving about.  We got a lot of whiny, "mooooommmm, can you make meeee one?".  lol  Awesome!  ; )  Sheila told me it was designed by her daughter.  Sheila happens to be a landscape artist as well.  I did not know that!

Check out this next one...

Selvedge Log Cabin quilt by Diane Leontowicz

I donated to that quilt!  Diane was asking some time ago if people could bring their selvedges to her.  Now we know what she was up to!  She is a fan of the Selvedge Blog.  This quilt if BIG.  Isn't that cool!?  Great job Dianne! 

There was a long, long wall full of art quilts.  Here is one of Sharron Shoenfeld's.  It's so elegant!

Focus by Sharron Shoenfeld

I love the feel of this one - the lines and the edges.  It's so full of spirit.  She is so good at painting on her quilts.  She also uses pencil crayon, which is where I got the idea to add white to the clouds on my dress.  (Thank you Sharron!  Brilliant.)

This next one is by Leona Larson.

Dreaming in Purple by Leona Larson

As I was whipping past this wall to go shopping in the market place, I couldn't help but stop in my tracks to get a photo of this.  It just glows!  There was just something so incredibly beautiful and luscious about this one.  The purple is magic, isn't it!?  Leona teaches and is well known for her landscape quilts.  She incorporates a lot of cutting, layering, and yarns. 

Bladworth Elevator (left), Pelicans at the Weir Waves (right) by Elizabeth M. Cuming

Last but certainly not least are two entries by my friend Elizabeth.  Stunning!  Let it be known that she never, ever photo-prints her work.  This is all done by hand, eye, needle, thread, and paint.  I particularly love the grain elevator on the left.  Elizabeth is well known for stitching up many actual elevators and historical buildings in our province.  The pelicans on the right got a big red first place ribbon for the 'Making Waves' show theme.  The pelicans are famous here.  They migrate to Saskatoon's weir on the South Saskatchewan river each spring.  CONGRATULATIONS ELIZABETH!

I have some more photos of some beautiful bed quilts, but now I cannot recall who made what.  I started reading through the program guide to match them by name, but with 500 entries, it just got more confusing.  I really loved the quilts done by hand, the cross stitched & redwork quilts, the appliqued prairie scenes, and pretty much every floral appliqued quilt there was.  Beautiful work ladies!  I am one proud quilter to be in such a marvelously talented guild.

Sail Away...

Our 'Making Waves' show is over.  WHEW - what an event!  Here's me & Flo.

Check out the back aisle where about half the vendors were.  This might give you some perspective of how big this event was.

Vendors from four provinces!!

Remember I showed you one half of the entry hall?  Here's the other half.  These are half the quilts our guild has made for donating to charities... in one year!

Here's the other half.

Here's a very small selections of quilts from or Feature Quilter, Dorothy Thomson.  (I got her permission first.)  She had her own show & tell corner at the trade hall.

Dorothy can kick pretty much anyone's @$$ when it comes to quilt production!  lol  She made 60 quilts in one year to celebrate her 60th birthday.  Actually... she probably made more.  She is absolutely incredible at curves and circles.  Congratulations Dorothy Thomson!

Here's one snapshot of my entry.  I was overwhelmed at how often I was 'pulled over' and congratulated on that dress.  I happened to pop into our local quilt shop today only to find everyone already talking about it!  Sheesh.  It certainly 'made waves', yes it did!  People were constantly photographing it.  It was pretty exciting!

Thank you everyone at the show and here in blog land - both friends and strangers - for all your wonderful comments!  Boy oh boy, this was a super-thrilling weekend for me.   I'm completely overwhelmed.  I can't believe it's all over.

GOOD JOB TO EVERY MEMBER 

OF THE SASKATOON QUILTERS' GUILD, 

the VENDORS, and the SPONSORS.  : )

The Grand Opening

WOW is this ever spectacular!  I helped set up at Prairieland Park for one of the biggest quilt shows in Western Canada.  Here's a few quick snippets of what you'll get.  Here's what you see BEFORE you enter the event.  Yes... this is only one side of the entrance hall.

You'll be given this.  It's a guide with a map, list of vendors, demo times and topics, as well as your choice of hundreds and hundreds of entries.  Don't forget to wear your gloves if you want to touch... and HAHA good luck trying to pick just one item to vote for!  The prize is a big one: cash and a machine, so cast that ballot!

Secret Santa donations are encouraged!

Last night Flo (from Butterfly Quilting) and I went and enjoyed the grand opening.  There we were entertained by my FAVORITE group ever!  Some day I will join the Raging Grannies.  They rock.  : )

Okay... you get two posts today.  The next one is my unveiling!!!  : )  Stay tuned!

Housekeeping Ooohs and Aaahs

My life feels so crazy-full.  I have too many ideas.  So for today, I relocated.  I spent the morning learning to focus and organize by working in a clear, fresh, fabric-free space.  I went to a newer library with my middle child - the homeschooler for this year.  What lovely windows!  And THE BEST, most comfortable chairs EVER.  They are at the Alice Turner Library, and I must find out where they ordered them from!  So as my son organized his thoughts, I organized mine.

little library on the prairie - BEST windows, BEST seats

You've heard of the Blogger's Quilt Festival?  Lots of eye candy!  Look here, courtesy of Amy.  I think all the entries are in by the time you read this. The link is here in this post...  My entry - "Quilt Bloggers Festival"

But wait, there's more!  There is a major event being planned for 2011.  It's the The Sewing Summit!  OMG we all get to meet each other and sew together.  Can you imagine!?  ***Unfortunately, the date is all set for our country's Thanksgiving weekend (Americans celebrate later in the year).  So, Canadians are out of luck.  I notified the organizer.  She had no idea and assured me the next one (and there will be more!) will be on different weekend.  Whew.  Thank you Amy! We don't want to miss it.

We'll be busy enough here in Saskatoon.  The 2011 Biennial Quilt Show our guild puts on is in October of 2011.  It's always a BIG SHOW.  The theme is WAVES.  I'm doing my best to think up something!  It's not easy.  I really like my horizontal lines.  : )  This is a serious challenge.  I need cheerleaders.  I chickened out last quilt show!!

MKW/2009

Wednesday November 10th was to be my second Postcard Workshop at Sew & Home.  There's lots of room if you want to sign up (hint hint).  I may have to cancel it if we don't get a couple more registrations.  And that's okay.

Pippa Moore is coming to Saskatoon to do a Trunk Show and some workshops for our Guild.  She's speaking on "Travels with my Treadle" later this month, and I personally can't wait!  What beautiful empowering stories of women sewing around the world - bring a tissue!

Friday, November 12th, I plan to be at Judy's new studio space for the "Quilt 'Till You Wilt" night.  I'll probably be appliqueing the St. Nikolas Quilt for my daughter's school fundraiser.  $5 drop in.  Other quilters are teaching classes there as well throughout the month:  Quilt as you go, Braided Runners, Leaves & Butterflies, Bag Ladies, Color & Texture, Bindings and Finishing, Wonky Houses, just to name a few.  Check out Quilting at the Studio on Ninth.  What a great idea.

And the Owl Boxes quilt is now sold (THANK YOU!!).  That was quick.  Please do let me know how the little one likes it.  Off to Calgary you go! 

In come 2 fabulous fibre art commissions.  oooh I can't wait to share!!  One is taken from an old photo for a Grandmother's upcoming birthday, and one is a wall hanging made from mama's baby carriers.  I am thrilled and over the moon.  Here look!  It's the moon I am thrilled over.  : )

Luna, rising just before the sun.  MKW/2010

Enjoy your weekend!  

Enjoy the post.

~Monika K.