Happy Canada Day.... and some design tips

Here in Canada we celebrate our country on July 1st.
When you think of Canada what images come to mind? Maple leaves? Inuksuk? Beaver and moose? Mountains, lakes, prairies and forest? It seems that we have it all in this country.

When Northcott asked if I would like to work with their Oh Canada III line of course I said yes.

Some of the fabrics have a fairly large, spread out print. To show it best I wanted to use large pieces so it didn't get too chopped up.

Here's where some design tips come in....

Start with a traditional block and blow it up REALLY BIG.

I started with a block called 5-Spot

I enlarged it to a 42" block which became my quilt centre. I made a change in the corner...instead of a solid square (orange corner square) I made a 4-patch.

I wanted a rectangular quilt that would fit the Quilts of Valour specifications so I added large borders top & bottom.

Voila...instant quilt design.

Just to mix it up a bit, I rotated the corner piece and got another great design... so I put them both in the same pattern... 2 for 1!

Next time you are making a block, try rotating an element or two before sewing it together, just for fun.

If you need a quick quilt try BIGGIE sizing a block..... You just have to make one.

This pattern is called Coming Home. The poppies remind me of the ones who didn't come home. I have dedicated this one to them and the ones who did come home but suffer in silence. Please consider making a Quilt of Valour for our men who gave, not their life but their quality of life.

Happy Canada Day!!

Finally!!!! A new website....

Before I closed my shop two years ago, my web mistress and I began working on a new website that was to include online shopping for my patterns.

Somewhere along the line we lost touch and I was left waiting for a website or at least updates to the old one.

I finally figured out that the best way to do this was to do it myself (with some help from Scott... thanks Scott).

Here it is......
www.stonecottagecrafts.ca

It's still a work in progress (or a WIP in quilting terms as opposed to my last attempt which is a UFO)

The Store is not quite ready....that's the WIP part. In the mean time if you see something that you would like to order, please use the contact page to order. I will send an invoice via your email.

Please spend some time taking a look. 

If you have a project that you are proud of, send it to me for the gallery. (especially if it's from one of my patterns but not necessarily)

I have a few more ideas and will add to the site as I go along. If you have any ideas of things you would like to see, leave a comment here or contact me through the site.

Welcome to the Cottage.....