Take the challenge.....

Earlier in the fall Astronaut Karen Nyberg invited quilters to make star blocks to join the one that she made while on the International Space Station.
We are collecting blocks at Tangled Threads in Midland if you would like to take part.
The blocks will be sent to Houston and will be displayed as part of a quilt at the 40th Anniversary International Quilt Festival.

Read the details here....

If you haven't seen the video of Karen describing the challenges of sewing in zero gravity here it is....

The challenges of sewing in space

Some blocks have started to arrive. Get yours to the shop before July 26th so you can be included. If you have any questions call the shop at 705 528-0909 or post in the comments.

Some blocks have started to come in.

What happened???

What happened to that time?? Has it really been two months since I posted anything??

I don't know about you but I am SO DONE with this winter!!!!!!

There was a bit of snow falling when I went to bed last night and when I went out this morning... HOLY... there was snow half way to my knees and it was covering all the ice from the melting the past few days.
Turns out Mother Nature was just making room for more snow.
To top off my morning I got stuck in my driveway and couldn't get out of my car because the snow was so deep beside my car. Son James came to rescue me.....   (must bake cookies)

This is how I feel

If you have trying to email me the info@stonecottagecrfts.ca is still not available. The best way to contact me is messaging me on Facebook right now. Search for Stone Cottage Crafts quilts & things if you haven't "liked" me yet.

 I have found someone to help me get things up and running as I don't know where my previous webmistress went. He will hopefully help me put together a new website with shopping capabilities.

I'll keep you up to date on this as I get more info.

Merry Christmas....

I hope you were able to get all of your quilting done on time.... as well as the million other things that you had to do. I heard something this morning that made me chuckle but it was so true - 

Santa is like your boss. You do all the work and he takes all the credit.

We have had regular visitors to our bird feeder. Rather seasonal don't you think?

The weather has certainly been wintery and there was no fear of not having a white Christmas. But to the thousands of people in the Toronto area that are still without power or heat that has not been a blessing. All I can wish for you today is that you are safe and warm.

Mother nature has a way of being terrible and beautiful at the same time.

Here's wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a peaceful and happy 2014

Outside the box....

In the past I have shown you how different fabric choices can change the look of your quilt.

I want to show you how to take a basic pattern and change it up a bit.

This is Almost Modern featuring Northcott's Harmony line. (shipping in Dec.2013)

In this pattern, floral squares have been fussy cut and placed where the rows intersect. 

Now let's replace the floral squares with fabric from the rows.

It now looks like the rows are woven together. I really like this one.

If you replace the floral squares with a plaid or check that contain the same colours as the stripes 

a certain "blending" happens at the intersection.

Another one I really like is creating a "transparency" by making the squares secondary colours where primary colours cross. Where blue and yellow cross there is a green square, etc.

So when you are looking at a basic pattern (or any pattern) think about different ways you might colour it to change it up. It takes a bit of thinking when you are cutting it out but think about the great results,

If you would like to buy this or any other patterns just contact my by emailing info@stonecottagectafts.ca for more info. You can see all of my patterns in the slideshow on the right side at the top of the page. If you click on the small image it will take you to the album where you can get a better look. (I think)

Fall Classes.....

It's back to school time for quilters as well.

I will be teaching the following at Tangled Threads in Midland, Ont.

Call 705 528-0909 to register

Medallion Mystery – Sat. Sept. 14 @ 10:00   $15/month  (includes pattern)

This year’s Medallion Mystery is called Which Way to the Cabin.                                                  
Each month a border will be added to a centre block to make this 92” x 100” quilt.                     
No sewing in class.

Simcoe Sampler – Sat. Sept. 21 @ 10:00    $15/month (includes pattern)

The blocks in this sampler represent our home county with its lakes, farms and history.           Different setting options will be explored.

Farmer’s Wife – Sat. Sept. 28 @ 10:00 $15/month + book

In 1922 The Farmer’s Wife Magazine offered prizes for the best answers to the question – Would you want your daughter to marry a farmer? They were overwhelmed with 7000 responses – mostly positive.

Each month we will make some of the 6” blocks inspired by this contest.

English Paper Piecing – all day workshop Tues. Sept.27 @ 9:30   $40.00

Learn how much fun and how useful this technique can be.                         

 This is a hand work technique.  We will work with different sizes and shapes and explore traditional and modern design.

So Simple.... So Brilliant

Do you find that some of the most simple ideas are some of the most brilliant... and most useful. Think of paper clips, bobby pins - bent wires!!

I came across one such idea a couple of days ago.

Those of you who know me have seen some of my applique and may have seen the baggies I keep my pieces in as I work. 

WELL... I have been reformed!

Check out this simple but oh so brilliant idea from Barbara Burnham.

http://baltimoregardenquilts.blogspot.ca/2013/07/applique-organizer-folders.html

Barbara shows how to make a folder that will hold all of the pieces in place until you need them. 

You can use it for hand applique of machine applique. Arrange your pieces by number or colour. No more digging in a baggy!!

It will also hold my hexagons in place as I arrange them into flowers. 

The next post show her needle folder!!

http://baltimoregardenquilts.blogspot.ca/2013/07/applique-organizer-folders-continued.html

Guess what I'm doing today......

For those of you who are not familiar with Barbara Burnham she is the author of the book Baltimore Garden Quilt.

This book shows you how to reproduce this beautiful Baltimore Garden Quilt from 1848.

It is on my To Do list.

More about it here www.barbaramburnham.com

Thanks Barbara

Seeing different colours.....

When you look at a pattern are you able to imagine it in different colours?  Or do you get stuck when trying to substitute different fabrics in?

Here are  samples of how different designs can look in different fabrics
                                                                                                                                                                         

 Here is Mountain Lodge in the original Black Bear Lodge fabric with the printed panel blocks as the focus.


Here it is again using Stonehenge Woodland Fern as the focus. The other values used are similar to the original - that is lights used in the same positions and dark & mediums in the same positions.

 Now let's go crazy.
By changing the positions of the values the look changes.
This takes more practice but don't be afraid to give it a try. Start small by mixing values around in a table runner or place mats.

 A perfect place to practice is in charity quilts. Most quilt guilds and some quilt shops make quilts for causes such as Children's Aid and people undergoing cancer treatment.
Not only do you get to practice switching up fabric but use up some of that stash but you can put a smile on someone's face as well.  Win Win






Below we have substituted a different border print. In this case different fabrics from the same line have been used. You really can't lose by using the coordinating fabrics from the same line or by pulling colours from your main print.
If you really aren't sure check with your local fabric shop or a friend with good colour confidence.

And now....  here is something from the cottage.calm