CreativFestival 2009 in Toronto

CreativFestival is being held October 16-18 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto. Every day this huge show attracts thousands of quilters, sewers, knitters, scrapbookers and crafters of all kinds.

I will be teaching 2 classes at this event. In the Memory Quilts and More class you will learn to use paper photographs, photo transfers, fabric printer sheets and scrapbooking techniques to create unique memory quilts. Participants will make a small quilt in class using one of my newest designs. Here are a few pictures of some little memory quilts which use pictures printed on fabric or removable paper photos.


I will also be teaching a Wonky Houses class. You can create these whimsical house blocks using quick cutting and piecing techniques. No templates, no measuring - just cut and sew! Your houses can be as off-square as you wish – crooked walls, doors and windows all add to the fun! Several design options will be available to help you combine your houses into an attractive quilt. This is definitely a no-stress class!


Check out the CreativFestival website to learn more about all the activities coming up in October. My booth number is 509. Be sure and stop by to say "hello" if you are coming to the show!

Girlfriends Fabric by Northcott

Have you seen this new Northcott fabric yet? The panel can be used for many small projects and the co-ordinating fabrics are so fresh looking. They will remind us of summer for a long time to come!

Here is one of the wall hangings I have made. I used the BFF (Best Friends Forever) hanger from Ackfeld Manufacturing for displaying this fun piece.
The fabric is also perfect for adding embellishments. I have added beads, crystals and lots of other assorted goodies.

Wall hanging #2 is almost finished and the pattern will be available soon.

How Sweet It Is!

Here is a sneak preview of a new pattern I am working on. The little hanger is by Ackfeld Wire and is perfect for this small hanging. There will be more designs using die-cut applique shapes included in the pattern, so watch for it coming soon!

More About the Marquetry Sewing Box

Last week I wrote about this beautiful marquetry sewing box.

Here is some more information about it. Just as quilters label their quilts, this artist has labelled his work. Here is his name: Joseph Amanda.

He used 22 different kinds of wood. He was from Montreal, Quebec in Canada.

There are 8,957 pieces of wood in the box.

Here is the inside of the box. It has obviously been well used!

CreativFestival 2009

The new brochure for CreativFestival 2009 is now available here. You can download all the class listings and get a sneak preview of all the special events. Registration for classes opens on Monday, August 10 and there are several specials offered for 4 days only. Click here to see all the quilting classes.

I will be teaching 2 classes at this event: Memory Quilts on Friday, October 16


and Wonky Houses on Saturday, October 17.

Marquetry Sewing Box

This beautiful marquetry sewing box is for sale at the Sherway Gardens Antique Show in Toronto this week. It is about 16" long and 12" high and is priced at $2400.00. There are many different woods and each piece is individually set in the design. An amazing piece of work!

More About the Great Canadian Shop Hop

Tricia Sherman, producer of the Great Canadian Shop Hop shows, has just released the newest video in this series. You can see it here. Click on "Video Player" and then "Show #9". This show was filmed in Saskatchewan in May. There is a great tour of Veronica's Sewing Supplies in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. You will see some of Janet Rice Bredin's quilt patterns on the wall if you are watching carefully!

There is also a quick tour of Quilt Saskatchewan, the event sponsored by the Canadian Quilters' Association. Again, if you watch very carefully you will see a 2 second shot of me doing a demo in my booth in the Merchant's Mall!

More About Quilter's Connection Magazine

Everyone is getting excited about our new Canadian quilting magazine. The first issue of Quilter's Connection will be available in September. You can get your subscription on-line at this link:
http://www.quiltersconnection.ca/subscribe.php

Heather McArthur, editor of the magazine, is still working on the rest of the website so make sure to check back often to see what is happening.

You can read more about this new magazine on Pippa Moore's Blog. Pippa will be one of the regular contributors.