CreativFestival 2009: Day 2

I taught my "Memory Quilts" class to 25 keen quilters on the opening day of CreativFestival. We used a great new fabric called "Cambridge Square" by Northcott. Everyone brought a photograph and because the fabric was black and white all the pictures looked great in this little quilt.


We used my pattern called "Remembering" for this class. Here are a few of the projects which are almost finished.

Thanks to everyone in the class for doing such an amazing job!

Maryna, the Newest Quilter in Belarus

Tomorrow, Maryna is leaving for home in Belarus. She has been here in Brockville for the past 6 weeks as one of the interpreters for the 20 children from Chernobyl who have been staying with local families. I met Maryna about 4 weeks ago and although she had not done any sewing since her school days, she expressed an interest in learning to quilt. Maryna has been the most amazing quilting student! I just showed her a technique once and she could do it.

She has now completed 2 of my Little Picture Quilt patterns and a tote bag. While I was away last week, she sewed the background for Christine Baker's "Home Sweet Home" pattern and this morning I showed her how to do fusible applique and finish the edges with a blanket stitch. She also had a pattern for a table runner, which is a little complicated for a beginner, but we started on that as well. Before she left my place today, she chose a selection of fat quarters from my stash to go with all the other equipment she has gathered up in the past month - rotary cutter, board, rulers and, of course, more fabric.

Maryna's husband called from Belarus while she was here, but like any true quilter, she continued choosing her fat quarters while talking to him!

My fellow pattern designer, Nellie Holmes, gave her an extra machine she had, but Maryna will have to wait until March to actually receive it. That is when the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl Foundation ships their containers of goods to Chernobyl.

Here is Maryna with her bag of fat quarters and her latest table runner project. She thought she might have to leave her summer clothes here so all the quilting supplies could go in her suitcase!

You can read more about Maryna and our sewing adventures by clicking on the "Canadian Aid for Chernobyl" label at the bottom of this post.

Have a good trip home, Maryna. It has been a real pleasure getting to know you. I am really looking forward to seeing pictures of all your quilt projects. Next year we will start quilting as soon as you arrive in Brockville!

Canadian Aid for Chernobyl

On July 30 a fund raising dinner and auction were held at the Brockville Country Club. This very successful event attracted almost 200 people and the donations were given to the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl Foundation. You can read more about this important organization at the following links: Canadian Aid for Chernobyl and Eric McKenzie's Blog.

Eric McKenzie is on the board of directors for CAC and has travelled to Chernobyl 3 times to help deliver humanitarian aid. This past year, his 18 year old son, Alex, also joined the delegation. Eric and his wife, Peggy, (a fellow quilter) have hosted a child from Chernobyl for a six-week summer vacation for the past 6 years. This year, the McKenzie family are also hosting Maryna, one of the interpreters for the children. I have written about Maryna in previous posts. She is learning to quilt and has already completed 2 of my Little Picture Quilt patterns.

Interpreters, Olya and Maryna, in traditional dress with one of the children, are greeting the guests as they arrive.

Table decorations at the fund-raising dinner. These are traditional Russian wooden dolls, each holding several smaller dolls inside.

Some of the children waiting to sing for us after the dinner.

More Quilts for Maryna!

Maryna has already chosen her next project. She is going to make my Little Picture Quilt #4 pattern. When I went to Maryna's place for her second lesson, she had already cut out all the pieces. This is work from someone who started quilting one week ago!

Maryna, Kristina and Maggie have also visited one of our local quilt shops and chosen fabric for another project. They are going to be making beach bags from this great fabric they found at Picket Fence Fabrics.

Maryna and Kristina will only be in Canada for 3 more weeks before they return to Belarus and Chernobyl. I think we are all going to be very busy getting all these projects completed! What a thrill it has been for me to see the excitement these little projects have created!

Quilting Lesson #2

Yesterday, Maryna and I got together to finish her little picture quilt. Marina has never done any quilting before, but she did an excellent job of machine quilting and sewing on the binding. Another quilter joins the ranks!

Even the cat wanted to be part of the adventure!

The binding is almost finished and ready to be hand-sewn.

Here is Maryna with her almost-finished picture quilt. Of course, we couldn't wait to put in the picture of Maryna's son!

Maryna's First Quilting Project

Last March and April I wrote about the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl project and the quilts that my Quilters' Guild made for the orphanages there. For the past 17 years, families in Brockville have hosted children from Chernobyl for 6 weeks during the summer. Kristina (age 13) has been with my neighbours, Peggy and Eric, for the past 6 summers. This year they are also hosting Maryna, one of the interpreters who is here with the children.

Peggy is a quilter too, and after seeing some of Peggy's and my work, Maryna thought she would like to try making a small picture quilt. Yesterday was our first quilting lesson. Maryna has not done any sewing since her school days, but she is a very fast learner! After 2 hours, she had learned how to use a rotary cutter, cut strips and sew a 1/4 inch seam. She also finished the top of her little picture quilt made from my Little Picture Quilt #1 pattern. She is going to put a picture of her 5 year old son in this quilt. On Friday we are going to get together to quilt the first project and sew on the binding. Now she is ready to start another little quilt!

Quilting Lesson #1

Eric has a wonderful blog that is full of information about the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl project. He has also just posted pictures of all the children arriving at the Ottawa airport after their 28 hour flight from Chernobyl.

"Califon" by Mark Lipinski for Northcott

I finally got to make something with this wonderful new fabric by Mark Lipinski, editor of Quilter's Home magazine. The fabric is being distributed by Northcott. You can see the whole line of this fabric here. This is a sample of my Little Picture Quilt #1. This little quilt has a "picture pocket" so you can change the picture whenever you like.

PS: Thanks, Mark, for mentioning my blog on your blog!

Here are some different views of my Little Picture Quilt.

Could this be a picture of Mark himself?

This is one of my "instant ancestor" pictures.

Don't you love the pigtails?

Little Picture Quilt #3

I am still making samples of my patterns for the International Quilt Market show in Portland, Oregon using some of the new Spring fabrics. Here are some new models of my Little Picture Quilt #3. The photograph is removable so you can change it whenever you like. A great gift idea!

Little Picture Quilt #1 (Pattern #305)

Little Picture quilts are quick and easy to make. They have a picture pocket that holds a 4" x 6" photo. You can change the picture whenever you like and, as you can see, you can use either vintage or contemporary pictures. The quilts can be hung either vertically or horizontally so they are quite versatile and they make great gift items.

I have just finished these new models using some of the new Spring fabrics. I hope you like them.

"City Girl" fabric by Benartex

"Mambo" fabric by Windham Fabrics

"Mambo" fabric by Windham Fabrics