April Meeting, 2015

Berene started the meeting by introducing our first ever Block Lottery. Its a simple and clever idea where each participating guild member makes a couple of blocks following the same pattern and colour scheme, and then at the next meeting we do a draw, and whoever wins gets to take home all the blocks. Et voila, instant quilt top! This block is called "Pick up Sticks" and Berene has very kindly put together a tutorial for them which I will post next week. 

Valerie had this Pop-y little block to show. The checkerboard sections are made with hand dyed fabric from Cherrywood Hand-Dyed Fabrics. The colours are amazing, and the texture of them is like butter. They almost have a suede-y feel. She originally started out with the white sections left plain, but then later added the appliquéd circles in a polka-dot print, which really kick things up a notch.

This spunky little baby quilt was made by Dia. 

I had to get a close-up of the adorable print. It has such a sweet vintage feel. 

Doris belongs to two quilt guilds, and her other guild had a mini quilt challenge along the theme of "Spring". This is the first one she made, very bright and happy and flower-filled. 

And this is the minimalist version of Spring. I think they a both great, but the little sprouts of grass are so simple and perfect. Which do you like more?

This little bit of Op-Art inspired awesomeness was made by Rebecca for a challenge by the American Made Brand fabric company, using their homegrown cotton fabrics. Its so crisp and clean!

Rebecca also made this striking baby quilt, loosely based on a Gee's Bend Quilt. 

And ever since Laura showed us her neat idea to embroider the dedication for the quilt on the binding, its certainly catching on. 

This is quilt a top that Berene whipped up for her sister. Does it remind you of anything? I'll give you a hint: its called "Boob Love". Her sister has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Berene wanted to design something fun and uplifting to send her. And so this lovely pair will do just fine. Simple, heartfelt and full of humour and love. 

Susan is a new member of our guild, and a new quilter to boot. This little number is, I believe, her very first finished quilt! Pretty impressive. And she's already knee deep in plans for the next one. 

Katrina was busy sewing the binding onto the wall hanging quilt that she made with those beautiful little Carolyn Friedlander "Olive" tree blocks from the last meeting. It sure did come together beautifully. 

And look at the back! I'm in love with this quilt back. 

This eye-popping quilt was designed and made by Laura. I've never seen anything like it, and may have to ask her for her secrets so that I can make it too.  Its called "Along the 45.1".

Here's another baby quilt (by the way, I'd like to say thank you to all our friends who keep having babies and allow us the chance to make small, adorable quilts) that Sue is making for one of her friends at Choir! Choir! Choir! (if you don't know of Choir! Choir! Choir! you should totally check them out on youtube) and is putting it together in record time. Its such a perfect blend of timeless and modern. Whoever the lucky recipient is will love it. 

Sydney brought in this MASSIVE quilt (compared to all the baby quilts we usually bring in). Its from a pattern called Butter Churn. She had it laying around all put together and quilted, but missing a binding for three years. But now here it is, all finished and ready to be used. 

Lynda made this colourful wall hanging with hand dyed fabric from a workshop that she did at Quilt Canada. (I am always super impressed by people who take it to this level.) Its called "Birds Heading West".

There is all sorts of delicious texture and detail and hand embroidery going on here. Each bird is different, but clearly going to the same party. 

We ended our meeting with Rebecca showing us how to make this bag using a circular, non-stop strip technique that was really cool. I took some pictures and will see if I get around to making up a tutorial for it to share here. I'm totally making one of these.