eQuilter Free Pattern – Crayon Box

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Luana

CrayonBox

Do you know a special kindergartener with that big first day looming in a couple months?

Do you know a classroom that could use a bright cheerful wallhanging this fall?

Check out the fun school-themed fabrics in this week's eQuilter Exclusive Free Pattern, and you'll be signing up for Teacher's Pet!

You may order the pattern as configured, (click through here to see the specifics!) or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Many thanks to Larene Smith of The Quilted Button for this School themed pattern.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer. Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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Creative Nudge – Fashion & Fabrics

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Luana

Victoria_550

This week's photo/fabric collage celebrates Fashion and Fabrics – two of our great loves that go hand in hand.

The photo is a statue of Queen Victoria, in Glasgow Scotland. If you look closely you'll see her flowered dress and lace trimmed sleeves. Like most women, she loved her accessories… in this case a crown, orb and scepter. The rest of us have to make do with handbags, hats, watches and shoes.

What's even more fun is to make pillows, totebags, garments or even curtains from these fashion-themed fabric designs! There are so many ways to express our love of fabric.

Sophie is away at music camp this week, and she celebrated her 12th birthday with her musician friends. I am on my way to a very special private event in Vail Thursday and Friday… I'll tell you about it in the Saturday night newsletter!

July 19 I am departing for South Africa. I am traveling with Carolyn Mazloomi's tour group. We will have opportunities to visit an orphanage and groups in need of support.

I'd like to put out a call for lap-sized quilts for the children. If you would like to donate a colorful happy quilt to a child in need in South Africa, I will personally take the quilts in my 2nd suitcase, and make sure they are given to a special child there. I will take photos and share them on my photo page as well. eQuilter will also donate needles, thread and sewing supplies to a women's collective there.

If you'd like to donate a quilt for South Africa, please mail so we will receive them here at eQuilter in Boulder by July 15th. Please also call or email before shipping, especially if you are sending out close to the deadline. If the suitcase is full then we will advise you to hold the quilt for a future quilt project, or we will send additional quilts to the Mission of Love's next airlift to Guatemala. However if you contact us before shipping, we can confirm if your quilt will fit in my suitcase.

I am told that we still have a couple spots in our Polar Bear tour to Churchill! If you've dreamed of seeing the bears in their environment, please join our small band of quilters on this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the edge of the Arctic! This trip sells out every year because there is such limited space in Churchill, so don't delay! We will meet fellow quilters in Winnipeg, and I'll give a presentation on the last day, to the Manitoba Prairie Quilters guild.

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Kalinka Collection – Canada, Comics & Costumes

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Luana

Kalinka

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I've just posted a large group of photos from Quilt Canada in Niagara/St Catherines, and I know you'll enjoy seeing what our neighbors to the north are doing with their quilts! There are quite a few talented Canadian quilt artists whose work we've seen in Houston over the last few years, so it is great to see more of their creativity on their home turf.

We especially enjoy the Canadian quilt art that is distinctly Canadian (!) – expressing the culture, wildlife and landscape of their northern folk art and wilderness. At the bottom of this photo page you'll also see quilts from last year's Quilt Canada in British Columbia, with more Pacific Northwest influences.

If you missed my photos from Niagara Falls, I have an album for those images as well.

Attention Fellow Geeks:
Last weekend I was at the Denver Comic Con with Sophie, and we met (briefly) William Shatner/Captain Kirk, Denise Crosby/Tasha Yar, and Marina Sirtis/Deanna Troi. They had a Star Trek Next Generation cast reunion, which also included Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn (Worf), and LeVar Burton. (Reading Rainbow) Wil Wheaton did not make it – he is too busy being Wesley Crusher on Big Bang Theory.

Anyway, we went to several lectures and the most fun was "Making Crazy Wigs" which is another kind of Fiber Art! We also went to the Costume Contest and you can see those photos here, along with photos of the Star Trek cast.

This week my new studio space on the ground floor is being painted and refloored. My plan is to have classes and events here starting in the next year.

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Creative Nudge – Mardi Gras Quilt from Quilt Canada

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Luana

GerriSmit2_550

We have a new Free Shipping Policy up now, just in time for the Summer Solstice this week!

Just order $100 or more, and you get free USA Shipping, or half price International Shipping by our most economical shipping method.

This beautiful large quilt won 2nd place in the "Bed or Wallquilt Longarm/Midarm Quilted" category at Quilt Canada last week.

This is just a section of the quilt, but it shows much of the amazing detail. Artist Gerri Smit gives us a roadmap to creativity in her artist statement that was hanging with the quilt:

"The idea for this came together pretty much all at the same time. First a series of technique demonstrations, Sarah Vedeler's Sedona Star pattern (used with permission), the colors from a TV commercial for New Orleans and a Mardi Gras mask purchased in Italy. I digitized the mask and used it on my longarm. Two layers of batting (one wool and a silk/bamboo/cotton blend) give it a trapunto look. It is paper pieced, embroidered, appliqued."

What is really great about this artist statement is that it helps you to understand what you are looking at in this quilt. We quilters love to go and examine award-winning quilts up close, so we can borrow a technique or detail, and create our own unique version made up of many diverse ideas.

I am editing the photos from Quilt Canada now, and will post them on my photo page in a couple days. You can take a peek there in the meantime, and see the costume photos I took at this last weekend's Comic Con in Denver.

You can also have a look at the winning quilts from the National Juried Show at Quilt Canada.

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Timing is Everything!

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Luana

This last week I was in the Niagara Falls area, at my 2nd Quilt Canada. I saw old and new friends, many eQuilter customers, including one who came from Ireland!

Canada's quilting movement is growing fast, and the introduction of the Modern Quilt Guild has added to the rapid spread of quilting there.

eQuilter sponsored the top prize for their first-ever Modern Quilt category, in the juried quilt show. There was an additional exhibit of Modern Quilts that was sponsored by a local quilt shop. Next door was a contemporary art quilt exhibit which paired up artists for a unique double theme: two banner quilts hung side by side – one realistic and one abstract – both explorations of the same theme.

I am waiting for the show to end today, and then I will post photos for those of you who couldn't make the show.

Yesterday while Sam had a music class in Denver, I had lunch nearby. At the end they handed me a dessert list with "Vidal Inniskillin". A week ago I wouldn't have know what that meant, but it just so happens I was sampling that Ice Wine at that exact winery last Monday!

Seeing Niagara Falls in person was just awesome. I'd like to go back and just spend a day alone experiencing the falls up close. The photos of the falls frozen solid, are very intriguing to me. I guess it is like the Cherry Blossom Festival – you have to be lucky and hit the timing just right. Here are some photos from this year's frozen falls.

I am at Denver's Comic Con this weekend, and will be photographing the costume contest tonight. Watch for these, and the Canada quilt photos on my photo page!

Our dear friend Libby Lehman is having a very tough time now. If you have a moment, please send her a card of encouragement. You can read about her current challenge on Caring Bridge, and please send your card to:

Libby Lehman
7618 East Jordon Cove, Houston, TX 77055

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eQuilter Free Pattern – Island Paradise

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Luana

If you dream of waking up to the sound of waves falling on the sand….

If you catch a whiff of salty sea air and say "Ahhhh…!"

If you hear the strum of a ukulele, and fall into a tropical reverie…

This quilt is for you!

Our exclusive eQuilter Free Pattern this week is inspired by an Island Paradise, and whether the Island Life is a sweet memory, or the view from your front porch right now, this is a wallhanging design that will keep you on Island Time. All you need is a little sand between your toes!

IslandParadise

You may order the pattern as configured, (click through here to see the specifics!) or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Many thanks to Larene Smith of The Quilted Button for this Tropical themed pattern.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer. Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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Creative Nudge – Falling for Niagara

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Luana

Vineyard_550

Last year I went to Quilt Canada in Penticton, anxious to see what the Canadian quilters were up to, and also to spend some time with Libby. As you probably know, Libby never made it to Penticton. However while at that show, I gave them a challenge. I said if they had a Modern Quilt exhibit at Quilt Canada in 2014, that we would be the sponsor. Guess what? Tonight I gave the top award for the first Canadian Modern Quilt exhibit here! Woo hoo!

Yesterday I went on a winery tour, but today I had a non-alcoholic tour of Niagara Falls. During the winery tour I met a couple from Toronto who taught me all the things I never knew about wine, and we all had fun learning about the Ice Wine that is grown in the Niagara region. 88% of all Ice Wine is grown here! They have to wait for the temperature to get to -10 degrees Celsius for 3 days in a row, then they stay up all night frantically but tenderly picking the frozen grapes, which then yield one sweet drop of Ice Wine per grape. Hence the high cost!

Today I went on a half day tour to the Falls, which was a major Bucket List item. I didn't have time to go down to the river to ride on the Maid of the Mist, which one friend dubbed the Smurf Yacht (!), but I have photos posted on Facebook. This is the boat that approaches the base of the falls very close, and everybody on board has a plastic poncho, because everybody gets soaked.

There are two parts of the Falls – the Horseshoe falls are on the Canada side, and the other falls are on the American side. The river divides the two countries. I was able to tap into my American AT&T phone connection while there, and upload a video to my Facebook page. What a world we live in ….

Mason happens to be in Napa California right now, so I guess we are having a bi-coastal wine education. In honor of this, I put together a Wine-themed collage to inspire all you winos… er…. wine enthusiasts. The photo in the center of the collage was taken at the Jackson-Triggs Winery Niagara Estate.

If you are here at Quilt Canada, please come to my power point lecture on Wednesday! My presentation "International Quilt Trends" is at noon in Thistle 325. No ticket needed!

I'll be showing about 200 quilt images from festivals, exhibits and conferences around the world! I will stick around afterwards so I can meet you, so please do come and say hello.

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Award Ceremony at Brock University tonight

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Luana

Tonight I went to the award ceremony for the Quilt Canada conference here at Brock College in St Catherine's.  We were visited by Captain Brock who then helped Marilyn Walker to cut an anniversary cake.

DSCN7741

I took photos of the slides with the winners names. Some were a little blurry due to the lighting, but here is the list of winners names, sans the categories. I am sure there will be a more accurate and detailed list posted by the organization tomorrow.

Best of Show:

Seven Create

Group quilt by Terry Whyte, Marie Black, Silvia Bos, Jane Hughes, Marnie Mascioli, Kit Ormsby, Karen Pilch.

 

Special category winners:

Brandy Lynn Maslowski

Judy Villett

Karen Menzies

Symphony of Praise – Group Quilt

Kathy Wylie, Gerry Buchanan, Victoria Gray, Peggy Heath, Earla Horne, Audrey MacKenzie, Sonja Marek, Niki Scallon and Ilene Zurowski

 

Category winners:

1st Place

Ann Horton

2nd Place

Hilary Rice

3rd Place

Carol Seeley

 

Ann Marie Patrick

Veronica Puskas

Ruth Jones

Joan Dorsay

Myra Tallman

Helen Fujiki

 

1st Place

Mary Vanson

2nd Place

Marj Moore

 

1st Place

Deanna Gaudaur

2nd Place

Gerri Smit

 

1st Place Maxine Stubbert

2nd Place Ruth McLeod

 

1st Place Brigitte Villeneuve

 

1st Place Deborah Kemball

2nd Place Elizabeth McDowell Heagy

3rd Place The Spiral of Time – Group Quilt

 

1st Place Maggie Vanderwest

2nd Place Judy Leslie

3rd Place Gunnel Hag

 

1st Place Elaine Quehl

1st Place Coreen Zerr, Krista Zeghers

 

Modern Quilt

1st Place Leanne Chahley – sponsored by eQuilter – $1000

2nd Place Terry Aske

3rd Place Icterine Strata & Doris Lovadina-Lee

 

Please forgive me if any of the names were misspelled. As I said some of the slides were a little blurry.

Tomorrow I will take photos and post later in the week!

 

 

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Toronto, Star Trek and Libby

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Luana

Tomorrow at 6 am I'll be on my way to the airport – flying into Toronto and then on to St Catherine's at Niagara Falls. It is kind of surreal. As I kid I heard about Niagara Falls as the place to go for a honeymoon – ha! Now I am going as a quilter. Funny how things work out in life…

If you are going to Quilt Canada, just a reminder that I'll be at the award ceremony Tuesday night, and I'm giving my power point photo tour "International Quilt Trends" at lunchtime on Wednesday. Hope to see you there!

Sam took his SAT exam today. When I picked him up he smiled and said it was easy. Hopefully true! Next week is his ACT exam….and the MileHiCon in Denver! Sophie and I can't wait to see William Shatner and the Next Generation cast at our local nerdfest. As you may know, we are a house full of Sci-Fi nerds, but we're enjoying the Indiana Jones marathon this weekend too! Did you know Kingdom of The Crystal Skull was partially filmed at Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina? (Not Niagara Falls!)

This week while I am gone, my new studio/classroom here is being painted and re-floored. More about that in the next few weeks!

Our dear friend Libby Lehman is having a very tough time now. If you have a moment, please send her a card of encouragement. You can read about her current challenge on Caring Bridge, and please send your card to:

Libby Lehman
7618 East Jordon Cove
Houston, TX 77055

LibbyLuana_W

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Exclusive Free Pattern – Milan Ambrosia

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Luana

One of the great things about having a 15,000 sq ft warehouse full of 20,000 products, is that we can stock several seasons of a designer's work, and see the story that is told and the consistency of color that is revealed in multiple collections.

This week's exclusive eQuilter Free Pattern was inspired by THREE of Jinny Beyer's gorgeous collections, with her signature jeweltones, and exotic textile inspirations. Here we combine her latest collection, with designs that are out of print and therefore collector items.

Dive into the rich color-saturated world of Jinny Beyer, inspired by the Ambrosia of Milan. Bellissima!

MilanAmbrosia

Pattern contains Jinny Beyer prints, plus other blenders that compliment her luscious designs.

You may order the pattern as configured, (click through here to see the specifics!) or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Many thanks to Toby Lischko for this 67" x 67" intricate quilt design.

Stock up on THREAD and you are ready to quilt!

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer. Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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