2014 Quilt Marathon, on Quadra Island, BC!

 2014 Quadra Island Quilt Marathon

For a number of years the Quadra Island Quilters Guild has put on a annual quilt marathon.  All Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm plus on Sunday,  from 9 am - 4 pm.  Loads of quilts being made for the Children's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia.  This year there were 4 team leaders who had at least 7-8 people working under them.  Some quilt patterns were supper easy to do, and some where more complicated. Some quilters took  the ruler by storm and just did what they thought would be great.  The circle's quilt was mainly donated by quilters who took Lorna Shaprio's, "Set in Circles" workshop.  There is another border added to this quilt with drunkards path in the corners.  Fun to sew.

For supper, we had Brisket Case BBQ do the catering.  It was an amazing meal with a choice of ether ribs, pulled pork or BBQ chicken.  Along with two awesome salads and baked potato with all the trimmings. Dam I should have taken a picture of it!  We had loads of leftovers for to add to the lunch meal of Sunday!  That is one thing that can be said about women who get together, there is always enough food to go around!  I made an awesome cake for desert.  Was supper glad that it turned out moist and filled with cheesecake and blueberry filling to boot!  A hint of melted milk chocolate on top.

Time to get the laundry done for the Community Center and to book for next year.  Hopefully at the same time of October 25th - 26th.  We have "Hands Across the Waters" to book for September next year.  This is the group of quilters who quilt from the middle of Vancouver Island and all the north end of the Islands, plus Powell River, down to Gibsons, who get together once a year to share what they have been up too!  So it will be a very busy year 2015.  Cheers, everyone, Arlis

My Design Board

My sewing room has loads of off angle walls with switches everywhere and no place for a design wall.  So thanks to re-store, I've managed to make a Design Board.  All it is is a $6.00 plastic coat hanger that I have put fleece onto.  I can be a double board with blocks on either side.  If I wanted to make it stiffer, probably a sheet of foam insulation fitted between the sides and notched in somehow would work.  But hey it beats hanged sheets off of the stairs and not being able to change blocks around.  I'm happy!

This is the start of blocks from Lorna Shapiro's, Set in Circles workshop that have been donated for a charity quilt.  I'm just playing around to see how to sew them all together.  Will post a picture when I have the quilt done.  

Cheers everyone, Arlis Scott

Getting ready for the Marathon!

     It's that time of year on Quadra Island, that the Quadra Island Quilting Guild has their annual quilting marathon!  I guess I'm in charge for getting everything organized too!  So it's the last minute rush before Thursday to make sure that everything is set to go.  There are going to be 27 meals delivered on Saturday night for those who wanted a meal. Brisket Case BBQ is bring an amazing meal for us. Ribs, pulled pork or chicken, of which ever the quilter signed up for.

     So 2 days of non-stop sewing!  Making quilts for the Children's hospital of Vancouver, British Columbia.  Some might even go to those in the burn unit of Vancouver General Hospital.  Where ever there is a need for these quilts, is where they will go.

     I have 4 team leaders who have made kits to help make these quilts quickly! Loads of fabric that have been donated.  Lorna Shapiro in particular has been an awesome contributor to this cause. www.quiltersdreamfabrics.com  

We still have some thread from Cindy Threadworks by Cindy that has helped to sew and quilt with. www.cindysthreadworks.com.  

 So I will be very busy this next week getting everything set up. Cheers everyone.  Hopefully I will add pictures next time!

Bonnie K Hunters 2014 Mystery Quilt

Quilt of Illusion.

Got to get ready for another adventure. 

 

 

Arylo's Creations

Quilting for me began when I was 23 years old.  I was tired of making clothes; dresses in particular; and wanted a challenge!

The local fabric store in Port Alberni was one of my favorite places to visit. Fabric back then was mainly cotton, polyester mix, with very few pure cotton fabrics on display.  Then there was the polyester fabric shown that was the ruff kind, of, how in the world could you wear that kind of fabric! But there was all kinds of fabric shown, or so it seemed to me at the time.  

The lady who owned it, had books and sewing machines and this awesome table that she cut fabric yardage.  No blade cutters then in 1979.  Fabric was cut on the grain.  Thread pulled and fabric cut with scissors; Or a ruler used, fabric marked with chalk, then cut. Time was taken to make sure you got what you paid for.  I believe that the majority of buyers back then appreciated the effort made at this store.

At any rate, I saw the "Quilt Magazine" with quilts that got my attention. I must have spend hours looking at this magazine, and eventually brought it!  I haven't a clue how I got the money, as it must have been babysitting.  Picked out the pattern, an Hourglass quilt.  Then started to add the cost of the fabric. Way to much for me.  In my mind I didn't have the money for all the fabric then, but I figured if I used real cheap fabric and just tried it, then I would know if I would spend the time to get the money for the fabric and make it again. So I must have brought broad cloth. Browns, orange, turquoise  and beige. Cut all the triangles by snipping and pulling strips of cloth, marking the 45' angle and then cutting, then sewing all the biased seams. If only I knew then what I know now, it would have gone together so much faster. At any rate I  put it together using polyester thread.  I don't remember what I used for batting or backing for that matter.  But my Mom always said that her Mom and Grandmother used wool blankets and old sheets.  Then my Mom use to use my Dad's old Stanfield underwear to make mittens and hats for all us kids when we were small for winter time.  

It took a lot of time to make and I was pleased with the results, but decided not to make another.  The quilt never lasted more than a few years because of the quality of cloth used and the thread breaking the seams, or so it seemed. Also, it was washed many times.  It was a start just the same of quilting.  Gave me confidence that I could do anything if I made my mind up to do it.  I still have that magazine all these years later!  Will take a picture and put it in later!  

Please enjoy my blog on my quilting creations.  Cheers, Arlis Scott