Monday, June 20, 2016

Row by Row 2016

Tomorrow, June 21, marks the official start of the 2016 Row by Row Experience.  Are you ready? Car gassed up? Credit card or cash in wallet?
What, you don't know what Row by Row is?? Let me fill you in. It's like a summer Shop Hop, but without any fees or cards to stamp.You have the entire summer (until Sept. 6) to visit participating shops and pick up that shop's free pattern for a quilt row. Each participating shop has designed a row on the year's theme - the 2016 theme is "Home Sweet Home" and Timeless Treasures has created a line of fabric on the theme as well. Click here to see the fabrics, designed by Debra Gabel - there's even one to colour yourself!! Visit as many shops as you like to collect patterns - then assemble them into a quilt to win prizes. Every pattern/row will be unique. To qualify for a prize, you must complete a quilt using at least 8 different rows from 8 different 2016 participating shops. The quilt design is your own - the rows can be vertical, horizontal, arranged around a centre, whatever - your choice! If you are the first to bring in a completed quilt to a participating shop, you will win a stash of 25 fat quarters! Win a bonus prize by using that store's row in your quilt. (Note- "Completed" quilt means quilted, bound and labelled.) The deadline for submitting a quilt for a prize is October 31.
Participating shops are all over Canada and the USA, you can click here for the list. Shops are happy to give out one pattern per person, at no charge, to walk-in customers only. Patterns will not be mailed out or emailed. So have fun travelling, shopping and collecting! In keeping with the theme, why not start at home with the six participating NB shops - our two locals, The Christmas Crab Quiltery and Country Crafts and Curtains,  two in the Moncton area- The Covered Bridge Quiltery and The Fabric Cupboard, Town and Country Quilts in Rothesay and Spruce it Up Quilt Shop in Port Elgin.
Happy rowing!!

Friday, June 17, 2016

Using Poly Threads

Just a quick post today to pass on a bit of helpful info re. thread. I'm a lover of cotton threads, but I know some of you piece with polyester. I receive regular emails from Superior Threads and they are so great about allowing people to share their educational info, so here's today's tidbit....

"We always teach that when piecing with polyester thread, set the iron to medium heat. The length of time the iron is in contact with the thread also can affect the thread. Polyester thread can melt at temperatures above 300°. All irons are not equal in their temperature settings. Below are the average ranges of iron temperatures.

* An iron set at High = 300 to 400 degrees
* An iron set at Medium = 230 to 300 degrees
* An iron set at Low is below 230 degrees"

So there you go gals, something to keep in mind if you use poly threads in your quilting...

Monday, June 6, 2016

Wrapping Up Another Year

Our final meeting and potluck dinner was again a great success! We have many fine cooks within our membership! As always there was too much food, and the odd "I ate too much" groan could be heard... just sayin'...



The Starstruck Challenge was a success with a number of participants showing their creations... here are a few..











Our final executive meeting and dessert party is this week, and then we're out of school! It's summer vacation time!  What do you have planned for this summer? A big trip? Some interesting day trips? A quilt show or three? Be sure to check the sidebar for up to date listings of shows and events of interest, and if there is a show that's not listed, let me know so it can be added!

It's such fun to travel to quilt shows far and wide, but not everyone is able to do this, so here is another "armchair tour" for you to enjoy. Click here and here to view quilts from the World Painter's Challenge which was issued to quilters' groups in Japan, France and the USA. Participants were to create a piece of fibre art to represent the work of a famous painter, or to create a design of your choice in the style of that painter. Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Klimt, Matisse.. they're all represented! Thanks to Quilt Inspiration for the great photos. Enjoy!

Have a great summer, everyone!