I Spy Quilt

 I recently completed this I Spy Quilt for my nephew.  Those are 4 inch squares.  No two are the same.

It is a simple design but I'm happy with it.  The green fabric is a very nice lime green.

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Posted by Riel Nason

Nine Patches Gone Wild!

 Some progress with the nine patches!  Here they are with the setting fabric. (The blocks are not sewn together yet.) Busy? Yes.  But do I love it?  Yes.  And, more importantly, does my daughter love it? Yes.  (This will be her six-year-old birthday quilt.)

 As I mentioned before, she is choosing the arrangement of the 9 squares for each little nine patch, and now is also arranging the nine patches within the quilt.  The quilt will have some borders of her choosing too.  The "deadline" for completion is May 22!

So, that's it for now.  As I'm sure you've noticed I am not blogging (nor quilting) as frequently lately.  That will likely be the trend into the future.  I have lots of fun writing-related stuff coming up for me in May and I'm working super hard on my new novel!

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Cheers! Posted by Riel Nason

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Almost Completely Off Topic: Heart Truth Fashion Gala

So, not a quilting post, but here's a pic of my husband and I last night at the New Brunswick Heart and Stroke Foundation 2013 Heart Truth Gala.  I do not normally look like that.  I have on more make-up than I have ever had on in my life!  I was a "celebrity model" and I do use those terms so, so SO loosely.  Anyway, I had a dress designed for me by a Fredericton, NB designer Alison Ready.  I walked the runway in the fashion show with 15 other fabulous women.  It was FUN!  A great night for a wonderful cause!

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Then today I sewed sleeves on the back of three quilts as quickly as I could and dropped them off just under the wire to the Marco Polo Quilt Show in Saint John.  It starts on Thursday.  I'll be sure to take some pictures to post.

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Hope everyone has a great week!  Posted by Riel Nason

 

A Few Squares Here and There

First off, some nine patches.  This is the very beginning of my daughter's sixth birthday quilt.  She is arranging the squares in the nine patches (I am sewing).  The only rule I gave her was to use nine different fabrics in each.  The fabrics are all scraps.  The squares finish at 8 inches.  I have a very pretty go-with fabric to use and I think this will be a very cheerful lovely quilt.

Oh, and what's this?  Halloween squares in April?  Big surprise right?  This is the start of a Halloween selvage wall quilt ...

And here's what is hanging out on my design wall.  I went through my fabric drawers and dug out all these reject blocks.  I thought I might make a leftovers quilt, but after looking them a while they may just go back in the drawer ... who knows.  I have lots of other ideas to try first that are more exciting to me.

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Thanks for stopping by!  Posted by Riel Nason

The Most Annoying Quilt Top I've Ever Made: Aka Scrappy Trips Around the World

 *Ahem*  Finally this THING is done.  (It will be sent out to be quilted)

 The worst of it was the pinning.  And pinning.  And pinning.  AND PINNING !!! (I typically don't pin at all unless absolutely necessary)

And as much as I try to convince myself now and then to do something traditional, it really isn't my thing. 

 That said, I do love the colour in this.  And I'm glad I put the borders on.

 This will be my couch cuddle quilt.

 It is a large twin size.

See you next time!  I'm linking up with The Needle and Thread Network.

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Posted by Riel Nason



Scrappy Trips Around the World: Getting Closer

 Slight change of route on this trip -- ie new layout.

And I'm making a border too! 

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Posted by Riel Nason 

Scrappy Trips Around the World Progress

Still working away on this ... I have calmed down a little and now decided to make 24 squares instead of 36 or 48 (!).  This is the basic layout for design.  I am glad I stumbled onto this because I find it gives the illusion of the quilt being bigger than it is.  The exact colour arrangement isn't final ... also thinking I will likely put a border.

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Cheers!  Posted by Riel Nason

Selvage Easter Egg Wall Quilt

 All done!  I'm pretty happy with this cute selvage-y thing.  I didn't even wreck it with the bias binding.  It was my first time doing the bias binding and it worked out perfectly fine!

 Here's a closer look at the selvages and quilting.  I made it up as I went along.  I put quite a bit of quilting on this. 

 More quilting.

 And more.  I did it all in white thread so it would show up.

 And when I posted last time about this, I said I'd show some how-to progress photos.  Above is what it looked like before it was egg-shaped. The strips are various widths. 

 It took eight sheets of looseleaf taped together to make a big enough pattern.

 I made my egg shape and then pinned, pinned, pinned.

And here we go!

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Happy Weekend!  Posted by Riel Nason

Hello Australia and New Zealand !

So, no quilty things today, but a post about another creative project of mine ...

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I am BEYOND thrilled that my novel The Town That Drowned is now released in Australia and New Zealand by publisher Allen and Unwin.  I LOVE the cover on this edition!

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Now if I may ask a wee favour ... obviously I am very far away and although I dream of travelling to Australia and New Zealand some day, I'm not there yet.  But I would love to see a photo of my book sitting in a real live bookstore there.  If by any chance anyone sees it and could click a pic with their phone and email it to me I would be so so appreciative !!! I am at hawkshawhills@yahoo.com

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Thanks so much!  And we will return to our regularly scheduled quilty stuff next time.

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Posted by Riel Nason

Sunday Selvage Sewing: Ta da! Selvage Easter Egg Wall Quilt in Progress

So when I showed the fabric strips this morning (previous post), did anyone guess that this is what I was up to?  It's still a work in progress and it most certainly didn't take all day to make ... maybe an hour or so to get it to this point.  And yes, I am still addicted to selvage quilting ... I love being able to design something totally original with these scrappy strips.

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This was super easy to make and I took some progress photos along the way that I'll post when it's done in case you would like to try to make one.  Cheers.

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I'm linking up with The Needle and Thread Network! 

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Posted by Riel Nason