Fun at The Word on the Street in Halifax

 So I survived my first book event for The Town That Drowned which was a reading at The Word on the Street in Halifax this past Sunday.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the whole festival was a lot of fun.

 Hee, hee, there's my name on the schedule. 

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I actually didn't take very many pictures at all which is surprising for me. 

 

 But I had to take one of this guy -- Theodore Too Tugboat.  There were readings on the boat for children.  When I saw the boat I will say I felt a little pang of disappointment that our kids weren't with us.  They would have loved it so.  It was a very rare weekend away for just my husband and I, but it did seem odd to be at such a festive fun event without them.  (Although I will say I would have been having a heart attack the whole time thinking that my daughter would have jumped/fallen into the harbour.  The event was right on the waterfront on wharves.)

 Here is Lynn Coady reading.

 Linden MacIntyre answering questions.

 Me signing some books at the Kings Co-op Bookstore table.  It was my first sighting of the book actually for sale somewhere and it was very cool to see.

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And speaking of the book, being new at this, I didn't realise it was going to be more of a gradual process for the book to show up in stores.  It is still shipping, but hopefully will be out more places soon.  We have had three official sightings of it for sale so far.  As mentioned, I saw it at Word on the Street, and my husband saw it at Westminster Books in Fredericton and at the UNBSJ campus bookstore.

 Since this is my quilting blog, here's a little something more on topic.  I made the bag above to take with me to Halifax.  It is just a super simple lined tote.  The fabric is Denyse Schmidt's Country Fair.  It is a decorator weight fabric.

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So, I'll be back here sometime next week.  In the meantime I'll be:

- in Fredericton at the Fredericton Public Library on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:00 pm

- in Woodstock at the Connell House on Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 pm

- in Nackawic at the Nackawic Public-School Library on Friday, September 30 at 7:00 pm

- in Keswick at the Keswick Ridge Heritage Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 am

These are all events for The Town That Drowned.  They are all free public events and the book will be for sale at each event.  More details about them are on my website http://www.rielnason.com/. If you are out and about it would be fabulous to see you.  (In Halifax I met fellow quilter Linda of the Scrapmaster blog which was so cool!)

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Thanks for stopping by.

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

My Best Finish Yet ...

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 ... and it's not a quilt I'm talking about this time, but my debut novel The Town That Drowned.  Today is the release date -- a little earlier than I first thought.  It should now (or soon) be in bookstores across Canada as well as in stock at Amazon, Chapters/Indigo, and other places online.  It is also available from the publisher.  And since I usually say on here that I love how this quilt or that turned out, I will say here too that I love how my novel turned out. 

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For those who guessed that the book was in the box I posted the photo of last time -- you are correct. :-)
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The video above is the book trailer.  Lindsay Maynard of Goose Lane Editions made it.  I think she did a fabulous job and I must say that even the thought of having a book trailer is pretty darn cool. 
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This weekend I'm heading to Halifax for The Word on the Street and next week I'm starting the New Brunswick launch tour.   So I likely won't be posting any quilting finishes for the next little while, but I may drop in to post about some of the book-related happenings.  (Also, I will have a little blog giveaway fun with the novel later in the fall) More info about my events is on www.rielnason.com.
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And finally, thank you so so much for all the support.  I have been beyond thrilled by all the great comments, and emails, and number of people who have told me they pre-ordered the book. 
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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

Halloween Quilt Top, Vintage Sheets, This and That

 I've got a mix and match, bit o' everything type post today.  First up, I finished the Halloween scrappy strippy quilt top for Eli.  It is twin-sized. 

 I used scraps of Halloween fabric (which I had a lot of)  and mixed in scraps of other fabrics that coordinated colour-wise.

 I cut the strips at 2.5 inches wide and to any length.  It was so nice and easy to sew the long strips together.  It was a big, big ironing job though.  I press all my seams open.  I will have to trim the sides to even the quilt, then get it basted.  I'll likely do all straight line quilting.  I'll probably use orange thread.

 And now, I had some good luck buying vintage sheets over the weekend. 

 This one was still new in the original package.  It is the first time I've found a sheet with a rich purple colour.  I love the retro label.  Pretty funny pose -- I mean you drag your bed out to the lawn to have a little nap all the time right? ;-)

 I had sheets like these as a kid.  These were also new and unused in the original package.  One is fitted and one is flat.  I won't be cutting these up.  I'll be using them for Tess's bed.

 And some selvages!  Michelle sent me a nice bundle to use.  Several are from Parisville by Tula Pink and have really nice wording on them.  Thanks Michelle!

 This is a picture of my fall mums.  After the deer stopped by for a snack that is. I guess the burgundy flowers must be particularly tasty as I also had a pot of pink ones which the deer left alone ... unless they are saving them for a midnight snack another night that is.

And this box showed up at the house the other day.  Woohoo!  I'll show what's in it next time.  And no, it isn't fabric, or anything quilty ...

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Thanks for stopping by.

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U
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I'm linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday.

Love-Serendipity-Family Selvage Quilt & KVQG Show Entries

 Today I'm posting the quilts I entered in the KVQG show.  First is my Love-Serendipity-Family Selvage Quilt.  It is my own design and I made it to incorporate the show theme which was "Serendipity."  I posted about this quilt several times as it was in progress, but I realised I have never shown it all quilted and bound.  Tina Hanson quilted it by long-arm.  Tina has the most even well-rounded freestyle stipple I've seen. 

 I bound it in Denyse Schmidt dots.  The backing is a burgundy fabric with fairies.

 I also entered I Spy Planet Hexy which won 2nd Place in the Modern Category.

 And Eli's Halloween quilt from last year.

And of course this guy.  :-)

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It was fun to be a part of the show.  And I'm sure I'll make some more stuff to enter next year.   I think a show is a good motivating goal and deadline to work towards for finishing up projects.

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Thanks for stopping by!  I'm linking up with Fabric Tuesday and Made by You Monday.

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U.

Halloween Candy Pillow

 It's pretty hard to go to a quilt show and not be struck by the urge to make something.  I managed to direct my creative energy into a nice small and quick project -- this Halloween candy pillow.  It only took about an hour to make and I love it. 

 Several factors led to the making of this ... I let Eli and Tess each pick out a FQ to buy at the quilt show and they each chose a Halloween candy fabric.  Then Violet from our guild gave me a super cute large Halloween fabric scrap in brights (in the middle of the pillow).  Then I went to Value Village to check for vintage sheets and found a neck roll pillow form new in the original package.  Is it any wonder the idea for this popped into my head?

 I had the red and yellow striped fabric in my stash (Yes, I am probably the only person who has clown pants fabric as part of their regular stash, but in all honesty, I had bought the fabric thinking it may be an interesting binding for The Selvage Mummy.  Anyway, I think it is perfect in this pillow.)

 A close up.

 I put a little decorative stitching on the edge so it would look a bit more like a candy wrapper.

 This picture shows the inside of the ends.  I didn't have a pattern.  If you are thinking of making one like this, basically just make a tube.  Each end where the striped fabric is I put on like a pillowcase cuff so the inside is completely finished too.  I sewed up the tube with French seams so everything is neat.  After I slid the pillow in, I tied the ends with ribbon.  I double knotted so it wouldn't come undone.

The pillowcases in the background are a recent finish too.  Those Halloween cats were my choice of fabric from the quilt show.  Eli's pillowcase has a red dotted cuff and Tess's has a cuff with little pumpkins.  For now they have to take turns with the candy pillow, and it did become the subject of some "negotiation" last night at bedtime.  :-)

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Thanks for stopping by.  I have a few more quilt show pics to post for next time.  I'll need to show you my quilts I entered.  One actually got a ribbon (not the Mummy).

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U
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Since this little pillow has all my favourite bright Halloween colours, I'm linking with Celebrate Color.  I'm also linking with Sew Modern Monday and Made by You Monday ... and I was invited to link to a cool new linky called Wickedly Creative Halloween Ideas Linky Party which looks wickedly cool -- TONS of ideas there.

More Pictures from the KVQG Quilt Show

 I have more pics to share today.  Above is Setting Day by the Tidal Threads Quilt and Needlework Guild, Grand Manan, NB.  It is interesting that when I asked my husband what quilt he voted for as People's Choice, he tried to act nonchalant and said "I don't know, it had some fish on it."  Well, with further questioning, I found out it was this quilt.  I forgot to actually fill out my ballot for People's Choice, but this would have absolutely been my choice too.  Pretty funny.  This quilt won a Judge's Choice award.

 This is our New Brunswick Coat of Arms meticulously recreated by Judith LeClue.  It won first place in the Modern category. 

 I love redwork.  This is Tea at Five by Joan MacDonald.

 These sweet owls are by Tanya White.  Tanya is my quilting buddy.  I am so glad she entered the show!

 Look at these brights against black!  This quilt is by Catherine McGavney and won 2nd place in the Group Hand Quilted Category.

 I am fascinated by the possibilities of one block wonder quilts.  Laura Wright used a watermelon fabric for this.  I think it turned out really cool.

 Total scrappy goodness!  This is by Nancy Armitage.

 This is the first time I've seen a Celtic Knot quilt done in colours.  It is by Debbie Knox.

 More scrappy goodness.  This quilt is by Carol Lee and it won 3rd place in the Group Machine quilted category.

Super sweet bunnies by Sue McEachern.  This quilt won Best Hand Applique and Best Hand Quilting.  Sue also made me a selvage pincushion which she gave to me as a surprise at show set-up.  It is much nicer than the tomato one I had been using.  Thanks Sue!

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

A Few Pictures From The KVQG Quilt Show

I thought I'd show just a few quilt show pics.  I have more to post another time (or two) as well.  It is a lovely show with a nice variety of beautiful quilts.  Above is the Best of Show.  It is Rising Star by Joyce Curran.

 This is Daisies in the Cabin by Mary C. Smith.

 This is Grandma's Star by Alice Chancey.  It won for Best Machine Quilting.  (The quilting was fabulous)

 I am a big fan of scrappy quilts.  This is Make Your Point by Mary Louise Peters.  It won a Judge's Choice.

This is Spinning Wheels by Dawn McMillan.  It won 3rd place in the Traditional Large Category.

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The show closes this afternoon.

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Thanks for stopping by.  Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

Completed Selvage Mummy Quilt

 Here he is.  All done.  And all done 100% by me -- even the quilting!  Yay!

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Click any photo to enlarge.

I wanted the quilt to say something to add to the fun/whimsy. So it is "Mummy Wants Fabric." The Mummy wants fabric since he needs the selvages from them to stay wrapped up ... and of course this Mommy (me) Wants Fabric (I mean who doesn't, right?). I explained it out to the kids and Eli understood the concept of a double meaning. And now it is funny to see them pretend to be mummies with their arms out chasing each other around and chanting "Mummy Wants Fabric."

 You can see the quilting here.  It is far from perfect but I think I did a good job for my first try doing anything other than straight lines.  I am very happy with how it turned out and I am glad didn't back-off from doing it myself or from trying to do something a bit more ambitious than usual.

 Although I had practiced a bit with my free-motion foot, I ended up just using my regular sewing machine foot (in the picture above).  I feel more in control with the regular foot on.  I don't have a walking foot, but I may get one sometime.   I did a freestyle pointy zig-zag stipple.  I used a neon pink thread.   

 I used Halloween fabrics in the border and the baby mummies are in the corners.

I kept true to my word of keeping it small (ish).  It is about 46 inches square.  It will be used as a wallhanging for Halloween.

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And I must say thanks so much for all the kind comments and encouragement I got during the making of this.  It really adds an element of fun for me to know that fellow quilters are following along, and that there are other people who don't think I'm crazy with all this selvage stuff. ;-)  It makes me want to make another selvage quilt.  And then another ... and ...

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Thanks for stopping by!
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Since this guy is made of all my favourite bright Halloween colours I'm linking up with the Celebrate Color linky!  I'm also linking to The Needle and Thread Network and Made by You Monday

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

Completed Selvage Mummy Quilt: Sneak Peek

 The Selvage Mummy is 100% done and delivered to the quilt show.  Here is a sneak peek ... I couldn't resist showing a couple of little parts, but I want to wait until tomorrow to show the whole thing ...

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As you can see, I added a few new details after I last posted about it.

A baby selvage mummy -- my daughter's favourite part.  I really think this is my best selvage quilt yet, or at least the one I am the happiest with.

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 Yesterday morning I was at the show set-up and saw a lot of great quilts come in.  If you are around and are interested, the show details are here.

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U