Carli The Quilter

Come on now, lets pull out the box or the bin with those quilt tops resting and waiting for completion? I tried in 2011 to complete 11 UFO's and I did manage to get quite a five done.   I needed to be reminded of what I actually did complete this past year! I needed a little extra encouragement to go forth and tackle the ones in waiting. So far, the angel quilt and the blue jean circle quilt and the bastardized Mosaic Tiles quilt are the only ones that are finished. I was inspired by  Patchworktimes.com and her challenge of committing to complete UFO's. I did get the machine quilting done on the green log cabin round robin quilt and machine quilted on the colorful log cabin/drunkard's path quilt. They need only the binding, so if I get cracking, I can have two more in 2011. But I have several on the go and not complete. Here is my 2012 UFO List to complete: 1. Merry Modern Christmas (below) is a table runner that will have addit

"Bless me as a free man" Nelo Case's voice flits across my studio. I love her single "I wish I was the moon tonight" off her "Blacklisted" Album and its helping me combine my thinking for the quilt I'm working on.  I started this quilt back in the summer with asking for your help to decide on backgrounds. I gave four choices, got some excellent feedback from all of you.  You can see I didn't go with any of the previous choices given this summer!! Thanks so much my loyal followers,you helped me find the right combination.  Now, I told you that I was so indecisive during the summer, my dresden plates came together and then they waited for a home for several months. I just couldn't figure out which way to go with the background color. This is what always happens, I change my mind after the first initial drawing.  This new design "Summer on the Range" is my experience in a quilt of my childhood summer at home

Wow, views have been quite outstanding on the previous posting on my jean potholders. I thought a little tutorial would help you make a few of these for fun giveaways at retreats, party's or when you suddenly have an unexpected guest. Or make a bunch and donate to a great thrift shop that is non-profit. They are so fast, you'll forget the time of day and keep sewing! Now that is my kind of sewing project! Fun and Fast! This was not my idea. I know, you can't believe it, but its true, I didn't even attend the workshop were these lovely's were taught! Sadly, I was away at the time, but the person who  brought and shared it with the Bulkley Tweedsmuir Women's Institute was Faye Van Horn, of Smithers, BC who was at the time our district President, so thanks Faye! Awesome job! Faye is the one standing in the photo below of our 2009 Spring Conference held in New Hazelton, BC. This is the Quick WI banner made in 1936. The following is my way o

Jeans are a nice clothing item to begin reusing and this is one sure fire way that is a great little gift item. My favorite reuse project is pot holders made from jeans. Here's how you get started! 1. Cut various good sized pieces from the legs of jeans or other denim clothing. 2. Then pair them up and resize so they are the same.  3. Cut two reused or new cotton pieces the same size as your jean pieces. 4. Assemble Process: denim square good side out, down on the table over top, place one cotton square good side down, place one cotton square good side up, then the last denim square good side up. 5. Pin well, sew diagonal seams right over top the  four layers of cloth, leving about 1/2 inch apart. Then before finishing the edges, take scissors and cut alternately a slice through the first layer of denim. They are quite simple, but have a real nice, proper  binding edge with a loop for hanging. Enjoy! Send me a link if you make some!

I blog on a sister site called the Modern Quilters of the Bulkley Valley. I invite you to visit and check it out. I just started it and so if you live in the Bulkley Valley and want to join, email me and we'll hook you up. These are some of my ideas on my movement toward more modern quilting styles. Enjoy!   My newest pattern published this month in Quilters Connection Magazine, its on the cover. This modern version is the tester pattern I did to confirm that my measurements were correct.  Go to www.quiltersconnection.ca for subscription details. I came across some very interesting news the other day. I heard about a showcase of modern quilts call for entry! So get busy, pull out your funkiest, fun fabric and create something awesome for this showcase. You can find it here, http://themodernquiltguild.com/2011/09/15/the-modern-quilt-guild-showcase-at-fall-market-2012/ Cheers!