Carli The Quilter

I couldn't really wrap anything up until I finished them, so here are the project that I've pulled out of special boxes to begin finishing them and while I'm finishing these lovelies, I'll prepare a bunch of tutorials which I'll link up to from my blog. First up is the "Summer on the Range" quilt with 4 large 21 petalled Dresden Plate quilt that I started in late 2011 and then began organizing the mega project in early 2012. What was I thinking? There was absolutely no way I could do a quilt along and sincerely, my readers knew this, right? Thankfully, my loyal and faithful followers have continued to listen to my ramblings as I took on the Smithers Centennial Quilt. What did you think of that particular quilt, I'd love to hear your thoughts? Then onto my little project on hand applique tiny Dresden Plates from my favourite quilting magazine "Quilt Mania" Unfortunately, I cannot find this magazine now to comment...

I didn't think I had properly posted the full story of my journey on the Smithers 2013  Centennial Quilt.  Here are more photos close up so you could see some of the fine details of this quilt and some of my thoughts of taking on a huge project. It began because I had a dream.  I just couldn't fathom that our largest community in the Bulkley Valley would not have a centennial quilt when celebrating 100 yrs. We live very northern lifestyles. If we want opera, we must fly to Vancouver paying lots of dollars to get there. I felt we have so much to celebrate in our community that it was only fitting that we have an awesome quilt to represent the growth in the last 100 years of Smithers. I originally had discussed this idea with Heather Gallagher at our local Chamber of Commerce and she was inspiring, telling me of her idea of a train barreling down a line. Hence, the train became the lower focus of the entire quilt.  I took the projec...

As you know, I'm moving along with a deadline in place. April 26th, I have to have this whole quilt done.  I really want to see this quilt hung at the Smithers Trade Show on April 27th, 2013 in our arena! So that is only  few more weeks, but its all good! Its all OK, I'm not stressed or worried about anything now! I had to just tidy up a few details before beginning to Free Motion Quilt is quilt.  Yes, I'm doing the whole quilt in Free Motion Quilting! I really am having a hoot of a good time playing, creating, improvising and experimenting with the progression of Train portion of the Smithers 2013 Centennial Quilt. This one is for Heather Gallagher, our awesome Smithers Chamber of Commerce Manager. She inspired me with her image of what she imagined,  "I see an awesome big old train steaming large and beautiful into the quilt. Can you do that Carli?" Yes, Heather, I can do that! Just for you! Here we go... hold on, its a bunch...

Working on a quilt that celebrates the history and development of a community in British Columbia cannot be complete without the recognition of the first indigenous people who called the Bulkley Valley their home, their territory. I'm talking about our Aboriginal neighbors, the proud Wet'suwe'ten people, who without their peaceful acceptance, the Town of Smithers would not be here today. These lovely people are the original inhabitants of this country. The Wet'suwe'ten Nation still populate a large area from the modern day communities of Hazelton to Burns Lake and beyond, they live, fish, go to school and are growing as a nation.  The modern day name of Wet'suwe'ten really means "People of the Wa Dzun Kwuh River" and different spellings of this name, history and so much more, can be found on Wikipedia's site here. The elders of the Office of the Wet'suwe'ten, who have an office building in Smithers, graciously gave...