Carli The Quilter

Here is my winter preoccupation, a commissioned memorial quilt.  I really like how the Rail Fence blocks lend this organic flow of water to this quilt top. I decided on a lighter back ground with darker fabrics being the flow of each block, then as I laid them out, I mismatched the flow to create the tumbling effect of river water tumbling over rocks. The family who commissioned this quilt for their son who passed away late in 2013, have lived all their lives residing steps away from the Kispiox River outside of Hazelton, B.C . This river supplies salmon to First Nations and locals and provides world class fly fishing for steelhead tourists. I've pretty much exclusively working on this large memorial quilt. As you can see, I intend on something special for the center of this quilt. Before I hand applique the center peice, I must reinforce the long flappy inner sides of the centerpiece. I will have to cut away behind the center peice once its hand appliqued onto th...

I've just spent some quiet time this Christmas Eve morning reading posts from all sorts of blogger's that I follow. When I look back on this 2014, I declare that it was a year of hits and misses. I am very excited to have found many interesting and lovely people who crazy quilt.  I am sorry that I simply lost track of my own hosted Crazy Quilt Along 2014, but hope to do another one in the future. And I know many crazy quilters follow my blog and would heartily join up again.  I did intend this one to be finished with scrappy dresden plates happily playing alongside daisies and it still awaits my ability to work on them. I love this photo of carved faces in cottonwood trees I found along the trails of Riverside Park in Terrace, B.C. I enjoy traveling in our truck and camper.  And then the numerous crazy quilted projects await me too. My life has taken a turn of reflection and has slowed down. There is no other alternative when sciatic nerve p...

Crazy quilting is not for the faint of heart, that is a certainty! You must be willing to stretch your creative muscles and do things that FEEL right to you, not anyone else.  I don't make my crazy quilt to please anyone or to attract anyone for a sale. They are mine, simply what I love in stitching. I love to play with stitches, like a cowboy with a lariat.   I'm building, growing and listening to my life. Its saying to me, let it go and be free. So these special, delightful bundles are going up for sale soon. The hot new color for 2014 and I'm locating some delicious satin and velvet I have in these colors. Its a bold color that has been in clothing for decades, funny how that is, its now hot!  I enjoy the give and take of reclaimed fabric with "life" in it. Its for a beginner to start with of an experienced crazy quilter to really get into the whole art of crazy quilting. I do speak about the joy of...

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...

Hello and so glad you dropped by! I'm so thrilled that people still keep reading and following me. I can't than you enough for being interested in what I do. As you may know I've been a busy quilter working pretty steady on the donation quilt for Town of Smithers to help commerate the 100th Birthday of Smithers, B.C. Part One can be found here. As the summer progressed and I bit off finger nails in my preoccupied state of creative madness. I waited for the blocks submitted by seven other artists who made a piece art for the Centennial Quilt. I fretted, started a new job, had new work schedules, pretty soon I was embroidering at midnight and the wee hours of the morning. Part Two can be found here. My good friend Nola, whipped up three blocks made with crazy piecing and then I started onto the hand embroidery embellishment for these blocks. I began with open landscapes in my brain, but as you know, if you are a crazy quilter, the blocks ...

Meet Rusty, she is a friend to me like no other. She hangs out in the hallway outside my sewing room. Her training as a pup was to learn that 'Rusty's quilt' is her spot to hang out. We both have some doggies dander allergies. Thank Goodness, I have a great vacuum, its a Dyson. I recommend this type as it doesn't take bags and can cleaned thoroughly between uses. Rusty loves it too. She has been a constant player of decision discussions, where she cocks her head to one side or the other with her own uncertainty.  Anne Havard a lovely local artist has ventured into a new field of painting with fabric. I encourage you to visit her site and see all her work for sale. This piece below depicts the pioneer way of transporting all goods to the early beginnings of Smithers and Northwest BC. Horses remain a vital part of the valley, where 4-H groups and fall fair events are an ongoing major event each year. Thank you so much Anne! Perry Rath ano...