Carli The Quilter

Last year I was invited to a "Ladies Luncheon" and of course, I went. Well it was truly the most fun I've had in years! We laughed so much some of us had to run to the bathroom! It was definately not a luncheon, but rather a sleep over party till you drop. The silly antics that happened still make me giggle, but it was all good clean fun "girls style."   This shop is located in Prince George, B.C. This year, the luncheon included a road trip and we had to stop at some thrift stores, right? I was looking for some awesome fabric and I found some awesome clothes. But the manager wasn't around and I couldn't take any photos. I've since cleared this up with the Manager who was very sweet and totally understood how wonderful thrift stores are for the variety of fabric in clothing.  Sometimes in thrift stores, you'll find a quilt top, made perhaps in BC goldrush years and is fine shape, It was found and purchased for $5 in the tren...

I make my own templates. Its quite simple, trust is involved and careful storage of similar sized templates are essential. As you know from reading my blog, I like to be frugal with supplies and tools. I used the cardboard above decades ago and I still have it. I didn't have a template in the beginning. So I made my own. You start with making a straight line on cereal board. Placing a quilting ruler with the 60 degree line on the drawn straight line. Then draw a line upwards away from the original line. Repeat on the other side. Its your decision to decide what size of fan template you want?  In this photo above, you can see that I used a fabric fan piece to assist you in your fan development.  Here I used a template from a magazine wedge that I modified to fit my size of fan. This is a simple way to use something already made. You can even take another dresdent fan apart to discover the size of a finished plate. Its up to you. This is my sto...

Sometimes, in my neck of the woods, I feel alone on the Internet. I discuss many wonderful things with folks all over the world, but locally, we are little bit behind. But recently, I discovered this local shop and she has a blog online. Pam has this delightful shop "in the back forty of her property " walking along a raised dirt path along the frog pond is super natural! This little shop is not far from my home! Go to http://institcheshouston.blogspot.com/ Then I thought Then you must meet up with Sonja at http://artisania.wordpress.com/ this gal is a paper piecer extraordianaire! Fabulous gal with much talent, I think she's just getting off the ground really, even though she's been working away for several years, she is a must check! http://cathy-blueberrypatch.blogspot.com/ This  new blog to me is pretty interesting, Cathy has a real nice way of putting things together. She's a BC Mom of two grown kids and has some really nice links on her bl...

 Its Valentines Day and I made an awesome little ditty for my sweetheart and then I discovered my digital camera card was full, so off to my hubby's office it went. In the meantime, I have begun working on my totally reused wool project from some time back.  This piece is bold, soft and whimsical all in one. More when its done!  Hope you are having an awesome day on this love knot filled time of the year! Cheers, Carli

Hi ladies, wow, this year has taken off like a gunshot!! Not to say that I'm a gun user, well, just for those varmint types who go after my chickens! Anyway, you get the idea. I'm sure that your year is turning out to be as busy as mine. When I attended the Quilters Connection Magazine Retreat in Maple Ridge last year.  http://quiltersconnection.ca/ I met some wild and wonderful women, quilters, crafters and I recommend this retreat to anyone! Heather, publisher of the magazine has worked  hard to make it an awesome retreat. Below is a fine example of free motion quilting.  This photo doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea if you look real close!  This critter quilt is done my good friend Sally from Hope and it is so cute and cuddly. You wont' mind the critters at all. I don't know if this is her own design .  Now, why I bring this us is because I've taken on the most wonderful mega project with 11 other fine talented artists I can...

Well, you may not know this, but some of my friends might think I've lost my mind! Remember, this is the same quilter, namely me that takes a little portable bag of hand piecing in my purse all the time and if a few minutes present themselves.... That's right, I don't watch TV or read loads of romance novels or self help  books. I simply quilt a hell of a lot! Be calm my heart, admitting things are good for me! But admitting that I'm already in the middle of the mega project of my lifetime is another thing! Check out this link below to try and figure it out. http://www.azquiltersguild.org/events.php?ID=13   This link might give you and idea, but in all fairness if I told you it wouldn't make the same impact, I'm learning that for a quilt to have that wow effect that makes us drool, you need to build up to the whole quilt, in all its beauty. In this photo below, I'm 17yrs old. I'd have put on something cuter than this old t-shir...

Ok, I admit it, I was slightly distracted the past week and I missed posting at least one new post each week. But I had good reason! Our northern temperatures dipped wayyyyyyy down to -38 C and I was back and forth between the barns and the house all week! It was so cold, I couldn't just grab any old  jacket and check the chickens! I had to have: all over my face touque, with drawstring for the tiny opening so I can see then another touque over that my serious ice fishing insulated pants two sweaters under my big yard coat my double thickness work mits my two puffs on my puffer before I go outside at these temperatures So now, you can see why I was a little distracted. I had rest up in between just to do the next shift! But thankfully I'm able to report that we are back to normal winter temperature of -10 C so all I'm back to posting!  While it was so darn cold that going outside was an ordeal, I started into my favorite Quilt Mania magazines. Sure e...