Linda's Olympic Contest

My friend Linda (this is a real person that I know and have been to several quilting retreats with) is hosting an Olympic Contest at her site 'Living, Quilting, and Stuff'.

She will create a quilted wallhanging specifically designed for the winner.  Go visit her site and leave a comment to enter.  Tell her that Heather sent you.

Winner of the Fabric Panels

The winner of the fabric panels is: Noricum.   I liked Karen's comment where she suggested that Noricum should win.  That was a great idea of what I should do with the fabric. 

I really liked Noricum's idea of making napkins.  Will be looking for some panels in a colour that works for me and will make some.


There is no winner of the paper piecing pattern as there were no entrants.

Look in the left margin for the link for my contest to win a pair of really warm Red Canada Olympic mittens.  These are the same ones that our torch bearers have been wearing during the 100 days + that they have been carrying the Olympic torch across Canada.  International entries encouraged.  Over 1 million pairs of these mittens have been sold raising over 4 million dollars to support our athletes.

Contest: What to do with this fabric?

A friend gave me this fabric panel and said to do with it what I wish.  Each bird picture measures approximately 14 1/4 inches.  I have come up with several ideas:


a) make pillow covers (colours don't match anything in my house)
b) make tote bags (colours don't match any of my clothing
c) cut apart the panels, add shashing and a border and make a lap quilt (colours still don't match anything in my house)
d) give the fabric to you and you figure out what to make with it


I am asking my readers what to do!!!  a, b, or c, or perhaps you would prefer to win this panel.  The entrant (who must be a follower) who amuses me the most with their comment will be the winner of the panel. 


So go ahead and be creative when you leave your comment.  International entrant welcome.


Remember to come back for a visit later in the day when I post my Tuesday Needlework update when I will introduce a second little contest.

Heart Fabric Challenge

Ages ago I issued a challenge to a quilting list that I moderate. This heart fabric was sent to 30 participants and 27 blocks were returned.

I have finally taken a picture of all the blocks. They are wonderful and so imaginative. I have drawn the winners from the participants and will be mailing them off to their new homes.

I also had a contest here on my blog to win a piece of the fabric. I have decided that since I have been so slow I will send a larger piece to each of the 3 entrants.

Anya, Marie and Carol will all receive a piece of fabric with approximately 60 hearts. I trust they will enjoy creating something fun.

Thanks to all who followed this challenge.

I will be looking for a unique fabric for a future fabric challenge.

Needlework Tuesday

I have had a few more envelopes land in my mail box. The challenge is winding down with only a few more blocks on their way.

This first by Mary Sue from Ontario. I don't know the pattern name, but clearly it's a 'Tic Tac Toe' game.

The second block is by Susan from Ontario. Love the outer deep pink heart surrounding the inner heart motif.

You still have a few days to enter my contest to win a piece of this lovely challenge fabric. Enter contest to win challenge Fabric.

Yesterday I was working on 'Double Necktie' blocks for my online group. Pattern is from the Quilter's Cache website. The finished blocks are 9 inches. They went together very quickly and turned out lovely. Other than a million unfinished projects it would be fun to make enough of these for a bed quilt.

9 blocks were submitted this month. I chose this layout for their picture as I like the way they make rounded off and squared blocks from the light part.

This week I plan to finish the binding for the black and bright colour quilt I was working on last week. My son brought it home from school today. Once I figure out which is the top then I'll put on a hanging sleeve.

I'll be back next week with more updates. Please leave a comment and let me know what you're working on.

Win Heart Challenge Fabric

For the past few weeks I have been writing about the fun challenge I have been hosting with my online group, 'Maple Leaf Quilt Guild'. So far I have received 26 blocks made from this lovely fabric.

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View all the blocks made with the challenge fabric.

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Now I want to share this fabric with one of my readers. The piece of fabric will measure about 13 x 56 inches which includes 36 heart motifs.

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To enter:

Leave a comment below, being sure to include your email

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For and extra entry, sign-up to follow my blog . Let me know in the comment that you have joined or are already following.

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Receive a third entry by writing about this contest in your blog and linking to this article. Let me know in the comment that you are linking.

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Open to all readers, international entries are welcome.

Entries to be received by 10am June 30, 2009 (my time zone).

1 winner

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Thanks to Marie at Daisy's Book Journal for guidance with the rules.

Heart Fabric Challenge

In my opinion this fabric just begs to be made into a 9 patch block. I gather a few of the members agree with me.

Diane B. of Alberta chose to add 5 squares of a medium blue to her 9 patch block.

Tricia S. of British Columbia used all 9 hearts and boardered each heart with a different colour of 'dimple' fabric.

Judy M. of Ontario did a 4 patch with 2 different paperpieced hearts in opposite corners.

Judy went on to make a 9 patch using 5 bright pink squares in the alternate positions.

I'm wondering if Judy was thinking of the Calgary stampede when she pieced this final block? it looks terrifc and yes, i did see some Cowboy boots in Calgary last summer with hearts on the shaft.

I'll be back when I have more pics to post. Still expecting up to 11 more blocks.

This cowboy boot is from 'Sew Precise 4' software. Judy suggests that you could get a similar free cowboy boot amd hat pattern from Quiltseeds, or a cowboy boot pattern from equilters. If you go to either of these sites and make the pattern, send me the link so I can see how they turned out. Thanks.

Heart Fabric Challenge

After finishing my 'Secret Garden' block I knew I had not exhausted my imagination, so I went to the Quilter's Cache site to the 'Easy Pieced Butterfly' block and chose some additional fabrics.

This is a very easy and quick block to make. After piecing I embroidered the antenna and voila, finished. I suspect I'll be doing a few more blocks with this fabric. Its neat to see how many different ideas the members are coming up with. There are 4 more below to tantalize your vision and a few more sitting in un-opened envelopes for later in the weekend.



by Carol B from British Columbia

By Karen J. from Ontario

By Evelyn J. from Ontario.

Attic Windows pattern.

by Carolyn K. from New Brunswick.

Heart Fabric Challenge

The other day I told you that I had selected the "Secret Garden" block to make up my piece of Challenge fabric. Yippee, its finished. I used a technique described by Cynthia England in the Mar/Apr 2004 issue of 'Quilts with Style'. She calls it 'picture piecing'. You can visit her website and learn all about Cynthia England's Picture Piecing.

First step is to trace out your pattern onto freezer paper. I needed 8 of each pattern piece. I traced once, stapled 8 sheets of freezer paper together and cut along the lines and then lettered each piece.

Next iron the freezer paper to the right side of your chosen fabrics as shown in the first photo. I cut accurate 1/4 inch seam allowances, though this is not required.


Next I started to sew the pieces together. The second photo shows the A and B section sewn together.

The third photo shows the ABC unit and the CrD unit.

Fourth photo shows the first of the 8 sub units, and then 2 of those units sewn together.

The fifth photo shows all 8 sub units sewn together. I have removed a few of the pattern pieces. It was easier to remove them if I pressed them lightly with the iron first.

The finished block. It measures 12 1/2 inches and lies fairly flat. Nothing that some quilting won't take care of. If I did it again, I would not put the blue in the corners, I would continue with the snowflake fabric.

Heart Fabric Challenge

Another nice week to be visiting my mail box. 4 additional blocks made from the challenge fabric.
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from Lorraine in Quebec.
It seems to be a variation of the "Squares within Squares" block.



by Keran in Ontario
some sort of multiple Pinwheel variation

by Joanne H. of Ontario

called '8 Hands Around' from the Quilters Cache website.

by Faye B. from Manitoba

called ' Antique Tile'

I have chosen the block I will attempt. Its called 'Secret Garden' from Quilter's Newsletter "Best Blocks: 50 Editor's favorite Classic Patchwork Quilt Blocks" 2002. Shown is the hand pieced version I did ages ago. I am going to try and do it this time by machine. Will let you know about the technique I am going to try.

I already have a few more envelopes that arrived on Friday but haven't had a chance to open them and didn't want to keep these waiting any longer.

Come back in a few days to see more of these lovely blocks.

Heart Fabric Challenge

Two more wonderful blocks have arrived. It always amazes me how the same fabric can inspire each of us differently.

The first Block is by Elaine in Ontario (thats my mom)
The second if by Dolly also in Ontario.

Heart Fabric Challenge

It has been such fun going to my mailbox this past week. I have found an assortment of squishys. To date, 7 blocks using the challenge fabric have arrived.

1 by Sandra M. -Ontario
2 by Gale L. -Newfoundland (pattern adapted from Patchabilities)
3 by Cheryl C. -Ontario (original pattern)
4 by Carolyn J. -British Columbia (Kings Cross Variation)
5 by Carolyn J. -British Columbia (unknown)
6 by Carolyn J. -British Columbia (log Cabin)
7 by Bev S. -Ontario (churn Dash)

Needlework Tuesday on Wednesday

The show yesterday was really good, well worth the drive. I must make a point of attending more of these small galleries. The gallery is two white walled rooms in a large factory. No immediate roof to the rooms, white walls about 8 feet tall, a couple of big factory size windows and old, rough wooden floors. Excellent setting.

It was a multi media presentation by several artists who all have studios in the building. All the work was based on the building itself. One of the favourites was the olden wooden staircase in the centre of the building. There were acrylic painting, manipulated photos, as well as needlework that depicted the steps and the huge red fire door that could be rolled across to close it off. Sorry I don't have pictures, I didn't think it was proper to take them.

I have mentioned my online group, the Maple Leaf Quilt Guild before. They are celebrating their 10th Anniversary. A couple of the members have been working on celebration activities. I really enjoy working on group projects, even when we are challenged by distance. Our BOM (block of the month program) being an ongoing one.

While shopping two weeks ago I came across a terrific sale and bought 6 yards of this heart printed fabric. The piece shown to the left if approximately 13 inches by 13 inches. I made the offer to the group, sight unseen, that I would send a piece to each member who wanted, they are to use the fabric to make a 12 1/2 inch block and mail it back to me. I will then draw the name of a winner of the blocks.

The response has been wonderful. 26 ladies have signed up to join in the fun. We did this once before and received amazing blocks. Oh, I should show you that fabric. It was a Mediterranean type fabric. The second picture shows that fabric. I think that piece is about 18 inches wide by 10 inches tall. Following are the blocks that were submitted, all measure 12 1/2 inches unfinished.

I still have lots of fabric and would like to spread the fun even further. I will send out pieces of fabric to 4 readers who post a comment about this project and who go to my profile, find my email and send me a private message with their mailing address. International involvement is encouraged. After you have made your block, be sure to create a post in your blog with a link to mine and we'll show off the results. Of course you get to keep your block. If you are in Canada, you can join the Maple Leaf Quilt Guild and have the chance to win a share of the blocks (there will be enough blocks for at least 2 winners).

I did get a bit of work done on the Nautical quilt, but no new picture. I was mainly doing little bits here and there so that I could roll it again.