Visitors from Kemptville

Last Wednesday a group of ladies from Kemptville came out to see me to book some private custom classes in my studio next fall. This is my favourite way to teach. Classes in my studio specifically designed for the students who are coming. It gives me great freedom to take the class wherever they may need to go.

This year Marian, Tracy, Colleen and Lou came to learn how to make my "Tapestry" quilt. Three of them brought their projects with them on this visit and I am pretty pleased with the results. I love it when everyone goes in their own direction and makes their ideas happen. Look below.

Colleen's has a Christmas theme with rich dark colours and fabrics. Poinsettias were her flowers of choice.
Marian went for royal colours reminding me of spring. The waterfall is a lovely touch.
Tracy opted for a medieval horse and lion almost like a coat of arms. A lovely scene was added to the background. 

I am thrilled with all of your ideas and your hard work. Can't wait to see them finished, I just had to give you a sneak peak.

The classes I offer are

1. Beginners free motion

2. Advanced free motion

3. Butterfly project

4. Bobbin work dragonfly

5. From pic to quilt

6. Embellished jeans

7. Little bear

8. Three daisy wall hanging

9.  Funky folk art poster

10. Paint your own fabric

11.Techniques day- here you visit my studio and you decide what I will teach you.

12. Bobbin work

13. Working with sheers

14. Small projects made from your scraps

From Pic to Quilt Class

Ever wanted to know how I get from a picture to a finished piece?

Come and take this class from me in Bell's Corners Ottawa over three Saturdays. We will be having the class on Sat.  April  4th,18th, and 25th. You don't have to be able to draw, if you can trace you can do it. I will guide you through the whole process.

The class is sponsored by the Ottawa Valley Quilters' Guild and you don't have to be a member to take the class. For more information you can contact Jan at

  Dacbr225@aol.com

Animals aren't the only option. This piece was done by Sue Stewert using the same technique. For more examples in various states of progress check student work on this blog.

Sunday fun.

This Sunday, Michele and Barb came to spend the day with me to make the "One Daisy"  project. We just jumped right in and went to work and a lot was accomplished in one day.

Michelle chose a light blue for her background and a medium blue for the borders resulted in some great perspective. The high contrast of the whites and green make for a dramatic piece. Not too shabby for a free motion virgin. Great job!
Barb chose softer options and really interesting blues and greens. Her piece is more lyrical in flavour and you almost think that you are in her garden.

Michelle Santerre is the owner of the Running Stitch ( click here and you will get to the site)  and you can find the lovely fabrics there.

Barb Gillespie of Cherry Tree Quilts has a long arm business and can be found at the Running Stitch as well.

All in all a great day was spent creating beside the wood stove on this winter's day.

STUDENT WORK-5

Helen's finished piece. Her washer has been placed in off centre which makes a wonderful shadow on the wall.

Rita experimented with strips of fabric used on the wrong side and then added some extra colour.It made for great water with a brilliant sky.

Meredith's finished piece.

And a closeup.

We kept the our pedals to the metal and accomplished quite a lot in one day.

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Last Wednesday a group of four ladies came to spend the day with me. After touring my work we decided to do some curved piecing, free motion and put a washer in a hole. To finish it off we mounted our pieces on wooden frames.

Here is Joycelyn putting dome free motion machine embroidery in her work.

A closeup of Meredith's free motion circles. A great way to enhance the fabric and create some texture.

Joyelyn and Helen with their finished pieces.They are the top on the top row and they fit in nicely with my work.

Joycelyn's finished piece.

RETREAT_FALL 08

A beautiful fall crisp weekend found us, Wendo, Pat and Cathy running a weekend retreat " Fibre Art With The Loose Threads" at the Opinicon Resort Hotel in Chaffey's Locks.
There was much fun had by all but I would like to highlight the work accomplished by the participants.

Jo-Anne found a creative way to fill the organic shape of the hole that she cut out of her piece.

Rosemary also worked out of the box.

Francis brought some of her work done on the embellisher and then added a hole to it.

Helga's painted fabric.

Helen's work in progress.

Pam's hand painted fabric with free motion embroidery.

A lesson on embellishing for Ann.

Janet working incognito , with the embellisher.

More painted fabric.

And a lesson on how to take care of your sewing machine by Eric Simkins from Kingston.

Although we were a motley gruop with varied interests, much learning ,sharing, and fun was had by all. With dinners prepared and no dishes to do it was sewing 24/3.

STUDENT WORK-3

Yesterday a group of ladies came from Kemptville to take a one day workshop on the double needle tree technique. Lou, Marion, Tracy and Colleen were able to get quite a lot done in a day.
Each person's individuality was evident in their work as they free motioned their tree in place.
A lovely day was had by all including me.
Well done!!!

More Student Work

Pauline Clark finished her project in the From Pic to Quilt Class that we had at the Country Quilter last June. Well done!!!
I so love it when everyone finished their projects.

EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT WORK

Athena, Goddess of Snow by Vikki Zulpo
Another great "From Pic to Quilt" project completed. A fabulous piece of fibre art.
Well done!!!!!!!

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On Saturday we also finished our third day for the second class. Below you will find the work. Many thanks to Cate, Peggy, Pauline, Joanne, Sharon, Suzanne, Jane, Linda, Carol, Linda, and Marlene, for and enjoyable time. It was fun to meet all of you and you are to be congratulated on your work.
The portrait after the background fabrics were chosen.

The subject who came for a visit.

A cow with her calf and a familiar barn in the background.

Great work from a student who had never free motioned before.

Lovely fabric choices and delicate cutting. This is one of four cats. Notice the interesting background.

The photo and the fabric piece. Love that tongue.

Here is trouble once again. The background fabric is the same as the quilt in the picture.

A totally framed and finished piece.

A fabulous rooster with excellent fabric choices.

While we were busy sewing inside ,there was a lovely show in the back garden outside at the Country Quilter. Below is the finished piece welcoming everyone in.

It was fun to see old friends and Elaine was artist in residence for the event.

Quilts on clotheslines, what a lovely picture!

The weather was perfect!

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I am so pleased with the results from my Pic To Quilt Class at The Country Quilter in Richmond.
This a process that is not too difficult but takes some work. If you can trace , you can do this.
Below is Olli's chrysthantimum. She started with a pic of one of her own flowers, it is fab. As you can see there is a lot of detail and when the fabric ( silk) is put together it all just glows. Can't wait to see the finished project. Heather has been working on her favourite feline friend. She has captured the colouring with her fabric choices.

Virginia went for a large scale portrait. Her piece will have great impact once it is hanging on a wall.

Vikki paid great attention to detail in her piece. She has captured this fabulous animal very well.

Jan choose a floral subject, below you will see the pic and the piece. I love the colour of the shadows on the wall.

Same piece with more stitching and quilting, Don't you love the colour and fabric choices!!!!

Everyone is to be congratulated, at times it was daunting but if you persevere, this technique does work and the results shown on this blog certainly show that.

Thanks for a great time ladies !!!!!

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More pics from the second class. At this stage of the projects all the pieces have been fused together so that the animals are now one unit.

A little pencil crayon brings life to the eyes. This one looks like trouble, what mischievious eyes.

Great work everyone!!!

More to come.