Archive for the ‘how to quilt’ Category
Special offer – giveaway
July 28th, 2008
As you will recall, I have launched a membership teaching site and am beginning a campaign to encourage people to join. Between now and the end of August everyone who becomes a member will have a chance to win a prize consisting of a book, fabrics, notions and perhaps a small quilt kit. I am gathering items at the moment and will announce a bit later the contents of the prize package. It will be worth at least $50 USD, and anyone signing for membership who doesn’t drop out during his/her first 30 days will be entered in the draw which takes place around the first of October.
The picture above shows some typical fabrics from my stash. I will be drawing on this cache to fill the giveaway box as well as including some notions, maybe a pattern or two or a small quilt kit!
I think you will enjoy checking out the projects listed so far and two more projects will be added very shortly at:
http://www.simplequiltmaking.com/
Cheers
Janet
The picture above shows some typical fabrics from my stash. I will be drawing on this cache to fill the giveaway box as well as including some notions, maybe a pattern or two or a small quilt kit!
I think you will enjoy checking out the projects listed so far and two more projects will be added very shortly at:
http://www.simplequiltmaking.com/
Cheers
Janet
Posted in 
A Mini-tour of my Quilt Studio
July 16th, 2008
I thought today I’d give you a quick tour of my Quilt Studio as it looks to visitors. The first picture is of the large sign at the side of the road – it’s taken from the doorstep. I made this new sign last spring and 3 of my friends helped to set it up one sunday morning.
Next picture is of the space in my porch where I pile firewood in the winter – this space holds about a cord and a half of wood that gradually dwindles over the course of the winter – more is on the doorstep and nearby. When the wood is all gone, a good sweep out and it becomes part of my display space for the summer tourism season. Most of my quilts are in the quilt studio part of the house, but I have lots of folk art, handknits and a few quilts out here – it’s a very pleasant space.
The last picture is of a wonderful hanging basket of climbing nasturtiums I picked up at a farm market a few weeks ago – glorious colours aren’t they? They’re one of my favourite flowers – love the scent and the flowers and young leaves make a lovely tasty edible garnish.
Hanging in the doorway is a recently finished quilt top that hopefully I can get around to quilting very soon. It is a new project on my teaching website http://www.simplequiltmaking.com
The weather is glorious here lately – day after day of hot sunny weather, and lovely long and light-filled evenings. Couldn’t be better!
WWW.SIMPLEQUILTMAKING.COM
April 26th, 2008
Announcing a new concept in learning to quilt. This is a minimalist, low cost approach to acquiring quiltmaking skills; or a renewal for quiltmakers who are tired of the current emphasis on the “fast, fast, what’s new and popular” approach currently found in the industry.
Here(http://www.simplequiltmaking.com/) you will learn to approach quiltmaking with only a pencil, pins, a ruler, and a pair of scissors plus needle and thread. To begin with you will only need to know how to thread a needle.
At http://simplequiltmaking.com/ you will find the satisfaction of learning to confidently design and construct your own quilts, seeing them through from the initial stages of fabric and colour choices to piecing, applique, handquilting and binding. You will design and make quilt labels to document your quilt and you will also learn to make an invisible hanging sleeve that is an integral part of your quilt.
This is a website devised to empower women everywhere (with a special emphasis on those quiltmakers who are either far from centres where they might learn or whose family commitments are such that they cannot easily get away for classes or retreats)
I want to support quiltmakers to feel confident in their developing capabilities and to rely on their own artistic experience and judgment, while at the same time spending as little or as much as they want to develop their skills and artistic expression.
It is planned to have an ongoing instructional course on quilt design and the skills needed to finish a quilt of any size; a monthly update of pattern ideas along with 2 new projects a month: buying tips: where to find the best books, patterns and tools at the best prices; and how to shop for the best prices on a variety of first rate, quiltshop quality fabrics, backings and batting. Best of all http://www.simplequiltmaking.com/ is planning a members picture gallery and a forum for comments, queries and exchanges.
ABOUT ME: I live in rural eastern Canada, and I have been doing needlecrafts of all kinds for over 60 years. I have had a business website presence at http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/
for over 10 years now, and set up my blog a few months ago at http://www.quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/. I have been making quilts for sale through my quilt studio for about 12 years now and am represented in quilt collections in North America and Europe.
I feel I have a very good grasp of trends in the industry, of quiltmaking in a historical context, and the requisite skills to make quilts that are very much in demand.
My life before “retirement” involved a career as an educational psychologist, and I have both the skills to know how to teach a complex subject like quiltmaking and the desire to empower women through the medium of textile arts. Best of all I am using an information management system on http://www.simplequiltmaking.com that enables me to post directly, so there is no waiting for a webmaster to load content, and your questions are answered in a very timely manner.
Come on this journey with me over the next little while – I know you will not be disappointed! You and I will exchange lots of ideas at http://www.simplequiltmaking.com/.
I have a one month trial, moneyback if you are not satisfied and decide to cancel membership within the first 30 days. You can’t go wrong!
QUILT PROJECT KITS
March 18th, 2007
As I prepare to launch my new website http:// www.simplequiltmaking.com, I’ve been thinking about quilt project kits. Like all passionate quiltmakers, I have a fabric stash so large that 3 full lifetimes wouldn’t see me deplete it all! lol.
It’s time to share some of this wonderful quilt shop quality stash and what better way than using it to introduce newer quiltmakers to http://www.simplequiltmaking.com ? I have lovely prints and solids (100% cotton of course!) in just about all colours of the rainbow, although I must admit I haven’t collected heavily in the “brights” and cutesy departments. No orange, no lime green (called by some “the new neutral”) and no poodles taking a beauty bath or dancing in ballet skirts. Just lots of lovely classic prints and repro fabrics from the 1800’s and the 1930’s. I also have some pretty calicos of 1970’s 1980’s vintage and lots of thimbleberries.
I would like to assess whether there is any interest in my providing this sort of service – the kits will contain pre-cut and seam line marked fabric sufficient to successfully complete the quilt project outlined in the included instructional leaflet, and will also include suggestions for backing and type and size of quilt batt, optionally, these materials can be included at additional cost. In addition, you can feel free to contact me for clarification if any problems come up that you need help with while you are working on your project.
Any interest? Let’s talk, and we’ll see if I can supply you. mailto:janet@novascotiaquilts.com
It’s time to share some of this wonderful quilt shop quality stash and what better way than using it to introduce newer quiltmakers to http://www.simplequiltmaking.com ? I have lovely prints and solids (100% cotton of course!) in just about all colours of the rainbow, although I must admit I haven’t collected heavily in the “brights” and cutesy departments. No orange, no lime green (called by some “the new neutral”) and no poodles taking a beauty bath or dancing in ballet skirts. Just lots of lovely classic prints and repro fabrics from the 1800’s and the 1930’s. I also have some pretty calicos of 1970’s 1980’s vintage and lots of thimbleberries.
I would like to assess whether there is any interest in my providing this sort of service – the kits will contain pre-cut and seam line marked fabric sufficient to successfully complete the quilt project outlined in the included instructional leaflet, and will also include suggestions for backing and type and size of quilt batt, optionally, these materials can be included at additional cost. In addition, you can feel free to contact me for clarification if any problems come up that you need help with while you are working on your project.
Any interest? Let’s talk, and we’ll see if I can supply you. mailto:janet@novascotiaquilts.com
my new quilting site – www.simplequiltmaking.com
December 21st, 2006
I’ve been talking about setting up a new website that features ‘learn to quilt simply’ lessons, lots of helpful tips and op-ed pieces, plus methods to stretch your abilities with design, colour and fabric sense ideas. I’m one step closer! – I’ve chosen my domain name and a site under construction will be appearing in the next few days. Meanwhile my site is parked and can be accessed but has no content.
If you would like to start from scratch at quiltmaking, or go to the next step from Yellow Brick Road or rag quilts, and create something similar to the pictured quilt in today’s post, why not drop me a line and I will put you on my list to notify you when I’m completely up and running?
If you would like to start from scratch at quiltmaking, or go to the next step from Yellow Brick Road or rag quilts, and create something similar to the pictured quilt in today’s post, why not drop me a line and I will put you on my list to notify you when I’m completely up and running?
