Links

Have you visited a quilt show, discovered a wonderful quilt shop? Please send your link(s), along with a short note about your experience to info@prairiepiecemaker.com.

Quilt Guilds, Associations, Special Projects

• Quilts for Japan: Quilts for Japan is a volunteer group of quilters bringing hope and comfort to the people affected by the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan’s Tohoku region through quilts. Phase 2, Threads of Hope, is in response to a request to the group for help in contributing to support for survivors who are experiencing depression and feelings of hopelessness arising from the loss of homes and jobs. Local volunteers are offering to teach people how to quilt. Quilts for Japan is asking quilters to donate pre-cut quilting kits, sewing and embroidery supplies that will be used in the Threads of Hope project. The website provides links to materials for the projects.
• An annotated listing of links to quilt guilds in Canada
• The Canadian Quilters' Association
• Quilt Manitoba: starting place for information about quilting guilds, shows and resources in Manitoba.
• Saskatchewan Quilt Guilds:
• The The Moose Jaw Prairie Hearts Quilters' Guild
• The Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild
• The Humbolt Prairie Patchworker's Quilt Guild
• Quilt Guilds and Organizations in Other Provinces:
• Ottawa Valley Quilters’ Guild
• Victoria Quilters' Guild

Recommended Links to Quilt Patterns, Tips and Resources

This is your area to share your favourite quilting resources. Send your your link(s) along with a brief note about why you are recommending the resource to info@prairiepiecemaker.com.

• Links to over one thousand sites that offer free quilt patterns.


• Marcia Hohn's Quilters' Cache offers many free quilt block patterns.


• From World Wide Quilting, quilt block patterns in alphabetical order.


• Information about and examples of quilting dedications.


• Disappearing Nine Patch
1. Lori Tourscher provided an excellent tutorial on the Disappearing 9-Patch Design at the February 2, 2010 Guild Meeting:
   
   
   and examples of the wide variety of patterns that can be created using different fabrics and block placement:
   

Lori provided links to more information about the Disappearing Nine Patch pattern and good examples of different applications of the Disappearing Nine Patch pattern.


2. Kathy Tanner has provided instructions for creating a Spilt Nine-Patch With a Twist. See an example of the design posted on her website.


• Recommended by Andrea:
  1. Free Motion Quilting Project
     Quilter Leah Day has a goal to create 365 free motion quilting designs and shares them with visitors to her blog. This site is well worth bookmarking and visiting often - it is sure to inspire, illuminate and instruct.


• Recommended by Sharon:
  1. Flying Geese Quilt Guild Inc., Harford County, Maryland:
     Find resources and information, including a collection of recipes enjoyed at Guild retreats.
  2. Quilt Tips from Quilters Around the World: an extensive collection of helpful tips for every aspect of quilting - check it out!


• Recommended by Sharon Harris:
  1. Thumb Butte Quilters’ Guild of Prescott, Arizona:
     If you like to look at quilts or looking for inspiration click on the Show and Tell icon and see about five years of photos of quilts.
  2. Quiltville is a great site for those who enjoy making scrap quilts. Huge number of free patterns with great step-by-step pictures. Denise also recommends this site for ideas for using the strips of fabric collected through the Guild exchange.
  3. An on-line class for a Crazy Quilt, complete with embroidery stitch instruction.


• Become a Quilters sleuth and solve a mystery - Peggy Fischer recommends the challenge of a Mystery Quilt. Following are a couple of links from Peggy to get started:
1. Planet Patchwork offers "Wonderful One-Day Mystery Quilt" events.
2. The Quilt and Needle offers free original designs during its Mystery Quilt Weekends.
• Here are a few more links:
  1. Susan Druding writes about mystery quilts and recommends links to mystery quilt sites.
  2. Tink's Cotton Club offers links to shops and personal web pages that have mystery quilt patterns.
  3. Quilting Passion has a whole section of mystery quilts.
  4. Quiltville offers Mystery quilts with plenty of pictures and instructions.


• Recommended by Corrie:
  1. Here is a creative way to recycle old clothes and left over fabric by turning it into yarn - see how in this YouTube video. Perhaps you will be inspired to enter the Earth Day Canada's Upcycling Challenge.

Services and Reports

Rotary Blade Sharpening Service

George Kutcher has contacted the Guild about his rotary blade sharpening service to extend the life of current rotary blades at a lower cost than purchasing new blades. If you are interested in learning more about his service, please contact him at georgesharpening@gmail.com.

Mavis Reports

October 2011

• With the bicentennial year of the War of 1812-14 coming up next year, it should be an interesting year for history buffs. I am hearing rumbles of many events and activities being planned in Ontario. Many quilts shows are building their themes around this commemorative event and there are some interesting web sites for quilt history buffs. The famous quilter, Barbara Brackman, has started a blog regarding quilts of that time, http://quilt1812warandpiecing.blogspot.com. Also, there are patterns for the quilts that Barbara Brackman profiles in her blog. Next year (2012) looks like a promising year to explore the Seaway area in both Canada and the United States and catch up on our history through quilts. Mavis
  
  Here are couple more related links:
  
  
  1. The Ontario Barn Quilt Trails will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1812-14 war with barn quilts and trails.
  
  
  2. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail is sponsoring a 1812 Quilt Challenge and related 2012 Quilt Show.