Festival of Quilts

Hi everyone:

I've been so busy working on end-of-the-school-year things that I forgot to show you some of the quilts at the recent Festival of Quilts at Heritage Park in Calgary. Can you believe that work and kids' stuff actually made me neglect to post quilt photos? I know, it's hard to believe, but sometimes real life interferes with my dream occupation (quilting, that is).

One of the exhibits that I found interesting were by our local long-arm quilters in the Calgary Longarm Quilters Group. One pattern, Avignon Picnic by Andrea Harris of Urban Quiltworks, was selected and each long-armer chose their own fabric and quilt motifs to complete it. It's a great pattern, available FREE at Moda Bakeshop, and it was really interesting to see the different interpretations. And the quilting! Lots of great inspiration for quilt designs in these quilts.

Avignon Picnic by Andrea Harris

Detail of Avignon Picnic by Andrea Harris

Hodgepodge by Nancy Basserman

Picnic Critters by Bev Rinehart

Just a note: the dark specks you see on these quilts are not a camera (or in my case, iPhone) malfunction - these are mosquitoes, which really seemed to enjoy the quilts too!

There were lots of other wonderful quilts in the park that day. Thankfully the weather cooperated so the majority of the quilts were on display outside, where I really think they shine. Here are a few more examples of quilty deliciousness.

Salt Air Stripes by Joanne Middleton

Rug by Jennifer Peirson

Mirror Lake by Margaret Jessop

Anna & Popeye by Margaret Jessop

Remember the Time by Joleen Schneider

Pumphouse Pinwheels by Wayne Kollinger

Hope you enjoyed this glimpse of the amazing quilts on display at Heritage Park for this year's Festival of Quilts. If you entered quilts for display, thank you - I enjoyed each and every one!

End of School and an Exciting New Beginning with Curious.com

Hi everyone:

June showers bring these flowers for Calgary

I hope you're enjoying a warm spring-almost-summer in your part of the world. Here in Calgary, we're enjoying our typical June weather - warm one day and pouring rain the next. June is our rainiest month and also the most anticipated month for students as the end of this month is also the end of school for most of them. I am also eagerly looking forward to June 27 as I will then be off work for two months until school starts again in September. I'm especially looking forward to this break this year as I have a long list of things to accomplish this summer. 

Sitting on the beach isn't on my summer list!

You may not have seen new patterns from me for awhile and there is a reason for this: I've been working on videos. And not just Youtube videos either. I've been keeping tight-lipped about a recent video opportunity and can now finally tell you about it! I'm thrilled to let you know that I'm now a teacher at Curious.com and already have three lessons available for your viewing on their website. You can find my lessons under Chatterbox Quilts.

If you're not familiar with Curious.com, you must visit them. They offer lessons on a variety of subjects from cooking to crafts to quilting. They offer individual lessons or complete courses, much like iTunes, where you can purchase a song or a complete album. This model allows you to pick and choose what you would like to learn. Once you purchase a class, you have access to it 24/7/365 forever, so its available whenever you wish to view it.

Registration with Curious.com is quick and free and allows you to purchase the classes that interest you the most. My favourite part of Curious.com is the communication between the teacher and students and the ability to post your projects for other students to see. I forgot one important part: many of the lessons are FREE. 

My first three lessons focus on fusible web appliqué and the best part is that they are FREE! (Are you noticing a theme here?) If you're interested in learning about this type of appliqué, these videos will give you helpful tips on the technique. And this is just the beginning! You can look forward to more videos on fusible web appliqué soon. 

Register at Curious.com so you can choose your lessons right away. Check out my channel and let me know what you'd like to see covered in upcoming videos. My current focus is on fusible web appliqué, but any other suggestions would be appreciated. 

And don't forget to tell your friends!

P.S. Look forward to some new patterns too - when I'm done filming.

Graduation, New Youtube Videos and Quilting

Hi everyone:

There has been so much going on in May and June, both personally and professionally. This is a big year for our family with my daughter graduating from grade 12 and preparing for university and my son graduating from grade 9 (junior high) and getting ready to enter high school. Lots of ceremonies, lots of photos and lots of new clothes. Now it's time for lots of studying for both of them as diploma exams and PAT's are fast approaching. 

Sarah and I before her graduation banquet

Sarah and I with my favourite pose.

It's exciting to see them both growing up and I couldn't be prouder of both of them. At the same time, it's a bit bittersweet as I realize that my daughter is on the threshold of adulthood and could soon be leaving us to pursue her university education. She's afraid if she moves out that I'll turn her bedroom into a quilting studio! Wherever could she have gotten that idea?!

As you know, I've been adding to my videos on Youtube and now have a weekly series to share with you. These videos are in their own playlist, Creative Chats with Kim. Subscribe to my Youtube channel to be automatically notified when the next video is available. The second video in this series will be released this week, so if you haven't already watched the first one, you won't be too far behind.

I love this new video series where I have the opportunity to chat with you about all things quilty and fibre arts and hope you enjoy them too. Please send me any suggestions you may have for topics you'd like me to cover in this series - especially if it involves sourcing fabrics and vintage linens from estate sales and quilt shops. 

I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

New Youtube Series with Chatterbox Quilts

Hi everyone:

I've been busy lately experimenting with new techniques, such as mixed media. I have no shortage of buttons, lace and vintage linens and I've decided that it's finally time to do something with them. Truth is I'm running out of storage space, so I really need to start using them in my projects. 

A few buttons I acquired recently

In addition to my mixed media experiments, I've been rearranging the fabrics in my studio. Again that shortage of space problem (no, I don't have an acquisition problem!). Now my fabric storage area looks a little more full, but there is still room for a few more specially selected fabrics, should I encounter them.

I think there's still a bit of room here,
 if I just move things around a bit

While all of this creating has been going on, you may think that I've been neglecting my Youtube channel, but you'd be wrong! If you're one of my Youtube subscribers (you are, right?), you'll see that there are new videos on the channel. Yes, we've been busily filming new videos and have created a new playlist as well, Creative Chats with Kim. The best part is that there will be a new video each week in this playlist. These are short episodes that cover a variety of topics, such as sewing machines, quilting tips, mixed media adventures and whatever has caught my eye that week. If you aren't already a subscriber to my Youtube channel (say it isn't so!), please sign up so you'll be advised when these new episodes are released.

The first episode on this new playlist is Vintage Estate Treasures. Watch it below or check it out on my Youtube channel. Check out my other videos and playlists while you're there too.

Are there any questions or topics you'd like to see covered in a video? I love to read your comments, so please let me know what you think about this new series.