I was so excited to learn that Quilting Gallery was chosen as one of the top 55 favourite blogs for quilters in the latest issue of Quilter’s Home magazine. Check us out on pg. 17, middle column.

Last month, we were also chosen as the blog pick of the month in the local Ottawa computer magazine, M2. This is a fabulous resource of techy information. For the locals, I pick mine up at the Main library. Look for it all over town.

And lastly, my stitch and flip quilt was featured in the Spring issue of Canada’s Quilter’s Connection Magazine.

Even though I had sent in the photo, it was such a thrill to see a quilt I made in a quilting magazine. This quilt is one of my favourites as it contains so many memories of past projects. Sadly, it’s starting to show its age with faded fabrics throughout. Yet it still hangs proudly in my living room until I make something else to replace it.

P.S. Shout Out Thursday will return next week.

This weekend is the quilt show at Upper Canada Village. This is one of my favourite shows as I get to enjoy the historical village and see beautiful quilts at the same time. I love watching the old fashioned quilting bee and talking to all the wonderful staff.

The Village’s Family Activity Centre will be transformed into an exhibit area showcasing over 50 different quilts made by members of four eastern Ontario Quilting Guilds: Common Threads Quilters Guild, Cornwall Quilters Guild, Highland Quilt Guild and Thousand Islands Quilters Guild.

Visitors will also be able to view antique and reproduction quilts from Upper Canada Village’s own collection, which will be exhibited at other locations throughout the Village. This year, the exhibit will focus on "wholecloth" quilts.

Visitors will find a Merchants’ Mall selling and displaying related quilting merchandise, including such vendors as Julee’s Homecrafts, Kelly’s Kreations, and the Quilter’s Rack. The Merchants’ Mall will be located inside the Harvest Barn Restaurant.

Crysler Hall will set the stage for two guest speakers at this year’s event. Esther Bryan will be giving a talk at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday about the exciting plans which are ahead for "The Quilt of Belonging: On Tour." On Sunday, Alicia Boutillier will be speaking in Crysler Hall at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. about the history of "The Heritage Quilt Collection" at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

More information is available on the Upper Canada Village web site.

I took the photo above at the show in 2007. It is a Dorothy Baker Design, All About Bears.

Registration is now available for the 2009 Victoria’s Quilts Canada Quilt-a-Thon. Registration closes October 2, 2009.

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Check-in at 8:30am)
Place: Orleans United Church, 1111 Orleans Blvd., Orleans
Cost: $12.00 (assists in cost of supplies) Payable on-site or to your Group Leader.

I’ve participated in this event the past two years. It’s great fun for a great cause. Visit the Victoria’s Quilts Canada web site for more information.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to attend, as I’m still hoping to be able to go to Quilt Market and Festival in Houston this year. Hopefully some of the ladies from my charity sewing group, the Quarter Inch Club, will be in attendance. We’re actually working to have a few tops ready for the Quilt-a-Thon.

Happy 142nd Birthday Canada! For those that don’t know, I live in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. This city has been buzzing with excitement all week leading up to the best day of the year.

My apartment has been cleaned, beer is cooling in the fridge, and groceries purchased for a BBQ. The weather is looking rather dicey, but then again it’s changed a dozen times the last few days, so we’ll see what the day brings. I was very lucky to see the snowbirds do three flybys over the city yesterday, one right over my head.

Scroll below for two give-aways from a new Canadian online fabric retailer. Best of all, you don’t have to be Canadian to win; read the details carefully though.

I have GREAT NEWS for my fellow Canadian quilters. We’re getting our own Canadian quilting magazine. Yes you read that right. It’s called Quilter’s Connection Magazine. It will be a national magazine, published quarterly for now and bi-monthly next year. Their web site is not ready yet, believe me I’ll be sure to post as soon as it is. For now you can find out more information on their blog or join their Facebook Fan Page. I’ve exchanged several emails with Heather, the editor, and this is going to be fantastic for us.

I’ve come across another great Canadian site this week, that I wanted to share: Indie North: a Canadian indie business collective. Definitely one to watch, and they have a Friends of Indie North site too, where small Canadian businesses can get listed for free.

Wishing all of my Canadian friends a wonderful Canada Day. (Please Mother Nature you can rain all day on Thursday, just leave us dry today.)

Continue reading »

Dates: May 8, 9, 10, 2009
Location: R.A. Centre, 2451 Riverside Dr.
Times: Fri and Sat: 10-5 Sun: 10-4
Admission: $8

A feast and inspiration for the eyes and a great Mother’s Day weekend outing!

Members of the Ottawa Valley Quilter’s Guild will showcase their talents with a wide variety of bed quilts, wall hangings, and wearable art. "The quilts our members do are beautiful," says Alice McKay, Co-Chair of the Quilt Show. "This Show is a great opportunity for our members to share their work and passion with the public. Visitors to the Show will come away with a new appreciation of this art and craft."

"We’re trying some new things this year that we think will appeal to quilters and non-quilters," says Albertina Pianarosa, Co-Chair of the 2009 Quilt Show. "There will be special exhibits in partnership with some wonderful local groups. The All Dolled Up group will share their love of art doll making and the Out–Of–The–Box Fibre Artists share some of their stunning fibre art creations. ‘The Ruby Reds’, a Prescott Chapter in the Red Hat Society, will display everything red & purple."

A line-up of fabulously talented Artists in Residence, whose work has been admired nationally and internationally, includes:

• Beth Cameron – humour in quilts
• Karen Goetzinger – abstracted landscapes
• Linda Palaisy – creative freedom with sewing machine
• Elaine Quehl – quilt artist, teacher, dyer
• Edwina Sutherland – figures in textiles and wool fibre
• Liane Thiry–Smith – wearables, hangings, felted items

The Festival of Quilts 2009 Show will be held in the Ray Kinsella Arena of the RA Centre, which has free parking and is wheelchair accessible. Refreshments are also available on site.

Visit the Ottawa Valley Quilters’ Guild for more information.

Please join me in welcoming another Guest Blogger to the Quilting Gallery. If you’re interested in being a Guest Blogger, just drop me an email to discuss.

Hi Michele

Thanks for inviting me to blog on your website. I started making ribbon shirts for Aboriginal drummers and dancers about 4 years ago now.

After teaching sewing, quilting and many other applications of sewing for decades (including designing lingerie), I found a new love and appreciation for my skills: custom-made shirts with applique & beading have become my passion. These are worn by Aboriginal drummers and dancers during ceremony and at cultural events.

It started with one shirt for a friend who is a two-spirit fire keeper. I listened to her story with my heart as well as my mind. I was fascinated with learning what the different colours meant to her as well as what animals and birds represented to Aboriginal people. There were also shapes and other symbols important to her personal empowerment.

Now that I am familiar with the basic symbols of local Aboriginal people, I can focus more on listening to the life stories of my clients, and create a visual representation of their life.

Sometimes this process can take several sessions as they tell me about their culture, their spirit names, and their role in the Aboriginal community.

The exciting part to me is to hear their personal stories and interpret the meanig onto a very special garment they can wear with pride.

Strictly by word of mouth, I have women call me to make an appointment to start the process. I have been told by a grandmother that I am very gifted in this area and am starting a second shirt for her. Many of my clients are repeat customers.

I am proud to know that my shirts are worn by some amazing women, and that my work is appreciated by so many people. One of my early shirts was worn by Beverly who drummed the Governor General into Parliament.

It is a pleasure to share my skill with such a great group of women, and I am proud to know they are treasured by those who wear them.

Lois Smith
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

P.S. If you would like to get in contact with Lois, please send me an email and I’ll put you in touch.