Tuesday, April 6, 2010

All Hail April

If April showers bring May flowers, we should be buried in blossoms in a few weeks' time. I cannot believe that we've had hail fall almost every day of the past 9 days. Crazy! Luckily there are brief rays of sunshine between the nasty black clouds that are literally charging across the sky and unleashing vast amounts of precip at will. The only mild consolation I take is in my imagination: maybe those hail pellets have formed from moisture brought all the way from Hawaii....yeah, that's it. Tropical hail -- I wish!

Yesterday was spent quilting and binding 7 potholders. I think I've mastered a new technique for joining my binding at the end. I've been using an awkward 45 degree cutting-then-piecing-the-two-ends-method (which is nerve-wracking, getting a rotary cutter that close to a finished quilt!). By sewing the ends together you avoid the bulk that comes with tucking the tail into the fold of the beginning of your binding (still with me?). Anyhoo, before I dig a myself into a bigger hole of confusion, let me just say that Christina at The Sometimes Crafter has a method that is working a treat. Check it out, you won't be sorry. Her photography, quilting and blog design is beautiful, so you may want to stay a while.

linen potholders

And the best part? It is just one more way I can use my secret quilting weapon: Roxanne's Glue-Baste-It (just google it for retailers). I LOVE THIS STUFF! They don't pay me, honest. With Roxanne's you only need about 6 tiny dots along the fold of your beginning binding to get a firm hold on the inserted tail. Trust me...read Christina's tutorial, then give it a try.

What is she doing with all those potholders, you ask? I'm starting to build a collection of quilted items to sell at my guild's quilt show in June. We always have a "Member's Boutique" where we can sell items (with a small percentage of the income going to the guild's charity quilt program). If you live in B.C., or are trying to figure out a good time to visit Vancouver, then may I recommend the weekend of June 11 and 12? We'll have over 250 fabulous quilts made by our members, 2 stunning raffle quilts, a merchant mall with 15 incredible vendors, a tea room (yum!), an education display and lots of friendly faces hosting this, our 10th bienniel show. Sure hope you can make it. Here are the details:

Lions Gate Quilters' Guild
Album of Quilts
June 11, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
June 12, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Delbrook Recreation Centre
600 W.Queen's Rd., North Vancouver, B.C.
Admission $6, children

Any guess who is heading up the publicity committee?

7 comments:

What Comes Next? said...

awwhhh, so they're not for me?! Love those potholders, and thanks for the dates for your quilt show - have put it in my calendar so I don't forget. It has been wild weather hasn't it? Chico and I have gotten wet a few times in the last few days. I like your idea of tropic hail - just wish it felt a alittle more tropical out there!

alobsiger said...

Your potholders are lovely -- so crisp and tidy. I'd better go check out Christina's tutorial. It sounds like I need to know about this. I love Roxanne's too. I stocked up on mismarked bottles at a show (which equals cheap!). So I think that means I'm now hoarding the stuff. Surprised?

Jamie said...

Love the potholders! Wish I could visit Vancouver for your quilt show! I bet it will be fabulous!

Amy Friend said...

That sounds like a lot of fun. I wish it were closer...or that I could travel! The second would be even more fun. The potholders look great. Thanks for the link to that tutorial. I will have to try that method for the tail.

Bobbi said...

i love those!!! i cant wait to check out the trick, because i need a little help with my binding/flap. wish i could come to vancouver!!!

carol said...

Love your potholders and adore your labels. I think I need some. Can you fill me on on the source?

Michelle said...

Hi Krista! Any classes this summer? Can I get some of those raffle tix? Michelle P.