Sunday, May 27, 2012

Kitambaa Goes to Halifax

Kitambaa Designs leaves for Halifax tomorrow, and I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of those things packed in our bags to go with us. Starting on Wednesday, we will be at our booth in the Merchant Mall at Quilt Canada, and you will be able to shop for these items yourself. First there is "Birds of Rubingo". The embroidered birds are made by Alice's mother, Florence. She saw what Alice was doing and how it was changing her life for the better, and asked if there was something she could do too. We took her some embroidery floss - all donated by various quilters in Canada - and 3 sample bird embroideries, and she's taken it from there. Each wall-hanging kit contains 3 unique birds, red and striped fabric for borders and binding, and fat quarters of 3 different Shweshwe fabrics for the background. Price:  $25
"No Lion in Sight" is another kitted wall-hanging, based on fabric found in Uganda. It's combined with a couple of batik fabrics and a couple of North American fabrics using curved piecing. A terrific way to showcase the fabric. Price: $39
Next up is Life in the Village. Six silk-screened prints. each showing a different aspect of village life, are framed in bright colours, against a background of a North American print. Beads dangle from the corner and a cowry shell finishes off this easy to make quilted wall-hanging. Price:  $25
I am very excited to report that I have just received a shipment of Magie Relph and Robert Irwin's book on African Wax Print. The history of this cloth is fascinating, and there are some great quilts in the final chapter, showing how it is used in quilts. A must for anyone interested in African textiles. Price $34.95
And lastly there are my silk-screened animal prints. Without the added borders. All ready for you to add your own borders in your own creations, reminding you, perhaps, of a safari you've taken, or made especially for someone you know who has an African connection. Price: $4.95 Each


We hope to see as many of you as possible in Halifax. It will be a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and make some new friends. Until then . . . Cheerio and Happy Quilting!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Time Flies!

I can't believe that it's been 3 weeks since I last posted to my blog! May has flown by. New "Limited Edition" quilt patterns and kits have been designed and packaged up. The Parksville Quilt Show has come and gone, And on Monday Joan and I fly to Halifax for Quilt Canada. So we are down to the wire, having sent most of our wares off in boxes ahead of us, and now we're packing up the rest in our suitcases. Must remember to leave a little room for a couple of changes of clothing and other essentials! Oh, and yesterday our daughter Emily was awarded her doctorate - the culmination of many, many years of study and a day of celebration for all the family. And our grand-daughter is still growing by leaps and bounds - a wonderfully social and happy baby - and my husband returned from 4 months in Uganda. The photos tell the story better than I can.