A Canvas for Quilting

These photos from Donna James of Nelson, BC deserve an entry of their own. She took my African Sunshine class, and chose a limited palate of dark red, black, pink and sky blue. I honestly wondered how it would work out, but when I saw these photos, I knew she had succeeded. Like Amish quilts of old, her piece became the canvas on which she exhibited her quilting skills. All of it, right out to the feathers in the border, proclaim her skill with a long arm quilting machine. As someone who has limited herself to stitching in the ditch on this piece, this quilt was truly humbling to see. As Donna said, "Can you see now that I make quilts so that I can quilt them?" I see, and am full of admiration. She calls her version of African Sunshine "Kootenay Splash".

African Sunshine

Here is another version of my African Sunshine wallhanging. I've just taught this to the Fraser Valley Quilt Guild, and before that, to my home Guild - the Comox Valley Schoolhouse Quilters' Guild. How's that for a mouthful! I am always intrigued and surprised by how well blocks made by different quilters work together into a whole. The sixteen blocks pictured here were all made by the Comox Valley Guild members. Seeing these should take away any trepidation individuals might have as far as mixing colours. Truly, just about anything goes. The last photo is of the same group after they'd reclaimed their blocks. And already I've had a report from one person in the class, to say that she has made all 16 blocks. As for me? I can't seem to stop making them! They're quite addictive.

Inspiration From a 92 year old Quilter

Yesterday, early in the morning, an email arrivethat made my day. It was this picture of Blanche, a recent participant in my African Sunshine class. She had been persuaded to take part in the class by her friends, and just look at what she's done! It is such a well-balanced piece, obviously made by someone with her own well-developed sense of colour - someone who has been true to herself in choosing the fabrics she worked with. Paper piecing was a technique that was new to Blanche, but after a bit of a bumpy beginning, she caught on and was away to the races. I love the way her quilt tones in with what she's wearing. I swear, we have a much more develped sense of which colours work together than we ever give ourselves credit for. After all, we get up and put on clothes every morning. Congratulations, Blanche, on your quilt, but even more, on your spunk and your willingness, even at 92, to try something new. You have given all of us something to strive towards.

A Day of African Sunshine

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching a one-day class for the Nanaimo Quilters' Guild. African Sunshine was the title of the class - the sample for the class can be seen behind Sandy. This is an original setting of the New York Beauty block, and everyone arrived with colourful fabrics with which to construct their own wallhangings. It took a little patience to get the hang of it, but spirits were high, and even those who were dubious about getting it "right" were soon underway and building their own arcs. It was wonderful to look around the classroom and see all the variations appearing up on the walls. After

a brief lunch, everyone began piecing their arcs into blocks and excitement mounted as quilters imagined what the outcome would be when another 13 or 14 blocks had been made. Mid-afternoon everyone had an opportunity to see a living example of where they were headed, when all the finished blocks were put up on a design wall, and miraculously, the individual blocks of 16 quilters, each with their own individual sense of colour, looked spectacular when combined with each other.
I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing the final results of yesterday's efforts, and may just be working on another African Sunshine myself. It was such fun to play with the colours, to throw in a wild card fabric, to use uglies and unexpected treasures as well as dependable and familiar fabrics. To break the rules and go a little wild with the possibilities. Thanks to all of you for a great class!