Quilt Show 2009

In 2003, the Fabric Boutique launched an interesting project: for $10, customers could sign up for an on-going mystery project, choosing one or two colour-ways: pretty and pastel or dark and rich. Every month, participants received a paper bag with pieces of fabric and instructions for a quilt block. Every month, they were expected to drop in to the store with their completed block, in order to receive the next installment. If late, participants had to fork over another $10 to stay in. None knew what the completed project would look like. Eventually, participants had to purchase fabrics for the sashings, border, backing and binding, but all the blocks were provided by the Fabric Boutique.

The project was a lot of fun: the fabrics and designs were interesting and challenging, the sense of group participation was stimulating and the mystery kept the interest level high. Over a hundred people signed up, including a number from Haida Gwaii and White horse, who phoned in their report and received their packages by mail. Those who participated were glad they did; those that did not rued the day!
Thanks and accolades are due to Pam Mahoney for her design and for engineering the project.
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"On January 30, 2006 I wrote in my journal: Life is simple. I cut into new fabric (old pillowcases, shirts, sheets bought in Vancouver thrift shops). Chose light blues & whites. Sewed center piece together – bland – but will try to keep it mellow & simple. Totally addicted to fabric and sewing.

The search for fabric also became addictive. I continued to search thrift shops, garage sales and flea markets always on the lookout for more fabric. I brought my finds home, washed, cut and ironed them. My daughter mailed me a small piece of tiny stripped, blue leftover fabric and my brother-in-law cleaned out his trunk and gave me a large piece of blue linen he found inside.

I didn't know what I was making. I just wanted to sew fabric together to see what it would look like. It became too large for a placemat so I thought maybe it could be a tablecloth. But I couldn't stand the idea of someone spilling spaghetti on the love whites and soft shades of blue.

The idea that it could become a queen-sized quilt materialized as the project grew larger and larger. When I made the last four corners, I was almost out of fabric. I just sewed what I had together. Incredibly, it was only out a half an inch when I sewed the last corner on. The making of the top of this quilt was surely serendipity.

"I started this quilt to use up a lot (over 300) of half triangles that I had made for another quilt, but didn't use. This block is called 'Delectable Mountains'. I thought this arrangement was my original idea, but I realized after I made it that I must have seen it in a book called Scrap Quilt Sensations.

In 1983, I was privileged to visit Mount Edziza Park in northern British Columbia, and while there, the beautiful Spectrum Range.  The soft mauves, corals, pinks, reds, browns and muted greens of the rocks were surrounded by the dark greens of the trees in the valleys nearby. This quilt reminds me of the Spectrum Range.

Recently, I took a look at the area on Google Earth. I see that it is now called the Rainbow Mountains, but it will always be the Spectrum Range to me."

This quilt was made by Sheila Seidemann and professionally machine quilted by Betting Doering.
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This scrap quilt was an attempt to use up fabrics from my 'stash'. I originally saw this border in a magazine and knew I wanted to use it on a quilt. The flowers and leaves in the border are all hand appliqued.
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Lou ambitiously started this quilt while pregnant with her daughter Jeannine, never having made a quilt and not having very good sewing skills. The quilt actually took two decades to complete, growing along the way from crib to double-bed sized.

The "Sunshine and Shadows" setting of the blocks creates alternating light and dark diamonds. The strip-pieced border and the cotton batt are in keeping with the traditional character of this scrap quilt.

Lou works part-time for the Prince Rupert Library and when she isn't quilting or gardening she shares her sunny personality and positive outlook with staff and patrons of the library.
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Sue made this quilt as a gift for her daughter's 12th birthday in December 2007 because her favourite colours were pink and purple.  Design: from a convergence panel class by Marjorie at the Fabric Boutique. 
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"My Gramma gave me her work on an unfinished quilt. I packed around hand-cut-and-sewn-9-patch squares for years. Every now and then I'd pull them out and marvel over the colours and tiny prints. She used little cardboard templates to individually cut each piece from salvageable parts of Grandpa's plaid shirts and her own house dresses. After agonizing over "just right" fabric choices and layout, I now have a combination of both of us to pass to the next generation."
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Karen chose the colours of this quilt to set off the purple and yellow grape-patterned fabric, a present from a friend. The quilting is a combination of hand and machine work; the quilt is backed with flannel, making it especially warm and cosy. Design by Pam Mahoney. 
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Sunny Path is a quilt made in a class taught by Pam Mahoney. Ella had her creation professionally quilted by Betty Doering in 2009.
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"I made this quilt for my Dad, Dave Martin. Dad has always loved boats, and when I was growing up, boats were always in our lives. There were rowboats, punts, runabouts, hydroplanes, skiffs and probably even some I don't remember. In 1970. Dad bought the 40 ft. pleasure craft, the Beach Tramp which is pictured on the quilt. We didn't know how prophetic the name was at the time, but we enjoyed many years of traveling to secluded beaches and bays and islands around the north coast on that wonderful boat, which he still has.

When I thought of making a quilt for Dad, I knew it had to start with a Mariner's Compass block. For the background of this block, I tried to mimic the deep dark green of the ocean during a southeast storm. Other blocks included are: Pine Tree – this is meant to symbolize Dad's love of the woods, and of his never ending pursuit of good firewood; Sail Boat – included because of the the boat theme; Card Tricks – symbolizes Dad's enjoyment of Cribbage games; Northern Lights Blocks – in the four corners to symbolize the love of home here in northern British Columbia and the fascination we all have with the northern lights; Maple Leaf – four in the outer border for our pride in our homeland.

I struggled with what to put in the intervening blocks. Finally I found the perfect navy batik fabric. The three petalled objects may seem like flowers to many, most in fact, but I am my own father's daughter and when I first saw them, I thought, "Wow! Propellers!". They are perfect for this nautical themed quilt."

Designed and made by Sheila Seidemann. Machine quilted by Pam Holma and Sheila Seidemann.  This design is the sole property of Sheila Seidemann and cannot be used without permission.