Sisters

Sisters
by Ilene Atkins

One day in October several years ago, three of my sisters were here in Ontario for a visit. The weather was one of those perfect warm sunny fall days that we all love so much. We just had to go for a drive to see some of what Southern Ontario has to offer. 

We were all quite taken with the fall colours, and stopped a few times to take it all in. On one of those stops, near Collingwood, these two sailboats happened to go by. I snapped a few photos, and later printed this on onto fabric. 

I spent many an hour doing the threadpainting, and thinking fondly of my sisters and that great get-together. 

This quilt was chosen for exhibit at Quilt Canada, coming up June 15 to 18, 2016, in Toronto.

Update:  My quilt won first place in its category at Quilt Canada, in the National Juried Show. This is quite an honour, since my name was called with many other big names in the Canadian art quilt world. I am quite pleased. When I was at the show in Toronto, talking to people about my quilt, I was joined by one of my sisters who enjoyed that October day with me, and my good quilting friend from Alberta. It was a sweet moment in my life. 

Welcome to Blog-A-Thon Canada

If you are stopping by from the last day of the Blog-a-Thon, I'd like to welcome you with an introduction.

I live in Kitchener, Ontario, which has a very active quilting community. Some say the Waterloo Region is the Quilt Capital of Canada!  Quilt shows and quilt stores abound in this area, so there is no shortage of inspiration. Along with making quilts, I like to get out to see the wonderful quilts that others have made. I also like photography, cooking, gardening, cycling, nature, and travelling. I've been known to sew many different kinds of items, and have on occasion picked up knitting or embroidery needles.

This Blog-A-Thon is a Canadian adventure, sponsored by the great Sew Sisters Quilt Shop, and the hosts for today are Jackie's Art Quilts, and Krista Quilts. You may hop on over to win great prizes by leaving a comment, and have a look at other Canadian bloggers you might not yet have seen.

I'd like to show you a few of the quilts I've made.

Magnolia Quilt, front

Magnolia Quilt, back

Sienna's Quilt

Stardust

Red & Denim #4

Wintergreen

In other news:  My home team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, are playing in the Grey Cup tomorrow. I don't usually keep track of or watch football, but when the Grey Cup is on the line, and the 'Riders are playing, I'm paying attention!  Go 'Riders.

100 Years of Quilting, Part 2

International Plowing Match
2013 Quilt Show

The International Plowing Match, held this year in Mitchell, Ontario, previews the competition quilts in the community centre in August before the actual plowing match held in September. See previous post, in which I wrote about the antique quilts brought out from the community. I also saw all the competition quilts, too, which were an amazing display of piecing and applique.

Winter In The Garden
by Dianne Carson.

One particularly fine example of this was a quilt made by Dianne Carson, called Winter In the Garden.  The design, piecing, applique and quilting were all excellent, and made for a beautiful quilt.  It definitely deserved its first place ribbon.

Sue's Stars
by Joan Robinson

Another quilt that caught my attention was a tiny one, called Sue's Stars, by Joan Robinson.  Those small HST's are 1", and the whole quilt measures about 30x30"! Holy cow.   There is amazing accuracy in this little quilt.  I am not sure I would ever attempt to make something like this, and am impressed whenever I see such great work.  This first place ribbon is also well deserved.

International Plowing Match
Youth Quilt Display

Several other things at this show are worth noting.  One was the display of youth-made quilts.  There is apparently a large 4-H club, with members both boys and girls, who are already making quilts.  What a wonderful start.  I remember making aprons and showing beef cattle when I was in 4-H!  I went on to bigger things, though, so there is no telling where these kids will go with their quilting.  These are mostly pieced and some appliques quilts, and what a great start it is.

Another thing of interest was a display of the cookbooks that have been made throughout the years. I, of course, bought this years' 100th anniversary version.  I was thinking of my sisters, who would have loved to peruse through the many older versions.  Some of them looked like they had been well used, and some were still in pristine condition.

And a final note.  Mitchell is not far from Millbank.  And in Millbank, you will find Annie Mae's restaurant.  In this restaurant, you will find the very best pies made in perhaps all the country.  They make a Lemon Meringue to die for.  Well, they were the supplier for the pies at this quilt show, so I just HAD to sit down and have a coffee and slice of pie.  They did not have Lemon Meringue, so I had to settle for cherry.  Oh, well.  It was delish.  Such a great afternoon.  A drive in the country, and I had a good dose of rural.

A Bit of Fun

Fire Tower
Temagami, Ontario

I have been out and about some lately. This takes my mind off quilting, which is ok. After finishing up The Magnolia Quilt, I feel a bit lost. I'm not sure what to work on next, or if I would like to start something new, so I have been glad to get out and see a bit of scenery. I'll post a few pics of where I've been. All in Ontario, but you know how I love the Ontario scenery.

View from the fire tower, Temagami

A couple of weeks ago, we went up past North Bay to visit family, and took a side trip to Temagami, where I've been wanting to go. It was slated for clear-cutting, but was saved from the saws. Good thing, too, it is so beautiful and pristine there. Unspoiled, as they say.

Beautiful old-growth pine trees, and clear, clean lakes. We climbed all the way up to the top of the fire tower, and had a great view of the town and surrounding lakes, even if it was a bit rainy that day.

Butterfly in Temagami, Ontario

The Quilting Barn
New Liskeard, Ontario

I saw this little creature, only 1/2" across. Wouldn't he make a great art quilt? Then we drove into the happening town of New Liskeard, and managed to find The Quilting Barn. Very interesting quilt store.

Little Tub Harbour
Tobermory, Ontario

And on the agenda just this weekend, was travelling up to Tobermory. The Bruce Peninsula is a favourite spot for me, and I was not disappointed. It was a bit too bright and sunny for stunning photos, but I captured a few anyway.  I wanted to swim in the harbour at Tobermory, but it was c-c-c-cold. The water is so clear, you can see very far down, but it was too cold even for me. It doesn't warm up until the end of August, so I might go back then.

The Beach at Oliphant, Ontario

Butterfly near Indian Falls, Ontario

Next is on the beach at Oliphant, on Lake Huron. I was on this beach in 2000 with two of my sisters, and we could walk about a mile out into the water, and only get our knees wet. Well, the water level has dropped in the great lakes about 2 feet, and that island is no longer an island. As you can see, people are driving their cars out onto the sand beach. Fun in its own way, but not the swimming experience I was looking for.

So now I'm back home, doing laundry, and contemplating my next move.

ed. update:  KaHolly sent me an email about that little orange butterfly I saw in Temagami. She said it was a skipper, and upon googling for more info, I found this link  claiming it to be a Small Skipper. Interesting.

Quilt Canada 2013

The Quilt Car
Quilt Canada 2013
Penticton, BC
Maker unknown

I just arrived home from Quilt Canada in Penticton, and what a trip it was! I met my sisters from Edmonton there, and we all had such a nice time. One sister grew up without the sewing gene, and has somehow magically turned into a quilter, and the other sister also has quilting magic. One brought along a husband who also enjoys quilts, perhaps more than your average husband. And he's a great driving tour guide. We all loved seeing the quilts in the National Juried Show, the Invitational show, and the SAQA Western Canada exhibit. No photos of the quilts, though, you had to be there for that.

Silmakeen River, BC

Okanagan Lake overlooking
Penticton, BC

Kelowna Harbour, BC

Orchards near Kelowna, BC

We also did some driving tours, through the beautiful scenic BC mountains. Stopped at all the quilt stores and fudge shops in the Okanagan. Bought lots of quilt fabrics and supplies. Shopped for shoes and dresses. Found good restaurants. Had a few lot of laughs. Found those houses at the top of the mountain. Checked out the vineyards and orchards. Covered a lot of ground, had a great time. We are talking already about meeting up for next year's Quilt Canada in St. Catherine's.

This week I am on holidays, and I will be taking in the quilts at the St. Jacob's Quilt and Fibre Art Festival, see the schedule here. It is a lot to take in, and I have four days, but I will see as much as I can. There is also a lot of garden work to do this week. I'm also thinking of starting a quilt for an upcoming wedding present, so I'll be very busy. If you are interested, I wrote about the 2012 St. Jacob's Quilt and Fibre Art Festival here, here, and here.

Quilts in the Garden

Royal Botanical Gardens
Quilts in the Garden
Halton Quilters Guild 2013 Quilt Show

Another amazing quilt show was in store for myself and many others today,at the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. It was the Quilts in the Garden Quilt Show, put on by the Halton Quilters Guild It's just a quick drive down the road for me, and a very nice day to be there.

Halton Quilters Guild
2013 Quilt Show

It must be said that this is one of the finest venues in which I have seen a quilt show. I've been to the RBG before to take in all the wonderful plant displays, usually in midwinter when I need a hit of greenery! And to see the wonderful light-filled atrium filled with plants and quilts, well, how much better could it be? The atrium displayed many of the award winners from the 2011 show, along with quite a number of vendors to pick up all those yummy quilt fabrics. I noticed that the lighting was really great, which you don't always get at a quilt show. This setting was a bonus for the SAQA Travelling Exhibit B, called This is a Quilt, showing 44 small quilts all made by members of the Studio Art Quilters Association. This link shows you the exact quilts I was admiring today. I really enjoyed this part.

Gerald Fagan in front of his
prized Bethlehem Star Quilt 

And that was just the atrium section of the RBG. There was more to come. As I worked my way deeper into the gardens, there were more vendors, the beautiful RBG gift shop, and finally the exhibit hall, with all of the fabulous large quilts, showing all their exquisite applique, piecing and quilting. I also enjoyed a presentation from Gerald Fagan, a prolific quilt collector who showed us some of his best antique quilts.

And you know that I like to entice you with a few detail shots from some of my favourite quilts that I saw today.

Come Fly With Me, detail
by Lynne McCulloch

Hollyhocks and Butterflies, detail
by Sheila Keating

England's Rose, detail
by Rosemary Makhan

Fall Splendour, detail
by Lynne Wood

Mississauga Quilters Guild

Mississauga Quilters Guild
2013 Quilt Show

This afternoon, I traveled into Mississauga to see the MQG quilt show, Off the Wall and Under the Covers, link here. What a fabulous quilt show. The guild worked hard to pull together over 250 quilts to display, large and small. I spoke to a number of people, and everyone was quite friendly. And as I listened to several different languages, I was reminded that I miss the multicultural element of the city. It was great all around to be at this show.

MQG small quilt draw

MQG has over 100 members, a very talented group of quilters indeed. I saw quite a variety of pieced and appliqued quilts:  everything from teddy bear quilts, Christmas quilts, Dr. Seuss quilts, miniature quilts, tie-dye quilts, theme challenge quilts, miniature quilts, and an impressive collection of antique sewing machines. The guild had quite a number of small quilts in a raffle draw, in which you buy 3 tickets, and put your name into the draw bag to go with that quilt. I would love to win one! I didn't come home empty-handed, though, since I managed to pick up a few things from the quilt vendors.

I will include a few detail photos of some of the quilts I really enjoyed. Perhaps you will be able to get to this show tomorrow and be dazzled yourself. And don't forget to check out my page on upcoming Ontario quilt shows, link here, and go see a quilt show near you. Threadworks begins tomorrow, and The Grand National begins Sunday. Go now! It really is a wonderous thing to see so many great quilts all at one time.

Chickadee, detail
by Helen Anne Lemke

Still Holding Hands
by Jane Burke

Heavenly Hankies, detail
by Jane Burke

Building Houses, detail
by JaniceTelfer

My Mother's Rose Garden, detail
by Elizabeth Kwadren

Bound to Be Beautiful, detail
by Jane Burke

Unmentionables, at the Guelph Civic Museum

A recent exhibition in Guelph, at the new Civic Museum, caught my attention, and I decided to go and check it out, see the link here. The building itself is an interesting example of limestone architectural beauty, in the shadow of the Church of Our Lady, one of Ontario's most significant churches.

I understand the museum has an extensive historical fashion collection, and their display of women's undergarments was intriguing. I especially liked to see the corsets, their purpose, i.e. waist management, and the effect they had on the body. 

Select Works at Cambridge Galleries

Recently, I went to see Select Works, an annual fibre arts show held nearby at Cambridge Galleries. They hold within their permanent collection an extensive selection of Canadian textile work. The collection pays homage to the region's rich textile history.

What really struck me about this collection is the diversity of the work presented by these very talented artists. I saw knotted leather, woven jute, painted canvas forms, woven tapestries, crewel embroidery, and many other techniques. I realized as I toured the pieces that I had gone there with the reference of art quilts on my mind.

I was pleasantly surprised to be jolted out of this comfort zone. No, this gallery sets out to collect fibre art pieces. We in the quilt world are accustomed to seeing fibre art pieces, yes, but they almost always have some quilting reference to them. So it was refreshing to see a something a little different.

As I usually do, here are a few detail photos of what impressed me most:

Linda Wallace
Without Issue: Margaret of Austria
detail

Heather Cameron
Arbor Vitae
detail









Karen Chapnik
Corrugated Blues
detail

Elyse de Lafontaine
I would Like to Tell . . .
detail





 

 





Isn't it amazing that these artists make beautiful works of art out of fibre, with the apparently similar intentions to quilt artists, without breaking out a single quilt stitch?!

A Selection of Fall Photos

Ontario corn field

Just hanging around

Many of you know about the beautiful fall colours, and Southern Ontario has more than its share. The colours have come in a bit late this year, and people were worried they wouldn't be vibrant this year because of the very dry summer we had. I'm glad to report that in the end, the colours gave it their all, and we had a beautiful few weeks after all!  We still have a bit of colour left today, but there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees. Yes, there is all that raking, but it is worth all the effort.

Valley near Owen Sound,
the Bruce Trail is in there somewhere!

At the base of the Niagara Escarpent
near Wiarton, Ontario

So I'd like to share a few photos I took along the backroads of Ontario. I like to travel off the main highways, where I see much more interesting things. People have asked how I get such good photos.  My answer is that I always have a camera, or two, in my hand, I take a lot of photos, and I only pick out the best to show others. I hope you enjoy these.

Indian Falls,
near Wiarton, Ontario

The pond just before Indian Falls, Ontario

Appleby Line, near Milton, Ontario

Rattlesnake Point, near Milton, Ontario
Along the Bruce Trail

In the forest on the Bruce Trail