Lois Murray's Asiatic Lily

Lois took my Botanical Art Small Wall Quilts workshop in Alliston for Lilac Lane Quilts on November 1st, and had her quilt finished within days! Here she is showing her Asiatic Lily.

Thanks Lois for sharing with us!

Pine Tree Quilter's Guild of Muskoka

I had a wonderful teaching trip to Bracebridge, Ontario for the Pine Tree Quilter's Guild of Muskoka last week. I gave my Trunk Show after the guild's meeting on Thursday afternoon and taught the Botanical Art Small Wall Quilt workshop on Friday.

The meeting was really busy, and I didn't have time to take any photos. The Pine Tree guild has about 100 members, and there were almost 80 people attending on Thursday.

I was treated to a pot luck dinner with the Art Quilt group that evening. I brought a bottle of wine to share, not knowing that the dinner would be held at the local senior's residence. So one of the resourceful members found a bag of medication cups and used them to serve the wine!

A toast!

Barb Coburn is an old friend from Northwestern Ontario. I hadn't seen Barb for about 15 years, and it was such a treat to see her in Bracebridge. The first time I learned about this amazing quilter was when I saw her gorgeous purple amethyst quilt at the National Juried Show in Thunder Bay during Quilt Canada '92.

Marta McIntyre shows her paper pieced quilts. Marta is saying "thank you" as we all ooed and ahhed.

Heather Ingram is showing her Round Robin quilt, which began with her "Lone Angel" centre block.

The next day was my Botanical Art Small Wall Quilt workshop. It was full with a waiting list, which is very nice to hear! This photo was taken mid-afternoon and shows the progress that these ladies made in a very short time.

Thanks to all for such a great experience! (Not to mention the chocolate that was donated, and really helped the creative process)

Lilac Lane Quilts Teaching Trip

I had the pleasure of giving my lecture Healing Stitches and teaching the Botanical Art Small Wall Quilts workshop for Lilac Lane Quilts of Alliston, Ontario this weekend. Liz and Carl Schueler were perfect hosts, and organized a wonderful event for their customers.

Liz had a busy table, selling the many items used to make
my quilt patterns.

Mary Margaret, who swore she didn't like applique, made a beautiful Pansy block. She then purchased my Sugar Maple Dance and Leaf Magic Little Quilt patterns. I think we have a convert!

Diane made the Asiatic Lily, Shirley made the Bearded Iris and Wendy made her own artistic interpretation of the Asiatic Lily. I met Wendy in 1998 when she took my Monet's Garden workshop at Quilt Canada in Vancouver. She did her own fabulous thing in that class, and obviously she hasn't changed a bit!

Wendy's block - what you can't see are the embellishments she has already added (beading and embroidery).

Our class had accomplished these blocks by the middle
of the afternoon.

The women were wonderful and the food was scrumptious (Liz you're awesome). Thanks to everyone who made this such a successful event!

Lilac Lane Quilts

Lilac Lane Quilts, a shop in Alliston, Ontario, will be hosting my trunk show and Botanical Art Small Wall Quilts Workshop. The trunk show is scheduled for 7:30 pm, Oct. 31st and the workshop is Nov. 1st from 8 am - 4 pm.

Lilac Lane's owner, Liz Schueler, has gone flat out for this event! She is making up kits for the quilts, and will be selling the patterns and all the related items required to make my quilts. Liz has a bright, bubbly personality and is wonderful to work with.

Liz can be reached toll-free at 1-866-435-1041, or emailed at liz@lilaclanequilts.com.

Some of my quilts on display at the shop.

Botanical Art Quilts Workshops

I've put up a new Workshops page on my website.

The first is called Bead Embroidery and Embellishments. I'll be teaching embellishment techniques with beads, buttons and embroidery suitable for any kind of project including quilts, wearable items and stitcheries. This will be a half day workshop. In the past I've taught this using my beaded bugs kits.

The next is Botanical Art Small Wall Quilts, which I have taught a number of times. Students will be able to choose from any of my flower block designs and make a small wall quilt in this one day class.

Leaf Magic Little Quilts will also be a one day class. Again, students will choose from one of six leaf designs for their project. I will also demonstrate how to preserve real leaves for use in these quilts, or in art journal/scrapbooking projects.

My lecture is called Healing Stitches, which will explore my stitched journey in life. I'll be explaining the concept of healing/protection quilts and the designs and symbols used to create them. I gave this lecture at the last Quilts on the Rocks show here in Sudbury a few years ago.

And lastly, my Trunk Show will be chock full of all kinds of Botanical Art quilts, embellished works, collaged quilts and even my bed quilts when there is room in the luggage.