Wolf Lake in Danger

There are over 300 lakes within the Greater City of Sudbury city limits. Wolf Lake is one of the most incredibly beautiful, yet has never been seen by most of our citizens. It is located northeast of Lake Wanapitei. It's possible to drive there, but many of us travel by canoe.

There are a number of easy portages which take us past a series of cascades between the north end of Matagamasi and Silvester Lake.

Our favorite campsite on Wolf Lake, amongst the old growth pine forest.

Mornings often begin with the islands floating on a sea of mist.

Sunrise paints the view from the campsite with a golden light.

Unfortunately, our government has chosen to sacrifice this lovely special place to mining and logging interests. Here is an article that describes the situation. The Friends of Chiniguchi have formed to lobby for protection of the Chiniguchi Waterway Provincial Park.

My husband brought me here in 2001 after chemotherapy and radiation to rest and heal.

The Bed Quilt Club 4

We had our bi-weekly meeting of the Bed Quilt Club yesterday. These are the guidelines:

1. You must be working on a bed quilt.
2. There are no deadlines or pressures or responsibilities.
3. You can Show & Tell any project.
4. Helpful tips and suggestions are welcome.

First I have to admit that collectively we have more years of quilting experience than our country's age. And next I am happy to say that we learn something new at every meeting!

Doris wanted to have a wider assortment of colours at the edges of her blocks, so she showed us her nifty tip for organizing her strips: clothespins with the numbers marked on them (in permanent marker) that correspond to the order that they'll be sewn on the blocks. Doris gets the Tip of the Week prize.

Marg continues work on her Friendship Star.

Marg also shared her beautiful "My Flower Garden" quilt, which she worked on from 1989 - 1997. It is hand appliqued, hand embroidered and hand quilted. The inner green border and blocks were designed by Linda Dennison. The outer Morning Glory border was appliqued using a method published in Quilter's Newsletter magazine.

This is a photo of the hand quilting pattern from the back of Marg's quilt. There was much ooing and ahhing.

Pat has added more strips to her Kentucky Log Cabin (pattern by Judy Martin).

I am working on the centres for my next set of blocks from Sherri Hisey's Oh, My Tangled Stars!

Myrna is making this quilt top for a friend's sunroom. I'm wondering if I have a sunroom will she make one for me? Myrna wins the Luscious Colour Award.

Pat has proposed that we begin a challenge called North Stars Over Indiana published in McCalls Quilting, February 2000 issue. We will each bring a set of nine-patch blocks to the Bed Quilt Club meetings, enough for each member. Eventually we will have enough blocks to make our own nine-patch scrap quilts.

Rules for the Nine-patch Swap:

1. 3" finished size blocks, 1" finished squares.
2. No solids or whites.
3. The dark squares are at the outside corners and centre.
4. Blocks will be 2 fabrics: light and dark.

My mother and I will miss the next meeting as we'll be at the Chicago Quilt Festival spending too much money. So we will hand in our nine-patch blocks before we leave.

Orange and Purple

Starfish, low tide, Johnstone Strait, British Columbia

"There is no enough in nature."
Richard Jefferies

Botanical Quilts Yahoo Group

I've started a new Yahoo Group called Botanical Quilts. I'm inviting anyone who would like to discuss quilts with any kind of botanical theme to join! Your quilts certainly don't have to be like mine - we would welcome applique, pieced or mixed media. You don't have to be a designer either. Show us your projects, show us your garden photos and share your work!

Nasturtium, Janet Rice-Bredin, 2000

More Leaf Magic Little Quilts

My new pattern, Leaf Magic Little Quilts, lends itself perfectly to another passion of mine: beads and buttons. These are more examples of easy embellishments that add extra pizzazz to the quilts. All of these leaf designs are included in the Leaf Magic Little Quilt pattern. This is the Sassafras leaf.

The Gingko in its fall colour.

The Aspen fall colour with buttons and a beaded Picot Edge Stitch.

And last but most importantly, my Canada maple leaf with buttons!

Leaf Magic Little Quilts

This is my latest pattern. The Leaf Magic Little Quilt has instructions on my new technique to preserve real leaves to use in this pattern, as well as 6 fabric leaf patterns (Sugar Maple, Oak, Aspen, Sassafras, Tulip Tree and Gingko). My website index page has lots of examples. I've also included bead embroidery diagrams, since these little quilts are perfect for embellishments.

Real maple leaf

Real maple leaf with leaf and seed beads

Real aspen leaf

I've done many more samples, some with buttons and some with beaded edges. I just can't stop; I'm having way too much fun. I'll post more photos tomorrow.

Lily on the Beach

My friend Michael Brodzinsky is a Renaissance man. He builds obelisks and outdoor rooms, he's an accomplished gardener and cook, and he quilts! Michael used my Daylily pattern and turned it into his own unique vision. His description follows:

"We have a cherished and colourful daylily collection from years of wandering through garden centers and nurseries. Two years ago, we decided to create our own (hybrid) crosses and have named our new non-registered collection the "calypso series", hoping for the best in an unpredictable garden world. This love of daylilies has inspired Michael to "borrow" ideas from Janet's collection and simply run with the idea. This first panel is entitled "Lily on the Beach" and was created in March 2008."